Hose piece manufacturing method, hose cutting device and hose piece manufacturing facility

Abstract

To provide a manufacturing method capable of avoiding complication of a hose piece manufacturing step.SOLUTION: A hose piece manufacturing method includes a step of cutting a hose into round slices having predetermined lengths while moving a cutting blade in a hose feed direction according to movement of the hose fed in a central axis direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an installation for manufacturing a hose piece.The present invention also relates to a device for cutting a hose. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a hose cutting device having a rotary blade. The following Patent Document 2 discloses a hose cutting machine that cuts a fixed hose using two or more cutting blades. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-004649 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-127087 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-332774 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventionally, when cutting a long hose to the desired length, the hose is wound around a reel and then intermittently fed from the reel to a cutting device for cutting. This makes the process complicated and the cutting device tends to be large.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a manufacturing method that can avoid complicating the manufacturing process of a hose piece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, the following inventions are provided. [1] A method for manufacturing a hose piece, comprising a step of cutting the hose into rings of a predetermined length while moving a cutting blade in the feeding direction of the hose in accordance with the movement of the hose fed along the central axis direction. [2] A manufacturing method according to [1], wherein the hose is cut into rings by bringing the cutting blade into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the hose while rotating the hose around the central axis. [3] A manufacturing method according to [1] or [2], wherein the cutting blade is supported so that the distance between the central axis of the hose and the cutting edge can be changed, and the hose is cut into a ring by moving the cutting blade and a guide member relative to the base using a linear actuator fixed to the base, and the guide member is configured to restrict the feed of the hose in the direction of the central axis. [4] A manufacturing method according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the hose is a hose formed into a tubular shape by spirally winding a strip-shaped resin while partially overlapping it. [5] A hose cutting device comprising a cutting mechanism having a cutting blade, the cutting mechanism cutting the hose into rings of a predetermined length by moving the cutting blade in accordance with the movement of the hose fed along the central axis. [6] A manufacturing facility for a hose piece, comprising an extrusion device, a winding device, and the cutting device described in [5], wherein the extrusion device has a mold for forming a strip of resin from molten resin, and the winding device spirally winds the strip of resin while partially overlapping it to form the hose having a tubular shape, and sends it to the cutting device at a predetermined feed speed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to avoid complicating the manufacturing process of the hose piece. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overview of a manufacturing facility according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]10A to 10C are diagrams showing a schematic diagram of a process for forming a long hose shape. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary resin strip 100. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining winding of a strip-shaped resin 100 around a core 22 by a winding device 20. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the cutting device 30. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the cutting device 30. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the cutting device 30. [Figure 8] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the start of cutting of the hose 200 by the cutting blade 350. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The following describes embodiments of the present invention. The various features shown in the following embodiments can be combined with each other. Each feature can be an independent invention. In the following embodiments, elements not specified in the claims are optional and can be omitted.

[0010] <1. Embodiment of manufacturing equipment> Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of a manufacturing facility according to an embodiment of the present invention. The manufacturing facility 1 shown in Fig. 1 is intended for producing hose segments obtained by cutting a long hose to a specified length. In the configuration shown in Fig. 1, the manufacturing facility 1 includes an extrusion device 10, a winding device 20, and a cutting device 30. In this example, the manufacturing facility 1 further includes a coolant supply device 25.

[0011] As described in detail below, the extrusion device 10 forms a resin strip 100 from a resin material, and the winding device 20 spirally winds the resin strip 100 to form a long hose 200. The cutting device 30 is configured to receive the hose 200 continuously fed from the winding device 20 and cut it to a predetermined length. The cutting device 30 slices the hose 200 into rings to form hose segments 300 (products) of a predetermined length. According to an embodiment of the present invention, intermittent feeding is not required to cut a long hose, so the cutting device 30 can be connected downstream of the winding device 20 without the need for any other special device. According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the need for devices for winding the hose onto a reel, transporting the reel, and feeding the hose from the reel, and to efficiently manufacture hose segments of a desired length in a space-saving manner.

[0012] First, an example of the configuration of the extrusion device 10 and the winding device 20 of the manufacturing equipment 1 will be described. FIG. 2 schematically shows the process for forming a long hose shape. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the extrusion device 10 includes a mold 12 having a discharge port 120 as a part thereof. The extrusion device 10 continuously discharges molten resin material from the discharge port 120 by co-extrusion molding to form a long strip-shaped resin 100. The extrusion device 10 may further include an injection cylinder having a hopper, cylinder, screw, heater, etc., but since known technology can be applied to these, illustrations and descriptions of these elements are omitted here.

[0013] The strip-shaped resin 100 may be a composite material of two or more types of resin. FIG. 3 schematically shows an exemplary cross section (cross section III-III shown in FIG. 2) of the strip-shaped resin 100. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the strip-shaped resin 100 has a core material 100c, a gas barrier layer 100g, and a skin resin 100s. The core material 100c is a linear member made of, for example, rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The gas barrier layer 100g may be made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyamide, or the like. For example, the skin resin 100s made of flexible PVC coats the core material 100c and the gas barrier layer 100g, thereby obtaining a strip-shaped resin 100 in which these components are integrated. Other examples of raw materials for the skin resin 100s include olefin-based elastomers such as ethylene-propylene copolymers, styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-butadiene styrene, polyamide-based elastomers, polyester-based elastomers, acrylonitrile-based elastomers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate polymers, chlorinated polyethylene, polyurethane resins, polybutadiene resins, silicone resins, or mixtures of two or more of these.

[0014] Referring again to Figure 2, as shown in Figure 2, the winding device 20 has at least a core 22 for winding the above-mentioned strip-shaped resin 100 around its side surface. The core 22 of the winding device 20 has an overall cylindrical shape. In the configuration illustrated in Figure 2, the core 22 includes a center shaft 2s, a plurality of bars 2b arranged to surround the center shaft 2s, and a support ring 2r.

[0015] In this embodiment, the support ring 2r of the core 22 supports each of the bars 2b so that they can rotate independently. Each bar 2b is connected to a motor (not shown) or the like and rotated at a constant angular velocity around its central axis. The cooperative movement of these bars 2b causes the resin strip 100 arranged on the core 22 to be wound around the core 22 and fed in the circumferential direction of the core 22. As a result, the resin strip 100 is spirally wound around the core 22, overlapping with its own portions, resulting in a tubular structure. The resulting tubular structure (i.e., the hose 200) is fed in a direction along the central axis RC of the core 22 while rotating around the central axis RC of the core 22 at an angular velocity ω determined by the circumferential velocity of the bars 2b. Instead of winding the resin strip 100 around a single cylindrical structure, the contact area of ​​the resin strip 100 with the core 22 is reduced as in this embodiment, making it easier to separate the hose 200 from the core 22.

[0016] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the winding of the strip-shaped resin 100 around the core 22 by the winding device 20. As shown in Fig. 4, the core 22 of the winding device 20 is disposed at a distance from the mold 12 in the normal direction (indicated by the dashed line N in Fig. 4) of the cross section 12s of the mold 12 where the discharge port 120 is provided. The central axis RC of the core 22 of the winding device 20 extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the normal N of the cross section 12s.

[0017] As shown schematically in Fig. 4, the strip-shaped resin 100 formed by the extrusion device 10 is drawn out from the discharge port 120 of the mold 12 obliquely with respect to the normal direction indicated by the dashed line N in Fig. 4, and is wound around the core 22 of the winding device 20. At this time, a coolant 28 (typically cold water) is sprayed onto the strip-shaped resin 100 wound around the core 22 from a coolant supply device 25 (see Figs. 1 and 2).

[0018] The strip-shaped resin 100 is spirally wound on the core 22 so that parts of the resin overlap, and is cooled on the core 22 by the coolant 28, thereby continuously producing a hose 200 having a side surface made of the strip-shaped resin 100. By forming a tubular structure using the strip-shaped resin 100 as a material, a hose 200 with excellent flexibility can be obtained. Such a technique for producing a hose by spirally winding strip-shaped resin is described, for example, in Patent Document 3. For reference, the disclosure of JP 2004-332774 A is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0019] 2. Configuration example of cutting device 30 Next, an example of a cutting device 30 applicable to the manufacturing facility 1 will be described. In the following, a suction hose formed into a tubular shape by spirally winding strip-shaped resin 100 while partially overlapping it will be described as the hose 200 supplied to the cutting device 30. In this specification, the term "suction hose" refers to a flexible hose that includes a linear reinforcing material (such as a hard resin or metal wire) wound in a spiral.

[0020] 5 to 7 show exemplary external views of the cutting device 30 as seen from the front, top, and side, respectively. For ease of explanation, arrows indicating the directions of the mutually orthogonal X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are shown in each of Figs. 5 to 7. Here, the Z direction shown in the figures is parallel to the vertical direction.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , the cutting device 30 includes a base 32 and a cutting mechanism 34. The cutting mechanism 34 has a cutting blade 350 and includes a portion that is reciprocable relative to the base 32. In the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 , the cutting mechanism 34 further includes a linear actuator 320, a support plate 330, and a first guide member 340. The linear actuator 320 is fixed to the upper surface 32a of the base 32, and the support plate 330 is connected to the linear actuator 320. The first guide member 340 is disposed on the support plate 330. As will be described later, the cutting blade 350 is supported by an arm or the like on the support plate 330. The cutting mechanism 34 of the cutting device 30 slices the hose 200 into rings by moving the cutting blade 350 in the hose feeding direction so that the relative speed of the cutting blade 350 with respect to the hose 200 fed from the winding device 20 to the cutting device 30 is zero.

[0022] The linear actuator 320 includes, for example, a set of a guide rail 321 and a stepping motor 322, and reciprocates the support plate 330 and the structure on the support plate 330 by a predetermined distance in the X direction in the figure under the control of a microcomputer (not shown) or the like when the cutting device 30 is in operation. The linear actuator 320 is not limited to a set of a guide rail and a stepping motor, and any known mechanism can be used. The linear actuator 320 may be any of a mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and magnetic type.

[0023] As described above, the winding device 20 forms the shape of the hose 200 by spirally winding the strip-shaped resin 100 on the core 22. To this end, the long hose 200 is fed from the winding device 20 at a predetermined feed rate to the cutting device 30, which is located downstream of the winding device 20. At this time, the hose 200 is fed from the winding device 20 toward the cutting device 30 while rotating at a constant angular velocity ω around the central axis of the hose 200. The cutting device 30 receives the hose 200 fed continuously at the predetermined feed rate and slices the hose 200 into rings by moving a part of the cutting mechanism 34 (here, a structure on the support plate 330) in accordance with the movement of the hose 200 fed along the central axis. This makes it possible to continuously obtain multiple hose pieces 300, each having a predetermined length.

[0024] 5, in this example, the cutting mechanism 34 further includes a first guide member 340 on the support plate 330. The first guide member 340 regulates the feeding of the hose 200 inside the first guide member 340 so that the central axis direction of the hose 200 is parallel to the X-axis.

[0025] In this example, first guide member 340 has a first wall portion 341 and a second wall portion 342 that are spaced apart along the X direction in the figure. First wall portion 341 and second wall portion 342 are provided with a first hole 41 and a second hole 42, respectively. The centers of first hole 41 and second hole 42 are aligned in the YZ plane, and by inserting hose 200 into first hole 41 and second hole 42 in that order, movement of hose 200 inside first guide member 340 is restricted in the positive direction of the X axis.

[0026] 5, the second hole 42 may have a taper 42t that narrows in the positive direction of the X-axis. The taper 42t of the second hole 42 contributes to preventing the tip of the hose 200 from falling off the first guide member 340. The first hole 41 may further be provided with a taper that narrows in the positive direction of the X-axis.

[0027] Here, the above-mentioned cutting blade 350 is disposed on the support plate 330 so that its cutting edge is located between the first wall portion 341 and the second wall portion 342 in the X direction in the figure. As can be seen from Fig. 5, a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the hose 200 inserted into the first guide member 340 is exposed from the first guide member 340 between the first wall portion 341 and the second wall portion 342. By pressing the cutting blade 350 against the outer circumferential surface of the rotating hose 200, the hose 200 can be cut.

[0028] The cutting blade 350 is disposed on the support plate 330 so that the distance between the central axis of the hose 200 and the cutting edge can be changed. Here, the cutting blade 350 is connected to the tip of an ultrasonic horn 35 supported by an arm 36 extending in the Y direction in the figure. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the arm 36 can be mounted on the support plate 330 via a second linear actuator 37. As indicated by the solid double-headed arrow ST in FIG. 7, the linear actuator 37 supports the arm 36 so that the ultrasonic horn 35 can move along the Y direction in the figure. In other words, by driving the linear actuator 37, it is possible to control the contact and separation of the cutting blade 350 with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the hose 200.

[0029] 8 schematically shows the start of cutting of the hose 200 by the cutting blade 350. When the support plate 330 is positioned, for example, at one end of the movable range on the base 32, the linear-acting actuator 37 moves the cutting blade 350 together with the ultrasonic horn 35 toward the center of the hose 200, thereby starting to slice the hose 200 in half. The movement distance of the cutting blade 350 at this time need only be large enough to allow a portion of the cutting blade 350 to penetrate the peripheral wall of the hose 200.

[0030] Here, cutting blade 350 is connected to ultrasonic horn 35. By applying ultrasonic vibrations to cutting blade 350 from ultrasonic horn 35, even if hose 200 includes a hard core material 100c, hose 200 can be cut relatively easily by pressing the cutting edge of cutting blade 350 against hose 200. Furthermore, applying ultrasonic vibrations makes it possible to obtain a sharp cross section.

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cutting mechanism 34 drives the linear actuator 37 to bring the cutting blade 350 closer to the hose 200, and moves the first guide member 340 and the cutting blade 350 on the support plate 330 in the positive direction of the X-axis by the linear actuator 320. The pressing of the cutting blade 350 against the hose 200 continues while the cutting blade 350 is being moved together with the support plate 330 in the positive direction of the X-axis relative to the base 32. At this time, the hose 200 is rotated once around the central axis, thereby cutting the hose into a ring.

[0032] The speed at which cutting blade 350 moves in the positive direction of the X axis on support plate 330 is matched to the feed speed of hose 200. By moving cutting blade 350 together with support plate 330 in the feed direction of hose 200 in accordance with the movement of hose 200 fed along the central axis, and bringing the cutting edge of cutting blade 350 into contact with the outer circumferential surface of hose 200 rotating at a constant angular velocity around the central axis, it is possible to slice hose 200 into rings without stopping the feed of hose 200. By matching the movement speed of cutting blade 350 to the feed speed of hose 200, the path of contact between hose 200 and cutting blade 350 does not become a spiral, and therefore a vertical cross section can be formed.

[0033] When the support plate 330 on the base 32 reaches the end of the set movement range, the cutting mechanism 34 drives the linear actuator 37 to move the cutting blade 350 away from the hose 200 in the negative Y-axis direction, thereby releasing the contact of the cutting blade 350 with the hose 200. Note that the movement distance (stroke) of the support plate 330 on the base 32 may be set appropriately within the operating range of the linear actuator 320, and does not need to match the entire operating range of the linear actuator 320. It is sufficient that the support plate 330 is moved along the X-axis at least a distance that the hose 200 is fed while the hose 200 is made one revolution around the central axis.

[0034] After the cutting blade 350 is released from contact with the hose 200, the linear actuator 320 moves the support plate 330 in the negative direction of the X axis, returning the support plate 330 to its initial position. By repeating the above-described operation, hose pieces 300 of a predetermined length can be efficiently obtained from the continuously fed hose 200. The hose pieces 300 obtained by slicing the hose 200 are ejected outside the cutting device 30 by, for example, an air cylinder.

[0035] The stroke of the linear actuator 320 on the base 32 may be, for example, approximately 200 mm. The stroke of the linear actuator 320 may be determined appropriately depending on the outer diameter of the hose 200, the feed speed of the hose 200, and the magnitude of the angular velocity about the central axis of the hose 200. The length of each hose piece 300 can be adjusted by the time from when the cutting blade 350 is released from contact with the hose 200 until the cutting blade 350 is next brought into contact with the hose 200, and the feed speed of the hose 200.

[0036] The operations of the linear actuators 320 and 37 and the ultrasonic horn 35 may be electrically controlled by a microcomputer (not shown) or the like. Changes in the distance between the hose 200 and the cutting blade 350 are not limited to linear movement of the cutting blade 350 by a linear actuator, but may be achieved, for example, by rotating the cutting blade 350 in the YZ plane. Changes in the position and / or attitude of the cutting blade 350 are not limited to drive using an actuator such as a motor, but may be mechanically controlled by contact with and separation from a rail or the like fixed to the base 32.

[0037] <3. Additional equipment for the cutting device 30> 5 and 6, the cutting device 30 may have a second guide member 360 in addition to the first guide member 340. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the second guide member 360 includes a pair of a first guide roller 61 and a second guide roller 62 that are arranged on the negative X-axis direction side of the first guide member 340. The first guide roller 61 and the second guide roller 62 support the hose 200 by sandwiching it from above and below, thereby more effectively restricting the feeding direction of the hose 200.

[0038] The first guide roller 61 and the second guide roller 62 may be supported on the base 32 in a manner that allows their heights from the upper surface 32a of the base 32 to be adjustable. In this example, the tip of the hose 200 fed from the winding device 20 passes between the first guide roller 61 and the second guide roller 62 and is inserted into the first hole 41 of the first wall portion 341. By making the heights of the first guide roller 61 and the second guide roller 62 adjustable, the hose 200 can be introduced more smoothly into the first guide member 340. The first guide roller 61 and the second guide roller 62 may be provided with an elastic force in a direction that moves them toward each other by an elastic member such as a spring.

[0039] 5 and 6, the cutting device 30 further includes a cover member 370 on the support plate 330. The cover member 370 is provided, for example, above a portion of the base 32 that is located on the positive side of the X-axis relative to the first guide member 340. By providing the cover member 370 after the first guide member 340, the upward movement of the tip of the hose 200 and the hose piece 300 can be restricted. In other words, the placement of the cover member 370 can prevent the tip of the hose 200 from flapping during cutting, and the hose piece 300 obtained by cutting from flying in unintended directions.

[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cutting device 30 may have a water shield 380 on the upper surface of the base 32. As described above, the hose 200 is cooled by the coolant 28 supplied from the coolant supply device 25 during the process of forming the pipe shape. That is, droplets of the coolant 28 may remain on the surface of the hose 200 introduced into the cutting device 30. Furthermore, because the hose 200 is rotated while being sent to the cutting device 30, there is a possibility that the droplets on the surface of the hose 200 may splash onto the linear actuator 320 or a control circuit (not shown). Providing the water shield 380 on the cutting device 30 can prevent droplets from adhering to the electrical components of the cutting device 30.

[0041] 5 and 6, the water shield 380 has a plate shape extending in the Z direction from the upper surface 32a of the base 32. Of course, the shape of the water shield 380 is not limited to this example. The water shield 380 only needs to be a portion located on the negative side of the X axis from the linear actuator 320 and include at least a portion extending parallel to the Y axis on the upper surface 32a of the base 32. Note that, of course, air may be blown onto the hose 200 between the winding device 20 and the cutting device 30 to remove some of the liquid droplets on the surface of the hose 200 before it is introduced into the cutting device 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1: Manufacturing equipment 2b: Bar 2r: Support ring 2s: Center shaft 10: Extrusion device 12: Mold 12s: Cross section 20: Wrapping device 22: Core 25: Coolant supply device 28:Cooling liquid 30: Cutting device 32: Pedestal 32a:Top surface 34: Cutting mechanism section 35: Ultrasonic horn 36: Arm 37: Direct acting actuator 41: 1st hole 42:Second hole 42t:Taper 61: First guide roller 62: Second guide roller 100: Strip resin 100c: Core material 100g: Gas barrier layer 100s: Skin resin 120:Discharge port 200: Hose 300: Hose piece 320: Direct acting actuator 321: Guide rail 322: Stepping motor 330: Support plate 340: First guide member 341:First wall part 342:Second wall 350: Cutting blade 360: Second guide member 370: Cover member 380: Water protection

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a hose piece, comprising a step of cutting the hose into rings of a predetermined length while moving a cutting blade in the feeding direction of the hose in accordance with the movement of the hose fed along the central axis.

2. The method of claim 1, The manufacturing method includes cutting the hose in a circular shape by bringing the cutting blade into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the hose while rotating the hose around the central axis.

3. The manufacturing method according to claim 1 or claim 2, The cutting blade is supported so that the distance between the central axis of the hose and the cutting edge can be changed, a linear actuator fixed to a base moves the cutting blade and the guide member relative to the base to cut the hose in a circular cut; The guide member is configured to restrict feeding of the hose in the direction of the central axis.

4. The manufacturing method according to claim 1 or claim 2, The hose is a hose formed into a tubular shape by spirally winding a strip-shaped resin while partially overlapping it.

5. A hose cutting device, comprising: a cutting mechanism having a cutting blade; The cutting mechanism is a cutting device that cuts the hose into rings of a predetermined length while moving the cutting blade in accordance with the movement of the hose fed along the central axis.

6. A hose segment manufacturing facility, an extrusion device; A winding device; The cutting device according to claim 5 . Equipped with the extrusion device has a die for forming a strip-shaped resin from a molten resin; The winding device is a manufacturing facility that spirally winds the strip-shaped resin while partially overlapping it to form the hose having a tubular shape, and sends the hose to the cutting device at a predetermined feed speed.

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