Inspection method for tire molding apparatus and tire molding method

Abstract

To provide an inspection method capable of more accurately determining the presence or absence of errors or defects occurring in a tire molding apparatus, and a tire molding method using a molding apparatus inspected by the inspection method.SOLUTION: A detection body 8 that rotates together with a molding drum 2 is detected by a rotation detection section 8a, and a detection result by the rotation detection section 8a, which is input to a calculation section 9 together with detection data by a sensor section 7 and a drive pulse signal of a drive motor 4, is used to specify a circumferential position of the molding drum 2 corresponding to a position where the detection data was detected, starting from a circumferential reference position Cp. Based on a detection result by the sensor section 7 for a check indicator 11 on a surface of the molding drum 2, appropriateness of the sensor section 7 and the molding drum 2 is determined. Based on a circumferential deviation amount between circumferential positions, starting from the circumferential reference position Cp of the check indicator 11, detected by the sensor section 7 before rotation and after one rotation of the molding drum 2, appropriateness of input of the drive pulse signal to the calculation section 9 is determined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for inspecting a tire building apparatus and a method for building a tire, and more particularly to an inspection method that can more accurately determine whether or not there are errors or defects that occur in a tire building apparatus, and a tire building method that uses a building apparatus inspected by this inspection method. [Background technology]

[0002] A tire is manufactured by vulcanizing a green tire. A green tire is built by stacking multiple types of tire components on the building drum of a tire building machine. The tire building machine is equipped with a measurement system (sensor unit) that measures the state of the tire components on the building drum. This measurement system is prone to small errors and imperfections over time. Therefore, a calibration method has been proposed to appropriately maintain the measurement accuracy (see Patent Document 1). In this calibration method, a calibration element is provided on the building drum, and the measurement accuracy of the measurement system is verified based on the measurement results of the measurement system for this calibration element (paragraphs 0100 to 0104, Figures 11 to 14, etc.).

[0003] For example, when winding tire components around a building drum to form a ring, it is necessary to accurately grasp the circumferential movement amount (circumferential position) of the building drum using a sensor unit to ensure an appropriate splice length. However, the calibration method proposed in Patent Document 1 does not fully verify the measurement accuracy of the circumferential movement amount (circumferential position) of the building drum. Therefore, there is room for improvement in order to more accurately determine errors and defects that occur in the tire building apparatus. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2022-527754 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection method that can more accurately determine whether or not there are errors or defects occurring in a tire building apparatus, and a tire building method that uses a building apparatus inspected by this inspection method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an inspection method for a tire building apparatus, which judges the suitability of a tire building apparatus comprising a building drum driven to rotate by a drive motor, a sensor unit which detects the state of a tire component on the surface of the building drum, and a calculation unit to which detection data from the sensor unit and a drive pulse signal from the drive motor are input, and in which the calculation unit calculates the amount of circumferential movement of the building drum based on the drive pulse signal, the inspection method comprising: a rotation detection unit which has a preset circumferential reference position on the surface of the building drum and is fixed immovably at a predetermined detection position, which detects a detection body which rotates together with the building drum for each rotation of the building drum, and the rotation detection data is input to the calculation unit together with the detection data and the drive pulse signal. The detection results by the unit are used to identify the circumferential position of the forming drum corresponding to the position where the detection data, starting from the circumferential reference position, is detected; a check index that rotates together with the forming drum is installed on the surface of the forming drum or at a predetermined position in its vicinity; the check index is detected by the sensor unit; the appropriateness of the sensor unit and the appropriateness of the forming drum are determined based on the detection results; the surface of the forming drum is detected by the sensor unit while the forming drum is rotating; and the appropriateness of the input of the drive pulse signal to the calculation unit is determined based on the circumferential deviation between the circumferential positions of the check index detected by the sensor unit, starting from the circumferential reference position, before the forming drum is rotated and after it has rotated once.

[0007] The tire building method of the present invention is a tire building method in which tire components are wound around the building drum of a tire building apparatus to build a green tire, characterized in that the suitability of the tire building apparatus is judged at a predetermined inspection time using the tire building apparatus inspection method described above, and the green tire is built using the tire building apparatus that is judged to be proper in all judgment items. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the tire building apparatus inspection method of the present invention, the appropriateness of the sensor unit and the appropriateness of the building drum are determined based on the detection results of the check index by the sensor unit. Furthermore, the appropriateness of the input of the drive pulse signal to the calculation unit is determined based on the amount of circumferential deviation between the circumferential positions of the check index detected by the sensor unit, with the circumferential reference position as the starting point, before and after the building drum has rotated once. This is advantageous for more accurately determining whether or not there are errors or defects occurring in the tire building apparatus.

[0009] According to the tire building method of the present invention, by using a tire building apparatus that has been determined to be suitable by the above-mentioned inspection method, it is possible to build high-quality green tires, which contributes to improving the quality of manufactured tires and is also advantageous in improving tire productivity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a tire building apparatus as viewed from the front. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the forming drum of FIG. 1 in a plan view. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is an explanatory view illustrating an enlarged example of the surface of the forming drum of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of check items according to an inspection method. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of a check item. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating still another check item. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the check index in FIG. 4. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory front view illustrating another tire building apparatus. [Figure 10] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the forming drum of FIG. 9 in a plan view. FIG. [Figure 11] 5 is an explanatory view illustrating a process of winding tire components around the building drum of FIG. 4 to build a green tire. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, a method for inspecting a tire building apparatus and a method for building a tire according to the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0012] The inspection method of the present invention is applied to a tire building apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as the building apparatus 1) illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. First, the building apparatus 1 will be described.

[0013] This forming device 1 has a forming drum 2 that is rotationally driven by a drive motor 4, a bright line projector 6, a sensor unit 7, and a calculation unit 9. A monitor 10 is connected to the calculation unit 9. Arrows X, Y, and Z in the figure indicate the width direction, circumferential direction, and radial direction of the forming drum 2, respectively. A dashed-dotted line CL in the figure indicates the width direction center of the forming drum 2. This width direction center CL is a position that is known in advance.

[0014] In the molding process using the molding device 1, a green tire is formed by stacking multiple types of unvulcanized tire components M. The molded green tire is then vulcanized using a known vulcanizing device to produce a tire. In the molding process, for example, a band drum is used to cylindrically shape tire components M such as an inner liner, carcass material, and side rubber to form a band component, and a belt drum is used to cylindrically shape tire components M such as belt material and tread rubber to form a belt component. This molding drum 2 may be either a band drum or a belt drum.

[0015] The forming drum 2 has an expansion / contraction mechanism 2a and a number of segments 3. These segments 3 are arranged in a ring shape in the circumferential direction, and the forming drum 2 expands and contracts when moved radially by the expansion / contraction mechanism 2a. The outer peripheral surface of each segment 3 forms the surface of the forming drum 2. As shown in Figure 4, each rectangular segment 3 has a protrusion 3a that protrudes outward in the width direction at both ends of its width. This protrusion 3a is used as a handle when carrying the segment 3, but the segment 3 may not have a protrusion 3a. Various known types of expansion / contraction mechanisms 2a are used, and for example, they have a number of rods that move radially from a central shaft. Each segment 3 is fixed to the outer periphery of the expansion / contraction mechanism 2a using fixing bolts 2b or the like.

[0016] The drive motor 4 is supported by a support shaft 5 that is erected, and the rotary drive shaft 4a is connected to the forming drum 2 (the central shaft portion of the expansion / contraction mechanism 2a). When the rotary drive shaft 4a is driven, the forming drum 2 rotates around the central shaft portion of the expansion / contraction mechanism 2a.

[0017] The bright line projector 6 projects a straight bright line L (laser beam) extending in the circumferential direction toward a predetermined position in the width direction on the surface of the forming drum 2. Various known types of bright line projector 6 are used. For example, the bright line projector 6 projects the bright line L so that it coincides with a preset center CL of the surface of the forming drum 2 in the width direction. Alternatively, the bright line projector 6 may project the bright line L so that it coincides with preset both end positions in the width direction of the tire component M to be wound around the surface of the forming drum 2. In this case, two bright line projectors 6 are installed. In the forming process, the bright line L projected onto the surface of the forming drum 2 is used as an index to align the tire component M to be wound around the forming drum 2.

[0018] The sensor unit 7 detects the state of the tire component M on the surface of the forming drum 2 while rotating the forming drum 2. For example, the sensor unit 7 detects the state of the tire component M on the surface of the forming drum 2, such as the longitudinal end position, splice amount, widthwise position (widthwise end positions, widthwise center position, etc.), thickness, presence or absence of defects, profile data, and brightness data of the tire component M. As the sensor unit 7, various known non-contact sensors such as a camera device combined with a laser beam based on triangulation, a laser sensor, and a profile sensor are used. The number of sensor units 7 is not limited to one, and there may be multiple sensor units 7, such as two, and the required number of sensor units 7 are installed depending on the detectable range of the sensor unit 7 and the position of the tire component M to be detected.

[0019] The calculation unit 9 receives various data such as the drive pulse signal of the drive motor 4 and detection data from the sensor unit 7. The calculation unit 9 performs various arithmetic processing or image processing using the input data. Various known computers are used as the calculation unit 9. The monitor 10 displays the various data input to the calculation unit 9 and the results of arithmetic processing by the calculation unit 9. The operation of this molding device 1 is controlled by the calculation unit 9, but the operation of the molding device 1 can also be controlled by a control unit provided separately from the calculation unit 9.

[0020] In the forming device 1, the calculation unit 9 calculates the amount of circumferential movement of the forming drum 2 based on the drive pulse signal (servo pulse signal) of the drive motor 4. Since the number of drive pulse signals input to the calculation unit 9 during one rotation of the forming drum 2 is fixed, the amount of circumferential movement of the forming drum 2 is determined based on the number of drive pulse signals input to the calculation unit 9. In this forming device 1, a circumferential reference position Cp on the surface of the forming drum 2 is set in advance, and the circumferential reference position Cp can be set to any desired position.

[0021] In an embodiment of the tire building device inspection method of the present invention, in order to more accurately determine the presence or absence (correctness) of errors or defects occurring in the building device 1 using the calculation unit 9, a detection body (DOG) 8 that rotates together with the building drum 2, a rotation detection unit 8a, and check indicators 11a and 11b (collectively referred to as check indicators 11) that rotate together with the building drum 2 are used.

[0022] In this embodiment, the detection body 8 is provided to protrude from the surface of the rotary drive shaft 8. The detection body 8 is designed so that it does not easily deform even when it rotates together with the forming drum 2. For example, various metals such as steel plate are used as the detection body 8. Since the circumferential position of the detection body 8 relative to the circumferential reference position Cp as the starting point is known, the position data of the detection body 8 is input to the calculation unit 9. The circumferential position of the detection body 8 may be made to coincide with the circumferential reference position Cp. The detection body 8 may also be fixed to another position (such as segment 3) that rotates together with the forming drum 2.

[0023] The rotation detection unit 8a detects the detection body 8, which rotates together with the forming drum 2, for each rotation. The rotation detection unit 8a is fixed immovably at a predetermined detection position and does not rotate together with the forming drum 2. In this embodiment, the rotation detection unit 8a is fixed to the side of the main body of the drive motor 4. When the detection body 8 approaches the rotation detection unit 8a, the rotation detection unit 8a detects the detection body 8, and the detection result (detection signal) is input to the calculation unit 9. Various known proximity sensors can be used as the rotation detection unit 8a.

[0024] Since the circumferential position of the detection body 8 starting from the circumferential reference position Cp is known, when the detection result by the rotation detection unit 8a is input to the calculation unit 9, the calculation unit 9 can determine the circumferential position coordinates of the surface of the forming drum 2 starting from the circumferential reference position Cp. Therefore, it is possible to identify the circumferential position of the forming drum (circumferential position starting from the circumferential reference position Cp) corresponding to the detected position of the detection data detected by the sensor unit 7 while rotating the forming drum 2.

[0025] The check indicators 11 (11a, 11b) are installed at predetermined positions on or near the surface of the forming drum 2 and are detected by the sensor unit 7. In this embodiment, grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface of one segment serve as the check indicators 11a, 11b. The shape of the check indicators 11 is not particularly limited, and various desired shapes can be adopted. The check indicators 11 can be installed at desired positions within the range that can be detected by the sensor unit 7. Dimensional data (specification data) of each check indicator 11 and data on the relative positions of the check indicators 11 are input to the calculation unit 9 in advance. In addition, position data of the widthwise center CL of the forming drum 2 is also input to the calculation unit 9 in advance.

[0026] For example, check indicators 11a of the same shape can be placed symmetrically with respect to the widthwise center CL of the forming drum 2. Alternatively, check indicators 11a of the same shape can be placed asymmetrically with respect to the widthwise center CL. Check indicators 11a and 11b of different shapes can also be placed on one widthwise side and the other widthwise side of the widthwise center CL.

[0027] In this embodiment, three check marks 11 (six check marks 11 in total) are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the widthwise center CL of the forming drum 2. A vertically elongated elliptical check mark 11a, a horizontally elongated elliptical check mark 11b, and a vertically elongated elliptical check mark 11a are arranged at the same circumferential position in the right widthwise region of the surface of the forming drum 2, and three vertically elongated elliptical check marks 11a, 11a, 11a are arranged at the same circumferential position in the left widthwise region. That is, the check marks 11a, 11a of the same shape are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the widthwise center CL of the forming drum 2, and the check marks 11a, 11b of different shapes are provided on one widthwise side and the other widthwise side of the widthwise center CL.

[0028] Next, an example of a procedure for inspecting the molding device 1 according to this embodiment of the inspection method will be described.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor unit 7 detects the surface of the forming drum 2 when no tire component M is wound around it. At this time, the sensor unit 7 detects the check index 11 so that the detection range of the sensor unit 7 includes the check index 11 (first detection step). Next, the forming drum 2 is rotated one or more times in one direction, and the surface of the forming drum 2 is detected. For example, the forming drum 2 is rotated one rotation in one direction by approximately +60°, and the sensor unit 7 detects the check index 11 again (second detection step). As described above, the circumferential movement amount (number of rotations) of the forming drum 2 is calculated based on the drive pulse signal input to the calculation unit 9. Note that FIGS. 5 to 7, which will be described later, show detection data (image data) detected from the front side of the sensor unit 7, using a camera device as the sensor unit 7.

[0030] 5, the first detection step detects the widthwise distance d1 between the check indicators 11a, 11a that are installed at symmetrical positions with respect to the widthwise center CL of the forming drum 2. The widthwise center position of this widthwise distance d1 is calculated by the calculation unit 9 and compared with the position of the widthwise center CL that has been input in advance, and if the difference between the two is within an allowable range, it is determined that the widthwise center of the forming drum 2 is not misaligned (is appropriate).

[0031] In addition, the circumferential dimension d2 and widthwise dimension d3 of each check index 11 are detected and compared with the respective standard dimensions previously input into the calculation unit 9. If the difference between the two is within an allowable range, the circumferential and widthwise resolutions (detection performance) of the sensor unit 7 are determined to be appropriate. Furthermore, since each check index 11a is arranged at the same circumferential position, the calculation unit 9 calculates the inclination of each check index 11a relative to a direction perpendicular to the drum radial direction based on the detection data of each check index 11a. If the calculated inclination is within an allowable range, it is determined that the rotation axis of the forming drum 2 is not misaligned (is appropriate). In this way, the calculation unit 9 determines the appropriateness of the sensor unit 7 and the forming drum 2.

[0032] When check indicators 11a of the same shape are positioned asymmetrically with respect to the widthwise center CL of the forming drum 2, or when check indicators 11a and 11b of different shapes are positioned on one and the other widthwise sides of the widthwise center CL, it is possible to distinguish between one and the other widthwise sides of the drum in the detection data (image data) obtained by detecting the check indicators 11. For example, in a manufactured tire, one widthwise side is the side on which serial numbers are assigned (the serial side), and the other widthwise side is the side on which serial numbers are not assigned (the anti-serial side). Therefore, when the shape or arrangement of the check indicators 11 has an asymmetrical portion with respect to the widthwise center CL, it is possible to clearly distinguish between the serial side and the anti-serial side in the detection data (image data). In this embodiment, it is possible to clearly distinguish between the serial side and the anti-serial side in the detection data (image data).

[0033] In the second detection step, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the circumferential position of the check index 11 detected before the forming drum 2 was rotated (detected in the first detection step) from the circumferential reference position Cp as the starting point is compared with the circumferential position of the check index 11 detected after the forming drum 2 has made one rotation (detected in the second detection step) from the circumferential reference position Cp as the starting point, and the circumferential deviation d4 between the two is calculated by the calculation unit 9. In Fig. 6, the check index 11 detected by the sensor unit 7 before the forming drum 2 was rotated is indicated by a dashed line, and the check index 11 detected by the sensor unit 7 after the forming drum 2 has made one rotation is indicated by a solid line. If this circumferential deviation d4 is within the allowable range, it is determined that the input of the drive pulse signal of the drive motor 4 to the calculation unit 9 is appropriate.

[0034] In more detail, when the drive pulse signal is correctly input to the calculation unit 9, the circumferential movement amount of the forming drum 2 is correctly calculated. That is, the rotational movement amount of the forming drum 2 for one revolution is correctly calculated. Therefore, the circumferential positions of the check index 11 detected before and after one revolution of the forming drum 2, starting from the circumferential reference position Cp, substantially coincide with each other, and the circumferential deviation amount d4 between them is approximately zero. On the other hand, when the drive pulse signal is not correctly input to the calculation unit 9 (when there is a gap in the drive pulse signal), the rotational movement amount of the forming drum 2 for one revolution is not correctly calculated. Therefore, the circumferential deviation amount d4 between the circumferential positions of the check index 11 detected before and after one revolution of the forming drum 2, starting from the circumferential reference position Cp, becomes large. Therefore, the appropriateness of the input of the drive pulse signal to the calculation unit 9 can be determined based on the magnitude of the circumferential deviation amount d4.

[0035] As described above, in this inspection method, the suitability of the sensor unit 7 and the suitability of the forming drum 2 are determined based on the detection result of the sensor unit 7 with respect to the check index 11. Furthermore, the suitability of the input of the drive pulse signal to the calculation unit 9 is determined based on the circumferential deviation amount d4 of the check index 11 described above. Accordingly, this is advantageous in more accurately determining whether or not there are any errors or defects occurring in the forming device 1.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 7, a camera device can be used as the sensor unit 7 to determine the suitability of the bright line projector 6. The bright line projector 6 projects a straight bright line L extending circumferentially toward a predetermined position in the width direction on the surface of the forming drum 2 on which the tire component M is not wound, and the camera device 7 acquires image data of the bright line L extending on the surface of the forming drum 2 as detection data. Based on this image data, the calculation unit 9 calculates the drum width direction position of the bright line L on the surface of the forming drum 2. The calculated width direction position of the bright line L is then compared with a predetermined width direction position where the bright line L is projected, and if the difference between the two is within an acceptable range, the bright line projector 6 is determined to be appropriate.

[0037] A camera device can also be used as the sensor unit 7 to determine the suitability of the surface condition of the forming drum 2. Image data of the entire circumference of the surface of the forming drum 2 on which the tire component M is not wound is acquired by the camera device 7. Then, the image data of the entire circumference of the surface of the forming drum 2 acquired by the camera device 7 is compared with pre-identified healthy image data of the entire circumference of the surface that indicates the healthy state of this surface, and if the difference between the two is within an allowable range, the surface condition is determined to be appropriate.

[0038] Specifically, the healthy image data is image data showing a state in which there are no abnormalities on the surface of the forming drum 2 (the outer peripheral surface of the segments 3). Therefore, it is image data capturing a state in which there are no defects on the fixing bolts 2b and no defects or foreign objects on the outer peripheral surface of the segments 3. If the forming drum 2 is a band drum, suction pads are installed on the surface of the forming drum 2, and image data capturing a state in which the suction pads are also free of defects is the healthy image data. The image data acquired by the camera device 7 is compared with the healthy image data using a known pattern matching analysis for comparing image data. If the difference between the two is within an acceptable range (a level at which there is essentially no difference), the surface condition of the forming drum 2 is determined to be proper. Alternatively, a method can be used in which the difference between processed image data obtained by applying a moving average filter in the width direction or circumferential direction to the image data acquired by the camera device 7 (original image data) and the original image data (or image data obtained by applying a moving average filter weaker than the processed image data) is calculated, and if the difference exceeds a predetermined area, the surface condition of the forming drum 2 is determined to be abnormal.

[0039] As in the forming drum 2 illustrated in Fig. 8, the check index 11a can be provided on the protruding portion 3a of the forming drum. In this way, even when the tire component M is wound around the forming drum 2, the check index 11a is not covered by the tire component M, and the check index 11a can be detected by the sensor unit 7. Therefore, even when the tire component M is wound around the forming drum 2, the above-described inspection method can be carried out.

[0040] In the molding apparatus 1 illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, two molding drums 2 are installed at positions rotated 180° around a support shaft 5 in a plan view. Each molding drum 2 is rotated 180° clockwise and counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 5, and is fixedly arranged at the same position alternately. At each fixedly arranged position, a molding process is carried out using each molding drum 2. The other configurations of this molding apparatus 1 are substantially the same as those of the molding apparatus 1 described above.

[0041] 9 and 10, the right and left sides in the drum width direction of the forming drum 2 when it is fixed to the right side of the support shaft 5 change to the left and right sides in the drum width direction when the forming drum 2 rotates 180° and is fixed to the left side of the support shaft 5. As described above, if the shape and arrangement of the check indicator 11 are asymmetric with respect to the width center CL of the forming drum 2, the serial side and the anti-serial side can be clearly distinguished in the detection data (image data). Therefore, in the forming device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, it is very beneficial to make the shape and arrangement of the check indicator 11 asymmetric with respect to the width center CL of the forming drum 2.

[0042] In an embodiment of the tire building method of the present invention, the above-described inspection method is applied at a predetermined inspection time to determine the suitability of the building apparatus 1. Then, a green tire is built using the building apparatus 1 that has been determined to be suitable for all of the judgment items. That is, the necessary tire components M are wound around the building drum 2 of the building apparatus 1 that has been determined to be suitable for all of the judgment items to build a green tire.

[0043] 11, a tire component M is wound around a forming drum 2 and both longitudinal ends are spliced ​​together to form a cylindrical shape. In this forming process, a sensor unit 7 detects a splice portion S, and a calculation unit 9 calculates the splice amount.

[0044] The molded green tire is vulcanized by a known vulcanizing device to complete the tire. This tire molding method can mold green tires for manufacturing various types of tires, not limited to pneumatic tires.

[0045] This tire building method uses a building apparatus 1 that has been determined to be proper for all of the criteria by the above-described inspection method, making it possible to build high-quality green tires. In other words, since this building apparatus 1 has been determined to be free of errors and defects, the splice amount shown in FIG. 11, for example, is calculated with high accuracy, ensuring a sufficient splice amount. This contributes to improving the quality of the manufactured tires. Furthermore, since the tedious inspection work of the building apparatus 1 is performed automatically as described above, it is also advantageous for improving tire productivity.

[0046] The predetermined inspection time for the molding apparatus 1 to undergo the above-described inspection method is, for example, immediately before the start of molding of the same lot, in which multiple green tires of the same specifications are molded consecutively. That is, the above-described inspection method is performed for each molding lot. Alternatively, the above-described inspection method can be performed immediately before the start of molding each time a green tire is molded. The predetermined inspection time can be set every day or every few days immediately before the start of molding, or it can be set immediately before the start of molding each time a predetermined number of green tires have been molded.

[0047] The present disclosure includes the following inventions. Invention 1: A method for inspecting a tire building device for determining the suitability of a tire building device, the tire building device comprising: a building drum driven to rotate by a drive motor; a sensor unit that detects the state of a tire component on the surface of the building drum; and a calculation unit to which detection data from the sensor unit and a drive pulse signal from the drive motor are input, the calculation unit calculating a circumferential movement amount of the building drum based on the drive pulse signal, A circumferential reference position on the surface of the forming drum is preset, A rotation detection unit fixed in a stationary state at a predetermined detection position detects a detection body rotating together with the forming drum for each rotation of the forming drum, and the detection results by the rotation detection unit, which are input to the calculation unit together with the detection data and the drive pulse signal, are used to identify the circumferential position of the forming drum corresponding to the position at which the detection data, starting from the circumferential reference position, is detected, A check index that rotates together with the forming drum is installed on the surface of the forming drum or at a predetermined position in the vicinity thereof, and the check index is detected by the sensor unit. Based on the detection result, the appropriateness of the sensor unit and the appropriateness of the forming drum are determined. A tire building device inspection method in which the sensor unit detects the surface of the building drum while rotating the building drum, and the appropriateness of the input of the drive pulse signal to the calculation unit is determined based on the amount of circumferential deviation between circumferential positions of the check index detected by the sensor unit, starting from the circumferential reference position, before the building drum is rotated and after it has made one rotation. Invention 2: The tire building apparatus inspection method according to Invention 1, wherein the check index is provided on a protruding portion that protrudes outward in the drum width direction from a segment that constitutes the building drum. Invention 3: The method for inspecting a tire building apparatus according to invention 1 or 2, wherein the check indicators having the same shape are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the building drum in the width direction. Invention 4: A method for inspecting a tire building apparatus according to any one of Inventions 1 to 3, wherein the check indicators of the same shape are installed in asymmetric positions with respect to the widthwise center of the building drum, or the check indicators of different shapes are installed on one side and the other side of the widthwise center of the building drum. Invention 5: A tire building apparatus inspection method according to any one of Inventions 1 to 4, in which a bright line projector projects a straight bright line extending circumferentially toward a predetermined widthwise position on the surface, and a camera device is used as the sensor unit, and the drum widthwise position of the bright line on the building drum is calculated based on image data of the bright line on the surface acquired by the camera device, and the predetermined widthwise position is compared to determine the suitability of the bright line projector. Invention 6: A tire building apparatus inspection method according to any one of Inventions 1 to 5, in which a camera device is used as the sensor unit, and the suitability of the surface condition is determined based on a comparison between image data of the surface acquired by the camera device and healthy image data that indicates a previously determined healthy condition of the surface. Invention 7: A tire building method for building a green tire by winding tire components around a building drum of a tire building machine, comprising: A tire building method comprising: determining the suitability of a tire building device at a predetermined inspection time by the tire building device inspection method according to any one of inventions 1 to 6; and building the green tire using the tire building device that has been determined to be suitable for all of the judgment items. Invention 8: The tire building method according to invention 7, wherein the predetermined inspection time is immediately before the start of building of the same lot of green tires having the same specifications in succession. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 Molding equipment 2 forming drums 2a Expansion mechanism 2b Fixing bolt 3 segments 3a Protrusion 4 Drive motor 4a Rotating drive shaft 5 Support shaft 6. Emission line projector 7 Sensor section 8 Detection object (DOG) 8a Rotation detection unit 9 Arithmetic section 10 monitors 11(11a, 11b) Check Indicators Cp Circumferential reference position L emission line M Tire material

Claims

1. A method for inspecting a tire building device for determining the suitability of a tire building device, the tire building device comprising: a building drum driven to rotate by a drive motor; a sensor unit that detects the state of a tire component on the surface of the building drum; and a calculation unit to which detection data from the sensor unit and a drive pulse signal from the drive motor are input, the calculation unit calculating a circumferential movement amount of the building drum based on the drive pulse signal, A circumferential reference position on the surface of the forming drum is preset, A rotation detection unit fixed in a stationary state at a predetermined detection position detects a detection body rotating together with the forming drum for each rotation of the forming drum, and the detection result by the rotation detection unit, which is input to the calculation unit together with the detection data and the drive pulse signal, is used to identify the circumferential position of the forming drum corresponding to the position at which the detection data, starting from the circumferential reference position, is detected, A check index that rotates together with the forming drum is installed on the surface of the forming drum or at a predetermined position in the vicinity thereof, and the check index is detected by the sensor unit. Based on the detection result, the appropriateness of the sensor unit and the appropriateness of the forming drum are determined. A tire building device inspection method in which the sensor unit detects the surface of the building drum while rotating the building drum, and the appropriateness of the input of the drive pulse signal to the calculation unit is determined based on the amount of circumferential deviation between circumferential positions of the check index detected by the sensor unit, starting from the circumferential reference position, before the building drum is rotated and after it has made one rotation.

2. 2. The method for inspecting a tire building apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the check index is provided on a protruding portion that protrudes outward in the drum width direction from a segment that constitutes the building drum.

3. 3. The method for inspecting a tire building apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the check indicators having the same shape are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the building drum in the width direction.

4. 3. A tire building apparatus inspection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the check indicators of the same shape are arranged in asymmetric positions with respect to the widthwise center of the building drum, or the check indicators of different shapes are arranged on one widthwise side and the other widthwise side with respect to the widthwise center of the building drum.

5. 3. A tire building apparatus inspection method according to claim 1 or 2, in which a bright line projector projects a straight bright line extending circumferentially toward a predetermined widthwise position on the surface, and a camera device is used as the sensor unit, and the suitability of the bright line projector is determined based on a comparison between the drum widthwise position of the bright line on the building drum calculated based on image data of the bright line on the surface acquired by the camera device and the predetermined widthwise position that has been determined in advance.

6. 3. The tire building apparatus inspection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a camera device is used as the sensor unit, and the suitability of the surface condition is determined based on a comparison between image data of the surface acquired by the camera device and healthy image data indicating a previously determined healthy condition of the surface.

7. A tire building method for building a green tire by winding tire components around a building drum of a tire building machine, comprising:

3. A tire building method comprising: determining the suitability of a tire building device at a predetermined inspection time by the tire building device inspection method according to claim 1 or 2; and building the green tire using the tire building device that is determined to be proper for all of the judgment items.

8. 8. The tire building method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined inspection time is immediately before the start of building a plurality of green tires of the same specifications in succession for the same lot.

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