WO2008029857A1

WO2008029857A1 - Annular metal cord, endless metal belt, and annular metal cord manufacturing method

Info

Publication number: WO2008029857A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/067337
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe; Hitoshi Wakahara; Yuichi Sano; Kenichi Okamoto
Original assignee: Sumitomo(Sei) Steel Wire Corp.; Sumitomo Electric Tochigi Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-09-05
Filing date: 2007-09-05
Publication date: 2008-03-13

Abstract

It is possible to provide an annular metal cord an endless metal belt which have an excellent rupture strength and which can be easily manufactured, and a method for manufacturing the annular metal cord. The annular metal cord (C1) is prepared as follows. Six metal wires (5) are twisted into a strand (1), which is wound with a predetermined annular diameter. The start point and the end point of the strand is temporarily fixed to form an annular core (3). The strand (1) continuous from the annular core (3) is helically wound on the annular core (3) six laps so as to form an external layer (4) covering the external surface of the annular core (3). After this, the start point and the end point of the strand (1) are bonded by a connection member (7).

Description

Specification

Annular metal cord, endless metal belt and method for producing annular metal cord

The present invention relates to an annular metal cord, an endless metal belt, and a method for producing an annular metal cord.

Background art

Conventionally, as a kind of endless metal belt, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a rolled belt material is bent, and both ends are welded into a cylindrical shape and cut into a predetermined width. Also known is a rectangular cross section.

[0003] Further, as described in Patent Document 2, for example, an endless belt using a metal cord as a core material is known. The metal cord serving as the core material includes at least one filament serving as the central core and a plurality of filaments surrounding the central core.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Patent: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-236610

Patent Document 2: Japanese Published Patent: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4 307146

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] Since the endless metal belt described in Patent Document 1 has a rectangular cross section, it is vulnerable to twisting and easily breaks. In addition, when the metal cord described in Patent Document 2 is applied to an endless metal belt, it is necessary to join both ends of the metal cord into an annular shape. As a method of joining both ends of the metal cord, a method of joining both ends of the metal cord and a method of joining both ends of each filament constituting the metal cord can be considered. In the method in which both ends of the metal cord are joined together and joined, the joining portion is concentrated at one place in the circumferential direction, and thus the metal cord is likely to be completely broken. On the other hand, in the method of joining both ends of each filament, the ends of the filaments must be untwisted and then joined, and after joining, the ends of the filaments must be twisted again! /. The twisted state is different from other parts, and the mechanical strength of the joint may be reduced. As a result, the metal cord is likely to break. Also, in the method of joining both ends for each filament Further, the process for producing a bond is complicated and the manufacturing becomes difficult.

[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an annular metal cord, an endless metal belt, and a method for producing an annular metal cord that are less likely to break and are easy to manufacture.

Means for solving the problem

[0007] An annular metal cord according to the present invention that can solve the above-described problems is formed by an annular core portion formed into an annular shape by a strand material formed by twisting a plurality of metal strands, and an annular core portion. And an outer layer part covering the outer peripheral surface of the annular core part is formed, and the annular core part and the outer layer part are formed by a continuous strand material! / .

[0008] In this way, with a strand material formed by twisting a plurality of metal strands, an annular core portion, and an outer layer that is wound around the annular core portion in a spiral manner and covers the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion And the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed of a continuous strand material. Therefore, the annular metal cord can be made strong, and a plurality of strand materials can be provided at one place in the circumferential direction. Compared with the case of joining together, the possibility that the annular metal cord is completely broken can be avoided. Furthermore, since the external force applied to the annular metal cord can be received by the continuous annular core portion and the outer layer portion, the applied external force can be dispersed throughout the entire annular metal cord, and local load concentration can be avoided. Therefore, since the annular core portion is formed from the strand material, and the strand material is continuously wound around the annular core portion as a shaft, the annular metal cord having a high breaking strength can be obtained.

[0009] In addition, when forming the outer layer portion, a plurality of strand materials are not wound, but the strand materials constituting the annular core portion are continuously wound over a plurality of circumferences, so there is only one strand material. Therefore, since the number of bonded portions is reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of strand materials are used, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the breaking strength of the annular metal cord and to facilitate the manufacture. If the strand material of the outer layer portion is wound at a predetermined winding angle, an annular metal cord having a substantially uniform surface state in which the strand material is not disturbed can be obtained. Such an annular metal cord is prevented from concentrating external force on a specific portion and is uniformly applied. Therefore, the force S can be used to suppress a decrease in the breaking strength. [0010] Preferably, the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed by one strand material, and both end portions of the strand material are bonded to each other. As a result, since there is only one place where the number of connecting portions is smaller than when a plurality of strand materials are used, it is possible to suppress a reduction in the breaking strength of the annular metal cord and to facilitate manufacturing. In addition, since the cross-sectional area of the joining portion is only one strand material, the difference from the other portion of the load when the annular metal cord is bent can be reduced to suppress the decrease in breaking strength.

[0011] Preferably, one end portion of the strand material is a starting end portion that forms an annular core portion, and the other end portion of the strand material is an end portion that forms an outer layer portion. Thereby, it can be set as the cyclic | annular metal cord with a big breaking strength by which the start end part of the strand material which formed the cyclic | annular core part, and the termination | terminus part of the strand material which formed the outer layer part were couple | bonded.

[0012] Alternatively, one end portion of the strand material may be an extra length portion when the annular core portion is formed, and the extra length portion may constitute a part of the outer layer portion. As a result, the end of the extra length portion when the annular core portion is formed and the end portion of the strand material forming the outer layer portion are joined together, and the extra length portion is made a part of the outer layer portion and has a high breaking strength. An annular metal cord can be used.

[0013] Preferably, the diameter of the metal strand is 0.06 mm or more and 0.40 mm or less. As a result, the strand material can have an appropriate rigidity, and the strand material can have a good fatigue resistance. The diameter of the metal strand is more preferably 0.06 mm or more and 0.22 mm or less.

[0014] Preferably, the twisting direction of the metal strand is opposite to the winding direction of the outer layer portion around the annular core portion. Thereby, after winding the strand material, it is possible to obtain an annular metal cord with less irregularities on the surface appearance. Also, make the ring metal cord difficult to twist with force S.

[0015] Preferably, the winding angle of the strand material with respect to the central axis of the annular core portion is not less than 4.5 degrees and not more than 13.8 degrees. Thereby, the winding work of a strand material becomes easy. In addition, it is possible to obtain an annular metal cord having an appropriate elongation and no loosening of the strand material.

[0016] Preferably, the strand material force is wound five or six times along the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion. Alternatively, the strand material is wrapped around the annular core portion three times as the annular core portion. 7 or more and 9 or less wraps around the outer periphery. As a result, since the outer layer portion covers the annular core portion closely, the force S that makes the annular metal cord geometrically stable can be achieved. As a result, it is possible to reliably obtain an annular metal cord that has excellent breaking strength and can withstand radial deformation.

In addition, when the strand material is wound in an annular shape as an annular core portion for 3 turns, and the outer layer portion is wound around 7 to 9 turns as the outer layer portion, the winding direction of the outer layer portion is opposite to the annular core portion. However, in the case of the same direction, the winding pitch of the annular core portion is reduced and the winding pitch of the outer layer portion is increased (that is, the winding pitch difference between the annular core portion and the outer layer portion is increased). Further, it is possible to prevent the strand material of the outer layer portion from falling into the twist of the strand material of the annular core portion.

[0017] Preferably, the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are subjected to a low temperature annealing treatment. Thereby, the internal distortion of a metal strand can be removed.

[0018] Preferably, the ends of the strand material are joined together using a connecting member. As a result, the joined portion of the strand material can be broken more.

[0019] Preferably, the ends of the strand material are joined together by welding, and the joined portion is covered and bonded by a connecting member made of a coil spring-like sleeve. As a result, the ends of the strand material can be easily joined to each other, and the connecting portion can be protected and reinforced by the connecting member. In addition, since the coil panel-like sleeve has good flexibility, it is flexibly deformed in accordance with the curved shape of the strand material wound spirally, and maintains a tightly attached state to the joined portion, and the strand material in the joined portion. The connecting member does not obstruct the deformation of the. That is, the mechanical properties of the annular metal cord can be made substantially uniform over the entire circumference.

[0020] Preferably, the ends of the strand material are overlapped in the axial direction and are accommodated and connected to the inside of a connection member made of a coil spring-like sleeve having a sleeve inner diameter less than twice the diameter of the strand material. Has been. This facilitates the bonding of the ends of the strand material. In addition, since the coil spring-like sleeve has good flexibility, it is flexibly deformed in accordance with the curved shape of the spirally wound strand material, and maintains a close contact state with the connection portion. The connecting member does not hinder the deformation of the strand material. That is, The mechanical characteristics of the annular metal cord can be made substantially uniform over the entire circumference. Furthermore, since the connecting member has a sleeve inner diameter less than twice the diameter of the strand material, the connecting member force compression force (clamping force) acts on the strand material stacked in the connecting member, and the connecting member and the strand It is firmly connected by the frictional force between the materials and between the strand materials. Further, even when tension is applied to the connection portion, the strand spring is further compressed and tightened by the coil spring-like sleeve extending in the axial direction, so that a stable connection state can be obtained.

[0021] Preferably, the connection member is formed of a close coil spring-like sleeve. This makes it easier to maintain the tightening force of the strand material even when bending with a smaller radius of curvature than a spring with a coil gap. In addition, since the number of coil turns per unit length can be increased, the strand material can be easily held strongly.

[0022] Preferably, the diameter of the spring wire constituting the connecting member is larger than the diameter of the metal wire. In order to tighten and firmly connect the strand material, the strength of the spring wire constituting the connecting member is required to some extent. The spring wire diameter is larger than the diameter of the strand metal wire. And it becomes easy to obtain the intensity | strength of a connection member required in order to maintain a connection state.

[0023] Preferably, both end portions of the strand material are connected by plastic deformation at overlapping connection portions twisted together. This eliminates the need for a separate component for connection, thereby suppressing the protrusion of the cord surface as much as possible, and making it suitable for use in a drive transmission vent of an industrial machine. it can.

[0024] Preferably, the twisting direction forces in the overlapping connection portions at both ends of the strand material are the same direction as the twist direction of the metal strand in the strand material. As a result, the strand material can be easily plastically deformed with a small number of twists and can be connected with higher strength at the overlapping connection portion, and the fatigue strength can be improved.

[0025] Preferably, the overlapping connection portion is arranged approximately in the middle between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the annular metal cord. As described above, since the overlapping connection portion is arranged approximately in the middle between the inner periphery and the outer periphery where the action of the tensile force and the compression force is minimum, the load acting on the overlapping connection portion even if the annular metal cord is deformed in the radial direction. Can be reduced, and breakage at the overlapping connection portion can be suppressed.

[0026] Preferably, the number of twists in the overlapping connection portion of the strand material is 2 to 5 times. This In addition, the ends of the strand material can be connected with sufficient strength, and the variation in the amount of plastic deformation due to excessive twisting can be suppressed to suppress the weakening of the metal strands, resulting in a high strength connection state. Maintaining power S

[0027] Further, the endless metal belt according to the present invention capable of solving the above-mentioned problems is characterized by including the annular metal cord according to the present invention. By using the above-mentioned annular metal cord, it is possible to obtain an endless metal sheet having excellent breaking strength and fatigue resistance and easy to manufacture.

[0028] In addition, a method for manufacturing an annular metal cord according to the present invention that can solve the above-described problems includes an annular core portion formed in an annular shape, and a plurality of spiral windings around the annular core portion. An annular metal cord having an outer layer portion covering an outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion, wherein a strand material formed by twisting a plurality of metal strands is wound around a predetermined annular diameter! Alternatively, an outer layer portion that covers the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion by winding the strand material around the annular core portion in a spiral manner in a state where the vicinity of the start end portion is temporarily fixed to form the annular core portion. Forming and then bonding the start and end portions of the strand material as a special feature!

[0029] As described above, in a state where the strand material formed by twisting a plurality of metal strands is wound around a predetermined annular diameter and the starting end portion or the vicinity of the starting end portion is temporarily fixed to form the annular core portion, A durable annular metal cord is formed by forming an outer layer portion that covers the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion by winding a plurality of spirals around the annular core portion, and then joining the start and end portions of the strand material. As compared with the case where all the strand materials are bonded together, an annular metal cord that can avoid the possibility of complete breakage can be obtained. That is, since the annular core portion is formed from the strand material, and the strand material is wound by continuously using the annular core portion as a shaft, the annular metal cord having a high breaking strength can be obtained.

[0030] Moreover, when forming the outer layer portion, the strand material constituting the annular core portion is continuously wound over a plurality of circumferences instead of winding a plurality of strand materials. Compared to the case where multiple strand materials are used, the number of joints is reduced, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in the breaking strength of the annular metal cord and to reduce the production. Further, it is possible to wind the strand material of the outer layer portion substantially without any gap along the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion. Further, since the strand material of the outer layer portion is wound at a predetermined winding angle, an annular metal cord having a substantially uniform surface state in which the strand material is not disturbed can be obtained. Since an external force is uniformly applied to such an annular metal cord, a decrease in breaking strength can be suppressed.

[0031] Preferably, after the outer layer portion is formed, the sleeve inner diameter is less than twice the diameter of the strand material so that the start and end portions of the strand material are stacked along the axial direction. It is accommodated and connected to the inside of a connection member made of a coil spring-like sleeve, and the start end and the end of the end end exposed on the outside of the connection member are cut and removed. This facilitates the joining of the ends of the strand material. In addition, since the coil spring-like sleeve has good flexibility, it is flexibly deformed in accordance with the curved shape of the spirally wound strand material, and maintains a close contact state with the connecting portion, and the strand material in the connecting portion. The connecting member does not hinder the deformation of That is, it is possible to make the mechanical characteristics of the annular metal cord substantially uniform over the entire circumference. Furthermore, since the connecting member has a sleeve inner diameter less than twice the diameter of the strand material, a connecting member force compression force (clamping force) acts on the strand material stacked in the connecting member, and the connecting member and It is firmly connected by the frictional force between the strand materials and between the strand materials. In addition, even when tension is applied to the connecting portion, the strand spring is more strongly compressed and tightened by the coin spring-like sleeve extending in the axial direction, so that a stable connection state can be obtained.

[0032] Further, in order to cut off and remove the end of the start end and the end of the end exposed on the outside of the connecting member, the strand material in the connecting portion is stored inside the connecting member so that the other portions and the shape of the annular metal cord are formed. Aligned and has a substantially uniform structure in the annular direction.

[0033] Preferably, after the outer layer portion is formed, one of the start end portion or the end end portion of the strand material is passed through from the one side end portion to the other side end portion of the connecting member, The spring element wire at the other end of the connecting member is moved so that the coil gap between the adjacent spring element wires is widened, and the other of the start end portion or the end end portion of the strand material is inserted into the widened coil gap. Further, by passing the coil material along one end of the connecting member along the coil gap, In the state of being overlapped along the axial direction, it is accommodated inside the connecting member and connected.

[0034] In this way, one of the start end and the end end of the strand material is passed through the inside of the connection member, and the other is inserted into the coil gap between the spring wires at the end of the connection member. By passing along the coil gap to the end opposite to the brazed side, the start and end portions of the strand material are overlapped inside the connecting member having a sleeve inner diameter that is less than twice the diameter of the strand material. And easy to accommodate.

[0035] Preferably, after the outer layer portion is formed, the starting end portion of the strand material is inserted from one end portion of the connecting member through the inside to the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the connecting member. The connecting member is pulled out from a coil gap between adjacent spring strands in the axially intermediate portion of the connecting member, and the end portion of the strand material passes through the inside from the other end of the connecting member in the axial direction of the connecting member. The intermediate end portion is pulled out from the coil gap between adjacent spring element wires in the axial direction intermediate portion of the connecting member, and the start end portion of the strand material protruding outward from the coil gap is moved along the coil gap. The end of the strand material that protrudes outward from the coil gap force and the coil gap force is passed along the coil gap. Wherein by passing to the one side end portion of the connecting member to connect in a state in which the said starting end and the terminal end overlapped along the housing and axially inwardly of said connecting member of said strand material Te

[0036] In this way, the start end portion and the end end portion of the strand material are inserted from the end portion of the connecting member through the inside to the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the connecting member, and the spring in the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the connecting member. Inside the connecting member having a sleeve inner diameter that is less than twice the diameter of the strand material by pulling out from the coil gap between the strands and passing it along the coil gap to the end opposite to the crimped side It is easy to accommodate the start and end portions of the strand material on top of each other.

[0037] In addition, in the method for producing an annular metal cord according to the present invention that can solve the above-described problem, the twisting direction of the overlapping connection portions at both ends of the strand material is the same as the twisting direction of the strand material. A method of manufacturing the annular metal cord, wherein a pair of plate bodies provided with a pair of holding portions capable of holding the strand material are spaced apart from each other. The opening is disposed, the end portions of the respective strand materials are held by the holding portions of the plate body, and the vicinity of the end portions of the respective strand materials are bridged so as to overlap each other in the axial direction. By rotating the body relatively in the opposite direction about the rotation center between the pair of holding parts, an overlapping connection part is formed by twisting the strand materials between these plate bodies and plastically deforming them. It is characterized by being connected.

[0038] In this way, the vicinity of the end portions of the respective strand materials are held by the holding portions of the plate bodies, and the vicinity of the end portions of the respective strand materials are bridged so as to overlap each other in the axial direction, thereby holding the plate bodies. By rotating relative to each other in the opposite direction with the center as the rotation center, the strand materials can be uniformly twisted together and easily and firmly connected at low cost.

[0039] Preferably, as the holding portion of the plate body, a slit extending to the vicinity of the rotation center is formed as the outer peripheral side of the plate body, and the strand material is inserted into the slit, thereby The strand material is held in the slit. Accordingly, the strand material can be inserted into the slit, and the strand material can be easily held by the holding portion formed by the slit.

[0040] Preferably, in the plate body, one of the holding portions includes the slit, and the other of the holding portion includes a through hole through which the strand material can pass. Thus, since the other holding portion is made of a through hole, when the strand material is inserted and held in this through hole, the strand material is twisted at the inner edge of the through hole when the strand material is twisted together. The outer periphery of the wire is securely held and can be twisted more uniformly at the overlapping connection. In addition, after forming the overlapping connection part, the through hole force of each plate body can also be easily removed from the pair of plate bodies by pulling out the end portion of the strand material and further removing the strand material from the slit in the radial direction. Can be removed and the work efficiency can be improved.

[0041] Preferably, when the ends of the strand material are twisted together and connected, the length of the twisting margin of the end of the strand material is made longer than the length of the overlapping connection portion. As a result, the end portions of the strand material can be reliably twisted and connected by the overlapping connection portion having a predetermined length.

[0042] Preferably, after twisting the strands of the strand material and plastically deforming them, the untwisted excess length portion in the twists is cut and removed. This should not leave unnecessary extra length The strand material can be in a connected state.

[0043] Preferably, when the ends of the strand material are twisted and connected to each other, a plurality of locking portions are provided to non-connection target portions other than the connection target portions to be connected to each other in the strand material. The non-connection target part is moved in a direction away from the connection target part by these hooks. Thereby, the ends of the strand material to be connected can be easily twisted and connected, and the work can be facilitated. The invention's effect

[0044] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method of manufacturing an annular metal cord, an endless metal belt, and an annular metal cord that are excellent in breaking strength and fatigue resistance and are easy to manufacture. Therefore, when the annular metal cord and the endless metal belt of the present invention are used in an industrial machine, the industrial machine can be made excellent in durability.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a radial sectional perspective view showing an annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a strand material is wound once around the annular core portion included in the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

[FIG. 4] (a) is a radial cross-sectional view showing the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment, and (b) is a side view of the annular metal cord.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part (connection portion) of the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of another example showing a part (connection portion) of the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of another example showing a part (connection portion) of the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

[FIG. 9] A solid line indicates that the reel is located outside the ring of the annular core portion at one end of the pendulum motion cycle of the annular core portion, and the reel is disposed at the other end of the cycle of the pendulum motion of the annular core portion. FIG. 7 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG.

[FIG. 10] Contrary to FIG. 7, the state where the reel is located in the ring of the annular core part at one end of the period of the pendulum movement of the annular core part is indicated by a solid line. FIG. 7 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 in which the reel is located outside the ring of the annular core portion at the end and is shown by a chain line.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram when the annular core portion of the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment is formed.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of the reel moving state when manufacturing the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment as viewed from above.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing stepwise the connection process when manufacturing the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing stepwise another connection process when manufacturing the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a disk used for connecting the start end portion and the end end portion of the strand material.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view for explaining a method of connecting the start end portion and the end end portion of the strand material.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the overlapping connection portion of the strand material after connection.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a use state of an endless metal belt according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of an annular metal cord.

Explanation of symbols

[0046] 1 · · · Strand material, la ... Start end (end), lb ... End (end), 3 · · · Ring core, 4 · · · Outer layer, 5 · · Metal element 7, 7a… Connecting member, 7b… Overlapping connection, 71 ··· Disk (plate), 73… Through hole (holding portion), 74 ··· Slit (holding portion), Β1 ··· Endless metal belt, C1 ... Ring metal cord.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the description, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements or elements having the same functions, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

[0048] The annular metal cord according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a book FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an annular metal cord according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a radial sectional perspective view showing the annular metal cord according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the strand material is wound once around the annular core portion included in the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a radial sectional view showing the annular metal cord according to this embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the annular metal cord according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the annular metal cord according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the annular metal cord C1 includes an annular core portion 3 and an outer layer portion 4 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the annular core portion 3 is formed by curving (looping) the strand material 1 with a predetermined diameter by one turn into an annular shape. The outer layer portion 4 around the annular core portion 3 is formed by continuously winding the strand material 1 constituting the annular core portion 3 around the annular core portion 3 with the annular core portion 3 as an axis.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 4 (a), the strand material 1 is formed by twisting a plurality of metal strands 5 together. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the strand material 1 is centered on one metal strand 5, and six metal strands 5 are S-twisted on the outer peripheral surface of the metal strand 5. Wrapped. Thus, since the strand material 1 is a geometrically stable seven-strand twist, it is strong and hardly breaks.

[0052] For the metal wire 5, a high carbon steel containing 0.660 mass% or more of C is used as a material. By selecting a material containing 60% by mass or more of C, it is possible to make the metal strand 5 into a steel wire with superior fracture strength. However, the material of the metal wire 5 is not limited to this.

[0053] The diameter of the metal strand 5 is not less than 0.06 mm and not more than 0.40 mm. Here, since the diameter of the metal wire 5 is 0.06 mm or more, the strand material 1 has sufficient rigidity, and the annular core portion 3 can be hardly deformed. Further, since the diameter of the metal strand 5 is 0.40 mm or less, the rigidity of the strand material 1 does not increase moderately, and the annular metal cord C1 can be drawn out so that fatigue breakage due to stress does not easily occur. . A more preferable diameter of the metal spring 5 is 0.06 mm or more and 0.22 mm or less.

That is, when the strand material 1 is formed with the metal strand 5 having such a diameter, the strand material 1 having appropriate rigidity can be obtained. Therefore, the strand material 1 is wound around the annular core portion 3. It becomes easy to tighten and loosening of the strand material 1 occurs.

[0055] The strand material 1 is wound around the annular core portion 3 over a plurality of circumferences, and is wound spirally as shown in Figs. The strand material 1 is wound so as not to be twisted. By wrapping without twisting, we can control the looseness of the strand material 1 with the force S.

In the present embodiment, the strand material 1 constituting the outer layer portion 4 is wound six times along the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3. Since the strand material 1 wound around the annular core portion 3 is composed of one strand material 1 continuous with the annular core portion 3, the strand material 1 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3 substantially without a gap. Therefore, the outer layer portion 4 covers the annular core portion 3 closely. The cross section of the annular metal cord C1 has a shape in which six strand materials 1 are arranged around the strand material 1 that is the annular core portion 3, as shown in FIG. 4 (a). This cross-sectional shape is the same as the cross-sectional shape when seven strand materials 1 are twisted. In this way, the annular metal cord C1 has a cross-section close-packed twist structure that is advantageous for space saving and has a geometrically stable structure, so it has excellent breaking strength and fatigue resistance, And it will be able to withstand radial deformation!

As shown in FIG. 3, the strand material 1 constituting the outer layer portion 4 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3 in a Z-twist. Since the strand material 1 itself is formed by S twist, the annular metal cord C1 is a combination of S twist structure and Z twist structure. Therefore, the twisting direction of the metal wire 5 is opposite to the winding direction of the outer layer portion 4 with respect to the annular core portion 3, and the annular metal cord C1 with less unevenness on the surface appearance that is difficult to twist can be obtained.

In addition, the strand material 1 constituting the outer layer portion 4 is wound at a predetermined winding angle with respect to the central axis of the annular core portion 3. For this reason, the strand material 1 is wound without any disturbance, and an annular metal cord C1 having a substantially uniform surface state can be obtained. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the winding angle Θ of the strand material 1 in the X direction, that is, the direction in which the central axis of the annular core portion 3 extends is 4.5 degrees or more. It is less than 8 degrees. When the winding angle Θ is set to 4.5 · 5 ° or more, loosening of the strand material 1 occurs. By setting the winding angle Θ to 13.8 degrees or less, it is possible to prevent the elongation of the strand material 1 from becoming excessively large. That is, the winding of the strand material 1 of the outer layer part 4 wound around the annular core part 3 By setting the soldering angle Θ to 4.5 degrees or more and 13.8 degrees or less, it is possible to obtain a flexible annular metal cord C1 having an appropriate elongation. When such an annular metal cord C1 is used for an endless metal belt of a continuously variable transmission, which will be described later, for example, power transmission between the driving pulley and the driven pulley can be performed with high accuracy.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 5, the winding start end la and the winding end end lb of the strand material 1 constituting the annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4 are coupled to each other by welding, and The joint portion is covered with the connecting member 7.

Since this connecting member 7 is made of a highly flexible sleeve formed in the shape of a coil panel, this connecting member 7 is the outer periphery of the joint between the start end la and the end lb, which are both ends of the strand material 1. It is fixed with an adhesive so as to cover. The connecting member 7 made of a coil spring-like sleeve is flexibly deformed according to the curved shape of the strand material 1 to protect and reinforce the welded portion of the strand material 1.

[0060] In this way, by connecting the start end portion la and the end portion lb of the strand material 1 using the connecting member 7 formed of a coil spring-like sleeve having excellent flexibility, the strand on the annular core portion 3 side is connected. It is necessary to attach the joint between the starting end 1a of the material 1 and the end part lb of the strand material 1 of the outer layer 4 inclined to the starting end 1a in a well-covered state according to its shape. In this way, it is possible to satisfactorily protect the joint portion between the start end portion la and the end portion lb of the strand material 1. In addition, since the connecting member 7 does not hinder the deformation of the strand material 1 at the joint portion, the flexibility of the strand material 1 at the joint portion and other portions can be made equal, and the mechanical properties of the annular metal cord C1 can be made all around. Can be made substantially uniform.

[0061] Instead of the form shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 6, the winding start end la and the winding end end lb of the strand material 1 constituting the annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4 are mutually axial. In a state of being stacked along the direction, it is accommodated and connected to the inside of the connecting member 7a formed of a coil spring-like sleeve!

The connecting member 7a is made of a highly flexible sleeve formed in a coil spring shape, and has a sleeve inner diameter less than twice the diameter of the strand material 1. Since the coil spring-like sleeve has good flexibility, it is flexibly deformed in accordance with the curved shape of the spirally wound strand material 1 and maintains a close contact state with the connecting portion. Also, the connection part The diameter of the minute is about two strand materials 1, and the connecting portion does not become excessively large. In other words, the mechanical properties of the annular metal cord C1 can be made substantially uniform over the entire circumference.

[0062] Further, since the connecting member 7a has a sleeve inner diameter that is less than twice the diameter of the strand material 1, a force is applied to expand the diameter of the connecting member 7a from the strand material 1 stacked in the connecting member 7a. At the same time, a reaction force is generated by the elastic force of the connecting member 7a, and a compressive force is applied from the connecting member 7 to the strand material 1 stacked in the connecting member 7a to tighten the strand material 1. The connection member 7a and the strand material 1 and the strand material 1 are firmly connected by a frictional force. Even when tension is applied to this connecting portion, the coil spring-like sleeve tries to extend in the axial direction, so that the inner strand material 1 is further strongly compressed and tightened, so that a stable connection state is maintained. be able to.

[0063] The connecting members 7 and 7a shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may have an interval between adjacent spring wires (coil gap), but preferably consist of a close-contact coil spring-like sleeve having no coil gap. . This makes it easier to maintain the tightening force of the strand material 1 even when bending with a smaller radius of curvature than a spring with a coil gap. In addition, since the number of coil turns per unit length can be increased, the strand material 1 can be easily held strongly.

[0064] The diameter of the spring wire constituting the connecting members 7 and 7a shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is preferably larger than the diameter of the metal wire 5 constituting the strand material 1. In order to tighten and firmly connect the strand material 1, the strength of the spring wire constituting the connecting members 7, 7a is required to some extent. When the diameter is larger than the diameter of the wire 5, it is easy to obtain the strength of the connecting member necessary to maintain the connection state.

Further, instead of the form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, as shown in FIG. 7, the winding start end la and the winding end of the strand material 1 constituting the annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4 are formed. It may be connected to lb by overlapping connection 7b. In the overlapping connection portion 7b, the strand materials 1 are twisted equally to each other, and the strand materials 1 are plastically deformed and integrated at the twisted portion. In this way, the winding start end portion la and the winding end portion lb of the strand material 1 are twisted together and connected by plastic deformation at the overlapping connection portion 7b, so that separate components for connection are not required. This allows you to As a result, it is possible to suppress the protrusion of the card surface as much as possible, and to make it suitable for use in a drive transmission belt of an industrial machine.

[0066] Further, since the overlapping connecting portion 7b does not hinder the deformation of the strand material 1 in the joint portion, the flexibility of the strand material 1 in the joint portion and other portions can be made equal, and the machine of the annular metal cord C1 The target characteristic can be made substantially uniform over the entire circumference.

Further, the twisting direction of the overlapping connection portion 7b of the strand material 1 is the same as the twisting direction of the metal strand 5 in the strand material 1. As a result, in this overlapping connection portion 7b, the strand material 1 can be easily plastically deformed with a small number of twists without causing untwisting of the metal strand 5, so that a decrease in strength is suppressed. It is connected and the decrease in fatigue strength is suppressed!

[0067] As the specific number of twists in the overlapping connection portion 7b, 2 to 5 times is preferable, and the winding start end portion la and the winding end portion lb of the strand material 1 have sufficient strength. In addition, it is possible to suppress a variation in the amount of plastic deformation due to excessive twisting, to suppress weakening of the metal wire 5 and to maintain a strong connection state.

[0068] Further, the connecting portion (connecting member 7, 7a, overlapping connecting portion 7b) between the start end la and the end end lb shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is connected to the circular arc of the annular metal cord C1. It is arranged on one side of both sides excluding the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side of the arc, that is, approximately in the middle between the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the annular metal cord C1. As described above, since the connecting portion is disposed approximately in the middle between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the annular metal cord C 1 where the action of the tensile force and the compressive force is minimum, even if the annular metal cord C 1 is deformed in the radial direction. In addition, it is possible to reduce the load acting on the connecting portion and to suppress breakage in the connecting portion.

[0069] In this way, the annular metal cord C1 is formed by the force using the connection members 7 and 7a or the overlap after the strand material 1 constituting the outer layer portion 4 is wound around the strand material 1 constituting the annular core portion 3. The connecting portion 7b is formed to connect the start end portion la and the end portion lb of the strand material 1 to each other.

[0070] Next, a method for manufacturing the annular metal cord C1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a production apparatus for producing the annular metal code C1.

The manufacturing apparatus Ml includes a driving unit 40 that rotates the annular core portion 3 in the circumferential direction, A supply unit 50 for the strand material 1 that supplies the strand material 1 wound around the reel 51 to the winding portion of the annular core portion 3 is provided.

[0071] The supply unit 50 of the strand material 1 is fixed at a predetermined position.

The driving unit 40 includes two pinch rollers 42a and 42b that are installed on an arcuate holding arm 41 and connected to a drive motor to rotate the annular core portion 3 in the circumferential direction.

The holding arm 41 is provided with a clamp unit 43 surrounding the periphery of the annular core portion 3 on the supply side of the strand material 1 located in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the annular core portion 3. This clamp unit 43 is composed of two rollers 43a and 43b, which prevents lateral vibration of the annular core part 3, maintains stable circumferential rotation, and positions the winding point of the strand material 1. And high wrapping performance is obtained. In this example, the annular core portion 3 is made vertical to suppress lateral vibration and rotate in the circumferential direction.

[0073] The clamp unit 43 composed of the two rollers 43a and 43b prevents the annular core portion 3 from swinging in the lateral direction, and surrounds the periphery of the annular core portion 3 even in the final finished cord diameter, thereby providing a stable circumferential direction. Since it only needs to maintain the rotation and have the function of fixing the winding point as the twist port of the strand material 1, the groove shape is not particularly limited, and in addition to the U-shaped groove shape, the arc-shaped groove shape and the V-shaped groove shape It may be a groove shape.

[0074] The holding arm 41 is swingably installed on the stand 44 so that the pendulum is moved by the swing mechanism 60 including the rotary disk 61 and the crank shaft 62 with the clamp unit 43 as a fulcrum. Yes.

The annular core portion 3 held by the holding arm 41 is one end of the period of the pendulum motion, and as shown by the solid line in FIG. 9, the reel 51 is positioned outside the ring of the annular core portion 3 and the annular core portion 3 3. Swing at the other end of the period of movement of the pendulum, as shown by the solid line in FIG.

[0075] In the supply section 50 of the strand material 1, a pair of front and rear cassette stands 52 do not obstruct the pendulum movement of the annular core section 3 held by the holding arm 41! /, Keep the distance! /, A reel delivery mechanism is provided at the front end of the cassette stand 52 so as to be opposed to each other with the surface of the annular core portion 3 interposed therebetween.

[0076] The supply unit 50 includes a reel 51 around which the strand material 1 is wound, and a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the reel 51. The cassette 53 has a large diameter and at least a cylindrical outer peripheral wall corresponding to the inner width of the reel. The linole 51 is rotatably accommodated in a cassette 53 so as to cover the entire winding surface of the strand material 1, and is formed into a so-called cartridge. An unwinding hole is formed in the outer peripheral wall of the cassette 53, and the strand material 1 is pulled out from the unwinding hole toward the clamp unit 43 at the winding point of the annular core portion 3. The strand material 1 is wound around the linole 51 with a pre-adjusted diameter and is set in the cassette 53 of the supply unit 50.

[0077] At a position opposite to the tip of the pair of cassette stands 52, a guide rod that can be removably attached to the cassette 53 and a cassette 53 that is attached to one guide rod are connected to the other guide. A delivery mechanism for transferring to the rod is installed. This delivery mechanism can move the cassette 53 mounted on one guide rod to the other guide rod S by moving the rod in and out by the air cylinder and pushing the center of the cassette 53.

[0078] When the manufacturing apparatus Ml having such a configuration is used, the annular metal cord C1 is manufactured through the following steps.

As shown in FIG. 11, the starting end side of one strand material 1 is bent (looped) in an annular shape to form an annular core portion 3.

Next, the portion where the two strand materials 1 overlap in the vicinity of the start end la is temporarily fixed by winding an adhesive tape, string, spring or the like.

After the temporary fixing, the annular core portion 3 is set in the driving unit 40 of the manufacturing apparatus Ml, and the annular core portion 3 is rotated in the circumferential direction to start winding the strand material 1 around the annular core portion 3.

[0080] When the annular core portion 3 is rotated in the circumferential direction and the Z-winding is performed, the reel 51 of the strand material 1 is positioned on the left side with respect to the surface of the annular core portion 3, and the reel 51 shown by a solid line in FIG. Is positioned outside the ring of the annular core part 3 and the reel 51 shown by a solid line in FIG. 10 enters the ring of the annular core part 3 with the annular core part 3 as a fulcrum and the clamp unit 43 as a fulcrum. Until the annular core part 3 is moved by a pendulum, and the reel 51 is moved at right angles to the surface of the annular core part 3 by the air cylinder provided at the tip of the cassette stand 52. Guide mouth When the cassette 53 is transferred to the head, the winding is performed half a turn. Thereafter, from the state where the reel 51 shown by the solid line in FIG. 10 is positioned in the ring of the annular core part 3, the reel 51 shown by the solid line in FIG. Pendulum movement of the annular core part 3 to the position where it goes out of the ring of the part 3, and outside the ring of the annular core part 3, the reel 53 is moved at right angles to the annular core surface together with the cassette 53 by the air cylinder. If you do, one wrap is completed. By repeating such an operation, the strand material 1 that becomes the outer layer portion 4 is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3.

[0081] The reel 51 moves back and forth across the core surface of the annular core portion 3 at a predetermined position, and the annular core portion 3 performs a pendulum motion with the clamp unit 43 serving as a winding point of the strand material 1 as a fulcrum. The distance from the reel 51 to the winding point of the strand material 1 is kept almost constant, and the strand material 1 drawn out from the reel 51 does not loosen during winding, and the strand material 1 becomes an annular core under a constant tension. Wound around part 3.

The movement trajectory of the reel 51 around which the strand material 1 is wound and the movement trajectory of the annular core portion 3 that moves pendulum are illustrated in FIG.

That is, the reel 51 is annular from the state shown in FIG. 12 (a) outside the annular core part 3 to the state where the reel 51 is located in the ring of the annular core part 3 shown in FIG. 12 (b). The core 3 is moved in a pendulum manner, and at the position shown in FIG. 12 (b), the reel 51 is transferred to the opposite surface of the annular core 3 shown in FIG. 10 (c). With the reel 51 in place, the annular core portion 3 is moved in a pendulum motion from the position shown in FIG. 12 (c) to the state where the reel 51 is positioned outside the ring of the annular core portion 3 shown in FIG. The cycle of returning 51 from the opposite surface of the annular core portion 3 to the starting position of the original surface (position in Fig. 12 (a)) is repeated. As described above, in the present embodiment, the annular core portion 3 is moved by the pendulum with respect to the reel 51 as shown in (a) → (b) → (c) → (d) → (a) in FIG. As shown in (b) → (c) and (d) → (a) of FIG. 12, the reel 51 is moved at a right angle with respect to the core surface of the annular core portion 3 to thereby remove the strand material 1 from the annular core portion 3. It is spirally wound around.

[0083] To form the connecting portion in the form shown in Fig. 5, after the winding of the strand material 1, the winding end portion lb of the strand material 1 is passed through the connecting member 7 and the temporary fixing of the vicinity of the starting end la is performed. Remove and join the start end la and the end lb by welding. Next, start and end la and end Adhesive is applied to the joint with the end lb, and the connecting member 7 is slid to a position covering the joint. If it does in this way, as FIG. 5 shows, the connection member 7 will be fixed to a coupling | bond part by an adhesive agent, a coupling | bond part will be protected by the connection member 7, and the fracture | rupture in a coupling | bond part will be suppressed.

[0084] In order to form the connecting portion in the form of Fig. 6, after the winding of the strand material 1, the temporary fixing of the portion near the start end la of the strand material 1 is removed, and the start end la and the end lb are axially arranged. It is accommodated inside the connection member 7a and connected so that it is in a state of being stacked along the line.

To accommodate the start end la and the end end lb inside the connecting member 7a, first, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the strand material 1 from one end (right front side in the figure) of the connecting member 7a. Insert the end part lb of the wire and pass it through the inside of the connecting member 7 a until the tip is exposed from the other side end (left back side in the figure). In addition, the spring element wire at the other end (the left rear side in the figure) of the connecting member 7a is moved so that the coil gap with the adjacent spring element is widened, and the start end portion la of the strand material is moved into the widened coil gap. Indulge in. At this time, the length to be inserted is longer than that of the connecting member 7a. The side that passes through the inside of the connecting member 7a first may be the start end la, and the side that is inserted between the coil gaps may be the end lb.

[0085] Next, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the start end la that has been squeezed into the coil gap is squeezed along the direction indicated by the arrow, that is, around the connection member 7a. Move along the coil gap so that it passes through to the end opposite to the other side. As a result, the non-terminal side of the starting end portion la is inserted into the inside of the end portion of the connecting member 7a, and the terminal end side of the starting end portion la protrudes outward from the coil gap. It is gradually housed inside the connecting member 7a from the side. At this time, on the inner side of the connecting member 7a, the non-terminal side of the start end portion la is gradually overlapped with the end portion lb inserted in advance.

[0086] Then, when the circumference of the connection member 7a is turned around the start end la up to half the number of coil turns of the connection member 7a, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the coil at the center position of the connection member 7a The end side of the start end 1a protrudes from the gap. When the start end 1a is further turned and moved along the coil gap, the start end la and the end end lb are gradually overlapped from the center position of the connecting member 7a toward the end of the end end lb. In this state, it is housed inside the connecting member 7a. [0087] Further, the starting end la is turned and moved along the coil gap, and when reaching the end opposite to the side inserted in the coil gap, as shown in Fig. 13 (c) Over the entire length of the member 7a, the start end la and the end end lb are accommodated inside the connection member 7a in a state where they overlap in the axial direction. Thereby, the start end la and the end lb are firmly connected by the compressive force of the connecting member 7a.

Thereafter, the start end portion and the end surplus length portions 6a and 6b of the end portion exposed to the outside of the connection member 7a are cut and removed. As a result, the strand material 1 at the connecting portion is accommodated inside the connecting member 7a so that the shape is aligned with other portions of the annular metal cord C1, and a substantially uniform structure is obtained in the annular direction.

As described above, in the connection method of the present embodiment, one end portion of the strand material 1 is inserted into the inside of the connection member 7a, and the other end portion is a spring element wire at the end portion of the connection member 7a. Of the connecting member 7a having a sleeve inner diameter less than twice the diameter of the strand material 1 by inserting between the coil gaps between them and passing along the coil gap to the end opposite to the side where the crimping is performed. It is easy to accommodate the start portion la and the end portion lb of the strand material 1 on the inside.

Further, with reference to FIG. 14, another method for housing and connecting the start end portion la and the end portion lb inside the connection member 7a will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 14 (a), the starting end la of the strand material 1 is passed through the inside of the connecting member 7a from the one side end (the left back side in the figure) of the connecting member 7a to the axial direction of the connecting member 7a. Add to the middle part. Next, the starting end la of the strand material 1 inside the connecting member 7a is connected from the coil gap between adjacent spring strands in the axially intermediate portion of the connecting member 7a as shown in FIG. Pull out to the outside of member 7a. At this time, a sufficient extra length is provided for the starting end 1 a to be pulled out.

[0090] The end portion lb of the strand material 1 is also axially connected to the connecting member 7a from the other end (right front side in the figure) of the connecting member 7a through the inside of the connecting member 7a in the same manner as the starting end la. Add to the middle part. Further, the terminal end portion 1b of the strand material 1 inside the connecting member 7a is pulled out to the outside of the connecting member 7a as shown in FIG. 14 (a) from the coil gap from which the starting end portion la is pulled out. At this time, leave enough extra length for the end part lb to be pulled out.

Note that the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the connecting member 7a for pulling out the start end la and the end end lb is preliminarily connected By making the gap between the wires wide (for example, 1 to 5 times to 4.5 times the diameter of the strand material 1), the drawing work becomes easier.

[0091] After that, the start end la and the end end lb each inserted in the coil gap are respectively along the direction indicated by the arrows, that is, around the connection member 7a, opposite to the side where the insertion is performed. It moves along the coil gap so as to pass to the end on the side. As a result, the starting end la and the terminal end lb are gradually accommodated inside the connecting member 7a from the central position of the connecting member 7a toward both ends.

[0092] Further, the start end la and the end end lb are rotated and moved along the coil gap, and when reaching the end opposite to the squeezed side, as shown in FIG. 14 (b) Then, the entire length of the connecting member 7a is accommodated inside the connecting member 7a with the start end la and the end lb overlapping in the axial direction. As a result, the starting end portion la and the terminal end portion lb are firmly connected by the compressive force of the connecting member 7a.

In this way, in the connection method of the form shown in FIG. 14, the start end la and the end end lb of the strand material 1 are respectively inserted from both sides of the connection member 7a, and the axial intermediate portion of the connection member 7a is inserted. A connecting member that has a sleeve inner diameter that is less than twice the diameter of the strand material 1 by pulling out from the coil gap between the spring strands of the wire and passing it through the coil gap to the end opposite to the crimped side. It is easy to store the start end la and the end end lb of the strand material 1 in the inner side of 7a.

[0094] When forming the connection portion in the form of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the strand material 1 has the end portion on the outer peripheral layer 4 side inclined with respect to the start end portion la on the annular core portion 3 side. Since the connecting members 7 and 7a are made of a coil spring-like sleeve and have excellent flexibility, the connecting members 7 and 7a can be easily attached to the coupling portion.

Then, as described above, the outer layer portion 4 can be provided around the annular core portion 3 by winding the strand material 1 around the annular core portion 3 and joining the start end portion la and the end portion lb. [0095] To form the connecting portion in the form shown in FIG. 7, the start end la and the end end lb of the strand material 1 are connected using two discs (plate bodies) 71 shown in FIG.

This circular plate 71 has a through hole 73 slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the strand material 1 at an eccentric position close to the center thereof, and a strand is formed in the through hole 73. Material 1 can be passed through. In addition, a slit 74 that is open to the outer periphery of the disc 71 is formed up to the center of the disc 71. The bottom of the slit 74 is disposed at the center of the disc 71. . The slit 74 has a width that is slightly larger than the diameter of the strand material 1, and the strand material 1 can be inserted into the slit 74 with an opening partial force on the outer peripheral side of the disc 71. Further, the formation direction of the slit 74 is bent in the vicinity of the bottom portion of the slit 74, thereby making it difficult for the strand material 1 disposed in the vicinity of the bottom portion to move outward in the radial direction of the disk 71. That is, the strand material 1 can be easily held at the bottom of the slit 74.

[0097] When connecting the start end la and the end end lb of the strand material 1 using the disc 71, as shown in Fig. 16, two discs 71 arranged in parallel with a gap therebetween are provided. The start end la and the end end lb of the strand material 1 to be connected are inserted into the slits 7 4 of each of the slits 7 4, and are further extended to the outside by a predetermined dimension through the through-holes 73 of the disk 71 on the opposite side. The length of the twisting margin is made longer than the distance between the circular plates 71 that are the length of the connecting portion 7.

[0098] At this time, a plurality of pins or small-diameter rollers are hooked to non-connection target parts other than the connection target parts to be connected to each other in the strand material 1, and a locking portion composed of these pins or small-diameter rollers is attached to the strand material. By moving in a direction away from the connection target part 1, separate the multiple strand materials 1 of the non-connection target part from the connection target part.

[0099] In this state, the discs 71 are rotated in opposite directions. As a result, the strand material 1 that is passed through and constrained through the through hole 73 and the slit 74 of the disc 71 is twisted between the discs 71.

After twisting a predetermined number of times, the rotation of the circular plate 71 is stopped and the circular plate 71 is moved away from each other, and the start end la and the end end portion of the strand material 1 from the through hole 73 of each circular plate 71. Pull out lb and remove the strand material 1 by pulling it out from the slit 74 of the disk 71 in the radial direction. [0100] After that, as shown in FIG. 17, the untwisted surplus length portion 7c in the twist margin extending from the overlapping connection portion 7 is cut and removed with a cutter or the like.

[0101] Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, in the strand material 1 which is a metal linear body, the start end 1a and the end end lb are evenly twisted with each other, and the twisted overlapping connection 7b Thus, it is plastically deformed to be integrated and firmly connected.

[0102] If the strand materials 1 are connected as described above, the strand materials 1 can be easily twisted uniformly between the circular plates 71 at a low cost to be plastically deformed and firmly connected. Further, in the circular plate 71, the through-hole 73 and the slit 74 are used as the holding portion for the strand material 1, so the slit 74 strand material 1 is inserted, and the strand material 1 is inserted into the holding portion including the slit 74. In addition, when the strand material 1 is inserted and held in the through-hole 73, when the strand material 1 is twisted, the outer periphery of the strand material 1 is formed at the inner edge of the through-hole 73. It can be reliably held and can be twisted more uniformly.

[0103] Furthermore, since the strand materials 1 are connected to each other using the pair of discs 71, it is possible to reduce the equipment cost by the force S.

Then, as described above, the outer layer portion 4 can be provided around the annular core portion 3 by winding the strand material 1 around the annular core portion 3 and joining the start end portion la and the end portion lb. .

[0105] After the start end la and the end end lb are joined in any form of Figs. 5 to 7, the annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4 described above may be subjected to a low temperature annealing treatment. More specifically, heat treatment is performed on the annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4 in a pressure chamber in which argon is introduced in a vacuum or a reduced pressure atmosphere. The temperature during the heat treatment is 70 ° C 380 ° C. Thereby, the internal strain of the metal wire 5 can be removed, and an annular metal cord C1 having no strain can be obtained. When such an annular metal cord C1 is used for, for example, an endless metal belt of a continuously variable transmission described later, an endless metal belt that rotates without meandering can be obtained. Endless metal belts that rotate without meandering do not wear due to contact with surrounding parts, so they can maintain high performance over a long period of time.

The low-temperature annealing treatment is preferably performed before applying an adhesive for adhering the connecting member 7 to the joint portion between the start end portion la and the end portion lb. [0106] As described above, in this embodiment, the strand material 1 formed by twisting seven metal strands 5 is wound around the annular core portion 3 and a plurality of spirals around the annular core portion 3. And the outer layer part 4 covering the outer peripheral surface of the annular core part 3 is formed, and the annular core part 3 and the outer layer part 4 are formed of the continuous strand material 1, so that the annular metal cord C1 is made to be durable. Therefore, the possibility that the annular metal cord C1 is completely broken can be avoided as compared with the case where a plurality of strand materials are joined together at one place in the circumferential direction as in the prior art. That is, since the annular core portion 3 is formed with the strand material 1 force and the strand material 1 is continuously wound around the annular core portion 3 with the force, the annular metal cord having a high breaking strength can be obtained. Furthermore, since the external force applied to the annular metal cord C1 can be received by the continuous annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4, the applied external force is distributed throughout the annular metal cord C1 and the load is concentrated locally. You can avoid that.

[0107] Moreover, when the outer layer portion 4 is formed, the strand material 1 constituting the annular core portion 3 is continuously wound over 6 turns instead of winding a plurality of strand materials 1, so that the strand material 1 is 1 As long as the number of strands is sufficient, the number of joints is reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of strand materials 1 are used, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in the breaking strength of the annular metal cord C1 and to facilitate the manufacture. Further, since the strand material 1 of the outer layer portion 4 is wound at a predetermined winding angle, it is possible to obtain an annular metal cord C1 having a substantially uniform surface state in which the strand material 1 is not disturbed. Since such an annular metal cord C1 is uniformly applied with an external force, it is possible to further suppress a decrease in breaking strength.

[0108] Further, the diameter of the metal spring 5 is 0.06 mm or more and 0.40 mm or less, or 0.06 mm or more and 0.22 mm or less. In this case, the strand material 1 can have an appropriate rigidity, The strand material 1 can have good fatigue resistance.

In addition, the annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4 are formed from a single strand material 1 that is continuous.

In this case, it is possible to wrap the strand material 1 of the outer layer portion 4 along the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3 with substantially no gap.

[0110] In addition, the strand material 1 has a force S that is a S strand of a metal strand 5, and the winding of the strand material 1 that becomes the outer layer portion 4 around the annular core portion 3 is a Z twist. In this case, the surface appearance has few irregularities and is difficult to twist, and the strand material 1 of the outer layer portion 4 with respect to the annular core portion 3 It is possible to obtain an annular metal cord CI that hardly causes loosening.

[0111] The winding angle of the strand material 1 with respect to the central axis of the annular core portion 3 is not less than 4.5 degrees and not more than 13.8 degrees. In this case, the winding work of the strand material 1 becomes easy. Further, the force S is used to obtain an annular metal cord C1 having an appropriate elongation and no loosening of the strand material 1.

[0112] Further, the strand material 1 to be the outer layer portion 4 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 6 for six turns. Thereby, since the outer layer portion 4 covers the annular core portion 3 closely, the annular metal cord C1 can be made geometrically stable. As a result, it is possible to reliably obtain an annular metal cord C1 that has excellent breaking strength and fatigue resistance and can withstand radial deformation.

[0113] Further, the annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4 are subjected to a low-temperature annealing treatment. In this case, the internal distortion of the metal wire 5 can be removed. By using the metal strand 5 from which the internal strain is removed, it is possible to reliably obtain the annular metal cord C1 that is more difficult to break.

Further, in the form of FIG. 5, the start end portion 2a and the end end portion 2b of the strand material 1 are combined using the connection member 7, and the connection portion is protected by the connection member 7. In this case, the joined portion of the strand material 1 is more ruptured. Further, since the connecting member 7 is made of a coil panel-like sleeve, it is possible to facilitate the mounting, and therefore, it is easy to connect the start end portion 2a and the end end portion 2b of the strand material 1.

[0115] Further, in the form of Fig. 6, the ends of the strand material 1 are overlapped in the axial direction and are accommodated and connected inside the connection member 7a formed of a coil spring-like sleeve, Bonding between the ends of the strand material 1 is easy. In addition, since the coil spring-like sleeve has good flexibility, it is flexibly deformed according to the curved shape of the spirally wound strand material 1 to maintain the tight contact state with the connecting portion, and the strand in the connecting portion. The connecting member 7a does not hinder the deformation of the material 1. That is, the mechanical characteristics of the annular metal cord C1 can be made substantially uniform over the entire circumference. Further, since the connecting member 7a has a sleeve inner diameter that is less than twice the diameter of the strand material 1, a compressive force is applied from the connecting member 7a to the strand material 1 stacked in the connecting member 7a, so that the connecting member 7a is firmly connected. The Even when tension is applied to the connection part, the coil spring-like sleeve tries to extend in the axial direction, so that the strand Since the material 1 is further compressed and tightened, a stable connection is obtained.

[0116] Also, in the form of Fig. 7, both ends of the strand material 1 are overlapped with each other at the overlapping connection portion 7b and connected by plastic deformation, so that a separate part for connection is not necessary. As a result, the protrusion of the cord surface can be suppressed as much as possible, and the cord can be suitably used for a drive transmission belt of an industrial machine.

Next, an example of an endless metal belt provided with the annular metal cord C1 having the above-described configuration will be described. FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view showing a use state of the endless metal belt according to the present embodiment.

[0118] The endless metal belt B1 is used for a speed reducer 10 used in precision equipment and other industrial machines as shown in FIG. 18, for example. The endless metal belt B1 is composed of three annular metal cords C1 arranged in parallel, and bears power transmission between the small-diameter driving pulley 12 and the large-diameter driven pulley 14. The drive shaft of the drive motor 16 is connected to the rotation center of the drive pulley 12! / Circumferential grooves are formed in the outer periphery of the driving pulley 12 and the driven pulley 14 to stably lay each annular metal cord C1, and the endless metal belt B 1 is connected to the driving pulley 12 and the driven pulley. By wrapping around the pulley 14, the rotational force of the driving pulley 12 is transmitted to the driven pulley 14 via the endless metal belt B1. At that time, the rotational speed of the driving pulley 12 is reduced by the driven pulley 14, and the torque of the driving pulley 12 is increased by the driven pulley 14. The driven pulley 14 is axially connected to, for example, another pulley (not shown) and transmits power.

[0119] As described above, the cyclic metal cord C1 has a very high breaking strength. In addition, since the annular metal cord C1 has a substantially circular cross section, it is more resistant to twisting than a rectangular cross section. Therefore, compared to the case where a flat belt is used as the endless metal belt, the endless metal belt B1 constituted by using a plurality of annular metal cords C1 is extremely excellent in bending resistance and durability.

[0120] The present invention can be modified in various ways without being limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, when the annular core portion 3 is formed, an extra length portion is formed on one end side of the strand material 1. By temporarily fixing, a part of the outer layer part 4 may be constituted by this extra length part. good.

[0121] Further, for example, in the annular metal cord C1 of the present embodiment, the force in which the strand material 1 is wound six times along the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3 to form the outer layer portion 4 is referred to as five-turn winding. Good.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19, a loop for one round is formed with the strand material 1, and then wound around the circumference for two rounds to form the annular core portion 3 in which the strand material 1 is wound three times. After that, you may continue to wind 7 to 9 laps. Also in the configuration shown in FIG. 19, the outer layer portion 4 tightly covers the annular core portion 3, so that a geometrically stable structure is obtained.

In the form shown in FIG. 19, the direction in which the strand material 1 of the outer layer part 4 is wound is preferably opposite to the direction of the annular core part 3, but in the case of the same direction, the winding of the annular core part 3 is performed. By reducing the winding pitch and increasing the winding pitch of the outer layer portion 4 (that is, increasing the winding pitch difference between the annular core portion 3 and the outer layer portion 4), the strand material 1 of the outer layer portion 4 becomes the strand of the annular core portion 3. It is possible to prevent the material 1 from falling into the twisting line.

[0122] Further, in the annular metal cord C1 of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4 (a), the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3 is covered with one layer of the strand material 1. Alternatively, a plurality of layers of the strand material 1 may cover the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3. For example, when the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3 is covered with two layers of the strand material 1, the strand material 1 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion 3 six times to form the first layer, and then the one layer The second layer is formed by winding 12 strands of strand material 1 around the outer circumference of the eye. The winding direction of 12 turns corresponding to the second layer is preferably opposite to the winding direction of 6 turns corresponding to the first layer, but the winding pitch of the first and second layers is preferably If the difference is increased, the direction may be the same. It is important to devise the winding direction and pitch in this way in order to obtain good winding properties and to obtain an outer surface with less unevenness.

[0123] Further, in the annular metal cord C1 of the present embodiment, the strand material 1 is made of S twist, and the strand material 1 of the outer layer portion 4 is wound around the annular core portion 3 by Z twist. Z twisting and winding of the strand material 1 of the outer layer part 4 around the annular core part 3 can be performed by firing with S twisting.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the annular metal cord C1 of the present embodiment has a substantially circular cross section, but the cross section may be a flat shape. In this case, a substantially circular annular metal The code CI will be deformed by pressing it. Thus, by making the annular metal cord C1 into a flat shape, the contact area between the endless metal belt B1 including the annular metal cord C1 and the driving pulley 12 and the driven pulley 14 can be increased. As a result, the power S can be transmitted more efficiently between the driving pulley 12 and the driven pulley 14. The flatness is preferably 66% or more.

[0125] Further, in the endless metal belt B1 of the present embodiment, the force S is such that three annular metal cords C1 are stretched over the driving pulley 12 and the driven pulley 14 respectively, and the annular metal cord is suspended. The number of C1 is not limited to this. The number of annular metal cords C1 can be adjusted according to the required bending resistance and durability.

Industrial applicability

[0126] In the present embodiment, the annular metal cord is applied to an endless metal belt that transmits power in a reduction gear. However, the annular metal cord according to the present invention is an endless metal belt that is used other than the reduction gear. It can also be applied to metal belts. For example, in printers and other printing machines, endless metal belts that transmit power between paper feed rollers, endless metal belts that perform direct drive of single-axis robots, driving XY table mechanisms and three-dimensional carriage driving Endless metal belts, endless metal belts that are responsible for precision drive in optical instruments and inspection machines, measuring instruments, endless metal belts that are responsible for power transmission between the driving pulley and driven pulley in a continuously variable transmission of an automobile, etc. It is applicable to.

[0127] Although the invention has been described in detail and with reference to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. is there. This application is a Japanese patent application filed on September 5, 2006 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-240166), a Japanese patent application filed on February 28, 2007 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-50569), and issued in March 2007. Japanese patent application filed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-53062), Japanese patent application filed on Apr. 25, 2007 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-116047), and Japanese patent application filed on June 4, 2007 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-148299) ), The contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An annular core portion formed in a ring shape by a strand material formed by twisting a plurality of metal strands, and a plurality of spiral windings around the annular core portion to cover the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion An outer layer portion is formed,

The said cyclic | annular core part and the said outer layer part are formed with the continuous strand material, The cyclic | annular metal cord characterized by the above-mentioned.

[2] The annular metal cord according to claim 1,

The annular metal cord, wherein the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed by one strand material, and both end portions of the strand material are joined to each other.

[3] The annular metal cord according to claim 1 or 2,

One end portion of the strand material is a starting end portion that forms the annular core portion, and the other end portion of the strand material is an end portion that forms the outer layer portion.

[4] The annular metal cord according to claim 1 or 2,

One end of the strand material is an extra length when the annular core is formed, and the extra length forms a part of the outer layer.

[5] The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

The ring-shaped metal cord is characterized in that the diameter of the metal strand is 0.06 mm or more and 0.40 mm or less.

[6] The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

The ring-shaped metal cord is characterized in that a diameter of the metal strand is 0.06 mm or more and 0.22 mm or less.

[7] The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

An annular metal cord, wherein a twist direction of the metal element wire and a winding direction of the outer layer portion with respect to the annular core portion are opposite to each other.

[8] The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

An annular metal cord characterized in that the winding angle of the strand material with respect to the central axis of the annular core portion is not less than 4.5 degrees and not more than 13.8 degrees. The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

An annular metal cord, wherein the strand material is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion for 5 or 6 turns.

The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

An annular metal cord, wherein the strand material is wound in an annular shape three times as the annular core portion, and is wound more than 7 times and less than 9 times along an outer peripheral surface thereof.

The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

An annular metal cord, wherein the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are subjected to a low-temperature annealing treatment.

The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

Ends of the strand material are joined together using a connecting member. An annular metal cord.

The annular metal cord according to claim 12,

An annular metal cord characterized in that ends of the strand material are joined together by welding, and the joined portion is covered and bonded by the connecting member formed of a coil panel-like sleeve.

The annular metal cord according to claim 12,

The ends of the strand material are overlapped in the axial direction, and are accommodated and connected to the inside of the connecting member formed of a coil spring-like sleeve having a sleeve inner diameter less than twice the diameter of the strand material. An annular metal cord characterized by that.

The annular metal cord according to claim 13 or 14,

An annular metal cord, wherein the connecting member is formed of a close coil spring-like sleeve.

The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 13 to 15,

An annular metal cord characterized in that a diameter of a spring wire constituting the connecting member is larger than a diameter of the metal wire.

The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

Both ends of the strand material are plastically deformed and connected by overlapping connection portions twisted together. An annular metal cord characterized by being continued.

[18] The annular metal cord according to claim 17,

An annular metal cord characterized in that the stranding direction of the strand material in the overlapping connection portion is the same as the twisting direction of the metal strand in the strand material.

[19] The annular metal cord according to claim 17 or 18,

The annular metal cord is characterized in that the overlapping connection portion is arranged approximately in the middle between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the annular metal cord.

[20] The annular metal cord according to any one of claims 17 to 19,

The annular metal cord, wherein the number of twists in the overlapping connection portion of the strand material is 2 to 5 times.

[21] An endless metal belt comprising the annular metal cord according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

[22] A method of manufacturing an annular metal cord having an annular core portion formed in an annular shape and an outer layer portion wound around the annular core portion in a spiral manner and covering the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion Law,

In a state in which a strand material formed by twisting a plurality of metal strands is wound around a predetermined annular diameter and the starting end portion or the vicinity of the starting end portion is temporarily fixed to form an annular core portion, the strand material is An annular metal cord characterized by forming an outer layer portion covering the outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion by winding a plurality of spirals around the portion, and then joining the start end portion and the end portion of the strand material Manufacturing method.

[23] The method for producing the annular metal cord according to claim 22,

After forming the outer layer portion,

Inside the connecting member consisting of a coil spring-like sleeve having a sleeve inner diameter less than twice the diameter of the strand material so that the start end and the end end of the strand material are stacked in the axial direction. Accommodating and connecting,

Furthermore, the starting end portion exposed to the outside of the connecting member and the end of the end portion are cut off and removed. [24] The method of manufacturing the annular metal cord according to claim 23,

After forming the outer layer portion,

One of the starting end or the terminal end of the strand material is passed through from the one end of the connecting member to the other end through the inside,

The spring element wire at the other end of the connecting member is moved so that a coil gap between adjacent spring elements is widened, and the other end of the starting end or the terminal end of the strand material is wound on the widened coil gap. And then through the coil gap to one end of the connecting member,

A method for producing an annular metal cord, comprising: connecting and connecting a start end portion and a terminal end portion of the strand material inside the connection member in a state of being overlapped along an axial direction.

[25] The method for producing the annular metal cord according to claim 24,

After forming the outer layer portion,

The starting end portion of the strand material is inserted through the inner side from one end portion of the connecting member to the axially intermediate portion of the connecting member, and adjacent spring strands of the axially intermediate portion of the connecting member are connected to each other. Bow I from the coil gap of

The end portions of the strand material are inserted through the inner side from the other end of the connecting member to the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the connecting member, and adjacent spring wires in the intermediate portion of the connecting member are adjacent to each other. Bow I from the coil gap of

Passing the starting end portion of the strand material protruding outward from the coil gap to the other end portion of the connecting member along the coil clearance, and the end portion of the strand material protruding outward from the coil clearance, A state in which the start end and the end end of the strand material are accommodated inside the connection member and overlapped in the axial direction by passing the coil member along the coil gap to the one end of the connection member. The manufacturing method of the cyclic | annular metal cord characterized by connecting by.

[26] A method of manufacturing the annular metal cord according to any one of claims 18 to 20,

A pair of plate members provided with a pair of holding portions capable of holding the strand material are provided at intervals; The holding portions of the plate body are respectively held in the vicinity of the end portions of the respective strand materials, and the vicinity of the end portions of the respective strand materials are bridged so as to overlap in the axial direction,

By rotating the plate body in the opposite direction relative to the rotation center between the pair of holding portions, the overlapping connection portion obtained by twisting the strand materials between these plate bodies and plastically deforming the strand material is provided. A method of manufacturing an annular metal cord comprising forming and connecting.

[27] The method of manufacturing the annular metal cord according to claim 26,

As the holding portion of the plate body, a slit that is open to the vicinity of the rotation center is formed as the holding portion of the plate body, and the strand material is inserted into the slit to hold the strand material in the slit. A method for producing an annular metal cord, comprising:

[28] The method for producing an annular metal cord according to claim 27,

The plate body, wherein one of the holding portions is formed of the slit, and the other of the holding portions is formed of a through hole through which the strand material can be passed.

[29] The method for producing the annular metal cord according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the ends of the strand material are twisted when connecting the ends of the strand material. The manufacturing method of the cyclic | annular metal cord characterized by making the length of a margin longer than the length of the said overlapping connection part.

[30] The method for producing the annular metal cord according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein after twisting a twisting margin of the strand material and plastically deforming the untwisting surplus length in the twisting margin A method for producing an annular metal cord comprising cutting and removing a portion.

[31] The method for producing the annular metal cord according to any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein when the ends of the strand material are twisted together and connected, the strand material is connected to each other. A plurality of locking portions are hooked to a non-connection target portion other than the connection target portion to be moved, and the non-connection target portion is moved in the direction of separating the connection target portion force by these locking portions. The manufacturing method of the cyclic | annular metal cord.