JP4322054B2 - Talc automatic coating device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic talc application device that can easily identify a tubeless tire and a tube type tire and apply talc to the tube type tire .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, tires molded and vulcanized at a tire manufacturing factory are conveyed by a conveyor or the like, and are sorted according to their types. For example, heavy duty tires used in trucks, buses, etc. include tubeless tires and tube type tires. In order to reduce friction between the tube type tires and the tubes, talc is preliminarily provided in the tire inner surface. It is necessary to apply.
[0003]
Conventionally, in order to classify such tires, a method has been adopted in which a tire sidewall number is photographed with a camera and imaged to read the tire model number and the like. It was.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described method has problems that accuracy is not sufficient and reading error increases, and that high-speed and expensive equipment is required to perform image processing.
[0005]
The present invention has been devised in view of the above problems, a conveyor that transports tires in a horizontal state, and a line sensor that includes a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion provided above and below the tire. A control device for calculating an inner diameter of the tire based on a signal received by the light receiving portion through a circular space surrounded by an inner peripheral edge of the bead of the tire, and discriminating whether the tire is a tubeless tire or a tube type tire from the inner diameter; Talc that can automatically apply talc to the inner surface of a tire that has been determined to be a tube type tire using a tire identification device that can accurately identify whether it is a tube type tire or a tubeless tire with a simple configuration. The object is to provide an automatic application device .
[0007]
Although the following Patent Documents 1 to 3 have been proposed as devices for measuring the inner diameter of a tire, all of them stop measuring the inner diameter of the tire and suggest an idea for determining whether it is tube-type or tube-less. is not.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 51-93254 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2-179403 [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-4-295706
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a conveyor for transporting tires in a horizontal state in which the rotation axis is vertical, provided on one side of the upper and lower sides sandwiching the tires, and perpendicular to the tire transport direction of the conveyors. A light projecting unit in which light projecting elements are arranged along the width direction of the conveyor, and provided on the other side of the upper and lower sides and corresponding to each light projecting element of the light projecting unit, and from the light projecting element of the line sensor composed of a light receiving section provided with a light receiving element capable of receiving the probe light, the inner diameter of the tire based on the received signal an internal diameter cavity surrounded by a bead in the rim as and by the light receiving element of said tire with calculating, held from the inner diameter control device identifies whether tubeless tires or tube type tires, the tires are identified as tube-type tire positioning vital Allowed rotated by the control device, Thailand A talc having a stand part and a telescopic nozzle part capable of expanding and contracting in the axial direction of the tire held by the tire stand part and allowing the talc blowing nozzle to face in the inner diameter space by extension and injecting talc into the tire lumen surface A talc automatic application device comprising an application tool.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 2 is the talc automatic coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the line sensor has an arrangement pitch of the light projecting element and the light receiving element of 0.1 inch or less. .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates a part of a tire production line A including the tire identification device 1 of the present embodiment. The production line A includes a vulcanizing device B for vulcanizing and molding a tire, a tire identifying device 1 provided on the downstream side of the vulcanizing device B, and a branching device provided on the downstream side of the tire identifying device 1 C, a tube-type tire temporary storage device D provided on the downstream side of the branching device C, a tire stand portion E for holding the tube-type tire taken out from the temporary storage device D, and the tire stand portion E And a talc applicator F that can apply talc to the inner surface of the tire held in the tire.
[0013]
The tire identification device 1 includes a conveyor 2 that conveys the tire T in a horizontal state in which the rotation axis is vertical, a line sensor 3, and a control device 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor 2 is, for example, a roller conveyor in which rollers 2a are intermittently arranged. In this embodiment, the conveyor 2 is connected between the vulcanizing device B and the branching device C. Yes. The tire T formed by the vulcanizing device B is conveyed to the branching device C by the conveyor 2 (the tire conveying direction is indicated by a symbol H). In addition, the conveyor 2 is not limited to a roller conveyor, A belt conveyor etc. can also be used.
[0014]
In the present embodiment, the line sensor 3 is provided between the tire vulcanizing device B and the branching device C, and is carried by the conveyor 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A to 3C. It is composed of a projector 3a and a light receiver 3b provided above and below T. In the present example, the light projector 3a is formed by arranging the light projecting elements 5 along the width direction of the conveyor in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the tire conveying direction H of the conveyor 2. The light receiving unit 3b is provided below the tire T and is provided corresponding to each light projecting element 5 of the light projecting unit 3a. The light receiving unit 3b can receive the search light L from the light projecting element 5. The element 6 is arranged. The light projecting unit 3a and the light receiving unit 3b may be arranged upside down. The light projecting portion 3a provided on the upper side of the tire 2 is provided on the upper end of the vertical frame 7 which is fixed to the conveyor 2 so as not to interfere with the tire 2 conveyed by the conveyor 2, and receives light. The part 3b is provided at the lower end of the vertical frame 7.
[0015]
The line sensor 3 is arranged so that the search light L passes through the gap between the rollers 2a and 2a of the conveyor 2. In the case where the conveyor 2 is a belt type, it is only necessary to provide an interrupted portion where the belt is interrupted at this portion. Further, the line sensor 3 is illustrated in which the arrangement pitch S of the light projecting element 5 and the light receiving element 6 in the width direction (shown in FIG. 3B) is set to a very small 0.1 inch. . In addition, the width of the band La of the search light in which a plurality of search lights L are arranged at right angles to the direction H of the conveyor at intervals of the pitch S is equal to or equal to the width of the conveyor 2 as shown in FIG. Is set larger than
[0016]
When the tire T conveyed by the conveyor 2 passes through the line sensor 3, the search light L projected from each light projecting element 5 is blocked by the portion of the side surface Ts of the tire T in the horizontal state, and below that portion. The light receiving element 6 located in the position cannot receive the search light L. On the other hand, the search light L can reach the light receiving element 6 in the inner diameter space 9 surrounded by the bead inner periphery Te of the tire T. The output of the light receiving element 6 is input to the control device 4.
[0017]
The control device 4 calculates the inner diameter of the tire T based on the signal received by the light receiving element 6, and identifies whether it is a tubeless tire or a tube-type tire from the calculated inner diameter. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the tire T on the conveyor 2 and the light receiving element 6 of the line sensor 3. The position and number of each light receiving element 6 are previously stored in the control device 4 as known information. In the line sensor 3 of this example, a total of 512 light receiving elements 6 from 0 to 511 are arranged in the width direction of the conveyor 2 at a pitch of 0.1 inch (2.54 mm). Accordingly, the band La of the exploration light is 512 (pieces) × 2.54 (mm) = 1300.48 mm.
[0018]
The control device 4 sequentially captures the output signal of the light receiving element 6 at a predetermined sampling time. The exploration light band La1 during sampling when the tire T does not reach the line sensor 3 does not interfere with the tire T at all. Accordingly, as shown in (La1) in FIG. 5, all the light receiving elements 6 receive the search light L and output an H level signal to the control device 4. On the other hand, in the exploration light band La2 at the time of initial sampling when the tire T passes the line sensor 3, the exploration light L is partially blocked by the side surface Ts of the tire T, and (La2) in FIG. The output as shown in is obtained. Similarly, in the bands La3 and La4 of the search light, outputs as shown by (La3) and (La4) in FIG. 5 are obtained, respectively. When the tire T has completely passed through the line sensor 3, the light receiving element 6 receives all the search light L, and an output as indicated by (La5) in FIG. 5 is obtained.
[0019]
Assuming that the tire T does not move in the width direction of the conveyor when passing over the conveyor 2, the output level of the light receiving element 6 regularly changes as indicated by La1 to La5 in FIG. . Specifically, the H level region R in which the L level is located on both sides gradually changes to gradually increase after reaching a maximum value. If the change in the region R includes an irregular process, it can be excluded as noise. Then, the inner diameter of the tire can be calculated by multiplying the maximum number of the light receiving elements 6 included in the region R by the arrangement pitch of the light receiving elements 6. For example, when the maximum number of the light receiving elements 6 in the region R is 100, the inner diameter of the tire is 10 × 100 × 0.1 inches.
[0020]
Next, the control device 4 identifies whether the tire is a tubeless tire or a tube-type tire from the calculated tire inner diameter. As a result of various experiments, the inventors have found that the inner diameter of the tubeless tire is 5 (for example, 22.5 inches, 24.5 inches) in the first decimal place. On the other hand, in the tube type tire, the first digit of the decimal point is 0 when the tire inner diameter is displayed in inches. There are various reasons for this, and it is considered to prevent mistakes that the tubeless tire and the tube-type tire are generally mounted on the same rim (originally different). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, such an inner diameter is set by changing the bead toe taper angle. Such specifications are also adopted by tire manufacturers.
[0021]
As described above, in the present invention, it is possible to easily identify whether the tire T is a tubeless tire or a tube type tire by examining the number of digits of the first decimal place of the tire inner diameter. Therefore, it is preferable that the control device 4 calculates the tire inner diameter in increments of at least 0.5 inch (displays the first digit of the decimal point by 0 or 5 ). It is desirable that the arrangement pitch of is 0.1 inches or less. The tire inner diameter may be calculated as an actual measurement value, and the first digit of the decimal point of the tire inner diameter may be rounded to 0 or 5 at the time of identification.
[0022]
The control device 4 sequentially identifies the tires T conveyed on the conveyor 2 in the above-described procedure into the tube type and the tubeless type, but outputs the result to the branching device C in this embodiment. . In the branching device C, the tubeless tire Tr is sent to the first branching conveyor 11 based on the signal from the control device 4, while the tube type tire Tt is branched to the second branching conveyor 12. The specific configuration of the branching device is not particularly limited. For example, the tire T may be moved while being pressed using a swing arm or the like, and various devices can be used according to the custom.
[0023]
In the present embodiment, the tube-type tire Tt conveyed to the second branch conveyor 12 is stored, for example, in a tube-type tire temporary storage device D. In the temporary storage device D, for example, the tube-type tire Tt is sent out to the tire stand part E at regular time intervals. In the tire stand part E, the tire lumen surface of the tube-type tire Tt using the talc applicator F is used. The talc is applied automatically.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the tire stand portion E is provided so as to be movable through a first base 14 and rails 16 along the tire axial direction on the first base 14. The second base 15, the support brackets 17 and 17 erected from the bases 14 and 15, and the guide roller portion 19 provided on each support bracket 17 are illustrated. .
[0025]
The first base 14 has, for example, a main body portion 14a having a large height and a sub-portion 14b having a smaller height than the main body portion 14a, and the rail 16 is fixed to the sub-portion 14b. ing. Further, the second base 15 is disposed apart from the main body 14a of the first base 14, so that the tube-type tire Tt is interposed between the second base 15 and the main body 14a as indicated by an imaginary line. Forms a void 19 that can be stored in a vertical state with its rotation axis horizontal. The void 19 can accommodate tires of various widths by sliding the second base 15 relative to the first base 14.
[0026]
In addition, in the empty space 19, an inclined guide plate 21a that can facilitate the entry of the tube-type tire Tt from the joint conveyor 20 (shown in FIG. 1), and roller bodies 22 and 23 before and after stabilizing the position of the tire, An inclined guide plate 21b is provided for discharging the tire Tt after finishing the application of talc, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 7, the roller bodies 22, 23 position and hold the tire Tt by being spaced apart and substantially at the same height in the tire circumferential direction of the tread surface of the tire Tt. Can do. The roller bodies 22 and 23 are connected to an electric motor (not shown). Then, by rotating the roller bodies 22 and 23 in the same direction and at a relatively low speed, the tire Tt can be rotated while holding the rotation shaft. Further, a tire sensor 25 that can detect the presence or absence of the tire Tt using, for example, infrared rays is provided in the void 19.
[0027]
Each of the support brackets 17 has a gate shape including a pair of side frame portions 17a and 17b erected from the base 14 or 15, and a joint frame 17c connecting the upper portions of the side frame portions 17a and 17b. A space is formed between the side frame portions 17a and 17b. The support bracket 17 is provided with a guide roller portion 19 that comes into contact with the side surface Ts of the tire Tt.
[0028]
The guide roller portion 19 is composed of a U-shaped roller holder 19a fixed to the support bracket 17, and a guide roller 19b fixed to the roller holder 19a so as to be rotatable and having a rotation axis as a tire radial direction. The In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a pair of horizontal roller portions 19A disposed at a horizontal position passing through the tire radial direction, and inclined rollers positioned on the lower side at an angle of approximately 45 ° from the horizontal roller portion 19A. Although the aspect which provided the part 19B and 19B is shown, it is not limited to this.
[0029]
The talc applicator F has a cylinder 26 as an actuator that can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction of the tube-type tire Tt held by the tire stand E, and a talc blowing nozzle 27 provided at the tip of the cylinder 26. is doing.
[0030]
The cylinder 26 is held on the main body 14 a of the first base 14 by a pair of fixing brackets 30 and 30. This is because the tip of the piston rod 26a of the cylinder 26 is held at such a height that it can enter the inner diameter space 9 of the tire Tt held by the tire stand E as shown in FIGS. Useful. The cylinder 26 extends the piston rod 26 from the space between the pair of side frame portions 17a and 17b, thereby allowing the talc blowing nozzle 27 to face the inner diameter space 9 of the tire Tt and shrinking. Thus, the talc blowing nozzle 27 can be positioned outside the tire contact surface of the guide roller portion 19 in the tire axial direction as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 8 (initial state). The talc blowing nozzle 27 is fixed to the tip of the piston rod 26, and high-pressure air and talc powder as a raw material are supplied from individual tanks (not shown). In the present embodiment, the talc blowing nozzle 27 can inject talc toward the tire lumen surface i when the blowout port faces downward.
[0031]
The tire stand E and the talc applicator F are controlled and linked using, for example, a control sequencer G.
[0032]
The operation of such a tire stand E and talc applicator F will be described. First, one tube-type tire Tt is supplied from the temporary storage device D to the tire stand E through the joint conveyor 20. The tube type tire Tt gets into the space 19 between the first and second bases 15 and 16 and is held by the roller bodies 22 and 23. At this time, it is desirable to slide the second base 15 according to the total width of the tire. When the tire Tt is held on the roller bodies 22 and 23 for a predetermined time, the tire sensor 25 detects this and transmits the signal to the control sequencer G.
[0033]
In the control sequencer G, it is determined that the tire is put into the tire stand portion E, the cylinder of the talc applicator F is extended, and the talc blowing nozzle 27 is made to enter the inner diameter space 9 of the tire Tt. When this cylinder stroke completion signal is transmitted to the control sequencer G, the control sequencer G injects talc from the talc blowing nozzle 27 and rotationally drives the roller bodies 22 and 23. As a result, the tire Tt rotates while maintaining its position by friction with the roller bodies 22 and 23. This rotation is smoothly performed by the side surface Ts of the tire Tt being guided by the guide roller portion 19. In addition, as a result, talc is continuously injected onto the tire cavity surface i. For example, when the control sequencer G determines that the tire Tt has rotated one or more times from the number of rotations of the roller bodies 22 and 23, the control sequencer G stops the talc injection from the talc blowing nozzle 27 and the rotation of the roller bodies 22 and 23. The piston rod 26a of the cylinder 26 is reduced.
[0034]
When the reduction of the piston rod 26a is completed, the tube type tire Tt coated with talc is discharged from the tire stand portion E. For discharging the tire Tt, for example, a swing arm (not shown) may be provided in the space 19 of the tire stand portion E to push out the tire Tt, or the tire stand portion E itself may be inclined to discharge the tire Tt by gravity. You can also Thus, by linking the tire stand unit E and the tank applicator F to the tire identification device 1, an automatic talc application device for a tube-type tire can be configured. In this embodiment, an example in which a tube-type tire temporary storage device D is provided is shown, but the tire Tt can also be supplied directly from the branching device C to the tire stand portion E.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the inner diameter of the tire can be measured and the tube type tire or the tubeless tire can be identified based on the inner diameter, the apparatus can be simplified and the identification can be easily performed. In particular, as in the invention described in claim 2, by setting the pitch of the light projecting element and the light receiving element of the line sensor to 0.1 inches or less, the inner diameter of the tire can be more accurately measured and thus identified. It becomes.
[0036]
Moreover, in this invention , since a series of procedures which apply | coat talc automatically to the tire cavity surface of a tube-type tire can be performed based on the result of a tire identification apparatus, productivity of a tube-type tire can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a tire production line showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a conveyor and a line sensor.
FIGS. 3A to 3C are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing a relative relationship among a conveyor, a tire, and a line sensor.
FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the relationship between the search light of the line sensor and the tire.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an output level of a light receiving element for each position of a tire and a line sensor.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a tire stand part and a talc applicator.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view thereof.
FIG. 8 is a partial front view of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the inner diameter of a tire.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tire identification apparatus 2 Conveyor 3 Line sensor 4 Control apparatus 9 Inner diameter void 26 Cylinder 27 Talc blowing nozzle T Tire Tt Tube type tire A Tire manufacturing line B Vulcanization apparatus C Branching apparatus E Tire stand part F Talc application tool H Tire conveyance direction

Claims (2)

Conveyor that transports tires in a horizontal state where the axis of rotation is vertical,
A light projecting portion provided on one side of the upper and lower sides sandwiching the tire and arranged with light projecting elements along the width direction of the conveyor perpendicular to the tire transport direction of the conveyor; provided on the other side of the upper and lower sides and A line sensor comprising a light receiving unit provided corresponding to each light projecting element of the light projecting unit and provided with a light receiving element capable of receiving exploration light from the light projecting element;
A control device for calculating an inner diameter of the tire based on a signal received by the light receiving element through an inner diameter space surrounded by an inner peripheral edge of the bead of the tire, and identifying a tubeless tire or a tube type tire from the inner diameter ;
A tire stand for positioning and holding the tire identified as a tube-type tire by the control device;
And a talc applicator having an expansion / contraction nozzle part that can expand and contract in the axial direction of the tire held by the tire stand part, and can face the talc blowing nozzle in the inner diameter space by extension and inject talc into the tire cavity surface. A talc automatic application device characterized by comprising. The talc automatic coating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the line sensor has an arrangement pitch of the light projecting elements and light receiving elements of 0.1 inch or less .

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