JP5886679B2 - Tire printing apparatus and tire printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to printing on a tire, and more particularly to a tire printing apparatus and a tire printing method capable of improving a printing position and printing quality.

Conventionally, a technique for performing printing on a side surface of a tire using a print head is known. For example, in Patent Document 1, a plurality of print heads so as to face a side surface of a tire, an inner diameter clamp that rotates the tire while maintaining the inner diameter of the tire, and the upper surface of the tire are pressed from above, There has been proposed a printing apparatus including an upper holding roll for flattening a printing surface. In the printing apparatus, it is possible to perform printing on the side surface of the tire by ejecting ink from the print head while the upper holding roll presses the tire and the inner diameter clamp holds and rotates the tire. .
However, the above printing apparatus requires an operation (so-called centering) for positioning the position of the print head with respect to the printing surface, which is the side surface of the tire, at the time of printing. Therefore, the centering cannot be performed sufficiently, the centering accuracy at the time of printing is lowered, and the printing is not performed at an appropriate position. In addition, since the tire is not filled with air, even if the tire is flattened by the upper restraining roll, the printing surface cannot be made completely flat, and there is a problem that unevenness or the like is formed on the printing surface. there were.
Therefore, it is possible to improve the centering accuracy by filling the tire with air and applying the internal pressure so that printing is performed in a state in which the uneven shape of the side surface is flattened. Since the tire is filled with air, the side surface is expanded in the width direction and the radial direction of the tire as compared to when the air is not filled, and the printing surface is printed in an expanded state. When the internal pressure is not applied by removing the air from the tire after printing, the side surface contracts more than at the time of printing, and wrinkles occur on the printed surface, which may reduce the appearance quality of the tire. .

JP 2010-125440 A

  The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, enables printing at an appropriate position by improving the centering accuracy at the time of printing, regardless of whether the internal pressure is applied to the tire, Provided are a tire printing apparatus and a tire printing method in which wrinkles are not generated on a printing surface.

As a configuration of a tire printing apparatus for solving the above-described problems, first and second rims positioned so as to close openings provided on side portions on both sides of the tire, and provided on outer peripheries of the first and second rims. An inner peripheral surface that contacts the inner peripheral portion on the bead side of the tire, and a side surface that contacts the outer peripheral portion, and engaging means that oppose each other, further applying an internal pressure to the tire, A pressurizing unit that applies an internal pressure to the tire so as to be positioned at an appropriate position by the engaging unit; a decompression unit that depressurizes the internal pressure applied by the pressurizing unit to a predetermined pressure; and a tire that has been decompressed by the decompression unit. And a printing unit including a printing head arranged at a position facing the side surface.
According to this configuration, the pressure means applies an internal pressure to the tire that is fixed to the engaging means so that the bead portion comes into contact with the first and second rims. Since it is positioned at an appropriate position, the centering accuracy can be improved.
Further, the pressure reducing means reduces the pressure of the tire to which the internal pressure is applied by the pressure applying means, and the printing means prints on the side surface of the tire pressure reduced by the pressure reducing means, thereby preventing wrinkles from occurring on the printing surface. It becomes possible.

In addition, as another configuration of the tire printing apparatus, a configuration is further provided that includes a shape measuring unit that measures the height difference of the concavo-convex shape of the outer shape of the side surface of the tire decompressed by the decompressing unit.
According to this configuration, in addition to the effects resulting from the above configuration, the outer shape of the tire during printing can be properly grasped.

Further, as another configuration of the tire printing apparatus, the tire printing apparatus further includes a rotating unit, and the rotating unit rotates the tire around the center axis of the tire arranged horizontally.
According to this configuration, even when the tire is bent due to gravity, wrinkles can be prevented from occurring on the printed surface after printing.

As another configuration of the tire printing apparatus, the tire printing apparatus includes first and second rim elevating means, and the elevating means moves in a direction to reduce the height difference of the uneven shape measured by the shape measuring means. It was set as the structure to do.
According to this configuration, it is possible to print at a constant interval between the side surface and the printing unit during printing, and print quality can be improved.

Also, as a method for printing a tire in a tire printing apparatus, an engagement step for engaging the bead portion side of the tire with engagement means on the outer periphery of the first and second rims to seal the tire, and pressurizing means A pressure step for applying an internal pressure to the tire and positioning the tire at an appropriate position based on the engaging means, a pressure reducing step for reducing the applied internal pressure to a predetermined pressure by the pressure reducing means, and a print head of the printing means Thus, a printing process is performed in which printing is performed on the side surface of the tire decompressed in the decompression process.
According to the present embodiment, the tire is sealed by engaging with the engaging means, and the internal pressure is applied to the tire. Therefore, the tire is positioned at an appropriate position with respect to the engaging means, and the centering accuracy can be improved. it can.
Further, since the tire to which the internal pressure is applied is decompressed by the pressurizing means and then printed on the side surface of the decompressed tire, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from occurring on the printed surface after printing.

  Further, as another form of the tire printing method in the tire printing apparatus, the form further includes a shape measuring step for measuring whether or not the height difference of the uneven shape in the outer shape of the side surface of the tire that has undergone the pressure reducing step is flat. For example, it is possible to measure and grasp whether or not the shape of the tire side surface during printing is flat.

  Further, as another form of the tire printing method in the tire printing apparatus, if the internal pressure applied to the tire in the pressurizing step is set to be equal to or less than the normal internal pressure that has been standardized in advance, the pressure reducing means is the internal pressure of the tire. The centering can be performed appropriately without requiring time for decompressing the pressure.

  Further, as another form of the tire printing method in the tire printing apparatus, if the tire is printed while being rotated around the center axis of the tire as the rotation center, the printed surface after printing is printed without wrinkling. Quality can be improved.

  Further, as another form of the tire printing method in the tire printing apparatus, the shape measuring step measures the height difference of the uneven shape in the tire width direction on the side surface of the tire, and the height difference of the uneven shape measured in the shape measuring step. If it is set as the form which prints in a printing process, moving in the direction which makes small, it can print according to the height difference of the uneven shape of the tire width direction in a side surface, and it becomes possible to improve print quality. .

  The summary of the invention does not enumerate all necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

It is a schematic diagram which shows a tire printing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows a rotational drive mechanism, an engaging means, and a raising / lowering means. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between a side surface and a shape measurement means. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between a side surface and a print head. It is a flowchart which shows the tire printing method.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through embodiments, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are included. It is not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention.

An embodiment of a tire printing apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the tire printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that prints characters and the like on the side surface 2 that is the printing surface of the tire 1, and is generally a first that supports the sidewall 5 on the lower side of the tire 1. A lower rim 41 as a rim, an upper rim 42 as a second rim for supporting the upper sidewall 5 of the tire 1, a lower drive mechanism 30a, an upper drive mechanism 30b, a pressurizing means 50, and a depressurizing means 55, a shape measuring means 60, a printing means 70, a control means 80, and the like.

The tire 1 has a central axis 90, and includes a tread portion 3, a shoulder portion 4; 4, side walls 5; 5 and bead portions 6; 6 as side portions.
The sidewalls 5; 5 are formed so as to extend from the shoulder portions 4; 4 in the direction of the central axis 90 of the tire 1, and have bead portions 6; The side surface 2 of the tire 1 is an upper surface of a side portion including a shoulder portion 4; 4 and a sidewall 5; 5 and a bead portion 6; 6.
Further, the bead portion 6 closest to the central axis 90 surrounds the opening 6a; 6a.

On the lower side of the tire 1, a conveyor table 21; 21 and a conveyor 21a; 21a are provided.
The conveyor tables 21; 21 are members that are arranged and conveyed so as to support both end sides of the horizontally placed tire 1. Specifically, the tire 1 that is conveyed in a certain direction (in this embodiment, from the back surface to the front surface) in a horizontal state on the conveyor 21a; 21a of the conveyor table 21; 21 by a conveyance mechanism such as a roller conveyor. The outside is stopped at a portion corresponding to the lower drive mechanism 30a. When the vehicle is stopped, the upper and lower positions of the tire 1 are adjusted.

The lower drive mechanism 30a is a mechanism for rotating the horizontally placed tire 1 with the center axis 90 of the tire 1 kept vertical or substantially vertical about the center axis 90 as a center of rotation. A device 23 and a rotating body 24 are provided.
The lower elevating device 31 includes a cylinder that moves up and down a piston shaft 31 a that moves up and down the rotating device 23.
The rotating device 23 is fixed to the upper end of the piston shaft 31a, and transmits the rotational force of the built-in motor to the vertical moving shaft 32 and the rotating body 24 via the output gear and the receiving gear to rotate.

The upper drive mechanism 30b includes an upper elevating device 33 having a vertically moving shaft 34 protruding downward, and a rotating body 35 fixed to the lower end of the vertically moving shaft 34. The upper drive mechanism 30b urges a force that moves the vertical movement shaft 34 up and down, but allows the force in the rotational direction of the vertical movement shaft 34 and supports it in a free state.
The inner peripheral upper surface side of the ring-shaped lower rim 41 as the first rim is fixed to the lower surface on the outer peripheral side of the rotating body 24, and the inner peripheral lower surface of the ring-shaped upper rim 42 as the second rim is the rotating body. 35 is fixed to the upper surface on the outer peripheral side.

The bead portion 6 side on the front end side of the lower sidewall 5 in the tire 1 includes an inner peripheral portion 6b surrounding the opening 6a and an outer portion 6c. Further, the outer periphery of the lower rim 41 has an inner peripheral surface 41a that extends vertically and abuts against the inner peripheral portion 6b, and a side surface 41b that extends horizontally and that contacts the outer portion 6c. The inner peripheral surface 41a and the side surface 41b face each other, and constitute an engaging means 40a that receives and holds the inner peripheral portion 6b and the outer portion 6c of the bead portion 6.
Further, the bead portion 6 side on the tip end side of the upper sidewall 5 in the tire 1 also includes an inner peripheral portion 6b surrounding the opening 6a and an outer portion 6c in symmetry with the lower bead portion 6. The upper rim 42 extends vertically, and has an inner peripheral surface 42a with which the inner peripheral portion 6b contacts, and a side surface 42b with which the outer rim 42 extends horizontally and with which the outer portion 6c contacts. The inner peripheral surface 42a and the side surface 42b face each other, and constitute an engaging means 40b that receives and holds the inner peripheral portion 6b and the outer portion 6c of the bead portion 6.

Thus, the lower inner peripheral portion 6b abuts on the inner peripheral surface 41a of the ring-shaped lower rim 41 centered on the central axis 90, and the upper inner peripheral portion 6b is the inner peripheral surface 42a of the upper rim 42. Therefore, the positioning of the tire 1 in the direction of the central axis 90 is performed, and the positional deviation in the direction perpendicular to the central axis 90 is restricted.
Since the lower outer portion 6c contacts the side surface 41b of the lower rim 41 and the upper outer portion 6c contacts the side surface 42b of the upper rim 42, air leakage is sealed. The tire 1 can be inflated by putting it inside and pressurizing it.

  The bead portion 6 on the front end side of the lower side wall 5 of the tire 1 and the bead portion 6 on the front end side of the upper side wall 5 are the outer periphery engaging means 40 a and the outer periphery of the upper rim 42. The inner space formed by the rotating body 24, the rotating body 35, the engaging means 40a, 40b and the tire 1 in a sealed state by being engaged with and fitted to the engaging means 40b of the Is pressurized and injected. Thereby, the inner peripheral portions 6b; 6b of the bead portion 6 and the inner peripheral surfaces 41a, 42a of the lower rim 41 and the upper rim 42 are in close contact with each other, and the outer portions 6c; 6c of the bead portion 6 and the lower rim 41 In addition, since the side surfaces 41b and 42b of the upper rim 42 are in close contact with each other and become completely airtight, an appropriate amount of air can be added.

  The upper pressurizing means 50 is a device that injects a gas such as air or nitrogen into the tire 1 and includes a gas supply source 51 and a supply path 52. The gas supply source 51 is configured by, for example, a compressor or a cylinder filled with air, nitrogen, or the like. The supply path 52 is constituted by a communication path formed so as to communicate the inner upper surface of the upper rim 42 and the lower end surface of the rotating body 35.

  The pressurizing means 50 applies an internal pressure to the tire 1 by injecting air or the like into the tire 1 in which the bead portions 6; 6 are held by the engaging means 40 a and 40 b of the lower rim 41 and the upper rim 42. To do. As the air is filled, internal pressure acts on the tire 1 and the bead portions 6; 6 of the tire 1 expand in the width direction. As described above, the bead portions 6; 6 are fixed to the lower rim 41 and the upper rim 42. Thus, the tire 1 is positioned (centered) at an appropriate position with respect to the engaging means 40a and 40b of the lower rim 41 and the upper rim 42. That is, the pressurizing unit 50 functions as a centering unit that positions the tire 1 at an appropriate position.

The internal pressure applied to the tire 1 by the pressurizing means 50 is set to, for example, a normal internal pressure that is standardized in advance by the Japan Automobile Tire Association (JATMA) or the like, and more preferably a normal internal pressure that is defined by the association or the like. It is set to 50% or more and 100% or less of the normal internal pressure.
In this way, by setting the internal pressure applied to the tire 1 to 50% or more of the normal internal pressure prescribed by the association or the like, a predetermined internal pressure is applied to the tire 1, so that positioning (centering) accuracy is improved. In addition, the unevenness of the side surface 2 of the tire 1 can be flattened. In addition, by setting the internal pressure applied to the tire 1 to 100% or less of the normal internal pressure prescribed by the association or the like, it is possible to quickly release when exhausting by the decompression means 55 described later, and it is possible to reduce the pressure in a short time. It becomes.

The decompression means 55 is a device that includes a gas exhaust valve 56 and a discharge passage 57 and discharges gas such as air injected by the pressurization means 50 out of the tire 1.
The gas exhaust valve 56 is a valve that discharges the gas filled in the tire 1. The discharge path 57 includes, for example, a communication path formed so as to communicate the rotating body 24 from the inner periphery of the lower rim 41, a gas exhaust valve 56, and an inlet of a communication path opened on the lower surface of the lower rim 41. It is composed of a communication pipe that connects the two. The decompression unit 55 decompresses the gas in the tire 1 to which the internal pressure is applied to atmospheric pressure or a predetermined pressure set in advance (for example, 25% of the normal internal pressure standardized in advance by an association or the like).
In the present embodiment, the pressurizing means 50 and the pressure reducing means 55 are provided separately, but one device capable of pressurizing and depressurizing the inside of the tire 1 may be provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the shape measuring means 60 includes a two-dimensional displacement measuring sensor 61 and a sensor moving mechanism 62.
A two-dimensional displacement measurement sensor (hereinafter referred to as a displacement sensor) 61 is provided above the side surface 2 on the upper side of the tire 1. More specifically, the tire 1 is set in a printable state, that is, the upper side surface 2 in the tire 1 that has been pressurized by the pressurizing unit 50 and then depressurized to a predetermined pressure by the depressurizing unit 55. It is provided at an opposing position. As shown in FIG. 3 in particular, the displacement sensor 61 irradiates the laser beam L1 to a certain range X on the extended line extending in the radial direction of the upper side surface 2 of the tire 1 and reflects the laser beam L2 reflected by the side surface 2. Is received. Thereby, the displacement sensor 61 measures the unevenness | corrugation change (level difference) of the side surface 2 which is the surface shape of the side surface 2 which irradiated the laser beam L1. In other words, the displacement sensor 61 is a device that acquires position information of the certain range X on the side surface 2 and the uneven shape that is height information.

The sensor moving mechanism 62 includes a vertical direction along the central axis 90 of the tire 1 (hereinafter referred to as the tire axial direction) and a direction along the diameter line of the tire 1 orthogonal to the central axis 90 of the tire 1 (hereinafter referred to as the tire axial direction). This is a mechanism for moving the displacement sensor 61 in the radial direction of the tire). The sensor moving mechanism 62 is configured by combining, for example, a configuration in which a member to which the displacement sensor 61 is attached is moved by a linear movement mechanism in which a ball screw and an LM guide are integrated, and the axial direction of the tire 1 and the tire 1 are combined. In this configuration, the amount of movement in the radial direction is controlled by a servo motor.
A print head moving mechanism 72 and an ink drying means moving mechanism (not shown) are also configured in the same manner as the sensor moving mechanism 62.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the printing unit 70 includes a print head 71, a print head moving mechanism 72, and an ink drying unit 73.
The print head 71 is, for example, an inkjet print head. The print head 71 is divided for each color such as cyan, magenta, yellow, white, and black. The print head 71 has openings of a plurality of nozzles 74 formed on the nozzle surface 71a, and discharges ink supplied from the ink supply mechanism (not shown) to the nozzles 74 via the ink chambers from the openings. For example, the print head 71 applies a drive signal to a piezoelectric element (not shown) and expands and contracts the piezoelectric element to change the volume of the ink chamber, thereby changing the pressure of the ink in the ink chamber. Ink is ejected.
The print head 71 and the side surface 2 of the tire 1 are printed in a state where they are separated by a predetermined gap H. Then, the vertical movement shafts 32 and 34 of the lower lifting device 31 and the upper lifting device 33 move up and down along the central axis 90 (vertical direction) of the tire 1 so that the gap H is always kept constant.

  The ink drying means 73 is, for example, an ultraviolet irradiation lamp (hereinafter referred to as a UV lamp), and is disposed corresponding to each print head 71 so as to be positioned immediately after each print head 71 in the rotation direction of the tire 1. .

The control unit 80 includes a rotation control unit, a lift control unit, a pressure control unit, a pressure reduction control unit, a shape measurement control unit, a print control unit, and the like.
The rotation control unit controls the rotation device 23 to control the rotation number of the rotating body 24.
The lifting control means controls the lower lifting device 31 to control the vertical position of the vertical movement shaft 32 and the upper lifting device 33 to control the vertical position of the vertical movement shaft 34.

The pressurization control unit controls the gas supply operation by the on / off operation of the gas supply source 51.
The decompression control means controls the gas exhausting operation by the on / off operation of the gas exhaust valve 56.
The shape measurement control means controls the on / off operation of the displacement sensor 61 and the sensor moving mechanism 62, and operates the displacement sensor 61 a plurality of times while the tire 1 makes one rotation from the initial position to be positioned below the displacement sensor 61. The surface shape of the portion X of the side surface 2 to be measured is measured a plurality of times.
The print control unit controls the printing operation by the print head 71, the print head moving mechanism 72, and the ink drying unit 73.

Hereinafter, operation | movement of the tire printing apparatus 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated using a flow.
As shown in FIG. 5, in step S <b> 1, the lift control means of the control means 80 is indicated by an arrow m in FIG. 2 after the tire 1 is stopped on the conveyor 21 a; In this manner, the lower elevating device 31 is controlled to move the vertical movement shaft 32 upward. As a result, the engaging means 40a on the outer periphery of the lower rim 41 fixed to the rotating body 24 enters the opening 6a, engages with the lower bead portion 6, and the engagement means 40a rises so that the tire 1 The conveyor base 21 moves to the upper side of the conveyor 21a. Further, the lifting control means moves the vertical movement shaft 34 of the upper lifting device 33 downward as indicated by an arrow n in FIG. Thereby, the engaging means 40b of the upper rim 42 fixed to the rotating body 35 is engaged with the upper bead portion 6, and a sealed state is ensured.

Next, in step S <b> 2, the pressurization control unit of the control unit 80 drives the gas supply source 51 of the pressurization unit 50 to inject a gas such as air into the sealed tire 1. The pressurization control means controls the pressure to a preset pressure from a range of 50% or more of the normal internal pressure standardized by an association or the like and 100% or less of the normal internal pressure. As the air is injected, the bead portion 6; 6 of the tire 1 expands in the width direction of the tire 1 due to the internal pressure, and the inner peripheral portion 6b; 6b and the outer portion 6c; 6c of the bead portion 6; The engagement means 40a of the rim 41 and the engagement means 40b of the upper rim 42 are fixed to the inner peripheral surfaces 41a and 42a and the side surfaces 41b and 42b.
Accordingly, the tire 1 is positioned (centered) with respect to the engaging means 40a and 40b of the lower rim 41 and the upper rim 42. Further, the bead portion 6; 6 side and the engaging means 40a, 40b of the lower rim 41 and the upper rim 42 are in close contact with each other, and the airtight state is maintained.

Moreover, when the inside of the tire 1 is filled with gas, the lifting control means adjusts the upper and lower positions of the rotating body 24 and the rotating body 35 so that the position of the bead portions 6; 2 is raised and lowered so as to maintain a flat state from the curved state, and the side surface 2 on the upper side of the tire 1 which is a printing target surface is set as close to a flat as possible.
In this way, the lifting control means lifts and lowers the rotating body 24 and the rotating body 35 fixed to the vertical movement shafts 32 and 34 in the vertical direction, so that the printing surface that is usually the upper side surface 2 having a curved shape is provided. It can be lifted to be in a flat state, the height difference due to the unevenness formed on the side surface 2 can be made as small as possible, and the appearance quality of the tire 1 which is print quality can be improved. Further, by raising and lowering the vertical movement shafts 32 and 34, the bead portions 6 and 6 are brought into close contact with the lower rim 41 and the upper rim 42, so that the airtight state can be more reliably achieved.

Next, in step S <b> 3, the decompression control means of the control means 80 drives the gas exhaust valve 56 of the decompression means 55 to exhaust the gas in the tire 1. Then, the decompression control means sets the internal pressure of the tire 1 after the gas is discharged to a value between 50 atmospheric pressure (normal pressure) and less than 50% of the normal internal pressure defined by the association.
Similarly to the above, when the gas in the tire 1 is discharged by the decompression means 55, the elevation control means again raises and lowers the rotary body 24 and the rotary body 35 by the vertical movement shafts 32 and 34, You may set the side surface 2 of the upper side of the tire 1 used as a printing object surface in a flat state. Thereby, the printing surface which is the side surface 2 of the tire 1 can be more reliably brought into a flat state, and the appearance quality of the tire 1 can be improved.

In step S4, the control unit 80 operates the displacement sensor 61 of the shape measuring unit 60 a plurality of times while the tire 1 makes one rotation from the initial position, and the displacement sensor 61 causes the side surface 2 positioned below the displacement sensor 61 to be constant. The surface shape of the range X portion is measured a plurality of times. That is, the position information of the side surface 2 and the height information of the side surface 2 are acquired a plurality of times while the tire 1 is rotated once.
As described above, the position of the tire 1 is determined in accordance with the application of the internal pressure to the tire 1 by the pressurizing unit 50 and the pressure in the tire 1 is depressurized by the decompression unit 55. By measuring the information (difference in height), it is possible to obtain the position information and height information, which are the outer shape of the tire 1 immediately before printing, more accurately than before applying the internal pressure to the tire 1. Therefore, when the shape measuring unit 60 determines that the side surface 2 is a surface shape suitable for printing, printing is executed in the next step S5.

  In step S <b> 5, the print control unit of the control unit 80 drives the print head 71 to perform printing on the side surface 2. The print control means controls the sensor moving mechanism 62, the print head moving mechanism 72, and the ink drying means moving mechanism according to the size of the tire 1, and the tires of the displacement sensor 61, the print head 71, and the ink drying means 73 are controlled. The radial position and axial position of 1 are adjusted.

In step S5, the lifting control means of the control means 80 uses the lower lifting device 31 and the upper lifting device based on the position information and height information of the side surface 2 of the tire 1 measured by the displacement sensor 61 in step S4. 33 is controlled, and the vertical movement shafts 32 and 34 are moved up and down in a direction to reduce the height difference of the unevenness formed on the side surface 2. Specifically, the elevation control means is configured such that when a part of the side surface 2 measured by the displacement sensor 61 of the shape measurement means 60 has a convex shape and the part is higher than the other parts, the vertical movement shaft 32. , 34 is moved down. Further, when the part of the side surface 2 measured by the displacement sensor 61 is concave and the part is higher than the other parts, the elevation control means moves the vertical movement shafts 32 and 34 upward.
In this way, the vertical movement shafts 32 and 34 move up and down in a direction to reduce the height difference in the unevenness of the side surface 2 measured by the displacement sensor 61, so that the print head 71 and the side surface 2 shown in FIG. The gap H can always be kept constant, and printing can be performed under the same conditions as when the side surface 2 of the tire 1 is flat. Therefore, since printing is performed on the printing surface, which is the side surface 2 after printing, in a flat state without forming irregularities, it is possible to improve the printing quality, that is, the appearance quality.

  When printing on the tire 1 is completed by the print head 71, the vertical movement shafts 32 and 34 move down and up, the tire 1 is lowered to the conveyor 21a; 21a, and the tire 1 is transferred to the next processing step by the conveyor 21a; 21a. Is done. The upper surface of the rotating body 24 is restored to a lower position than the upper surface of the conveyor 21a; 21a, and waits for the next printing of the tire 1 to be conveyed. Thereby, the printing operation of the tire printing apparatus 10 is completed.

As described above, the pressurizing means 50 applies the internal pressure to the tire 1 held in a sealed state by fixing the bead parts 6; 6 of the tire 1 by the engaging means 40 a and 40 b, so that the bead parts of the tire 1 are applied. 6 and 6 are positioned at appropriate positions with respect to the engaging means 40a and 40b of the lower rim 41 and the upper rim 42, so that the centering accuracy of the tire 1 can be improved.
Further, the decompression means 55 decompresses the tire 1 to which the internal pressure is applied by the pressurization means 50, and the printing means 70 performs printing on the side surface 2 of the tire 1 decompressed by the decompression means 55. Even when the internal pressure is set to atmospheric pressure, wrinkles can be prevented from occurring on the side surface 2 that is the printing surface, and the appearance quality of the tire can be improved.

  In addition, the tire 1 is not necessarily limited to the horizontal placement, and printing may be performed so as to be arranged in a vertical orientation and rotatably.

1 tire, 2 side surface, 6 bead part, 6a opening, 6b inner peripheral part,
6c outer part, 10 tire printing device, 24 rotating body,
30a Lower drive mechanism, 30b Upper drive mechanism, 31 Lower lift device, 32 Vertical movement shaft,
33 Upper lifting device, 34 Vertical axis, 35 Rotating body,
40a, 40b engagement means, 41 lower rim, 41a inner peripheral surface, 41b side surface,
42 upper rim, 42a inner peripheral surface, 42b side surface, 50 pressurizing means, 55 depressurizing means,
60 shape measuring means, 70 printing means, 80 control means, 90 central axis.

Claims (8)

First it is positioned so as to close the opening provided in the side portions on both sides of the tire, and a second rim,
Engagement means provided on the outer periphery of the first and second rims, having an inner peripheral surface that contacts the inner peripheral portion on the bead portion side of the tire, and a side surface that contacts the outer portion, and facing each other ;
Before SL applying a pressure to the tire, and pressurizing means you position the tire in the correct position for the engaging means,
Pressure reducing means for reducing the internal pressure applied by the pressure means to a predetermined pressure;
A printing means having a print head which is arranged at a position facing the side surface of the tire that has been depressurized by the pressure reducing means,
Shape measuring means for measuring the height difference of the irregular shape of the outer shape of the side surface of the tire decompressed by the decompression means;
Tire printing device equipped with. Tire printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation means for rotating the tire a center axis of the tire being arranged in transversely as the center of rotation. Before SL first, with a lifting means of the second rim,
The lifting means, wherein the shape measuring means by the measured unevenness claim 1 or claim 2 Symbol mounting the tire printing apparatus moves in a direction to decrease the height difference. First, the engagement means of the outer periphery of the second rim positioned so as to close the opening provided in the side portions on both sides of the tire to engage the bead portion side of the tire, and sealed the tire An engagement step ;
The pressurizing means applies a pressure to the tire, the pressurization step of positioning at a proper position against the tire to the engaging means,
The reduced pressure means a depressurizing step of depressurizing the applied pressure to a predetermined pressure,
A printing step for printing on the side surface of the tire by vacuum tire side surface facing to place print head position, whose pressure before Symbol decreased by the pressure reducing means,
A tire printing method comprising: The tire printing method according to claim 4 , further comprising a shape measuring step for measuring whether or not the height difference of the irregular shape of the outer shape of the side surface of the tire that has undergone the pressure reducing step is flat. Before Symbol shape measurement step measures the height difference of the irregularities in the tire width direction in the side surface of the tire, of the measured unevenness of claim 5, wherein the difference in height Before moving the tire in a direction decreases Tire printing method. The tire printing method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein an internal pressure applied to the tire in the pressurizing step is set to be equal to or less than a normal internal pressure that has been standardized in advance. The tire printing method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the tire is printed while being rotated about a center axis of the tire as a rotation center.

Images