JP5153585B2 - Puncture detection device and puncture detection method for tire vulcanization bladder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a puncture detection apparatus and a puncture detection method for a tire vulcanization bladder, and more particularly, during the vulcanization of a raw tire by a tire vulcanization apparatus, the steam of the heated and pressurized medium from the tire vulcanization bladder The present invention relates to a tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection device that detects a puncture of a tire vulcanization bladder by detecting a leak, and a tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection method using the inspection device.

  Conventionally, in the manufacture of tires, a tire vulcanization bladder, which is a rubber bag (hereinafter also simply referred to as “blader”), is inflated and deformed from the inside of a raw tire after the raw tire is mounted on a mold. Thus, the raw tire is pressed against the mold surface and vulcanized while being heated from the inner and outer peripheral sides of the raw tire. The expansion deformation of the bladder is performed by supplying a high-temperature, high-pressure heating / pressurizing medium into the bladder.

  However, puncture may occur in the rubber bladder, and in this case, the steam of the heating and pressurizing medium leaks from the bladder, resulting in defective tires and lowering productivity.

  In order to prevent generation of defective tires due to such bladder punctures, various bladder puncture detection devices such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have been conventionally used in tire vulcanizing apparatuses. Is provided.

  An example of a conventional bladder puncture detection apparatus is shown in FIG. 9, and a puncture detection method using the same will be described below. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of a tire vulcanizing apparatus provided with a puncture detection device. In FIG. 9, the dimensions of each part are appropriately changed and described for easy understanding.

  In FIG. 9, 51 is a tire vulcanizing device, which includes a bladder 91, a vulcanizing mold 92, a mold holder 96, and a gap 97 provided between the vulcanizing mold 92 and the mold holder 96. It is configured. The gap 97 serves as a steam flow path for the heated and pressurized medium leaked from the bladder. Reference numeral 50 denotes a puncture detecting device, which is composed of a sensor box 93 and a sensor S provided on the inner side surface of the sensor box 93. The sensor detection surface S1 of the sensor S is directed into the sensor box 93. The gap 97 and the sensor box 93 are connected by an introduction pipe 94, and the raw tire 52 is sandwiched between the bladder 91 and the vulcanization mold 92.

  When the bladder 91 is punctured during vulcanization, the steam of the heated and pressurized medium leaks from the inside of the bladder 91 and accumulates between the inner surface of the raw tire 52 and the surface of the bladder 91. The accumulated steam of the heated and pressurized medium is released as the bladder 91 contracts when the press is opened after vulcanization, and is led to the introduction pipe 94 through the tire vulcanization mold 92 and the gap 97. Then, the steam of the heating and pressurizing medium guided into the sensor box 93 from the opening 95 of the introduction pipe 94 is detected on the sensor detection surface S1 of the sensor S, whereby it is detected that puncture has occurred in the bladder 91. The

  However, in the conventional bladder puncture detection device, the position where the sensor S is provided is not particularly limited, and the distance from the opening 95 of the introduction pipe 94 to the sensor S is not constant, so that a stable detection result is obtained. Was not obtained. In particular, when the distance from the opening 95 of the introduction pipe 94 to the sensor S is short, the sensor S rapidly deteriorates due to oil mist or the like contained in the steam of the heating and pressurizing medium, and the detection accuracy is lowered. As described above, the conventional bladder puncture detection device has a problem in that a stable detection result cannot be obtained and the detection accuracy is lowered.

  Further, when the puncture portion of the bladder 91 is near the upper bead side, the steam of the heated and pressurized medium gradually leaks and decreases along the upper bead, so that the sensor S may not be detected when the press is opened. was there. In addition, when the puncture is very small, the amount of vapor that leaks is small, so the sensor S often cannot be detected when the press is opened. As described above, the conventional bladder puncture detection device may not be able to detect the steam leakage of the heating and pressurizing medium, so that there is still a problem that a stable detection result cannot be obtained and the detection accuracy is lowered. It was.

Further, in the conventional bladder puncture detection device, a metal mesh tube is used as the introduction tube 94. Therefore, when the vapor of the heated pressurized medium is introduced from the introduction tube 94 into the sensor box 93, the introduction tube 94 is used. As a result, steam leaks easily and accurate detection results may not be obtained. Further, since the length of the introduction pipe is not particularly limited, the detection result varies depending on the length of the introduction pipe. As described above, the conventional bladder puncture detection device still has a problem that a stable detection result cannot be obtained and the detection accuracy is lowered.
JP 2001-129830 A JP 2001-191332 A

  Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reliably detects the occurrence of puncture, obtains a stable detection result, and improves the detection accuracy of the tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection device. An object of the present invention is to provide a puncture detection method for a tire vulcanization bladder using a puncture inspection apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, a tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
Puncture of a tire vulcanization bladder comprising a sensor and a sensor box, and an introduction pipe for guiding steam of a heated and pressurized medium leaked from the inside of the tire vulcanization bladder during vulcanization of a raw tire by a tire vulcanizer A detection device,
The sensor is disposed in the sensor box so that the sensor detection surface faces downward,
The introduction pipe connects the sensor box and the flow path of the steam provided in the tire vulcanizer, has a length of 150 to 210 mm, and one end of the sensor pipe is connected to the sensor detection surface in the sensor box. It is arranged at a distance of 50 to 80 mm from the sensor detection surface so as to face each other,
A filter is provided at the opening of the end of the introduction pipe facing the sensor detection surface.

In addition, the tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection device,
The introduction pipe is a flexible hose and is not arranged linearly.

Furthermore, the tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection device is:
The amplifier power supply of the sensor and the control power supply of the tire vulcanizer are separate power supplies.

The puncture detection method for a tire vulcanization bladder according to the present invention is as follows:
A puncture detection method using the tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection device,
In the inflation steam process and the press opening process, the steam of the heated and pressurized medium leaking from the inside of the tire vulcanization bladder is monitored by the sensor, thereby detecting the puncture of the tire vulcanization bladder. To do.

  According to the present invention, the occurrence of puncture is reliably detected, a stable detection result is obtained, and the tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection device with improved detection accuracy, and tire vulcanization using this puncture inspection device It is possible to provide a method for detecting a puncture in a bladder.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the best embodiment. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Various modifications can be made to the following embodiments within the same and equivalent scope as the present invention.

1. Bladder puncture detection device (first embodiment)
In this embodiment, in the bladder puncture detection device provided in the tire vulcanizer, the sensor detection surface and the opening at the end of the introduction pipe are opposed to each other, and the mold holder of the tire vulcanizer is This is an embodiment in which the provided upper hole and the sensor box are connected by a linear introduction pipe.

(1) Overall configuration of tire vulcanizing apparatus provided with puncture detection device First, the overall configuration of a tire vulcanizing device provided with a puncture detection device will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a main part of a tire vulcanizing apparatus in which a bladder puncture detecting device according to the present embodiment is incorporated, and the dimensions of each part are appropriately changed for easy understanding. doing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tire vulcanizing apparatus 1 includes a vulcanizing mold 2 composed of an upper mold and a lower mold (not shown), a mold holder 21, and a bladder inserted into the inner surface of the raw tire B. 3 is a device that vulcanizes the raw tire B by pressing the inner surface of the vulcanizing mold 2 by supplying a heated and pressurized medium to the inside of the bladder 3 and expanding the bladder 3 to detect puncture of the bladder. The apparatus A is provided on the upper part of the tire vulcanizing apparatus 1.

  The bladder puncture detection apparatus A is configured to issue a warning signal when the sensor S detects a heated and pressurized medium exceeding a predetermined amount. Note that water vapor is generally used as the heating and pressurizing medium, and a humidity sensor is preferably used as the sensor S.

(2) Configuration for Leading Heat / Pressure Medium to Sensor Next, a case where water vapor is used as the heat / pressure medium is taken as an example, and the heat / pressure medium leaking from the bladder 3 is guided to the sensor detection surface S1 of the sensor S. The configuration for this will be described in detail.

A. 1. Configuration for guiding water vapor into the sensor box As shown in FIG. 1, a gap 6 is formed between the vulcanization mold 2 and the mold holder 21 of the tire vulcanizer 1, and the bladder 3 is punctured. In such a case, the water vapor leaks into the gap 6 serving as a flow path. In the present embodiment, the sensor box 4 is provided above the upper hole 2a provided in the mold holder 21 and communicating with the gap 6, and the upper hole 2a and the sensor box 4 are linear. They are connected by an introduction pipe 7.

  Specifically, the introduction pipe upper portion 7 a is inserted and fixed in the lower hole 4 a of the sensor box 4, and the upper end is opened in the sensor box 4. The introduction pipe lower part 7 b is fixed by being inserted into the upper hole 2 a of the mold holder 21, and the lower end is opened in the gap part 6. Stoppers 71 and 72 are provided in the insertion portion. The water vapor leaking into the gap 6 is guided into the sensor box 4 through the introduction pipe 7.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the length from the upper end to the lower end of the introduction pipe 7, that is, the length of the introduction pipe 7 is defined in a specific range of 150 to 210 mm. For this reason, the quantity of the water vapor | steam guide | induced to the sensor box 4 through the inlet tube 7 can be maintained appropriately, and the stable appropriate detection amount is obtained.

B. Configuration for guiding water vapor to the detection surface of the sensor The water vapor introduced into the sensor box 4 through the introduction pipe 7 is guided to the sensor detection surface S1 of the sensor S. In the case of the present embodiment, the sensor S is provided on the inner wall on the upper side of the sensor box 4 so as to face the opening at the end of the introduction pipe upper portion 7a. For this reason, since the water vapor introduced into the sensor box uniformly hits the sensor detection surface S1, the amount of the water vapor introduced can be appropriately maintained, and a stable and appropriate detection amount can be obtained.

  The distance between the sensor detection surface S1 and the opening at the end of the introduction pipe 7 is set to 50 to 80 mm. By prescribing the distance to a specific range in this way, the amount of water vapor introduced can be appropriately maintained, and the detection level can be made uniform.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the length from the upper end to the lower end of the introduction pipe 7, that is, the length of the introduction pipe 7, and the distance between the sensor detection surface S1 and the opening at the end of the introduction pipe 7 are appropriately set. Since the sensor detection surface S1 is set so as to face the opening at the end of the introduction pipe upper portion 7a, the detection can be stabilized and the detection level can be made uniform. Even punctures that are difficult to detect, such as back punctures and minute punctures, can be reliably detected. Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination that a puncture has occurred even though no puncture has occurred. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a bladder puncture detection apparatus that can obtain a stable detection result as described above and has improved detection accuracy.

  The material of the introduction pipe 7 is preferably a non-mesh pipe made of, for example, metal or plastics, which does not leak the heating / pressurizing medium, rather than the mesh pipe where the heating / pressurizing medium easily leaks. Further, the insertion length of the introduction pipe 7 on the mold holder 21 side and the insertion length on the sensor box 4 side are set to about 80 mm and about 30 mm, respectively, when the length of the introduction pipe 7 is 180 mm, for example. .

(3) Configuration for Preventing Sensor from Contamination with Oil Mist Next, a configuration for preventing the sensor from contamination with oil mist or the like will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the sensor box of the bladder puncture detection apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the filter portion shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a portion X in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a filter 8 is attached to the opening at the end of the introduction pipe upper portion 7a. Specifically, the filter 8 includes a metal mesh 81 (for example, 80 mesh), an outer frame 82, a fixing ring 83 for fixing the metal mesh 81, and an outer frame 82 as shown in FIG. An attachment screw 84 for attaching to the upper end of 7a is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer frame 82 is externally fitted to the upper end of the introduction pipe upper portion 7a, and the outer frame 82 is fixed with the attachment screw 84. This metallic mesh 81 traps oil mist and the like passing through the introduction pipe 7.

  With this configuration, even when the distance from the upper hole 2a to the sensor S is short, the sensor S can be prevented from being contaminated by oil mist and the like, and the bladder puncture can be detected stably with high accuracy over a long period of time. can do. Although the filter 8 is attached to the introduction pipe 7 in the present embodiment, it may be attached to the sensor S.

(4) Power supply of bladder puncture detection apparatus Next, the power supply of the bladder puncture detection apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, (a) is an example in which the power source 102 of the sensor amplifier 101 and the press control power source 103 of the tire vulcanizing apparatus are the same power source. In this case, the power is generated by the press control of the tire vulcanizing apparatus. Noise enters the amplifier 101 for the sensor, and the puncture detection accuracy decreases. On the other hand, FIG. 5B is an example in which the power supply 10 of the amplifier 9 for the sensor S is separated from the press control power supply 11 of the tire vulcanizer. No noise. In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes a circuit protector.

  In this way, by making the power source 10 of the amplifier 9 for the sensor S separate from the press control power source 11 of the tire vulcanizer, noise generated by the press control of the tire vulcanizer in the amplifier 9 for the sensor S can be reduced. Since the influence can be suppressed, the puncture of the bladder can be accurately detected with higher accuracy.

(Second Embodiment)
This embodiment is an embodiment in which an upper hole provided in a mold holder of a tire vulcanizing device and a sensor box provided above the tire vulcanizing device are connected by a flexible hose provided in a non-linear shape. .

(1) Overall Configuration of Puncture Detection Device FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a tire vulcanizing device incorporating a bladder puncture detection device according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the basic configuration of the entire configuration including the vulcanizer is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the upper hole 6a of the mold holder 21 and the sensor box 4 are provided in a non-linear manner. The flexible hose 5 is connected.

(2) Configuration for guiding the heated and pressurized medium to the sensor a. Configuration for guiding water vapor into the sensor box In the present embodiment, the upper hole 6a communicating with the gap 6 and the sensor box 4 are connected by a flexible hose 5 arranged in a non-linear manner. Water vapor leaked from the inside of the bladder 3 when puncture occurs is guided into the sensor box 4 through the flexible hose 5.

  Since the flexible hose 5 is bent and arranged in a non-linear manner, the length of the flexible hose 5 can be set longer than the linear distance between the upper hole 6 a and the sensor box 4. In addition, due to space and the like, unlike the case of FIG. 6, the length of the flexible hose 5 is set to the linear distance between the upper hole 6 a and the sensor box 4 even when the sensor box 4 is provided immediately above the upper hole 6 a. Can be longer.

  And since the flexible hose 5 which plays the role of an introductory pipe becomes long, it becomes difficult for oil mist to reach | attain sensor detection surface S1, and the fall of the sensor precision by sensor S being contaminated with oil mist is prolonged. Can be prevented.

B. Configuration for guiding water vapor to the sensor detection surface of the sensor Note that, similarly to the first embodiment, the opening 5a at the end of the flexible hose 5 is made of a metal mesh as in the first embodiment. A filter (not shown) is attached, and in combination with making the flexible hose 5 longer, it is possible to prevent a decrease in sensor accuracy over a longer period.

  In addition, it is preferable that the length of the flexible hose 5 is set to 200-600 mm. By setting the length of the flexible hose 5 to 200 mm or more, it is possible to prevent a decrease in accuracy of the sensor due to contamination with oil mist for a longer period. Moreover, the problem that it becomes impossible to detect water vapor | steam because the flexible hose 5 is too long does not generate | occur | produce by setting it as 600 mm or less.

  And even if the length of the flexible hose 5 is 200 to 600 mm, it is only necessary to extend the monitoring time from the conventional 20 seconds to 30 to 50 seconds, and there is almost no loss in detection time.

  Moreover, as the flexible hose 5, a flexible hose that hardly adsorbs water vapor, for example, Nipolex flexible conduit: VFB-06, connector: VFCB-106 (both manufactured by Nippon Flex Co., Ltd.) and the like are preferably used.

2. Bladder Puncture Detection Method Next, the puncture monitoring timing in the bladder puncture detection method will be described.
A. Vulcanization Process Flow First, the tire vulcanization process will be described. FIG. 7 is a vulcanization process flow showing the vulcanization process of the tire. As shown in FIG. 7, the vulcanization starts with the press closed, and in the press closed state, the inflation steam process for supplying air to the inside of the bladder 3 to expand the bladder 3, the gas process, the exhaust process, the press opening, the tire taking out, the cover installation It is performed in the order of the entry process.

B. Puncture Monitoring Timing Next, the puncture monitoring timing in the puncture detection method of the present invention will be described in comparison with a conventional puncture detection method. FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are diagrams illustrating puncture monitoring timings in two types of puncture detection methods having different puncture monitoring timings. In the case of the puncture detection method shown in FIG. 8A, water vapor is detected only when the press is opened. For this reason, it is often impossible to detect a puncture of a fine bladder with a small amount of water vapor leaking. Also, depending on the occurrence of puncture, it may not be detected when the press is opened. For example, in the case of a puncture such as the upper bead back, water vapor escapes during the vulcanization process, and there is a possibility that it cannot be detected.

  On the other hand, in the case of the puncture detection method shown in FIG. 8 (b), the leakage of water vapor is detected in the inflation steam process in which the press is closed in addition to the press opening process, and the puncture of the bladder is monitored. For this reason, since the puncture of the bladder is monitored twice in the vulcanization process, it is possible to efficiently prevent the generation of defective tires. In addition, minute punctures and punctures on the back of the upper bead, which are difficult to detect with the puncture detection method shown in FIG.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the sensor box of the puncture detection apparatus of the bladder which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the filter part of the puncture detection apparatus of the bladder which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion X in FIG. 1. 1 is a wiring diagram of an embodiment of the present invention and a conventional tire vulcanizing apparatus. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of a tire vulcanizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the vulcanization | cure process flow using a tire vulcanizer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the timing of the puncture monitoring in the puncture detection method of this invention and the conventional bladder. It is sectional drawing which shows a part of conventional tire vulcanizing apparatus roughly.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 51 Tire vulcanizer 2, 92 Vulcanization mold 2a, 6a Upper hole 3, 91 Bladder 4, 93 Sensor box 4a Lower hole 5 Flexible hose 5a, 95 Opening part 6, 97 Cavity part 7, 94 Introducing pipe 7a Introducing pipe upper part 7b Introducing pipe lower part 8 Filter 9, 101 Amplifier 10, 102 Power source for amplifier 11, 103 Power source for press control 12 Circuit protector 21, 96 Mold holder 50, A puncture detecting device 52, B Raw tire 71, 72 Stopper 81 Metal mesh 82 Outer frame 83 Fixing ring 84 Mounting screw S Sensor S1 Sensor detection surface

Claims (4)

Puncture of a tire vulcanization bladder comprising a sensor and a sensor box, and an introduction pipe for guiding steam of a heated and pressurized medium leaked from the inside of the tire vulcanization bladder during vulcanization of a raw tire by a tire vulcanizer A detection device,
The sensor is disposed in the sensor box so that the sensor detection surface faces downward,
The introduction pipe connects the sensor box and the flow path of the steam provided in the tire vulcanizer, has a length of 150 to 210 mm, and one end of the sensor pipe is connected to the sensor detection surface in the sensor box. It is arranged at a distance of 50 to 80 mm from the sensor detection surface so as to face each other,
A tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection device, wherein a filter is provided at an opening of an inlet pipe end opposite to the sensor detection surface.   2. The tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the introduction pipe is a flexible hose and is not arranged linearly.   3. The tire vulcanization bladder puncture detection device according to claim 1, wherein an amplifier power source of the sensor and a control power source of the tire vulcanizer are separate power sources. A puncture detection method using the puncture detection device for a tire vulcanization bladder according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In the inflation steam process and the press opening process, the steam of the heated and pressurized medium leaking from the inside of the tire vulcanization bladder is monitored by the sensor, thereby detecting the puncture of the tire vulcanization bladder. To puncture tire vulcanization bladder.

Images