JP7131254B2 - Mounting device for tire low cover - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mounting device for a tire low cover. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mounting device for placing a tire raw cover in a mold.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-220615 discloses a mounting device for arranging a tire raw cover in a mold. In this mounting device, the pressing member causes the inner surface portion of the bead portion of the low cover to be seated on the mold. After one bead portion is seated on the pressing member, the other bead portion is seated. This positions the raw cover in the mold. This mounting device suppresses displacement of the low cover with respect to the mold. This mounting device contributes to improvement in molding accuracy of the resulting tire.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-220615

In the pressing member of the mounting device described above, when one of the pair of bead portions is seated, the other is not pressed. This pressing member cannot simultaneously press a pair of bead portions. When positioning one of the pair of bead portions, the other may be misaligned. This positional deviation is not preferable from the viewpoint of tire molding accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a low cover mounting device that is excellent in tire molding accuracy.

The mounting device according to the present invention arranges the tire raw cover in the mold. This mounting device includes a locking body that locks one bead portion of the low cover, and a pressing body that presses the other bead portion of the low cover outward from the axial inner side.

Preferably, the mounting device comprises a pressing movement device for axially moving the pressing body with respect to the locking body.

Preferably, the pressing body has a pressing surface that contacts the other bead portion. In a posture in which the pressing body presses the other bead portion against the mold, the pressing surface is located radially outside the inner end of the other bead portion.

The pressing body includes a pressing body and a pressing portion. The pressing surface is formed on the pressing portion. The axial thickness of the contact portion is preferably 20 mm or more. In a posture in which the pressing body presses the other bead portion against the mold, the pressing portion is positioned radially outside the inner end of the other bead portion.

A method for manufacturing a tire according to the present invention includes:
(A) placing the raw cover in the mold by pressing the other bead portion outward from the axially inner side with a pressing member in a state where one bead portion of the low tire cover is locked by the locking body; (B) A step of holding the raw cover placed in the mold with a bladder.

Preferably, in step (A), the inner end of the pressing surface of the pressing body that contacts the other bead portion is positioned radially outside the inner end of the other bead portion.

In the mounting device according to the present invention, the pressing body presses the other bead portion against the mold while the locking body retains one of the bead portions. The locking body and the pressing body allow the low cover to be placed in the mold in a correct posture. This mounting device can accurately position the raw cover on the mold. This mounting device can contribute to improving the molding accuracy of the tire obtained from the raw cover.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a vulcanizing device equipped with a mounting device according to one embodiment of the present invention together with a raw cover. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the state of use of the vulcanizing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the usage state of the mounting device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3(b) is an explanatory diagram showing another usage state of the mounting device of FIG. FIG. 4(a) is an explanatory diagram showing still another usage condition of the mounting device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4(b) is an explanatory diagram showing still another usage condition of the mounting device of FIG. be.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with appropriate reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show part of the vulcanizing apparatus 1 together with the raw cover R. As shown in FIG. The vertical direction in FIG. 1 is the vertical direction of the vulcanizing apparatus 1 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a vulcanizing device 1 includes a loader 2 as an example of a mounting device according to the present invention. This loader 2 includes a column 4, an arm 6, a first lifting device 8, a first diameter expanding device 10, a plurality of locking bodies 12, a second lifting device 14 as a pressing and moving device, a second diameter expanding device 16, and A plurality of pressing bodies 18 are provided. Although not shown, the loader 2 further includes a rotating device that rotates the column 4 and the arm 6 with the vertical direction as the axis of rotation. In FIG. 1 , the raw cover R is arranged with its axial direction in the vertical direction of the vulcanizing device 1 .

As shown in FIG. 2, this vulcanization apparatus 1 further comprises a mold 22, a bladder 24, a bagwell 26 and a ball nose 28. As shown in FIG. This mold 22 has a lower mold 30 and an upper mold 32 .

As shown in FIG. 1, the arm 6 is supported by the strut 4. As shown in FIG. The arm 6 is vertically movable with respect to the column 4 by a first lifting device 8 . The first diameter expanding device 10 is attached to the tip portion 6 a of the arm 6 .

The plurality of locking bodies 12 are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction with the vertical direction as the central axis. Each locking body 12 has a main body 12a and a locking claw 12b. The main body 12a extends downward. The locking pawl 12b extends radially outward. The locking claw 12b extends from the lower end of the main body 12a downward in the vertical direction while being inclined radially outward. The body 12a is radially movable. The first diameter expanding device 10 has a function of moving the main body 12a. The locking body 12 can be radially expanded and contracted. The number of locking bodies 12 is not particularly limited as long as it is plural, but from the viewpoint of stably locking the low cover R, it is preferably three or more.

The second lifting device 14 is attached to the tip portion 6 a of the arm 6 . The second diameter expanding device 16 is attached to the second lifting device 14 . The second diameter expanding device 16 is vertically movable with respect to the arm 6 . The second vertical device 14 has a function of moving the second diameter expanding device 16 in the vertical direction.

The plurality of pressing bodies 18 are arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction with the vertical direction as the central axis. Each pressing member 18 has a main body 18a, a mounting portion 18b and a pressing portion 18c. The main body 18a extends downward. The mounting portion 18b extends radially outward from the lower end of the main body 18a. A pressing portion 18c is attached below the attaching portion 18b. The pressing portion 18c is detachable from the mounting portion 18b. The pressing portion 18c has a pressing surface 18d that contacts the bead portion Rb of the low cover R. As shown in FIG.

A double-headed arrow Ta in FIG. 1 indicates the thickness of the pressing portion 18c. This thickness Ta is measured as a linear distance in the vertical direction. A push arrow Db represents the inner diameter of the bead portion Rb of the low cover R. As shown in FIG. A double arrow Da1 represents the diameter of an imaginary circle passing through the inner end of the pressing surface 18d. FIG. 1 shows a posture in which the pressing body 18 presses the bead portion Rb against the lower mold 30 (pressing posture of the loader 2). This diameter Da1 is measured in the radial direction in the pressing posture of FIG.

In FIG. 2, the lower mold 30 and the upper mold 32 are in contact with each other. This mold 22 is in the closed position. The lower mold 30 has an opening 30a in the center in the radial direction. A bagwell 26 is arranged in this opening 30a. The bagwell 26 has an opening 26a in its center. A bladder 24 is attached to the upper end of bagwell 26 . The upper mold 32 has an opening 32a in the center in the radial direction. A ball nose 28 is arranged in this opening 32a. The ball nose 28 is vertically movable by a driving device (not shown). This vulcanizer 1 is of AFV (Auto Form Vulcanizer) type.

The bladder 24 in FIG. 2 is expanded by being filled with a heating and pressurizing medium. Inflated bladder 24 extends along lower mold 30 , upper mold 32 and ball nose 28 . 2, lower mold 30, upper mold 32 and bladder 24 form cavity 34. In FIG. A raw cover R is accommodated in this cavity 34 . The bladder 24 can be contracted by discharging the heating and pressurizing medium. The deflated bladder 24 is received in the opening 26a of the bagwell 26 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 3(a) shows the loader 2 in the standby posture and the low cover R arranged on the stand 36. FIG. In the waiting posture of the loader 2, the first lifting device 8 positions the arm 6 upward. A rotating device (not shown) positions the distal end portion 6 a of the arm 6 above the table 36 . The first diameter-expanding device 10 positions the locking body 12 at the diameter-reduced position. The second lifting device 14 positions the pressing body 18 upward. The second diameter expanding device 16 positions the pressing body 18 at the diameter contracting position. A double-headed arrow D1 in FIG. 3(a) represents the outer diameter of the locking claw 12b of the locking body 12 at the diameter-reduced position. A double-headed arrow D2 represents the outer diameter of the pressing portion 18c of the pressing body 18 at the diameter-reduced position. The outer diameter D1 and the outer diameter D2 are smaller than the inner diameter Db of the raw cover R.

FIG. 3B shows a posture (locking posture) in which the loader 2 locks the low cover R. As shown in FIG. The first lifting device 8 positions the arm 6 downward with respect to the standby posture shown in FIG. 3(a). The first diameter-expanding device 10 expands the diameter of the locking body 12 from the diameter-reduced position. The locking claws 12b of the plurality of locking bodies 12 lock one bead portion Rb. Each locking claw 12b locks the axially inner side of one bead portion Rb.

FIG. 4(a) shows the pressing posture of the loader 2. As shown in FIG. In this pressing posture, the loader 2 places the raw cover R on the lower mold 30 . In FIG. 4( a ), a rotating device (not shown) positions the tip 6 a of the arm 6 above the lower mold 30 . The first lifting device 8 positions the arm 6 at a height where the raw cover R is arranged on the lower mold 30 . The first diameter expanding device 10 expands the diameter of the engaging body 12 . The locking body 12 locks one bead portion Rb. The second diameter expanding device 16 expands the diameter of the pressing member 18 to the diameter expanding position. The second lifting device 14 presses the pressing portion 18c outward from the inner side of the low cover R in the axial direction. The second lifting device 14 brings the other bead portion Rb into contact with the lower mold 30 by the pressing portion 18c.

In FIG. 4(a), the bladder 24 is deflated. Most of deflated bladder 24 is accommodated in opening 26 a of bagwell 26 . Although not shown, the upper mold 32 is retracted to a retracted position away from the lower mold 30 . This mold 22 is in an open position.

FIG. 4(b) shows the posture of the loader 2 with the tip 6a of the arm 6 retracted above the lower mold 30. As shown in FIG. The first lifting device 8 retracts the arm 6 upward in the posture shown in FIG. 4(a). The first diameter-expanding device 10 positions the locking body 12 at the diameter-reduced position. The second lifting device 14 positions the pressing body 18 upward. The second diameter expanding device 16 positions the pressing body 18 at the diameter contracting position.

In FIG. 4(b), the bladder 24 is inflated by pressurized heating medium. Bladder 24 is inflated to a pressure below that of vulcanization. This bladder 24 holds the raw cover R placed on the lower mold 30 by the loader 2 .

A tire manufacturing method using the vulcanizing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 .

As shown in FIG. 3( a ), in this tire manufacturing method, the raw cover R is placed on a stand 36 . In this manner, the raw cover R is prepared (STEP 1).

3A, the first lifting device 8 lowers the arm 6 to a height where the locking claw 12b locks the low cover R. As shown in FIG. The first diameter expanding device 10 expands the diameter of the engaging body 12 from the diameter contracting position. In this manner, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the engaging body 12 is engaged with the bead portion Rb of the low cover R (STEP 2).

The raw cover R locked to the locking body 12 is moved upward away from the mounting base 36 by the first lifting device 8 . The raw cover R is suspended by the locking body 12. As shown in FIG. The raw cover R is held by the locking body 12 . The raw cover R is moved above the lower mold 30 by a rotating device (not shown). The first lifting device 8 moves the raw cover R to a height where it is placed on the lower mold 30 . The second diameter expanding device 16 moves the pressing body 18 to the diameter expanding position. The second lifting device 14 moves the pressing body 18 downward. With the locking body 12 locking one bead portion Rb of the low cover R, the pressing portion 18c brings the other bead portion Rb into contact with the lower mold 30 at a predetermined position. In this manner, the loader 2 places the raw cover R at a predetermined position on the lower mold 30 (STEP 3).

The second lifting device 14 lifts the pressing body 18 . The second diameter expanding device 16 moves the pressing body 18 to the diameter contracting position. In this manner, the pressing portion 18c is separated from the other bead portion Rb. The first diameter expanding device 10 moves the locking body 12 to the diameter reducing position. In this manner, the engaging body 12 is separated from one bead portion Rb. After that, the first lifting device 8 raises the arm 6 . Bladder 24 is inflated by pressurized heating medium. In this way, as shown in FIG. 4B, the bladder 24 holds the low cover R (STEP 4).

With the bladder 24 holding the low cover R, the upper mold 32 and the lower mold 30 are in contact with each other. In this way, the mold 22 is closed as shown in FIG. 2 (STEP 5). Bladder 24 is then brought to a higher pressure and heated by the pressurized medium. Raw cover R is vulcanized within mold 22 . A tire is obtained from the raw cover R by this vulcanization.

Although not shown, the pressurized medium is expelled from the bladder 24 prior to tire removal. Ball nose 28 is lowered to force bladder 24 into bagwell 26 . This strips the bladder 24 from the tire. Most of the bladder 24 is accommodated in the opening 26a (STEP 6).

The upper mold 32 is separated from the lower mold 30 and the mold 22 is in the open position. The tire is taken out from the open mold 22 (STEP 7).

In this manufacturing method, in STEP 3, the pressing portion 18c is pressed against the other bead portion Rb after the low cover R is set to the height to be arranged on the lower mold 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. The pressing portion 18c may be pressed against the other bead portion Rb before the raw cover R reaches a height where it is placed on the lower mold 30 . The locking body 12 locks one bead portion Rb of the low cover R, and the pressing portion 18c of the pressing body 18 is pressed against the other bead portion Rb. Rb may be brought into contact with a predetermined position of the lower mold 30 .

This loader 2 has a locking body 12 and a pressing body 18 . In this loader 2 , while one bead portion Rb is locked by the locking body 12 , the other bead portion Rb can be arranged at a predetermined position of the lower mold 30 with the pressing body 18 . As a result, the low cover R is arranged on the lower mold 30 in a correct posture. This loader 2 contributes to improving the molding accuracy of the tire.

This loader 2 includes a second lifting device 14 . By means of this second lifting device 14, the pressing member 18 presses the other bead portion Rb downward. As a result, while one bead portion Rb is locked by the locking member 12, the other bead portion Rb is easily pressed by the pressing member 18. As shown in FIG.

In this vulcanizing apparatus 1 , a deflated bladder 24 is housed in a bagwell 26 . However, with most of the bladder 24 contained in the bagwell 26, a portion of the bladder 24 may protrude radially outward.

In this loader 2, the diameter Da1 in FIG. 1 is larger than the inner diameter Db of the raw cover R in the radial direction. The pressing surface 18d that is pressed against the bead portion Rb is located outside the inner end of the bead portion Rb. This prevents the bladder 24 from being caught between the pressing portion 18c and the low cover R. In this loader 2, damage to the bladder 24 is suppressed. The bladder 24 is sandwiched between the pressing portion 18c and the low cover R, and the rubber composition of the low cover R is prevented from adhering to the bladder 24. As shown in FIG.

In this loader 2, in the state of FIG. 1, the pressing portion 18c is positioned outside the inner end of the other bead portion Rb. The pressing body 18 having a large thickness Ta of the pressing portion 18c can further reduce the interference between the pressing body 18 and the bladder 24 . This reduction in interference can reduce defects such as damage to the bladder 24 . From this point of view, the thickness Ta is preferably 20 mm or more. The upper limit of the thickness Ta is not particularly limited. The upper limit value may be any value that allows the pressing member 18 to move vertically between the pair of bead portions Rb of the low cover R as necessary.

The effects of the present invention will be clarified by examples below, but the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner based on the description of these examples.

[Example 1]
A vulcanization apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 was prepared. The thickness Ta of the pressing portion was 20 mm. A tire was manufactured using this vulcanizing apparatus.

[Example 2-4]
A tire was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the thickness Ta of the pressing portion was set as shown in Table 1.

[Example 5]
A tire was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the pressing portion was not provided.

[evaluation]
The occurrence frequency of inner liner rubber sticking to the bladder (BLM) and the occurrence frequency of bladder damage (BLP) were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The smaller this number is, the lower the frequency of occurrence. This numerical value is preferably as small as possible.

As shown in Table 1, in the vulcanizing apparatus according to the example, the occurrence of BLM and BLP is suppressed by providing the pressing portion.

The vulcanizing apparatus described above can be widely applied to tire manufacturing methods using a bladder and a mold.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 vulcanizing device 2 loader 8 first vertical device 10 first diameter expanding device 12 engaging body 12b engaging claw 14 second vertical Device 16 Second diameter expanding device 18 Pushing member 18c Pushing portion 18d Pushing surface 22 Mold 24 Bladder 30 Lower mold 32 upper mold

Claims (4)

A mounting device for arranging a tire low cover in a mold,
a locking body that locks one bead portion of the low cover;
a pressing body that presses the other bead portion of the low cover outward from the inner side in the axial direction ;
The pressing body has a pressing portion formed with a pressing surface that contacts the other bead portion,
The mounting device , wherein the inner end of the pressing portion is located radially outside the inner end of the other bead portion in a posture in which the pressing body presses the other bead portion against the mold . 2. The mounting device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing movement device for axially moving said pressing body with respect to said locking body. The pressing body includes a pressing body and a pressing portion,
The pressing surface is formed on the pressing portion,
The pressing portion has an axial thickness of 20 mm or more,
2. In a posture in which the pressing body presses the other bead portion against the mold, the pressing portion is positioned radially outside an inner end of the other bead portion. 3. The mounting device according to 2 . (A) in a state where one bead portion of a low cover for a tire is locked by a locking body, the other bead portion is pressed outward from the axially inner side by a pressing body, and the low cover is arranged in a mold; B) holding the raw cover placed in the mold with a bladder ;
In the step (A), the inner end of the pressing portion of the pressing body, which has a pressing surface that contacts the other bead portion, is radially outward from the inner end of the other bead portion. located, tire manufacturing method.

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