System for supplying tire material to forming drum body, and tire manufacturing method

Abstract

Provided are: a supply system for efficiently supplying a plurality of types of tire materials to one forming drum body while making a tire forming device compact; and a tire manufacturing method. Supply units 5, 6 in which different types of tire materials M1, M2 are stocked in a wound state are arranged at adjacent stock positions P1, P2. A turning conveyor 5e that turns is arranged between the respective supply units 5, 6 and a supply conveyor 6e in plan view such that the supply directions of the tire materials M1, M2 delivered from the respective supply units 5, 6 intersect with each other in plan view. The tire materials M1, M2, which have been delivered from the respective supply units 5, 6 to the supply conveyor 6e and a band drum 3 installed at prescribed fixed positions, are cut to length and transferred to the supply conveyor 6e via the turning conveyor 5e to be supplied to the band drum 3 and wound around the band drum 3 and formed into a cylindrical shape.

Description

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

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire material supply system to a building drum body and a tire manufacturing method, and more particularly to a tire material supply system and tire manufacturing method that can efficiently supply multiple types of tire material to a single building drum body while making a tire building device more compact.

[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, to supply multiple types of tire materials to one tire building machine, a set of material holding units and movable conveyors must be prepared for each type of tire material, and each set must be installed so that it can slide along rails. Since a large amount of space is required to slide each set for each type of tire material, it is difficult to make the building device compact. Furthermore, since the set of material holding units and movable conveyors is not lightweight, it is difficult to slide it quickly. Therefore, there is room for improvement in efficiently supplying multiple types of tire materials to one tire building machine while making the tire building device compact.

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

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a tire material supply system and a tire manufacturing method that can efficiently supply multiple types of tire materials to a single building drum body while making a tire building device more compact.

[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 a 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. In this tire material supply system to a building drum body, the supply unit is arranged at each of a plurality of stock positions, and the tire material is supplied to the building drum body by winding the tire material between the adjacent stock positions. The tire materials fed from the supply units are of different types, and each supply unit is arranged so that the supply directions of the tire materials intersect at a predetermined angle in a plan view.A rotating conveyor that rotates in a plan view is provided between the supply unit and the supply conveyor at each stock position, and the tire material fed from the supply unit arranged at each stock position and cut to a fixed length is transferred to the supply conveyor via the rotating conveyor and supplied to the forming drum body, with respect to the forming drum body and the supply conveyor installed at a predetermined fixed position.

[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, the supply units are arranged so that the supply directions of the tire material unwound from the supply units at adjacent stock positions intersect at a predetermined angle in a plan view, and the swivel conveyor is provided between the supply unit at each stock position and the supply conveyor. Therefore, to supply different types of tire material to the building drum, the swivel conveyor can be rotated rather than moving each supply unit, eliminating the need for excessive space. Furthermore, excessive space is not required for rotating the swivel conveyor. This is advantageous for making the tire building apparatus more compact. Furthermore, since it does not take a long time to rotate the swivel conveyor, it is advantageous for efficiently supplying multiple types of tire material to the building drum.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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).

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] A cutter 5c, a slide conveyor 5d, a turning conveyor 5e, and a supply conveyor 6e are arranged between the supply unit 5 and the banding drum 3. A cutter 6c, a slide conveyor 6d, a turning conveyor 5e, and a supply conveyor 6e are arranged between the supply unit 6 and the banding drum 3. A cutter 7c, a slide conveyor 7d, and a supply conveyor 7e are arranged between the supply unit 7 and the banding drum 3.

[0026] 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 on the side 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 on the side 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, the turning conveyor 5e, and the supply conveyors 6e, 7e, 8e, and 9e are belt conveyors that transport the tire materials M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 in a flat state.

[0030] The turning conveyor 5e is installed between each of the slide conveyors 5d, 6d and the supply conveyor 6e in a plan view and turns horizontally at that position. In this embodiment, the turning angle of the turning conveyor 5e is set to 90°. The slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d, and 9d are arranged one for each of the parallel supply units 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 at each of the stock positions P1 to P5. For example, at the stock position P1 for tire material M1, one slide conveyor 5d is arranged, sliding in the width direction of the parallel supply units 5 (5A, 5B). The slide conveyor 5d moves in the width direction between the supply units 5A and 5B, ahead of the tire material M1 supply direction. 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] An embodiment of the supply system of the present invention is a supply system that supplies tire materials M1, M2 to a banding drum (forming drum body) 3. That is, as illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 9 to 13, a typical embodiment of the supply system of the present invention includes supply units 5, 6 at adjacent stock positions P1, P2 where tire materials M1, M2 are wound and stored, a banding drum 3, and a supply conveyor 6e arranged between the supply units 5, 6 and the banding drum 3. Furthermore, a turning conveyor 5e that turns in a plan view is provided between each of the supply units 5, 6 and the supply conveyor 5e. The tire materials M1, M2 fed from the supply units 5, 6 at each of the stock positions P1, P2 are different types, and the respective supply units 5, 6 are arranged so that the supply directions of the tire materials M1, M2 intersect at a predetermined angle S in a plan view.

[0035] In this embodiment, the predetermined angle S is set to 90°, and the supply directions of the tire materials M1, M2 delivered from the respective supply units 5, 6 are perpendicular to each other in a plan view. The predetermined angle S is, for example, between 60° and 120°, and preferably between 85° and 95°. Setting the predetermined angle S within this range allows the supply units 5, 6 at adjacent stock positions P1, P2 to be arranged in a concentrated manner, which is advantageous for making the molding apparatus 1 compact. The rotation angle of the rotating conveyor 5e is set to the same angle as the predetermined angle S.

[0036] In this embodiment, a plurality of supply units 5A, 5B are arranged in parallel at stock position P1, and a plurality of supply units 6A, 6B are arranged in parallel at stock position P2, but the supply system of the present invention may be configured such that a single supply unit 5A, 6A is arranged at each stock position P1, P2. In this configuration, slide conveyors 5d, 6d for the supply units 5, 6 at each stock position P1, P2 are not required.

[0037] Then, the tire materials M1, M2 that have been fed from the supply units 5, 6 at the respective stock positions P1, P2 and cut to a fixed length are transferred to the supply conveyor 6e via the turning conveyor 5e and sequentially supplied to the banding drum 3 and supply conveyor 6e that are installed at predetermined fixed positions. In this embodiment, when the tire materials M1, M2 are supplied, the banding drum 3 and supply conveyor 6e that are installed at predetermined fixed positions and one supply unit 6A at one stock position P2 are arranged in series (vertically aligned in the Y direction).

[0038] 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 an embodiment of the supply system of the present invention in order to supply two different types of tire materials M1 and M2. The molding apparatus 1 can also be equipped with the supply system of the present invention in order to supply a plurality of other types of tire materials.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 9 to 14, the tire materials M1 to M3 of the inner peripheral member MA are supplied by the respective supply conveyors 6e, 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.

[0043] More specifically, tire materials M1, M2, M2, and M3 fed from one of the supply units 5A, 6A, 6A, and 7A are cut to predetermined lengths by cutters 5c, 6c, 6c, and 7c, respectively, and placed on slide conveyors 5d, 6d, 6d, and 7d arranged in front of each of the supply units 5A, 6A, 6A, and 7A, and then transported to supply conveyors 6e, 6e, 6e, and 7e. Tire materials M1 and M2 pass through a turning conveyor 5e. The turning conveyor 5e can turn 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 FIGS. 9 and 10. The turning conveyor 5e, which has received the tire material M1 from the slide conveyor 5d, turns 90° and is aligned in tandem with the slide conveyor 6d and the supply conveyor 6e in the Y direction, as shown in FIG.

[0044] As illustrated in Fig. 12, the tire material M1 fed from one supply unit 5A and the tire materials M2, M2 supplied from each of the vertically arranged supply units 6A, 6A are arranged in series on the banding drum 3. As illustrated in Fig. 13, the tire materials M1, M2, M2 arranged in series and cut to a fixed length are sequentially wound around the banding drum 3 while rotating the banding drum 3 in one direction about the drum axis C1, and are formed into a cylindrical shape and laminated.

[0045] Furthermore, while the tire materials M1, M2, and M2 are wound around the banding drum 3, formed into a cylindrical shape, and stacked, a pair of tire materials M3, which are 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 shown in FIG. 14 and placed in front of the supply conveyor 7e. Thereafter, the pair of tire materials M3, which are 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. This forms a cylindrical inner peripheral member MA in which the tire materials M1, M2, and M3 are stacked in order. In this manner, the inner peripheral members MA are formed sequentially and continuously.

[0046] 12 and 13, the procedure for supplying the tire materials M1, M2, M2 cut to a fixed length to the banding drum 3 will be described in further detail. As shown in FIG. 12 and 13, while each of the tire materials M1, M2, M2 is being transported from the turning conveyor 5e to the supply conveyor 6e, a sensor installed above detects its entire length and its widthwise position over the entire length (e.g., widthwise center position). Then, using the detection data from the sensor, each of the tire materials M1, M2, M2 is appropriately wound around the banding drum 3. For example, when winding the tire material M1 around the banding drum 3 from the state shown in FIG. 12, the movement amount (conveying speed) of the supply conveyor 6e relative to the rotational movement amount (rotational speed) of the banding drum 3 is adjusted based on the total length data of the tire material M1 detected by the sensor, and the banding drum 3 is moved in the width direction based on the detected widthwise position data to adjust the widthwise position of the tire material M1 relative to the banding drum 3. Simultaneously with the winding operation of this tire material M1 onto the banding drum 3, the first tire material M2 is transported from the turning conveyor 5e to the supply conveyor 6e, and the entire length and widthwise position of this tire material M2 over the entire length are detected by sensors. Furthermore, simultaneously with this, the second tire material M2 is transported from the slide conveyor 6d to the turning conveyor 5e. Next, when the first tire material M2 placed on the supply conveyor 6e is wound onto the banding drum 3, the rotation speed of the banding drum 3 is adjusted based on the entire length data of the first tire material M2 detected by the sensor, and the banding drum 3 is moved in the width direction based on the detected widthwise position data, thereby adjusting the widthwise position of the first tire material M2 relative to the banding drum 3. Simultaneously with the winding operation of the first tire material M2 onto the banding drum 3, the second tire material M2 is transported from the turning conveyor 5e to the supply conveyor 6e, and the entire length and widthwise position of the second tire material M2 over the entire length are detected by sensors.Next, when the second tire material M2 placed on the supply conveyor 6e is wound around the banding drum 3, the rotation speed of the banding drum 3 is adjusted based on the total length data of the second tire material M2 detected by the sensor, and the banding drum 3 is moved in the width direction based on the detected width direction position data to adjust the width direction position of the second tire material M2 relative to the banding drum 3.

[0047] According to the above-mentioned supply procedure, the tire materials M1, M2, M2 are continuously wound while being centered at the widthwise center of the banding drum 3, and are spliced ​​exactly in the lengthwise direction. In the above-mentioned supply procedure, in the series of processes of continuously supplying the tire materials M1, M2, M2 to the banding drum 3, the entire length and the widthwise position of each material are detected, and the operation of the banding drum 3 is controlled based on each detection data. As a result, each tire material M1, M2, M2 is centered and wound on the banding drum 3 before being stacked, within a preset short cycle time, and a high-quality tire material laminate with suppressed stacking misalignment can be efficiently formed.

[0048] 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).

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] According to the embodiment of the supply system of the present invention, in order to supply different types of tire materials M1, M2 to the banding drum 3, it is sufficient to slide and move the respective slide conveyors 5d, 6d and turn the swivel conveyor 5e, rather than moving the respective supply units 5, 6, so that an excessively large space is not required. There is also no need to move the banding drum 3 in order to wind the respective types of tire materials M1, M2 onto one banding drum 3. In the embodiment of the supply system of the present invention in which a single supply unit 5A, 6A is arranged at each stock position P1, P2 and there are no respective slide conveyors 5d, 6d, it is sufficient to turn the swivel conveyor 5e in order to supply different types of tire materials M1, M2 to one banding drum 3, which is even more advantageous in making the molding device 1 compact.

[0061] Furthermore, since it does not take a long time to rotate the rotating conveyor 5e, it is advantageous for efficiently supplying a plurality of types of tire materials M1, M2 to one band drum 3. Even if the slide conveyors 5d, 6d are provided as in this embodiment, it does not take a long time to slide the ride conveyors 5d, 6d.

[0062] In the green tire G molding process of this embodiment, 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. In this case, by sliding the slide conveyors 5d to 9d in the width direction of the parallel supply units 5 to 9, the tire materials M1 to M5 can be supplied from the other supply unit 5B to 9B.

[0063] That is, the slide conveyors 5d-9d are slid forward of the other supply unit 5B-9B, and the tire materials M1-M5 cut to the specified length are placed on the slide conveyors 5d-9d. The slide conveyors 5d-9d are then slid forward to transfer and supply the tire materials M1-M5 cut to the specified length onto the supply conveyors 6e-9e. The tire materials M1 and M2 are transferred from the slide conveyors 5d and 6d to the supply conveyor 6e using the swivel conveyor 5e as well. While the tire materials M1-M5 cut to the specified length are being supplied to the supply conveyors 6e-9e from the other supply unit 5B-9B, the supply unit 5A-9A that has been emptied of the tire materials M1-M5 is replaced with a new supply unit 5A-9A stocked with the tire materials M1-M5.

[0064] Therefore, from each stock position P1 to P5, tire materials M1 to M5 can be continuously supplied from any of the supply units 5 to 9 to the corresponding drums 3 and 4 via the slide conveyors 5d to 9d (and the rotary conveyor 5e for tire materials M1 and M2). This is advantageous for further reducing time loss caused by replenishing tire materials M1 to M5 and improving work efficiency in the tire building process. Accordingly, since there is no need to place and stock excess amounts of tire materials M1 to M5 on the supply conveyors 6e to 9e in order to reduce time loss caused by replenishing tire materials M1 to M5, the lengths of the supply conveyors 6e to 9e can be minimized. As a result, this is even more advantageous for making the building apparatus more compact.

[0065] 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.

[0066] The tire manufacturing method of the present invention, in which a green tire G using tire materials M1 and M2 is molded using the molding device 1 equipped with the embodiment of the supply system of the present invention described above and this green tire G is vulcanized, is advantageous for producing tires T in a space-saving manner with good productivity.

[0067] Making the turning conveyor 5e, the respective supply conveyors 6e to 9e, and the respective slide conveyors 5d to 9d shorter is advantageous for making the molding apparatus 1 more compact. The turning conveyor 5e, the respective supply conveyors 6e to 9e, and the respective slide conveyors 5d to 9d may be longer than the length of one of the tire materials M1 to M5 to be placed on them. Therefore, the lengths of the turning conveyor 5e, the respective supply conveyors 6e to 9e, and the respective slide conveyors 5d to 9d are set to, for example, 100% to 150% of the length of one of the tire materials M1 to M5 to be placed on the conveyors, more preferably 105% to 130%, and even more preferably 105% to 120%.

[0068] In this embodiment, the turning conveyor 5e is installed for the supply units 5 and 6 at the two stock positions P1 and P2, but it can also be installed for supply units at three or more stock positions. That is, it is also possible to configure the tire material that has been fed from the supply units at three or more stock positions and cut to a fixed length to be transferred to the supply conveyor 6e via one turning conveyor 5e and supplied to the bunt drum 3.

[0069] 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.

[0070] Cutting to a fixed length causes the tire materials M1 to M5 to shrink over time, resulting in variations in the degree of shrinkage, but the tire materials M1 to M5 are stored in the form of long bodies at the respective stock positions P1 to P5, and the tire materials M1 to M5 are fed from the supply units 5 to 9 and cut to a fixed length. Then, the tire 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 6e to 9e (tire materials M1 and M2 are further supplied to the corresponding drums 3 and 4). In an embodiment of the supply system of the present invention in which a single supply unit 5A, 6A is disposed at each stock position P1, P2, and the respective slide conveyors 5d, 6d are not present, the tire materials M1, M2 cut to a fixed length are supplied from the respective supply units 5A, 6A to the belt drum 3 via the turning conveyor 5e. In this way, cutting the tire materials M1 to M5 to a fixed length immediately before molding the green tire G is advantageous in minimizing the shrinkage of these tire materials M1 to M5 over time and variations in the amount of shrinkage compared to when the tire materials M1 to M5 are cut to a fixed length in advance and stored, which contributes to improving the quality of the manufactured tire T.

[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 Swivel 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 for 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 then wound around the forming drum body to form it into a cylindrical shape, the system has the supply unit arranged at each of a plurality of stock positions, the tire material fed from the supply units at adjacent stock positions is of a different type, and each of the supply units is arranged so that the supply directions of the tire material intersect with each other at a predetermined angle in a plan view, and a rotating conveyor that rotates in a plan view is provided between the supply unit and the supply conveyor at each of the stock positions, A tire material supply system for a molding drum body, in which the tire material is unwound from the supply units arranged at the respective stock positions and cut to a fixed length, and is transferred to the supply conveyor via the rotating conveyor and supplied to the molding drum body, for the molding drum body and the supply conveyor, which are installed at predetermined fixed positions.

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 the supply unit at one of the stock positions are arranged in series.

3. A system for supplying tire material to a building drum body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined angle is between 85° and 95°.

4. A tire material supply system to a forming drum body as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the tire materials cut to a fixed length after being unwound from the supply unit at each of the stock positions is continuously supplied to the forming drum body, the entire length and width direction position over the entire length of each of the tire materials cut to a fixed length are detected by a sensor as they are transported from the rotating conveyor to the supply conveyor, and when each of the tire materials is wound onto the forming drum body, the rotational speed and width direction position of the forming drum body are adjusted based on the entire length data and width direction position data over the entire length detected by the sensor of the tire material.

5. 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 4; and vulcanizing the green tire.

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