JP4595185B2 - Tire type discrimination device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tire type judgment unit, details in the width direction of the tire, about the tire type judgment device for judging whether or not the wheel from the side of the tire body is a type of tire projecting. Hereinafter, in this specification, the type of tire in which the wheel protrudes from the side surface of the tire body is referred to as a type A tire, and the type other than that is referred to as a type B tire.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in an automobile assembly line, a plurality of tires assembled in a car (hereinafter referred to as a normal tire) are transported as a set of a plurality of tires stacked (stacked) on one spare tire. In the middle of the transportation, the spare tire is transferred from the normal tire transportation line to another transportation line (a line for transporting the spare tire to the station where the spare tire is loaded into the vehicle).
In that case, the spare tire on the normal tire may be an emergency tire or a normal tire depending on the vehicle type. An emergency tire is an emergency tire that has a smaller outer diameter and tire width than a normal tire, and the wheel protrudes from the side of the tire body in the tire width direction. Generally, it corresponds to a class A tire. On the other hand, a normal tire generally corresponds to a class B tire.
Therefore, there is no problem when the spare tire is a type B tire. However, in the case of a type A tire, the wheels are made of metal in the stacked state, and therefore, there is a possibility that they may interfere with each other and be damaged. For this reason, in the case where the uppermost spare tire is a type A tire, damage is prevented by interposing (laying) a rubber seat cover with the normal tire.
[0003]
In such a case, after the spare tire is transferred, the unnecessary rubber sheet is removed from the normal tire. However, in order to perform the removal work by a machine, the spare tire is a class A tire prior to that. It is necessary to determine whether or not.
Incidentally, as a tire discriminating apparatus for discriminating the type of tire, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-20684 is known. The tire discrimination device described in this publication measures the thickness and outer diameter of a tire, and attempts to discriminate the type of tire based on data obtained by the measurement.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the tire discriminating apparatus described in the above publication has a problem in that the entire apparatus becomes extremely large due to the structure including the thickness measuring apparatus and the outer diameter measuring apparatus.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and the object of the present invention is to easily determine whether or not the wheel is a tire protruding from the side surface of the tire body. The object is to provide a tire type discrimination device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a configuration as described in each of the claims.
The tire type discriminating device according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized by including a detection device that detects whether or not the wheel protrudes from the side surface of the tire body. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the wheel is a tire protruding from the side surface of the tire body by directly detecting whether or not the wheel protrudes from the side surface of the tire body. Can do.
Here, the tire refers to a tire that is integrated by being fitted into a wheel, and a portion that is fitted into the wheel is referred to as a tire body.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tire detection unit capable of contacting the side surface of the tire body and a wheel detection capable of contacting the side surface of the wheel and relatively movable with respect to the tire detection unit. And a projecting presence / absence detecting unit that detects the projecting presence / absence of the wheel from the tire side surface based on the relative movement amount of both the detecting units. Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the two detection parts are abutted against the tire to be discriminated, the relative movement amounts of the two detection parts caused by the presence or absence of the protrusion of the wheel from the side surface of the tire body are determined. Based on the size, it is possible to reliably determine whether the wheel is a tire protruding from the side surface of the tire body.
[0008]
According to the invention described in claim 3, the tire type discriminating device according to claim 1 or 2 allows the uppermost tire of the plurality of stacked tires to be moved from the side surface of the tire body. After determining whether the tire is a protruding type or not, if the tire is determined to be the tire, the seat cover is laid on the lower surface of the tire by outputting a start signal to the seat cover take-out device. Can be removed.
[0010]
Hereinafter, a tire type discrimination device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, in an automobile assembly factory, the uppermost tire is a tire that protrudes from the side surface of the tire body, that is, a type A tire. This is applied to determine whether or not there is. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a tire conveyance line, FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views showing a tire type discriminating device, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing a tire transfer device and a seat cover take-out device arranged in the conveyance line. It is.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, a transfer station 1a for a spare tire T2 is set in the middle of a transfer line (roller conveyor) 1 for transferring a normal tire T1 to a process of assembling an automobile, and is connected to the transfer station 1a. In addition, a spare tire conveyance line (roller conveyor) 2 for conveying the spare tire T2 to the step of loading the vehicle into the automobile is disposed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the normal tire T1 is transported on the transport line 1 in a state of being stacked in three stages with the spare tire T2 as the uppermost portion, and is temporarily stopped by a stopper (not shown) in the transfer station 1a. It has become.
[0012]
A tire transfer device 3 schematically shown in FIG. 2 is arranged above the transfer station 1a, and the tire transfer device 3 includes a tire type for determining the type when the spare tire T2 is transferred. A discrimination device 5 is provided. Further, in the vicinity of the transfer station 1a, a seat cover for removing the seat cover 25 for preventing wheel damage that is interposed between the tire T1 and the normal tire T1 only when the spare tire T2 is a type A tire. A take-out device 14 is provided.
[0013]
Hereinafter, each apparatus will be described. The tire transfer device 3 includes a pair of clamp arms 4 that can grip the spare tire T2 from the radial direction, and illustration of a specific structure is omitted, but an elevating operation and a horizontal movement operation are possible. It has a configuration. Then, when the normal tire T1 and the spare tire T2 stacked in three stages are loaded into the transfer station 1a, the tire transfer device 3 moves downward toward the tire, and then the uppermost spare tire is clamped by the clamp arm 4. Grab T2 and go up. Next, after horizontally moving above the spare tire transport line 2, the clamp arm 4 is opened and the spare tire T <b> 2 is transferred onto the spare tire transport line 2. In addition, the transfer operation | movement of the spare tire T2 by the tire transfer apparatus 3 is performed during the temporary stop period by the said stopper.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tire type discriminating device 5 can be moved up and down by a first plate 7 for wheel detection supported by the first air cylinder 6 so as to be movable up and down, and by a second air cylinder 8. And a second plate 9 for detecting the tire body supported by the tire. The first air cylinder 6 is supported vertically with respect to the tire transfer device 3 through a bracket 10 as appropriate, and is arranged so that the first plate 7 is on the lower side.
In addition, the 1st plate 7 has the horizontal length which can contact | abut to the side surface (the upper surface of a stacked state, and the following similarly) of the tire main body T21 and the wheel T22 regarding the radial direction of the spare tire T2. The first plate 7 corresponds to the wheel detection section referred to in the present invention, and it is preferable that a cushion material such as rubber is provided at least on the surface facing the wheel T22.
[0015]
On the other hand, the second air cylinder 8 is supported vertically on the upper surface of the first plate 7, and the second plate 9 supported by the second air cylinder 8 is spare on the lower surface side of the first plate 7. It arrange | positions in the position which can contact | abut with respect to the side surface of the tire main body T21 in the tire T2. This 2nd plate 9 respond | corresponds to the tire detection part said by this invention. The first plate 7 has an opening 7a through which the second plate 9 can enter.
Then, the first plate 7 waits with the position shown in the solid line pulled up by the first air cylinder 6 as the initial position before detection, and the second plate 9 is below the first plate 7 by the second air cylinder 8. The standby position shown in the figure is lowered to the initial position.
[0016]
The second air cylinder 8 is provided with a proximity switch 11 as a detector. In the initial state where the second plate 9 protrudes from the opening 7a of the first plate 7, the proximity switch 11 is turned off when the piston 8a is separated and the second plate 9 is pushed into the opening 7a. Is set to be turned on by facing the piston 8a. The proximity switch 11 corresponds to the protrusion presence / absence detection unit of the wheel T22 referred to in the present invention, and the protrusion presence / absence detection unit, the wheel detection unit, and the tire detection unit constitute a detection device referred to in the present invention.
[0017]
The tire type discriminating device 5 configured as described above is from when the tire transfer device 3 is lowered to a predetermined position in order to grasp the spare tire T2, until the spare tire T2 is transferred onto the spare tire transport line 2. Discrimination work is performed during
That is, after the tire transfer device 3 is lowered, the first plate 7 is lowered by the first air cylinder 6 and is abutted against the side surface of the tire body T21 or the wheel T22, as indicated by phantom lines in FIGS. . At this time, the second plate 9 lowered to the lower side of the first plate 7 by the second air cylinder 8 hits the side surface of the tire body T21 and is pushed back. There is a difference in the push-back amount between the case where the spare tire T2 is a type A tire and the case where the spare tire T2 is not a type B tire.
That is, a difference occurs in the magnitude of the relative movement amount between the first plate 7 and the second plate 9, and the type of the spare tire T2 is determined based on the magnitude of the relative movement quantity. The pushing-up operation of the second plate 9 is performed by overcoming the pressurizing force of the second air cylinder 8. Therefore, the pressurizing force of the second air cylinder 8 is smaller than the pressurizing force of the first air cylinder 6. Is set.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows the case of type A, and FIG. 3 shows the case of type B. In the case of the type A tire shown in FIG. 2, the second plate 9 remains at a lower position than the first plate 7, the piston 8a does not face the proximity switch 11, and the proximity switch 11 remains off. Is done. On the other hand, in the case of the type B tire shown in FIG. 3, the second plate 9 is pushed into the opening 7 a of the first plate 7, becomes the same height as the first plate 7, and the piston 8 a faces the proximity switch 11. The proximity switch 11 is turned on. That is, the type of the spare tire T2 is determined based on whether the proximity switch 11 is turned on or off after the first air cylinder 6 is lowered. Each member of the tire type determination device 5 is returned to the initial position after the determination operation.
[0019]
As described above, when the tire type determination device 5 makes a determination, the seat cover take-out device 14 is controlled based on the determination result.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the seat cover take-out device 14 has a pedestal 15, and the pedestal 15 is moved up and down by a pneumatic lift cylinder 17 as a drive device using a plurality of guide rods 16 as guide members. A lift table 18 is provided. A reach table 20 that is horizontally moved by a rodless type pneumatic first reach cylinder 19 is mounted on the lift table 18, and a rodless type pneumatic second reach cylinder 21 is mounted on the reach table 20. A take-out arm 22 that is horizontally moved is attached. That is, the take-out arm 22 is operated in a two-stage manner by the first and second reach cylinders 19 and 21.
A plurality of suction cups 23 for adsorbing the seat cover 25 are attached to the leading end of the take-out arm 22, and the suction cups 23 are connected to a suction device such as a vacuum pump (not shown) by a hose. Operation and release are controlled by a valve.
[0020]
The seat cover take-out device 14 configured as described above is on standby with the position shown in FIG. 4 as an initial position, and based on the determination result by the tire type determination device 5 described above, if the spare tire T2 is a type A tire, The seat cover 25 is actuated to be taken out. The operation is executed after the tire transfer device 3 lifts the spare tire T2.
That is, the take-out arm 22 provided with the suction cup 23 moves to the position just above the seat cover 25 by the sequential operation of the first reach cylinder 19 and the second reach cylinder 21, and then moves the suction cup 23 to the seat cover by the lowering operation of the lift cylinder 17. Adsorbed by pressing on 25. Thereafter, the lift cylinder 17 is lifted to return to the original height, and the seat cover 25 is lifted. This state is indicated by a virtual line in FIG. Subsequently, the suction action of the seat cover 25 by the suction cup 23 is released in a state where the take-out arm 22 is returned to the original position and lowered to a predetermined height. As a result, the seat cover 25 falls and is stored in the lower hopper 24. Thereafter, the take-out arm 22 returns to the original position and waits.
On the other hand, when the spare tire T2 is a type B tire, the seat cover take-out device 14 does not start and stands by on the spot.
[0021]
Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is determined whether the spare tire T2 stacked and transported on the transport line 1 is a class A tire or a class B tire. As long as the seat cover take-out device 14 is activated, the seat cover 25 laid between the normal tire T1 and the spare tire T2 can be removed.
[0022]
In the present embodiment, the side surface height of the tire body T21 is detected by the first plate 7, while the side surface height of the wheel T22 is detected by the second plate 9, and both plates 7 and 9 at the time of detection are detected. The type of the spare tire T2 can be discriminated by turning on / off the proximity switch 11 based on the magnitude of the relative movement amount due to the height difference. For this reason, there is provided a tire type discriminating device capable of accurately discriminating whether the spare tire T2 is the A type or the B type while having a simple structure.
By the way, the A-type spare tire T2 has a smaller width than the B-type tire. Accordingly, the tire upper surface height on the transfer station 1a differs between the A type and the B type, but in the present embodiment, the first plate 7 is pressed against the wheel T22 by the air cylinder 6 and detected. Due to the configuration, appropriate discrimination can be performed by absorbing the difference in the height of the top surface.
[0023]
(Example of change)
A modification example shown in FIG. 5 will be described. In this modified example, the type of the spare tire T2 is discriminated using a photoelectric detector in which the light projector 27 and the light receiver 28 are opposed to each other as the tire type discriminating device 5 for the spare tire T2. In this modified example, when the projector 27 and the light receiver 28 are lowered toward the spare tire T2 by the air cylinders 29 and 30 and abut against the side surface of the tire body T21, if the spare tire T2 is a class A tire, The light of the projector 27 is blocked by the wheel T22 protruding from the side surface of the tire body T21. That is, it can be determined that the tire is a type A tire.
[0024]
In the tire type discriminating apparatus 5 described in the embodiment, the air cylinder 8 is employed as means for holding the second plate 9 at a position protruding below the first plate 7. As the pressure (downward force for holding the second plate 9 in the initial position), a spring may be used instead of the air type.
In addition, it has been described that the lowering operation of the first plate 7 by the first air cylinder 6 is performed after the tire transfer device 3 is lowered to grasp the spare tire T2, but the lowering operation of the tire transfer device 3 is preceded. It may be performed as follows. In that case, the pressing force of the first air cylinder 6, that is, the downward force for holding the first plate 7 in the lowered position (the position where the rod of the first air cylinder 6 is projected) is changed from the air type to the spring type. It becomes possible to change to.
In addition, the tire type determination device 5 is provided in a form attached to the tire transfer device 3, but may be independent from the tire transfer device 3.
The tire type discriminating device 5 is applied when discriminating the type of the uppermost spare tire T2 in a stacked state in a tire conveyance line at an automobile assembly plant. It is not limited.
[0025]
Moreover, the embodiment and the modification described above are based on the premise that the tire width is smaller in the class A tire than in the class B tire. For this reason, although the system which detects and discriminate | determines two points with tire main body T21 and wheel T22 is employ | adopted, it is a case where it presupposes that the tire width of A type and B type tire main body T21 is the same. If there is, it is possible to adopt a one-point detection method for detecting one point at the upper end of the wheel T22.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire type discriminating device that can easily discriminate whether or not the wheel is a tire protruding from the side surface of the tire body.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a tire conveyance line.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a tire type discriminating device, showing a type A tire detection time.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a tire type discriminating apparatus, and shows a time when a type B tire is detected.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a tire transfer device and a seat cover take-out device arranged in a conveyance line.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a modification example.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Tire transfer device 5 Tire type discrimination device 6 First air cylinder 7 First plate (wheel detector)
8 Second air cylinder 9 Second plate (tire detection unit)
11 Proximity switch (Wheel protrusion detection unit)
14 Seat cover take-out device T1 Normal tire T2 Spare tire T21 Tire body T22 Wheel

Claims (3)

  A tire type discriminating apparatus for discriminating a tire type, comprising a detecting device for detecting whether or not a wheel protrudes from a side surface of a tire body.   2. The tire type determination device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device includes a tire detection unit that can contact a side surface of a tire body, a contact unit that can contact a side surface of a wheel, and a relative to the tire detection unit. A movable wheel detection unit, and a protrusion presence / absence detection unit that detects the presence / absence of a protrusion of the wheel from the side surface of the tire body based on a relative movement amount between the tire detection unit and the wheel detection unit. Tire type discrimination device.   3. The tire type determination device according to claim 1, wherein, for a plurality of stacked tires, it is detected that the type of the uppermost tire is a tire of a type in which a wheel protrudes from a side surface of the tire body. A starting type signal is output to a seat cover taking-out device for taking out a seat cover interposed between the tire and a tire below the tire.

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