RFID patch and tire

Abstract

To provide an RFID patch which is difficult to be peeled when being stuck to a tire.SOLUTION: An RFID patch has: an RFID tag having an RFID chip, an antenna connected to the RFID chip, and an RFID coating layer for coating the RFID chip and the antenna and composed of a rubber material; and an adhesive layer for bonding the RFID tag and a tire having a skeleton member composed of a resin material, wherein the RFID coating layer has hardness lower than that of the resin material constituting the skeleton member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an RFID patch and a tire.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, due to weight reduction and ease of recycling, it has been required to use thermoplastic resins, thermoplastic elastomers, etc. as tire materials, and tires using resin materials for tire skeleton members have been proposed. In addition, tires in which an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip storing tire information and an RFID tag incorporating an antenna are attached to a tire using a resin material for such a tire skeleton member have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is conceivable to add an adhesive layer to the RFID tag to form an RFID patch and attach the RFID patch to the completed tire. However, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire and the tire is run, the RFID patch may be peeled off from the tire due to vibration or deformation of the tire.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an RFID patch that is difficult to peel off when attached to a tire.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The RFID patch of the first aspect includes an RFID tag having an RFID chip, an antenna connected to the RFID chip, and an RFID coating layer made of a rubber material that covers the RFID chip and the antenna, and an adhesive layer that adheres the RFID tag to a tire having a skeleton member made of a resin material. The RFID coating layer has a lower hardness than the resin material that constitutes the skeleton member.

[0007] In the RFID patch of the first aspect, since the RFID coating layer of the RFID tag is made of a rubber material and has a lower hardness than the skeleton member of the tire, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire, the shape of the RFID tag can follow the deformation of the tire. Therefore, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire, it is less likely to peel off.

[0008] The RFID patch of the second aspect is the RFID patch of the first aspect, wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is 1 mm or more.

[0009] In the RFID patch of the second aspect, since the thickness of the adhesive layer is 1 mm or more, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire, the influence of vibration or deformation of the tire can be mitigated in the adhesive layer. Therefore, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire, it is less likely to peel off.

[0010] The RFID patch of the third aspect is the RFID patch of the second aspect, wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is 25% or more of the total thickness.

[0011] In the RFID patch of the third aspect, since the thickness of the adhesive layer is 25% or more of the total thickness, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire, the influence of vibration or deformation of the tire can be mitigated in the adhesive layer. Therefore, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire, it is less likely to peel off.

[0012] The RFID patch of the fourth aspect is the RFID patch of the second or third aspect, wherein the adhesive layer has a lower hardness than the RFID coating layer.

[0013] In the RFID patch of the fourth aspect, since the adhesive layer has a lower hardness than the RFID coating layer, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire, the influence of vibration or deformation of the tire can be mitigated in the adhesive layer. Therefore, when the RFID patch is attached to the tire, it is less likely to peel off.

[0014] The RFID patch of the fifth aspect is the RFID patch of any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the adhesive layer includes, in order from the RFID coating layer side, a first adhesive layer having adhesiveness on both the front and back surfaces, a buffer layer having buffering properties, and a second adhesive layer having adhesiveness on both the front and back surfaces.

[0015] In the RFID patch of the fifth aspect, since the adhesive layer includes the first adhesive layer, the buffer layer having buffering properties, and the second adhesive layer, a material having no adhesiveness can be used for the buffer layer. Therefore, the degree of freedom in selecting the material of the buffer layer can be increased.

[0016] The RFID patch of the sixth aspect is the RFID patch of any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the adhesive layer is composed of a single layer having buffering properties and adhesiveness.

[0017] In the RFID patch of the sixth aspect, since the adhesive layer is composed of a single layer having buffering properties and adhesiveness, the configuration of the RFID patch can be simplified.

[0018] The tire of the seventh aspect has a skeleton member made of a resin material, and an RFID patch of any one of the first to sixth aspects is attached thereto.

[0019] In the tire of the seventh aspect, since an RFID patch of any one of the first to sixth aspects is attached thereto, the RFID patch is less likely to peel off.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] As described above, according to the RFID patch and the tire of the present disclosure, it is possible to make it difficult to peel off the RFID patch attached to the tire.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a tire 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In each drawing, the same or substantially equivalent elements, members, and parts are given the same reference numerals. In addition, the dimensions and ratios of the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may be different from the actual ratios. Further, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the internal structures of the RFID tag 60 and the adhesive layer 70 of the RFID patch 50 are omitted and shown.

[0023] (Tire Configuration) The tire 10 of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a pneumatic tire that is used by filling air inside. The tire 10 includes a tire skeleton member 17. The tire skeleton member 17 includes a pair of bead portions 12, a side portion 14 that extends radially outward of the tire from the bead portion 12, and a crown portion 16 that connects the radially outer ends of the respective side portions 14 in the tire radial direction.

[0024] The tire skeleton member 17 is composed of a pair of annular tire skeleton halves 17A of the same shape, in which one bead part 12, one side part 14, and a half-width crown half part 16A are integrally formed. The tip 16B of the crown half part 16A has a tapered shape on the tire equatorial plane CL side.

[0025] The pair of tire skeleton halves 17A are abutted against each other at the tip 16B of the crown half part 16A and joined at the tire equatorial plane CL portion to form the tire skeleton member 17. For the joining at the tire equatorial plane CL portion, a thermoplastic material 19 for welding is used.

[0026] On the outer side in the tire radial direction of the crown part 16, a tread part 30 that constitutes the tire tread, which is the ground contact part of the tire, is arranged.

[0027] The tire skeleton member 17 is formed of a resin material. The resin material here does not include vulcanized rubber. Examples of the resin material include thermoplastic resins (including thermoplastic elastomers), thermosetting resins, and other general-purpose resins, as well as engineering plastics (including super engineering plastics).

[0028] The thermoplastic resin (including thermoplastic elastomer) refers to a polymer compound that softens, flows, and becomes relatively hard and strong when cooled as the temperature rises. In this specification, among them, a polymer compound that softens, flows, and becomes relatively hard and strong when cooled as the temperature rises and has rubber-like elasticity is defined as a thermoplastic elastomer, and a polymer compound that softens, flows, and becomes relatively hard and strong when cooled as the temperature rises but does not have rubber-like elasticity is defined as a non-elastomeric thermoplastic resin for distinction.

[0029] Examples of the thermoplastic resin (including thermoplastic elastomers) include polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers (TPO), polystyrene thermoplastic elastomers (TPS), polyamide thermoplastic elastomers (TPA), polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers (TPU), polyester thermoplastic elastomers (TPC), dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers (TPV), as well as polyolefin thermoplastic resins, polystyrene thermoplastic resins, polyamide thermoplastic resins, and polyester thermoplastic resins, etc.

[0030] In addition, as the above-mentioned thermoplastic material, for example, the heat deflection temperature (at a load of 0.45 MPa) specified in ISO75-2 or ASTM D648 is 78°C or higher, the tensile yield strength specified in JIS K7113 is 10 MPa or higher, and the tensile fracture elongation (JIS K7113) specified in the same JIS K7113 is 50% or higher. Those with a Vicat softening temperature (Method A) of 130°C specified in JIS K7206 can be used.

[0031] A thermosetting resin refers to a polymer compound that forms a three-dimensional network structure and cures as the temperature rises. Examples of the thermosetting resin include phenol resin, epoxy resin, melamine resin, urea resin, etc.

[0032] In addition to the above-mentioned thermoplastic resin (including thermoplastic elastomers) and thermosetting resin, general-purpose resins such as (meth)acrylic resin, EVA resin, vinyl chloride resin, fluorine-based resin, and silicone-based resin may be used for the resin material.

[0033] In this embodiment, the case where the tire skeleton member 17 is formed of a thermoplastic resin will be described.

[0034] The tire skeleton semi-body 17A formed using a thermoplastic material can be molded, for example, by vacuum molding, pressure-air molding, injection molding, melt casting, etc. Compared with the case of molding (vulcanizing) with rubber, the manufacturing process can be greatly simplified, and the molding time can also be shortened.

[0035] Note that the tire skeletal member 17 may be composed of a single thermoplastic material, or may use thermoplastic materials having different characteristics for each part of the tire skeletal member 17 (such as the side portion 14, the crown portion 16, the bead portion 12, etc.), similar to a conventional rubber pneumatic tire.

[0036] An annular bead core 15 is embedded in the bead portion 12 of the tire skeletal member 17. The bead core 15 is made of a steel cord, similar to a conventional pneumatic tire. Note that the bead core 15 may be omitted if the rigidity of the bead portion 12 is ensured and there is no problem in fitting with a rim (not shown). Further, the bead core 15 may be formed of a cord other than steel, such as an organic fiber cord or a cord in which an organic fiber is resin-coated, and furthermore, the bead core 15 may be formed of a hard resin by injection molding or the like instead of a cord.

[0037] A cord reinforcing layer 28 including a steel cord 26S wound in a spiral is provided in the crown portion 16 of the tire skeletal member 17. The cord reinforcing layer 28 corresponds to a belt disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the carcass of a conventional rubber pneumatic tire.

[0038] A covering layer 24 is formed on the tire skeletal member 17 from the bead portion 12 to the outside in the tire axial direction W of the crown portion 16. The end portion of the covering layer 24 on the bead portion 12 side is disposed inside the tire relative to the contact portion of the bead portion 12 with a rim (not shown). The covering layer 24 of the present embodiment includes a first covering layer 24R extending from one bead portion 12 to a position slightly beyond the tire equatorial plane CL, and a second covering layer 24L extending from the other bead portion 12 to a position slightly beyond the tire equatorial plane CL and overlapping the first covering layer 24R on the tire equatorial plane CL.

[0039] The first covering layer 24R and the second covering layer 24L are configured such that the reinforcing material is covered with a resin material. As the resin material, for example, the same material as the resin material constituting the tire skeleton member 17 is used. The covering with the resin material may be on one side of the reinforcing material or both sides. When covering both sides of the reinforcing material with the resin material, the reinforcing material can be disposed at the center in the thickness direction of the first covering layer 24R and the second covering layer 24L. In the case of double-sided covering, different resin materials may be used for one surface and the other surface.

[0040] The reinforcing material is, for example, a twisted cord or an aggregate of a plurality of filaments. The material of the reinforcing material is, for example, a metal such as aliphatic polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, glass, aramid, or steel. In the first covering layer 24R and the second covering layer 24L, the reinforcing material extends at least along the tire radial direction. To this reinforcing material, a reinforcing material extending in the tire circumferential direction may be combined and overlapped so that the reinforcing materials cross each other. In this case, the reinforcing material may be woven or knitted to form a cloth shape. Note that the reinforcing material may be inclined with respect to the tire radial direction or the tire circumferential direction.

[0041] Outside the tire diameter direction of the tire skeleton member 17, a tread portion 30 is disposed outside the covering layer 24, and outside the tire width direction of the tire skeleton member 17, a side member 31 is disposed outside the covering layer 24.

[0042] The tread portion 30 constitutes a tire tread which is a grounding portion of the tire 10.

[0043] The tread portion 30 is formed of a rubber having better wear resistance than the thermoplastic resin of the tire skeleton member 17. As the rubber used for the tread portion 30, the same type of rubber as that used for conventional rubber pneumatic tires can be used. Note that as the tread portion 30, a member composed of another type of thermoplastic resin having better wear resistance than the thermoplastic resin forming the side portion 14 may be used.

[0044] The side member 31 can be made of the same type of rubber as that used in a conventional pneumatic tire made of rubber.

[0045] (RFID patch) The RFID patch 50 of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes an RFID tag 60 having an RFID chip 62, an antenna 64 connected to the RFID chip 62, and an RFID coating layer 66 made of a rubber material that covers the RFID chip 62 and the antenna 64, and an adhesive layer 70 that adheres the RFID tag 60 to the tire 10 which is an object to be pasted.

[0046] The tire 10 which is an object to be pasted has a tire skeleton member 17 made of a resin material, and the RFID coating layer 66 is configured to have a lower hardness than the resin material that constitutes the tire skeleton member 17. When there are a plurality of resin materials that constitute the tire skeleton member 17, the RFID coating layer 66 only needs to be configured to have a lower hardness than at least the resin material corresponding to the portion where the RFID patch 50 is pasted among the resin materials that constitute the tire skeleton member 17.

[0047] The RFID patch 50 is configured to be attachable to the tire 10 by the adhesive layer 70 in order to attach the RFID tag 60 to the completed tire 10 later. The RFID patch 50 has flexibility and is configured to be deformable in accordance with the deformation of the tire 10.

[0048] The RFID tag 60 is a wireless tag having a function of wirelessly communicating by transmitting and receiving radio waves via the antenna 64, and is capable of receiving the radio waves emitted by a reader and wirelessly transmitting the information recorded in the RFID chip 62 and the like.

[0049] Examples of the rubber material constituting the RFID coating layer 66 include natural rubber, polyisoprene synthetic rubber (IR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), chloroprene rubber (CR), butyl rubber (IIR), and other conjugated diene-based synthetic rubbers, ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber (EPM), ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber (EPDM), polysiloxane rubber, etc. However, the examples are not limited to the above, and other rubber materials may also be used.

[0050] The adhesive layer 70 has, in order from the RFID tag 60 side, a first adhesive layer 71 having adhesiveness on both the front and back surfaces, a buffer layer 72 having buffering properties, and a second adhesive layer 73 having adhesiveness on both the front and back surfaces, and is configured to have a thickness of 1 mm or more.

[0051] The first adhesive layer 71 and the second adhesive layer 73 can be constituted by a double-sided tape having a base material such as paper or cellophane, a double-sided tape without a base material, or an adhesive coating layer.

[0052] The buffer layer 72 can be constituted by rubber, sponge, or the like.

[0053] Note that the thickness of the adhesive layer 70 is preferably 25% or more of the total thickness of the RFID patch 50. Further, the thickness of the adhesive layer 70 is more preferably 40% or more of the total thickness of the RFID patch 50. Also, the adhesive layer 70 preferably has a lower hardness than the RFID coating layer 66. In the present embodiment, the thickness of the adhesive layer 70 is set to 25% or more of the total thickness of the RFID patch 50, and the hardness of the adhesive layer 70 is made lower than that of the RFID coating layer 66.

[0054] The RFID patch 50 of the present embodiment is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the tire skeletal member 17 at the center position in the tire axial direction W with its longitudinal direction facing the tire circumferential direction.

[0055] (Function, effect) In the RFID patch 50 of the present embodiment, the RFID coating layer 66 of the RFID tag 60 is made of a rubber material and has a lower hardness than the tire skeleton member 17 of the tire 10 which is the object to be attached. Therefore, when the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire, even if the tire 10 is deformed, the shape of the RFID tag 60 can follow it. As a result, when the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire 10, it is less likely to peel off.

[0056] Also, in the RFID patch 50 of the present embodiment, since the thickness of the adhesive layer 70 is 1 mm or more, when the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire 10, the influence of vibration or deformation of the tire 10 can be mitigated in the adhesive layer 70. As a result, when the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire 10, it is less likely to peel off.

[0057] Also, in the RFID patch 50 of the present embodiment, since the thickness of the adhesive layer 70 is 25% or more of the total thickness, when the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire, the influence of vibration or deformation of the tire 10 can be mitigated in the adhesive layer 70. As a result, when the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire 10, it is less likely to peel off.

[0058] Also, in the RFID patch 50 of the present embodiment, since the adhesive layer 70 has a lower hardness than the RFID coating layer 66, when the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire 10, the influence of vibration or deformation of the tire 10 can be mitigated in the adhesive layer 70. As a result, when the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire 10, it is less likely to peel off.

[0059] Also, in the RFID patch 50 of the present embodiment, since the adhesive layer 70 includes a first adhesive layer 71, a buffer layer 72 having buffering properties, and a second adhesive layer 73, a material having no adhesiveness can be used for the buffer layer 72. As a result, the degree of freedom in selecting the material of the buffer layer 72 can be increased.

[0060] [Other Embodiments] The above describes one embodiment of the technology of the present disclosure. However, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made and implemented within the scope without departing from the gist thereof.

[0061] For example, in the above embodiment, the RFID patch 50 is attached to the tire 10 with the longitudinal direction facing the tire circumferential direction. However, the RFID patch 50 may be attached to the tire 10 with the longitudinal direction facing a direction inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction, or the RFID patch 50 may be attached to the tire 10 with the longitudinal direction facing the tire width direction.

[0062] Also, in the above embodiment, the RFID patch 50 is attached to the crown portion 16 on the inner peripheral surface of the tire skeleton member 17, but it may be attached to the side portion 14.

[0063] Also, in the above embodiment, the RFID tag 60 of the RFID patch 50 is composed of the RFID chip 62, the antenna 64, and the RFID coating layer 66. However, it may be composed of adding further different members or layers.

[0064] Also, in the above embodiment, the adhesive layer 70 of the RFID patch 50 has the first adhesive layer 71, the buffer layer 72 having buffering properties, and the second adhesive layer 73. However, as shown in FIG. 5, it may be composed of a single buffer adhesive layer 74 having buffering properties and adhesiveness. As the buffer adhesive layer 74 having buffering properties and adhesiveness, for example, butyl rubber or the like can be used.

[0065] Also, in the above embodiment, the adhesive layer 70 of the RFID patch 50 has a structure having buffering properties. However, it may have a low buffering property with a thickness of 1 mm or less. Also, the adhesive layer 70 of the RFID patch 50 may have a configuration in which an adhesive is applied.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the tire skeleton member 17 is formed of a resin material. However, the tire skeleton member 17 may be a tire skeleton (tire case) of a conventional pneumatic tire including a carcass with cords rubber-coated, a rubber inner liner, a rubber bead filler, and the like.

Explanation of Signs

[0067] 10 Tire 12 Bead part 14 Side part 15 Bead core 16 Crown part 17 Tire skeleton member 17A Half tire skeleton 24 Coating layer 28 Cord reinforcing layer 30 Tread part 31 Side member 50 RFID patch 60 RFID tag 62 RFID chip 64 Antenna 66 RFID coating layer 70 Adhesive layer 71 First adhesive layer 72 Buffer layer 73 Second adhesive layer 74 Buffer adhesive layer

Claims

1. An RFID tag having an RFID chip, an antenna connected to the RFID chip, and an RFID coating layer made of a rubber material that covers the RFID chip and the antenna, an adhesive layer that adheres the RFID tag to a tire having a skeletal member made of a resin material, wherein the RFID coating layer has a lower hardness than the resin material constituting the skeletal member RFID patch.

2. The RFID patch according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is 1 mm or more.

3. The RFID patch according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is 25% or more of the total thickness.

4. The RFID patch according to claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer has a lower hardness than the RFID coating layer.

5. The adhesive layer in order from the RFID coating layer side, has a first adhesive layer having adhesiveness on both the front and back surfaces, a buffer layer having buffering properties, and a second adhesive layer having adhesiveness on both the front and back surfaces. The RFID patch according to claim 2.

6. The RFID patch according to claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer is composed of a single layer having buffering properties and adhesiveness.

7. A tire having a skeletal member made of a resin material, to which the RFID patch according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is attached. ​ ​ ​ ​

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