Tire rubber component manufacturing equipment

Abstract

To provide a production device 2 of a rubber member for a tire which can produce a rubber member stably by using a strip S while securing productivity and workability.SOLUTION: A production device 2 includes an extrusion unit 4, a conveyance unit 6, a formation unit 8, and a heat insulation unit 10. The formation unit 8 includes: a drum 26 around which a strip S is wound; and a sticking roller 24 which sticks the strip S. The heat insulation unit 10 includes a box 28 which houses the conveyance unit 6. The box 28 includes an inlet 38, an outlet 40, and doors 42. Each of the doors 42 includes a lid 44, an outer frame 46, and a sealing member 50 which fills a space between the lid 44 and the outer frame 46. The inlet 38 is located between the extrusion unit 4 and the conveyance unit 6. The outlet 40 is located between the sticking roller 24 and the conveyance unit 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a rubber member for a tire. [Background technology]

[0002] A tire is constructed by combining rubber components such as a tread, a sidewall, etc. A strip winding method is known as a method for forming these rubber components (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). In this strip winding method, a tape-shaped strip made of unvulcanized rubber is prepared, and this strip is wound spirally on a drum to form a rubber component having a desired cross-sectional shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-20450 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The extruded strip is conveyed by a conveying unit to a forming unit where the rubber component is formed. The strip is wound spirally on the drum of the forming unit to obtain the rubber component. The strip has a temperature of about 90°C immediately after extrusion. The conveying unit is in an open state. The strip is cooled, and the temperature of the strip drops to about 25°C when it is wound on the drum.

[0005] Due to environmental considerations, the use of low heat generating rubber that contains a lot of silica is increasing. Strips formed using unvulcanized rubber that contains a lot of silica (hereinafter referred to as silica-rich strips) have the property of hardening when cooled. When forming rubber parts with silica-rich strips, there is a concern that the strip will harden when it is wound around a drum. When the strip hardens, its adhesiveness decreases. It is difficult to attach a strip with reduced adhesiveness to other rubber parts. In order to stably form rubber parts with silica-rich strips, it is necessary for the strip to be at a certain temperature or higher when it is wound around a drum.

[0006] For example, storing the strip in a thermal insulation box can prevent the temperature of the strip from dropping. The strip formed by the extruder is transported through the manufacturing equipment toward the drum. Therefore, the specifications of the thermal insulation box must take this transportation into consideration in addition to ensuring the heat retention. It is also necessary to arrange the thermal insulation box so that it is possible to deal with any trouble that may occur during the transport of the strip.

[0007] For example, if a gear pump type extruder is used, the strip formed by the extruder can be directly fed to the drum without providing a conveying line. However, the introduction cost of a gear pump type extruder is high, and there is a risk of productivity decreasing because the lamination speed of the strip is determined by the extrusion speed of the strip.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a tire rubber member that can stably manufacture a rubber member using a strip while ensuring productivity and workability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A tire rubber member manufacturing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for manufacturing a tire rubber member by forming a tape-like strip made of unvulcanized rubber and spirally winding the strip. The tire rubber member manufacturing apparatus includes an extrusion unit for forming the strip, a conveying unit for conveying the strip, a forming unit for spirally winding the strip to form the rubber member, and a heat-retaining unit for keeping the strip warm. The forming unit includes a drum on which the strip is wound, and an application roller for applying the strip on the drum. The heat-retaining unit includes a box for housing the conveying unit. The box includes an inlet for the strip, an outlet for the strip, and a plurality of doors. Each of the plurality of doors includes a lid, an outer frame for supporting the lid so that it can be opened and closed, and a sealing member for filling a gap between the lid and the outer frame. The inlet is located between the extrusion unit and the conveying unit. The outlet is located between the application roller and the conveying unit.

[0010] Preferably, in this tire rubber member manufacturing apparatus, the heat retention unit includes a heater.

[0011] Preferably, in the apparatus for manufacturing a tire rubber member, the internal temperature of the box is 50°C or higher and 100°C or lower. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a tire rubber member, which can stably manufacture a rubber member using a strip while ensuring productivity and workability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of an apparatus for manufacturing a rubber member for a tire. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the inside of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the door in an open state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with appropriate reference to the drawings.

[0015] 1 and 2 show an example of an apparatus 2 for manufacturing rubber members for tires according to one embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus 2 for manufacturing rubber members for tires (hereinafter also referred to as the manufacturing apparatus 2) is an apparatus for manufacturing rubber members for tires by forming a tape-like strip S made of unvulcanized rubber and spirally winding the strip S. This manufacturing apparatus 2 constitutes a part of a production line for manufacturing tires (not shown). FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of this manufacturing apparatus 2. FIG. 2 shows the inside of this manufacturing apparatus 2.

[0016] 1 and 2, the left-right direction is the length direction of the manufacturing apparatus 2. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the strip S moves from the right side to the left side of the paper. The right side of the paper is the upstream side of the manufacturing apparatus 2. The left side of the paper is the downstream side of the manufacturing apparatus 2. The direction perpendicular to the paper is the width direction of the manufacturing apparatus 2.

[0017] This manufacturing apparatus 2 includes an extrusion unit 4, a conveying unit 6, a forming unit 8, and a heat retention unit 10. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the extrusion unit 4, the conveying unit 6, and the forming unit 8 have the same configurations as the extrusion unit, the conveying unit, and the forming unit of a manufacturing apparatus generally used in the strip wind method. Therefore, only a brief explanation will be given of the extrusion unit 4, the conveying unit 6, and the forming unit 8, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0018] The extrusion unit 4 forms a strip S. The extrusion unit 4 includes an extruder 12 and a calender roll 14. In the extruder 12, unvulcanized rubber is processed into a tape shape. The tape-shaped unvulcanized rubber extruded from the extruder 12 passes through the calender roll 14. This adjusts the shape of the unvulcanized rubber, and a strip S having a predetermined shape is obtained.

[0019] The conveying unit 6 conveys the strip S formed in the extrusion unit 4 to the forming unit 8. The conveying unit 6 has a festoon section 16 and a guide section 18. The festoon section 16 has a function of temporarily storing the strip S. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the festoon section 16 adjusts the amount of the strip S sent to the forming unit 8 depending on the forming status of the rubber member. The guide section 18 is located between the festoon section 16 and the forming unit 8. The guide section 18 guides the strip S that has passed through the festoon section 16 to the forming unit 8.

[0020] The forming unit 8 spirally winds the strip S to form a rubber member. The forming unit 8 includes a guide section 20, a delivery roller 22, an application roller 24, and a drum .

[0021] The guiding section 20 guides the strip S that has passed through the transport unit 6 to the application position. In the manufacturing apparatus 2, the guiding section 20 is supported by a main body frame (not shown) of the manufacturing apparatus 2 so as to be movable in the width and length directions. The guiding section 20 moves in the width direction relative to the drum 26, thereby controlling the application position of the strip S in the axial direction of the drum 26. The guiding section 20 moves in the length direction relative to the drum 26, thereby controlling the application position of the strip S in the radial direction of the drum 26.

[0022] The feed roller 22 feeds the strip S to the drum 26. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the strip S formed in the extrusion unit 4 is attached to a conveyor belt T before being supplied to the transport unit 6. The conveyor belt T transports the strip S to the forming unit 8. The conveyor belt T is an endless belt with no end, and travels back and forth between the extrusion unit 4 and the forming unit 8. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the strip S is peeled off from the conveyor belt T by the feed roller 22, and only the strip S is sent to the drum 26.

[0023] The application roller 24 presses the strip S fed by the feed roller 22 against the drum 26 or another rubber member formed on the drum 26. This causes the strip S to be applied. The application roller 24 applies the strip S on the drum 26.

[0024] The drum 26 is rotatably supported by a main body frame (not shown). The strip S is wound around the drum 26. In the forming unit 8, the drum 26 is rotated, and the strip S is wound around the drum 26 while the bonding position of the strip S is controlled by the guide section 20, and the bonding roller 24 bonds the strip S. In this way, a rubber member having a desired shape is formed.

[0025] The insulation unit 10 keeps the strip S warm. The insulation unit 10 includes a box 28. The box 28 includes walls 32 standing up from a floor 30, and a top plate 34 and a bottom plate 36 placed on the walls 32. In the insulation unit 10, a space is defined by the floor 30, the walls 32, the top plate 34, and the bottom plate 36. In the manufacturing apparatus 2, the transport unit 6 is disposed within this space. In other words, the box 28 houses the transport unit 6.

[0026] Although not shown, the walls 32, the top plate 34, and the bottom plate 36 are formed by attaching plates to a rectangular outer frame. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, transparent plates such as acrylic plates are used as the plates for the walls 32, the top plate 34, and the bottom plate 36. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the inside of the box 28 can be seen from the outside. When an acrylic plate is used as the plate, the thickness of the acrylic plate is preferably 5 mm or more and 15 mm or less.

[0027] The box 28 includes an inlet 38 for the strip S, an outlet 40 for the strip S, and a number of doors 42. In this warming unit 10, the inlet 38 for the strip S is provided in a wall 32 located near the extrusion unit 4. The outlet 40 for the strip S is provided in a wall 32 located near the drum 26.

[0028] A plurality of doors 42 are provided on the walls 32 forming the sides of the box 28. FIG. 3 shows the door 42 in an open state. The door 42 includes a lid 44 and an outer frame 46. The lid 44 is fixed to the outer frame 46 by a connecting means 48 such as a hinge. The lid 44 is supported by the outer frame 46 so as to be openable and closable. In the manufacturing apparatus 2, the door 42 includes a sealing member 50. The sealing member 50 is attached to a portion of the outer frame 46 that contacts the lid 44. When the lid 44 is closed, the lid 44 fits inside the outer frame 46. The sealing member 50 fills the gap between the lid 44 and the outer frame 46. An example of the sealing member 50 is a rubber seal part that is commonly used for sealing purposes.

[0029] In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the lid 44 is closed while the rubber member is being manufactured. Since the door 42 functions as a part of the wall 32, the box 28 does not have any openings communicating the outside with the inside, other than the inlet 38 and outlet 40 for the strip S. The inside of the box 28 is almost completely isolated from the outside. Although heat flows in and out through the wall 32 and the top plate 34, there is almost no inflow of outside air into the inside of the box 28, so temperature changes inside the box 28 are suppressed.

[0030] In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the strip S formed in the extrusion unit 4 enters the inside of the box 28 from an inlet 38. The strip S introduced into the inside of the box 28 is discharged from the outlet 40 to the outside of the box 28 and supplied to the drum 26. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the strip S passes through the inside of the box 28. Inside the box 28, the strip S is hardly in contact with the outside air, so a decrease in the temperature of the strip S is suppressed.

[0031] In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the inlet 38 for the strip S is located between the extrusion unit 4 and the conveying unit 6. As described above, the strip S has a temperature of around 90°C immediately after extrusion. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the hot strip S enters the inside of the box 28 from the inlet 38. Since the inside of the box 28 is isolated from the outside, the heat of the strip S warms the inside of the box 28. This manufacturing apparatus 2 can maintain the temperature inside the box 28 through which the strip S passes at a temperature higher than the temperature of the outside air.

[0032] In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the outlet 40 of the strip S is located between the application roller 24 and the transport unit 6. As described above, in this manufacturing apparatus 2, the induction section 20 of the forming unit 8 moves in the width direction and the length direction. From the viewpoint of being able to set the size of the outlet 40 of the strip S small, it is preferable to locate it between the induction section 20 and the transport unit 6. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the strip S is kept warm by the heat retention unit 10 until it is just before being wound around the drum 26. This manufacturing apparatus 2 can maintain the temperature of the strip S at a temperature higher than the temperature of the outside air, specifically, at about 60°C, at the time when the strip S is wound around the drum 26. This manufacturing apparatus 2 can apply the strip S on the drum 26 while maintaining its adhesiveness, even if a strip molded from unvulcanized rubber containing a large amount of silica (hereinafter also referred to as a silica-rich strip), whose adhesiveness decreases when cooled, is used as the strip S. This manufacturing apparatus 2 can stably manufacture rubber members.

[0033] The unvulcanized rubber containing a large amount of silica means a rubber composition containing a base rubber and silica, and containing 20 parts by mass or more of silica per 100 parts by mass of the base rubber. Although not described in detail, examples of rubber components that can be used as the base rubber include natural rubber (NR), butadiene rubber (BR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), isoprene rubber (IR), ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), chloroprene rubber (CR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and butyl rubber (IIR). The base rubber may be composed of a single rubber component or two or more rubber components. Examples of silica include dry process silica (silicic anhydride) and wet process silica (silicic acid hydrate). Silica may be used alone or in combination of two or more types.

[0034] In this manufacturing apparatus 2, there is no need to consider introducing a gear pump type extruder in order to manufacture a rubber member using the silica-rich strip. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, an existing extruder can be used as the extruder 12, so that good productivity is maintained.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, when the lid 44 is opened, the worker can directly touch the strip S and the conveying unit 6 located inside the box 28 in the manufacturing apparatus 2. When the forming unit 8 is also housed in the box 28, the worker can directly touch the strip S, the conveying unit 6, and the forming unit 8 located inside the box 28 in the manufacturing apparatus 2. Even if a trouble occurs in a part of the manufacturing apparatus 2 housed inside the box 28 during the manufacturing of the rubber member in the manufacturing apparatus 2, the worker can deal with the trouble by opening the door 42 in the same manner as in the conventional manufacturing apparatus. The manufacturing apparatus 2 has a configuration that takes into consideration not only the insulation of the strip S but also the conveying of the strip S. In the manufacturing apparatus 2, good workability is maintained.

[0036] This manufacturing apparatus 2 can efficiently control the temperature inside the box 28 by configuring the box 28 with the minimum necessary volume without interfering with the work of the worker. This manufacturing apparatus 2 can further improve the productivity.

[0037] This manufacturing apparatus 2 can stably manufacture rubber members while ensuring productivity and workability.

[0038] In this manufacturing apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat retention unit 10 can be provided with a heater 52 inside the box 28. Heating the inside of the box 28 with the heater 52 improves the heat retention of the strip S. This heater 52 contributes to the stable production of rubber members using the strip S. From the viewpoint of effectively heating the inside of the box 28, this heat retention unit 10 may be provided with multiple heaters 52. In this case, the heaters 52 are arranged in effective positions, taking into consideration the difficulty of warming the inside of the box 28. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the specifications of the heater 52 are appropriately determined taking into consideration the volume of the box 28.

[0039] In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the internal temperature of the box 28 is preferably 50° C. or higher, and more preferably 100° C. or lower. By setting the internal temperature of the box 28 to 50° C. or higher, even if a silica-rich strip is used as the strip S, a strip S having the required adhesiveness is supplied to the drum 26. In this manufacturing apparatus 2, the rubber member is stably manufactured. From this viewpoint, the internal temperature is more preferably 60° C. or higher. By setting the internal temperature to 100° C. or lower, deterioration of the strip S located inside the box 28 is suppressed. Even in this case, in this manufacturing apparatus 2, the rubber member is stably manufactured. From this viewpoint, the internal temperature is more preferably 90° C. or lower.

[0040] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the tire rubber member manufacturing apparatus 2 that can stably manufacture rubber members using the strip S while ensuring productivity and workability. [Industrial Applicability]

[0041] The technique for manufacturing a rubber member while keeping the strip warm as described above can be applied to the manufacture of various tires. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 2...Manufacturing equipment 4. Extrusion unit 6. Transport unit 8. Formation Unit 10. Heat retention unit 12... Extruder 16. Festoon Section 18...Information Department 20...guiding section 22... Feed-off roller 24... Application roller 26...Drums 28...box 38...Entrance 40...exit 42 Door 44...lid 46 Outer frame 50....Sealing member 52 Heater

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing a rubber component for a tire by forming a tape-like strip of unvulcanized rubber containing a large amount of silica and spirally winding the strip, comprising: an extrusion unit for forming the strip; A conveying unit for conveying the strip; a forming unit for spirally winding the strip to form the rubber member; A heat retention unit for retaining the strip; Equipped with the conveying unit includes a conveying belt which is an endless belt, The strip formed in the extrusion unit is attached to the conveyor belt and conveyed by the conveyor belt to the forming unit; The forming unit includes a drum on which the strip is wound and an application roller for applying the strip on the drum, The heat retention unit includes a box that houses the transport unit, the box having an inlet for the strip, an outlet for the strip, and a plurality of doors; Each of the plurality of doors includes a lid, an outer frame that supports the lid so as to be openable and closable, and a sealing member that fills a gap between the lid and the outer frame; the inlet is located between the extrusion unit and the conveying unit; the outlet is located between the application roller and the transport unit; Manufacturing equipment for rubber components for tires.

2. The heat retention unit includes a heater. The tire rubber member manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The internal temperature of the box is 50°C or higher and 100°C or lower. The tire rubber member manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The conveying unit further includes a festoon section for adjusting the amount of the strip fed to the forming unit, and a guide section for guiding the strip that has passed through the festoon section to the forming unit, The box contains the festoon portion and the guide portion. The tire rubber member manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

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