Conveying apparatus and conveying method

Abstract

To provide a conveying device capable of suppressing generation of an adsorption mark even when an adsorption pad adsorbs a tire constituent member.SOLUTION: An annular frame capable of surrounding the outer peripheries of the first drum and the second drum, and a suction portion provided on the annular frame, wherein the suction portion includes a suction pad 50 having a decompression space formed inside and configured to suck the tire constituent member 1, and a plurality of moving mechanisms configured to move the suction pad 50 in the radial direction of the annular frame, and the suction pad 50 includes a connecting portion 50a connected to the moving mechanism, a bellows portion 50a protruding from the connecting portion 50b, and a stopper 50a protruding from the connecting portion 50d to the decompression space 50e and abutting on the tire constituent member 1 when sucking the tire constituent member 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device and a conveying method. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART In a tire building machine used for manufacturing pneumatic tires, a method is known in which tire constituent members are prepared in parallel by dividing the work into sections using a plurality of drums and conveying devices.

[0003] For example, there is a method in which the process of molding a cylindrical band member including an inner liner and a carcass on a band drum, the process of molding a cylindrical belt member including a belt on a belt drum, and the process of integrating the band member and the belt member to mold (shape) into a tire are each performed on separate stages, and a conveying device is used to transfer (i.e., transport) the tire constituent members between the processes.

[0004] Known examples of such conveying devices include a device having a moving means for moving toward and away from a drum and a moving means for transporting the material to the next process, and a moving mechanism attached to a suction pad that adsorbs the cylindrical tire constituent material wound around the outer periphery of the drum from the outer diameter side (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-138404 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the conveying device of the cited document 1, when the suction pad suctions the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical tire constituent member to convey the tire constituent member, the suctioned portion is likely to deform, causing suction marks on the tire constituent member. If suction marks are formed on the tire constituent member, this can cause poor adhesion in subsequent processes or deterioration of uniformity.

[0007] This proposal has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a conveying device and a conveying method that are less likely to leave suction marks on tire constituent members even when suction pads suction the tire constituent members. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention includes the embodiments shown below.

[0009] [1] A transport device that receives cylindrical tire constituent members formed on a first drum from the first drum and transports them to a second drum, the transport device comprising: an annular frame that can surround the outer peripheries of the first drum and the second drum; a suction unit provided on the annular frame; and a frame transport unit that transports the annular frame between the first drum and the second drum, wherein the suction unit comprises a suction pad that has a reduced pressure space formed inside and that suctions the tire constituent member; a moving mechanism that moves the suction pad in the radial direction of the annular frame; and a pressure reducing device that depressurizes the reduced pressure space, and the suction pad comprises a pad main body that has a connecting portion connected to the moving mechanism and a bellows portion that protrudes from the connecting portion, and a stopper that protrudes from the connecting portion into the reduced pressure space and abuts against the tire constituent member when the tire constituent member is suctioned.

[0010] [2] The conveying device according to [1] above, wherein the stopper is cylindrical.

[0011] [3] The conveying device according to [2] above, further comprising a communication hole that connects the hollow portion of the cylindrical stopper with the space decompressed by the decompression device.

[0012] [4] The conveying device according to [2] or [3] above, wherein a through hole is provided in the peripheral wall of the stopper.

[0013] [5] A conveying device described in any one of [1] to [4] above, wherein the pad body has a skirt portion provided at the tip of the bellows portion, and the tip of the stopper is positioned on the bellows portion side in the protruding direction of the stopper rather than the joint between the skirt portion and the bellows portion.

[0014] [6] The conveying device according to the above [5], wherein the bellows portion is thicker than the skirt portion.

[0015] [7] The transport device according to any one of the above [1] to [6], wherein the length from the tip of the pad body to the tip of the stopper in the protruding direction of the stopper is 4 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

[0016] [8] The conveying device according to any one of the above [1] to [7], wherein the stopper is made of a rubber material having a hardness of 30 or more and 60 or less.

[0017] [9] A transport method for receiving a cylindrical tire constituent member formed on a first drum from the first drum and transporting it to the second drum using a transport device including an annular frame capable of surrounding the outer peripheries of a first drum and a second drum, a suction unit provided on the annular frame, and a frame transport unit that transports the annular frame between the first drum and the second drum, wherein the suction unit includes a suction pad having a reduced pressure space formed inside and that suctions the tire constituent member, a moving mechanism that moves the suction pad in the radial direction of the annular frame, and a pressure reducing device that depressurizes the reduced pressure space, and the suction pad includes a pad main body having a connecting portion connected to the moving mechanism and a bellows portion that protrudes from the connecting portion, and a stopper that protrudes from the connecting portion into the reduced pressure space, and the tire constituent member provided on the first drum is sucked by the suction pad while being abutted against the stopper, and the tire constituent member is received from the first drum.

[0018]

[10] The transport method according to [9] above, wherein the pressure reducing device reduces the pressure in the reduced pressure space after the pad body and the stopper are brought into contact with the tire constituent member.

[0019]

[11] The transport method according to [9] or

[10] above, wherein the height of the suction mark formed by the suction pad on the tire constituent member transported to the second drum is 3 mm or less. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] In the present invention, by providing the above-described features, it is possible to suppress the generation of suction marks even when the suction pad suctions a tire constituent member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a tire building apparatus using a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is an axial cross-sectional view of the first drum showing how tire constituent members are attached to the first drum in this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the axial direction of a tire constituent member. [Figure 4] Cross section AA of Figure 3 [Figure 5] View of the suction pad and moving mechanism from the axial direction [Figure 6] Cross section of the suction pad in the separated position [Figure 7] Cross section of the suction pad in contact position [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing control of a transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The following description of the embodiments will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples, and any modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are included within the scope of the present invention.

[0023] 1. Overall configuration of tire building equipment The layout of a tire building apparatus is shown in Figure 1. This tire building apparatus includes a first drum 10, a second drum 20, and a conveying device 30 that receives tire components molded on the outer peripheral surface of the first drum 10 and conveys them to the second drum 20.

[0024] The first drum 10 is a drum of known structure in which multiple segments are arranged circumferentially to form a cylindrical overall shape. The multiple segments move simultaneously in the drum radial direction, causing the outer circumferential surface of the first drum 10 to expand and contract in diameter.

[0025] An unvulcanized rubber member is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the first drum 10 to form a tire component 1. Here, as an example, a case where a cylindrical carcass band is formed as the tire component 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2 , first, an inner liner 2 is attached to the center of the first drum 10 in the axial direction X. Then, rubber chafers 3 are attached to both sides of the first drum 10 in the axial direction X so as to overlap with portions of the inner liner 2. Then, a carcass ply 4, which is made of a large number of rubber-coated reinforcing cords arranged in a direction perpendicular to the tire circumferential direction, is attached to the center of the drum in the axial direction X so as to overlap with the inner liner 2 and the rubber chafer 3. Next, underbelt pads 5 are attached to both axial ends of the first drum 10 a predetermined distance from the center of the first drum 10 in the axial direction X so that the underbelt pads 5 are positioned where the ends of the belt will be placed in a later process. This completes the carcass band (tire component) 1, which includes the inner liner 2, rubber chafers 3, carcass ply 4, and underbelt pads 5. The tire constituent member 1 has a rubber thickness greater in the portion where the underbelt pad 5 is provided than in other portions, and a shape that bulges outward in the radial direction of the first drum 10 is formed continuously in the circumferential direction of the first drum 10 (see Figure 4).

[0026] The first drum 10 has a rotation shaft supported by a support base 11, and the support base 11 is mounted on a first drum transport section 12 for moving along a rail, which will be described later.

[0027] The second drum 20 is a drum onto which the tire constituent members 1 molded on the first drum 10 are transported. For example, the second drum 20 is a drum onto which cylindrical belt bands molded on a drum (not shown) are transported together with the tire constituent members 1, and which molds these bands into a tire shape.

[0028] The rotation shaft of the second drum 20 is supported by a support base 21. The support base 21 is mounted on a second drum transport unit 22 for moving along a rail, which will be described later.

[0029] The conveying device 30 has a hollow portion 31 (see FIG. 4) into which the first drum 10 and the second drum 20 are inserted. The conveying device 30 receives the cylindrical tire constituent member 1 from the first drum 10 inserted into the hollow portion 31. Then, after the first drum 10 is removed from the hollow portion 31, when the second drum 20 is inserted into the hollow portion 31, the conveying device 30 transfers the tire constituent member 1 received from the first drum 10 onto the outer peripheral surface of the second drum 20. The specific configuration of the conveying device 30 will be described in detail later.

[0030] A first rail 13, a second rail 23, and a third rail 33 are provided as rails along which the first drum 10, the second drum 20, and the transport device 30 move. The first rail 13 and the second rail 23 are linear rails that are aligned parallel to each other. The third rail 33 is also linear and perpendicular to the extension direction of the first rail 13 and the second rail 23.

[0031] As the first drum transport section 12 moves on the first rail 13, the first drum 10 moves between a standby position (shown as A in Figure 1) and the intersection with the third rail 33 (shown as B in Figure 1).

[0032] The second drum 20 moves between a standby position (shown as C in Figure 1) and the intersection with the third rail 33 (shown as D in Figure 1) as the second drum transport section 22 moves on the second rail 23.

[0033] The transport device 30 moves between the intersection B and the intersection D by a frame transport unit 32, which will be described later, moving on a third rail 33. After receiving the tire constituent member 1 from the first drum 10 at the intersection B, the transport device 30 moves to the intersection D and delivers the tire constituent member 1 to the second drum 20 at the intersection D.

[0034] The first drum 10, the second drum 20, and the conveying device 30 are arranged so that their axial directions X face the same direction. The axial directions X of the drums 10, 20 and the conveying device 30 are parallel to the extension directions of the first rail 13 and the second rail 23.

[0035] 2. Conveyor device 30 As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the conveying device 30 includes a holding device 40 that holds the outer peripheral surface of the tire constituent member 1, a frame conveying unit 32 that moves the holding device 40 along a third rail 33, and a control device 34 that controls the holding device 40 and the frame conveying unit 32.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the holding device 40 includes a plurality of (three in this embodiment) annular frames 41, 42, 43, suction portions 44, 44, 44 provided on the annular frames 41, 42, 43, and an adjustment device 47 that moves the annular frames 41, 43 in the axial direction X.

[0037] The multiple annular frames 41, 42, 43 are ring-shaped members having hollow portions that can surround the outer peripheries of the first drum 10 and the second drum 20. The multiple annular frames 41, 42, 43 are concentrically arranged at intervals in the axial direction X and form the hollow portion 31 of the conveying device 30.

[0038] 4, the annular frames 41 and 43 are end annular frames disposed at both axial ends. The annular frame 42 is a central annular frame disposed between the end annular frames 41 and 43.

[0039] The central annular frame 42 is provided with a suction section 44. As shown in Fig. 5 , the suction section 44 includes a plurality of suction pads 50 that suction the outer peripheral surface of the tire constituent member 1, a plurality of movement mechanisms 51 that move the plurality of suction pads 50 in the radial direction of the central annular frame 42, and a pressure reducing device 70.

[0040] Specifically, the plurality of suction pads 50 are central suction pads that suction the axial central portion of the tire constituent member 1. The suction pads 50 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the central annular frame 42 as shown in Fig. 3, and are also arranged side by side at intervals in the axial direction X as shown in Fig. 4.

[0041] The suction pads 50 arranged in the axial direction X are supported by support parts 52 connected to the same moving mechanism 51. On the other hand, the suction pads 50 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the central annular frame 42 are supported by support parts 52 connected to different moving mechanisms 51.

[0042] That is, the plurality of suction pads 50 arranged in the axial direction X are moved in the radial direction of the central annular frame 42 in synchronization with the operation of the same moving mechanism 51. On the other hand, the suction pads 50 arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction can be moved separately in the radial direction of the central annular frame 42 by different moving mechanisms 51.

[0043] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, a vacuum chamber 53 is formed inside support part 52. Vacuum chamber 53 is connected to pressure reducing device 70 via switching valve 71. Switching valve 71 receives instructions from control device 34 and switches between a flow path that connects vacuum chamber 53 with pressure reducing device 70 and a flow path that connects vacuum chamber 53 with the space outside vacuum chamber 53. Switching the flow path by switching valve 71 in this way allows pressure reducing device 70 to reduce the pressure in vacuum chamber 53 or to make the inside of vacuum chamber 53 atmospheric pressure.

[0044] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the suction pad 50 includes a substantially cylindrical connecting portion 50a connected to the support portion 52, a bellows portion 50b protruding from the peripheral portion of the connecting portion 50a, a skirt portion 50c provided at the tip of the bellows portion 50b, and a stopper 50e attached to the center of the connecting portion 50a.

[0045] The connecting portion 50a, the bellows portion 50b, and the skirt portion 50c of the suction pad 50 constitute the pad body and are integrally molded from an elastic material such as a urethane or silicone elastomer, rubber, etc. A decompression space 50d that opens radially inward of the central annular frame 42 (hereinafter, this direction may also be referred to as downward) is formed inside the connecting portion 50a, the bellows portion 50b, and the skirt portion 50c.

[0046] In this embodiment, the skirt portion 50c provided at the tip of the bellows portion 50b has a shape that widens downward so that the opening to the decompression space 50d becomes larger as it approaches the tip. The bellows portion 50b is provided to be thicker than the skirt portion 50c, so that the skirt portion 50c is more likely to bend and deform than the bellows portion 50b immediately after the tire constituent member 1 comes into contact with the skirt portion 50c.

[0047] In this embodiment, the pad body is described as having a connecting portion 50a, a bellows portion 50b, and a skirt portion 50c, but the pad body may be composed of the connecting portion 50a and the bellows portion 50b, and may not have a skirt portion.

[0048] The stopper 50e is provided so as to protrude from the center of the connecting portion 50a into the reduced pressure space 50d (i.e., so as to protrude downward from the center of the connecting portion 50a). In this embodiment, the stopper 50e has a tubular (e.g., cylindrical) shape that opens downward.

[0049] 6, when the tire constituent member 1 is not in contact with the pad main body, a tip (lower end) 50e1 of the stopper 50e is located radially outward of the central annular frame relative to the lower end of the pad main body (hereinafter, this direction may be referred to as "upward"). In the case where the pad main body is provided with a skirt portion 50c as in this embodiment, when the tire constituent member 1 is not in contact with the skirt portion 50c, the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e is located above a lower end 50c1 of the skirt portion 50c. Preferably, the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e is located above (toward the bellows portion 50b) a joining portion 50b1 between the bellows portion 50b and the skirt portion 50c in the radial direction of the central annular frame 42 (hereinafter, this direction may be referred to as "up-down direction"), which corresponds to the protruding direction of the stopper 50e.

[0050] The length in the vertical direction (the protruding direction of the stopper 50e) from the lower end of the pad body (in this embodiment, the lower end 50c1 of the skirt portion 50c) to the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, 4 mm or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 6 mm or more and 8 mm or less.

[0051] A through-hole 50e3 is provided in the peripheral wall 50e2 of the stopper 50e. The through-hole 50e3 connects a hollow portion 50e4 formed inside the stopper 50e with a reduced-pressure space 50d formed on the outside. In this embodiment, the through-hole 50e3 is provided in the peripheral wall 50e2 so that it does not open downward from the peripheral wall 50e2. In other words, the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e is connected in an annular shape.

[0052] The stopper 50e is formed from a rubber material such as silicone rubber or urethane rubber. The hardness of the stopper 50e is preferably, for example, 30 or more and 60 or less, from the viewpoint of suppressing damage to the tire constituent member 1 due to contact with the stopper 50e. The hardness of the stopper 50e is JIS K6253-1-2012 3.2 durometer hardness, and is measured in an atmosphere of 23°C using a type A durometer for general rubber (medium hardness). The stopper 50e may be made of a different material from or the same material as the connecting portion 50a, the bellows portion 50b, and the skirt portion 50c.

[0053] The stopper 50e is fixed to the connecting portion 50a by an attachment member 50f. A male thread portion 50f2 is formed on one end of the attachment member 50f. The attachment member 50f is inserted into the hollow portion 50e4 of the stopper 50e from below. The male thread portion 50f2 passes through the stopper 50e, the connecting portion 50a, and the support portion 52, and protrudes into a vacuum chamber 53 formed inside the support portion 52. A nut 50g is threadedly engaged with the portion of the male thread portion 50f2 that protrudes into the vacuum chamber 53. As a result, the stopper 50e and the connecting portion 50a are fastened together to the support portion 52 by the nut 50g.

[0054] A communication hole 50f1 is formed in the mounting member 50f along the axial direction. The hollow portion 50e4 of the stopper 50e is in communication with a vacuum chamber 53, which is a space decompressed by the decompression device 70, via the communication hole 50f1 provided in the mounting member 50f. When the decompression device 70 decompresses the vacuum chamber 53, the decompression space 50d provided inside the suction pad 50 and the hollow portion 50e4 of the stopper 50e are decompressed via the communication hole 50f1 of the mounting member 50f. As a result, the suction pad 50 vacuum-sucks the axial center portion of the outer circumferential surface of the tire constituent member 1.

[0055] The movement mechanism 51 includes a cylinder that moves the rod 51a in the radial direction (up and down direction) of the central annular frame 42. The movement mechanism 51 receives instructions from the control device 34 and moves the rod 51a to any position within the movable range of the rod 51a. The movement mechanism 51 also includes a lock mechanism 51b that fixes the position of the rod 51a so that it does not change (see FIG. 8).

[0056] A support portion 52 is fixed to a rod 51a of the moving mechanism 51. The moving mechanism 51 moves the rod 51a in the vertical direction, thereby moving the suction pad 50 between a position (separate position) radially outwardly separated from the tire constituent member 1 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first drum 10, as shown in FIG. 6, and a position (contact position) in contact with the tire constituent member 1. The contact position is set to a position where at least the skirt portion 50c contacts the tire constituent member 1. As shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable to set the contact position to a position where the skirt portion 50c and the tip end 50e1 of the stopper 50e contact the tire constituent member 1.

[0057] The end annular frames 41, 43 are provided with suction portions 44, 44 that hold the outer peripheral surface of the tire constituent member 1. The suction portions 44, 44 provided on the end annular frames 41, 43 suction the axial ends of the tire constituent member 1. Although the position at which the tire constituent member 1 is suctioned differs from the suction portion 44 provided on the central annular frame 42, they have the same structure. Therefore, the suction portions 44, 44 provided on the end annular frames 41, 43 are given the same reference numerals as the suction portion 44 of the central annular frame 42, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0058] In this embodiment, when the holding device 40 is viewed from the axial direction X as shown in Figure 3, the suction pads 50 provided on the central annular frame 42 are arranged so as to overlap with the suction pads 50 provided on the end annular frames 41, 43.

[0059] The end annular frames 41, 43 provided with the suction portions 44 as described above are connected to a guide shaft 48 fixed to the central annular frame 42 via a bearing (not shown). This allows the end annular frames 41, 43 to move toward and away from the central annular frame 42 in the axial direction X. As shown in Fig. 4, when the end annular frames 41, 43 are connected to the central annular frame 42, a gap 59a extending parallel to the axial direction X is formed between the suction pad 50 provided on the central annular frame 42 and the suction pad 50 provided on the end annular frame 41. In addition, a gap 59b extending parallel to the axial direction X is formed between the suction pad 50 provided on the central annular frame 42 and the suction pad 50 provided on the end annular frame 43.

[0060] 3, the adjustment device 47 provided on the end annular frames 41, 43 includes a screw shaft 60 arranged parallel to the guide shaft 48, a mounting bracket 61 having a threaded hole that screws onto the screw shaft 60, and a drive unit 62 that rotates the screw shaft 60 about its axis. The adjustment device 47 causes the drive unit 62 to rotate the screw shaft 60 about its axis via a drive belt 63, thereby sliding the end annular frames 41, 43 fixed thereto together with the mounting bracket 61 in the axial direction X. This changes the lengths La, Lb of the gaps 59a and 59b in the axial direction X.

[0061] In this embodiment, the adjustment device 47 synchronously moves one end annular frame 41 and the other end annular frame 43 in opposite directions in the axial direction X. In other words, the adjustment device 47 moves one end annular frame 41 and the other end annular frame 43 toward or away from the central annular frame 42 by the same distance, and moves the end annular frames 41, 43 so that the gap 59a and the gap 59b become equal.

[0062] The control device 34 is mainly configured with a microcomputer, and controls the overall operation of the transfer device 30. The control device 34 controls the frame transfer unit 32, the adjustment device 47, the movement mechanism 51, the lock mechanism 51b thereof, the switching valve 71, and the decompression device 70 that decompresses the vacuum chamber 53.

[0063] 3. Operation of the conveying device 30 Next, the operation of the conveying device 30 when it receives the cylindrical tire constituent member 1 formed on the first drum 10 and conveys it to the second drum 20 will be described.

[0064] First, the conveying device 30 sets the range within which the moving mechanism 51 of the suction unit 44 moves the rod 51a, depending on the size of the tire constituent member 1 molded on the outer peripheral surface of the first drum 10. In other words, the range within which the rod 51a of the moving mechanism 51 moves is set so that the suction pads 50 provided on the central annular frame 42 and the end annular frames 41, 43 move between a separated position spaced apart radially outward from the tire constituent member 1 and a contact position in which the suction pads 50 come into contact with the tire constituent member 1.

[0065] Furthermore, when the first drum 10 moves to the hollow portion 31 of the conveying device 30, the adjustment device 47 changes the position in the axial direction X of the end annular frames 41, 43 relative to the central annular frame 42 to adjust the lengths La, Lb of the gaps 59a, 59b so that the underbelt pad 5 provided on the tire constituent member 1 is positioned in the gaps 59a, 59b formed between the suction pad 50 provided on the central annular frame 42 and the suction pads 50 provided on the end annular frames 41, 43 (step S1 in Figure 9).

[0066] The setting of the range within which the moving mechanism 51 moves the rod 51a and the adjustment of the lengths La and Lb of the gaps 59a and 59b are performed when the size or type of the tire to be manufactured is changed, and do not need to be performed every time the tire constituent member 1 is transported.

[0067] Then, with the conveying device 30 positioned at the intersection B and the suction pad 50 positioned at the separated position, the first drum 10 with the tire constituent member 1 molded on its outer circumferential surface is moved to the intersection B and the first drum 10 is inserted into the hollow portion of the conveying device 30 (step S2 in FIG. 9). In this embodiment, the first drum 10 is inserted into the hollow portion of the conveying device 30 so that the center in the axial direction X of the tire constituent member 1 coincides in the axial direction X with the center in the axial direction X of the suction portion 44 provided on the central annular frame 42 (see FIG. 4).

[0068] As described above, in the conveying device 30, the separation positions and contact positions of the suction pads 50 and the gaps 59a, 59b formed between the suction pads 50 provided on the central annular frame 42 and the suction pads 50 provided on the end annular frames 41, 43 are set according to the size of the tire constituent member 1. Therefore, when the first drum 10 is inserted into the hollow portion 31 of the conveying device 30, the suction pads 50 of the suction portion 44 face, with a gap therebetween, the radially outer side of the tire constituent member 1 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the first drum 10. In addition, the underbelt pads 5 provided on the tire constituent member 1 are arranged at the positions of the gaps 59a, 59b of the conveying device 30 in the axial direction X.

[0069] Thereafter, the movement mechanism 51 moves the suction pad 50 from the separated position to the contact position. In this embodiment, when the suction pad 50 moves to the contact position, as shown in Fig. 7, the skirt portion 50c of the suction pad 50 and the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e come into contact with the tire constituent member 1 (step S3 in Fig. 9). When the suction pad 50 moves from the separated position to the contact position, the switching valve 71 connects the vacuum chamber 53 with the external space, and the pressure in the reduced pressure space 50d of the suction pad 50 is atmospheric pressure.

[0070] Since the underbelt pads 5 provided on the tire constituent member 1 are arranged in the positions of the gaps 59a, 59b of the conveying device 30, the suction pads 50 provided on the central annular frame 42 come into contact with the tire constituent member 1 on the inside of the underbelt pad 5 (closer to the center in the axial direction X than the underbelt pad 5). The suction pads 50 provided on the end annular frames 41, 43 come into contact with the tire constituent member 1 on the outside of the underbelt pad 5 (closer to the end in the axial direction X than the underbelt pad 5). In other words, the suction pads 50 come into contact with the tire constituent member 1 while avoiding the underbelt pad 5.

[0071] In this embodiment, the case has been described in which when the suction pad 50 moves to the contact position, the skirt portion 50c and the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e come into contact with the tire constituent member 1. However, the suction pad 50 may also be positioned so that the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e moves away from the tire constituent member 1 and the skirt portion 50c comes into contact with the tire constituent member 1.

[0072] Then, when the suction pad 50 moves to the contact position and comes into contact with the tire constituent member 1, the locking mechanism of the moving mechanism 51 is activated to fix the position of the rod 51a of the moving mechanism 51, thereby preventing the position of the suction pad 50 from changing (step S4 in Figure 9).

[0073] Then, the switching valve 71 is switched so that the vacuum chamber 53 communicates with the decompression device 70, thereby decompressing the vacuum chamber 53. As a result, the decompression space 50d of the suction pad 50 and the hollow portion 50e4 of the stopper 50e are decompressed, and the suction pad 50 suction-holds the tire constituent member 1 (step S5 in FIG. 9). In this embodiment, because the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e is in contact with the tire constituent member 1 before the suction pad 50 suction-holds the tire constituent member 1, even if the suction pad 50 suctions the tire constituent member 1, the tire constituent member 1 is unlikely to be drawn into the decompression space 50d.

[0074] Then, the outer peripheral surface of the first drum 10 is reduced in diameter, and thereafter the first drum 10 is moved from the intersection B to the standby position A, and the tire constituent member 1 is transferred from the first drum 10 to the conveying device 30 (step S6 in FIG. 9).

[0075] Then, with the second drum 20 placed at the standby position C, the conveying device 30 is moved from the intersection B to the intersection D (step S7 in FIG. 9).

[0076] Then, the second drum 20 is moved from the standby position C to the intersection D, and the second drum 20 is inserted into the hollow portion 31 of the conveying device 30 (step S8 in FIG. 9). Note that when moving from the standby position C to the intersection D, the outer circumferential surface of the second drum 20 is reduced in diameter and becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the tire constituent member 1.

[0077] Then, the outer peripheral surface of the second drum 20 is expanded in diameter to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tire constituent member 1, and the tire constituent member 1 is held by the second drum 20 (step S9 in FIG. 9).

[0078] Then, the decompression of the vacuum chamber 53 by the decompression device 70 is stopped, and the suction and holding of the tire constituent member 1 by the suction pad 50 is released (step S10 in FIG. 9).

[0079] Then, the moving mechanism 51 moves the suction pad 50 from the contact position to the separated position to transfer the tire constituent member 1 to the second drum 20 (step S11 in FIG. 9).

[0080] It is preferable that the height of the suction mark of the suction pad 50 formed on the tire constituent member 1 transported from the first drum 10 to the second drum 20 is 3 mm or less.

[0081] 4.Effects In this embodiment, the suction pad 50 is provided with the stopper 50e that protrudes from the connecting portion 50a into the decompression space 50d, so even if the decompression space 50d is decompressed to adsorb the tire constituent member 1, the tire constituent member 1 does not come into contact with the stopper 50e and is not excessively drawn into the decompression space 50d. Therefore, even if the tire constituent member 1 is made of unvulcanized rubber and is easily deformed, suction marks are unlikely to be left on the tire constituent member 1.

[0082] In addition, in this embodiment, the stopper 50e has a cylindrical shape that opens downward, so that the stopper 50e can be brought into contact with the tire constituent member 1 while ensuring an area where the suction pad 50 suctions the tire constituent member 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of suction marks while ensuring a high suction force.

[0083] In addition, in this embodiment, the hollow portion 50e4 of the stopper 50e is connected to the vacuum chamber 53, which is depressurized by the pressure reducing device 70, via the communication hole 50f1, so that the tire constituent member 1 can be adsorbed in the hollow portion 50e4 of the stopper 50e, making it easy to obtain a high adsorption force.

[0084] In particular, since a through hole 50e3 is provided in the peripheral wall 50e2 of the stopper 50e, even after the tire constituent member 1 abuts against the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e, the inside and outside of the stopper 50e are connected via the communicating hole 50f1, and the tire constituent member 1 can be adsorbed on the inside and outside of the stopper 50e.

[0085] Moreover, in this embodiment, the through-holes 50e3 are provided in the peripheral wall 50e2 so as not to open below the peripheral wall 50e2, and the tips 50e1 of the stoppers 50e are connected in an annular shape. Therefore, even if the tire constituent member 1 includes a large number of reinforcing cords, the reinforcing cords are less likely to be locally drawn into the decompression space 50d, and the tire constituent member 1 can be held while maintaining a uniform arrangement of the reinforcing cords.

[0086] In this embodiment, when the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e is positioned closer to the bellows portion 50b than the joining portion 50b1 between the bellows portion 50b and the skirt portion 50c, when the skirt portion 50c is brought into contact with the tire constituent member 1, the surface pressure at the contact portion between the skirt portion 50c and the tire constituent member 1 can be increased, and the sealing property of the reduced pressure space 50d can be improved.

[0087] Furthermore, if the bellows portion 50b is provided to be thicker than the skirt portion 50c, when the skirt portion 50c is brought into contact with the tire constituent member 1, the skirt portion 50c can improve its adhesion to the tire constituent member 1. Also, a large restoring force can be generated in the bellows portion 50b, thereby increasing the surface pressure that the skirt portion 50c exerts on the tire constituent member 1. As a result, the sealing performance of the reduced pressure space 50d can be further improved.

[0088] 5. Examples and Comparative Examples For the suction pads used in the conveying devices of the example and the comparative example, the suction force for the tire constituent member 1 and the height of the suction mark formed on the tire constituent member 1 after conveyance were measured.

[0089] Example 1 is a suction pad in which a pad body made of urethane rubber and a stopper made of silicone rubber are attached. An opening with a diameter of 50 mm is provided in the decompression space of the pad body. The stopper is cylindrical with an outer diameter of 20 mm and an inner diameter of 14 mm. In Example 1, the length P of the stopper 50e in the protruding direction from the lower end 50c1 of the skirt portion 50c to the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e is set to 0 mm, and the lower end 50c1 of the skirt portion 50c and the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e are set to be located on the same plane.

[0090] Examples 2 to 7 are suction pads similar to Example 1, except that the length P in the protruding direction of the stopper 50e from the lower end 50c1 of the skirt portion 50c to the tip 50e1 of the stopper 50e is changed as shown in Table 1.

[0091] The comparative example is a suction pad similar to that of the first embodiment except that no stopper is provided.

[0092] For the suction pads of Examples 1 to 7 and the comparative example, a tire component fixed to the outer peripheral surface of a drum having a diameter of 555 mm was adsorbed, and the tensile load at the time of adsorption was measured using a tension tester, and the measured value was taken as the adsorption force.

[0093] Furthermore, for the suction pads of Examples 1 to 7 and the Comparative Example, a tire constituent member fixed to the outer peripheral surface of a drum having a diameter of 555 mm was sucked, and after 60 seconds of suction, the suction pad's suction of the tire constituent member was released. Then, the height of the suction mark formed on the tire constituent member by each suction pad was measured. The measured suction force and suction mark height for Examples 1 to 7 and the Comparative Example are shown in Table 1.

[0094] [Table 1] As shown in Table 1, in the comparative example, the height of the suction marks was 4 mm, which caused poor adhesion and deterioration of uniformity in subsequent processes. On the other hand, in Examples 1 to 7, the height of the suction marks was within 0 mm, which did not cause poor adhesion or deterioration of uniformity in subsequent processes.

[0095] In addition, in Examples 1 to 7, the suction force was 20 N or more, which was sufficient to hold the tire constituent members. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1... tire constituent member, 10... first drum, 11... support base, 12... conveying device, 13... first rail, 20... second drum, 21... support base, 22... conveying device, 23... second rail, 30... conveying device, 31... hollow portion, 32... conveying device, 33... third rail, 34... control device, 40... holding device, 41... end annular frame, 42... central annular frame, 43... end annular frame, 44... suction portion, 45... suction portion, 47... adjustment device, 48... guide shaft , 50...suction pad, 50a...connecting portion, 50b...bellows portion, 50b1...connecting portion, 50c...skirt portion, 50c1...lower end, 50d...reduced pressure space, 50e...stopper, 50e1...lower end, 50e2...peripheral wall, 50e3...through hole, 50e4...hollow portion, 50f...mounting member, 50f1...communicating hole, 50f2...male thread portion, 50g...nut, 51...moving mechanism, 51a...rod, 51b...locking mechanism, 52...support portion, 53...vacuum chamber, 70...reducing pressure device

Claims

1. A conveying device that receives a cylindrical tire constituent member formed on a first drum from the first drum and conveys it to a second drum, an annular frame capable of surrounding outer peripheries of the first drum and the second drum, a suction unit provided on the annular frame, and a frame transport unit that transports the annular frame between the first drum and the second drum, the suction unit includes a suction pad having a decompression space formed therein and configured to adsorb the tire constituent member, a movement mechanism configured to move the suction pad in a radial direction of the annular frame, and a decompression device configured to decompress the decompression space, the suction pad includes a pad main body having a connecting portion connected to the moving mechanism and a bellows portion protruding from the connecting portion, and a stopper protruding from the connecting portion into the decompression space and coming into contact with the tire constituent member when the tire constituent member is suction-adsorbed. Conveying device.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the stopper is cylindrical.

3. The conveying device according to claim 2 , further comprising a communication hole that communicates a hollow portion of the cylindrical stopper with a space decompressed by the decompression device.

4. The conveying device according to claim 3 , wherein a through hole is provided in a peripheral wall of the stopper.

5. the pad body includes a skirt portion provided at a tip of the bellows portion, The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein a tip of the stopper is disposed closer to the bellows portion than a joint between the skirt portion and the bellows portion in a protruding direction of the stopper.

6. The conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the bellows portion is thicker than the skirt portion.

7. 2. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein a length from a tip of the pad body to a tip of the stopper in a protruding direction of the stopper is 4 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

8. 2. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is made of a rubber material having a hardness of 30 or more and 60 or less.

9. A conveying method for receiving a cylindrical tire constituent member formed on a first drum from the first drum and conveying it to the second drum using a conveying device including an annular frame capable of surrounding outer peripheries of a first drum and a second drum, a suction unit provided on the annular frame, and a frame conveying unit that conveys the annular frame between the first drum and the second drum, the suction unit includes a suction pad having a decompression space formed therein and configured to adsorb the tire constituent member, a movement mechanism configured to move the suction pad in a radial direction of the annular frame, and a decompression device configured to decompress the decompression space, the suction pad includes a pad main body having a connecting portion connected to the moving mechanism and a bellows portion protruding from the connecting portion, and a stopper protruding from the connecting portion into the reduced pressure space, a conveying method including: bringing the tire constituent member provided on the first drum into contact with the stopper and suctioning the tire constituent member with the suction pad, and receiving the tire constituent member from the first drum.

10. The transport method according to claim 9 , wherein the pressure reducing device reduces the pressure in the reduced pressure space after the pad body and the stopper are brought into contact with the tire constituent member.

11. 10. The transport method according to claim 9, wherein a height of a suction mark formed by the suction pad on the tire constituent member transported to the second drum is 3 mm or less.

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