Tire

Abstract

To provide a tire which can indicate a range in which an electronic tag is embedded.SOLUTION: A tire 100 includes: an electronic tag 7 disposed at the inner side relative to a surface; and a display part 8 which indicates a position of the electronic tag 7. The display part 8 is disposed on the surface and formed at a range containing a projection image of a shape of the electronic tag 7 on the surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a pneumatic tire provided with a transponder. The transponder can provide various information about the tire and data of the tire in use. In this tire, the transponder has a transmission / reception function and a storage function, and is arranged, for example, in the sidewall portion. And, an identification mark indicating the position of the transponder is provided on the outer surface of the tire of the sidewall where the transponder is arranged or on the outer surface of the sidewall portion on the opposite side of the sidewall portion where the transponder is arranged. The identification mark indicating the position of the transponder is distinguished from other parts based on color or shape. When the color of the identification mark is different from the color of the outer surface of the tire, it includes the case where any of color, lightness, and hue is different. When the identification mark is a three-dimensional shape, a concave shape recessed from the outer surface of the tire, a convex shape protruding from the outer surface of the tire, or a shape combining a concave shape and a convex shape is adopted.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a method for treating a rubber material containing rubber from a rubber-containing product such as a tire. It is described that a rubber-containing product such as a tire is separated from rubber and other materials and then treated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] For example, as described in Patent Document 1, an electronic chip that functions as a transponder (so-called electronic tag or RFID tag, hereinafter simply referred to as electronic tag) may be provided inside or on the inner surface of a tire. And, information about the tire may be provided to an external terminal by communication with the electronic chip. Thereby, it is possible to grasp information such as the type of the tire, information related to distribution and sales, usage history, and driving information of the vehicle to which the tire is attached, or to obtain necessary information (for example, information related to the constituent materials of the tire) from the tire at the time of recycling the tire, and it becomes easy to manage the traceability related to the proper disposal and recycling of the tire. If the position of the electronic tag is displayed on the outer surface of the tire, it is convenient when obtaining information by a terminal device that obtains information from the electronic tag because the position where the sensor is held can be grasped by the display. Also, when separating the electronic tag from the tire in the separation process when the tire is discarded or recycled, it is convenient because the position of the electronic tag can be known.

[0006] Here, in the case where the electronic tag is embedded inside the tire, it may be necessary to cut out the tire and remove and separate the electronic tag. Therefore, as the position of the electronic tag, it is desired to be able to grasp the range where the electronic tag is provided.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a tire capable of indicating the range in which an electronic tag is embedded.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The tire according to the present invention for achieving the above object is an electronic tag disposed inside rather than on the surface, and a display unit indicating the position of the electronic tag, and includes The display unit is disposed on the surface, and formed in a range including the projected image of the shape of the electronic tag on the surface.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the position of the electronic tag provided on the tire can be clearly shown. Also, the range in which the electronic tag is embedded can be shown according to the range of the projection image. When performing sorting operations during tire disposal or recycling, if the tire is cut out according to the projection image shown by the display unit, the electronic tag can be easily removed from the tire.

[0010] In the tire according to the present invention, furthermore, The display unit may be formed in a range including the orthographic projection image of the shape of the electronic tag on the surface.

[0011] According to the above configuration, it can be shown that the electronic tag is embedded inside the tire in a direction perpendicular to the surface. That is, if the tire is cut out in a direction perpendicular to the surface, the electronic tag can be removed from the tire.

[0012] In the tire according to the present invention, furthermore, The display unit may indicate the embedding depth of the electronic tag.

[0013] According to the above configuration, it can be shown how deep the electronic tag is embedded from the surface of the tire. That is, if the tire is cut out to the depth indicated by the display unit, the electronic tag can be removed from the tire.

[0014] In the tire according to the present invention, furthermore, The display unit may be formed over the range including the electronic tag.

[0015] According to the above configuration, by making the entire range shown by the display unit the object of sorting, the electronic tag can be surely removed. That is, if the tire is cut out within the range shown by the display unit, the electronic tag can be surely removed from the tire.

[0016] In the tire according to the present invention, furthermore, The display unit may include an auxiliary display unit that indicates the position of the electronic tag in the circumferential direction.

[0017] According to the above configuration, an operator can easily grasp on which side in the circumferential direction of the tire the electronic tag is disposed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Based on the drawings, a tire according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0020] 〔First Embodiment〕 FIGS. 1 and 2 show a tire 100 according to this embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of the tire 100 intersecting the circumferential direction C (see FIG. 2). FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the tire 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the tire 100 includes an electronic tag 7 (hereinafter referred to as tag 7) disposed inside the surface of the tire 100, and a display unit 8 indicating the position of the tag 7. An example of the tag 7 is a so-called RFID tag, which is an electronic circuit device or an electronic chip including an antenna circuit, a storage circuit, and a control circuit for communication. Hereinafter, the tire 100 will be described in detail.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tire 100 includes a bead portion 1 disposed on the side portion of the tire 100 for fixing the tire 100 to a rim, a sidewall portion 2 which is a side portion of the tire 100, and a tread portion 3 in contact with the road surface.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the tire 100 is formed in an approximately circular annular shape centered on the axis G. That is, the tread portion 3, the sidewall portion 2, and the bead portion 1 are in an approximately circular annular shape with the axis G as a common center.

[0023] In the following description, the width direction W, the circumferential direction C (see FIG. 2), and the radial direction R of the tire 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have the same meaning as the width direction, the circumferential direction, and the radial direction of the tread portion 3. In the radial direction R, the outer side of the annular shape is referred to as the radially outer side, and the inner side of the annular shape is referred to as the radially inner side.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the tire 100 has, as an internal structure, a carcass 5 which is a cord layer forming the skeleton of the tire 100, a bead core 4 which serves as an internal skeleton of the bead portion 1 and supports the carcass 5, and a belt 6 which is a reinforcing belt stretched along the circumferential direction C between the surface of the tread portion 3 and the carcass 5.

[0025] The bead portion 1, the sidewall portion 2, and the tread portion 3 each contain synthetic rubber. The synthetic rubber of the bead portion 1 and the sidewall portion 2 is referred to as side rubber. The synthetic rubber of the tread portion 3 is referred to as tread rubber. The bead core 4, the carcass 5, and the belt 6 are embedded in the side rubber and the tread rubber. In the tire 100, at both ends in the width direction W of the tread portion 3, the radially outer ends of the sidewall portion 2 are integrally connected. The bead portion 1 is integrally connected to the radially inner end of the sidewall portion 2. That is, the cross-section of the tire 100 intersecting the circumferential direction C is in the shape of the letter C of the alphabet. In the present embodiment, the surface of the tire 100 refers to the outer surface (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the outer surface) of the arc of the C shape and the inner surface (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the inner surface) of the C shape in the C shape of the tire 100.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tread pattern is formed in the tread portion 3, and a plurality of convex portions 30 (an example of a tread surface) whose outer peripheral surface contacts the road surface and a plurality of concave portions 31 recessed radially inward relative to the convex portions 30 are formed. The concave portion 31 is, for example, a circumferential groove. The outer peripheral surface refers to the radially outer surface of the tread portion 3 in the tire 100.

[0027] The tire 100 in the present embodiment further includes the tag 7 and the display portion 8 as described above. The cross-section of the tire 100 shown in FIG. 1 is the cross-section of the tire 100 viewed along the circumferential direction C (see FIG. 2), and shows the cross-section of the portion including the tag 7 and the display portion 8.

[0028] In FIGS. 1 and 2, an example is shown in which the tag 7 is disposed inside the tire 100 (inside the surface), closer to the bead portion 1 of one sidewall portion 2, and outside the carcass 5 (see FIG. 2) in the width direction W of the tire 100. That is, the tag 7 is embedded (disposed) in the side portion of the tire 100. The outer side in the width direction W is the same side as the side of the sidewall portion 2 as viewed from the tread portion 3.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the side wall portion 2 in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the display portion 8 is formed in the side wall portion 2.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the display portion 8 is disposed at a position where a perpendicular line from the position of the tag 7 downward to the outer surface of the side wall portion 2, which is the outer surface of the tire 100 closest to the tag 7, intersects the outer surface. Thereby, the display portion 8 can clearly show the range in which the tag 7 is embedded. Thereby, when the tire 100 is discarded or recycled, the removal of the tag 7 becomes easy. Further, when an operator communicates with the tag 7 using a terminal device, the display portion 8 can indicate the position of the tag 7 to the operator, so that the operator can easily grasp the position of the tag 7 and smoothly communicate with the tag 7.

[0031] Based on FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the position of the display portion 8 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 shows a conceptual diagram showing the positional relationship between the tag 7 and the display portion 8 for explaining the installation position of the display portion 8. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the display portion 8 disposed on the side wall portion 2 in FIG. 2. In FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, an orthographic image (an example of a projection image) obtained by projecting the outer shape of the tag 7 onto the outer surface of the side wall portion 2 is shown as the tag projection image 7s. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the display portion 8 is formed in a range including the outer surface of the side wall portion 2 and including the tag projection image 7s. In the present embodiment, the orthographic image obtained by projecting the outer shape of the tag 7 onto the surface of the side wall portion 2, that is, the tag projection image 7s, is an image obtained by projecting the outer shape of the tag 7 onto the surface along the direction of a perpendicular line from the center of the tag 7 downward to the outer surface of the tire 100 (the outer surface of the side wall portion 2 in the present embodiment) closest to the center of the tag 7.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the display portion 8 may be formed in a range on the surface of the tire 100 that includes the tag projection image 7s (see FIGS. 2 and 4). Thereby, it is possible to indicate the position where the tag 7 is embedded inside the tire 100 in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the tire 100. That is, if the tire 100 (in this embodiment, the sidewall portion 2) is cut out in the direction perpendicular to the surface, the tag 7 can be removed from the tire 100.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the display portion 8 is formed on the surface of the tire 100 to include the tag projection image 7s (see FIGS. 2 and 4) and in a range wider than the tag projection image 7s. This is preferable. Thereby, when removing the tag 7 from the tire 100, if the range where the display portion 8 is formed is cut out, the tag 7 can be more reliably removed from the tire 100. That is, by targeting the entire range indicated by the display portion 8 for separation, the tag 7 can be surely removed.

[0034] The display portion 8 is preferably formed of a material of a different color (a different-color material) from other portions in the tread portion 3. Thereby, the display of the display portion 8 can be easily identified by the difference in color. Note that the different color means that there is a difference that can be grasped visually, such as color tone, color shade, lightness, pattern, gloss, etc., that is, it has visual discriminability. The different-color material includes a material that emits light or stores light. In this embodiment, the case where a different-color portion 87 is formed as the display portion 8 is illustrated. As the different-color material, a material obtained by adding a pigment of a different color to rubber or a material obtained by removing carbon from rubber may be used.

[0035] In the display portion 8, in addition to making the color different from other portions in the tread portion 3 to provide visual identification of the position and range, the color tone (color, color shade, lightness, pattern, gloss, etc.) may be used to indicate the embedding depth of the tag 7. For example, when the display portion 8 is yellow, the depth is from 1 mm or more to less than 5 mm from the surface, and when the display portion 8 is blue, the depth is from 5 mm or more to less than 15 mm from the surface, and so on.

[0036] In the display portion 8, in addition to indicating the embedding depth of the tag 7 by its color tone (color, color shade, lightness, pattern, gloss, etc.), the embedding depth of the tag 7 may be indicated by its shape. For example, when the display portion 8 is drawn as a double oval, the depth is from 1 mm or more to less than 5 mm from the surface, and when the display portion 8 is drawn as a double rectangle, the depth is from 5 mm or more to less than 15 mm from the surface, and so on.

[0037] The different-color portion 87 as the display portion 8 may be simply colored on the surface of the tire 100. However, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferably formed from the surface of the tire 100 (the outer surface of the sidewall portion 2 in this embodiment) into the interior of the tire 100. That is, the different-color portion 87 as the display portion 8 may be formed such that the different-color material has a predetermined thickness in the surface layer portion of the tire 100 and is embedded in the surface layer portion. Thereby, even when the tire 100 is used to some extent and the surface is worn, a decrease in the discriminability of the display portion 8 can be avoided.

[0038] In this embodiment, the different-color portion 87 is formed over a range from the outer surface of the sidewall portion 2 (the outer surface of the tire 100) into the interior of the tire 100 and on the outer surface side (the outer side in the width direction W in this embodiment) of the tag 7.

[0039] 〔Second Embodiment〕 The tire 100 according to the second embodiment is different from the tire 100 according to the first embodiment in the arrangement of the tag 7 and the display portion 8, and the rest is the same.

[0040] In the tire 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tag 7 is embedded inside the tire 100 in the tread portion 3 and on the outer side in the radial direction R from the carcass 5.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the display portion 8 is disposed at a position where a perpendicular line from the position of the tag 7 toward the outer surface of the tread portion 3, which is the outer surface of the tire 100 closest to the tag 7, intersects the outer surface. In the present embodiment, a different-color portion 87 as the display portion 8 is disposed so as to include the tag image 7s (see FIG. 7) and over a range wider than the tag image 7s. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the different-color portion 87 is disposed over a range wider in the circumferential direction C and the width direction W than the tag image 7s. In the present embodiment, the different-color portion 87 is disposed across the central convex portion 30 of the tread portion 3 where the tag image 7s is located and both concave portions 31 in the width direction W of the convex portion 30.

[0042] The different-color portion 87 as the display portion 8 may be simply colored on the surface of the tire 100, but as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferably formed from the surface of the tire 100 (the outer surface of the sidewall portion 2 in the present embodiment) toward the inside of the tire 100. That is, the different-color portion 87 as the display portion 8 may be formed such that the different-color material has a predetermined thickness in the surface layer portion of the tire 100 and is embedded in the surface layer portion. Thereby, even when the tire 100 is used to some extent and the surface is worn, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the discriminability of the display portion 8.

[0043] Note that the different-color portion 87 may be formed thicker than in the state shown in FIG. 6. The thicker the different-color portion 87 is formed, the more the discriminability of the display portion 8 can be maintained even when the tire 100 is worn. For example, the different-color portion 87 may be formed over a range of the depth (depth from the outer surface in the radial direction R) from the surface of the convex portion 30 to the inside (inside the tread portion 3) in the radial direction R of the tread portion 3 and up to the bottom valley portion of the concave portion 31.

[0044] Also, according to the arrangement of the display unit 8 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, since a part of the display unit 8 is formed across the concave portion 31, even when the convex portion 30 is severely worn, the display unit 8 in the concave portion 31 remains. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the display unit 8 losing its discriminability.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the different-color portion 87 is formed over a range from the outer surface of the tread portion 3 (the outer surface of the tire 100) to the inside of the tire 100 and on the outer surface side (the outer side in the radial direction R) of the tag 7.

[0046] (Description of Modification Example) Hereinafter, a modification example of the above embodiment will be described.

[0047] (Modification Example 1) In the above embodiment, the case where the different-color portion 87 as the display unit 8 is formed over a range from the outer surface of the tire 100 to the inside of the tire 100 and on the outer surface side of the tag 7 has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the different-color portion 87 may be formed over a range including (enveloping) the tag 7. Note that FIG. 8 illustrates a case where the different-color portion 87 exemplified in the first embodiment is modified. By forming the different-color portion 87 in this way, when removing the tag 7 from the tire 100, the tag 7 can be surely removed by cutting out the entire different-color portion 87 using the color difference as a guide.

[0048] (Modification Example 2) In the above embodiment, the case where the display unit 8 is arranged at a position where the perpendicular line from the position of the tag 7 downward with respect to the outer surface of the tire 100 closest to the tag 7 intersects the outer surface has been described. However, the display unit 8 may be arranged at a position where the perpendicular line from the position of the tag 7 downward with respect to the inner surface of the tire 100 closest to the tag 7 intersects the inner surface. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the display unit 8 may be formed in a region including the inner surface of the tire 100 and within a range that includes the orthographic image obtained by projecting the outer shape of the tag 7 onto the inner surface of the tire 100. Note that FIG. 9 illustrates a case where the display unit 8 exemplified in the first embodiment is modified. That is, in FIG. 9, a case is shown where a different-color portion 87 as the display unit 8 formed on the outer surface side of the tire 100 and a second different-color portion 88 as the display unit 8 formed on the inner surface side of the tire 100 are formed. With the second different-color portion 88, the display unit 8 can clearly show the range in which the tag 7 is embedded also on the inner surface side of the tire 100. Thus, it becomes possible to remove the tag 7 from the tire 100, for example, by cutting out the tire 100 from the inner surface side.

[0049] Note that FIG. 9 shows a case where the different-color portion 87 and the second different-color portion 88 are formed, but the different-color portion 87 may not be formed and only the second different-color portion 88 may be formed. In this way, it is possible to show the range in which the tag 7 is embedded without affecting the appearance and design of the tire 100 on the outer surface side.

[0050] In the above manner, it is possible to show the range in which the electronic tag provided on the tire is embedded.

[0051] 〔Alternative Embodiment〕 (1) In the above-described embodiment, the different-color portion 87 and the second different-color portion 88 as the display portion 8 are shown only in the case where the perpendicular line to the surface of the tire 100 closest to the tag 7 from the position of the tag 7 is disposed at the position where it intersects with the surface. And the case where the display portion 8 indicates the range in which the tag 7 is embedded has been described. However, in addition to indicating the range in which the tag 7 is embedded, the display portion 8 may include an auxiliary display portion that indicates the position where the tag 7 is embedded.

[0052] FIG. 10 shows a case where an auxiliary display portion 81 as the display portion 8 is disposed on the surface of the tread portion 3 at the same position as the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100. Thereby, the auxiliary display portion 81 as the display portion 8 can indicate the position of the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the case where the auxiliary display portion 81 is disposed on the side closer to the tag 7 in the width direction W in the tread portion 3 is shown. Thereby, the auxiliary display portion 81 further indicates on which side of the tag 7 is in the width direction W.

[0053] For example, as shown in the above-described first embodiment, when the tag 7 is located on the side portion of the tire 100, for example, when the tire 100 is laid flat, the different-color portion 87 may be hidden by another adjacent tire. However, if the auxiliary display portion 81 is also provided on the tread portion 3, as long as the tread portion 3 is exposed and visible, the operator can use the auxiliary display portion 81 disposed at the same position as the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100 as a landmark to easily grasp the position of the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100. Also, by using the position of the auxiliary display portion 81 in the width direction W as a clue, it is possible to easily grasp on which side of the tag 7 is in the width direction W. Thereby, when the tire 100 is discarded or recycled, the removal of the tag 7 becomes easier. Further, in the case where the operator communicates with the tag 7, by using the auxiliary display portion 81 as a clue, the operator can easily grasp the position of the different-color portion 87, that is, the tag 7, and smoothly communicate with the tag 7.

[0054] Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a direction display portion 89 as a display portion 8 that indicates the position of the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C may be disposed at a position different from the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100.

[0055] In the example shown in FIG. 11, a case is illustrated where the direction display portions 89, 89 are disposed on the outer surface of the tread portion 3 one by one before and after in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100 with respect to the same position as the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100. The direction display portion 89 is formed as a display such as an arrow formed in a triangular shape, for example, and is configured to indicate the position of the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100. Thereby, even when the different-color portion 87 and the auxiliary display portion 81 are not exposed, the operator can know the position of the tag 7 in the circumferential direction C of the tire 100 by the direction display portion 89, and based on this clue, the operator can easily grasp the different-color portion 87, that is, the position of the tag 7. Thus, communication with the tag 7 and removal of the tag 7 can be performed.

[0056] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the tag 7 is embedded in the tire 100 has been described. However, a part of the tag 7 may be exposed on the inner surface of the tire 100. Even in this case, the different-color portion 87 or the second different-color portion 88 as the display portion 8 can indicate the range where the tag 7 is embedded.

[0057] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the tag projection image 7s is an orthographic projection image in which the outer shape of the tag 7 is projected onto the surface of the tire 100 has been illustrated and described. However, the tag projection image 7s may be a projection image in which the outer shape of the tag 7 is inclined with respect to the surface of the tire 100, that is, a projection image projected obliquely with respect to the surface of the tire 100. In this case, it is preferable to form the different-color portion 87 as the display portion 8 over the range including the tag 7.

[0058] In addition, the configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments as long as there is no contradiction. Also, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are illustrative, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately modified within the scope not departing from the object of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0059] The present invention can be applied to tires.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0060] 1: Bead portion 100: Tire 2: Sidewall portion 3: Tread portion 30: Protrusion 31: Recess 38: Irregular portion 4: Bead core 5: Carcass 6: Belt 7: Tag (electronic tag) 8: Display portion 81: Auxiliary display portion 87: Different-color portion 88: Second different-color portion 89: Direction display portion C: Circumferential direction R: Radial direction W: Width direction

Claims

1. an electronic tag disposed inside rather than on the surface, a display unit indicating the position of the electronic tag, and the display unit indicates the embedding depth of the electronic tag, is disposed on the surface, a tire formed in a range including a projection image of the shape of the electronic tag on the surface.

2. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is formed in a range including an orthographic projection image of the shape of the electronic tag on the surface.

3. The tire according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display unit is formed over a range including the electronic tag.

4. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display unit includes an auxiliary display unit indicating the position of the electronic tag in the circumferential direction.

Images