System for supplying tire material to molding drum body and tire manufacturing method

Abstract

Provided are: a system for supplying tire material and a tire manufacturing method that make it possible to further reduce a time loss caused by replenishment of a tire material while achieving a compact molding device. A plurality of supply units 7A, 7B in which a tire material M3 is stocked in a wound state are arranged in parallel, and the tire material M3 delivered from one supply unit 7A and subjected to constant cutting is supplied, by using a slide conveyor 7d moving in sliding manner in the parallel direction of the supply units 7A, 7B, to a supply conveyor 7d and a belt drum 3 mounted at a prescribed fixed position, is wound around the belt drum 3, and is molded into a cylindrical shape. When the tire material M3 in the one supply unit 7A becomes empty, the tire material M3 is supplied from the other supply unit 7B, and while the tire material M3 is being supplied from the other supply unit 7B, the empty one supply unit 7A is replaced with a new supply unit 7A stocked with the tire material M3.

Description

System for supplying tire material to a building drum and method for manufacturing a tire

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for supplying tire material to a building drum body and a method for manufacturing a tire, and more particularly to a system for supplying tire material to a building drum body and a method for manufacturing a tire, which make a tire building device more compact while further reducing time loss caused by replenishing tire material and improving work efficiency in the tire building process.

[0002] Tires are manufactured by vulcanizing green tires. Green tires are formed by laminating various tire materials. For example, an inner liner, carcass material, belt material, tread rubber, a pair of bead members, etc. are integrated on a building drum to form a green tire.

[0003] Various servicers that supply multiple types of tire materials to tire building machines have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The servicer proposed in Patent Document 1 includes a material holding unit in which each tire material is stored in a wound state and a movable conveyor, and multiple sets are slidable along rails. A desired set is then slid to be arranged in series with a fixed-position conveyor and tire building machine installed in a predetermined position. The tire material is then unwound from the material holding unit of this set and supplied to the fixed-position conveyor and tire building machine via the movable conveyor.

[0004] In this servicer, a set that has run out of tire material can be slid to a standby position and replaced with a new material holding unit with tire material wound around it while tire material is being supplied from another set. This makes it possible to supply tire material to a tire building machine without incurring long periods of time lost due to tire material replenishment. However, since a large amount of space is required to slide a large number of sets, it is difficult to make the building machine compact. In addition, the set of material holding unit and movable conveyor is not lightweight, making it difficult to slide it quickly. Therefore, this is disadvantageous for minimizing time lost due to tire material replenishment.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-25124

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a tire material supply system to a building drum body and a tire manufacturing method that can make a tire building device more compact while further reducing time loss caused by replenishing tire material and improving work efficiency in the tire building process.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tire material supply system to a building drum body, which includes a supply unit in which strip-shaped tire material is wound and stored, a building drum body, and a supply conveyor arranged between the supply unit and the building drum body, and the tire material is fed from the supply unit and cut to a fixed length, and is placed flat on the supply conveyor and supplied to the building drum body, and is wound around the building drum body to be formed into a cylindrical shape.The tire material supply system to a building drum body has a configuration in which the tire material has a plurality of supply units arranged in parallel at a stock position, and has a slide conveyor that slides in the parallel direction of the supply units between each of the supply units and the supply conveyor. The tire material that has been unwound from one of the supply units and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor via the slide conveyor and sequentially supplied to the forming drum body, with respect to the forming drum body and the supply conveyor that are installed at predetermined fixed positions, and when the tire material stored in one of the supply units becomes empty, the tire material that has been unwound from the other supply unit and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor via the slide conveyor and sequentially supplied to the forming drum body, and while the material is being supplied from the other supply unit to the forming drum body, the empty one supply unit is replaced with a new supply unit that has the tire material stored in it.

[0008] The tire manufacturing method of the present invention is characterized in that a green tire using the tire material is molded by a molding apparatus equipped with the tire material supply system to the molding drum body, and the green tire is vulcanized.

[0009] According to the tire material supply system to the building drum of the present invention, a plurality of the supply units are arranged in parallel at a stock position, and the slide conveyor is provided between each of the supply units and the supply conveyor. Therefore, to supply the tire material from another supply unit to the building drum, it is sufficient to slide the slide conveyor rather than move each of the supply units, so that excessive space is not required. This is advantageous for making the tire building apparatus more compact.

[0010] When one of the supply units is emptied of tire material, the new tire material is supplied from the other supply unit via the slide conveyor. Then, while the tire material is being supplied from the other supply unit, the emptied supply unit is replaced with a new supply unit stocked with the new tire material. The slide conveyor allows for rapid sliding movement, allowing tire material to be continuously supplied to the building drum from either supply unit via the slide conveyor. This is advantageous for further reducing time loss due to tire material replenishment and improving work efficiency in the tire building process. Accordingly, since there is no need to place and store excess tire material on the supply conveyor in order to reduce time loss due to tire material replenishment, the length of the supply conveyor can be minimized. As a result, this is even more advantageous for making the tire building apparatus more compact.

[0011] According to the tire manufacturing method of the present invention, by using a molding apparatus equipped with the tire material supply system to the above-mentioned building drum body, it is advantageous for manufacturing tires with high productivity in a small space.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a tire manufacturing system including an embodiment of a tire material supply system to a building drum body, as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating each drum of the building device of FIG. 1, as viewed from the front. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from an inner liner supply unit to a banding drum, as viewed from the side. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a carcass material supply unit to a banding drum, as viewed from the side. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a side portion supply unit to a banding drum, as viewed from the side. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a belt material supply unit to a belt drum, as viewed from the side. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a tread portion supply unit to a belt drum, as viewed from the side. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a supply path from a belt reinforcing material supply unit to a belt drum, as viewed from the side. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an inner liner, carcass material, and side portion are supplied to a banding drum, as viewed from above. Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, the state in which the cut-to-length inner liner, carcass material, and side portions of Figure 9 are moved forward. Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, the state in which the supply conveyor on which the inner liner of Figure 10 is placed is rotated 90° and the cut-to-length side portions are moved onto the supply conveyor. Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, the state in which the cut-to-length inner liner and carcass material of Figure 11 are moved toward the banding drum. Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, the state in which the cut-to-length inner liner and carcass material of Figure 12 are wound around the banding drum. Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, the state in which the banding drum of Figure 13 is moved in the width direction and the cut-to-length side portions are wound around its outer circumferential surface to form an inner peripheral member. Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, the state in which a pair of bead members are fitted onto the formed inner peripheral member of Figure 14. Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the belt material and tread portion cut to a fixed length are supplied to a belt drum. Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the belt material and tread portion cut to a fixed length in Fig. 16 are moved toward the belt drum. Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the belt material cut to a fixed length in Fig. 17 is wound around one of the belt drums.Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the belt drum of Fig. 18 is rotated 180° clockwise and a belt reinforcing material is wound around the belt material wound around one belt drum. Fig. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the tread portion cut to a fixed length of Fig. 19 is wound around one belt drum to form an outer peripheral member, and the belt material is wound around the other belt drum. Fig. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the belt drum of Fig. 20 is rotated 180° counterclockwise. Fig. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which an inner peripheral member and a pair of bead members are fitted around one shape drum. Fig. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the shape drum of Fig. 22 is rotated 180° clockwise and a belt reinforcing material is wound around the other belt drum. Fig. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which an outer peripheral member transferred from a belt drum is fitted onto one shape drum in Fig. 23, and an inner peripheral member and a pair of bead members are fitted onto the other shape drum. Fig. 25 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which the shape drum in Fig. 24 is rotated 180° counterclockwise and a belt material is wound around one belt drum. Fig. 26 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a plan view, a state in which a green tire has been removed from one shape drum in Fig. 25 and the belt drum has been rotated 180° counterclockwise. Fig. 27 is an explanatory diagram illustrating, in a partially enlarged longitudinal cross section, a vulcanizing apparatus that is vulcanizing the green tire in Fig. 26.

[0013] Hereinafter, a system for supplying a tire material to a building drum body and a method for manufacturing a tire according to the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0014] The tire manufacturing system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a molding device 1 and a vulcanizing device 15. The molding device 1 is equipped with an embodiment of a tire material supply system (hereinafter referred to as the supply system) to a molding drum body of the present invention. Using the molding device 1, multiple types of unvulcanized tire components M are stacked to form a green tire G. The molded green tire G is vulcanized using a vulcanizing device 15 to manufacture a tire T. The vulcanizing device 15 is equipped with a vulcanizing mold 16 according to the tire specifications. Various known vulcanizing devices 15 can be used.

[0015] The green tire G has, as tire components M, at least an inner liner M1, an inner peripheral member MA having a carcass material M2 and a side portion M3, an outer peripheral member MB having a belt material M4 and a tread portion M5, and a pair of bead members MC. In this embodiment, the outer peripheral member MB further has a belt reinforcing material M6. The belt reinforcing material M6 can be used optionally, and other types of materials are used for the tire components M as needed. Note that, hereinafter, the inner liner M1, carcass material M2, side portion M3, belt material M4, tread portion M5, and belt reinforcing material M6 will be referred to as tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, and M6, respectively. The tire materials M1 to M5 are strip-shaped, and the tire material M6 is linear (thin strip-shaped).

[0016] 1 to 8, the molding apparatus 1 has three types of drums (molding drum bodies): shape drums 2 (2a, 2b), a band drum 3, and a belt drum 4 (4a, 4b); supply units 5 (5A, 5B), 6 (6A, 6B), 7 (7A, 7B), 8 (8A, 8B), 9 (9A, 9B), and 10 (10A, 10B) for tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, and M6, respectively; and bead supply units 11 (11A, 11B) for a pair of bead members MC. The X, Y, and Z arrows in the figures indicate the width, depth, and height directions of the molding apparatus 1, respectively, which are perpendicular to one another.

[0017] The system includes two shape drums 2 (2a, 2b), one band drum 3, and two belt drums 4 (4a, 4b), and the shape drum 2 (2a, 2b) is disposed between the band drum 3 and the belt drum 4 in the X direction. In this embodiment, the two shape drums 2a, 2b are disposed at positions rotated 180° around a rotation axis 2p in a plan view. The two shape drums 2a, 2b are rotated 180° clockwise and counterclockwise around the rotation axis 2p, and are fixedly disposed at the same positions alternately.

[0018] The drum axis C1 of the band drum 3 extends in the X direction and is movable along a guide rail 3r extending in the X direction. Two belt drums 4a, 4b are provided at positions rotated 180° around a rotation shaft 4p in a plan view. The two belt drums 4a, 4b are alternately fixed and disposed at the same positions by rotating 180° clockwise and counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 4p.

[0019] When each shape drum 2a, 2b rotates around a rotation axis 2p and is fixedly disposed on the band drum 3 side and the belt drum 4 side, the respective drum axis centers C1, C2 extend in the X direction (parallel to the X direction). The drum axis centers C1 of the shape drum 2 and band drum 3, which have rotated and are fixedly disposed on the band drum 3 side, are parallel to the X direction and coincide in the Y and Z directions. In other words, the drum axis centers C1 of adjacent shape drums 2 and band drums 3 coincide in the X, Y, and Z directions.

[0020] When the belt drums 4a, 4b rotate around the rotation axis 4p and are fixedly disposed on the side of the shape drum 2 and the side opposite the shape drum 2, their respective drum axes C2, C3 extend in the X direction (parallel to the X direction). The drum axes C2 of the belt drum 4 that has rotated and been fixedly disposed on the side of the shape drum 2 and the shape drum 2 that has rotated and been fixedly disposed on the side of the belt drum 4 are parallel to the X direction and coincide with each other in the Y and Z directions. In other words, the drum axes C2 of the adjacent belt drum 4 and shape drum 2 coincide with each other in the X, Y, and Z directions.

[0021] The supply units 5 to 10 are arranged at stock positions P1 to P6 for the tire materials M1 to M6, respectively. The bead supply unit 11 is arranged at stock position P7 for the bead members MC. At each of the stock positions P1 to P6, a corresponding plurality of supply units are arranged in parallel. That is, at stock position P1, supply units 5A and 5B are arranged in parallel, at stock position P2, supply units 6A and 6B, at stock position P3, supply units 7A and 7B, at stock position P4, supply units 8A and 8B, at stock position P5, supply units 9A and 9B, and at stock position P6, supply units 10A and 10B.

[0022] In this embodiment, one green tire G uses one tire material M1, M5 cut to a fixed length, two tire material M2, M4 cut to a fixed length, and a pair of two tire material M3 cut to a fixed length. Therefore, at the stock position P2, two supply units 6A, 6B are aligned vertically (arranged in series in the Y direction). At the stock position P4, two supply units 8A, 8B are aligned vertically (arranged in series in the Y direction). To build one green tire G, two tire material M2 are sequentially supplied from either one of the two vertically aligned supply units 6A or the two vertically aligned supply units 6B, and two tire material M4 are sequentially supplied from either one of the two vertically aligned supply units 8A or the two vertically aligned supply units 8B. Furthermore, each supply unit 7A, 7B stores a pair of two tire material M3, and two pairs of two tire material M3 are sequentially supplied from either one of the supply units 7A, 7B.

[0023] Each of the supply units 5 to 10 has a winding core, and each of the tire materials M1 to M6 is stocked in a wound state around the winding core. Each of the tire materials M1 to M5 is wound around the winding core together with a release liner. The tire material M6 is wound around the winding core without a release liner. In this embodiment, each of the tire materials M1 to M6 is stocked wound in a long body state, but it is also possible to stock a large number of tire materials M1 to M5 cut to a predetermined length and wound around the winding core.

[0024] The bead supply unit 11 has an annular rack that rotates horizontally around a rotation axis 11p, and a large number of bead members MC are hung on the rack. This rack is divided into two regions, units 11A and 11B, in the circumferential direction. A predetermined number of pairs of bead members MC are hung on each of the bead supply units 11A and 11B, and as the rack rotates in the circumferential direction, each of the bead supply units 11A and 11B moves sequentially between a supply position and a standby position. Pairs of bead members MC are sequentially supplied from the bead supply unit 11 that has moved to the supply position.

[0025] Tire materials M1, M2, M3 are supplied to the belt drum 3 through respective supply paths from supply units 5, 6, 7. Tire materials M4, M5, M6 are supplied to the belt drum 4 through respective supply paths from supply units 8, 9, 10.

[0026] Between each of the supply units 5, 6, 7 and the banding drum 3, cutters 5c, 6c, 7c, slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 7d, and supply conveyors 5e, 6e, 7e are arranged. As shown in FIG. 4, each supply unit 6 arranged in a vertical row at the stock position P2 has a cutter 6c, and two supply guides are installed, one above the other, between each cutter 6c and one slide conveyor 6d. That is, the material M2 fed from the supply unit 6 arranged closer to the banding drum 3 in the Y direction is supplied to the slide conveyor 6d through a supply guide installed on the lower side. The tire material M2 fed from the supply unit 6 arranged farther from the banding drum 3 in the Y direction is supplied to the slide conveyor 6d through a supply guide installed on the upper side.

[0027] Between each supply unit 8, 9 and the belt drum 4, cutters 8c, 9c, slide conveyors 8d, 9d, and supply conveyors 8e, 9e are arranged. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , each supply unit 8 arranged in a vertical row at stock position P4 has a cutter 8c, slide conveyor 8d, and supply conveyor 8e, and the cutters 8c, slide conveyors 8d, and supply conveyors 8e are each installed in two tiers, one above the other. That is, material M4 fed from the supply unit 8 arranged closer to the belt drum 4 in the Y direction is supplied to the slide conveyor 8d and supply conveyor 8e arranged below via a supply guide installed below. Tire material M4 fed from the supply unit 6 arranged farther from the belt drum 4 in the Y direction is supplied to the slide conveyor 8d and supply conveyor 8e arranged above via a supply guide installed above. In this embodiment, the cutter 8c arranged above slides and moves together with the slide conveyor 8d arranged above, and the cutter 8c arranged below slides and moves together with the slide conveyor 8d arranged below.

[0028] A cutter 10c, a festoon unit 10d, and a head 10e are disposed between the supply unit 10 and the belt drum 4. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the tire material M6 fed from each of the supply units 10A and 10B is supplied to the separate heads 10e, 10e through separate supply paths. The heads 10e, 10e are disposed in a line in the Y direction below the belt drum 4.

[0029] The cutters 5c, 6c, 7c, 8c, and 9c cut the tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 to predetermined lengths. The slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d, and 9d and the supply conveyors 5e, 6e, 7e, 8e, and 9e are belt conveyors that transport the tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 in a flat state.

[0030] One slide conveyor 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d, and 9d is provided for each of the parallel supply units 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. For example, at stock position P1 for material M1, one slide conveyor 5d is provided that slides in the width direction of the parallel supply units 5 (5A and 5B). The slide conveyor 5d moves in the width direction between each of the supply units 5A and 5B, ahead of the supply direction of material M1. The other stock positions P2, P3, P4, and P5 are configured in a similar manner.

[0031] The cutter 10c cuts the rear end of the tire material M6 when splicing the tire materials M6 together. The festoon unit 10d stores a predetermined required amount (required length) of the tire material M6. The head 10e directs the tire material M6 that has passed through the festoon unit 10d toward the drum surface of the belt drum 4. The tire material M6 is supplied to the belt drum 4 in the form of a long body, and is cut to a predetermined length by the head 10e on the belt drum 4.

[0032] A band transfer machine 12 is disposed between the band drum 3 and the shape drum 2. A belt transfer machine 13 is disposed between the belt drum 4 and the shape drum 2. A bead transfer machine 14 is disposed between the bead supply unit 11 and the shape drum 2.

[0033] In the band drum 3, a cylindrical inner circumferential member MA is formed using the supplied tire materials M1 to M3. In the belt drum 4, a cylindrical outer circumferential member MB is formed using the supplied tire materials M4 to M6. A band transfer machine 12 transfers the inner circumferential member MA from the band drum 3 to the shape drum 2. A belt transfer machine 13 transfers the outer circumferential member MB from the belt drum 4 to the shape drum 2. A bead transfer machine 14 transfers a pair of bead members MC from one of the bead supply units 11A, 11B and fits them onto the cylindrical inner circumferential member MA. In the shape drum 2, a cylindrical green tire G is formed using the inner circumferential members MA (M1 to M3), the outer circumferential members MB (M4 to M6), and the pair of bead members MC.

[0034] Typical embodiments of the supply system of the present invention are a supply system that supplies tire material M3 to a band drum (forming drum body) 3 and a supply system that supplies tire materials M4 and M5 to a belt drum (forming drum body) 4. That is, an embodiment of the supply system includes a plurality of supply units 7 (7A, 7B) arranged in parallel at a stock position P3, the band drum 3, a supply conveyor 7e arranged between the supply units 7 (7A, 7B) and the band drum 3, and a slide conveyor 7d that slides in the parallel direction of the supply units 7A, 7B between each of the supply units 7A, 7B and the supply conveyor 7e. Also, an embodiment of the supply system includes a plurality of supply units 8 (8A, 8B) arranged in parallel at a stock position P4, the belt drum 4, a supply conveyor 8e arranged between the supply units 8 (8A, 8B) and the belt drum 4, and a slide conveyor 8d that slides in the parallel direction of the supply units 8A, 8B between each of the supply units 8A, 8B and the supply conveyor 8e. In addition, an embodiment of the supply system includes a plurality of supply units 9 (9A, 9B) arranged in parallel at the stock position P5, a belt drum 4, a supply conveyor 9e arranged between the supply units 9 (9A, 9B) and the belt drum 4, and a slide conveyor 9d that slides in the parallel direction of each supply unit 9A, 9B between each supply unit 9A, 9B and the supply conveyor 9e.

[0035] Then, the tire material M3 that has been unwound from one of the supply units 7 (7A, 7B) at the stock position P3 and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor 7e via the slide conveyor 7d and sequentially supplied to the band drum 3 and supply conveyor 7e, which are installed at a predetermined fixed position. In this embodiment, when the tire material M3 is supplied, the band drum 3 and supply conveyor 7e, which are installed at a predetermined fixed position, and one of the supply units 7A are arranged in series (vertically aligned in the Y direction). Also, the tire material M4 that has been unwound from one of the supply units 8 (8A, 8B) at the stock position P4 and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor 8e via the slide conveyor 8d and sequentially supplied to the belt drum 4, which are installed at a predetermined fixed position. In this embodiment, when the tire material M4 is supplied, the belt drum 4 and supply conveyor 8e, which are installed at a predetermined fixed position, and one of the supply units 8A are arranged in series (vertically aligned in the Y direction). Similarly, the tire material M5 that has been fed from one of the supply units 9 (9A, 9B) at the stock position P5 and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor 9e via the slide conveyor 9d and sequentially supplied to the belt drum 4. In this embodiment, when the tire material M5 is supplied, the belt drum 4 and supply conveyor 8e that are installed at predetermined fixed positions and one of the supply units 9A are arranged in series (lined up vertically in the Y direction).

[0036] Next, an example of the procedure for a tire manufacturing method using this manufacturing system will be described. In this manufacturing method, green tires G are successively molded by a molding apparatus 1 equipped with an embodiment of the supply system of the present invention. The molding apparatus 1 of this manufacturing system is equipped with a typical embodiment of the supply system of the present invention in order to supply three types of tire materials M3, M4, and M5. The molding apparatus 1 may be equipped with the supply system of the present invention in order to supply at least one type of tire material.

[0037] In the molding device 1, molding operations for a plurality of green tires G are carried out at the same time. The green tires G molded at the same time may all have the same specifications, but they may be switched to green tires G with different specifications midway through. When molding a large number of green tires G continues without changing the tire specifications, the required amounts of tire materials M1 to M6 of the same specifications are stocked in the parallel supply units 5 to 10 at each of the stock positions P1 to P6. At the stock position P7, the required amounts of bead materials MC of the same specifications are stocked in the respective bead supply units 11A and 11B.

[0038] When green tires G are molded with tire specifications changed midway, the supply units 5A to 10A on one side and the supply units 5B to 10B on the other side stock positions P1 to P6 stock the necessary amounts of tire materials M1 to M6 according to the tire specifications of the green tires G to be molded. At stock position P7, the bead supply units 11A and 11B stock the necessary amounts of bead members MC according to the tire specifications of the green tires G to be molded.

[0039] In this manufacturing method, a cylindrical inner circumferential member MA and a cylindrical outer circumferential member MB are formed simultaneously. The inner circumferential member MA is formed as illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14, and the outer circumferential member MB is formed as illustrated in Figs. 16 to 21. Then, a green tire G is formed using the inner circumferential member MA, a pair of bead members MC, and the outer circumferential member MC as illustrated in Figs. 22 to 26.

[0040] 9 to 14, the tire materials M1 to M3 of the inner peripheral member MA are supplied by the respective supply conveyors 5e to 7e from the respective stock positions P1 to P3 via the corresponding slide conveyors 5d to 7d in a state in which they have been cut to a fixed length, to the bundling drum 3. In the bundling drum 3, the tire materials M1 to M3 cut to a fixed length are used to form the inner peripheral member MA.

[0041] More specifically, tire materials M1, M2, M2, M3 fed from one of the supply units 5A, 6A, 6A, 7A are cut to predetermined lengths by cutters 5c, 6c, 6c, 7c, respectively, and placed on slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 6d, 7d arranged in front of each of the supply units 5A, 6A, 6A, 7A, and transported to supply conveyors 5e, 6e, 6e, 7e. The supply conveyor 5e can rotate 90° in a plan view, and when receiving tire material M1 from the slide conveyor 5d, it is aligned vertically with the slide conveyor 5d in the X direction, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. After receiving tire material M1 from the slide conveyor 5d, the supply conveyor 5e rotates 90° and is aligned vertically with the slide conveyor 6d and the supply conveyor 6e in the Y direction, as shown in Figure 11.

[0042] As illustrated in Fig. 12, the tire material M1 fed from one supply unit 5A and the materials M2, M2 supplied from each of the vertically arranged supply units 6A, 6A are arranged in series with respect to the banding drum 3. As illustrated in Fig. 13, the tire materials M1, M2, M2 arranged in series and cut to fixed lengths are sequentially wound around the banding drum 3 while rotating the banding drum 3 in one direction about the drum axis C1, and formed into a cylindrical shape and laminated. In this embodiment, the supply conveyors 5e, 6e function as supply conveyors that supply the tire materials M1, M2 to the banding drum 3.

[0043] Furthermore, while the tire materials M1, M2, M2 are wound around the banding drum 3, formed into a cylindrical shape, and stacked, a pair of tire materials M3 that have been unwound from one of the supply units 7A and cut to a fixed length are conveyed to the supply conveyor 7e. Next, the banding drum 3 in front of the supply conveyor 6e is moved in the X direction as illustrated in FIG. 14 and placed in front of the supply conveyor 7e. Thereafter, the pair of tire materials M3 that have been cut to a fixed length and placed on the transport conveyor 7e are wound around the banding drum 3 while rotating the banding drum 3 about the drum axis C1, formed into a cylindrical shape, and stacked. In this way, a cylindrical inner peripheral member MA in which the tire materials M1, M2, M3 are stacked in order is formed. In this way, the inner peripheral members MA are formed sequentially and continuously.

[0044] 15, a pair of bead members MC are supplied from one bead supply unit 11A and fitted onto the inner peripheral side member MA using a bead transfer machine 14. The bead members MC are fitted onto the inner peripheral side member MA at intervals in the width direction (X direction).

[0045] 16 to 21 , the tire materials M4 and M5 of the outer peripheral side member MB are supplied by the respective supply conveyors 8e and 9e from the respective stock positions P4 and P5 via the corresponding slide conveyors 8d and 9d to the belt drum 4 in a state in which they have been cut to a fixed length. The material M6 is supplied in the form of a long body via the festoon section 10c to the head 10e disposed adjacent to and below the belt drum 4. In the belt drum 4, the outer peripheral side member MB is formed using the tire materials M4 and M5 cut to a fixed length and the tire material M6 delivered from the head 10e.

[0046] More specifically, the tire materials M4, M4, M5 fed from one of the supply units 8A, 8A, 9A are cut to a predetermined length by cutters 8c, 8c, 9c, respectively, and placed on slide conveyors 8d, 8d, 9d arranged in front of one of the supply units 8A, 8A, 9A, and then transported to supply conveyors 8e, 8e, 9e. One sheet of tire material M4 cut to a predetermined length is placed on each of the supply conveyors 8e, 8e arranged above and below as shown in FIG.

[0047] 18 , tire materials M4, M4 supplied from one of the vertically arranged supply units 8A, 8A are sequentially wound around one belt drum 4a, formed into a cylindrical shape, and stacked. For example, tire material M4 cut to a fixed length and placed on a supply conveyor 8e arranged above is wound around the belt drum 4a while rotating the belt drum 4a in one direction about the drum axis C2 to form a cylindrical shape. Next, tire material M4 cut to a fixed length and placed on a supply conveyor 8e arranged below is wound around the belt drum 4a while rotating the belt drum 4a in the other direction about the drum axis C2 to form a cylindrical shape.

[0048] Next, as illustrated in Fig. 19 , the belt drum 4 is rotated 180° clockwise around the rotation axis 4p. As a result, one belt drum 4a is moved forward of the supply conveyor 9e, and the other belt drum 4b is moved forward of the supply conveyors 8e, 8e. Then, while one belt drum 4a is rotated in one direction around the drum axis C3, the tire material M6 supplied from one supply unit 10A is wound spirally around the belt drum 4a using one head 10e. As a result, a belt reinforcing layer formed from the tire material M6 is laminated within a predetermined width direction (X direction) range on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrically molded tire material M4.

[0049] 20 , the fixed-length cut material M5 placed on the supply conveyor 9e is wound around one belt drum 4a while rotating the belt drum 4a in one direction about the drum axis C3, forming it into a cylindrical shape and stacking it. As a result, a cylindrical outer peripheral member MB in which tire materials M4, M4, M6, and M5 are stacked in order is formed on one belt drum 4a. On the other belt drum 4b, the fixed-length cut tire materials M4, M4 placed on the respective supply conveyors 8e, 8e are wound around the belt drum 4b in order while rotating the belt drum 4b about the drum axis C2, forming it into a cylindrical shape and stacking it.

[0050] 21, the belt drum 4 is rotated counterclockwise by 180° around the rotation axis 4p, thereby moving one of the belt drums 4a on which the outer peripheral side member MB is formed toward the shape drum 2.

[0051] As shown in Figure 22, the formed inner peripheral member MA is transferred from the banding drum 3 to one of the shape drums 2a using a band transfer machine 12. As a result, the inner peripheral member MA and a pair of bead members MC are fitted onto the outer surface of one of the shape drums 2a. Then, on the shape drum 2a, both widthwise ends of the inner peripheral member MA are turned up around the bead members MC by a known method. Then, while the shape drum 2a is rotated about the drum axis C1, both widthwise ends of the turned-up inner peripheral member MA are pressed toward the drum axis C1 by a known method.

[0052] 23, the shape drum 2 is rotated clockwise by 180° about the rotation axis 2p, thereby aligning one shape drum 2a and one belt drum 4a in the X direction.

[0053] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 24 , the outer peripheral member MB is transferred from one belt drum 4a to one shape drum 2a using a belt transfer device 13 and fitted onto the inner peripheral member MA. Then, on the shape drum 2a, the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral member MA and the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral member MB are brought into contact with each other, and the shape drum 2a is rotated about the drum axis C2 while pressing the outer peripheral member MB toward the drum axis C2, thereby integrating the inner peripheral member MA, the outer peripheral member MB, and the pair of bead members MC to form a green tire G. Meanwhile, tire materials M6 and M5 are wound around the other belt drum 4b in the same manner as described above to form the outer peripheral member MB. The inner peripheral member MA and the pair of bead members MC are fitted onto the other shape drum 2b in the same manner as described above.

[0054] Next, as shown in Fig. 25, the shape drum 2 is rotated counterclockwise by 180° around the rotation axis 2p. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 26, the green tire G is removed from one of the shape drums 2a and transported to the vulcanizer 15.

[0055] As illustrated in Fig. 27, the green tire G is placed in a vulcanization mold 16 attached to a vulcanization device 15. Thereafter, the green tire G is vulcanized between the closed vulcanization mold 16 and the inflated vulcanization bladder 17 to complete the tire T. Various known methods can be used to vulcanize the green tire G. In this embodiment, a pneumatic tire T is manufactured, but the present invention can also be applied to the manufacture of various types of tires T.

[0056] In the above-mentioned green tire G molding process, when a predetermined number of green tires G are molded, the tire materials M1 to M6 stored in one of the supply units 5A to 10A become empty at the stock positions P1 to P6 for each of the tire materials M1 to M6.

[0057] As described above, slide conveyors 5d-9d are disposed at each stock position P1-P5, sliding in the width direction relative to the parallelly arranged supply units 5-9. Therefore, when one supply unit 5A-9A is emptied of tire material M1-M5, the slide conveyors 5d-9d are slid in the width direction of the parallelly arranged supply units 5-9, allowing the tire material M1-M5 to be supplied from the other supply unit 5B-9B. That is, the slide conveyors 5d-9d are slid forward of the other supply unit 5B-9B, and the tire material M1-M5 cut to the specified length is placed on the slide conveyors 5d-9d. The slide conveyors 5d-9d are then slid to a position where they are aligned vertically with the supply conveyors 5e-9e, and the tire material M1-M5 cut to the specified length is transferred and supplied to the supply conveyors 5e-9e. Then, while the tire materials M1 to M5 cut to a fixed length are being supplied to the supply conveyors 5e to 9e from the other supply units 5B to 9B, one of the supply units 5A to 9A which has become empty of the tire materials M1 to M5 is replaced with a new supply unit 5A to 5B in which the tire materials M1 to M5 are stocked.

[0058] The slide conveyors 5d to 9d can be slid quickly, so at each stock position P1 to P5, tire materials M1 to M5 can be continuously supplied from either the supply units 5A to 9A or the supply units 5B to 9B via the slide conveyors 5d to 9d to the corresponding drums 3, 4. This is therefore advantageous in further reducing the time loss caused by the replenishment of tire materials M1 to M5 and improving work efficiency in the tire building process.

[0059] At each of the stock positions P1 to P5, tire materials M1 to M5 that have been fed from separate supply units arranged in parallel and cut to a fixed length can be supplied to the corresponding drums 3 and 4 by sliding the slide conveyors 5d to 9d rather than moving the respective supply units 5 to 9, which eliminates the need for excessive space. This is therefore advantageous for making the molding device 1 more compact.

[0060] Furthermore, at the stock position P6, the tire material M6 can be supplied by switching to either one of the parallelly arranged supply units 10. Therefore, when the tire material M6 stored in one supply unit 10A becomes empty, the new tire material M6 can be supplied from the other supply unit 10B. Then, while the tire material M6 is being supplied from the other supply unit 10B, the one supply unit 10A that has become empty of the tire material M6 is replaced with a new supply unit 10A that has the new tire material M6 stocked. Therefore, it is possible to avoid stopping the green tire G building process due to the replenishment of each tire material M6.

[0061] Furthermore, when one bead supply unit 11A runs out of a pair of bead members MC, a new pair of bead members MC can be supplied from the other bead supply unit 11B. Then, while the other bead supply unit 11B is supplying a pair of bead members MC, the bead supply unit 11A that has run out of bead members MC can be rotated from the supply position to the standby position to replenish the bead supply unit 11A with a new pair of bead members MC, thereby avoiding a stop in the molding process due to the replenishment of a pair of bead members MC.

[0062] Accordingly, in order to reduce time loss caused by replenishing each of the tire materials M1 to M5, it is not necessary to place and stock excess amounts of the tire materials M1 to M5 on each of the supply conveyors 5e to 9e, and therefore the length of each of the supply conveyors 5e to 9e can be minimized.

[0063] The tire manufacturing method of the present invention, in which the green tire G using the tire materials M3 to M5 is molded by the molding device 1 equipped with the embodiment of the supply system of the present invention described above and the green tire G is vulcanized, is advantageous for manufacturing the tire T in a space-saving manner with good productivity.

[0064] Making each of the supply conveyors 5e to 9e and each of the slide conveyors 5d to 9d shorter is advantageous for compacting the molding apparatus 1. Each of the supply conveyors 5e to 9e and each of the slide conveyors 5d to 9d need only be longer than the length of one of the tire materials M1 to M5 to be placed on it. Therefore, the length of each of the supply conveyors 5e to 9e and each of the slide conveyors 5d to 9d is set, for example, to 100% to 150% of the length of one of the tire materials M1 to M5 to be placed on that conveyor, more preferably 105% to 130%, and even more preferably 105% to 120%.

[0065] Furthermore, the drum axis C1 of the band drum 3 and the shape drum 2 when transferring the inner peripheral member MA is set coaxially, and the drum axis C2 of the belt drum 4 and the shape drum 2 when transferring the outer peripheral member MB is set coaxially. Therefore, the band transfer device 12 and the belt transfer device 13 only need to be moved in the directions of the common drum axes C1 and C2 of the respective drums 2, 3, and 4, which is even more advantageous for making the molding apparatus 1 compact. As a result, this is advantageous for manufacturing tires T with good productivity while making the molding apparatus 1 compact.

[0066] Cutting the tire materials M1 to M5 to a fixed length causes them to shrink over time, resulting in variations in the degree of shrinkage. However, at the respective stock positions P1 to P5, the tire materials M1 to M5 are stocked in the form of long bodies, and then fed from the supply units 5 to 9 and cut to a fixed length. Then, the respective materials M1 to M5 cut to a fixed length are supplied to the corresponding drums 3 and 4 via the corresponding slide conveyors 5d to 9d and supply conveyors 5e to 9e. In this way, cutting the tire materials M1 to M5 to a fixed length immediately before forming the green tire G is advantageous in minimizing variations in the shrinkage and amount of shrinkage of the tire materials M1 to M5 over time, compared to cutting to a fixed length and storing the materials in advance. As a result, this contributes to improving the quality of the manufactured tires T.

[0067] At each of the stock positions P1 to P5, one of the supply units 5A to 9A is set as the main supply unit, and the corresponding slide conveyors 5d to 9d are slid and fixed to a position in front of the main supply units 5A to 9A, thereby forming a supply path for the corresponding drums 3, 4 using the main supply units 5A to 9A, the fixedly positioned slide conveyors 5d to 9d, and the corresponding supply conveyors 5e to 9e. In the supply paths for each of the tire materials M1 to M5 thus formed, there is no need to slide the slide conveyors 5d to 9d, which makes it possible to more quickly mold the green tire G, which is advantageous for improving molding efficiency. This also contributes to a reduction in the energy required to mold the green tire G.

[0068] However, when the tire materials M1 to M5 are supplied from the other supply units 5B to 9B, the slide conveyors 5d to 9d must be slid every time the tire materials M1 to M5 are supplied from the supply units 5B to 9B to the corresponding supply conveyors 5e to 9e, which is disadvantageous in improving the molding efficiency of the green tire G and in reducing the energy required to mold the green tire G.

[0069] Therefore, in the case where tire materials M1 to M5 of the same specifications are stocked in the parallel supply units 5 to 9 at the respective stock positions P1 to P5, when the tire materials M1 to M5 stocked in the main supply units 5A to 9A become empty, as soon as the operation of replacing the empty main supply unit 5A to 9A with a new main supply unit 5A to 9A stocked with the tire materials M1 to M5 is completed, the corresponding slide conveyors 5d to 9d are slid and fixed to a position in front of the new main supply unit 5A to 9A. Then, a supply path to the corresponding drums 3, 4 can be formed by the new main supply unit 5A to 9A, the fixedly arranged slide conveyors 5d to 9d, and the corresponding supply conveyors 5e to 9e, so that the tire materials M1 to M5 can also be supplied from the new main supply unit 5A to 9A.

[0070] In this way, forming the supply paths for the tire materials M1 to M5 by reducing the frequency of sliding the slide conveyors 5d to 9d is more advantageous than continuing to supply the tire materials M1 to M5 from the other supply units 5B to 9B, and this is more effective in improving the molding efficiency of the green tire G and contributes further to reducing the energy required to mold the green tire G. To use the main supply units 5A to 9A as the supply paths for the tire materials M1 to M5 for a long period of time rather than the other supply units 5B to 9B, for example, the stock amount of the tire materials M1 to M5 in the supply units 5A to 9A is made larger than the stock amount in the other supply units 5B to 9B.

[0071] The supply system of the present invention is not limited to the above-exemplified molding apparatus 1, but can be applied to various known molding apparatuses 1. Furthermore, the building drum to which the tire material is supplied by the supply system of the present invention is not limited to the drums 2, 3, and 4 described above, but may be, for example, a so-called rigid core having an outer surface substantially the same as the inner surface of the tire T to be manufactured.

[0072] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Molding device 2 (2a, 2b) Shape drum 2p Swivel shaft 3 Band drum 3r Guide rail 4 (4a, 4b) Belt drum 4p Swivel shaft 5 (5A, 5B) Inner liner supply unit 5c Cutter 5d Slide conveyor 5e Supply conveyor 6 (6A, 6B) Carcass material supply unit 6c Cutter 6d Slide conveyor 6e Supply conveyor 7 (7A, 7B) Side portion supply unit 7c Cutter 7d Slide conveyor 7e Supply conveyor 8 (8A, 8B) Belt material supply unit 8c Cutter 8d Slide conveyor 8e Supply conveyor 9 (9A, 9B) Tread portion supply unit 9c Cutter 9d Slide conveyor 9e Supply conveyor REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 (10A, 10B) Belt reinforcement supply unit 10c Cutter 10d Festoon section 10e Head 11 (11A, 11B) Bead supply unit 11P Swivel shaft 12 Band transfer machine 13 Belt transfer machine 14 Bead transfer machine 15 Vulcanization device 16 Vulcanization mold 17 Vulcanization bladder M Tire component MA Inner peripheral component MB Outer peripheral component MC Bead component M1 Inner liner M2 Carcass material M3 Side section M4 Belt material M5 Tread section M6 Belt reinforcement G Green tire T Vulcanized tire (finished tire)

Claims

1. A tire material supply system to a forming drum body, comprising a supply unit in which a strip-shaped tire material is wound and stored, a forming drum body, and a supply conveyor arranged between the supply unit and the forming drum body, wherein the tire material is fed from the supply unit and cut to a fixed length, placed in a flat state on the supply conveyor and supplied to the forming drum body, and wound around the forming drum body to form it into a cylindrical shape, the system has a plurality of the supply units arranged in parallel at a stock position, and a slide conveyor is provided between each of the supply units and the supply conveyor, which slides in the parallel direction of each of the supply units, and the forming drum body and the supply conveyor are installed at predetermined fixed positions, and the tire material is fed from one of the supply units and cut to a fixed length, transferred via the slide conveyor to the supply conveyor and supplied sequentially to the forming drum body, When the tire material stored in one of the supply units becomes empty, the tire material that has been unwound from the other supply unit and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor via the slide conveyor and sequentially supplied to the forming drum body, and while the material is being supplied from the other supply unit to the forming drum body, the one supply unit that has become empty is replaced with a new supply unit in which the tire material is stocked.This is a tire material supply system for a forming drum body.

2. A system for supplying tire material to a building drum body as described in claim 1, wherein the building drum body and the supply conveyor installed at the predetermined fixed position and one of the supply units are arranged in series.

3. A system for supplying tire material to a building drum body as described in claim 2, wherein when the tire material stored in one of the supply units becomes empty, the tire material is supplied to the building drum body from the new supply unit as soon as the operation of replacing the empty supply unit with a new supply unit in which the tire material is stocked is completed.

4. A tire manufacturing method, comprising: forming a green tire using tire material by a molding device equipped with a tire material supply system to a molding drum body as described in any one of claims 1 to 3; and vulcanizing the green tire.

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