JPH1016076A - Manufacture of rubber bent pipe and mandrel device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out operations under good circumstances by a method wherein under a state in which many mandrels are fitted in a gathered state to a mandrel frame, unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized rubber straight rubber preformed product is equipped by insertion to those mandrels, or a rubber bent pipe is extracted from the mandrel after valcanization is made unnecessitated, thereby eliminating operation at high temperature. SOLUTION: A mandrel unit 20 is prepared by providing a fitting stand part 56 at an end part of a mandrel 48, and the mandrel 48 is attached to and detached from a mandrel frame in the unit state. Then, a rubber preform molded product is equipped to the mandrel 48 under a state wherein the mandrel unit 20 is detached from the mandrel frame. Further, the mandrel unit 20 is detached from the mandrel frame after valcanizing operation, and then a rubber bent pipe after vulcanizing is extracted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a bent rubber tube and a mandrel device used for the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, rubber bent pipes which are two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally bent have been widely used for hoses for automobiles and other uses. This kind of bent rubber tube has been conventionally manufactured as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 45, the mandrel mounting base, specifically, a frame-shaped mandrel frame, is formed by assembling a large number of turn-shaped mandrels 400 corresponding to the product bent shape of the rubber bent tube 404 (see FIG. 47). 402
And a straight tubular unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized rubber preform is inserted into each of the many mandrels 400 held by the mandrel frame 402 and mounted. Then, the whole is inserted into a vulcanizing can (vulcanizing apparatus) and is heated and vulcanized for a predetermined time to give a bent shape corresponding to the mandrel 400, that is, a final product shape, and then the whole is formed from the vulcanizing can. After being taken out, the rubber bent tube 404 after vulcanization was taken out from the mandrel 400.

[0003] The rubber bent tube 404 extracted from the mandrel 400 is then washed in a washing step to remove the release agent previously applied and, if necessary, to a predetermined location. The finished product was marked.

Here, the mandrel frame 402 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 46, cylindrical or plate-shaped ones are used. In any case, the rubber preform is inserted into each mandrel 400 fixed to the mandrel frame 402 and vulcanized. The later extraction of the rubber bent tube 404 from the mandrel 400 has conventionally been performed manually by an operator.

The operation of inserting a rubber preform into each mandrel 400 with the mandrel 400 attached to the mandrel frame 402 requires delicate control and is difficult to mechanize and automate.
In particular, various mandrels 400 having different shapes corresponding to the rubber bent pipes 404 having different types are provided with the same mandrel frame 402.
When the rubber bent tube 404 is attached in a mixed state to the mandrel 400 after the operation of inserting the rubber preform into the tip of the mandrel 400 and after vulcanization.
This is because it is difficult to extract from zero.

[0006]

However, it is necessary to insert a rubber preform into the mandrel 400 attached to the mandrel frame 402 in a dense state, and to remove the rubber bent tube 404 after vulcanization. Therefore, the following problems have conventionally occurred. That is,
In operation, the mandrel frame 402 and the mandrel 40
No. 0 was in a high temperature state due to heating in the vulcanizing can, and the manual work before that was a work under high temperature, especially in summer.

Further, in the case of the conventional manufacturing method, when performing necessary processing on the rubber bent pipe 404 after vulcanization, the processing must be performed on the rubber bent pipe which has been extracted from the mandrel 400 and has no shape constraint. In some cases, the processing is cumbersome and difficult.

For example, when marking the rubber bent pipe 404 after vulcanization at a predetermined position in the axial direction and the circumferential direction, the rubber bent pipe 404 once removed from the mandrel 400 as shown in FIG. It is necessary to set the jig (marking mold) 406 so as to be along the corresponding shape, and to set the plate pieces provided at both ends of the marking mold 406 as a ruler, and to perform marking along this. However, there is a problem that the marking process requires a great deal of trouble.

[0009]

The invention of the present application has been made to solve such a problem. Thus, the invention of the present application provides an unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized rubber preform for each mandrel having a bent portion bent into a predetermined product shape, which is mounted and held on the mandrel mounting base in an assembled state. In a method of manufacturing a rubber bent tube, the rubber preformed product is heated and vulcanized by inserting the vulcanized rubber preform into a vulcanizer while the rubber bent tube is inserted in a fitted state, and then the vulcanized rubber bent tube is removed from the mandrel. A mounting base is provided at an end of the mandrel on the mounting side to the mandrel mounting base, and the mounting base is attached to and detached from the mandrel mounting base, and the rubber reserve to the mandrel before the vulcanizing operation is performed. At least one of the step of mounting a molded article and the step of extracting the rubber bent tube from the mandrel after the vulcanization operation is performed by removing the mandrel together with the mounting base. In disconnected from attached substrate, and performing at a given rubber preform mounting position or rubber elbow sampling position spaced respectively from the mandrel mounting base (claim 1).

According to another aspect of the present invention, in claim 1, a plurality of the mandrels are connected by a connecting means to form a mandrel unit, and the mandrel unit is removed from the mandrel mounting base for each mandrel unit. The method is characterized in that a molded article is mounted on the mandrel or the rubber bent tube is removed (claim 2).

Still another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in claim 2, the common mounting base is provided for the plurality of mandrels, and the mounting base serves as the connecting means. Item 3).

Still another aspect of the present invention is the different type mandrel unit according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein each of the mandrels in the one mandrel unit has the same shape for manufacturing the same kind and has mandrels of different shapes. Are attached to the same mandrel attachment base in a mixed state, and different kinds of rubber bent pipes are simultaneously manufactured in a mixed state (claim 4).

Still another invention of the present application is Claims 1, 2,
In any one of 3 and 4, the removal of the vulcanized rubber bent tube from the mandrel is performed by temporarily applying a force to the rubber bent tube in a pulling-out direction from the mounting end side to the mandrel mounting base. After a predetermined amount of extrusion from the mandrel, the rubber bent tube is extracted from the mandrel (claim 5).

Still another invention of the present application relates to a mandrel device, and the mandrel device is claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
A mandrel device for carrying out any one of the above manufacturing methods, comprising (a) a mandrel mounting base for holding the mandrels in an assembled state, and (b) a plurality of the mandrels and connecting means for connecting them. And a plurality of mandrel units that are detachable from the mandrel mounting base for each unit (claim 6).

A mandrel device according to still another invention of the present application includes:
A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the mandrel unit is provided with a handle for handling such as attaching / detaching to / from the mandrel mounting base (claim 7).

A mandrel device according to still another invention of the present application includes:
According to any one of claims 6 and 7, the respective mandrels in the same mandrel unit are arranged in one or a plurality of rows, respectively, and are arranged at an equal pitch in the row direction (claim 8).

A mandrel device according to still another invention of the present application is:
In any one of claims 6, 7, and 8, the mandrel unit is provided with a display unit for displaying a type, which can be read by an automatic reading device (claim 9).

A mandrel device according to yet another aspect of the present invention includes:
10. The mandrel unit according to claim 6, wherein the mandrel unit is provided with height correction means for adjusting the height of the tip of the mandrel to the same height position between different types. (Claim 10).

A mandrel device according to still another invention of the present application includes:
In claim 10, the mandrel unit is provided with a common mounting base for each mandrel, and the height of the mounting base is adjusted so that the height of the tip of the mandrel is the same between different types. It is selected for each mandrel unit, and the mounting base also serves as the height correcting means (claim 11).

A mandrel device according to still another invention of the present application is:
In any one of claims 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11,
At a predetermined position in the axial direction, the mandrel is provided with a cap for restricting the length by abutting the end face of the rubber preformed product, and the mandrel is provided with an extended portion opposite to the molded portion on the tip side from the cap. And the extension constitutes the height correcting means for making the height of the tip of the mandrel the same height (Claim 12).

A mandrel device according to still another invention of the present application is:
The mandrel according to any one of claims 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, wherein a base end of the mandrel and a tip end on the opposite side are formed in a straight line, and their axes are on the same axis. It is characterized by being located (claim 1
3).

A mandrel device according to still another invention of the present application is:
The mandrel mounting surface according to any one of claims 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, wherein the mandrel mounting surface of the mandrel mounting base is formed in a circumferential surface or a flat surface shape. In the state, the pitch between the mandrel tips in the circumferential direction or the vertical direction is equal to each other, and the pitch in the axial direction or the horizontal direction is equal to each other.

[0023]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a mounting base is provided on a mandrel, and the mounting base is attached to and detached from the mandrel mounting base, and the mandrel is mounted before the vulcanization operation. Attach the mandrel to the mandrel-attached base with the rubber preform attached, or remove the mandrel from the mandrel after the vulcanization operation. After removing the vulcanized rubber bend from the mandrel, the vulcanized rubber tube after vulcanization is removed from the mandrel. According to the present invention, a rubber preform is mounted on the mandrel or the mandrel of the vulcanized rubber tube is vulcanized. Can be removed from the mandrel mounting base in a hot state, and the work can be performed in a comfortable working space. It can be carried out to become.

When the rubber preform is mounted with the mandrel detached from the mandrel mounting base before the vulcanizing operation, the rubber preform is mounted on the mandrel mounting base, that is, at various positions in three dimensions. There is no need to insert the rubber preform into the mandrel of the desired orientation. Instead, remove the mandrel from the mandrel mounting base, bring it to the desired position and angle, and insert and mount the rubber preform. , So that the work is mechanical,
It is also easy to do it automatically. When the vulcanized rubber tube is removed from the mandrel with the mandrel removed from the mandrel mounting base, the vulcanized rubber bent tube must be mechanically and automatically removed from the mandrel for the same reason. Also becomes easier.

Further, since the vulcanized rubber tube after vulcanization is detached from the mandrel mounting base together with the mandrel in a state of being attached to the mandrel, the rubber bent tube can be easily marked or otherwise processed. become.

Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of mandrels are connected by connecting means to form a mandrel unit, and each mandrel unit is attached to and detached from a mandrel mounting base. According to the present invention, mounting of the rubber preformed article on the mandrel or removal of the rubber bent pipe after the vulcanization is performed according to the present invention. In performing the operation, the work can be performed with higher efficiency as compared with the case where the mandrel is attached to and detached from the mandrel mounting base one by one. In addition, since the mandrel can be replaced in multiple units for product change or maintenance of the mandrel, the mandrel can be easily and quickly attached and detached, thereby enabling the mandrel mounting base to be replaced without stopping the vulcanizing equipment when replacing the mandrel. It can be operated at full capacity, and thus the productivity of the bent rubber pipe can be increased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a common mounting base is provided for a plurality of mandrels, and the mounting base serves as the connecting means. According to the present invention, the structure of the mandrel unit is simplified. Structure.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in one mandrel unit, the mandrel shape is the same.
According to the present invention, different kinds of rubber bent pipes are simultaneously manufactured in a mixed state by mounting different kinds of mandrel units on the same mandrel mounting base in a mixed state. And a plurality of rubber preforms of the same type or bent rubber tubes can be processed at once.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the rubber bent tube after vulcanization is removed from the mandrel, the rubber bent tube once attached to the mandrel is extruded from the mandrel by a predetermined amount and then removed. After vulcanization, the bent rubber tube is in close contact with the mandrel, and therefore, when the bent rubber tube is removed from the mandrel,
Especially at the beginning it requires a lot of power.

In addition, when the rubber bent tube is pulled out from the mandrel, the rubber bent tube is deformed in the diameter reducing direction and tightens the mandrel. Therefore, a large force is required to overcome this and pull out the rubber bent tube from the mandrel. I do.

However, when a force is applied to the rubber bent tube in the pushing direction, the rubber bent tube is elastically deformed in the radially expanding direction, so that the required force is small. Therefore, according to the present invention, when a pushing force is initially applied to the rubber bent tube to move the rubber bent tube relative to the mandrel and then extract it, the rubber bent tube after vulcanization can be easily removed with a small force. Can be extracted from the mandrel.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mandrel device comprising a mandrel mounting base for holding the mandrels in an assembled state, and a mandrel unit having a plurality of mandrels and connecting means thereof. Are detachable from the mandrel mounting base in unit units. By using such a mandrel device, the manufacturing methods of claims 1 to 5 can be favorably implemented.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the mandrel unit is provided with a handle for handling such as attaching / detaching operation. According to the present invention, the handle is used for attaching / detaching to / from the mandrel mounting base and other processing. And various processes can be performed smoothly and favorably.

According to the present invention, in the same mandrel unit, the mandrels are arranged in one or more rows and the mandrels are arranged at a constant pitch in the row direction. The operation of attaching the rubber preform to each mandrel with the mandrel unit removed or the operation of removing the vulcanized rubber bent tube from the mandrel can be easily performed mechanically and automatically by a robot hand or the like.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the mandrel unit is provided with a display unit for displaying a product type which can be read by an automatic reading device. According to the present invention, the mandrel unit is mechanically operated by a robot hand or the like for each mandrel unit. , When automatically installing rubber preforms, extracting rubber bent pipes after vulcanization, and performing other operations, it is possible to perform movements according to each product type by reading the product type. Bending tubes can be easily manufactured in a mixed state

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the mandrel unit is provided with height correcting means for adjusting the height of the tip of the mandrel between different types to the same height position. When manufacturing bent pipes in a mixed state (mixed flow state), various operations such as mounting of rubber preforms and removal of rubber bent pipes after vulcanization are performed by mechanical and mechanical devices with a robot hand or the like using simpler operations. This can be done automatically.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the height of the tip of each mandrel is made uniform between different types by selecting the height of the mounting base. With this configuration, the height position of the tip of the mandrel can be adjusted.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the mandrel is formed of a substantially formed portion and an extension portion on the opposite side.
The height position of the tip of the mandrel is adjusted by the extension portion. In the present invention, the height position of each mandrel can be easily adjusted with a simple structure.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the base end and the front end of the mandrel are formed linearly and their axes are positioned on the same axis. Even if the mounting angle of the mandrel in the rotation direction with respect to the mounting base, that is, the rotation angle around the axis of the base end is not exactly accurate, the position of the tip of the mandrel can be reliably positioned at a predetermined position. Therefore, the work of mounting the rubber preform on the mandrel and the work of extracting the rubber bent tube from the mandrel after vulcanization are performed mechanically by a robot hand or the like.
This can be done easily and without trouble when automatically performed.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, when the mandrel is mounted on the mandrel mounting base, the pitch between the ends of the mandrel in the circumferential direction or the vertical direction is made equal, and the pitch in the axial direction or the horizontal direction is made equal. According to the present invention, the mandrel can be easily and mechanically and automatically attached to and detached from the mandrel mounting base.

[0041]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 shows an overall and schematic configuration of a continuous production apparatus for a rubber bent tube. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a vulcanizing apparatus having a vulcanizing can 12, and a pair of mandrel frames 14A and 14B as bases for mounting a mandrel 48 (see FIG. 4) are arranged on both sides in the figure.

Here, the mandrel frames 14A and 14B hold a large number of mandrels 48 in an assembled state, and enter and exit the vulcanizing can 12 in that state. These mandrel frames 14
A mandrel attachment / detachment device 16A / 16B for attaching / detaching the mandrel 48 to / from the mandrel frames 14A / 14B is provided on each side of the mandrel frames 14A and 14B.
A and 14B are arranged to form a pair.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a transfer device for transferring a mandrel unit 20 (see FIG. 4) in a form in which a plurality of mandrels 48 are connected along a circulating transfer path.
8 is a first conveyor device 22 arranged in parallel with each other,
The second conveyor device 24, the third conveyor device 26, the fourth conveyor device 28, the first transfer conveyor device 30 for transferring from the second conveyor device 24 to the first conveyor device 22, and the fourth conveyor device 26 from the third conveyor device 26 to the fourth conveyor device Conveyor device 28
And a transfer device 34 for transferring from the first conveyor device 22 to the third conveyor device 26, and from the fourth conveyor device 28 to the second conveyor device 24. I have.

At the upper position in FIG. 1 of the fourth conveyor device 28, a main robot 38 is disposed so as to be movable between an RA position and an RB position separated by a predetermined distance. The main robot 38 includes an arm 52 and a chuck (hand) 54 at the tip thereof as shown in FIG.

A marking device 45 having a pair of marking robots 40 and 42 is arranged on the side (left side in FIG. 1) of the third conveyor device 26 and the fourth conveyor device 28. A cleaning device 44 having a cleaning tank is disposed on the conveyor device 26 at a position close to the marking robots 40 and 42. The cleaning device 44 is for cleaning and releasing the release agent adhering to the bent rubber tube after vulcanization.

Further, cap removal devices 46A and 46B for removing the cap 82 (see FIG. 8) attached to the mandrel 48 are arranged at a position near the conveyance path by the third conveyor device 26. Further, the first conveyor device 22 incorporates a mandrel tilting device 36 for tilting the mandrel 48.

The main robot 38 performs the following operation.
That is, in the present embodiment, the unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized straight tubular rubber preform 50 (see FIG. 4) is tilted by the mandrel tilting device 36 at the mounting station S1, that is, the mandrel 48 is inclined. 8) is performed.

When the rubber preform 50 is mounted, each mandrel 48 is returned to the original position, that is, the position in which the mandrel 48 stands substantially upward, and is then conveyed by the first conveyor device 22 rightward in FIG. , Transfer device 34
Passed to.

The transfer device 34 which has received the mandrel 48, specifically the mandrel unit 20, with the rubber preform 50 mounted thereon, conveys the mandrel 48 upward in FIG. 1 and then to the third conveyor device 26. And hand it over.

The third conveyor device 26 conveys the mandrel unit 20 to the left in FIG. 1, and when the mandrel unit 20 reaches the position of the mounting station S2A, the main robot 38 operates as shown in FIG. Grab the mandrel unit 20 and use it as the third conveyor device 2
6 and brought to a mandrel frame 14A as a mandrel mounting base. At this time, the mandrel attaching / detaching device 16A operates to attach the mandrel unit 20 brought by the main robot 38 to the mandrel frame 14A.

Alternatively, when the mandrel frame 14A is in a state of being inserted into the vulcanizing can 12, the main robot 38 operates the mandrel unit 20 so that the third conveyor device 2
When the robot reaches the mounting station S2B on the left side in FIG. 1 by 6, it is separated from the third conveyor device 26 to the mandrel frame 14B on the left side in FIG. And the corresponding mandrel attachment / detachment device 16B works to attach it to the mandrel frame 14B.

The main robot 38 is connected to the mounting station S2.
At the removal station S3A or S3B at the same position as A or S2B, the rubber bent pipe 261 (see FIG. 3) after vulcanization is held, and the mandrel unit 20 is removed from the mandrel frame 14A or 14B taken out of the vulcanization can 12.
The operation of taking out is performed.

The main robot 38, from which the mandrel unit 20 has been taken out, moves to the cap removal station S4A or S4A.
At 4B, the mandrel unit 20 is subsequently supplied to the cap removing device 46A or 46B, where the cap 82 (see FIG. 8) attached to the tip of the mandrel 48 is removed. Thereafter, the mandrel unit 20 is placed on the third conveyor device 26 again.

Then, the taken out mandrel unit 20
Is placed on the third conveyor device 26 again. The mandrel unit 20 placed on the third conveyor device 26 includes:
Again, it is conveyed to the left in FIG. 1 by the third conveyor device 26, and after passing through the cleaning tank of the cleaning device 44, is brought to the marking station S5.

In the marking station S5, predetermined markings are applied to the bent rubber tube 261 by the marking robots 40 and 42. The marked rubber bent tube 261 is transferred to the fourth conveyor device 28 together with the mandrel unit 20, and is subsequently conveyed rightward in FIG. 1 by the fourth conveyor device 28.

The mandrel unit 20 is moved by the fourth conveyor device 28 to the rubber tube extracting station S6B or S6B.
At A, the main robot 38 withdraws the rubber bent pipe 261 mounted on each mandrel 48 of the mandrel unit 20 as shown in FIG. 3 and puts it into a predetermined receiving box.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a specific configuration of the mandrel unit 20, FIG. 7 shows a pallet for placing and transporting the mandrel unit 20, and FIG. 8 shows a set in a state where the mandrel unit 20 is placed on the pallet. Each figure is shown. As shown in these figures, the mandrel unit 20 has a mount 56. The mounting base 56 includes a plate 58 at the lower end and a vertical mounting block 60. Mounting holes are provided on the upper surface of the mounting block 60 in a horizontal row, and the rubber bent pipe 2 is provided therein.
A plurality of bent mandrels 48 corresponding to the product shape of 61 are mounted in a state of being lined up in a horizontal line in the same direction.

Here, the mandrel 48 includes a molding section 62 for actually performing vulcanization molding of the rubber preform 50 and a mounting section 5.
It is divided into an extension 64 on the 6 side, and a cap 66 is attached to the boundary. The cap 66 controls the length by bringing the axial end surface of the rubber preform 50 into contact with the cap 66, and has a contact surface 68 as shown in FIG. The cap 66 has a rubber bent tube 2 after vulcanization.
A notch 69 for forming a marking on the mandrel 48 when it is attached to the mandrel 48 is formed.

The mounting block 60 is provided with a display section 72 including a plurality of through holes 70 penetrating the mounting block 60 in the horizontal direction. The display 72 has a shape of the mandrel 48,
That is, the type of the rubber bent tube 261 is displayed, and light from the light emitting portion of the automatic reading device having the photoelectric sensor is transmitted through the through hole 7.
The display content is read by passing or blocking 0.

From the mounting block 60, a pair of handles 74 arranged at predetermined intervals extend diagonally forward.
The handle 74 is a portion held by the main robot 38, and the mandrel 48 is arranged at an equal pitch P (FIG. 4).
), The pair of handles 7
4 are arranged at an interval twice the pitch P. still,
The mandrels 48 have the same shape in the same mandrel unit 20, and their leading ends are also positioned at the same height and in the same line.

The mounting base 56 is provided with a pair of positioning holes 76 for receiving positioning pins, which will be described later, and a pair of engaging pins 78 protruding downward from the lower surface. Is provided.

The mandrel 48 further includes a second cap 8 having a contact surface 80 (see FIG. 6) at the tip thereof.
2 is fitted and attached. The rubber pre-molded product 50 is formed by the base-side cap 66 and the tip-side cap 82,
That is, the length of the rubber bent tube 261 is regulated.

As shown in FIG. 7, the transport pallet has a plate shape. A pair of positioning pins 86 project upward from the upper surface of the pallet 84. The pair of positioning pins 86 are fitted into a pair of positioning holes 76 of the mandrel unit 20 as shown in FIG. The mandrel unit 20 and the pallet 8
4 are positioned with respect to each other.

The pallet 84 has an insertion hole 88 through which the downwardly engaging pin 78 of the mandrel unit 20 is inserted. Further, cutouts 90 for engaging stopper pins 153 (see FIG. 15 and the like) described later are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction.

At both ends in the width direction of the pallet 84, there are provided display portions 94 composed of a plurality of dogs (made of magnetic material) 92 arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. The display unit 94 is for specifying the pallet 84, and based on the approach of the dog 92, a proximity switch in an automatic reading device described later operates to read the contents of the display unit 94.

FIGS. 9 to 14 show a mandrel frame as a mandrel mounting base, and a device for attaching and detaching the mandrel 48, specifically, the mandrel unit 20. As shown in the figure, the mandrel frames 14A and 14B can rotate the rotating shaft 98 via the main body 95, the discs 96 provided at both ends thereof, the rotating shaft 98 at the center, and the bearing 100. And a carriage 104 with wheels 102 supported by the vehicle. The driven part 106 is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 98. The driven portion 106 has an engagement groove 108.
Are formed.

On the outside of the main body 95, a rod-shaped mounting member 11 is provided.
0 are densely arranged along the circumferential direction as also shown in FIG. These rod-shaped mounting members 110 have both longitudinal ends fixed to each of the pair of disks 96.

Each mounting member 110 has two pairs of positioning pins 112 projecting outward from the outer peripheral surface thereof. These positioning pins 112 fit into the positioning holes 76 of the mandrel unit 20. (See FIG. 13). That is, the position of the mandrel unit 20 is determined based on the engagement between the positioning pins 112 and the positioning holes 76.
In this example, two mandrel units 20 are mounted on the mandrel frames 14A and 14B in a state where two mandrel units 20 are arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, each mounting member 110 has an engaging pin 78 in the mandrel unit 20.
Through holes 114 are formed.

Further, the lower side (inner peripheral side) of each mounting member 110
, The mandrel unit 20 is fixed to the mounting member 110, that is, to the mandrel frames 14A and 14B,
Further, a plate-shaped lock member 116 for releasing the fixing is provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 9 and 10). Here, the lock member 116 is movably held by a guide 118 (see FIG. 13) provided on the inner peripheral side of the mounting member 110.

The lock member 116 is provided with a spring support 120 protruding downward as shown in detail in FIG. 10, and a spring support 124 is integrally provided on the lower surface of the mounting member 110. The spring supports 12
A spring 126 is interposed between 0 and 124. The spring 126 urges the lock member 116 leftward in FIGS. 9 and 10. The lock member 11
The left moving end of the guide member 6 is connected to the guide member 118 and the spring receiver 12.
It is defined by contact with 0.

The lock member 116 has two types of lock holes 128 and 130 on the left and right as shown in FIG. The lock holes 128 and 130 are elongated holes in the left-right direction. The lock hole 128 on the left side in the drawing has a large-diameter portion 131 at an intermediate portion in the left-right direction, and the lock hole 130 on the right side is at the left end. It has a large diameter portion 131. Here, the large-diameter portion 131 has a size that allows the distal end portion of the engagement pin 78 in the mandrel unit 20 to pass therethrough.
The other portion is sized not to allow the passage.

That is, in the mandrel unit 20, the engagement pin 78 is provided with the lock holes 128 and 13 in the lock member 116.
0 is prevented from being inserted through the small-diameter portion, and the large-diameter portion 1
In a state in which 31 is inserted, it is detachable.

However, in this example, the right lock hole 13
The left and right locking holes 128 have different positions in the left-right direction of the large diameter portion 131. As a result, the right mandrel unit 20 and the left mandrel unit 20 in FIG. Frame 14A, 1
4B becomes detachable.

That is, in this example, the lock member 116 is normally in the state shown in FIG. 12 (I) by the urging force of the spring 126, and from this state the lock member 116 is moved at a constant stroke as shown in FIG. In the state of being pushed in the right direction, the insertion hole 114 of the mounting member 110 and the large-diameter portion 131 of the lock hole 128 on the left side in the drawing coincide with each other. Can be attached to and detached from

Next, as shown in (III), when the lock member 116 is further pushed rightward, the large-diameter portion 131 in the right lock hole 130 now coincides with the insertion hole 114 in the mounting member 110. At this point, the right mandrel unit 20 is in a detachable state.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 132 denotes a driving device for the lock member 116. The driving device 132 is a driving cylinder 1 which is fixedly supported by a support frame 134.
36. At the distal end of the rod of the drive cylinder 136, a holding portion 140 having a T-shaped engagement groove 138 whose both ends are opened in the front-rear direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface) in FIG. The holding portion 140 holds the T-shaped holding end 142 of the lock member 116,
This is pushed rightward in the figure against the urging force of the spring 126.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 144 denotes the mandrel frame 14
A, 14B, which is a rotary drive device,
4 has a drive shaft 148 rotatably supported by a support frame 146. A pulley 150 is provided at an end of the drive shaft 148, and is connected to a drive source via the pulley 150 and a conductive member wound around the pulley 150, so that the drive shaft 148 is rotated. I have.

The end of the drive shaft 148 has an engagement protrusion 151.
Are provided, and the engagement protrusions 151 are provided in the engagement grooves 108.
The driving force from the driving shaft 148 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 98 in the mandrel frames 14A and 14B. The rotary drive device 144 feeds the mandrel frames 14A and 14B in the circumferential direction by one pitch at a time, and brings the lock member 116 fixing the mandrel unit 20 into a state facing the drive device 132.

That is, the rotation driving device 144 and the driving device 132 of the lock member 116 allow the mandrel unit 20 to be detachably attached to the mandrel frames 14A and 14B one after another in the circumferential direction. Mandrel unit 20 brought by robot 38
Is attached to the mandrel frame 14A or is removed from the mandrel frames 14A and 14B.
Removed from 4A, 14B.

Next, FIG. 15 to FIG. 18 show specific configurations of the second conveyor device 24, the first delivery conveyor device 30, and the mandrel tilting device 36. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the second conveyor device 24 includes a roller conveyor chain 145 and a motor 147 for rotationally driving the roller conveyor chain 145.
The empty mandrel unit 20 and the pallet 84 are placed on the roller conveyor chain 145 and are conveyed leftward in the figure.

The second conveyor device 24 is provided with a stopper cylinder 149, a stopper pin 153 which can be extended and retracted by the stopper cylinder 149, and a detection sensor 152 for detecting the presence or absence of the empty pallet 84 and the mandrel unit 20. I have.

On the other hand, the first delivery conveyor device 30 includes a conveyor unit 154 and the conveyor unit 154 along the rail 156 shown in FIG.
6 rodless cylinder 158 that moves forward and backward in the vertical direction
And The first delivery device 30 transfers the empty pallet 84 and the mandrel unit 20 carried by the second conveyor device 24 to the first conveyor device 22 as described above. , A conveyor chain 160 for transporting the empty pallet 84 and the mandrel unit 20, a motor 147 for rotating the conveyor chain 160, a stopper 164, and a detection sensor 152.

On the other hand, the first conveyor device 22 also includes a conveyor chain 160 and a motor 147 for driving the conveyor chain 160 to rotate.

The mandrel tilting device 36 has a conveyor unit 168 which forms a part of the first conveyor device 22. The conveyor unit 168 is a conveyor chain 1
60, a motor 147 for rotating the motor 60, and a frame 170 for holding the motor.

The mounting plate 172 is provided on the frame 170.
(See FIGS. 17 and 18), a fixing claw 174 as a fixing means, a positioning pin 175, a positioning cylinder 176 for driving this up and down, and a stopper pin 153
And a stopper cylinder 149 for driving this up and down, and a detection sensor 152 are provided.

Here, the positioning pins 175 are
4 and the pallet 84 is positioned together with the mandrel unit 20 by fitting into the positioning holes 248 (see FIG. 7).
In order to hold the mandrel unit 20 together with the pallet 84 in a fixed state when the mandrel unit 20 is tilted. As shown in FIG. 16, the fixing claw 174 has a groove in which both ends in the transport direction are open.

As shown in FIG. 17, the mandrel tilting device 36 includes a traveling member 178 that travels in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the conveyor chain 160 extends along rails 177, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. A driving cylinder 180 is provided, and a rod 182 extending from the cylinder 180 is connected to the traveling member 178. Further, the traveling member 178 is connected to the frame 170 of the conveyor unit 168 via a rotating shaft 183 so as to be relatively rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 17, the mandrel tilting device 36 is provided with a guide plate 184 provided at a fixed position.
have. The guide plate 184 is provided with a guide groove 186 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction and in a vertical and oblique direction, and a frame 170 is provided inside the guide groove 186.
A projection 190 as a guided portion, which is fixed to a protruding piece 188 provided integrally with the guide groove 188, is fitted slidably along the inside of the guide groove 186.

In the mandrel tilting device 36,
When the empty mandrel unit 20 is sent from the first delivery conveyor device 30 together with the pallet 84, the mandrel unit 20 is transported rightward in FIG. 16 by the conveyor chain 160 together with the pallet 84. The downward engagement pin 78 at 20 is engaged inside the groove of the fixed claw 174. Here, the mandrel unit 20 is fixed to the frame 170 of the conveyor unit 168 together with the pallet 84.

In the mandrel tilting device 36 of this embodiment, the positioning pin 175 moves upward by the operation of the positioning cylinder 176 in this state, and is fitted into the positioning hole 248 of the pallet 84. This allows pallet 8
4 and the mandrel unit 20 are correctly positioned at predetermined positions.

In the mandrel tilting device 36, the cylinder 180 then contracts in this state (see FIG. 17).
At this time, the protrusion 190 fitted into the guide groove 186 is guided by the guide groove 186 and relatively moves upward and left in FIG. 17, and the conveyor unit 168 tilts rightward in FIG. 17 and is held on the conveyor chain 160. 1 shows an empty mandrel unit 20 together with a pallet 84.
7 is inclined as shown by the two-dot chain line.

At this time, the linear portion at the tip of the mandrel 48 is substantially horizontal or slightly downward, and in this state, the straight tubular rubber preform 5
0 can be easily inserted into the mandrel 48.

When the rubber preform 50 and the cap 82 have been inserted into the mandrel 48 in this manner, the traveling member 178 is then caused to travel rightward in FIG. 17 by the cylinder 180, and the conveyor unit 168 is thereby moved. It is returned to the original normal posture. That is, the mandrel unit 20 is returned to the normal posture standing substantially upward.

The mandrel unit 20 which has returned to the normal posture, together with the pallet 84, has the positioning pin 175.
Conveyor chain 1 after the positioning by
16, is delivered rightward in FIG. 16, is delivered to the conveyor chain 160 on the downstream side of the first conveyor device 22, and is subsequently delivered to the transfer device 34. The first conveyor device 22 is provided with a stopper 185 at the right end in the figure as shown in FIG. 19, and the mandrel unit on which the pallet 84 and the rubber preform 50 that have been conveyed rightward are mounted. 20 and
Once stopped here.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show the mandrel unit 2.
The configuration of the transfer device 34 that receives the pallets 84 from the first conveyor device 22 and transfers the pallets 84 to the third conveyor device 26 is shown. As shown in the figure, the transfer device 34 includes a carriage 192 that rotates wheels 189 by a mounted motor 187 and travels along a rail 191. A column 194 and a rodless cylinder 196 are erected on the carriage 192, and the lifting arm 198 is moved up and down by the rodless cylinder 196.

A rotary table 200 is provided on the upper surface of the lifting arm 198. As shown in FIG. 21, the rotary table 200 is connected to a motor 204 via a transmission shaft 202, and the motor 204 The turntable 200 can be rotated by 180 °.

The rotary table 200 is provided with a penetrating positioning hole 208 into which the downward engaging pin 78 of the mandrel unit 20 is fitted. A pair of detection sensors 152 are provided on the upper surface of the elevating arm 198 to detect the presence of the mandrel unit 20 by detecting the engagement pin 78.

The transfer device 34 of this embodiment is configured such that the pallet 84 and the mandrel unit 20 placed on the first conveyor device 22 are placed on standby below the lifting arm 198 and the rotary table 200, and the rod-less cylinder. By the upward movement at 196, it is received on the rotary table 200.

Subsequently, the lifting arm 198 is moved upward in FIG. 1 while being almost raised to the rising end. When the lifting arm 198 reaches the position of the third conveyor device 26, the lifting arm 198 is lowered again, and The held pallet 84 and mandrel unit 20 are transferred to the third conveyor device 26.

FIGS. 22 to 29 show the configuration of the third conveyor device 26. FIG. As shown in FIG. 22, a reading device (automatic reading device) 210 that reads the display portions 72 and 94 of the mandrel unit 20 and the pallet 84 along the transport path is separated from the third conveyor device 26 by a predetermined distance. 2
One is provided. The reading device 210 is a pallet 8
4 and display sections 72, 94 of both mandrel unit 20
To read and collate each other and relate them.

As shown in FIG. 24, the third conveyor device 26 has a guide frame 220 on a base 218. The guide frame 220 is provided with guide rails 222 and 224 at two upper and lower stages, and the roller conveyor chain 145 can be moved along the guide rails 222 and 224. The roller conveyor chain 145 has a chain 228 connected to each other, a traveling roller 230 traveling on guide rails 222 and 224, and a supporting roller 232 supporting the pallet 84.

A side plate 234 is attached to the outer surface of the guide frame 220, and an introduction guide plate 236 opened upward in a C shape with respect to the side plate 234.
Is attached. Further behind (left side in FIG. 23)
Is provided with a pallet retainer 238.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show the structure of the reading device 210. FIG. As shown in the figure, the reading device 210 includes a plurality of photoelectric sensors 240 provided on both sides thereof along the transport path in a facing state, and proximity switches 242 arranged on one side thereof at predetermined intervals. The reading unit including the photoelectric sensor 240 serves to read the type of the mandrel unit 20. By irradiating light from the light emitting unit toward the through hole 70 in the mandrel unit 20 as shown in FIG. The contents of the display section 72 of the mandrel unit 20 constituted by the through holes 70 are read.

On the other hand, the reading section composed of the proximity switch 242 reads the display section 94 of the pallet 84. The reading section operates the proximity switch 242 by the dog 92 provided on the pallet 84 to change the display content. read. As shown in FIG. 26, the photoelectric sensor 240 is supported by a support 244, and the proximity switch 242 is supported by a bracket 246 in a cantilever manner.

The downstream position of the reading device 210, that is, the stations S2A, S3A, S4A and S2B, S3B,
The sectional structure of the third conveyor device 26 in S4B is shown in FIG.
7 and 28. As shown in these figures, in these stations, the third conveyor device 26 is provided with positioning pins 175 and positioning cylinders 176 for driving the same up and down, and the mandrel unit 20 transported together with the pallet 84 is used as a stopper cylinder. After being stopped at the station based on the raising operation of the stopper pin 153 by the 149, the positioning pin 175 is fitted into the positioning hole 248 of the pallet 84 so that the pallet 84 is positioned together with the mandrel unit 20. It has become. In FIG. 27, reference numeral 152 denotes a detection sensor.

Thus, in the above station,
With the pallet 84 and the mandrel unit 20 stopped and positioned, the mandrel unit 20 is removed from the pallet 84 by the main robot 38 and brought to a predetermined position, or the mandrel unit 20 carried by the main robot 38 Is put on the pallet 84.

FIG. 30 shows the cap removing devices 46A and 46A.
The structure of the main part of FIG. 6B is shown. As shown in the figure, the cap removing devices 46A and 46B
Upper fixed claw (gripping claw) 252 attached to 50
And a lower movable claw (gripping claw) 254 and a claw drive cylinder 256 for driving the movable claw 254 to open and close. Here, each of the upper fixed claw 252 and the lower movable claw 254 has a plate shape in the horizontal direction.
It can be opened and closed in the vertical direction about the axis 260 of 0 (A) as the center of rotation.

The cap removing devices 46A and 46B are
The cap 82 attached to the tip of the mandrel 48 is gripped and pulled out from the mandrel 48. Each of the fixed claws 252 and the movable claws 254 includes a plurality of caps 8.
2 for holding cap 2 at a time
58 are provided in a horizontal row.

The cap removing devices 46A and 46B operate as follows. In other words, with the vulcanized rubber bent tube 261 and the cap 82 attached, the main robot 38 removes the mandrel unit 20 from the pallet 84 on the third conveyor device 26 and the fixing claws 252 of the cap extracting devices 46A and 46B. It is brought to a position between the movable claws 254 and substantially horizontally (see FIG. 31 (I)).

At this time, the movable claw 254 is in an open state, and the cap 82 is fixed to the fixed claw 252 and the movable claw 254.
The movable claw 254 is closed by the claw driving cylinder 256 when the gripping position is reached by
2, 254 grip a plurality of caps 82 arranged in a row.

In this state, with the arm 52 of the main robot 38 gripping the handle 74 of the mandrel unit 20, the pull-in operation is performed rightward in FIG. At this time, cap 8
2 remains in a state where it is gripped by the pair of claws 252 and 254, where the cap 48 is pulled out from the mandrel 48 (see FIG. 31 (II)). That is, in the present example, the main robot 38 has the cap removing device 46A,
46B.

Next, the second delivery conveyor device and the marking device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. First, the second delivery conveyor device 32 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in these figures, the second delivery conveyor device 32 includes a roller conveyor chain 145, and a conveyor unit 264 having a motor 147 and a frame 162 for driving the roller conveyor chain 145 to rotate.

The conveyor unit 264 further includes:
A stopper pin 153, a stopper cylinder 149 for driving up and down the stopper pin 149 and a detection sensor 152, and a pallet holding cylinder 266 for holding the pallet 84 on both sides of the roller conveyor chain 145 are provided so as to move integrally.

Also, one roller conveyor chain 145
A reading device (automatic reading device) 212 dedicated to the pallet is provided along the line. This reading device 212
Has a plurality of proximity switches 242 arranged at predetermined intervals in the transport direction. The reading device 212 detects the dog 92 on the pallet 84 by the proximity switch 242 in the same manner as described above, and thereby identifies and specifies the type of the pallet.

Since the display section 94 of the pallet 84 and the display section 72 of the mandrel unit 20 are both read and collated in the reading apparatus 210, the display section 94 of the pallet 84 is read in the pallet reading apparatus 212.
By simply reading the type, the type of the mandrel unit 20 on the pallet 84 can also be specified and identified.

In the conveyor unit 264, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the positioning pin 1 for the pallet 84
75 and a positioning cylinder 176 for driving the same up and down. These positioning pins 175 fit into the positioning holes 248 of the pallet 84 and
Make positioning. The conveyor unit 264 is provided integrally with a fixed claw 174 having the same structure as the fixed claw 174 of the mandrel tilting device 36.

The fixing claw 174 is used to fix the mandrel unit 20 when performing a marking operation on the rubber bent tube 261 mounted on the mandrel 48, and the marking device 45 is provided together with the roller conveyor chain 145. Of the mandrel unit 20 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 33, in the second delivery conveyor device 32, the entire conveyor unit 264 is supported by a slide table 268 so as to be rotatable by 180 ° about a rotation shaft 270. A pinion gear 272 is fixed to the rotating shaft 270 so as to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 270.

On the other hand, a rail 274 is
And a traveling member 276 traveling along the rail 274 and a rodless cylinder 278 for driving the traveling member 276. Thus, the rack gear 280 is provided on the traveling member 276.
The rack gear 280 is meshed with the pinion gear 272.

That is, in this apparatus, the slide table 26
8 on the traveling member 276 and the rodless cylinder 27
8 in the vertical direction in FIG. 32 (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 33)
, The rotation shaft 270 is rotated based on the engagement between the rack gear 280 and the pinion gear 272, whereby the conveyor unit 264 is rotated by 180 °. Here, the conveyor unit 264 is 1
The rotation by 80 ° is performed by rotating the mandrel unit 20 received from the third conveyor device 26 by 180 degrees.
This is because it is rotated and then transferred to the fourth conveyor device 28.

The slide table 268 is slidable by a rodless cylinder 282 in a direction perpendicular to the third conveyor device 26 and the fourth conveyor device 28 along the rail 281.

On the other hand, the marking device 45 includes a frame 284 and a first marking robot 40 and a second marking robot 42 that can move along a rail 286 fixed to the frame 284 as shown in FIG. Have. Each of the marking robots 40 and 42 includes an arm 288 that can move in a three-dimensional direction, and a chuck (hand) 290 at the distal end thereof, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG.

Here, one of the marking robots 40
The marking robot 42 performs an operation of performing marking on the bent rubber tube 261 mounted on the mandrel 48, and the other marking robot 42 performs an operation of pressing the mandrel 48 at this time (see FIG. 37). However, these marking robots 40 and 42 have the same configuration.
Each of the marking robots 40 and 42 has a rubber bent tube 26.
1 and a pressing operation of the mandrel 48 can be performed.

A frame 284 is provided with a storage shelf 292 for marking pens, in which a plurality of types of marking pens 294 and pen-shaped backup members 296 are arranged in a line as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. It is placed and stored in the state where it was placed. Here, in the storage shelf 292,
As shown in FIG. 36, an insertion hole 298 is provided, and each of the marking pens 294 has its tip held in an insertion manner inside the insertion hole 298.

As shown in FIG. 36, each marking pen 294 is provided with a holder 300 and an arm 302 extending at right angles thereto. This arm 30
A cross-shaped holding groove 304 is formed on the side surface of the second member 2.

On the other hand, the hand 290 of each of the marking robots 40 and 42 has a cross-shaped ridge 306 corresponding to the inner surface thereof. As a result, the hand 290 can grip the marking pen 294 held in the vertical posture in that state, or can grip the marking pen 294 held in the horizontal posture in the horizontal posture. The frame 284 is also provided with a holding portion 308 (see FIG. 35) for holding the marking pen 294 in such a horizontal posture.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 38, the backup member 296 has an arm 302 having a cross-shaped gripping groove 304 on the side surface similarly to the marking pen 294. Further, a holding portion 312 having a mortar-shaped concave portion 310 is provided at the tip. This holding part 312
The tip of the mandrel 48 is inserted into the inside and acts to hold it down.

The second delivery conveyor device 32 and the marking device 45 operate as follows. That is, the mandrel unit 20 placed on the third conveyor device 26 with the vulcanized rubber bent tube 261 mounted and the cap 82 removed is passed through the inside of the cleaning tank of the cleaning device 44, where After the applied release agent is removed,
In FIG. 32, it is placed on the conveyor unit 264 of the second delivery conveyor device 32 waiting at the lower position, that is, waiting at the lower position at the position facing the third conveyor device 26.

The conveyor unit 264 on which the mandrel unit 20 is placed conveys it to the left in FIG. 32, and stops its progress by the stopper pin 153 at the left end in FIG. Thereafter, the positioning pin 175 is projected and operated by the positioning cylinder 176, and fits into the positioning hole 248 in the pallet 84 to position the pallet 84. In this state, the contents of the display unit 94 on the pallet 84 are read by the reading device 212.

At this time, the pallet holding cylinder 26
6 works to hold the pallet 84 from both sides. Further, the mandrel unit 20 is in a state in which the downward engaging pin 78 at the lower end thereof has entered the groove of the fixing claw 174, and the mandrel unit 20 is fixed by the fixing claw 174 so as not to be detached from the conveyor unit 264. Becomes

In this state, the conveyor unit 264 is moved upward in FIG. 32 by the rodless cylinder 282 under the guidance of the rail 281 and stopped at the position of the fourth conveyor device 28, and then rotated by 180 °. Be operated. FIG. 34A shows this state.

In this state, the pair of marking robots 4
0 and 42 work, while in the present example, specifically, the first marking robot 40 selects a specific one of a plurality of types of marking pens 294 stored in a row in the storage shelf 292. While holding, the other second marking robot 42 holds the backup member 296, and the second marking robot 42 holds down the tip of the mandrel 48 as shown in FIG.
The other marking robot 40 performs a predetermined marking on the rubber bent pipe 261 after being vulcanized and mounted on the mandrel 48.

In this example, the marking is made of the rubber bent pipe 2 in this example.
61 is applied to the upper end and the lower end. Therefore, the notch 6 is provided in the cap 66 attached to the base side of the mandrel 48.
9 is provided, and the marking robot 40 performs marking on the lower end portion of the rubber bent tube 261 exposed at the notch 69.

At this time, since the mandrels 48 are lined up horizontally and at equal pitch, each mandrel 4
8 have the same shape, and the tips are aligned at the same height, so that the marking robot 40 performs uniform marking on the rubber bent pipes 261 arranged in a horizontal line by a constant operation. be able to.

When the marking is completed in this way, the conveyor unit 264 of the second delivery conveyor device 32 releases the fixing of the pallet 84 and delivers the mandrel unit 20 to the fourth conveyor device 28.

FIGS. 39 to 41 show the main structure of the fourth conveyor device 28. FIG. The fourth conveyor device 28 has a transport structure basically similar to that of the third conveyor device 26. As shown in FIG.
20, and a roller conveyor chain 145 (not shown) that moves along the guide frame 220.
The mandrel unit 20 is transported together with the pallet 84.

As shown in FIG. 39, the fourth conveyor device 28 includes two main robots 38 separated from each other.
A reading device 212 having a plurality of proximity switches 242 is provided at a position along the transport path on the upstream side of each of the work positions RB and RA. In addition, those reading devices 21
2 are provided with stopper cylinders 149, respectively, and when the pallet 84 and the mandrel unit 20 are temporarily stopped, the reading devices 21 are stopped.
2, the type of the pallet 84 is read.

The work positions RB, RA of the main robot 38
40, a positioning pin 175 and a positioning cylinder 176 for driving the same up and down, as shown in FIG. Fixed claws 174 are provided.

In this example, the mandrel unit 20 is moved together with the pallet 84 as shown in FIG.
From the middle second delivery conveyor device 32 to the fourth conveyor device 28
And subsequently conveyed rightward in FIG. 39 by the fourth conveyor device 28. And RB in FIG.
At any position of the RA, the rubber bent tube 261 after vulcanization is extracted from the mandrel 48 by the main robot 38. At this time, the main robot 38
According to the content read by the reading device 212,
That is, a predetermined pulling operation is performed according to the shape and type of the mandrel 48 in the mandrel unit 20, that is, the type of the rubber bent tube 261.

Accordingly, even when the mandrel units 20 and the rubber bent pipes 261 of different kinds are sent on the fourth conveyor device 28 in a mixed state, the rubber bent pipes 261 of various kinds are accurately and correctly. Is extracted from the mandrel 48 of various shapes corresponding to.

The empty mandrel unit 20 and the pallet 84 from which the rubber bent tube 261 has been removed are conveyed on the fourth conveyor device 28 to the right end position shown in the lower part of FIG. 39, and further continued. After being rotated again by 180 ° by the transfer device 34, it is transferred to the above-mentioned second conveyor device 24, and thereafter, through the second conveyor device 24 and the first transfer conveyor device 30, a straight tubular rubber preform 50 is transferred. To the mounting station S1.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the mandrel unit 20 circulates on the circulating transport path while being placed on the pallet 84. Then, a predetermined position on the circulation path, that is, FIG.
At the mounting station S1, the unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized rubber preform 50 preformed in a straight tubular shape is inserted and mounted in each mandrel 48 of the mandrel unit 20.

At this time, the mandrel unit 20 is in a state of being inclined by the mandrel tilting device 36, and therefore, the rubber preform 5
0 can be easily inserted. Note that this mounting work may be performed manually by an operator, or may be performed mechanically or automatically.

The mandrel unit 20 on which the rubber preform 50 is mounted is transported together with the pallet 84 by the first conveyor device 22 and then transferred to the transfer device 34. The transfer device 34 includes a mandrel unit 20 on which a rubber preform 50 is mounted.
Is transported together with the pallet 84 to the third conveyor device 26.
Hand over to Subsequently, the mandrel unit 20
It is transported further downstream by the third conveyor device 26.

Then, the mandrel unit 20 is connected to the mounting station S2 corresponding to the mandrel frame 14A or 14B.
In the case of A or S2B, the mandrel unit 20 is temporarily stopped there, and then the main robot 38 moves the mandrel unit 20 to the position of RA or RB.
4 and removed from the pallet 84 by grasping it.
It is brought to the mandrel frame 14A or 14B, where the mandrel unit 20 is attached to the mandrel frame 14A or 14B by the mandrel detaching device 16A or 16B.

Now, the mandrel frame 14A or 14B holding the mandrel 48 with the rubber preform 50 mounted thereon in an assembled state is then inserted into the vulcanizing can 12 in the vulcanizing apparatus 10, where the rubber preform 50 is placed. It is heated and vulcanized for a predetermined time. Here, the unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized rubber preform 50 is vulcanized to a final shape.

When the heating and vulcanization are performed in the vulcanizing apparatus 10 for a predetermined time, the mandrel frames 14A and 14B are taken out of the vulcanizing can 12. When the mandrel frame 14A or 14B comes to a predetermined position, the mandrel attaching / detaching devices 16A and 16B are operated again to release the fixing of the mandrel unit 20 attached to the mandrel frames 14A and 14B.

Then, the main robot 38 grips the handle 74 at the RA or RB position, so that the mandrel unit 20 on which the rubber bent tube 261 after vulcanization is mounted is attached.
From the mandrel frames 14A and 14B. The main robot 38 subsequently supplies the mandrel unit 20 to the cap removing device 46A or 46B, where the cap 8 attached to the tip of each mandrel 48 is provided.
After extracting 2, the mandrel unit 20 is placed on the third conveyor device 26 again via the pallet 84.
Then, the mandrel unit 20 holding the rubber bent tube 261 after vulcanization is carried leftward in FIG. The mandrel unit 20 moves the cleaning device 4
4 where the release agent is washed off.

Subsequently, the mandrel unit 20 reaches the marking station S5, where a pair of marking robots 40 and 42 make predetermined marks on the upper end and lower end of the rubber bent tube 261. Where the marking is applied in this manner, the mandrel unit 2
0 is then passed to the fourth conveyor device 28 and
It is sent to the middle right direction, and the rubber tube extracting station S6
It is advanced / stopped in A or S6B.

Subsequently, at the position of RA or RB, the main robot 38 pulls out the vulcanized rubber bent tube 261 mounted on the mandrel unit 20 from each mandrel 48 and puts it into a predetermined receiving box. Then, the empty mandrel unit 20 and pallet 84 are transferred from the fourth conveyor device 28 to the transfer device 34, and are again brought back to the original mounting station S1,
Subsequently, predetermined processing is performed while being transported along the transport path in the same procedure as described above.

In the present example, the mandrel 48 is detached from the vulcanizing frames 14A, 14B, and the rubber preform 50 is fitted and mounted on the mandrel 48 at a position away from the mandrel frames 14A, 14B. Therefore, even when this is performed manually by an operator, the mounting operation of the rubber preform 50 can be performed under a favorable working environment away from the high-temperature mandrel frames 14A and 14B.

Similarly, the mandrel 48 is connected to the vulcanizing frame 14.
Since the rubber bent pipe 261 after vulcanization is removed from the mandrel 48 after being removed from the A and 14B, this can be easily performed mechanically and automatically. Further, even when the work is performed manually, it can be performed under a favorable environment.

Further, according to this example, the mandrel frame 1 is divided into a plurality of
4A and 14B, and various processes are performed in a detached state.
Various operations including the attachment and detachment of the mandrel 48 to and from the 4B can be performed with high efficiency.

In this embodiment, since the handle 74 is provided for the mandrel unit 20, the handle 74 is used for attaching and detaching the mandrel unit 20 to and from the mandrel frames 14A and 14B and other various processes. It can be done smoothly.

In addition, in this example, since the display section 72 is provided on the mandrel unit 20, the operation and processing corresponding to each product can be performed by reading the display section 72 with a reading device. A plurality of different types of rubber bent pipes 261 can be continuously processed in a mixed state.

FIG. 42 shows another embodiment of the mandrel and the mandrel unit. Each of the mandrels 48A, 48B, and 48C in these mandrel units 20A, 20B, and 20C has an original molded portion 62.
A, 62B, and 62C and extension portions 64A, 64B, and 64C, and a cap 66 is attached to a boundary between the extension portions.

The mandrel units 20A, 20
B, each mandrel 48A, 48B, 48 in 20C
In C, the distal end portion and the proximal end portion are both formed in a straight line, and their axes are located on the same axis.

The mandrel 48 for vulcanization molding of the rubber bent tube 261 usually has various three-dimensional bent shapes corresponding to the shape of the rubber bent tube 261. In this case, the axes of the proximal end and the distal end of the mandrel 48 do not usually coincide with each other. In this case, as shown in FIG. When the mounting angle changes, the position of the tip of the mandrel 48D also changes accordingly.

As described above, in the mandrel unit 20, when the above-described processes are performed automatically by arranging the mandrels 48 in a row and simultaneously performing various processes on the respective mandrels 48D, the positions of the tips of the mandrels 48 are adjusted. Is essential.

If the positions of the tips of the mandrels 48 are not aligned, for example, when the hand 54 of the main robot 38 grips the tip of the rubber bent tube 261 after vulcanization, the robot arm 52 performs a certain operation to hold the rubber. Bent tube 261
Of the rubber bent pipe 2
There is a problem that the extraction mistake of 61 occurs or the mandrel 48 itself is damaged.

Therefore, when attaching the mandrel 48D to the mounting base 56D, it is necessary to strictly align the mandrel 48D in the same direction. However, the operation is a laborious and difficult operation.

However, as described above, the mandrel 48A,
If the distal end and the proximal end in 48B and 48C are linear and their axes are aligned with each other, the mandrel 48
Regardless of the mounting angles of A, 48B, and 48C, the position of the tip of the mandrel can be reliably positioned at a predetermined position.

In the mandrel of FIG. 42, a height compensator for adjusting the height is provided between different mandrels such as the mandrels 48A, 48B, and 48C. This height correction unit can be provided in various forms. By changing the height (length) of the extension 64A, as for example in the mandrel 48A,
The height of the tip of the mandrel 48A can be the same height as other various mandrels, or alternatively, as in the mandrel 48B, a block 314 for height correction is provided in the extension 64B, and the mandrel is provided by the block 314. The height of the tip at 48B can be the same as the tip height of other various mandrels.

Alternatively, by changing the height of the mandrel 48C, that is, the mounting block 60C of the mandrel unit 20C according to the shape of each mandrel, it is possible to match the height of the tip with the height of other various mandrels. . The height can be adjusted by other means.

Thus, if the height position of the mandrel tip is adjusted by the height correction unit in this manner, even if different types of mandrels are flown in a continuous production line in a mixed state, the robot or the like may be used. Various processes can be properly performed by a certain operation. In other words, by adjusting the height of the mandrel tip in this way, various processes can be automatically performed by a simple automatic machine without using a complicated robot. Can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the vulcanized rubber bent tube 261 is used.
Is directly grasped by the hand 54 of the main robot 38 and pulled out from the mandrel 48.
As shown in FIG. 44, a method of extracting the rubber bent tube 261 from the mandrel 48 is to apply a force to the rubber bent tube 261 from the base end side of the mandrel 48 in the pushing direction, and once the rubber bent tube 261 is minutely removed. After being extruded from the distance mandrel 48, the distal end of the rubber bent tube 261 can be gripped and pulled out from the mandrel 48.

The rubber bent tube 261 vulcanized and formed while being attached to the mandrel 48 is in a state of being adhered to the mandrel 48 in a close contact state. Therefore, the rubber bent tube 261 is pulled out from the mandrel 48 especially at the beginning. At this time, a large resistance is generated between the rubber bent tube 261 and the mandrel 48. Moreover, a rubber bent tube 261 having elasticity
Is difficult to pull out from the mandrel 48 because it is elastically deformed in the diameter reducing direction when trying to pull it out by grasping the tip end, that is, it is elastically deformed in the direction in which the mandrel 48 is tightened. Need power.

However, once the rubber bent tube is connected to the mandrel 48
When a force is applied in the extrusion direction, the rubber bent tube 261 is elastically deformed in the radially expanding direction, so that the rubber bent tube 261 that has been in close contact with and adhered to the mandrel 48 can be easily separated from the mandrel 48. . Therefore, the rubber bent tube 261 can be easily pulled out from the mandrel 48 when the distal end portion of the rubber bent tube 261 is gripped and then pulled out. Therefore, if such an extraction method is used, the rubber bent tube 261 can be extracted from the mandrel 48 with a small force. As a result, a small-sized robot with a small force can be used for extracting the rubber bent tube 261, and the equipment cost can be reduced.

As a method of applying a force to the rubber bent tube 261 from the mandrel 48 in the pushing direction, it is convenient to apply a force to the cap 66 at the base of the mandrel 48 in the pushing direction.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, this is merely an example, and the present invention can be configured in variously modified forms without departing from the gist thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a schematic overall configuration of a continuous manufacturing apparatus for a rubber bent tube.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic side configuration of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the main robot in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mandrel unit transported by the transport device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a main part of the mandrel unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the mandrel unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a pallet conveyed by the conveyance device of FIG. 1;

8 is a view showing a state where the mandrel unit of FIG. 4 and the pallet of FIG. 7 are assembled.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the mandrel frame and the mandrel attaching / detaching device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of the mandrel attaching / detaching device in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the mandrel attaching / detaching device in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory view of a lock member in the mandrel attaching / detaching device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of the mandrel frame in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a main part of the mandrel frame of FIG. 9 together with a procedure for mounting the mandrel unit.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a second conveyor device and a first delivery conveyor device in FIG. 1;

16 is a plan view showing the mandrel tilting device in FIG. 1 together with the device in FIG. 15;

17 is a diagram showing a side configuration of the mandrel tilting device of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a front configuration of the mandrel tilting device of FIGS.

FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a first conveyor device 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is a front view of the transfer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the transfer device of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a third conveyor device 26 in FIG. 1;

23 is a diagram showing a start end portion of the third conveyor device 26 of FIG. 22 together with a transfer device 34. FIG.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the beginning portion of the same third conveyor device.

FIG. 25 is a plan view showing the reading device of FIG. 22 and its peripheral portion.

26 is a cross-sectional view of the reading device of FIG. 25 and a peripheral portion.

FIG. 27 is a longitudinal sectional view of an intermediate portion of the third conveyor device 26 of FIG. 22.

FIG. 28 is a transverse sectional view of the part shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a further enlarged main part of FIG. 25;

30 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the cap removing device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 31 is an operation explanatory view of the same cap removing device.

FIG. 32 is a plan view of the second delivery conveyor device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 33 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of the marking device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 35 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the marking device shown in FIG. 34;

36 is a diagram showing a further enlarged main part of the part shown in FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is an operation explanatory view of the marking device shown in FIG. 34;

FIG. 38 is a view showing a relevant part of the marking device shown in FIG. 34 together with an operation.

FIG. 39 is a view showing a schematic overall configuration of a fourth conveyor device in FIG. 1;

40 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the fourth conveyor device of FIG. 39.

FIG. 41 is a transverse sectional view of a main part of the device shown in FIGS. 39 and 40.

FIG. 42 is a view showing a mandrel unit used in another embodiment of the present invention, together with a mandrel.

FIG. 43 is a comparative example diagram for explaining an advantage of the mandrel of FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of extracting a rubber bent tube attached to a mandrel.

FIG. 45 is an explanatory diagram for describing the background of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a view showing an example of a conventional mandrel frame having a form different from that of the mandrel frame shown in FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional marking method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Vulcanizing device 14A, 14B Mandrel frame 16A, 16B Mandrel detaching device 20, 20A, 20B, 20C Mandrel unit 48 48A, 18B, 18C, 48D Mandrel 50 Rubber preform 56, 56A, 56B, 56C Mounting base 60, 60A, 60B, 60C Mounting block 62, 62A, 62B, 62C Molding part 64, 64A, 64B, 64C Extension part 66, 82 Cap 70 Through hole 72, 94 Display part 74 Handle 84 Transport pallet 261 Rubber bent pipe 341 Correction block S1 Mounting station S2A, S2B Mounting station S3A, S3B Removal station S4A, S4B Cap removal station S5 Marking station S6A, S6B Rubber tube removal station

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Agency reference number FI Technical display location B29L 23:00 (72) Inventor Fukuhisa 3600 No. Gezu, Kita-gaiyama, Tokai, Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture Tokai Rubber Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (14)

[Claims] An unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized rubber preform is fitted into each mandrel having a bent portion bent into a predetermined product shape, which is mounted and held on the mandrel mounting base in an assembled state. The rubber preform is heated and vulcanized by being inserted into a vulcanizing apparatus in a state of being mounted in a shape, and then the mandrel of the mandrel is manufactured in a method of manufacturing a rubber bent tube for removing a vulcanized rubber bent tube from the mandrel. A mounting base is provided at an end on the mounting side to the mounting base so that the mounting base can be attached to and detached from the mandrel mounting base, and the rubber preform is mounted on the mandrel before the vulcanization operation. At least one of the step and the step of extracting the bent rubber tube from the mandrel after the vulcanization operation, the step of removing the mandrel together with the mounting base by the mandrel mounting base. A method for manufacturing a rubber bent tube, wherein the method is performed at a predetermined rubber preform mounting position or a rubber bent tube extraction position which is separated from the mandrel mounting base in a state where the rubber bent tube is removed. 2. The mandrel of the rubber preform according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said mandrels are connected by connecting means to form a mandrel unit, and each mandrel unit is detached from said mandrel mounting base for each mandrel unit. A method for manufacturing a rubber bent tube, comprising: mounting the rubber bent tube on a rubber tube or extracting the rubber bent tube. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a common mounting base is provided for the plurality of mandrels, and the mounting base serves as the connecting means. 4. The mandrel according to claim 2, wherein each mandrel in one mandrel unit has the same shape for manufacturing the same kind, and different mandrel units having mandrels of different shapes are attached to the same mandrel. A method for manufacturing a rubber bent tube, wherein different types of rubber bent tubes are simultaneously manufactured in a mixed state by being attached to a base in a mixed state. 5. The rubber bending pipe according to claim 1, wherein the vulcanized rubber bent tube is pulled out of the mandrel from the side of the mounting end to the mandrel mounting base. A method for manufacturing a rubber bent tube, comprising: applying a force to the tube in a drawing direction to perform a predetermined amount of extrusion operation from the mandrel, and then extracting the rubber bent tube from the mandrel. 6. A mandrel device for carrying out the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, wherein (a) a mandrel mounting base for holding the mandrels in an assembled state, and (b) A mandrel device comprising: a plurality of mandrels; and a connecting means for connecting the mandrels, and a plurality of mandrel units detachable from the mandrel mounting base in unit units. 7. The mandrel device according to claim 6, wherein the mandrel unit is provided with a handle for handling such as attaching / detaching to / from the mandrel mounting base. 8. The mandrel according to claim 6, wherein the mandrels in the same mandrel unit are arranged in one or more rows, respectively, and are arranged at an equal pitch in the row direction. apparatus. 9. The mandrel device according to claim 6, wherein the mandrel unit is provided with a display unit for displaying a type, which can be read by an automatic reading device. 10. The mandrel unit according to claim 6, wherein the mandrel unit has a height correcting means for adjusting the height of the tip of the mandrel to the same height position between different types. A mandrel device, which is provided. 11. The mandrel unit according to claim 10, wherein the mandrel unit is provided with a common mounting portion for each mandrel, and the height of the tip of the mandrel is the same between different types. The height of the section is selected for each mandrel unit, and the mounting base also serves as the height correcting means. 12. A cap according to any one of claims 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, wherein a length of the rubber preform is regulated by bringing an end face of the rubber preform into contact with the mandrel at a predetermined position in an axial direction. The mandrel comprises a molded portion on the tip side of the cap and an extension on the opposite side, and the height correction means for the extension portion to make the height of the tip of the mandrel the same. A mandrel device comprising: 13. The method according to claim 6,7,8,9,10,11,
12. The mandrel device according to any one of 12, wherein a base end of the mandrel and a distal end on the opposite side are formed linearly, and their axes are located on the same axis. 14. The method of claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
In any one of 12 and 13, the mandrel mounting surface of the mandrel mounting base is formed in a circumferential surface or a flat surface, and in a state where the mandrel is mounted, between the mandrel tips in the circumferential direction or the vertical direction. A mandrel device characterized in that the pitch is equal to each other and the pitch in the axial direction or the horizontal direction is equal to each other.