JPH0153180B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a radial tire.

When manufacturing radial tires, as shown in FIG. A material supply device c for supplying the constituent members of the belt tread structure, a carcass forming drum d that can be expanded and contracted between a cylindrical state and a toroidal state, and an expansion and contraction device that rotatably supports the drum d. Frame e equipped with an approach/separation mechanism for the bead spacing on both sides
, a material supply device f for supplying structural members such as an inner liner, a chief, a carcass ply, and a sidewall constituting the carcass to the drum d; Move to the position of drum d,
The structure is installed on the outer periphery of the green carcass made into a toroidal shape by the drum d, and the completed green tire is gripped from the outside and the drum d
a carrier g, which is equipped with an expandable and retractable gripping claw that acts to remove the bead core, and a device for locating the left bead core in a used position when the drum is in the d position; a moving track and a drive device h for the carrier g; Tire manufacturing equipment for a one-step molding method, comprising a crimping device i that appropriately crimps the structure on the drum a, and a crimping device j that crimps the belt-tread structure delivered from the carrier g to the green carcass. Many such methods are known, including the one described in JP-A-54-125277, but they all have the following drawbacks in common.

That is, the drums a and d are arranged coaxially so as to face each other, and on the drum d, () first, isolated sidewalls are wrapped around and joined to the left and right portions that constitute the tire sidewalls, and () after that, the vehicle Cushion rubber, etc. for the purpose of protecting the tire that comes into contact with the wheel part attached to the wheel is wrapped and bonded, () then an inner liner rubber sheet is wrapped and bonded, ()
Furthermore, a rubber sheet (commonly known as a carcass ply) containing fibers (often steel cords arranged parallel to the axis of the drum d) is wrapped and spliced (), after which the outer part of said material is The bead cores are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the drum d. Incidentally, FIG. 2a shows the state after the completion of the step () after passing through the steps () to ().
() The lower part of the bead core of the drum d is expanded, and the material layer on the drum d is pressed against the inner peripheral part of the bead core. Note that FIG. 2b shows this state. () Next, pressurized air is supplied to make the bead cores into a toroidal shape while narrowing the gap between them, and then the material layer at the outer end of the bead core is folded back to wrap around the bead core and pressed onto the toroidal material layer. () Also, at an appropriate time in the above operation, a pre-assembled belt/tread structure is prepared at the center of both bead cores, a toroidal shape grows on the surface of the structure, the two are joined, and finally a crimping device The tire is completed by compression molding. However, the drum d is manufactured by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 124640 (1983) for the above steps (), (), ().
As proposed in the invention described in the issue, the inner liner rubber is made of an elastic body and has a soft surface, and the rubber material such as the side wall around which it is wrapped has a triangular shape with long sides. At the time of winding the sheet and carcass ply, the surface is not flat but uneven. Therefore, when an operator attempts to wrap and join the inner liner rubber sheet and carcass ply, it is extremely difficult to work and it is extremely difficult to make the amount of joining lap uniform over the entire area to be joined. As a result, the quality of manufactured tires becomes unstable and productivity is significantly reduced. Furthermore, since the surface on which the winding is based is unstable and uneven as described above, it has the disadvantage that it is difficult to automate the work.

The present invention deals with the above-mentioned problems, and involves coaxially arranging a bead core BC around a carcass band CB assembled in advance into a cylindrical shape, expanding the diameter of the carcass band CB, and connecting the same carcass band CB with the above-mentioned carcass band CB. After joining the lower part of the bead core BC to form a band structure BB, the band structure BB is coaxially transferred around a structure having a side wall SW and a cushion rubber CR assembled in advance into a cylindrical shape. A structure having a wall SW and a cushion rubber CR is expanded in diameter and pressed against the inner surface of the band structure BB, and then the band structure
While making the space between both bead cores BC of BB into a toroidal shape, the outer ends of both bead cores BC of the band structure BB are folded back and crimped so as to wrap around the bead core BC, and then the outer edges of the toroidal band structure BB are preliminarily bonded. A method for manufacturing a radial tire characterized by assembling the assembled annular belt-tread structure BT to complete a raw radial tire, and a green carcass forming drum d for making a carcass band CB into a toroidal shape. , a carcass band forming drum k disposed coaxially and facing the green carcass forming drum d, and a carcass band forming drum k disposed so as to be reciprocally movable between the drums d and k, and the axes of the drums d and k. A bead core and carcass band transport carrier o having a pair of bead core holding devices o-1 and o-2 coaxial with the bead core BC and a bead core BC prepared outside the movement path of the bead core and carcass band transport carrier o are held from inside. and a bead core supply device p that holds the gripped bead core BC in a vertical state while supplying it to the bead core holding devices o-1 and o-2. The purpose is to facilitate the lamination and joining of inner liner rubber sheets, to make the amount of overlap at the joints uniform, to maintain constant tire quality, and to improve productivity. It also makes it easier to join the carcass plies, makes the joints uniform, maintains constant tire quality, and improves productivity. In addition, the bead cores are automatically supplied to the bead core holding device, which makes it possible to save labor and improve productivity. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing a radial tire.

Next, the method and apparatus for manufacturing a radial tire of the present invention will be explained with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 7. The belt/tread structure forming drum a shown in FIG. a substantially cylindrical rigid drum having an outer circumference equal to or approximately equal to the inner circumference of the belt tread, the outer circumference of which, when contracted, is less than the inner circumference of the assembled belt tread assembly; For example, those described in JP-A-55-135647 and JP-A-55-135648 can be used.
The frame b' has the drum a mounted thereon so as to be able to freely stop its rotation, and has a supply device for compressed air for expanding and contracting the drum a.
That is, it is provided with a stop position control means for dispersing the seams of the material in the circumferential direction as planned. Furthermore, the frame b' having the above structure is movable by a known drive means on a track arranged perpendicular to a track h' to be described later, and at its advance limit position, the axis of the drum a is aligned with the drum d to be described later. and k (see), and at the retraction limit position, the carriers g′, which will be described later,
o will not become an obstacle when passing nearby (see). In addition, at the forward and reverse limits, the position is accurately determined by a known stopper, and
Each is equipped with a detector. When in the above-mentioned position (), the belt tread structure is assembled on the drum a according to a predetermined procedure. In addition, the material supply device c is commonly called a servicer.
It supplies the constituent members of the belt tread structure assembled on the drum a, and there are many known examples, so a detailed explanation will be omitted. The green carcass forming drum d also includes a pair of left and right bead lock members that can be expanded and contracted, and expandable and contractible devices on the outer parts of both bead lock members, and furthermore, the pair of bead lock members and the expandable and contractible devices are synchronized on the left and right sides. Any structure may be used as long as it can be approached and separated from the
-The one described in Publication No. 124640 is used. The frame e also has a supply device for supplying pressurized air for expanding and contracting the bead lock member of the drum d, and a supply device for supplying pressurized air for the expansion and contraction device. It has a device, a pressurized air supply device for deforming it into a toroidal shape, and a configuration for relatively and synchronously separating the left and right bead lock members. The one described in Publication No. 32544 is used. In addition, the material supply device f′ is
It is commonly called a servicer, and the drum d
Items that are not supplied by the material supply device c and the material supply device m described below, such as side walls and cushion members to be assembled above, are supplied. There are many known examples of this, and detailed explanations will be omitted. Further, the belt tread structure transfer carrier g' is moved after the belt tread structure has been assembled on the drum a, moves so that the drum a is aligned with the axes of the drums d and k, and then stops (position ), it has an expandable and retractable segment that surrounds the structure on the drum a from the outside and grips the outer surface thereof partially or over the entire area from the outside. This expansion/contraction mechanism is mounted on a movable truck, which travels on a track k', for example, a conventional carrier g with the bead core holding device removed. The track and drive device h' is also used to run the belt/tread structure transfer carrier g' described above and the inner liner, carcass ply, and bead core assembly transfer carrier o (hereinafter referred to as band carrier o) described below. Ru.
The tracks may or may not be used in common for both carriers, but each is provided with a separate drive. This drive device for the band carrier o includes a stop position control means and an adjusting device for controlling the carrier o to accurately stop the carrier o at the position of the drum k, the position of the drum d, and the position where the bead core is supplied. This stop position control means is configured such that after the carrier o receives a bead core from a bead core supply device p, which will be described later, the carrier o is in a position until the drum d in the position receives the assembly of the bead core and inner liner/carcass ply. The assembly is placed on standby, then moved to a position to deliver the assembly to the drum d, then moved to a position to receive a bead core to be used next, and kept on standby until a predetermined work on drum k is completed. It is designed to perform a series of actions. On the other hand, the belt-treaded structure transfer carrier
The drive device g' has a standby position on the gantry e side which does not interfere with work on the drum d and does not prevent the carrier o from moving to the position of the drum d, and a belt tread structure on the drum a. It is now possible to move between the receiving location and the receiving location. The drive device also includes stop position control means and an adjusting device for controlling the carrier g' to stop accurately at the position and the drum d, and the stop position control means includes a belt tread adjustment device at the position. The carrier g' that has received the structure is moved to the position, and the drum d waits at the position until the time when the structure is needed.The carrier o supplies the band to the drum d and moves to the position side, and then the carrier g' is moved to a position such that the structure coincides with the center position of the drum d, and is delivered to the toroidal band by the drum d, and then moved to a position to wait during operation by the crimping device j; Move it to the position again and receive the completed tire, eject the tire at the position, move it again to the position, wait until the drum a is at the position, then receive the structure at the position, move it to the next position, and then move it to the position again. It is designed to perform a series of actions such as waiting until the supply time. The crimping device i is a crimping device for more reliably bonding the belts and treads stacked on the drum a, and has a sponge roller having a shape similar to the tread at the tip of an arm that is swung by a cylinder or the like. etc. Since its structure is clear from the above description, further explanation and illustration will be omitted. Further, the crimping device j is a crimping device for more securely adhering the belt tread structure to each other after the belt tread structure is delivered to the green carcass on the toroidal on the drum d, and is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 18275/1983. are used.
In addition, the inner liner/carcass ply assembly forming drum k (hereinafter referred to as the carcass band forming drum) can be expanded and contracted in three stages, and when expanded to the second diameter, the outer diameter of the band after assembly is the inner diameter of the bead core. It is a substantially cylindrical drum that is slightly smaller than the drum.When the diameter is expanded to the maximum, the outer periphery of the band comes into contact with the inner periphery of the bead core, which has been placed in a predetermined position, and when the diameter is reduced to the minimum, the band is made sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of. For example, the one described in JP-A-55-124639 is used. In addition, the pedestal l has the drum k rotatably and stopably mounted thereon, and has an expansion/contraction drive mechanism for the drum k. It is equipped with a control means for controlling the stop position for dispersing in the direction as planned, and the expansion/contraction mechanism mentioned above is, for example, the
The one described in Publication No. 19871 is used. The material supply device m is commonly called a servicer, and supplies the constituent members of the band assembled on the drum k, and there are many known examples. Further, the crimping device n is a crimping device for more reliably crimping the wound materials after the required materials are wound on the drum k, and there are many known examples. Further, the bead core and carcass band transport carrier o (hereinafter referred to as band carrier) that transports the inner liner, carcass ply, and bead core assembly will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. It has a truck 1 whose top is movable, and a linear motion device 2, commonly called a linear motion bearing, which is arranged and fixed on the truck 1 in parallel to the track,
The same linear motion device 2 includes a track 2a and a right bead core holding device 0-1 that is movable separately on the track 2a.
and a left bead core device 0-2. Since the configurations of the devices 0-1 and 0-2 are the same except that they are symmetrical, the right device 0-1 will be explained. The right side device 0-1 is the track 2
A bearing nut 2b engaged with a, a base plate 3 to which the nut 2b is fixed, a ring 4 on the base plate 3, and rings 5 and 6 that are movable in the axial direction around the outer circumference of the ring 4. , an outer end flange 4a of the ring 4
a plurality of sets of cylinders 7, each having one end engaged with the rings 5 and 6, and the other ends of the rings 5 and 6, which are pivoted at appropriate positions on the rings;
It is composed of a plurality of sets of arms 10 and 11 that engage with pins 8 and 9 fixed at appropriate positions of the cylinder 7, and when the arms 10 and 11 swing as shown by the dashed-dot line due to the expansion and contraction action of the cylinder 7. , the swinging is regulated so as to accurately grip a bead core BC supplied to a predetermined position by a bead supply device p, which will be described later, and is provided with claws 12 and 13 suitable for the shape of the bead core to be gripped. According to this structure, when the bead core BC is supplied as shown in the figure by the bead core supply device p described later, even if the arms 10 and 11 are expanded, it does not become an obstacle.
After supplying, the arms 10 and 11 can be swung to grip the bead core from both sides, and even if the inward grip by the bead supply device is released after gripping, the position of the bead core will not be disturbed. Furthermore,
Even when the grip is released from the position and returned to the position, the arms 10 and 11 are sufficiently expanded, and the band carrier o can be moved without coming into contact with the bead core delivered onto the drum a. Further, the gripping interval between the left and right bead cores is determined by a threaded rod 14 rotatably provided at the end 1a of the cart 1 and a nut 15 screwed into the threaded rod 14 and fixed at a proper position on the base plate 3.
Of the interval adjustment mechanism consisting of, the threaded rod 14
It can be adjusted by rotating a handle 16 provided at the end of the tire to accommodate changes in tire size. It goes without saying that after adjustment using the handle 16, the base plate 3 is fixed (locked) to the truck 1 by known means. Although not shown in the drawings, the intermediate portions of the devices 0-1 and 0-2 are capable of expanding and contracting, forming a curved surface that matches the outer circumferential diameter of the band when the diameter is contracted, and forming a curved surface that matches the outer diameter of the band at the expansion limit. A band gripping device may be provided between both bead cores that is sufficiently larger than the diameter. Note that since there are many known examples of this band gripping device, further explanation will be omitted. The bead core supply device p includes a known multi-axis robot device p-1 mounted on a cart 21 movable on a pedestal 20, and a bead gripping device p-2 installed at the tip of the arm of the robot. It is made up of. The bead core gripping device p is
Various types of tire gripping devices are known that have a plurality of claws that expand and contract in the radial direction, and a suitable one is used from among these. The robot device p-1 receives a bead core on a bead transport vehicle g, which will be described later, with the gripping device in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. o as shown in Figure 5 and deliver it accurately. As shown in FIG. 3, the robot device p-1 can be moved as convenient for delivery to the band carrier o. The bead core transport vehicle q may be of a type that stores bead cores in a horizontal state as shown in Fig. 4, or a type that stores bead cores in a vertical state (not shown).
Use the appropriate one.

Next, the operation of the radial tire manufacturing apparatus will be explained. Figure 3 shows that the Nth completed green tire is ejected at the V position, and the carrier g' is (N+
2) The breaker/tread structure BT for the actual use is gripped and is waiting in position. In addition, the carrier o holds the (N+1)th inner liner, carcass ply, and bead core assembly (hereinafter referred to as band/bead structure) BB, and the drum d
Waiting for the (N+1)th predetermined task above to be completed. Furthermore, on drum a, assembly of the (N+2)th belt tread structure BT continues. Also, for drum k, the (N+2)th inner liner IL and carcass ply CP assembly CB
Assembling continues. Further, it is shown that the (N+1)th work has started on drum d. From this state, the drum d is brought into a reduced diameter state, and the side wall SW, cushion rubber CR, etc. are wound around it, cut, and joined.
() After that, the carrier o moves to the position and stops, and the (N+1)th band structure is placed in the predetermined position.
Place BB coaxially with drum d. This state is shown in the upper left half of FIG. () Next, the side wall SW preassembled on the drum d,
The bead core BC of the structure with cushion rubber CR
The diameter of the portion corresponding to is expanded from the inside, and the outer surface of the structure is pressed against the inner liner layer IL below the bead core of the band structure BB. () After pressure contact, the bead gripping device of carrier o is released. This state is shown in the upper right half of FIG. Note that the bead gripping device is expanded sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the bead core. () After the carrier o is expanded, it moves to the position side. After stopping at the position, the bead supply device p grips the bead core on the bead transport vehicle q,
It is handed over to carrier o, and the (N+2)th bead core is prepared. On the other hand, on drum k (N+
1) After delivering the first band structure BB to the carrier o, molding of the (N+2)th carcass band CB is started, and the carrier o waits at the position until this is completed. () Meanwhile, on the drum d side, after the carrier o has moved to a position where it does not interfere with the work,
Carrier g' moves from position to position and grips the (N+1)th belt tread structure BT.
At the same time, the drum d narrows the gap between the bead cores and supplies pressurized air between the bead cores to form a toroidal shape between the bead cores of the band structure BB. At an appropriate time in between, the outer ends of both bead cores are folded back so as to wrap around the bead core by a known means, and the toroidal band structure BB is crimped to the side of the bead.
Furthermore, a toroidal shape grows and is pressed against the inner surface of the structure BT. This state is shown in FIG.
Next, the expansion and contraction members outside both bead cores are contracted,
Do as shown by the solid line in Figure 7. () The carrier g′ releases the outward grip of the structure BT and is brought into position,
Next, the crimping device j securely crimps the structure BT and the structure BB to form the (N+1)th green tire GT.
complete. () After the crimping work is completed, the carrier
Move g′ to the position again and stop, reduce the diameter of the gripping claw of g′, and complete the (N+1)th completed tire.
Grasp GT from the outside. Thereafter, the diameter of the bead lock member of the drum d is reduced to make its outer diameter smaller than the bead diameter of the tire. () During the work in () above, although it is omitted in Figure 3, a suitable tire take-out device fixed at a suitable location outside the track k' near the position was moved from a position outside the track to a position. , to wait. () The completed (N+1) green tire GT is gripped from the outside by the carrier g', moved to a position and stopped, and the tire take-out device supports the inside of the bead part of the green tire GT, and the carrier g' The grip from the outside of g' is released and the green tire GT is delivered to the tire take-out device. (XI) After the grip is released, the carrier g' moves to the position again, the tire removal device moves from the position to a predetermined position outside the device, takes out the tire, and then the tire is removed by appropriate means, Transported to the vulcanization process. (XII) After avoiding the tire take-out device, the drum a, on which the (N+2)th belt tread structure BT has been formed and assembled, is moved from position to position. Thereafter, the carrier g' is placed in position, surrounds the structure BT from the outside, reduces the diameter of the gripping claws, and grips the structure BT from the outside. After gripping, the diameter of the drum a is reduced to a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the structure BT. (N+3) Start molding and assembling the main belt/tread structure BT. () Meanwhile, on drum k, the (N+2)th carcass band CB is completed according to the prescribed procedure,
The carrier o is stopped in position, and the bead core BC is placed in a predetermined position outside the structure CB. This state is shown in the lower left half of FIG. () Next, the diameter of the carcass band CB on the drum k is expanded, and the carcass ply CP of the band CB is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the bead core BC that was being held. () After pressure welding,
The diameter of the drum k is reduced to a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the band CB, and the (N+2)th band structure BB on the drum is held by the carrier o via the bead core BC. Although not shown, a gripping device that surrounds and grips the band CB between both bead cores from the outside may be added and used. Also(
) may be omitted, and the bead gripping device on the carrier o may grip and transport the BC, and the band gripping device may grip and transport the CB. () The band structure BB held by the carrier o is placed in position, and the carrier o waits until the (N+2)th work (the work in () above) on the drum d is completed. Thereafter, tires after the (N+2)th tire are produced continuously in the same manner.

The radial tire manufacturing method and apparatus of the present invention are configured as described above, and can achieve the following effects. That is, the conventional carcass forming drum d is made of an elastic material as already mentioned, and its surface is soft, and the rubber material such as the side wall around which it is wrapped has a triangular shape on the long side, so the inner liner At the time of wrapping the rubber sheet and carcass ply, the surface is not flat but uneven. Therefore, when an operator attempts to wrap and join the inner liner rubber sheet and carcass ply, it is extremely difficult to work, and it is extremely difficult to make the amount of joining lap uniform over the entire area of the joint. This has resulted in the disadvantages that the quality of the product tire becomes unstable and productivity is significantly reduced. Furthermore, since the surface on which the winding is based is unstable and uneven as described above, it has the disadvantage that it is difficult to automate the work.

However, the radial tire manufacturing method and apparatus of the present invention are configured as described above, and (i) work for the inner liner IL and carcass ply CP, which are particularly important in terms of tire structure, is performed using a flat cylindrical drum (clean drum). Since it is carried out on the carcass forming drum d), (a) the amount of overlap of the joints of each part in the axial direction of each material can be made uniform;

(b) Band work is easy to do and the quality can be kept constant.

(c) Band work can be done quickly and productivity can be improved.

(d) It can be easily combined with automatic carcass band CB forming equipment.

(ii) In parallel with the band forming work mentioned above, winding, cutting, and joining of sidewall SW, cushion rubber CR, etc. can be carried out, reducing production time per tire and increasing tire productivity. You can also improve from points.

(iii) Since the bead core BC can be installed automatically, labor can be saved.

(iv) Since the band structure BB and bead core BC can be integrated in advance before assembling the sidewall SW and cushion rubber CR, which require a long time, the production cycle time can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and that various design modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a conventional radial tire manufacturing apparatus, FIGS. 2 a and b are explanatory diagrams of its operation, FIG. The figure is a side view of the bead supply device that transfers the bead core at the first position outside the device to the holding device on the carrier waiting at the second position, and Fig. 5 is a detailed explanatory view of the band and bead core assembly transfer carrier. , FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the present invention. d... Green carcass forming drum, k... Carcass band forming drum, o... Bead core and carcass band delivery carrier, o-1, o-2... Bead core holding device, p... Bead core supply device, CB...
Carcass band, BC...bead core, BB...band structure, SW...side wall, CR...cushion rubber, BT...belt tread structure.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Carcass band pre-assembled into a cylindrical shape
Arranging a bead core BC coaxially around the CB, expanding the diameter of the carcass band CB, and joining the carcass band CB and the lower part of the bead core BC,
After configuring the band structure BB, the same band structure BB
side wall SW assembled in advance into a cylindrical shape.
and the structure having the cushion rubber CR, and then the diameter of the structure having the sidewall SW and the cushion rubber CR is expanded and brought into pressure contact with the inner surface of the band structure BB, and then both sides of the band structure BB are While the bead core BC is made into a toroidal shape, both bead cores BC of the same band structure BB
The outer end is folded back and crimped so as to wrap around the bead core BC, and then the previously assembled annular belt tread structure BT is attached to the outer periphery of the toroidal band structure BB to form a raw radial tire. A method for manufacturing a radial tire characterized by completing the following steps. 2. A green carcass forming drum d that makes the carcass band CB into a toroidal shape, a carcass band forming drum k disposed coaxially and facing the green carcass forming drum d, and between the drums d and k. a bead core and carcass band transport carrier o having a pair of bead core holding devices o-1 and o-2 which are provided so as to be able to reciprocate and are coaxial with the axes of the drums d and k; a bead core supply device p that grips the bead core BC prepared outside the moving path of o from the inside and holds the gripped bead core BC in a vertical state while supplying it to the bead core holding devices o-1 and o-2; A radial tire manufacturing device characterized by comprising: