Tire and tire manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a technique concerning a tire that is improved in accuracy in positioning an RFID tag.SOLUTION: A tire 10 comprises: a fabric layer 41 which has a fabric main body 36, formed of a first fiber material 38, which has a mesh in a folded shape extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and in a radial direction of the tire and is endlessly arranged in the circumferential direction, and a reinforcement body 40, formed of a reinforcement fiber material, which is equally knitted in the circumferential direction of the tire of the fabric main body 36 to restrict the fabric main body 36 from elongating in the radial direction of the tire; a resin skeleton body 20, formed of thermoplastic resin, in which the fabric layer 41 is integrally arranged from a bead part 12 in which a bead core 18 is buried to a crown part 16; and an RFID tag 70 buried in a position closer to outside in an axial direction of the tire than the fabric layer 41, in the resin skeleton body 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tire and a method for manufacturing a tire.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a tire having an annular resin tire skeleton member including a bead portion, a side portion continuous with the radially outer side of the bead portion in the tire diameter direction, and a crown portion continuous with the inner side of the side portion in the tire width direction, and an RFID tag attached to the outer surface of the side portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the RFID tag is attached during the tire manufacturing process, the RFID tag is likely to shift from the desired position.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a technology related to a tire with improved positioning accuracy of an RFID tag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The tire of the first aspect is formed of a first fiber material, has a folded mesh shape that is continuous in the tire circumferential direction and the tire radial direction, and has an endless knitted body in the circumferential direction, and is formed of a reinforcing fiber material. A reinforcing body that is evenly knitted in the tire circumferential direction of the knitted body and restricts the extension of the knitted body in the tire radial direction, and a knitted layer having the reinforcing body, and is formed of a thermoplastic resin. A resin skeleton body in which the knitted layer is integrally arranged from a bead portion in which a bead core is embedded to a crown portion, and an RFID tag embedded outside the knitted layer in the tire axial direction in the resin skeleton body.

[0007] In this tire, the RFID tag is arranged outside the knitted layer in the tire width direction. Thereby, in the tire according to this aspect, by arranging the RFID tag outside the knitted layer in the tire axial direction, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag is improved.

[0008] The tire of the second aspect is the tire according to the first aspect, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in the resin skeleton body in a state of being joined to the knitted layer.

[0009] In this tire, since the RFID tag is embedded in the resin skeleton body in a state of being joined to the knitted layer, the knitted layer and the RFID tag are less likely to shift. Thereby, in the tire according to this aspect, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag is improved as compared with the case where the RFID tag is embedded in the resin skeleton body in a state of not being joined to the knitted layer.

[0010] The tire of the third aspect is the tire according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in the bead portion of the resin skeleton body.

[0011] In this tire, since the RFID tag is embedded in the bead portion of the resin skeleton body, deformation due to the load of the vehicle is less likely to occur even during use of the tire. Thereby, according to the tire of this aspect, the durability of the RFID tag is higher than the case where the RFID tag is embedded in a portion other than the bead portion.

[0012] The tire manufacturing method according to the fourth aspect includes a knitted fabric body formed of a first fiber material and having a folded mesh shape continuously formed in the tire circumferential direction and the tire radial direction, having ends on both sides in the tire radial direction and endless in the tire circumferential direction, and a reinforcing body formed of a reinforcing fiber material and regulating the extension of the knitted fabric body in the tire radial direction while being knitted at equal intervals in the tire circumferential direction in the knitted fabric body. The method includes a procedure of integrating an annular bead core with an inner end portion in the tire radial direction of the knitted fabric layer to form a primary formed body, a procedure of arranging the knitted fabric layer along the wall surface of the inner mold while holding the bead core of the primary formed body at an inner end portion in the radial direction of the inner mold, a procedure of arranging an RFID tag on the side opposite to the inner mold with respect to the knitted fabric layer, a procedure of forming a cavity using an outer mold facing the wall surface of the inner mold with a gap, and a procedure of injecting a resin material into the cavity from the inner side in the tire axial direction of the inner mold rather than the bead core and forming a resin skeleton body while pressing the primary formed body against the outer mold.

[0013] In this tire manufacturing method, since the RFID tag is arranged on the side opposite to the inner mold with respect to the knitted fabric layer after arranging the primary molded body along the wall surface of the inner mold, the RFID tag can be held by the knitted fabric layer when injecting the resin material. Therefore, according to the tire manufacturing method according to this aspect, in the manufacturing process of a tire having an RFID tag in the resin skeleton body, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag can be improved.

[0014] The tire manufacturing method according to the fifth aspect is the tire manufacturing method according to the fourth aspect, and in the procedure of forming the resin skeleton body, the resin material is injected from the inner end in the radial direction of the cavity.

[0015] In this tire manufacturing method, since the resin material is injected from the inner end in the radial direction in the cavity, the RFID tag is pressed against the wall surface of the cavity while being covered by the knitted layer of the primary molded body. Thus, according to the tire manufacturing method according to this aspect, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag can be improved as compared with the case where the resin material is injected from a location other than the inner end in the radial direction in the cavity.

[0016] The tire manufacturing method of the sixth aspect is the tire manufacturing method described in the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect, and in the procedure of arranging the RFID tag, the RFID tag is arranged at an adjacent portion of the bead core in the knitted layer.

[0017] In this tire manufacturing method, since the RFID tag is arranged at an adjacent portion of the bead core in the cavity, the RFID tag is embedded in the bead portion of the resin skeleton body. Here, among the tires having a resin skeleton body, the bead portion is less likely to be deformed during use than other portions. Therefore, according to the tire manufacturing method according to this aspect, the durability of the RFID tag in the tire is higher as compared with the case where the RFID tag is arranged at a location other than the adjacent portion of the bead core.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present disclosure, a technique related to a tire with improved positioning accuracy of an RFID tag can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or equivalent components and parts are given the same reference numerals. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may be different from the actual ratios.

[0021] Also, the arrow R shown in each figure indicates the radial direction of the tire 10, the arrow W indicates the width direction (axial direction) of the tire 10, and the arrow θ indicates the circumferential direction of the tire 10. In the present disclosure, the "outer side of the tire" refers to the outer side in both the radial direction and the width direction of the tire, and coincides with the direction in which the arrows R and W point in each figure.

[0022] The method for measuring the dimensions of each part is based on the method described in the 2023 edition YEAR BOOK issued by JATMA (Japan Automobile Tire Association).

[0023] In the present disclosure, a thermoplastic resin (including a thermoplastic elastomer) refers to a polymer compound that softens and flows as the temperature rises and becomes relatively hard and strong when cooled. In this specification, among these, a polymer compound that softens and flows as the temperature rises and becomes relatively hard and strong when cooled and has rubber-like elasticity is defined as a thermoplastic elastomer, and a polymer compound that softens and flows as the temperature rises and becomes relatively hard and strong when cooled but does not have rubber-like elasticity is distinguished as a thermoplastic resin that is not an elastomer.

[0024] Examples of the thermoplastic resin (including a thermoplastic elastomer) include polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPO), polystyrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPS), polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPA), polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPU), polyester-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPC), and dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers (TPV), as well as polyolefin-based thermoplastic resins, polystyrene-based thermoplastic resins, polyamide-based thermoplastic resins, and polyester-based thermoplastic resins, etc.

[0025] (Configuration) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a tire 10 according to the present disclosure. The tire 10 according to the present disclosure includes a pair of bead portions 12, a side portion 14 extending radially outward from the bead portion 12 in the tire 10, and a crown portion 16 (outer peripheral portion) connecting the radially outer ends of the tire 10 in one side portion 14 and the radially outer ends of the tire 10 in the other side portion 14, and is provided with a tire skeleton member 17. In the tire skeleton member 17, a belt layer 32 formed of a resin cord member 26 is provided on the radially outer side of the tire 10, and a tread layer 30 is provided on the radially outer side of the belt layer 32 in the tire 10, whereby the tire 10 is formed.

[0026] In the present disclosure, the radial direction, width direction, and circumferential direction of the tire half body 17A coincide with the radial direction, width direction, and circumferential direction of the tire 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the width direction of the tire 10, showing an example of the configuration of the tire 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the belt layer 32 is formed by winding the resin cord member 26 around the outer periphery of the tire skeleton member 17 in the circumferential direction of the tire 10 and joining it to the tire skeleton member 17. Further, the belt layer 32 is configured by joining portions of the resin cord member 26 that are adjacent to each other in the width direction of the tire 10. The resin cord member 26 is formed by covering a cord member with a coating resin layer.

[0029] On the radially outer peripheral side of the belt layer 32, a tread layer 30 made of rubber, which is a material having better wear resistance than the resin material constituting the tire skeleton member 17, is disposed.

[0030] The cord member coated with resin in the resin cord member 26 is composed of monofilaments (single wires) such as metal fibers and organic fibers, or multifilaments (twisted wires) formed by twisting these fibers. Examples of the resin cord member 26 include a monofilament (single wire) made of a single metal cord and a multifilament (twisted wire) formed by twisting a plurality of metal cords.

[0031] In FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the resin cord member 26 (the shape of the cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the resin cord member 26) is substantially rectangular, but the resin cord member 26 according to the present embodiment is not limited thereto and can have various shapes such as a substantially parallelogram.

[0032] The tread layer 30 is formed by winding a member such as rubber around the belt in the radially outer direction.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the tire skeleton member 17 includes a pair of tire halves 17A each having a bead portion 12, a side portion 42, and a resin skeleton body 20 integrally formed by injection molding a thermoplastic resin with a half-width crown portion 44. As shown in FIG. 1, the pair of tire halves 17A are opposed to each other and joined at the tire equatorial plane portion.

[0034] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the tire half 17A has a bead portion 12, a knitted layer 41, and a resin framework 20 in which the knitted layer 41 is disposed on the outer side in the radial direction of the tire 10 from the bead core 18 to the crown portion 44 and integrated. Further, the tire 10 according to the present embodiment has an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag 70. Also, the resin framework 20 is formed of a thermoplastic resin. In the resin framework 20 in the present embodiment, the knitted layer 41 and the bead core 18 are integrated as a primary molded body 34 described later and then integrated with the resin framework 20.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the ranges of the bead portion 12, the side portion 14, and the crown portion 16 are determined based on the dimensions when the tire 10 is used. More specifically, the bead portion 12 is a range in which the thickness gradually decreases toward the outer side in the radial direction with respect to a range H from the inner end in the radial direction to the outer end in the radial direction excluding the tread layer 30 and the belt layer 32, and is a portion of the range H1. Also, the side portion 14 is a range in which the thickness is approximately equal, and is a portion of the range H2 excluding the range H1 with respect to the range H.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, an annular bead core 18 made of a resin-coated steel cord and having a substantially rectangular cross section as an example is embedded in the bead portion 12. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the bead portion 12 has a thick portion 50 in which the bead core 18 is embedded and which is thicker than the side portion 14, and an inclined portion 48 connecting from the thick portion 50 to the side portion 14.

[0037] The thick portion 50 abuts against a rim flange (not shown) and has a function of preventing the bead portion 12 from coming off the rim flange. The thick portion 50 has an outer peripheral surface 50E of the thick portion that abuts against the flange portion of the rim flange (not shown) in the width direction, a bottom surface 50B of the thick portion that contacts the rim flange (not shown) from the radially outer side, and an inner peripheral surface 50I of the thick portion that is the surface on the inner side in the width direction with respect to the bottom surface 50B of the thick portion. The bottom surface 50B of the thick portion is along the axis (width direction) of the tire 10 or is inclined so as to approach the central axis of the tire 10 from the heel portion 50H that is the boundary with the outer peripheral surface 50E of the thick portion, toward the inner side in the width direction of the tire 10. Further, as an example, the outer peripheral surface 50E of the thick portion is along the radially outer side from the heel portion 50H or is slightly inclined toward the inner side in the tire width direction. The inner peripheral surface 50I of the thick portion is, as an example, along the radially outer side from the toe portion 50T that is the boundary with the inner peripheral surface 50I of the thick portion or is slightly inclined toward the inner side in the width direction of the tire 10.

[0038] The inclined portion 48 is a portion that has a function of dispersing the stress of the side portion 14 that deforms due to the load during the use of the tire 10. The outer peripheral surface 48E of the inclined portion 48 connects the outer peripheral surface 50E of the thick portion 50 and the outer peripheral surface of the side portion 14 in a bow shape while being curved so that the tire width direction is slightly recessed. Further, by connecting the inner peripheral surface 48I of the inclined portion 48 to the inner peripheral surface 50I of the thick portion 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the side portion 14, the inclined portion 48 gradually decreases in thickness from the thick portion 50 side (radially inner side) toward the side portion 14 side (radially outer side).

[0039] (RFID tag) As shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), the RFID tag 70 includes a main body chip 72 and an antenna 74. The main body chip 72 includes a processor including a CPU or an MPU and a memory capable of storing various information. The antenna 74 extends from the main body chip 72 to one side and the other side.

[0040] The main body chip 72 and the antenna 74 are embedded in a resin coating portion 76 formed of a resin material. The resin material forming the resin coating portion 76 is preferably the same type of material as the resin material forming the resin skeleton body 20. The embedding in the resin coating portion 76 may be sandwiched with a film-like material, or the thickness of the main body chip 72 may be absorbed by the thick resin coating portion 76. As shown in FIG. 3(B), the RFID tag 70 has flexibility in the thickness direction. Also, the RFID tag 70 is arranged such that the longitudinal direction in which the antenna 74 extends is along the tire circumferential direction.

[0041] Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the RFID tag 70 is embedded outside the knitting layer 41 in the bead portion 12 of the resin skeleton body 20 in the tire width direction. More specifically, the RFID tag 70 is embedded outside the bead core 18 in the bead portion 12 in the tire radial direction and at the interface between the resin skeleton body 20 and the rubber layer 24. Note that the RFID tag 70 may be wrapped by the resin skeleton body 20.

[0042] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, a rubber layer 24 is formed on the outer side in the width direction of the tire 10 from the bead portion 12 to the crown portion 44 of the tire half body 17A. This rubber layer 24 protects the tire half body 17A from sunlight and the like and improves the weather resistance when the tire 10 is incorporated into a wheel.

[0043] (Primary molded body 34) FIG. 4 is a view showing a primary molded body 34 included in the tire half body 17A according to the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the primary molded body 34 has a knitting layer 41 having a knitting main body 36 and a reinforcing body 40, and a bead core 18.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the knitted body 36 is formed of a filamentous first fiber material 38 and has a folded mesh shape continuously formed in the circumferential direction and the radial direction of the tire 10. It has ends on both sides in the radial direction of the tire 10 and is endless in the circumferential direction of the tire 10. That is, the knitted body 36 is a member formed by annular knitting with the first fiber material 38 and has elasticity in the radial direction and the circumferential direction (the vertical and horizontal directions in the drawing in FIG. 5).

[0045] Further, as will be described later, the first fiber material 38 is formed of a material having compatibility with the resin skeleton 20 and the resin coating of the bead core 18. Specifically, it is a material such as a polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer, and a resin of the same type as the resin skeleton 20 is preferably used. In the present disclosure, compatibility refers to the property that the materials of different members are easily mixed with each other in a molten state.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the reinforcing member 40 is formed of a reinforcing fiber material, extends in the tire radial direction, and is evenly distributed in the tire circumferential direction by being knitted into the knitted body 36 in the circumferential direction of the tire 10. It is a filamentous member that restricts the elongation of the knitted body 36 in the radial direction of the tire 10. Further, as will be described later, the reinforcing fiber material is formed of a material having no compatibility with the resin skeleton 20. Specifically, a material having a higher softening temperature and higher tensile strength than the first fiber material 38, such as aramid fiber or steel cord, is adopted. Further, the reinforcing fiber material is not limited to a single material, and a fiber body coated with a resin of the same system as the first fiber material 38 on an artificial resin such as aramid fiber or a steel cord may be used. The shape and number of the reinforcing members 40 are appropriately determined according to the specifications of the manufactured tire 10. Further, the above-mentioned equal distribution means that it is sufficient if a plurality of reinforcing members 40 are at approximately equal intervals when viewed macroscopically. The reinforcing members 40 are preferably arranged at about 10 to 60 per millimeter in the tire circumferential direction.

[0047] Note that the knitted fabric body 36 is not limited to any particular knitting method as long as it has elasticity in the radial and circumferential directions of the tire 10 as described above. As an example, it is formed by knitting. In other words, the primary molded body 34 in the present disclosure has a so-called inlay structure in which a reinforcing fiber material is knitted into the knitted fabric body 36.

[0048] Further, the shape of the knitted fabric body 36 is appropriately determined according to the specifications of the tire 10 to be manufactured, and is shaped to extend from the bead core 18 to the crown portion 44 in the resin skeleton body 20 (see also FIGS. 6 and 9).

[0049] Note that the resin coating of the bead core 18 and the knitted fabric body 36 are made of mutually compatible materials, and the knitted fabric body 36 and the resin coating of the bead core 18 can be welded together. For this reason, the bead core 18 in the present embodiment is welded to the inner end in the radial direction of the tire 10 in the knitted fabric body 36.

[0050] Subsequently, with appropriate reference to FIGS. 4 to 9, a method for manufacturing a tire half and a method for manufacturing a tire according to the present disclosure will be described. The method for manufacturing a tire half according to the present disclosure includes a primary molding step, a fixing step, a mold clamping step, and an injection step.

[0051] (Primary molding step) In the primary molding step, an annular bead core 18 is integrated with the inner end in the radial direction of the tire 10 in the knitted fabric layer 41 to form a primary formed body.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, an RFID tag 70 is attached to the primary molded body so as to be adjacent to the bead core 18 on the outer side in the radial direction of the bead core 18. The RFID tag 70 may be attached to the primary molded body by any method. As an example, the knitted fabric layer 41 and the resin coating portion 76 are adhered by an adhesive.

[0053] (Fixing step) FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state where the primary formed body is disposed in the inner mold 52 that expands in the radial direction. In the fixing step, the outer end of the primary formed body in the radial direction of the primary formed body is hung on the outer peripheral surface 52C in the radial direction of the inner mold 52 in the inner mold 52. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the primary molded body 34 is formed into a cylindrical shape by arranging a plurality of parts in the circumferential direction. With respect to the inner mold 52, it is covered so as to cover from one axial side (the right side of the drawing in FIG. 6, the lower side of the drawing in FIG. 7) to the other axial side (the left side of the drawing in FIG. 6, the upper side of the drawing in FIG. 7). Further, a bead core 18 is located on one axial side of the inner mold 52. As shown in FIG. 6, the primary formed body is not fixed on the other axial side. The primary molded body 34 is covered by the inner mold 52 as the knitted fabric body 36 contracts in the axial and radial directions of the inner mold 52, and maintains a state along the wall surface (the outer side in the radial direction of the peripheral surface 52C and the side surface 52S) of the inner mold 52.

[0054] Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the RFID tag 70 is located axially outside the knitted fabric body 36. In other words, the RFID tag 70 is disposed in the adjacent portion 46 of the bead core 18 in the cavity C. The adjacent portion 46 of the bead core 18 corresponds to a portion where the bead portion 12 is formed in the tire 10 manufactured by the tire manufacturing method in the present embodiment.

[0055] A plurality of slide molds 54 that are movable further axially inward from the side surface 52S on one axial side of the inner mold 52 are provided at intervals in the tire circumferential direction on one axial side (inner side) of the inner mold 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the slide mold 54 is recessed axially inward, and the bead core 18 is disposed in the recess of the slide mold 54. As shown in FIG. 8, the bead core 18 is disposed with a gap from the inner mold 52 at a location where the slide mold 54 is not disposed in the tire circumferential direction of the inner mold 52.

[0056] Although not shown in FIG. 6, on one axial side of the inner mold 52, an outer mold 56 that covers one axial side in the radial direction and the axial direction of the inner mold 52 and forms a gap is disposed opposite to the inner mold 52.

[0057] (Mold clamping process) Subsequently, in the mold clamping process, the cavity C is formed using the outer mold 56 that faces the peripheral surface 52C of the inner mold 52 and the side surface 52S of the inner mold 52 with a gap therebetween. More specifically, from the state shown in FIG. 6, the outer mold 56 that covers one axial side in the radial direction and the axial direction of the inner mold 52 is brought closer from one axial side of the inner mold 52, and a cavity C that is a gap is formed between the side surface 52S and the peripheral surface 52C of the inner mold 52 and the inner surface 56I of the outer mold 56. Further, in the state where the cavity C is formed, by moving the slide mold 54 to one axial side, the bead core 18 is pressed against the inner surface 56I of the outer mold 56 as shown in FIG. 7. This cavity C has the same shape as the tire half body 17A according to the present disclosure, and the tire half body 17A is formed by pouring the molten thermoplastic resin into the cavity C as described later.

[0058] That is, in the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1, the radial direction, the width direction, and the circumferential direction of the inner mold 52 coincide with the radial direction, the width direction, and the circumferential direction of the tire 10.

[0059] In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 7, on one axial side of the inner mold 52, a gate portion 58 for injecting a thermoplastic resin described later is formed radially inward with respect to the bead core 18.

[0060] Further, as shown in FIG. 7, since the knitted body 36 of the primary molded body 34 is stretched in the axial direction and the radial direction of the inner mold 52 when hung on the inner mold 52, a contracting force acts, and inside the cavity C, it is in contact with the inner mold 52 from the side surface 52S to the peripheral surface 52C.

[0061] (Injection process) Subsequently, from the state shown in FIG. 7, the molten thermoplastic resin is injected into the cavity C through the gate portion 58. By the thermoplastic resin injected from the gate portion 58, the knitted fabric body 36 is pressed against the inner surface 56I of the outer mold 56 in the cavity C as shown in FIG. 9. And in a state where the knitted fabric body 36 is pressed against the inner surface 56I of the outer mold 56, as the thermoplastic resin cools, the tire half body 17A is formed in the cavity C. Note that when the molten thermoplastic resin is injected from the gate portion 58, the air in the cavity C is discharged from the air vent 60.

[0062] In the tire half body 17A in the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 9, it is cooled in a state where the knitted fabric body 36 is pressed against the inner surface 56I of the outer mold 56 in the cavity C. For this reason, the knitted fabric body 36 is integrated in a state of being located on the outer side of the tire of the formed resin skeleton body 20. More specifically, in the side portion 42 of the resin skeleton body 20 (one axial side in the resin skeleton body 20), it is preferably integrated in a state of being located on one axial side of a position that is 0.5 times the thickness of the side portion 42 of the resin skeleton body 20. Further, in the crown portion 16 of the tire 10 (radially outer side in the resin skeleton body 20), it is preferably integrated in a state of being located on the radially outer side of a position that is 0.5 times the thickness of the crown portion 16 of the resin skeleton body 20.

[0063] Also, as shown in FIG. 9, since the knitted fabric body 36 is pressed against the inner surface 56I of the outer mold 56 in the cavity C, the knitted fabric body 36 is integrated in a state of expanding toward the outer side in the radial direction of the tire 10 and the outer side in the circumferential direction of the tire 10. Thereby, in the present embodiment, the RFID tag 70 is integrated in a state of being pressed against the outer mold 56 together with the knitted fabric body 36. That is, the reinforcing body 40 woven into the knitted fabric body 36 is integrated with the resin skeleton body 20 in a state of expanding in the circumferential direction of the tire 10 of the tire half body 17A. Thereby, in the present embodiment, the RFID tag 70 is embedded in the bead portion 12 of the tire half body 17A so as to be outside the knitted fabric layer 41 and adjacent to the bead core 18.

[0064] Through the above steps, the tire half 17A according to the present disclosure is manufactured.

[0065] Subsequently, a tire manufacturing method will be described. The tire manufacturing method according to the present disclosure includes a rubber layer arranging step, a joining step, a belt layer arranging step, and a tread layer arranging step.

[0066] (Rubber layer arranging step) In the rubber layer arranging step, in the pair of tire halves 17A manufactured by the above steps, a rubber layer 24 is arranged on one side in the width direction.

[0067] (Joining step) In the joining step, in the pair of tire halves 17A on which the rubber layer 24 is arranged by the above steps, the ends corresponding to the inner side of the tire equatorial plane in the width direction (the opposite side to the direction in which the side portion 42 is formed) are joined. As an example of the joining method, the tire skeleton member 17 is formed as shown in FIG. 2 by welding the other surfaces of the tire halves 17A to each other via a resin material.

[0068] (Belt layer arranging step) In the belt layer arranging step, an annular belt layer 32 is arranged on the radially outer side of the tire 10 of the tire skeleton member 17 manufactured by the joining step. The belt layer 32 can be formed by winding a resin cord member 26 around the crown portion 44 of the tire skeleton member 17.

[0069] (Tread layer arranging step) In the tread layer arranging step, an annular tread layer is arranged on the radially outer side of the tire 10 of the tire skeleton member 17 manufactured by the belt layer arranging step.

[0070] Incidentally, as an example, the radially outer end of the knitted layer 41 extends to the crown portion 16 of the tire skeleton member 17 and overlaps with the belt layer 32. The overlapping amount with the belt layer 32 is preferably 5 mm or more from the end in the width direction of the tire 10 of the belt layer 32 toward the center side in the width direction of the tire 10. Further, the knitted layer 41 may extend to the center in the width direction of the tire 10.

[0071] Through the above steps, the tire 10 of the present embodiment is obtained. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the RFID tag 70 in the resin skeleton body 20 is to be embedded in the bead portion 12 of the tire 10.

[0072] Subsequently, the actions and effects of the tire 10 and the tire manufacturing method in the present disclosure will be described.

[0073] (Actions and effects) In the tire 10 according to the present embodiment, the RFID tag 70 is disposed outside the knitted layer 41 in the tire width direction at the bead portion 12. Here, when the RFID tag 70 is disposed in the tire 10 having the resin skeleton body 20, the RFID tag 70 is likely to shift from the desired position during manufacturing. On the other hand, in the tire 10 according to this aspect, since the RFID tag 70 is disposed outside the knitted layer 41 in the manufacturing process of the tire half 17A, it is molded in a state of being pressed against the inner surface 56I of the outer mold 56 in the cavity C together with the knitted body 36. Therefore, in the tire 10 according to this aspect, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag 70 is enhanced.

[0074] Further, in the tire 10 according to the present embodiment, since the RFID tag 70 is embedded in the resin skeleton body 20 in a state of being joined to the knitted layer 41, the knitted layer 41 and the RFID tag 70 are less likely to shift. Thereby, in the tire 10 according to this aspect, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag 70 is enhanced as compared with the case where the RFID tag 70 is embedded in the resin skeleton body 20 in a state of not being joined to the knitted layer 41.

[0075] In addition, in the tire 10 according to the present embodiment, since the RFID tag 70 is embedded in the bead portion 12 of the resin skeleton 20, deformation due to the load of the vehicle is less likely to occur even during the use of the tire 10. As a result, the durability of the RFID tag 70 is higher in the tire 10 according to this aspect than in the case where the RFID tag is embedded in a location other than the bead portion 12.

[0076] Further, in the tire manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, after arranging the primary molded body 34 along the wall surface of the inner mold 52, the RFID tag 70 is arranged on the side opposite to the inner mold 52 with respect to the knitted fabric layer 41. Therefore, when injecting the resin material, the RFID tag can be held by the knitted fabric layer. For this reason, according to the tire manufacturing method according to this aspect, in the manufacturing process of the tire 10 having the RFID tag 70 in the resin skeleton 20, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag 70 can be improved.

[0077] Further, in the tire manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, since the resin material is injected from the radially inner end in the cavity C, the RFID tag 70 is pressed against the wall surface of the cavity C while being covered by the knitted fabric layer 41 of the primary molded body 34. As a result, according to the tire manufacturing method according to this aspect, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag 70 can be improved as compared with the case where the resin material is injected from a location other than the radially inner end.

[0078] Further, in the tire manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, since the RFID tag is arranged in the adjacent portion 46 of the bead core 18 in the cavity C, the RFID tag 70 is embedded in the bead portion 12 of the resin skeleton 20. Here, among the tires having the resin skeleton 20, the portion of the bead portion 12 is less likely to deform during use than other portions. For this reason, according to the tire manufacturing method according to this aspect, the durability of the RFID tag 70 in the tire 10 is higher than in the case where the RFID tag 70 is arranged in a location other than the adjacent portion 46 of the bead core 18.

[0079] (Modification example) In the above description, the RFID tag 70 was embedded in the resin skeleton 20 in a state of being welded to the knitted fabric layer 41. However, the tire 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the RFID tag 70 may be adhered to the knitted fabric layer 41 using an adhesive, or may be locked using a hook-and-loop fastener or the like. Even in this case, the same operations and effects as those of the above-described tire 10 can be obtained.

[0080] In the above description, the RFID tag 70 was embedded in the resin skeleton 20 in a state of being adhered to the knitted fabric layer 41 of the primary molded body. However, the tire 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the RFID tag 70 may be welded to the knitted fabric layer 41, or may not be adhered to the knitted fabric layer 41 as long as it does not shift from the adjacent portion 46 in the injection process. Even in this case, the same operations and effects as those of the above-described tire 10 can be obtained.

[0081] Also, in the above description, the RFID tag 70 was disposed at the adjacent portion 46 of the bead core 18 in the cavity C. However, the tire manufacturing method in this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, if the RFID tag 70 is outside the knitted fabric layer 41, it may be disposed at the side portion 14 or the crown portion 16. Even in this case, by disposing the RFID tag 70 outside the knitted fabric layer 41 in the tire axial direction of the bead portion 12, the positioning accuracy of the RFID tag is improved as compared with the case where the RFID tag 70 is embedded at a location other than the bead portion 12. Even in this case, the same operations and effects as those of the above-described tire 10 can be obtained.

[0082] As described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is obvious that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs can conceive various modification examples or application examples within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. It is naturally understood that these also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0083] 10 Tire, 12 Bead part, 14 Side part, 16 Crown part, 17 Tire skeleton member, 17A Tire half body, 18 Bead core, 20 Resin skeleton body, 24 Rubber layer, 26 Resin cord member, 30 Tread layer, 32 Belt layer, 34 Primary molded body, 36 Knit fabric body, 38 First fiber material, 40 Reinforcement, 41 Knit fabric layer, 42 Side part, 44 Crown part, 46 Adjacent part, 52 Inner mold, 52C Peripheral surface, 52S Side surface, 54 Slide mold, 56 Outer mold, 56I Inner surface, 58 Gate part, 60 Air vent, C Cavity, 70 RFID tag, 72 Body chip, 74 Antenna, 76 Resin coating part

Claims

1. A knitted fabric body formed of a first fiber material, having a folded mesh shape that is continuous in the tire circumferential direction and the tire radial direction, and endless in the circumferential direction, and a reinforcing body formed of a reinforcing fiber material, which is evenly knitted in the tire circumferential direction of the knitted fabric body and restricts the elongation of the knitted fabric body in the tire radial direction. A knitted fabric layer having: A resin skeleton body formed of a thermoplastic resin, in which the knitted fabric layer is integrally arranged from a bead portion where a bead core is embedded to a crown portion; An RFID tag embedded outside the knitted fabric layer in the tire axial direction in the resin skeleton body; A tire comprising:

2. The RFID tag is embedded in the resin skeleton body in a state of being joined to the knitted fabric layer. The tire according to claim 1.

3. The RFID tag is embedded in the bead portion of the resin skeleton body. The tire according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. A knitted fabric body formed of a first fiber material, having a folded mesh shape that is continuously formed in the tire circumferential direction and the tire radial direction, having ends on both sides in the tire radial direction and endless in the tire circumferential direction, and a reinforcing body formed of a reinforcing fiber material, which restricts the elongation of the knitted fabric body in the tire radial direction while being knitted at equal intervals in the tire circumferential direction of the knitted fabric body. A procedure for integrally forming an annular bead core at the inner end in the tire radial direction of the knitted fabric layer to form a primary formed body; A procedure for arranging the knitted fabric layer along the wall surface of the inner mold while holding the bead core of the primary formed body at the inner end in the radial direction of the inner mold; A procedure for arranging an RFID tag on the side opposite to the inner mold with respect to the knitted fabric layer; A procedure for forming a cavity using an outer mold facing the wall surface of the inner mold with a gap; A procedure for injecting a resin material into the cavity from the inner side in the tire axial direction of the inner mold than the bead core, and forming a resin skeleton body while pressing the primary formed body against the outer mold; A tire manufacturing method comprising:

5. In the procedure for forming the resin skeleton body, the resin material is injected from the inner end in the radial direction in the cavity. The tire manufacturing method according to claim 4.

6. In the procedure for arranging the RFID tag, the RFID tag is arranged at an adjacent portion of the bead core in the knitted fabric layer. The tire manufacturing method according to claim 4 or claim 5.

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