Rubber member molding method, rubber member molding device, molding drum, and program

Abstract

To provide a rubber member molding method, rubber member molding apparatus, molding drum, and program that can set a clearance between a mouthpiece and a molding surface with high accuracy.SOLUTION: A rubber member molding method for molding a belt-like rubber member is to attach rubber discharged from a mouth to a molding surface while moving the mouth and the molding surface relative to each other in a direction along the molding surface. Before a start of molding, a position where one of the mouth and the molding surface is moved closer to the other to contact the other is set as a contact position, and the position where one is moved away from the other by a desired rubber member thickness at the start of molding from this contact position is set as a molding starting position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rubber member molding method, a rubber member molding apparatus, a molding drum, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] A method is known for molding a band-shaped rubber member by attaching rubber extruded from a die of an extruder to a molding surface while moving the molding surface (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). In this method, a rubber member having a desired thickness is molded by the rubber extruded from the die passing through the clearance between the die and the molding surface. Therefore, the clearance between the die and the molding surface greatly affects the attachment accuracy and dimensions of the rubber member.

[0003] Conventionally, the clearance between the nozzle and the molding surface has been set manually. Specifically, the nozzle is gradually brought closer to the molding surface, and the position of the nozzle is determined by measuring the clearance with a gap gauge or the like. However, when measuring the clearance with a gap gauge or the like, there is variation due to individual differences, making it difficult to set the clearance between the nozzle and the molding surface with high precision. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-185760 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a rubber member molding method, a rubber member molding device, a molding drum, and a program that enable the clearance between a die and a molding surface to be set with high precision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A rubber member molding method according to the present disclosure includes a method for molding a band-shaped rubber member by attaching rubber discharged from a die to a molding surface while moving a die and a molding surface relatively in a direction along the molding surface, the method comprising: Before molding begins, one of the nozzle and the molding surface is moved toward the other, and the position where it abuts against the other is set as the abutment position, and a position where one of the nozzle and the molding surface is moved from this abutment position in a direction away from the other by an amount equivalent to the desired thickness of the rubber material at the start of molding is set as the molding start position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a rubber member molding apparatus according to the present embodiment; [Figure 1B] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a rubber member molding apparatus according to the present embodiment; [Diagram 2] Block diagram showing the functions of the control system of the rubber member molding device [Diagram 3] Flowchart showing an example of a rubber member molding method [Figure 4] A diagram showing the relative positions of the extruder, the forming drum, and the sensor. [Diagram 5] A diagram showing the relative positions of the extruder, the forming drum, and the sensor. [Figure 6] A diagram showing the relative positions of the extruder, the forming drum, and the sensor. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the relative positions of the extruder, the forming drum, and the sensor. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the relative positions of the extruder, the forming drum, and the sensor. [Figure 9] A diagram showing the relative positions of the extruder, the forming drum, and the sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a rubber member molding method and a rubber member molding device will be described with reference to Fig. 1A to Fig. 9. Note that in each drawing, the dimensional ratios in the drawing do not necessarily match the actual dimensional ratios, and the dimensional ratios between the drawings do not necessarily match either.

[0009] <Structure of rubber component molding device> Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B are schematic diagrams showing an example of a rubber member molding apparatus, Fig. 1A being a front view and Fig. 1B being a plan view. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions of a control system of the rubber member molding apparatus.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the rubber part molding apparatus 1 includes an extruder 2 that kneads rubber and extrudes it toward a die 21, a molding drum 3, a forward / backward drive device 4 that drives the extruder 2 back and forth, a servo motor 5 that drives and rotates the molding drum 3, a sensor 6 that measures the displacement of the molding drum 3, and a control device 7 (not shown in Figures 1A and 1B).

[0011] 1A and 1B, the direction in which rubber is extruded by an extruder 2 is defined as the X direction, the cylindrical axial direction of a cylindrical molding drum 3 is defined as the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction is defined as the Z direction. When expressing a direction, if positive and negative directions are to be distinguished, the direction is described with a positive and negative sign, such as "+X direction" and "-X direction", and when expressing a direction without distinguishing between positive and negative directions, the direction is simply described as "X direction".

[0012] The extruder 2 has a cylindrical barrel 2a, a hopper 2b connected to the supply port of the barrel 2a, a screw (not shown) that kneads the rubber in the barrel 2a and sends it out to the tip side (+X direction side), and a screw motor 2c that rotates the screw. The operation of the screw motor 2c is controlled by a control device 7.

[0013] A gear pump 20 is connected to the tip end of the extruder 2, which sends out rubber supplied from the extruder 2 to a nozzle 21. The gear pump 20 sends out a fixed amount of rubber toward the nozzle 21 connected to its tip end. The gear pump 20 incorporates a pair of gears 20a that are rotated by a gear motor (not shown). The operation of the gear motor is controlled by the control device 7. The rubber is extruded through the gear pump 20 and the nozzle 21 at a specified discharge rate.

[0014] The extruder 2 is configured to be movable back and forth in the extrusion direction (X direction) by the front-rear drive device 4. The extruder 2 moves closer to the forming drum 3 by moving forward, and moves away from the forming drum 3 by moving backward. A gear pump 20 and a nozzle 21 connected to the extruder 2 each move back and forth integrally with the extruder 2. The front-rear drive device 4 corresponds to the movement mechanism of the present disclosure. The operation of the front-rear drive device 4 is controlled by a control device 7.

[0015] The forming drum 3 has a plurality of segments 30 arranged along the circumferential direction to form a cylindrical forming surface 3s. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the forming drum 3 has twelve segments 30. However, the number of segments 30 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, six or eight. Each segment 30 is formed in a plate shape curved in an arc shape when viewed from the cylindrical axial direction of the forming drum 3.

[0016] Each segment 30 is displaced in the radial direction by a cylinder device (not shown). This allows the forming drum 3 to expand and contract according to the displacement of the segments 30. Such a segment structure of the forming drum 3 is conventionally known and is disclosed, for example, in JP 2004-358680 A.

[0017] The molding drum 3 is configured to be rotatable around the cylindrical shaft 3a by the servo motor 5. The molding drum 3 is supported by the servo motor 5 in a cantilever manner. However, in order to prevent unnecessary displacement of the molding drum 3 during molding, the cylindrical shaft 3a of the molding drum 3 on the opposite side to the servo motor 5 is fixed by a tailstock (not shown) during molding. The operation of the servo motor 5 is controlled by the control device 7. Rubber discharged from the die 21 is wound around the molding surface 3s of the molding drum 3. The molding drum 3 is configured to be oscillated (reciprocated) in the cylindrical axial direction (Y direction) by the oscillating drive device 31 (see FIG. 1A) together with the servo motor 5. The operation of the oscillating drive device 31 is controlled by the control device 7. By rotating the molding drum 3 and oscillating it relative to the extruder 2, the rubber can be wound in a spiral shape along the circumferential direction to form an annular rubber member having a desired cross-sectional shape. It is also possible to form an annular rubber member by winding rubber around the rotating forming drum 3 only once, without rocking the forming drum 3 relative to the extruder 2.

[0018] The sensor 6 measures the displacement of the forming drum 3. As described above, since the forming drum 3 is supported by the servo motor 5 at one end, a minute displacement occurs due to an external force. The sensor 6 can measure this minute displacement of the forming drum 3. The type of the sensor 6 is not particularly limited, and may be a laser displacement meter or a profile measuring instrument, but a contact sensor is preferable.

[0019] The sensor 6 is disposed on the opposite side of the extruder 2 across the molding drum 3. The sensor 6, the cylindrical axis 3a of the molding drum 3, and the die 21 are disposed on a straight line when viewed from the cylindrical axis direction of the molding drum 3. In other words, when viewed from the cylindrical axis direction of the molding drum 3, the sensor 6 is disposed on an extension line of the direction in which the die 21 approaches the molding surface 3s of the molding drum 3 (specifically, on a straight line passing through the die 21 and the cylindrical axis 3a). In addition, the sensor 6 is disposed facing the -Y direction side of the molding drum 3 as shown in FIG. 1B. According to this configuration, the molding drum 3 is supported on one side in the +Y direction, and the displacement on the -Y direction side is large, so that the sensor 6 can easily measure minute displacements of the molding drum 3.

[0020] The sensor 6 is configured to be movable back and forth in the extrusion direction (X direction) of the extruder 2 by a sensor driving device 60 (see FIG. 2). The sensor 6 moves closer to the forming drum 3 by moving forward, and moves away from the forming drum 3 by moving backward. The operation of the sensor driving device 60 is controlled by the control device 7.

[0021] The control device 7 controls the operation of the front and rear drive device 4, the servo motor 5, the sensor drive device 60, etc., based on a production command transmitted from the production management unit 8 shown in Fig. 2. In addition, although not shown in Fig. 2, the control device 7 also controls the operation of the screw motor 2c of the extruder 2 and the gear motor of the gear pump 20. The control device 7 has a data acquisition unit 71, a storage unit 72, a molding position calculation unit 73, and an instruction unit 74.

[0022] The data acquisition unit 71 receives production commands from the production management unit 8. The data acquisition unit 71 also acquires measurement data from the drum encoder 3e, the extruder encoder 2e, and the sensor 6. The drum encoder 3e measures the displacement of the molding drum 3 caused by the servo motor 5, and outputs position information as an electrical signal. The extruder encoder 2e measures the displacement of the extruder 2 caused by the front and rear drive device 4, and outputs position information as an electrical signal.

[0023] The storage unit 72 stores a drum position (described later), an extruder standby position (described later), an extruder forward position (described later), and a member shape. The member shape is data relating to the shape of the rubber member to be molded.

[0024] The molding position calculation unit 73 includes a drum position calculation unit 73a, an extruder contact position calculation unit 73b, and an extruder molding start position calculation unit 73c. ​​The drum position calculation unit 73a calculates the position of the molding drum 3. The position of the molding drum 3 includes the position of the cylindrical axis direction (Y direction) of the molding drum 3 and the position of the rotation direction (circumferential direction) of the molding drum 3. The extruder contact position calculation unit 73b calculates the position (contact position) of the extruder 2 when the extruder 2 and the molding drum 3, specifically the die 21 and the molding surface 3s, come into contact with each other. The extruder molding start position calculation unit 73c calculates the position (molding start position) of the extruder 2 when the extrusion of rubber from the die 21 starts.

[0025] The instruction unit 74 transmits instruction signals to the servo motor 5 , the front-rear drive device 4 , and the sensor drive device 60 based on the data calculated by the forming position calculation unit 73 and the data stored in the storage unit 72 .

[0026] <Rubber component molding method> Next, a rubber member molding method will be described with reference to Fig. 3 to Fig. 9. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the rubber member molding method. Fig. 4 to Fig. 9 are diagrams showing the positional relationship between the extruder 2, the molding drum 3, and the sensor 6 during execution of the rubber member molding method.

[0027] 4 shows the positional relationship between the extruder 2, the molding drum 3, and the sensor 6 before molding starts. The extruder 2 and the die 21 are at a standby position P1. This standby position P1 is stored in advance in the storage unit 72 as position information from the extruder encoder 2e. The sensor 6 is also at a standby position Q1 away from the molding drum 3.

[0028] The molding drum 3 is moved in the cylindrical axial direction (Y direction) by the swing drive device 31, and stops at a stop position R1 facing the die 21 of the extruder 2. The stop position R1 of the molding drum 3 is calculated by the drum position calculation unit 73a. A signal indicating that the molding drum 3 has stopped is sent to the control device 7.

[0029] First, in step S100, the sensor 6 is advanced from the standby position Q1 by the sensor driving device 60. The sensor 6 continues to advance until the leading end thereof comes into contact with the forming surface 3s of the forming drum 3.

[0030] Next, in step S101, it is determined whether the sensor 6 detects a displacement. When the sensor 6 comes into contact with the molding surface 3s, it detects the displacement. If the sensor 6 does not detect a displacement (No in step S101), that is, if the sensor 6 has not yet come into contact with the molding surface 3s, the sensor 6 returns to step S101 and continues to move forward.

[0031] On the other hand, if the sensor 6 detects a displacement (Yes in step S101), that is, if the tip of the sensor 6 comes into contact with the molding surface 3s as shown in Fig. 5, the sensor 6 stops in step S102. The memory unit 72 stores the stop position Q2 of the sensor 6. In addition, the detection value of the sensor 6 at the stop position Q2 is set as the zero point of the sensor 6.

[0032] Next, in step S103, the extruder 2 is moved forward from the standby position P1 by the front-rear drive device 4. The extruder 2 continues to move forward until the die 21 and the molding surface 3s come into contact with each other. Whether the die 21 and the molding surface 3s come into contact with each other is determined based on the displacement of the molding drum 3 from the stop position R1. Specifically, the die 21 and the molding surface 3s are determined to have come into contact with each other when the die 21 starts to come into contact with the molding surface 3s at the contact start position P2 shown in FIG. 6 due to the forward movement of the extruder 2, and then the die 21 pushes the molding drum 3 while in contact with the molding surface 3s, causing the molding drum 3 to be slightly displaced from the stop position R1. In this embodiment, the die 21 and the molding surface 3s are determined to have come into contact with each other when the molding drum 3 is displaced by 0.01 mm from the stop position R1.

[0033] In step S104, it is determined whether the displacement measured by the sensor 6 is smaller than a specified value. The specified value is preferably 0.10 mm or less, and more preferably 0.01 mm or less. In this embodiment, the specified value is set to 0.01 mm as described above. If the displacement measured by the sensor 6 is smaller than the specified value (Yes in step S104), the extruder 2 returns to step S103 and continues to move forward.

[0034] On the other hand, when the displacement measured by the sensor 6 reaches a specified value (No in step S104), the extruder 2 stops in step S105. The positions of the extruder 2 and the die 21 at this time are set to the contact position P3 shown in FIG. 7. The forward movement of the extruder 2 causes the molding drum 3 to move slightly from the stop position R1 to the contact position R2. When it is determined that the die 21 and the molding surface 3s have come into contact with each other, the forward position L1 of the extruder 2 is stored in the memory unit 72. This forward position L1 is the distance that the extruder 2 has advanced from the standby position P1 to the contact position P3. When the forward position L1 is stored, the sensor 6 retreats from the stop position Q2 and returns to the standby position Q1. The contact position P3 of the extruder 2 is calculated by the extruder contact position calculation unit 73b based on the standby position P1 and the forward position L1. In step S106 and thereafter described below, the sensor 6 may remain at the stop position Q2.

[0035] Next, in step S106, a molding start position P4 of the extruder 2 is set. The molding start position P4 is a position where the rubber extruded from the die 21 starts to be attached to the molding surface 3s. As shown in FIG. 8, the molding start position P4 is a position that is retreated from the contact position P3 as the starting point by the thickness t of the desired rubber member at the start of molding. Data of the desired thickness t of the rubber member is stored in the storage unit 72 as one of the member shapes. The thickness t of the rubber member is, for example, 0.10 to 0.50 mm. The molding start position P4 is calculated by the extruder molding start position calculation unit 73c based on the contact position P3 and the thickness t.

[0036] 9, the extruder 2 starts discharging the rubber 9 at the molding start position P4, and at approximately the same time, the molding drum 3 starts rotating. This starts the application of the rubber 9 discharged from the die 21 to the molding surface 3s. The rubber 9 discharged from the die 21 passes through the clearance between the die 21 and the molding surface 3s, thereby forming a rubber member having a desired thickness t.

[0037] As described above, the rubber member molding method according to the present embodiment is a method for molding a band-shaped rubber member by bonding the rubber 9 discharged from the die 21 to the molding surface 3s while moving the die 21 and the molding surface 3s relatively in a direction along the molding surface 3s, Before molding begins, the nozzle 21 is moved toward the molding surface 3s until it comes into contact with the molding surface 3s, which is designated as the contact position P3. The nozzle 21 is then moved from this contact position P3 in a direction away from the molding surface 3s by an amount equal to the desired thickness t of the rubber material at the start of molding, which is designated as the molding start position P4.

[0038] According to this configuration, the contact position P3 where the nozzle 21 actually contacts the molding surface 3s is used as the starting point, and the nozzle 21 is separated from this starting point from the molding surface 3s by the desired thickness t of the rubber material at the start of molding, so that the clearance between the nozzle 21 and the molding surface 3s can be set with high precision to the desired thickness t of the rubber material.

[0039] In the rubber member molding method according to this embodiment, the contact position P3 is a position where the molding surface 3s is slightly displaced after the mouthpiece 21 starts to contact the molding surface 3s while maintaining the contact state.

[0040] According to this configuration, the position where the die 21 actually comes into contact with the forming surface 3s can be accurately set to the contact position P3.

[0041] Moreover, in the rubber member molding method according to this embodiment, the measurement of the minute displacement is performed by a contact sensor that measures the displacement of the molding surface 3s.

[0042] According to this configuration, minute displacements of the molding surface 3s can be reliably measured.

[0043] As described above, the rubber member molding apparatus according to the present embodiment is a rubber member molding apparatus 1 that molds a band-shaped rubber member, The apparatus comprises a die 21 which discharges rubber 9, a molding surface 3s to which the rubber 9 discharged from the die 21 is attached while moving relatively to the die 21, a movement mechanism 4 which moves the die 21 towards or away from the molding surface 3s, a sensor 6 which detects when the die 21 approaches and comes into contact with the molding surface 3s, and a control device 7 which controls the movement mechanism 4, Before molding begins, the control device 7 moves the nozzle 21 closer to the molding surface 3s, and when it receives a contact detection signal from the sensor 6, it moves the nozzle 21 away from the molding surface 3s by an amount equal to the desired thickness t of the rubber material at the start of molding from the contact position P3 where the nozzle 21 contacts the molding surface 3s.

[0044] According to this configuration, the contact position P3 where the nozzle 21 actually contacts the molding surface 3s is used as the starting point, and the nozzle 21 is separated from this starting point from the molding surface 3s by the desired thickness t of the rubber material at the start of molding, so that the clearance between the nozzle 21 and the molding surface 3s can be set with high precision to the desired thickness t of the rubber material.

[0045] Moreover, in the rubber member molding apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the sensor 6 is a contact sensor that measures the displacement of the molding surface 3s.

[0046] According to this configuration, the sensor 6 can reliably measure minute displacements of the molding surface 3s.

[0047] In the rubber member molding apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the sensor 6 is arranged behind the molding surface 3s when viewed from the die 21.

[0048] According to this configuration, the sensor 6 can reliably measure the minute displacement of the molding surface 3s displaced by the die 21.

[0049] Moreover, in the rubber member molding apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the sensor 6 is arranged on an extension line of the direction in which the mouthpiece 21 approaches the molding surface 3s.

[0050] According to this configuration, the displacement direction of the forming drum 3 and the orientation of the sensor 6 are opposite to each other, so that a highly reliable contact sensor can be used as the sensor 6.

[0051] The forming drum 3 according to this embodiment includes a cylindrical forming surface 3s to which the rubber 9 discharged from the die 21 is attached, a motor 5 for rotating the forming surface 3s about the cylindrical axis, and a sensor 6 for detecting when the die 21 approaches and comes into contact with the forming surface 3s. With this configuration, it is possible to detect when the die 21 actually comes into contact with the forming surface 3s.

[0052] Moreover, the programs according to the present embodiment cause a computer to execute the above-mentioned rubber member molding method. By executing these programs, it is possible to obtain the effects of the above-mentioned method. In other words, it can be said that the above-mentioned method is used.

[0053] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above based on the drawings, the specific configurations should not be considered to be limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated not only by the description of the above-mentioned embodiments but also by the claims, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0054] The structures employed in the above-described embodiments may be employed in any other embodiment. The specific configurations of the components are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above based on the drawings, the specific configurations should not be considered to be limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated not only by the description of the above-mentioned embodiments but also by the claims, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0056] For example, the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings, can be arbitrary, as long as the output of a previous process is not used in a subsequent process. Even if the flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, this does not mean that it is essential to execute the processes in this order.

[0057] In the rubber member molding method according to the above embodiment, before molding starts, the die 21 is moved in a direction approaching the molding surface 3s to abut against the molding surface 3s, which is set as the abutment position P3, and the die 21 is moved from this abutment position P3 in a direction away from the molding surface 3s by the thickness t of the desired rubber member at the start of molding to a molding start position P4. However, the rubber member molding method is not limited to this configuration. For example, the molding surface 3s may be moved closer to or farther away from the die 21. That is, before molding starts, the molding surface 3s is moved in a direction approaching the die 21 to abut against the die 21, which is set as the abutment position, and the molding surface 3s is moved from this abutment position in a direction away from the die 21 by the thickness t of the desired rubber member at the start of molding to a molding start position. At this time, the sensor 6 measures the displacement of the die 21.

[0058] In the rubber member molding method and rubber member molding device according to the above embodiment, the molding drum 3 is configured with a plurality of segments 30 arranged along the circumferential direction, but is not limited to this. The molding drum 3 may be configured as a single unit without being divided into segments.

[0059] In the rubber member molding method and rubber member molding device according to the above-described embodiment, the molding surface is the cylindrical molding surface 3s of the molding drum 3, but is not limited to this. The molding surface may be a disk-shaped molding surface of a rotating disk. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1...rubber member molding device, 2...extruder, 2e...extruder encoder, 3...molding drum, 3e...drum encoder, 3s...molding surface, 4...front-rear drive device (movement mechanism), 5...servo motor, 6...sensor, 7...control device, 9...rubber, 21...jaw, 60...sensor drive device, P1...waiting position of jaw, P2...contact start position of jaw, P3...contact position of jaw, P4...molding start position of jaw, Q1...waiting position of sensor, Q2...stopping position of sensor, R1...stopping position of molding drum, R2...contact position of molding drum, t...desired thickness of rubber member

Claims

1. A rubber member molding method for molding a band-shaped rubber member by attaching rubber discharged from a die to a molding surface while moving a die and a molding surface relatively in a direction along the molding surface, comprising: A rubber member molding method comprising the steps of: before starting molding, moving one of the nozzle and the molding surface in a direction approaching the other, so that a position where it abuts against the other is defined as a contact position; and moving one of the nozzle and the molding surface from this contact position in a direction away from the other by an amount equivalent to a desired thickness of the rubber member at the start of molding, so as to set a molding start position.

2. 2. The rubber member molding method according to claim 1, wherein the abutting position is a position where one of the mouthpiece and the molding surface starts to come into contact with the other and the other is slightly displaced while maintaining the contact state.

3. 3. The rubber member molding method according to claim 2, wherein the minute displacement is measured by a contact sensor that measures the displacement of the other of the mouthpiece and the molding surface.

4. A rubber member molding device for molding a band-shaped rubber member, comprising: the device comprises a die that ejects rubber, a molding surface onto which the rubber ejected from the die is attached while moving relative to the die, a movement mechanism that moves one of the die and the molding surface toward or away from the other, a sensor that detects when the one of the die approaches and comes into contact with the other, and a control device that controls the movement mechanism, The control device brings one of the members closer to the other before molding begins, and when it receives a contact detection signal from the sensor, moves one of the members away from the other by an amount equal to the desired thickness of the rubber member at the start of molding.

5. 5. The rubber member molding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is a contact sensor that measures the displacement of the other of the two.

6. The rubber member molding apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the sensor is disposed rearward of the one of the first and second sensors when viewed from the other of the first and second sensors.

7. The rubber member molding apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor is disposed on an extension line of a direction in which the one of the sensors approaches the other of the sensors.

8. a cylindrical molding surface onto which the rubber discharged from the nozzle is attached; A motor that rotates the forming surface about a cylindrical axis; a sensor for detecting when the die approaches and comes into contact with the forming surface.

9. A program for causing a computer to execute the rubber member molding method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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