JP2020153818A - Tire size determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a tire size determination method enabling tire size to be more accurately determined.SOLUTION: The determination method includes: (1) a detection step of detecting that a tire T arrives at a reference position provided on a downstream side in a conveyance direction; (2) a first alignment step of pulling the tire T into an end of a conveyer 4, and aligning a position of the tire T in a width direction of the conveyer 4; (3) a stopper insertion step of inserting a rod-like stopper 46 into an inner side of the tire T; (4) a second alignment step of moving the tire T to the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and thereby abutting an inner peripheral portion of the tire T on the stopper 46, and aligning the position of the tire T in the conveyance direction; (5) an external diameter detection step of detecting an external diameter size of the tire T; and (6) an internal diameter detection step of detecting an internal diameter size of the tire T.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a method for determining a tire size.

In order to sort tires by size, sizes such as outer diameter and inner diameter are measured. Therefore, various studies have been conducted on a device for measuring a tire size (for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-176407

The tires formed in the vulcanization process are sent to a transfer line and, for example, transferred to equipment for a finish inspection process.

For example, heavy-duty tires are classified into truck and bus tires (hereinafter, also referred to as TB tires) and small truck tires (hereinafter, also referred to as LTB tires). In factories that manufacture heavy-duty tires, TB tires and LTB tires may be flushed to the same transport line after the vulcanization process.

In the finish inspection process, the quality of the tire is inspected. The device for this inspection has a size limit. For this reason, it is necessary to sort tires by size while transporting them, and it is required to establish a technique capable of accurately determining the tire size.

The present invention has been made in view of such an actual situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tire size determination method capable of accurately determining a tire size.

The tire size determination method according to the present invention is a tire size determination method for determining the tire size of a tire being conveyed by a conveyor. This judgment method is
(1) A detection process for detecting that the tire has reached a reference position set on the downstream side in the transport direction.
(2) The first alignment step, in which the tire is brought close to the end of the conveyor and the position of the tire in the width direction of the conveyor is aligned.
(3) A stopper insertion process in which a rod-shaped stopper is passed through the inside of the tire.
(4) The second alignment step, in which the inner peripheral portion of the tire is brought into contact with the stopper by moving the tire downstream in the transport direction to align the position of the tire in the transport direction.
It includes (5) an outer diameter detecting step of detecting the outer diameter size of the tire, and (6) an inner diameter detecting step of detecting the inner diameter size of the tire.

Preferably, in this tire size determination method, in the outer diameter detecting step, an outer diameter detecting means having a first floodlight that emits the first signal light and a first receiver that receives the first signal light. Is used, the outer diameter size of the tire is detected by the presence or absence of shading of the first signal light by the tire, and in the inner diameter detection step, a second floodlight that emits the second signal light and the second signal light. An inner diameter detecting means having a second light receiver for receiving light is used, and the inner diameter size of the tire is detected by the presence or absence of shading of the second signal light by the tire.

Preferably, in this tire size determination method, the first floodlight is arranged so that the first signal light hits the tread surface of the tire, and the second signal light hits the side surface of the tire. Two treads are placed.

Preferably, in this tire size determination method, the inner diameter detecting means is located on the upstream side of the outer diameter detecting means in the transport direction.

In the tire size determination method of the present invention, the tire size is determined after accurately grasping the position of the tire during transportation. This determination method can determine the tire size more accurately.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a determination device used in the tire size determination method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the determination device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an operating state of the determination device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating another operating state of the determination device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating still another operating state of the determination device of FIG.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

1 and 2 show an example of a determination device 2 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as device 2) used in the tire size determination method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device 2. FIG. 2 is a side view of the device 2 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the left side. 1 and 2 show a part of this device 2.

The determination device 2 is a device 2 that determines the tire size of the tire T being conveyed by the conveyor 4. The device 2 includes a conveyor 4, a position detecting means 6, a width adjusting means 8, a stopping means 10, a stopping means 12, an outer diameter detecting means 14, an inner diameter detecting means 16, and a control unit 18.

The conveyor 4 conveys the tire T. The conveyor 4 is a part of a transfer line that connects the vulcanization step and the next step of the vulcanization step, for example, a finish inspection step.

In FIG. 1, the tire T is conveyed from the left side to the right side. In the present invention, the direction from the left side to the right side is the transport direction of the tire T. In FIG. 1, the left side is the upstream side in the transport direction of the tire T, and the right side is the downstream side in the transport direction.

The conveyor 4 of this device 2 includes a large number of rollers 20 arranged in parallel in the transport direction. These rollers 20 are arranged at intervals in the transport direction. Each roller 20 extends in the width direction of the conveyor 4. The rollers 20 are rotatably supported by a frame 22 extending in the transport direction at each end. In the conveyor 4, the rollers 20 are rotated by driving means such as a chain, a belt, and a motor (not shown). The conveyor 4 is a drive roller conveyor.

The position detecting means 6 is a phototube. The position detecting means 6 includes a light emitting unit 24 and a light receiving unit 26. The light projecting unit 24 is provided on one side of the conveyor 4 in the width direction. The light receiving unit 26 is provided on the other side of the conveyor 4 in the width direction. The light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 26 are arranged so as to face each other in the width direction.

The light projecting unit 24 projects signal light in the width direction. In this device 2, the light projecting unit 24 is arranged so that the signal light hits the tread surface of the tire T. The light receiving unit 26 receives this signal light.

When the tire T is located between the light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 26, the tire T blocks the signal light. In the position detecting means 6, the light receiving unit 26 detects whether or not the signal light is blocked by the tire T. As a result, it is confirmed whether or not the tire T is located between the light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, the position detecting means 6 is provided at a specific position on the downstream side of the device 2 in the transport direction. In the present invention, the position where the position detecting means 6 is provided is the reference position. In this device 2, the position detecting means 6 detects that the tire T has reached the reference position set on the downstream side in the transport direction. This reference position is appropriately set in consideration of the outer diameter of the tire T.

The width adjusting means 8 is provided on one side of the conveyor 4 in the width direction. The width adjusting means 8 is located on the upstream side of the position detecting means 6 in the transport direction. The width adjusting means 8 moves the tire T on the conveyor 4 from one side in the width direction to the other side, and brings the tire T to the end of the conveyor 4.

The width adjusting means 8 includes an actuator 28 and a plate 30. The actuator 28 includes a cylinder 32 and a rod 34. The cylinder 32 is fixed to the frame 22 of the device 2. The rod 34 is passed through the cylinder 32. The rod 34 is movable with respect to the cylinder 32 in the length direction thereof. In this device 2, the actuator 28 is an air cylinder. In the actuator 28, the rod 34 expands and contracts in the width direction by supplying air.

In the width adjusting means 8, the plate 30 is attached to the tip of the rod 34. As shown in FIG. 2, when the actuator 28 is driven by the supply of air and the rod 34 is extended, the plate 30 is moved from one side in the width direction to the other side. When the rod 34 contracts, the plate 30 is moved from the other side in the width direction to one side.

The width adjusting means 8 includes a pair of guide members 36. As shown in FIG. 1, the guide members 36 are arranged on both sides of the actuator 28 in the transport direction. The guide member 36 includes a guide rod 38 and a guide cylinder 40. The guide rod 38 is slidably passed through a guide cylinder 40 fixed to the frame 22 of the device 2. The tip of the guide rod 38 is attached to the plate 30. The guide member 36 contributes to the smooth movement of the plate 30.

The restraining means 10 is provided on the other side of the conveyor 4 in the width direction. The restraining means 10 is a wall-like member that extends in the transport direction and projects upward from the conveyor 4. The restraining means 10 stops the movement of the tire T brought to the end of the conveyor 4 by the width adjusting means 8.

In this device 2, the restraining means 10 includes a large number of rollers 42 arranged in parallel in the transport direction. These rollers 42 are attached to the frame 22 of the device 2 in a rotatable state with the central axis oriented in the vertical direction. These rollers 42 contribute to the smooth movement of the tire T in contact with the restraining means 10.

The stopping means 12 is arranged at a position overlapping the plate 30 of the width adjusting means 8 in the width direction. In the transport direction, the position of the stopping means 12 coincides with the position of the plate 30. In the vertical direction, the stopping means 12 is arranged below the conveyor 4.

The stopping means 12 includes an actuator 44 and a stopper 46. The actuator 44 includes a cylinder 48 and a rod 50. The cylinder 48 is fixed to the frame 22 of the device 2 provided on the lower side of the conveyor 4. The rod 50 is passed through the cylinder 48. The rod 50 is movable in the length direction with respect to the cylinder 48. In this device 2, the actuator 44 is an air cylinder. In the actuator 44, the rod 50 expands and contracts in the vertical direction by supplying air.

The stopper 46 has a thin rod shape. Specifically, the stopper 46 has a round bar shape. The stopper 46 extends in the vertical direction in the device 2.

In the stopping means 12, the guide rod 52 is attached to the lower end of the stopper 46. The lower end of the guide rod 52 is attached to a connecting plate 54 attached to the tip of the rod 50 of the actuator 44. The guide rod 52 is slidably passed through a guide cylinder 56 fixed to the frame 22.

In the stopping means 12, when the actuator 44 is driven by the supply of air and the rod 50 contracts, the stopper 46 is moved upward. In this device 2, as shown in FIG. 1, the stopper 46 is located between one roller 20 of the conveyor 4 and another roller 20 located next to the one roller 20 in the transport direction. Therefore, the stopper 46 protrudes from the conveyor 4 by being moved upward. On the other hand, when the rod 50 is extended, the stopper 46 is moved downward, and the upper end of the stopper 46 is arranged below the upper surface of the conveyor 4.

In this device 2, the stopper 46 is passed through a gap between the rollers 20. The stopper 46 is thinner than this gap. In this device 2, the tire T is placed on the conveyor 4 with the side surface facing down. The stopper 46 is also passed through the inside of the tire T. The outer circumference of the stopper 46 is smaller than the inner circumference of the tire T. The stopping means 12 having the stopper 46 brings the stopper 46 into contact with the inner peripheral portion of the tire T moving in the transport direction to stop the movement of the tire T.

The outer diameter detecting means 14 is a phototube. The outer diameter detecting means 14 includes a light emitting unit 58 and a light receiving unit 60. The light projecting unit 58 is provided on one side of the conveyor 4 in the width direction. The light receiving unit 60 is provided on the other side of the conveyor 4 in the width direction. The light emitting unit 58 and the light receiving unit 60 are arranged so as to face each other in the width direction.

The light projecting unit 58 projects signal light in the width direction. In this device 2, the light projecting unit 58 is arranged so that the signal light hits the tread surface of the tire T. The light receiving unit 60 receives this signal light.

When the tire T is located between the light emitting unit 58 and the light receiving unit 60, the tire T blocks the signal light. In the outer diameter detecting means 14, the light receiving unit 60 detects whether or not the signal light is blocked by the tire T. As a result, it is confirmed whether or not the tire T is located between the light emitting unit 58 and the light receiving unit 60.

The inner diameter detecting means 16 is a phototube. The inner diameter detecting means 16 includes a light emitting unit 62 and a light receiving unit 64. The light projecting unit 62 is supported by the frame 22 of the device 2 and is arranged above the conveyor 4. The light receiving unit 64 is supported by the frame 22 of the device 2 and is arranged below the conveyor 4. The light emitting unit 62 and the light receiving unit 64 are arranged so as to face each other in the vertical direction.

The light projecting unit 62 projects signal light in the vertical direction. In this device 2, the light projecting unit 62 is arranged so that the signal light can be applied to the side surface of the tire T. The light receiving unit 64 receives this signal light.

When the tire T is located between the light emitting unit 62 and the light receiving unit 64, the tire T blocks the signal light. In the inner diameter detecting means 16, the light receiving unit 64 detects whether or not the signal light is blocked by the tire T. As a result, it is confirmed whether or not the tire T is located between the light emitting unit 62 and the light receiving unit 64.

The control unit 18 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer having a calculation unit such as a CPU, a storage unit including a RAM and a ROM, and the calculation unit executes a program stored in the storage unit to exert a predetermined function. In the device 2, the control unit 18 operates the conveyor 4, the position detecting means 6, the width adjusting means 8, the stopping means 12, the outer diameter detecting means 14, and the inner diameter detecting means 16 based on a preset operation program. Is controlled.

By using the device 2 described above, the tire size of the tire T being conveyed by the conveyor 4 is determined. Next, a method for determining the tire size, which determines the tire size of the tire T being conveyed by the conveyor 4, will be described using this device 2.

This determination method includes a detection step, a first alignment step, a stopper insertion step, a second alignment step, an outer diameter detection step, and an inner diameter detection step.

In the detection step, the position of the tire T conveyed by the conveyor 4 from the upstream side to the downstream side is detected by the position detecting means 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tire T moves on the conveyor 4 from the upstream side to the downstream side. Eventually, the tire T reaches the reference position set on the downstream side in the transport direction of the device 2. As described above, the position detecting means 6 capable of detecting the presence of the tire T is provided at the reference position. In this detection step, it is detected that the tire T being conveyed has reached the reference position.

In this determination method, when it is detected in the detection process that the tire T has arrived at the reference position, the transportation of the tire T is stopped. After the stop, the width adjusting means 8 is driven, and the first alignment step is started.

In the first alignment step, the width adjusting means 8 is driven. As shown in FIG. 4A, the rod 34 of the width adjusting means 8 is extended, and the plate 30 is moved from one side in the width direction to the other side. The tire T is moved to the other side in the width direction on the conveyor 4, and the tire T is brought to the end of the conveyor 4. The tire T comes into contact with the stopping means 10 and the movement of the tire T is stopped. As a result, the position of the tire T in the width direction of the conveyor 4 is adjusted. In this first alignment step, the tire T is brought closer to the end of the conveyor 4, and the position of the tire T in the width direction of the conveyor 4 is aligned. In this determination method, when the position of the tire T in the width direction is aligned, the stopper insertion step is started.

In the stopper insertion step, the stopping means 12 is driven. The rod 50 of the stopping means 12 is contracted, and the rod-shaped stopper 46 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 4 (b). As a result, the stopper 46 is passed through the inside of the tire T. With the stopper 46 passed through the inside of the tire T, the upper end of the stopper 46 protrudes from the tire T. In this stopper insertion step, the rod-shaped stopper 46 is passed through the inside of the tire T. In this determination method, when the stopper 46 of the stopping means 12 is passed through the inside of the tire T, the second alignment step is started.

In the second alignment step, the conveyor 4 is driven and the tire T is moved in the transport direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the inner peripheral portion of the tire T comes into contact with the stopper 46, and the movement of the tire T is stopped. As a result, the position of the tire T in the transport direction is adjusted. In this second alignment step, the inner peripheral portion of the tire T is brought into contact with the stopper 46 by moving the tire T to the downstream side in the transport direction, and the position of the tire T in the transport direction is aligned. In this determination method, when the positions of the tires T in the transport direction are aligned, the outer diameter detection step and the inner diameter detection step are started.

In the outer diameter detecting step, the outer diameter detecting means 14 detects the outer diameter size of the tire T. The outer diameter detecting means 14 is located on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the stopper 46. Therefore, when the tire T has a small outer diameter, the tire T cannot block the signal light, so that the outer diameter detecting means 14 cannot detect the presence of the tire T. On the other hand, when the tire T has a large outer diameter, the tire T blocks the signal light, so that the outer diameter detecting means 14 can detect the presence of the tire T. In this outer diameter detecting step, the outer diameter detecting means 14 is used, and the outer diameter size of the tire T is detected depending on whether or not the signal light is blocked by the tire T. In other words, in the outer diameter detecting step, information on whether the tire T has a large outer diameter or a small outer diameter can be obtained.

In the inner diameter detecting step, the inner diameter of the tire T is detected by the inner diameter detecting means 16. The inner diameter detecting means 16 is located downstream of the stopper 46 in the transport direction, like the outer diameter detecting means 14 described above. Therefore, when the tire T has a small inner diameter, the tire T blocks the signal light, so that the inner diameter detecting means 16 can detect the presence of the tire T. On the other hand, when the tire T has a large inner diameter, the tire T cannot block the signal light, so that the inner diameter detecting means 16 cannot detect the presence of the tire T. In this inner diameter detecting step, the inner diameter detecting means 16 is used, and the inner diameter size of the tire T is detected depending on whether or not the signal light is blocked by the tire T. In other words, in the inner diameter detecting step, information on whether the tire T has a large inner diameter or a small inner diameter can be obtained.

In this determination method, the outer diameter size and the inner diameter size of the tire T being conveyed by the conveyor 4 are detected. In particular, in this determination method, the position of the tire T in the width direction of the conveyor 4 is adjusted by moving the tire T to the end of the conveyor 4, and the inner peripheral portion of the tire T is brought into contact with the rod-shaped stopper 46. , The position of the tire T in the transport direction is adjusted. Then, the outer diameter size and the inner diameter size of the tire T are detected in a state where the position of the tire T in the width direction of the conveyor 4 and the position of the tire T in the transport direction are matched. In this determination method, the tire size is determined after accurately grasping the position of the tire T during transportation. This determination method can determine the tire size more accurately.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this device 2, the inner diameter detecting means 16 is located upstream of the outer diameter detecting means 14 in the transport direction. In this determination method, the outer diameter size and the inner diameter size of the tire T are effectively detected in a state where the position of the tire T in the width direction of the conveyor 4 and the position of the tire T in the transport direction are matched. The arrangement of the outer diameter detecting means 14 and the inner diameter detecting means 16 effectively contributes to the accurate determination of the tire size. From this point of view, in this determination method, the inner diameter detecting means 16 is preferably located upstream of the outer diameter detecting means 14 in the transport direction.

In this measuring method, the outer diameter size and the inner diameter size of the tire T being conveyed are accurately determined. Therefore, for example, a truck and bus tire (hereinafter, also referred to as a TB tire) and a small truck tire T. In a transport line in which (hereinafter, also referred to as an LTD tire) is mixed and flowed, the tire T flowing through the transport line is divided into a TB tire and an LTD tire based on the determined outer diameter size and inner diameter size. It can be sorted easily and accurately.

When the TB tire and the LTB tire are sorted by this determination method, for example, the determination criteria shown in Table 1 below are stored in the control unit 18. In Table 1, reference 1 indicates that when the outer diameter size and the inner diameter size are detected as the outer diameter size and the inner diameter size of the TB tire, the tire T is determined as the TB tire. Criterion 2 indicates that when the outer diameter size is detected as the outer diameter size of the TB tire and the inner diameter size is detected as the inner diameter size of the LTB tire, the tire T is determined as the TB tire. Criterion 3 indicates that when the outer diameter size is detected as the outer diameter size of the LTB tire and the inner diameter size is detected as the inner diameter size of the TB tire, the tire T is determined as the TB tire. Then, the reference 4 indicates that when the outer diameter size and the inner diameter size are detected as the outer diameter size and the inner diameter size of the LTD tire, the tire T is determined as the LTD tire.

In this determination method, the control unit 18 determines the tire size based on the outer diameter size of the tire T detected by the outer diameter detecting means 14 and the inner diameter size of the tire T detected by the inner diameter detecting means 16. This determination method includes a determination step of determining the tire size based on the outer diameter size of the tire T detected by the outer diameter detecting means 14 and the inner diameter size of the tire T detected by the inner diameter detecting means 16.

As described above, according to this determination method, the tire size is determined after accurately grasping the position of the tire T during transportation. This determination method can measure the tire size more accurately. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a tire size determination method capable of measuring the tire size more for determination.

The embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and are not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the technical scope includes all modifications within a range equivalent to the configuration described in the claims.

The technique for determining the tire size described above can be applied to various tires.

2 ... Judgment device 4 ... Conveyor 6 ... Position detection means 8 ... Width adjusting means 10 ... Stopping means 12 ... Stopping means 14 ... Outer diameter detecting means 16 ... Inner diameter Detection means 28 ... Actuator of width adjusting means 8 30 ... Plate of width adjusting means 8 44 ... Actuator of stopping means 12 46 ... Stopper of stopping means 12

Claims (4)

It is a tire size determination method that determines the tire size of a tire being transported on a conveyor.
A detection process that detects that the tire has reached the reference position set on the downstream side in the transport direction.
The first alignment step of bringing the tire closer to the end of the conveyor and aligning the tires in the width direction of the conveyor.
The stopper insertion process, in which a rod-shaped stopper is passed through the inside of the tire,
A second alignment step in which the inner peripheral portion of the tire is brought into contact with the stopper by moving the tire to the downstream side in the transport direction to align the position of the tire in the transport direction.
An outer diameter detection process that detects the outer diameter size of the tire,
An inner diameter detection process that detects the inner diameter size of the tire, and
How to determine the tire size, including. In the outer diameter detection step, an outer diameter detecting means having a first floodlight that emits the first signal light and a first receiver that receives the first signal light is used, and the first signal light by the tire is used. The outer diameter size of the tire is detected by the presence or absence of shading.
In the inner diameter detecting step, an inner diameter detecting means having a second floodlight that emits the second signal light and a second receiver that receives the second signal light is used, and the tire produces the second signal light. The method for determining a tire size according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter size of the tire is detected depending on the presence or absence of shading. According to claim 2, the first floodlight is arranged so that the first signal light hits the tread surface of the tire, and the second floodlight is arranged so that the second signal light hits the side surface of the tire. The method for determining the tire size described. The method for determining a tire size according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner diameter detecting means is located on the upstream side of the outer diameter detecting means in the transport direction.