Supply system for tire material to molding drum body, and tire manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a supply system for a tire material which can reduce time loss due to tire material replenishment, while making a molding device compact, and a tire manufacturing method.SOLUTION: A plurality of supply units 7A and 7B in which tire materials M3 are stocked in a wound state is arranged in parallel. The tire material M3 fed out from one supply unit 7A and cut into a fixed length is supplied to a supply conveyor 7d and a belt drum 3 installed at predetermined certain positions, using a slide conveyor 7d that slidably moves in a direction in which the supply units 7A and 7B are arranged in parallel and then is wound around the belt drum 3 so as to be molded into a cylindrical shape. When the tire material M3 stocked in the one supply unit 7A runs out, the tire material M3 in the other supply unit 7B is supplied. The supply unit 7A in which the tire material has run out is replaced with a new supply unit 7A in which the tire material M3 is stocked, while the tire material M3 in the other supply unit 7B is supplied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for supplying tire material to a building drum body and a method for manufacturing a tire, and more specifically, to a system for supplying tire material to a building drum body and a method for manufacturing a tire, which make a tire building apparatus more compact while further reducing time loss caused by refilling tire material and improving work efficiency in the tire building process. [Background technology]

[0002] Tires are manufactured by vulcanizing green tires. Green tires are formed by laminating many different types of tire materials. For example, an inner liner, carcass material, belt material, tread rubber, a pair of bead members, etc. are integrated on a molding drum to form a green tire.

[0003] Various servicers that supply many types of tire materials to a tire building machine have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The servicer proposed in Patent Document 1 has multiple sets of material holding units, in which tire materials are stored in a wound state, and movable conveyors, which are arranged as one set and can slide along a rail. The desired set is then slid to be arranged in series with the fixed-position conveyor and tire building machine installed at a predetermined position. The tire material is then unwound from the material holding unit of this set and supplied to the fixed-position conveyor and tire building machine via the movable conveyor.

[0004] In this servicer, a set that has become empty of tire material can be slid to a standby position and replaced with a new material holding section with tire material wound thereon while tire material is being supplied from another set. This makes it possible to supply tire material to a tire building machine without incurring long periods of time lost due to tire material replenishment. However, since a large amount of space is required to slide a large number of sets, it is difficult to make the building machine compact. In addition, since the set of material holding section and movable conveyor is not lightweight, it is difficult to slide it quickly. Therefore, this is disadvantageous in reducing time lost due to tire material replenishment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-25124 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a tire material supply system for a building drum body and a tire manufacturing method that can make a tire building apparatus more compact while further reducing time loss caused by refilling tire material and improving work efficiency in the tire building process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tire material supply system to a building drum body, the system comprising: a supply unit in which a strip-shaped tire material is wound and stored; a building drum body; and a supply conveyor disposed between the supply unit and the building drum body, the tire material being fed from the supply unit and cut to a fixed length and placed in a flat state on the supply conveyor and supplied to the building drum body, and then wound around the building drum body to be formed into a cylindrical shape. The tire material supply system to a building drum body has a configuration in which the tire material supply system has a plurality of supply units disposed in parallel at a stock position, and has a slide conveyor which slides and moves in the parallel direction of each of the supply units between each of the supply units and the supply conveyor. The tire material is fed from one of the supply units and cut to a fixed length, and is transferred to the supply conveyor via the slide conveyor and sequentially supplied to the forming drum body, with respect to the forming drum body and the supply conveyor which are installed at predetermined fixed positions, and when the tire material stored in one of the supply units becomes empty, the tire material is fed from the other supply unit and cut to a fixed length, and is transferred to the supply conveyor via the slide conveyor and sequentially supplied to the forming drum body, and while the material is being supplied from the other supply unit to the forming drum body, the one supply unit which has become empty is replaced with a new supply unit in which the tire material is stocked.

[0008] The tire manufacturing method of the present invention is characterized in that a green tire using the tire material is molded by a molding apparatus equipped with the tire material supply system to the molding drum body, and the green tire is vulcanized. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the tire material supply system to the building drum of the present invention, a plurality of the supply units are arranged in parallel at the stock position, and the slide conveyor is provided between each of the supply units and the supply conveyor. Therefore, in order to supply the tire material from another supply unit to the building drum, it is only necessary to slide the slide conveyor, rather than moving each of the supply units, so that an excessively large space is not required. This is advantageous in making the tire building device compact.

[0010] When the tire material stored in one of the supply units becomes empty, the tire material is supplied from the other supply unit via the slide conveyor. Then, while the tire material is being supplied from the other supply unit, the empty supply unit is replaced with a new supply unit in which the tire material is stocked. The slide conveyor can perform rapid sliding movement, so that the tire material can be continuously supplied to the building drum body from either of the supply units via the slide conveyor. This is therefore advantageous in further reducing time loss caused by refilling the tire material and improving work efficiency in the tire building process. Accordingly, since there is no need to place and stock an excess amount of the tire material on the supply conveyor in order to reduce time loss caused by refilling the tire material, the length of the supply conveyor can be minimized. As a result, it is even more advantageous in making the tire building device more compact.

[0011] According to the tire manufacturing method of the present invention, by using a molding apparatus equipped with the tire material supply system to the above-mentioned building drum body, it is advantageous to manufacture tires with good productivity in a small space. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a tire manufacturing system including an embodiment of a tire material supply system to a building drum body in a plan view. FIG. [Diagram 2]2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating each drum of the molding device of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front. [Diagram 3] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a supply unit of an inner liner to a band drum in a side view. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a carcass material supply unit to a band drum in a side view. FIG. [Diagram 5] 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a supply unit in a side portion to a band drum in a side view. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a belt material supply unit to a belt drum in a side view. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a supply unit of the tread portion to a belt drum in a side view. FIG. [Figure 8] 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a belt reinforcing material supply unit to a belt drum in a side view. FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which an inner liner and a carcass material are supplied to a band drum; FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the inner liner, the carcass material, and the side portion cut to a fixed length in FIG. 9 have been moved forward. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the supply conveyor on which the inner liner in FIG. 10 is placed is rotated 90° and the side portion cut to a fixed length is moved onto the supply conveyor. FIG. [Figure 12] 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the inner liner and the carcass material cut to a fixed length in FIG. 11 are moved toward a band drum. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, the state in which the inner liner and carcass material cut to a fixed length in FIG. 12 are wound around a band drum. FIG. [Figure 14] 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the band drum in FIG. 13 is moved in the width direction and a side portion cut to a fixed length is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the band drum to form an inner circumferential member. FIG. [Figure 15]15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which a pair of bead members are fitted onto the molded inner peripheral member of FIG. 14. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which a belt material cut to a fixed length and a tread portion are supplied to a belt drum; [Figure 17] 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the belt material cut to a fixed length and the tread portion in FIG. 16 are moved toward a belt drum; FIG. [Figure 18] 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the belt material cut to a fixed length in FIG. 17 is wound around one of the belt drums. FIG. [Figure 19] 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the belt drum in FIG. 18 is rotated 180° clockwise and a belt reinforcing material is wound around the belt material wound around one of the belt drums. FIG. [Figure 20] 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the tread portion cut to a fixed length in FIG. 19 is wound around one belt drum to form an outer circumferential member, and the belt material is wound around the other belt drum. FIG. [Figure 21] 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the belt drum in FIG. 20 is rotated 180° counterclockwise in a plan view. FIG. [Figure 22] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which an inner peripheral member and a pair of bead members are fitted onto one of the shape drums. FIG. [Diagram 23] 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the shape drum in FIG. 22 is rotated 180° clockwise and a belt reinforcement material is wound around the other belt drum. FIG. [Figure 24] 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which an outer circumferential member transferred from a belt drum is fitted onto one of the shape drums in FIG. 23, and an inner circumferential member and a pair of bead members are fitted onto the other shape drum. FIG. [Diagram 25] 25 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the shape drum in FIG. 24 is rotated 180° counterclockwise and a belt material is wound around one of the belt drums. FIG. [Figure 26]26 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which a green tire is removed from one of the shape drums in FIG. 25 and the belt drum is rotated 180° counterclockwise. FIG. [Figure 27] 27 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vulcanizing device that vulcanizes the green tire of FIG. 26. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a system for supplying a tire material to a building drum body and a method for manufacturing a tire according to the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0014] The tire manufacturing system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a molding device 1 and a vulcanizing device 15. The molding device 1 is equipped with an embodiment of a tire material supply system (hereinafter referred to as a supply system) for a molding drum body of the present invention. Using the molding device 1, a green tire G is formed by stacking a plurality of types of unvulcanized tire components M. The molded green tire G is vulcanized using a vulcanizing device 15 to manufacture a tire T. The vulcanizing device 15 is equipped with a vulcanizing mold 16 according to the tire specifications. Various known vulcanizing devices 15 can be used.

[0015] The green tire G has at least an inner liner M1, an inner circumferential side member MA having a carcass material M2 and a side portion M3, an outer circumferential side member MB having a belt material M4 and a tread portion M5, and a pair of bead members MC as tire members M. In this embodiment, the outer circumferential side member MB further has a belt reinforcing member M6. The belt reinforcing member M6 can be adopted arbitrarily, and other types of materials are adopted for the tire members M as necessary. In the following, the inner liner M1, the carcass material M2, the side portion M3, the belt material M4, the tread portion M5, and the belt reinforcing member M6 are respectively referred to as tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, and M6. The tire materials M1 to M5 are strip-shaped, and the tire material M6 is linear (thin strip-shaped).

[0016] 1 to 8, the molding device 1 has three types of drums (molding drum bodies) of shape drums 2 (2a, 2b), band drum 3, and belt drum 4 (4a, 4b), supply units 5 (5A, 5B), 6 (6A, 6B), 7 (7A, 7B), 8 (8A, 8B), 9 (9A, 9B), and 10 (10A, 10B) for tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, and M6, respectively, and a bead supply unit 11 (11A, 11B) for a pair of bead members MC. The X, Y, and Z arrows in the figures indicate the width direction, depth direction, and height direction of the molding device 1, respectively, and are perpendicular to each other.

[0017] The system is equipped with two shape drums 2 (2a, 2b), one band drum 3, and two belt drums 4 (4a, 4b), and the shape drums 2 (2a, 2b) are disposed between the band drum 3 and the belt drum 4 in the X direction. In this embodiment, the two shape drums 2a, 2b are provided at positions rotated 180° around the pivot shaft 2p in a plan view. The two shape drums 2a, 2b are alternately fixed and disposed at the same positions by rotating 180° clockwise and counterclockwise around the pivot shaft 2p.

[0018] The drum axis C1 of the band drum 3 extends in the X direction and is movable along a guide rail 3r extending in the X direction. The two belt drums 4a and 4b are provided at positions rotated 180° around a pivot 4p in a plan view. The two belt drums 4a and 4b are alternately fixed and disposed at the same positions by rotating 180° clockwise and counterclockwise around the pivot 4p.

[0019] When each of the shape drums 2a, 2b rotates around the rotation axis 2p and is fixedly disposed on the band drum 3 side and the belt drum 4 side, the respective drum axis centers C1, C2 extend in the X direction (become parallel to the X direction). The drum axis centers C1 of the shape drum 2 and band drum 3, which have rotated and been fixedly disposed on the band drum 3 side, are parallel to the X direction and coincide in the Y and Z directions. In other words, the drum axis centers C1 of the adjacent shape drum 2 and band drum 3 coincide in the X, Y, and Z directions.

[0020] When the belt drums 4a, 4b rotate around the rotation axis 4p and are fixedly disposed on the shape drum 2 side and the opposite side to the shape drum 2 side, their respective drum axis centers C2, C3 extend in the X direction (become parallel to the X direction). The drum axis centers C2 of the belt drum 4 that has been rotated and fixedly disposed on the shape drum 2 side and the shape drum 2 that has been rotated and fixedly disposed on the belt drum 4 side are parallel to the X direction and coincide with each other in the Y and Z directions. In other words, the drum axis centers C2 of the adjacent belt drum 4 and shape drum 2 coincide with each other in the X, Y, and Z directions.

[0021] The supply units 5-10 are disposed at stock positions P1-P6 for the tire materials M1-M6, respectively. The bead supply unit 11 is disposed at stock position P7 for the bead member MC. At each of the stock positions P1-P6, a plurality of corresponding supply units are arranged in parallel. That is, at stock position P1, supply units 5A and 5B are arranged in parallel, at stock position P2, supply units 6A and 6B, at stock position P3, supply units 7A and 7B, at stock position P4, supply units 8A and 8B, at stock position P5, supply units 9A and 9B, and at stock position P6, supply units 10A and 10B.

[0022] In this embodiment, one green tire G uses one tire material M1, M5 cut to a fixed length, two tire materials M2, M4 cut to a fixed length, and a pair of two tire materials M3 cut to a fixed length. Therefore, at the stock position P2, two of the supply units 6A, 6B are vertically arranged (arranged in series in the Y direction). At the stock position P4, two of the supply units 8A, 8B are vertically arranged (arranged in series in the Y direction). To mold one green tire G, two tire materials M2 are sequentially supplied from either one of the two vertically arranged supply units 6A or the two vertically arranged supply units 6B, and two tire materials M4 are sequentially supplied from either one of the two vertically arranged supply units 8A or the two vertically arranged supply units 8B. In addition, a pair of two tire materials M3 is stocked in each of the supply units 7A, 7B, and a pair of two tire materials M3 is sequentially supplied from either one of the supply units 7A, 7B.

[0023] Each of the supply units 5-10 has a winding core, and each of the tire materials M1-M6 is stored in a wound state around the winding core. Each of the tire materials M1-M5 is wound around the winding core together with a release liner. The tire material M6 is wound around the winding core without a release liner. In this embodiment, each of the tire materials M1-M6 is wound and stored in a long body state, but the tire materials M1-M5 can also be cut to a predetermined length and stored in a wound state around the winding core.

[0024] The bead supply unit 11 has an annular rack that rotates horizontally around a rotation axis 11p, and a large number of bead members MC are hung on the rack. The rack is divided into two regions, units 11A and 11B, in the circumferential direction. A predetermined number of pairs of bead members MC are hung on each of the bead supply units 11A and 11B, and as the rack rotates in the circumferential direction, each of the bead supply units 11A and 11B moves sequentially to a supply position and a standby position. Pairs of bead members MC are sequentially supplied from the bead supply unit 11 that has moved to the supply position.

[0025] Tire materials M1, M2, M3 are supplied to the belt drum 3 through respective supply paths from respective supply units 5, 6, 7. Tire materials M4, M5, M6 are supplied to the belt drum 4 through respective supply paths from respective supply units 8, 9, 10.

[0026] Between each of the supply units 5, 6, 7 and the band drum 3, cutters 5c, 6c, 7c, slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 7d, and supply conveyors 5e, 6e, 7e are arranged. As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the supply units 6 arranged in a vertical row at the stock position P2 has a cutter 6c, and two supply guides are installed in upper and lower stages between each cutter 6c and one slide conveyor 6d. That is, the material M2 fed from the supply unit 6 arranged on the side closer to the band drum 3 in the Y direction is supplied to the slide conveyor 6d through the supply guide installed on the lower side. The tire material M2 fed from the supply unit 6 arranged on the side farther from the band drum 3 in the Y direction is supplied to the slide conveyor 6d through the supply guide installed on the upper side.

[0027] Between each of the supply units 8, 9 and the belt drum 4, cutters 8c, 9c, slide conveyors 8d, 9d, and supply conveyors 8e, 9e are arranged. As illustrated in FIG. 6, each supply unit 8 arranged in a vertical line at the stock position P4 has a cutter 8c, a slide conveyor 8d, and a supply conveyor 8e, and the cutter 8c, slide conveyor 8d, and supply conveyor 8e are installed in two tiers, one above the other. That is, the material M4 fed from the supply unit 8 arranged on the side closer to the belt drum 4 in the Y direction is supplied to the slide conveyor 8d and supply conveyor 8e arranged on the lower side through a supply guide installed on the lower side. The tire material M4 fed from the supply unit 6 arranged on the side farther from the belt drum 4 in the Y direction is supplied to the slide conveyor 8d and supply conveyor 8e arranged on the upper side through a supply guide installed on the upper side. In this embodiment, the cutter 8c arranged above slides and moves together with the slide conveyor 8d arranged above, and the cutter 8c arranged below slides and moves together with the slide conveyor 8d arranged below.

[0028] A cutter 10c, a festoon unit 10d, and a head 10e are disposed between the supply unit 10 and the belt drum 4. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the tire material M6 fed from each of the supply units 10A and 10B is supplied to the separate heads 10e, 10e through separate supply paths. The heads 10e, 10e are disposed vertically in the Y direction below the belt drum 4.

[0029] The cutters 5c, 6c, 7c, 8c, and 9c cut the tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 to predetermined lengths. The slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d, and 9d and the supply conveyors 5e, 6e, 7e, 8e, and 9e are belt conveyors that transport the tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 in a flat state.

[0030] The slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d, and 9d are arranged one for each of the parallel supply units 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. For example, at the stock position P1 for the material M1, one slide conveyor 5d is arranged that slides in the width direction of the parallel supply units 5 (5A, 5B). The slide conveyor 5d moves in the width direction between the supply units 5A and 5B in front of the supply direction of the material M1. The other stock positions P2, P3, P4, and P5 are similarly configured.

[0031] The cutter 10c cuts the rear end of the tire material M6 when splicing the tire materials M6 together. The festoon section 10d stores a predetermined required amount (required length) of the tire material M6. The head 10e guides the tire material M6 that has passed through the festoon section 10d toward the drum surface of the belt drum 4. The tire material M6 is supplied to the belt drum 4 in the form of a long body, and is cut to a predetermined length by the head 10e on the belt drum 4.

[0032] A band transfer machine 12 is disposed between the band drum 3 and the shape drum 2. A belt transfer machine 13 is disposed between the belt drum 4 and the shape drum 2. A bead transfer machine 14 is disposed between the bead supply unit 11 and the shape drum 2.

[0033] In the banding drum 3, a cylindrical inner circumferential member MA is formed using the supplied tire materials M1 to M3. In the belt drum 4, a cylindrical outer circumferential member MB is formed using the supplied tire materials M4 to M6. The band transfer machine 12 transfers the inner circumferential member MA from the banding drum 3 to the shaping drum 2. The belt transfer machine 13 transfers the outer circumferential member MB from the belt drum 4 to the shaping drum 2. The bead transfer machine 14 transfers a pair of bead members MC from one of the bead supply units 11A, 11B and fits them onto the cylindrical inner circumferential member MA. In the shaping drum 2, a cylindrical green tire G is formed using the inner circumferential member MA (M1 to M3), the outer circumferential member MB (M4 to M6), and the pair of bead members MC.

[0034] Typical embodiments of the supply system of the present invention are a supply system that supplies tire material M3 to a band drum (molding drum body) 3, and a supply system that supplies tire materials M4 and M5 to a belt drum (molding drum body) 4. That is, a plurality of supply units 7 (7A, 7B) arranged in parallel at a stock position P3, a band drum 3, a supply conveyor 7e arranged between the supply units 7 (7A, 7B) and the band drum 3, and a slide conveyor 7d that slides in the parallel direction of the supply units 7A and 7B between each of the supply units 7A and 7B and the supply conveyor 7e constitute an embodiment of the supply system. Also, a plurality of supply units 8 (8A, 8B) arranged in parallel at a stock position P4, a belt drum 4, a supply conveyor 8e arranged between the supply units 8 (8A, 8B) and the belt drum 4, and a slide conveyor 8d that slides in the parallel direction of the supply units 8A and 8B between each of the supply units 8A and 8B and the supply conveyor 8e constitute an embodiment of the supply system. In addition, an embodiment of the supply system includes a plurality of supply units 9 (9A, 9B) arranged in parallel at the stock position P5, the belt drum 4, a supply conveyor 9e arranged between the supply units 9 (9A, 9B) and the belt drum 4, and a slide conveyor 9d that slides in the parallel direction of each supply unit 9A, 9B between each supply unit 9A, 9B and the supply conveyor 9e.

[0035] Then, the tire material M3 that has been unwound from one of the supply units 7 (7A, 7B) at the stock position P3 and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor 7e via the slide conveyor 7d and sequentially supplied to the band drum 3 with respect to the band drum 3 and the supply conveyor 7e installed at a predetermined fixed position, and is sequentially supplied to the band drum 3. In this embodiment, when the tire material M3 is supplied, the band drum 3 and the supply conveyor 7e installed at a predetermined fixed position and one of the supply units 7A are arranged in series (vertically arranged in the Y direction). Also, the tire material M4 that has been unwound from one of the supply units 8 (8A, 8B) at the stock position P4 and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor 8e via the slide conveyor 8d and sequentially supplied to the belt drum 4 with respect to the belt drum 4 and the supply conveyor 8e installed at a predetermined fixed position, and is sequentially supplied to the belt drum 4. In this embodiment, when the tire material M4 is supplied, the belt drum 4 and the supply conveyor 8e installed at a predetermined fixed position and one of the supply units 8A are arranged in series (vertically arranged in the Y direction). Similarly, the tire material M5, which is fed from one of the supply units 9 (9A, 9B) at the stock position P5 and cut to a fixed length, is transferred to the supply conveyor 9e via the slide conveyor 9d and sequentially supplied to the belt drum 4, with respect to the belt drum 4 and supply conveyor 9e installed at a predetermined fixed position. In this embodiment, when the tire material M5 is supplied, the belt drum 4 and supply conveyor 8e installed at a predetermined fixed position and one of the supply units 9A are arranged in series (vertically aligned in the Y direction).

[0036] Next, an example of the procedure of a tire manufacturing method using this manufacturing system will be described. In this manufacturing method, green tires G are successively molded by a molding device 1 equipped with an embodiment of the supply system of the present invention. The molding device 1 of this manufacturing system is equipped with a typical embodiment of the supply system of the present invention in order to supply three types of tire materials M3, M4, and M5. The molding device 1 may be equipped with the supply system of the present invention in order to supply at least one type of tire material.

[0037] In the molding device 1, molding operations for a plurality of green tires G are carried out at the same time. The green tires G molded at the same time may all have the same specifications, but they may be switched to green tires G of different specifications midway through. When molding a large number of green tires G continues without changing the tire specifications, the necessary amounts of tire materials M1-M6 of the same specifications are stocked in the parallel supply units 5-10 at each of the stock positions P1-P6. At the stock position P7, the necessary amounts of bead materials MC of the same specifications are stocked in the respective bead supply units 11A, 11B.

[0038] When the green tire G is molded by changing the tire specifications midway, the supply units 5A-10A on one side and the supply units 5B-10B on the other side stock positions P1-P6 stock the necessary amounts of tire materials M1-M6 corresponding to the tire specifications of the green tire G to be molded. At the stock position P7, the bead supply units 11A, 11B stock the necessary amounts of bead members MC corresponding to the tire specifications of the green tire G to be molded.

[0039] In this manufacturing method, a cylindrical inner circumferential member MA and a cylindrical outer circumferential member MB are formed simultaneously. The inner circumferential member MA is formed as shown in Fig. 9 to Fig. 14, and the outer circumferential member MB is formed as shown in Fig. 16 to Fig. 21. Then, a green tire G is formed using the inner circumferential member MA, a pair of bead members MC, and the outer circumferential member MC as shown in Fig. 22 to Fig. 26.

[0040] 9 to 14, the tire materials M1 to M3 of the inner circumference side member MA are supplied by the respective supply conveyors 5e to 7e from the respective stock positions P1 to P3 via the corresponding slide conveyors 5d to 7d in a state in which they have been cut to a fixed length in advance to the banding drum 3. In the banding drum 3, the tire materials M1 to M3 cut to the fixed length are used to form the inner circumference side member MA.

[0041] In detail, the tire materials M1, M2, M2, M3 fed from one of the supply units 5A, 6A, 6A, 7A are cut to a predetermined length by the respective cutters 5c, 6c, 6c, 7c, and placed on the slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 6d, 7d arranged in front of each of the supply units 5A, 6A, 6A, 7A, and conveyed to the supply conveyors 5e, 6e, 6e, 7e. The supply conveyor 5e can rotate 90° in a plan view, and when receiving the tire material M1 from the slide conveyor 5d, it is aligned vertically with the slide conveyor 5d in the X direction as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The supply conveyor 5e that receives the tire material M1 from the slide conveyor 5d rotates 90° and is aligned vertically with the slide conveyor 6d and the supply conveyor 6e in the Y direction as illustrated in Figure 11.

[0042] As illustrated in Fig. 12, the tire material M1 unwound from one supply unit 5A and the materials M2, M2 supplied from each of the vertically arranged supply units 6A, 6A are arranged in series with respect to the banding drum 3. As illustrated in Fig. 13, the tire materials M1, M2, M2 arranged in series and cut to a fixed length are wound around the banding drum 3 in sequence while rotating the banding drum 3 in one direction around the drum axis C1, and are formed into a cylindrical shape and laminated. In this embodiment, the supply conveyors 5e, 6e function as supply conveyors that supply the tire materials M1, M2 to the banding drum 3.

[0043] Also, while the tire materials M1, M2, M2 are wound around the banding drum 3 and formed into a cylindrical shape and stacked, a pair of tire materials M3 that have been unwound from one of the supply units 7A and cut to a fixed length are conveyed to the supply conveyor 7e. Next, the banding drum 3 in front of the supply conveyor 6e is moved in the X direction as illustrated in FIG. 14 and placed in front of the supply conveyor 7e. After that, the pair of tire materials M3 that have been cut to a fixed length and placed on the transport conveyor 7e are wound around the banding drum 3 while rotating the banding drum 3 about the drum axis C1, and formed into a cylindrical shape and stacked. This forms a cylindrical inner circumferential member MA in which the tire materials M1, M2, M3 are stacked in order. In this manner, the inner circumferential member MA is formed sequentially and continuously.

[0044] 15, a pair of bead members MC are supplied from one bead supply unit 11A and fitted onto the inner peripheral side member MA using a bead transfer machine 14. The bead members MC are fitted onto the inner peripheral side member MA with a gap therebetween in the width direction (X direction).

[0045] As illustrated in Fig. 16 to Fig. 21, the tire materials M4, M5 of the outer periphery side member MB are supplied by the respective supply conveyors 8e, 9e from the respective stock positions P4, P5 via the corresponding slide conveyors 8d, 9d in a state in which they have been cut to a fixed length, to the belt drum 4. The material M6 is supplied in the form of a long body via the festoon section 10c to the head 10e disposed adjacent to and below the belt drum 4. In the belt drum 4, the outer periphery side member MB is formed using the respective tire materials M4, M5 cut to the fixed length and the tire material M6 delivered from the head 10e.

[0046] More specifically, the tire materials M4, M4, M5 fed from one of the supply units 8A, 8A, 9A are cut to a predetermined length by the respective cutters 8c, 8c, 9c, and placed on slide conveyors 8d, 8d, 9d arranged in front of the other of the supply units 8A, 8A, 9A, and transported to the supply conveyors 8e, 8e, 9e. Each of the supply conveyors 8e, 8e arranged above and below as illustrated in Fig. 6 places one sheet of tire material M4 cut to the specified length.

[0047] As illustrated in Fig. 18, tire materials M4, M4 supplied from one of the vertically arranged supply units 8A, 8A are sequentially wound around one of the belt drums 4a, formed into a cylindrical shape, and stacked. For example, the tire material M4 cut to a fixed length and placed on the supply conveyor 8e arranged above is wound around the belt drum 4a while rotating the belt drum 4a in one direction about the drum axis C2 to form a cylindrical shape. Next, the tire material M4 cut to a fixed length and placed on the supply conveyor 8e arranged below is wound around the belt drum 4a while rotating the belt drum 4a in the other direction about the drum axis C2 to form a cylindrical shape.

[0048] Next, as illustrated in Fig. 19, the belt drum 4 is rotated 180° clockwise around the pivot 4p. As a result, one belt drum 4a is moved forward of the supply conveyor 9e, and the other belt drum 4b is moved forward of the supply conveyors 8e, 8e. Then, while one belt drum 4a is rotated in one direction around the drum axis C3, the tire material M6 supplied from one supply unit 10A is wound spirally around the belt drum 4a using one head 10e. As a result, a belt reinforcing layer formed of the tire material M6 is laminated in a predetermined width direction (X direction) range on the outer circumferential surface of the tire material M4 molded into a cylindrical shape.

[0049] Next, as illustrated in Fig. 20, the material M5 cut to a fixed length and placed on the supply conveyor 9e is wound around the belt drum 4a while rotating one of the belt drums 4a in one direction about the drum axis C3, and is formed into a cylindrical shape and laminated. As a result, a cylindrical outer peripheral member MB in which tire materials M4, M4, M6, and M5 are laminated in order is formed on one of the belt drums 4a. On the other belt drum 4b, the tire materials M4, M4 cut to a fixed length and placed on the respective supply conveyors 8e, 8e are wound around the belt drum 4b in order while rotating the belt drum 4b about the drum axis C2, and are formed into a cylindrical shape and laminated.

[0050] 21, the belt drum 4 is rotated counterclockwise by 180° about the rotation shaft 4p. As a result, one of the belt drums 4a on which the outer circumferential side member MB is formed is moved toward the shape drum 2 side.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 22, the shaped inner peripheral member MA is transferred from the banding drum 3 to one of the shaping drums 2a by using a banding transfer machine 12. As a result, the inner peripheral member MA and a pair of bead members MC are fitted onto the outer surface of one of the shaping drums 2a. Then, in the shaping drum 2a, both ends in the width direction of the inner peripheral member MA are turned up around the bead members MC by a known method. Then, both ends in the width direction of the turned-up inner peripheral member MA are pressed toward the drum axis C1 by a known method while the shaping drum 2a is rotated around the drum axis C1.

[0052] 23, the shape drum 2 is rotated clockwise by 180° about the rotation axis 2p, whereby one shape drum 2a and one belt drum 4a are aligned in the X direction.

[0053] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the outer peripheral member MB is transferred from one belt drum 4a to one shape drum 2a by using a belt transfer device 13, and is fitted onto the inner peripheral member MA. Then, in the shape drum 2a, the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral member MA and the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral member MB are brought into contact with each other, and the outer peripheral member MB is pressed toward the drum axis C2 while rotating the shape drum 2a about the drum axis C2, thereby integrating the inner peripheral member MA, the outer peripheral member MB, and the pair of bead members MC to form a green tire G. Meanwhile, the tire materials M6 and M5 are wound around the other belt drum 4b in the same procedure as described above to form the outer peripheral member MB. Also, the inner peripheral member MA and the pair of bead members MC are fitted onto the other shape drum 2b in the same procedure as described above.

[0054] Next, as illustrated in Fig. 25, the shape drum 2 is rotated counterclockwise by 180° about the rotation axis 2p. Thereafter, as illustrated in Fig. 26, the green tire G is removed from one of the shape drums 2a and transported to a vulcanizer 15.

[0055] As illustrated in Fig. 27, the green tire G is placed in a vulcanization mold 16 attached to a vulcanization device 15. The green tire G is then vulcanized between the closed vulcanization mold 16 and the inflated vulcanization bladder 17 to complete a tire T. Various known methods can be used for vulcanizing the green tire G. In this embodiment, a pneumatic tire T is manufactured, but the present invention can also be applied to the manufacture of various types of tires T.

[0056] In the above-mentioned process of building a green tire G, when a predetermined number of green tires G are built, the tire materials M1 to M6 stored in one of the supply units 5A to 10A become empty at the stock positions P1 to P6 for the respective tire materials M1 to M6.

[0057] As described above, at each of the stock positions P1 to P5, the slide conveyors 5d to 9d are arranged to slide in the width direction relative to the supply units 5 to 9 arranged in parallel. Therefore, when the tire material M1 to M5 stored in one of the supply units 5A to 9A becomes empty, the slide conveyors 5d to 9d are slid in the width direction of the supply units 5 to 9 arranged in parallel, so that the tire material M1 to M5 can be supplied from the other supply unit 5B to 9B. That is, the slide conveyors 5d to 9d are slid forward of the other supply unit 5B to 9B to place the tire material M1 to M5 cut to the fixed length on the slide conveyors 5d to 9d. After that, the slide conveyors 5d to 9d are slid to a position where they are aligned vertically with the supply conveyors 5e to 9e, and the tire material M1 to M5 cut to the fixed length is transferred and supplied to the supply conveyors 5e to 9e. Then, while the tire material M1-M5 cut to a fixed length is being supplied to the supply conveyor 5e-9e from the other supply unit 5B-9B, the one supply unit 5A-9A which has been emptied of the tire material M1-M5 is replaced with a new supply unit 5A-5B in which the tire material M1-M5 is stocked.

[0058] Since the slide conveyors 5d-9d can perform rapid sliding movement, at each of the stock positions P1-P5, the tire materials M1-M5 can be continuously supplied to the corresponding drums 3, 4 from either the supply units 5A-9A or the supply units 5B-9B via the slide conveyors 5d-9d. This is therefore advantageous in further reducing the time loss caused by the replenishment of the tire materials M1-M5 and improving the work efficiency in the tire building process.

[0059] At each of the stock positions P1 to P5, tire materials M1 to M5 that have been fed from separate supply units arranged in parallel and cut to a fixed length can be supplied to the corresponding drums 3 and 4 by sliding the slide conveyors 5d to 9d instead of moving the respective supply units 5 to 9, so that no excessive space is required. This is advantageous in making the molding device 1 compact.

[0060] Also, at the stock position P6, the tire material M6 can be supplied by switching to one of the supply units 10 arranged in parallel. Therefore, when the tire material M6 stored in one supply unit 10A becomes empty, the tire material M6 can be supplied from the other supply unit 10B. Then, while the tire material M6 is being supplied from the other supply unit 10B, the one supply unit 10A that has become empty of the tire material M6 is replaced with a new supply unit 10A in which the tire material M6 is stocked. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the molding process of the green tire G being stopped due to the replenishment of each tire material M6.

[0061] Furthermore, when the pair of bead components MC of one bead supply unit 11A becomes empty, a pair of bead components MC can be supplied from the other bead supply unit 11B. Then, while the pair of bead components MC is being supplied from the other bead supply unit 11B, the one bead supply unit 11A that has become empty of bead components MC can be rotated from the supply position to the standby position to replenish the bead supply unit 11A with a new pair of bead components MC, thereby preventing the molding process from being stopped due to the replenishment of the pair of bead components MC.

[0062] Accordingly, in order to reduce time loss caused by replenishing each of the tire materials M1 to M5, it is not necessary to place and stock excess amounts of the tire materials M1 to M5 on each of the supply conveyors 5e to 9e, and therefore the length of each of the supply conveyors 5e to 9e can be minimized.

[0063] According to the tire manufacturing method of the present invention, in which a green tire G is molded using tire materials M3 to M5 by using a molding apparatus 1 equipped with the embodiment of the supply system of the present invention described above and this green tire G is vulcanized, it is advantageous for manufacturing tires T in a space-saving manner with good productivity.

[0064] Making each of the supply conveyors 5e-9e and each of the slide conveyors 5d-9d shorter is advantageous in making the molding apparatus 1 more compact. Each of the supply conveyors 5e-9e and each of the slide conveyors 5d-9d may be longer than the length of one of the tire materials M1-M5 to be placed. Thus, the length of each of the supply conveyors 5e-9e and each of the slide conveyors 5d-9d is set to, for example, 100% or more and 150% or less, more preferably 105% or more and 130% or less, and even more preferably 105% or more and 120% or less, of the length of one of the tire materials M1-M5 to be placed on the conveyor.

[0065] In addition, the drum axis C1 of the band drum 3 and the shape drum 2 when transferring the inner peripheral member MA is set coaxially, and the drum axis C2 of the belt drum 4 and the shape drum 2 when transferring the outer peripheral member MB is set coaxially. Therefore, the band transfer device 12 and the belt transfer device 13 only need to be moved in the directions of the common drum axes C1 and C2 of the respective drums 2, 3, and 4, which is further advantageous for making the molding device 1 compact. As a result, it is advantageous for manufacturing tires T with good productivity while making the molding device 1 compact.

[0066] By cutting the tire materials M1 to M5 to a fixed length, the tire materials M1 to M5 shrink over time, and the degree of shrinkage varies. However, at each of the stock positions P1 to P5, the tire materials M1 to M5 are stored in a long body state, and the tire materials M1 to M5 are fed from the supply units 5 to 9 and cut to a fixed length. Then, each of the materials M1 to M5 cut to a fixed length is supplied to the corresponding drums 3 and 4 via the corresponding slide conveyors 5d to 9d and supply conveyors 5e to 9e. In this way, cutting the tire materials M1 to M5 to a fixed length immediately before forming the green tire G is advantageous in minimizing the variation in shrinkage over time and the amount of shrinkage of the tire materials M1 to M5, compared to the case where the tire materials are cut to a fixed length in advance and stored. As a result, this contributes to improving the quality of the manufactured tire T.

[0067] At each of the stock positions P1-P5, one of the supply units 5A-9A is set as the main supply unit, and the corresponding slide conveyor 5d-9d is slid and fixed to a position in front of the main supply unit 5A-9A, whereby a supply path for the corresponding drum 3, 4 can be formed by the main supply unit 5A-9A, the fixedly arranged slide conveyor 5d-9d, and the corresponding supply conveyor 5e-9e. In the supply paths for each of the tire materials M1-M5 thus formed, it is not necessary to slide the slide conveyors 5d-9d, so that the green tire G can be formed more quickly, which is advantageous for improving the forming efficiency. It also contributes to reducing the energy required for forming the green tire G.

[0068] However, when the tire materials M1-M5 are supplied from the other supply units 5B-9B, the slide conveyors 5d-9d need to be slid every time the tire materials M1-M5 are supplied from the supply units 5B-9B to the corresponding supply conveyors 5e-9e. This is disadvantageous in improving the molding efficiency of the green tire G and in reducing the energy required for molding the green tire G.

[0069] In this case, when tire materials M1-M5 of the same specifications are stocked in the parallel supply units 5-9 at the respective stock positions P1-P5, when the tire materials M1-M5 stocked in the main supply units 5A-9A become empty, the corresponding slide conveyors 5d-9d are slid to a position in front of the new main supply units 5A-9A and fixedly arranged therein as soon as the work of replacing the empty main supply units 5A-9A with new main supply units 5A-9A in which the tire materials M1-M5 are stocked is completed. Then, a supply path to the corresponding drums 3, 4 is formed by the new main supply units 5A-9A, the fixedly arranged slide conveyors 5d-9d, and the corresponding supply conveyors 5e-9e, and the tire materials M1-M5 can be supplied from the new main supply units 5A-9A.

[0070] In this way, forming the supply path for the tire materials M1-M5 by suppressing the frequency of sliding the slide conveyors 5d-9d is more advantageous in improving the molding efficiency of the green tire G than when the tire materials M1-M5 are continuously supplied from the other supply units 5B-9B, and further contributes to reducing the energy required for molding the green tire G. To use the main supply units 5A-9A as the supply path for the tire materials M1-M5 for a long period of time rather than the other supply units 5B-9B, for example, the stock amount of the tire materials M1-M5 in the supply units 5A-9A is made larger than the stock amount in the other supply units 5B-9B.

[0071] The supply system of the present invention is not limited to the above-exemplified molding apparatus 1, but can be applied to various known molding apparatuses 1. In addition, the building drum body to which the tire material is supplied by the supply system of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned drums 2, 3, and 4, but may be, for example, a so-called rigid core having an outer surface substantially the same as the inner surface of the tire T to be manufactured. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 Molding equipment 2(2a, 2b) Shaped drum 2p pivot 3. Band Drums 3r guide rail 4(4a, 4b) Belt drum 4p pivot 5(5A, 5B) Inner liner supply unit 5c Cutter 5d Slide Conveyor 5e Supply conveyor 6(6A, 6B) Carcass material supply unit 6c Cutter 6d Slide Conveyor 6e Supply Conveyor 7(7A, 7B) Side supply unit 7c Cutter 7d Slide conveyor 7e Supply conveyor 8(8A, 8B) Belt material supply unit 8c Cutter 8d Slide Conveyor 8e Supply conveyor 9 (9A, 9B) Tread supply unit 9c Cutter 9d Slide Conveyor 9e Supply conveyor 10 (10A, 10B) Belt reinforcement supply unit 10c Cutter 10d Festoon Section 10e Head 11 (11A, 11B) Bead supply unit 11P Swivel Axis 12 Band transfer machine 13 Belt transfer machine 14 Bead transfer machine 15 Vulcanizing equipment 16 Vulcanization mold 17 Vulcanizing bladder M Tire parts MA Inner peripheral part MB Outer periphery MC bead material M1 Inner Liner M2 Carcass Material M3 Side M4 Belt Material M5 tread area M6 Belt Reinforcement G Green Tire T Vulcanized tire (finished tire)

Claims

1. A tire material supply system to a building drum body, comprising: a supply unit in which a strip-shaped tire material is wound and stored; a building drum body; and a supply conveyor disposed between the supply unit and the building drum body, wherein the tire material is fed from the supply unit and cut to a fixed length, and placed in a flat state on the supply conveyor and supplied to the building drum body, and is wound around the building drum body to be formed into a cylindrical shape, A plurality of the supply units are arranged in parallel at a stock position, a slide conveyor that slides between each of the supply units and the supply conveyor in a parallel direction of each of the supply units; The tire material is fed from one of the supply units and cut to a fixed length, and is transferred to the supply conveyor via the slide conveyor and sequentially supplied to the forming drum body, with respect to the forming drum body and the supply conveyor, which are installed at predetermined fixed positions; When the tire material stored in one of the supply units becomes empty, the tire material that has been unwound from the other supply unit and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor via the slide conveyor and sequentially supplied to the forming drum body, and while the material is being supplied from the other supply unit to the forming drum body, the one supply unit that has become empty is replaced with a new supply unit in which the tire material is stocked.This is a tire material supply system for a forming drum body.

2. 2. The system for supplying tire material to a building drum according to claim 1, wherein the building drum and the supply conveyor installed at the predetermined fixed position and one of the supply units are arranged in series.

3. 3. The system for supplying tire material to a molding drum body as described in claim 2, wherein when the tire material stored in one of the supply units becomes empty, the tire material is supplied from the new supply unit to the molding drum body as soon as the operation of replacing the empty supply unit with a new supply unit in which the tire material is stocked is completed.

4. A tire manufacturing method, comprising: forming a green tire using a tire material by a molding apparatus equipped with the tire material supply system to a molding drum body according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and vulcanizing the green tire.

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