WO2019116778A1

WO2019116778A1 - Tire molding die and pneumatic tire manufacturing method

Info

Publication number: WO2019116778A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/040982
Authority: WO
Inventors: 倫一中山; 英樹島
Original assignee: ＴｏｙｏＴｉｒｅ株式会社
Priority date: 2017-12-15
Filing date: 2018-11-05
Publication date: 2019-06-20

Abstract

This tire molding die is provided with at least a tread die that can be pressed against the tread. Divided in the circumferential direction, the tread die has multiple segments that can move in the radial direction of a green tire. At least one of the segments is provided with a fixing means for fixing a temperature measurement probe, a temperature measurement probe insertion hole which extends from the fixing means towards the inner peripheral surface, and a temperature measurement probe which is fixed by the fixing means, extends in the temperature measurement probe insertion hole towards the inner peripheral surface, and has an inner peripheral surface-side end that goes beyond the inner peripheral surface-side end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole and is attached in an orientation that enables embedding inside of the shoulder of the tread, wherein the outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe is formed smaller than the inner diameter D2 of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole.

Description

Tire molding mold and method of manufacturing pneumatic tire

The present invention comprises a pair of bead portions, sidewall portions extending outward in the tire radial direction from each of the bead portions, and a tread portion connected to each tire radial direction outer end of the sidewall portions to constitute a tread surface The present invention relates to a tire molding mold for heating and vulcanizing an unvulcanized green tire.

When manufacturing a pneumatic tire that is a rubber product, since the vulcanization process is the most time-consuming process, efforts are still being made to shorten the time of the vulcanization process. On the other hand, if the vulcanization of the rubber portion is insufficient in the vulcanization process, air generated by the vulcanization reaction of the rubber remains in the vulcanized rubber, and such residual air is the cause of tire failure at the product stage. It may be Therefore, in the normal tire production site, the overall variation in the vulcanization process is taken into consideration, for example, due to variations in the temperature of the unvulcanized raw tire, the temperature in the mold, the ambient temperature, etc. due to seasonal factors. The time required for the vulcanization process is set by adding the allowance time that takes into account.

However, setting of the spare time is not preferable from the viewpoint of improving the productivity of the tire, and it has been desired to determine the end of vulcanization for each tire and efficiently execute the vulcanization process.

In the following Patent Document 1, the impedance of the vulcanized sample is measured while the vulcanization process is in progress, and the point at which the increase rate of the polymer resistance value Rp of the vulcanized sample becomes extremely slow is the optimum vulcanization. A real-time cure control method for a vulcanized sample is described which provides a dwell time. However, in this method, it is necessary to measure the impedance measurement for the vulcanized sample by sandwiching the vulcanized sample between the two electrodes, and since the tire is usually a laminate of composite materials, It is difficult to apply to a tire at the time of tire vulcanization.

JP 2003-211459 A

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and its object is to accurately measure the temperature of a pneumatic tire during vulcanization in order to reliably determine the end point of the vulcanization process for each tire. It is providing a mold for tire molding.

The above object can be achieved by the present invention as described below. That is, according to the present invention, a pair of bead portions, sidewall portions extending outward in the tire radial direction from each of the bead portions, and a tread portion connected to each tire radial direction outer end of the sidewall portions to constitute a tread surface A mold for molding a tire for heating and vulcanizing an unvulcanized green tire, comprising at least a tread mold portion pressable to the tread portion, wherein the tread mold portion is circumferentially divided, A plurality of radially movable segments of the green tire, at least one of the segments is a fixing means for fixing a temperature measurement probe, and a temperature measurement probe extending from the fixing means toward the inner circumferential surface The insertion hole is fixed by the fixing means, extends toward the inner peripheral surface in the temperature measurement probe insertion hole, and the inner peripheral surface side end is the inner peripheral surface end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole And a temperature measurement probe attached in a posture capable of being embedded in the shoulder portion of the tread portion, the outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe being smaller than the inner diameter D2 of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole The present invention relates to a tire molding mold characterized in that.

The tire molding mold according to the present invention is a so-called "segmental mold" in which at least a tread mold portion is divided in the circumferential direction, and at least one of the segments is provided with the above-mentioned specific temperature measurement probe. As a result, the temperature of the pneumatic tire during vulcanization, in particular, the temperature of the shoulder portion of the tread portion where vulcanization of the tire is most difficult to proceed can be accurately measured.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a tread surface is connected to a pair of bead portions, a sidewall portion extending outward in the tire radial direction from each of the bead portions, and a tire radial direction outer end of each sidewall portion. A tire molding mold for heating and vulcanizing an unvulcanized green tire having a tread portion, comprising at least a tread mold portion pressable to the tread portion, wherein the tread mold portion is circumferentially divided A plurality of radially movable segments of the green tire, at least two or more of the segments being fixed means for fixing a temperature measurement probe, and an inner circumferential surface from the fixing means The temperature measurement probe insertion hole extending in the radial direction toward the side and the fixing means are fixed by the fixing means, and the inside of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole in the tire radial direction toward the inner peripheral surface side And a temperature measurement probe attached in such a posture that the inner peripheral surface side end can be embedded in the shoulder portion of the tread portion beyond the inner peripheral surface side end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole; The present invention relates to a tire molding mold characterized in that the outer diameter D1 is smaller than the inner diameter D2 of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole.

The tire molding mold according to the present invention is a so-called "segmental mold" in which at least the tread mold portion is divided in the circumferential direction, and of the divided segments, at least two or more of the divided segments Equipped with a temperature measurement probe. As a result, the temperature of the pneumatic tire during vulcanization, in particular, the temperature of the shoulder portion of the tread portion where vulcanization of the tire is most difficult to proceed can be accurately measured. In addition, since the temperature measurement probe is disposed in two or more segments, temperature measurement can be performed at a plurality of points, which enables accurate temperature measurement, and even if a certain temperature measurement probe is broken, Measurement with other temperature measurement probes is possible.

Further, in the tire molding mold according to the present invention, the traveling direction of the segments and the disposition direction of the temperature measurement probe are both in the radial direction of the green tire. As described above, since the segments move in the radial direction of the green tire, the load is minimized when the temperature measurement probe is embedded in the shoulder when the arrangement direction of the temperature measurement probe is also the radial direction of the green tire. preferable. When load reduction on the temperature measurement probe is considered, it is preferable that the deviation between the direction of movement of the segment in the radial direction and the arrangement direction of the temperature measurement probe in the radial direction be 3 ° or less More preferably, it is 1 ° or less.

In the tire molding mold, the outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe is preferably 1 to 10 mm.

In the tire molding mold, when the length of the temperature measurement probe measured from the inner peripheral surface side end of the fixing means is L1, L1 / D1 is preferably 10 or more.

In the tire molding mold, it is preferable that a gap between the inner peripheral surface side end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole and the temperature measurement probe is closed by a spacer having a smaller thermal conductivity than the segment.

In the tire molding mold, it is preferable that a gap between the temperature measurement probe insertion hole and the temperature measurement probe is closed by a heat insulating material having a thermal conductivity smaller than that of the segment.

In the tire molding mold, the temperature measurement probe is preferably a platinum resistance temperature detector.

The present invention is a method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire including a vulcanization step of heat curing in the tire molding mold according to any one of the above, wherein the vulcanization step includes a pair of bead portions, A tread portion of an unvulcanized green tire comprising: sidewall portions extending from the bead portions outward in the tire radial direction; and a tread portion connected to the tire radial direction outer ends of the sidewall portions to form a tread surface The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire including the step of measuring the temperature of the shoulder portion by embedding a temperature measurement probe in the shoulder portion included in the above.

According to the above manufacturing method, the temperature of the pneumatic tire during vulcanization, in particular, the temperature of the shoulder portion of the tread portion where the vulcanization of the tire is most difficult to proceed can be accurately measured. The end point of the process can be determined with certainty.

In the method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire, the vulcanization step includes a first step of embedding a temperature measurement probe in a shoulder portion, and time series data of the temperature of the green tire during vulcanization by the temperature measurement probe. And a third step of terminating the vulcanization step when an endothermic reaction is detected in the vicinity of a target vulcanization temperature based on the time series data. Is preferred.

In the above manufacturing method, first, a pair of bead portions, sidewall portions extending outward in the tire radial direction from each of the bead portions, and a tread portion connected to each tire radial direction outer end of the sidewall portions to constitute a tread surface A temperature measurement probe is embedded in the tread portion corresponding to the vulcanization latest portion of an unvulcanized green tire provided with a first step (first stage), and the temperature measurement probe is used to time-series the temperature of the green tire during vulcanization Data are acquired at intervals of 10 seconds or less (second stage). Next, the end of the vulcanization process is ended when an endotherm due to the vulcanization reaction is detected in the vicinity of the target vulcanization temperature based on the time-series data (third stage). Thus, the end point of vulcanization can be easily determined in the step of vulcanizing the pneumatic tire. As a result, it is unnecessary to set extra spare time, and the productivity of the pneumatic tire can be enhanced. In addition, since it can be confirmed that the vulcanization reaction is surely completed for each pneumatic tire, a quality assurance system can be established. The term “near the target vulcanization temperature” preferably means a range of ± 10 ° C. of the set target vulcanization temperature.

In the method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to the third aspect of the present invention, the third step plots the vulcanization temperature curve showing the relationship between the temperature of the green tire and the vulcanization time based on the time-series data. Preferably, the method further comprises the step 3b of terminating the vulcanization process when a downward convex inflection point appears in the vicinity of the target vulcanization temperature in the vulcanization temperature curve. According to this configuration, since the downward convex inflection point appearing in the vicinity of the target vulcanization temperature in the vulcanization temperature curve plotted is taken as the vulcanization end point, it is easy and easy to identify. This makes it possible to more reliably determine the vulcanization end point of the pneumatic tire, and can further improve the productivity of the pneumatic tire.

In the method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire, the target vulcanization temperature is preferably 125 to 165 ° C. When the setting of the target vulcanization temperature is high, the vulcanization speed of the pneumatic tire is increased. Therefore, the end point of vulcanization is detected based on the detection of the heat absorption due to the vulcanization reaction, and further the target vulcanization temperature curve is plotted. It may be difficult to detect the end point of vulcanization based on the downward convex inflection point appearing near the vulcanization temperature. On the other hand, when the target vulcanization temperature is 125 to 165 ° C., particularly 125 to 145 ° C., the end point of vulcanization can be easily determined, and therefore the productivity of the pneumatic tire can be further enhanced. The case where the target vulcanization temperature is 125 to 145 ° C. is sometimes referred to as low temperature vulcanization of the pneumatic tire, but in the case of low temperature vulcanization, since the vulcanization speed of the pneumatic tire becomes slow, the conventional tire It was necessary to secure time longer than usual. For this reason, the merit of low temperature vulcanization, such as thermal deterioration suppression of the pneumatic tire under high temperature at the time of vulcanization, may be impaired by an increase in vulcanization time. However, in the present invention, even if the low temperature vulcanization (target vulcanization temperature is 125 to 145 ° C.), the margin time can be designed to be shorter than usual, so that the physical property deterioration of the pneumatic tire due to thermal deterioration is prevented. Can.

A tire meridional cross section showing an example of a tire that can be manufactured in the present invention Cross sectional view conceptually showing a tire molding mold of the present invention Sectional drawing which shows notionally the state which embeds a temperature measurement probe in a shoulder part in the segment which comprises the tread type | mold part of the metal mold | die of this invention An example of a graph showing a vulcanization temperature curve in an embodiment of the present invention

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The green tire 9 shown in FIG. 1 is continued to the tire radial direction outer end of each of the pair of bead portions 1, the sidewall portion 2 extending outward from the bead portions 1 in the tire radial direction, and the sidewall portion 2 It is a pneumatic tire provided with the tread part 3 which constitutes a tread. An annular bead core 1 a is disposed in the bead portion 1.

The carcass layer 4 passes from the tread portion 3 through the sidewall portion 2 to the bead portion 1, and the end portion thereof is folded back via the bead core 1a. The carcass layer 4 is constituted by at least one carcass ply. The carcass ply is formed by covering a carcass cord extending at an angle of about 90 ° with the circumferential direction of the tire with a topping rubber.

The belt layer 5 is bonded to the outside of the carcass layer 4 in the tread portion 3 and is covered with the tread rubber 6 from the outside. The belt layer 5 is composed of a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) belt plies. Each belt ply is formed by covering a belt cord extending obliquely with respect to the tire circumferential direction with a topping rubber, and the belt cords are stacked so as to cross the plies in opposite directions.

The tread rubber 6 may be composed of only one layer, or may be composed of a so-called cap base structure having a base tread on the inner side in the tire radial direction and a cap tread located on the outer peripheral side thereof.

The green tire 9 shown in FIG. 1 is a green tire in an unvulcanized state, and is shaped into the shape of a product tire in a vulcanization step to be described later (see FIG. 2) and various treads on its tread surface A pattern is formed.

In the vulcanization molding of the green tire 9, a tire molding mold (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a "mold") according to the present invention is used. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing the tire molding mold of the present invention. A green tire 9 is set in the mold 10 in an unvulcanized state, and the green tire 9 in the mold 10 is heated and pressurized to perform a vulcanization process.

The mold 10 at least includes a tread mold portion 11 that can be in pressure contact with the tread portion 3 of the green tire 9. In the present embodiment, the mold 10 includes a tread mold portion 11 in contact with the tread surface of the green tire 9, a lower mold portion 12 in contact with the tire outer surface facing downward, and an upper mold portion 13 in contact with the tire outer surface facing upward. Equipped with These are configured to be displaceable between the mold clamping state and the mold opening state by an opening and closing mechanism (not shown) installed around the periphery, and the structure of such an opening and closing mechanism is known. The tread mold portion 11 is further divided into a plurality of segments in the circumferential direction, and is movable in the radial direction of the green tire 9 disposed in the mold 10. Further, the mold 10 is provided with a platen plate (not shown) having a heat source such as an electric heater or a steam jacket, thereby heating each mold portion.

A central mechanism 14 is provided coaxially with the tire at a central portion of the mold 10, and a tread mold portion 11, a lower mold portion 12 and an upper mold portion 13 are installed around this. The central mechanism 14 has a rubber bag-like bladder 15 and a center post 16 extending in the axial direction of the tire, and the center post 16 is provided with an upper clamp 17 and a lower clamp 18 for gripping the end of the bladder 15 ing.

In the central mechanism 14, a medium supply passage 21 for supplying a heating medium into the bladder 15 is vertically extended, and a jet outlet 22 is formed at the upper end of the medium supply passage 21. The medium supply passage 21 is connected to a supply pipe 24 through which the heating medium supplied from the heating medium supply source 23 and the pressurized medium supplied from the pressurized medium supply source 26 flow. The heating medium is supplied in response to the opening and closing operation of the valve 25, and the pressurized medium is supplied in response to the opening and closing operation of the valve 28.

Further, a medium discharge path 31 for discharging the high-temperature high-pressure fluid in which the heating medium and the pressure medium in the bladder 15 are mixed is vertically extended in the central mechanism 14, and the upper end of the medium discharge path 31 is A recovery port 32 is formed. A discharge pipe 34 through which a high temperature and high pressure fluid flows is connected to the medium discharge path 31, and a blow valve 33 for operating the opening and closing of the medium discharge path 31 is provided in the discharge pipe 34. The pump 35 may use a method of forcibly circulating the high-temperature high-pressure fluid so that the high-temperature high-pressure fluid passing through the medium discharge passage 31 is re-supplied to the inside of the bladder 15 via the medium supply passage 21.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, the segment 41 which comprises the tread type | mold part 11 with which the metal mold | die 10 of this invention is equipped is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing a state in which a temperature measurement probe is embedded in a shoulder portion in a segment constituting a tread mold portion of a mold of the present invention. In FIG. 3, “inner circumferential surface side” means the side closer to the green tire 9 when the green tire 9 is set in the mold 10. The segment 41 is one of those obtained by dividing the tread mold portion 11 into, for example, 6 to 12 in the circumferential direction, and each of the segments 41 is pressed against the tread portion 3 of the green tire 9 by moving in the radial direction of the green tire 9 It is possible. More preferably, the number of divisions of the segment 41 is an odd number within the range of 6-12.

At least one of the segments 41 is fixed by the fixing means 42 for fixing the temperature measurement probe 44, the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 extending from the fixing means 42 toward the inner circumferential surface, and the fixing means 42. It extends in the insertion hole 43 toward the inner peripheral surface, and the inner peripheral surface end is mounted in a posture where it can be embedded in the shoulder portion 3S of the tread portion 3 beyond the inner peripheral surface end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 And the temperature measurement probe 44. The temperature measurement probe 44 may be attached to one of the plurality of segments 41, may be attached to the plurality of segments 41, or may be attached to all the segments 41.

The fixing means 42 for fixing the temperature measurement probe 44 includes, for example, a double nut or the like on the outer peripheral surface side and a screw structure on the inner peripheral surface side, whereby the temperature measurement probe 44 protrudes from the temperature measurement probe hole 43 The height L2 can be designed to be adjustable.

A temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 is formed on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing means 42. The disposition direction of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 is preferably in the radial direction of the green tire 9 as described later. The inner peripheral surface side of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 is open, and the temperature measurement probe 44 projects into the cavity of the mold 10 and is designed to be embedded in the shoulder portion 3S of the tread portion 3 .

The temperature measurement probe 44 is fixed at the end on the outer peripheral surface side by the fixing means 42 and extends in the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 toward the inner peripheral surface side, and the inner peripheral surface end is the one of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 It is attached in a posture capable of being embedded in the shoulder portion 3S of the tread portion 3 beyond the inner peripheral surface side end. The disposition direction of the temperature measurement probe 44 is preferably in the radial direction of the green tire 9 as described later. The cross-sectional shape of the temperature measurement probe 44 is not particularly limited, but is preferably circular.

As described above, since the segments 41 move in the radial direction of the green tire 9, when the disposition direction of the temperature measurement probe 44 is also the radial direction of the green tire 9, when the temperature measurement probe 44 is embedded in the shoulder portion 3S. Because the load is minimized, it is preferable. When load reduction on the temperature measurement probe 44 is considered, the shift between the advancing direction when the segment 41 moves in the radial direction and the arrangement direction in the radial direction of the temperature measurement probe 44 is 3 ° or less Is preferable, and 1 ° or less is more preferable.

In the present invention, as a temperature measurement probe used when measuring the vulcanization temperature, a resistance temperature detector can be used which utilizes the property that the electric resistance of metal changes with temperature change. Such metals can be exemplified by platinum, nickel, copper and the like, but in the present invention, platinum temperature measurement with a large change in resistance (sensitivity) to temperature changes and as a result, the sensitivity to temperature changes is extremely high. A resistor can be used particularly preferably.

The temperature measurement probe 44 is disposed in the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43, and the outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe 44 is formed smaller than the inner diameter D2 of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 (FIG. 3 (b)) . According to this configuration, while the segment 41 is heated at the time of vulcanization, the rubber penetrates into the gap between the temperature measurement probe 44 and the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 at the time of vulcanization, and the temperature measurement probe 44 and the segment 41 are directly Contact can be prevented. As a result, the temperature measurement probe 44 can accurately measure the temperature of the tread portion 3 corresponding to the slowest vulcanization portion. The outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe 44 can be appropriately designed according to the size of the pneumatic tire to be manufactured, but is preferably 1 to 10 mm. Further, the inner diameter D2 of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 can also be appropriately designed according to the size of the pneumatic tire to be manufactured, but is 0.5 to 1.0 mm larger than the outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe 44 preferable.

Assuming that the length of the temperature measurement probe 44 measured from the inner circumferential surface side end of the fixing means 42 is L1, if L1 / D1 is 10 or more, a measurement error due to heat conduction from the segment 41 to the temperature measurement probe 44 Is preferable because it can reduce the The projection height L2 of the temperature measurement probe 44 from L1 and the temperature measurement probe hole 43 can be appropriately designed according to the size of the pneumatic tire to be manufactured. Among these, L2 is preferably 0.5 to 10 mm. In addition, the depth L3 of the temperature measurement probe hole from the inner peripheral end of the fixing means 42 can also be appropriately designed according to the size of the pneumatic tire to be manufactured.

Although FIG. 3 (b) shows an example in which the gap between the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 and the temperature measurement probe 44 is not closed, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the inside of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 The gap between the circumferential surface side end and the temperature measurement probe 44 may be closed by a spacer 45 having a thermal conductivity smaller than that of the segment 41. According to this configuration, the rubber does not penetrate into the gap between the temperature measurement probe 44 and the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 at the time of vulcanization, and the temperature measurement probe 44 is hollow. Even with this configuration, the temperature measurement probe 44 can accurately measure the temperature of the tread portion 3 corresponding to the slowest vulcanization portion. The length L4 of the spacer 45 is preferably, for example, 10 to 50 mm in the depth direction of the segment 41. The spacer 45 can be made of a material exhibiting a thermal conductivity smaller than that of the segment 41, for example, a metal such as constantan, titanium or nichrome.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, the gap between the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 and the temperature measurement probe 44 may be closed by a heat insulating material 46 having a thermal conductivity smaller than that of the segment. According to this configuration, since the temperature measurement probe 44 is covered with the heat insulating material 46 at the time of vulcanization, the temperature measurement probe 44 can accurately measure the temperature of the tread portion 3 corresponding to the vulcanization latest delay portion. The length of the heat insulating material 46 is preferably, for example, 50 to 80% of the depth L3 of the temperature measurement probe hole. Similarly to the spacer 45, the heat insulating material 46 can also be made of metal such as constantan, titanium, nichrome or the like.

Next, the vulcanization step in the method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to the present invention will be specifically described.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the green tire 9 is set in the mold 10, and the green tire 9 is shaped close to the inner surface of the mold 10 by the inflated bladder 15. Thus, the green tire 9 is held by the bladder 15 and is applied to each of the tread mold portion 11, the lower mold portion 12 and the upper mold portion 13. At this time, a temperature measurement probe is embedded in the lowest cure part of the green tire 9 (first stage). The slowest vulcanization portion means a portion where the vulcanization of the tire is most difficult to progress, and usually means the shoulder portion of the tread portion 3. In particular, among the shoulder portions, it is preferable to set a position at which the thickness of the tread portion 3 is maximized, which is measured along the normal to the inner surface of the tread portion 3 after vulcanization, as the vulcanized slowest portion. In any case, in the present invention, in order to measure the vulcanization temperature at the slowest vulcanization portion, a temperature measurement probe is embedded in the slowest vulcanization portion of the green tire 9. As the embedding method, for example, when the temperature measurement probe is disposed at a position corresponding to the shoulder portion of the tread mold portion 11 and the tread mold portion 11 moves in the radial direction of the green tire 9, the green tire 9 is addressed It is conceivable to design the temperature measurement probe to be embedded while being pushed into the green tire 9. The temperature measurement probe embedded in the green tire 9 as described above measures the temperature of the green tire during the vulcanization process, and when the vulcanization process is finished, the tire is removed from the mold 10 including the tread mold portion 11. It is sufficient to simultaneously withdraw the temperature measurement probe from the slowest part of the vulcanization.

Subsequently, the mold 10 is heated to heat the tire 9 from the outer surface of the tire, and the heating medium is supplied to the bladder 15 in the mold 10 at a high temperature to heat the tire 9 from the inner surface. And heating is performed to cure the green tire 9. The mold 10 is preheated by the above-described steam jacket or the like, whereby the outside heating is performed. The inner heating is performed by supplying a heating medium into the bladder 15 through the medium supply passage 21 after shaping of the tire 9. After the heating medium is supplied for a predetermined time, a pressurized medium is subsequently supplied into the bladder 15 to press the tire 9 at a high pressure. For example, steam or high-temperature water is used as the heating medium, and an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or steam is used as the pressurizing medium.

The temperature measurement probe acquires time-series data of the temperature of the green tire during vulcanization at intervals of 10 seconds or less (second stage). For acquisition of such time series data, it is possible to use a high precision digital data logger (generally having a temperature resolution of about 0.001 ° C., an accuracy of about 0.005 ° C., a minimum acquisition interval of 1 second for temperature values) commonly available in the market. . In the second stage, when the data acquisition interval of the time series data of the temperature of the green tire during vulcanization is short, it is preferable because the final end point of vulcanization can be determined more accurately. Specifically, it is preferable to acquire time series data of the temperature of the green tire during vulcanization at intervals of 5 seconds or less, and it is preferable to acquire at intervals of 1 second or less. On the other hand, if the data acquisition interval of the time-series data of the temperature of the green tire during vulcanization is too short, the noise may be rather large and it may be difficult to accurately determine the vulcanization end point. For this reason, the data acquisition interval of the time-series data of the temperature of the green tire during vulcanization is preferably 0.5 seconds or more.

After the second stage, the end of the vulcanization process is ended when an endotherm due to the vulcanization reaction is detected in the vicinity of the target vulcanization temperature based on the time-series data (third stage). Thus, the end point of vulcanization can be easily determined in the step of vulcanizing the pneumatic tire. The target vulcanization temperature is preferably 125 ° C. to 165 ° C., more preferably 125 ° C. to 145 ° C., and particularly preferably 125 ° C. to 135 ° C., because this makes it easy to identify the vulcanization end point. . As a method of detecting the heat absorption due to the vulcanization reaction, the temperature change amount of the green tire in a predetermined period (for example, 1 second if the data acquisition interval is 1 second) is calculated in the vicinity of the target vulcanization temperature, and the temperature change amount It is possible to make a decision based on

In the present invention, the end point of vulcanization can be determined more simply by dividing the third step into two. First, based on the time series data, a vulcanization temperature curve showing the relationship between the temperature of the green tire and the vulcanization time is plotted (step 3a). FIG. 4 is an example of a graph showing a vulcanization temperature curve according to an embodiment of the present invention, where A is the temperature (° C.) of the green tire when the mold 10 completion point is the vulcanization start point. The vulcanization temperature curve which makes a vertical axis | shaft and time (seconds) a horizontal axis is shown. As shown in FIG. 4, when the pneumatic tire is vulcanized using the tire molding mold according to the present invention, a minute temperature change within 1 ° C. can also be accurately measured.

In this embodiment, a target vulcanizing temperature is set to 130 ° C., and a vulcanizing temperature curve A is shown when time-series data of the temperature of a green tire is acquired at one second intervals. The vulcanization temperature curve B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the target vulcanization temperature (about 2000 seconds to about 8000 seconds before) of the vulcanization temperature curve A. After the step 3a, the vulcanization step is ended when a downwardly convex inflection point P appearing near the target vulcanization temperature is detected in the vulcanization temperature curve A plotted (step 3b). In this embodiment, a point P corresponding to a downwardly convex inflection point appearing in the vicinity of the target vulcanization temperature (130 ° C.) in the vulcanization temperature curve B (in FIG. 3, it is described as BPT) (Correction to point P) can be easily detected, and the point at which this point P is detected can be taken as the vulcanization end point to end the vulcanization.

After completion of the vulcanization process, the temperature measurement probe disposed in the mold 10 is removed from the vulcanized tire while the mold 10 is in the released state. As a result, the end point of vulcanization can be determined for each tire, and the pneumatic tire can be manufactured while shortening the vulcanization time.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, the segment 41 which comprises the tread type | mold part 11 with which the metal mold | die 10 of this invention is equipped is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing a state in which a temperature measurement probe is embedded in a shoulder portion in a segment constituting a tread mold portion of a mold of the present invention. In FIG. 3, “inner circumferential surface side” means the side closer to the green tire 9 when the green tire 9 is set in the mold 10. The segment 41 is one of those obtained by dividing the tread mold portion 11 into, for example, 6 to 12 in the circumferential direction, and each of the segments 41 is pressed against the tread portion 3 of the green tire 9 by moving in the radial direction of the green tire 9 It is possible. More preferably, the number of divisions of the segment 41 is an odd number within the range of 6-12.

At least one of the segments 41 is fixed by a fixing means 42 for fixing the temperature measurement probe 44, a temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 extending radially from the fixing means 42 toward the inner circumferential surface, and the fixing means 42. Extending toward the inner peripheral surface in the tire radial direction in the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43, and the inner peripheral surface side end exceeds the inner peripheral surface side end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 and the shoulder portion of the tread portion 3 And a temperature measurement probe 44 mounted in a posture that can be embedded in the 3S. The temperature measurement probe 44 may be attached to one of the plurality of segments 41, may be attached to the plurality of segments 41, or may be attached to all the segments 41.

A temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 extending in the radial direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing means 42. The inner peripheral surface side of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 is open, and the temperature measurement probe 44 projects into the cavity of the mold 10 and is designed to be embedded in the shoulder portion 3S of the tread portion 3 .

The temperature measurement probe 44 is fixed at the end on the outer peripheral surface side by the fixing means 42, extends in the tire radial direction in the temperature measurement probe insertion hole 43 toward the inner peripheral surface side, and the inner peripheral surface side measures temperature It is attached in a posture capable of being embedded in the shoulder portion 3S of the tread portion 3 beyond the inner peripheral surface side end of the probe insertion hole 43. The cross-sectional shape of the temperature measurement probe 44 is not particularly limited, but is preferably circular.

As described above, since the segments 41 move in the radial direction of the green tire 9, when the disposition direction of the temperature measurement probe 44 is also the radial direction of the green tire 9, when the temperature measurement probe 44 is embedded in the shoulder portion 3S. Because the load is minimized, it is preferable.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

A pair of bead portions, sidewall portions extending outward in the tire radial direction from each of the bead portions, and a tread portion continuous with each tire radial direction outer end of the sidewall portions to form a tread surface A tire molding mold for heating and vulcanizing a vulcanized green tire,
At least a tread mold portion pressable to the tread portion;
The tread portion is divided in the circumferential direction and has a plurality of segments movable in the radial direction of the green tire,
At least one of the segments is fixed by fixing means for fixing the temperature measurement probe, a temperature measurement probe insertion hole extending from the fixing means toward the inner peripheral surface, and the fixing means, and the inside of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole A temperature measurement probe which is extended toward the inner peripheral surface side and whose inner peripheral surface side end can be embedded in the shoulder portion of the tread portion beyond the inner peripheral surface side end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole; Equipped with
An outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe is formed smaller than an inner diameter D2 of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole.
A pair of bead portions, sidewall portions extending outward in the tire radial direction from each of the bead portions, and a tread portion continuous with each tire radial direction outer end of the sidewall portions to form a tread surface A tire molding mold for heating and vulcanizing a vulcanized green tire,
At least a tread mold portion pressable to the tread portion;
The tread portion is divided in the circumferential direction and has a plurality of segments movable in the radial direction of the green tire,
At least two or more of the segments are fixed by fixing means for fixing a temperature measurement probe, a temperature measurement probe insertion hole extending radially from the fixing means toward the inner peripheral surface, and the fixing means It is fixed and extends in the tire radial direction in the temperature measurement probe insertion hole toward the inner peripheral surface side, and the inner peripheral surface side end exceeds the inner peripheral surface side end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole and the shoulder of the tread portion And a temperature measurement probe mounted in a posture that can be buried in the
An outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe is formed smaller than an inner diameter D2 of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole.
The tire molding mold according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer diameter D1 of the temperature measurement probe is 1 to 10 mm.
The tire molding mold according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein L1 / D1 is 10 or more when the length of the temperature measurement probe measured from the inner peripheral surface side end of the fixing means is L1.
The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a gap between the inner peripheral surface side end of the temperature measurement probe insertion hole and the temperature measurement probe is closed by a spacer having a smaller thermal conductivity than the segment. Mold for molding.
The tire molding mold according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a gap between the temperature measurement probe insertion hole and the temperature measurement probe is closed by a heat insulating material having a smaller thermal conductivity than the segment.
The tire molding mold according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the temperature measurement probe is a platinum resistance temperature detector.
A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire comprising a vulcanization step of heating and vulcanizing in the tire molding mold according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising:
The vulcanizing step includes a pair of bead portions, sidewall portions extending outward in the tire radial direction from each of the bead portions, and a tread portion connected to respective tire radial direction outer ends of the sidewall portions to constitute a tread surface And a step of measuring the temperature of the shoulder portion by embedding a temperature measurement probe in the shoulder portion included in the tread portion of an unvulcanized green tire comprising .