U.S. patent application number 13/149274 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-22 for method of and apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Osamu Fujiki, Hirokatsu Mizukusa, Tomoyuki Takatsuka, Tetsuo Tatara.
Application Number | 20110226886 13/149274 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38801110 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110226886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tatara; Tetsuo ; et
al. |
September 22, 2011 |
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WINDING A LENGTHY RUBBER MATERIAL
Abstract
In the case where a lengthy rubber material (R) is wound on a
winding roll (30) mounted on a moving cart (20), the invention
prevents excessive bonding of the rubber material between
respective layers and is capable of pulling out and supplying the
rubber material as wound without a problem, and the lengthy rubber
material (R) continuously extruded in a lengthy manner from a
rubber extruder to be fed to a winding position is wound to be made
spiral with alternately reverse inclination every layer while being
caused by a traverse guide to traverse to the winding roll (30)
mounted on the cart (20) in accordance with rotation of the
roll.
Inventors: |
Tatara; Tetsuo; (Osaka,
JP) ; Takatsuka; Tomoyuki; (Osaka, JP) ;
Mizukusa; Hirokatsu; (Osaka, JP) ; Fujiki; Osamu;
(Osaka, JP) |
Assignee: |
TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO.,
LTD.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
38801110 |
Appl. No.: |
13/149274 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12303286 |
Apr 3, 2009 |
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PCT/JP2006/311207 |
Jun 5, 2006 |
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13149274 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
242/476.1 ;
242/476.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2701/37 20130101;
B65H 54/28 20130101; B65H 57/006 20130101; B65H 55/04 20130101;
B65H 2701/1752 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/476.1 ;
242/476.7 |
International
Class: |
B65H 54/22 20060101
B65H054/22; B65H 54/02 20060101 B65H054/02; B65H 67/08 20060101
B65H067/08 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, comprising a
conveyor device that feeds a lengthy rubber material continuously
extruded from a rubber extruder, a traverse guide supported in a
position, in which the lengthy rubber material is forwarded from
the conveyor device, to be made able to reciprocatively move in a
width direction intersecting the forwarding direction and moving
while guiding the lengthy rubber material to be capable of
forwarding the same, a moving cart mounted in a predetermined
installation below the traverse guide so that it can be pulled out,
a winding roll that is supported on the cart and can be
rotationally driven so that an axis thereof is made in parallel to
a moving direction of the traverse guide in a state, in which the
cart is mounted, and wherein the traverse guide repeats
reciprocating movements in an axial direction of the roll according
to rotation of the winding roll to thereby wind the lengthy rubber
material while causing the same to traverse in the axial direction
of the winding roll.
2. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 1, wherein two forward and rear traverse guides are
provided forwardly of a tip end of the feed conveyor device,
corresponding installations for the carts are set below the both
traverse guides, and winding rolls provided on the carts mounted in
the both installations alternately wind the lengthy rubber
material.
3. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 1, wherein the traverse guide comprises a pair of forward
and rear rollers arranged widthwise to a direction, in which the
lengthy rubber material is forwarded, and a pair of left and right
rollers arranged longitudinally at least above or below the rolls,
the traverse guide being provided to perform guiding fore and aft
and left and right.
4. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 1, wherein a shell portion of the winding roll on the
moving cart is formed by a perforate plate or a meshy body to be
drum-shaped, and the drum-shaped shell portion is partially formed
with an opening, which enables a wind beginning end of the lengthy
rubber material to be inserted thereinto and latched thereon.
5. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 1, wherein the winding roll is provided at one end thereof
with an engaging connection, which engages with a rotation
transmitting portion set on a part of a predetermined installation
to be capable of transmitting power when the moving cart is mounted
on the installation.
6. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 1, wherein the feed conveyor device is provided to enable
a rear end side thereof in a feed direction to make a telescopic
adjustment in a longitudinal direction.
7. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 2, wherein the traverse guide comprises a pair of forward
and rear rollers arranged widthwise to a direction, in which the
lengthy rubber material is forwarded, and a pair of left and right
rollers arranged longitudinally at least above or below the rolls,
the traverse guide being provided to perform guiding fore and aft
and left and right.
8. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 2, wherein a shell portion of the winding roll on the
moving cart is formed by a perforate plate or a meshy body to be
drum-shaped, and the drum-shaped shell portion is partially formed
with an opening, which enables a wind beginning end of the lengthy
rubber material to be inserted thereinto and latched thereon.
9. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 2, wherein the winding roll is provided at one end thereof
with an engaging connection, which engages with a rotation
transmitting portion set on a part of a predetermined installation
to be capable of transmitting power when the moving cart is mounted
on the installation.
10. The apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to claim 2, wherein the feed conveyor device is provided to enable
a rear end side thereof in a feed direction to make a telescopic
adjustment in a longitudinal direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No.
12/303,286, filed Apr. 3, 2009, and wherein application Ser. No.
12/303,286 is a national stage application filed under 35 USC
.sctn.371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2006/311207, filed
Jun. 5, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a method of and an
apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber material, which is supplied
mainly to an extruder of a rubber strip for building of a tire, on
a winding roll on a cart.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] In recent years, from the viewpoint of the requirement for
accuracy of building on a tire configuration and the requirement
for improvement in tire balance, uniformity, etc., in, for example,
building of a tire, a ribbon-shaped rubber strip having a
predetermined cross sectional shape is wound round an outer
periphery of a tire building drum in a layered manner, while being
extruded and built on the building drum, which is rotationally
driven, by an extruder to form a rubber member of a tire
constituent material having a predetermined profile as shown in
JP-A-9-29858 and JP-A-2002-178415.
[0004] By the way, it is necessary to continuously supply a rubber
material to an extruder of the rubber strip used in a tire building
process since the rubber strip is continuously extruded and built
according to the operation of a tire building machine.
[0005] Conventionally, a rubber material is supplied to the
extruder such that a rubber material of raw rubber extruded by the
extruder of rubber material in a material preparation process to be
made lengthy and formed into a relatively thick band is folded
randomly and accommodated in a conveyance container, such as
basket, box, or the like, put on a moving cart and conveyed to a
portion of the extruder of rubber strip to be continuously supplied
from a supply port of the extruder while the rubber material is
pulled out of the container.
[0006] Since the lengthy rubber material extruded in the material
preparation process is folded randomly and accommodated in the
conveyance container to include voids, an amount of storage is
small although being bulky. Besides, the weight of the whole rubber
material in the container acts on a rubber material in a lower
layer and is increased as it goes toward lower layers. In
particular, the larger an amount of storage, the larger the weight.
Consequently, overlapping portions of the rubber material as
accommodated undergo excessive deformation occasionally and
contacted portions of the rubber material as accommodated bond
firmly and do not peel off readily to cause a fear that elongation
and cut are generated due to the pulling action, so that it is not
possible in some cases to smoothly perform the work of pulling and
supplying the rubber material.
[0007] Therefore, the lengthy rubber material in the conveyance
container cannot be increased in amount of storage, so that it is
necessary to relatively frequently perform conveyance of the
container to a tire building process and the work of exchanging and
setting the container in the pulling-out and supplying portion,
which results in hindering an improvement in working
efficiency.
[0008] Hereupon, the inventors of the present application have
thought of winding the lengthy rubber material on a winding roll
provided on a moving cart in order to increase the same in amount
of conveyance each time.
[0009] In this case, when winding on the winding roll comprises
simply overlapping and winding like winding of an ordinary
band-shaped rubber material or the like, rubber materials between
respective layers as wound contact each other in a wide range and
continuously circumferentially and the contacted portions bond
together and will not peel off readily, so that it is not possible
to smoothly perform pulling-out and supplying. On the other hand,
winding with separation sheets interposed between the respective
layers needs a specific apparatus therefor to make the apparatus
itself high in cost and is not appropriate for supplying of a
rubber material for extrusion and building of a rubber strip used
in a tire building process.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-9-29858
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2002-178415
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems that the Invention is to Solve
[0010] The invention has been thought of in view of the problem and
has its object to perform winding in a manner to prevent excessive
bonding of rubber materials, in particular, between respective
layers and to pull out and supply the wound rubber material without
causing any problem, in the case where a lengthy rubber material
being supplied to an extruder or the like is wound on a winding
roll mounted on a moving cart so as to efficiently convey the
lengthy rubber material, and the invention provides a method of
winding a lengthy rubber material and an apparatus therefor.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0011] In a method of winding a lengthy rubber material, according
to the invention, a lengthy rubber material continuously extruded
in a lengthy manner from a rubber extruder to be fed to a winding
position is wound to be made spiral with alternately reverse
inclination every layer while being caused by a traverse guide to
traverse a winding roll mounted on a moving cart in accordance with
rotation of the roll.
[0012] Thereby, the weight of the lengthy rubber material as wound
acts on an inner layer side above the winding roll but acts little
on the inner layer side below the roll, so that the weight acting
on the inner layer side is decreased as a whole, thus being capable
of winding the lengthy rubber material without generation of
excessive deformation or bonding and being capable of
correspondingly increasing a quantity as wound.
[0013] Besides, since the lengthy rubber material wound on the
winding roll is made spiral with alternately reverse inclination
every layer and the wound rubber portions of the respective layers
contact only on mutually intersecting portions thereof, a contact
area between the respective layers decreases, the weight acting on
the inner layer side is small, and intense boding is not generated,
so that even if the contacting portions bond, it is possible to
make peeling relatively readily. Therefore, it is possible to
increase the quantity of the lengthy rubber material as wound and
to smoothly and continuously perform pulling-out and supplying to
the extruder or the like.
[0014] In the method of winding a lengthy rubber material,
preferably, the lengthy rubber material has a cross sectional shape
being a little thick and flat such as rectangular, elliptical, or
the like and is wound while being caused to traverse at a larger
pitch than the width dimension of the rubber material. A spacing is
retained every one circumference wound rubber portion, so that a
contact area between respective layers is decreased, thus being
capable of preventing the generation of excessive bonding.
[0015] Preferably, the rotating speed of the winding roll and that
moving speed in an axial direction, at which the lengthy rubber
material is caused to traverse, are controlled according to winding
of the lengthy rubber material to make the quantity of the rubber
material as wound uniform over a total length in a roll axial
direction.
[0016] Also, the invention has a feature in an apparatus for
winding a lengthy rubber material in order to carry out the winding
method described above, the apparatus comprising a conveyor device
that feeds a lengthy rubber material continuously extruded from a
rubber extruder, a traverse guide supported in a position, in which
the lengthy rubber material is forwarded from the conveyor device,
to be made able to reciprocatively move in a width direction
intersecting the forwarding direction and moving while guiding the
lengthy rubber material to enable forwarding the same, a moving
cart mounted in a predetermined installation below the traverse
guide so that it can be pulled out, a winding roll that is
supported on the cart and can be rotationally driven so that an
axis thereof is made in parallel to a moving direction of the
traverse guide in a state, in which the cart is mounted, and
wherein the traverse guide repeats reciprocating movements in an
axial direction of the roll according to rotation of the winding
roll to thereby wind the lengthy rubber material while causing the
same to traverse in the axial direction of the winding roll.
[0017] Thereby, it is possible to wind the lengthy rubber material
on the winding roll such that respective layers thereof are made
spiral with alternately reverse inclination, thus being capable of
readily carrying out the winding method of the invention.
[0018] In the winding apparatus, two forward and rear traverse
guides are provided forwardly of a tip end of the feed conveyor
device, corresponding installations for the carts are set below the
both traverse guides, and winding rolls provided on the carts
mounted in the both installations alternately wind the lengthy
rubber material. Thereby, when winding of the lengthy rubber
material on the winding roll on the cart of one of the
installations is completed, winding of the lengthy rubber material
is switched to the cart of the other of the installations, thus
being capable of conveying the one of the carts to a position, in
which the lengthy rubber material is used, or making an exchange
with a fresh cart provided with an empty winding roll to set the
same while continuing winding on the winding roll on the cart.
[0019] In the winding apparatus, the traverse guide comprises a
pair of forward and rear rollers arranged widthwise to a direction,
in which the lengthy rubber material is forwarded, and a pair of
left and right rollers arranged longitudinally at least above or
below the rolls, the traverse guide being provided to perform
guiding fore and aft and left and right. Thereby, it is possible to
guide and traverse the lengthy rubber material so as not to
generate a twist or the like, thus being capable of surely winding
such that respective layers are made spiral in a predetermined
manner.
[0020] In the winding apparatus, a shell portion of the winding
roll on the moving cart is formed by a perforate plate or a meshy
body to be drum-shaped, and the drum-shaped shell portion is
partially formed with an opening, which enables a wind beginning
end of the lengthy rubber material to be inserted thereinto and
latched thereon. Thereby, a wind beginning end of the lengthy
rubber material is inserted into and latched on the opening to
thereby be capable of winding surely and preventing the rubber
material from coming into close contact with the roll surface.
[0021] In the winding apparatus, the winding roll is provided at
one end thereof with an engaging connection, which engages with a
rotation transmitting portion set on a part of a predetermined
installation to be capable of transmitting power when the moving
cart is mounted on the installation.
[0022] In the winding apparatus, the feed conveyor device is
provided to enable a rear end side thereof in a feed direction to
make a telescopic adjustment in a longitudinal direction.
Effect of the Invention
[0023] With the winding method and the winding apparatus, according
to the invention, by winding a lengthy rubber material continuously
extruded from a rubber extruder, on a winding roll provided on a
moving cart so that respective layers thereof are made spiral with
alternately reverse inclination, it is possible to increase the
quantity of the lengthy rubber material as wound, thus being
capable of an increase in conveyance efficiency and to prevent
excessive bonding of the rubber material between respective layers
to smoothly and continuously perform pulling-out and supplying to
the extruder or the like.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0024] A mode for carrying out the invention will be described
below on the basis of an embodiment shown in the drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic, plan view showing the outline of the
production equipment of a lengthy rubber material, which includes a
winding apparatus of the invention and FIG. 2 is a schematic, side
view showing the equipment. FIG. 3 is a schematic, plan view
showing a drying apparatus of the equipment, FIGS. 4 and 5 are
cross sectional views showing a part of the drying apparatus, FIG.
6 is a schematic, plan view showing a conveyor device of the
equipment, FIG. 7 is a schematic, side view showing the conveyor
device, and FIG. 8 is a schematic, cross sectional view
illustrating the telescopic function of the conveyor device. FIG. 9
is a plan view showing, in enlarged scale, a main portion of a
winding apparatus. FIGS. 10 and 11 are a side view and a front view
in enlarged scale. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a traverse guide
and FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively, are cross sectional views
showing the traverse guide. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a moving
cart provided with a winding roll, FIG. 16 is a cross sectional
view showing the moving cart, and FIG. 17 is a view illustrating,
in enlarged scale, a wound state.
[0026] In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the reference numeral 1 denotes an
extruder that continuously extrudes a rubber material in a
predetermined cross sectional shape and in a lengthy manner, and a
single, lengthy rubber material R is normally extruded from a die 2
at a tip end of the extruder. While the cross sectional shape of
the lengthy rubber material R may be any one of circular, square
shapes, or the like, the cross section is preferably a little thick
and flat such as rectangular, elliptical, or the like from the
viewpoint of stability at the time of conveyance by conveyance
means described later and winding.
[0027] The reference numeral 3 denotes a processing vessel mounted
subsequently to the die 2 to process a release agent liquid or the
like and provided to immerse the lengthy rubber material R, which
is extruded in parallel, in the release agent liquid or the like in
the processing vessel 3 to forward the same in a state of surface
preparation.
[0028] The reference numeral 4 denotes a drying apparatus mounted
subsequently to the processing vessel 3 and provided to air-dry or
dry the lengthy rubber material R, to which the release agent
liquid or the like adheres, with air blasting by a blower as the
same is conveyed, though a detailed explanation is omitted. As
shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the drying apparatus 4 comprises conveyance
means 5 provided on an upper opening of a box-shaped body 41, which
is rectangular in a feed direction (longitudinal direction) from
the processing vessel 3, to support and convey the lengthy rubber
material R in a suspended state.
[0029] The conveyance means 5 comprises a turning member 53, such
as chain or the like, stretched round sprockets 52, 52 on vertical
shafts 51, 51 arranged forward and rearward at an interval
centrally of the upper opening of the body 41 in a width direction
and provided to reciprocate in a longitudinal direction, that is,
lengthwise of the body 41 on a plane along the upper opening of the
body 41. Further, a multiplicity of latch bars 55 extending outward
in a direction perpendicular to a turning direction are provided at
predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the turning
member 53 and reciprocative turning of the turning member 53 causes
the respective latch bars 55 to reciprocatively turn through the
rotating portions at both longitudinal ends forward in the feed
direction on one side half portion 4a widthwise of the body 41 and
rearward reversely to the above in the feed direction on the other
side half portion 4b. The lengthy rubber material R is supported in
a substantially U-shaped, suspended state and conveyed by causing a
feed drive roller 42 arranged above the rotating portion on a side
of the body 41 toward the processing vessel 3 to feed and suspend
the lengthy rubber material R and latching the lengthy rubber
material R on the respective rotating latch bars 55 at
predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, the
function as an accumulator is accomplished.
[0030] The respective latch bars 55, respectively, are provided at
both ends thereof with rolling rollers 56, 56 and the rollers 56,
56 are rollingly born on guide rails 43, 43 provided in parallel
inside and outside the upper opening of the body 41 whereby they
are held in a horizontal state to be able to turn.
[0031] The reference numeral 6 denotes a feed conveyor device
arranged to project forward in the feed direction from a position
above a rear portion of the half portion 4b disposed on a rear
conveyance side of the drying apparatus 4 in the feed direction and
provided to pull the lengthy rubber material R, which is latched on
the latch bars 55 of the conveyance means 5 to be conveyed, upward
on a side of the rear portion of the half portion 4b, to send the
same forward with a tip end forward.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the conveyor device 6 comprises a
belt conveyor composed of an endless belt, of which a conveyor body
60 is stretched between rollers 61, 62 at both longitudinal ends,
and the roller 61 at the forward end is rotationally driven by a
drive motor 63 such as servomotor or the like whereby the upper
running portion is turned forward in the feed direction. In the
case shown in the figure, a rear end portion of the conveyor body
60 is bent downward and inclined so as to smoothly receive the
lengthy rubber material R from the conveyance means 5. The
reference numerals 64, 65 denote rollers that bend the conveyor
body 60. The reference numeral 66 denotes a guide member that
positions the lengthy rubber material R pulled onto the conveyor
body 60 from the conveyance means 5.
[0033] The conveyor device 6 is provided to be capable of
telescopic adjustment on a rear side in the feed direction. As
means therefor, the conveyor body 60 on a lower running portion
thereof is stretched between the rollers 61, 62 at both
longitudinal ends through a Z-shaped shuttle portion with an
intermediate roller 67 for shuttling and a roller 68 for adjustment
of movement therebetween, and the roller 68 for adjustment of
movement and the roller 62 at the rear end are supported in a state
of retaining a predetermined spacing to be capable of positional
adjustment in a longitudinal direction, the conveyor body being
constructed so that positional adjustment of the both rollers 68,
62 enables a total length of the conveyor device 6 to
telescopically adjust on a rear portion side between a position of
solid lines and a position of two-dot chain lines in FIG. 8. The
reference numeral 69 denotes drive means for telescopic
adjustment.
[0034] Thereby, for example, when the conveying action of the
conveyance means 5, that is, turning of the turning member 53 is
stopped as the operation of the extruder 1 stops, the lengthy
rubber material R latched on the latch bars 55 can be continuously
pulled out and fed by moving a rear end position of the conveyor
device 6 forward. Also, contrary to the above, when feed of the
conveyor device 6 is temporarily stopped due to exchange of a
winding roll on a cart described later, the rear end position of
the conveyor device 6 is moved rearward whereby it is possible to
continuously effect extrusion of the lengthy rubber material R from
the extruder 1 and conveyance by the conveyance means 5.
[0035] Two installations P1, P2 for moving carts 20, 20,
respectively, provided with winding rolls described later are set
below a feed position on a tip end side of the feed conveyor device
6 to be aligned fore and aft in the feed direction.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, traverse guides 10a, 10b, by
which the lengthy rubber material R fed and suspended from the tip
end of the conveyor device 6 is caused to axially traverse winding
rolls described later at the time of winding, are provided in
positions a little above the installations P1, P2 to be able to
reciprocate in a width direction perpendicular to the feed
direction of the lengthy rubber material R.
[0037] As shown, in enlarged scale, in FIGS. 12 to 14, the traverse
guides 10a, 10b in the figures comprise a pair of forward and rear
rollers 12, 12 arranged in parallel to the width direction inside a
square support frame 11 opened up and down and respective pairs of
left and right rollers 13, 13, and 14, 14 arranged in parallel in a
longitudinal direction and above and below or at least above or
below the rollers 12, 12, for example, both above and below the
rollers, and intervals between the respective pairs of rollers are
appropriately set according to the cross sectional shape of the
lengthy rubber material R whereby the lengthy rubber material R
passing through the intervals can be suspended without generation
of twist or the like. Normally, the pair of forward and rear
rollers 12, 12 and the respective pairs of left and right rollers
13, 13, and 14, 14, respectively, are provided to afford interval
adjustment.
[0038] As means for moving the traverse guides 10a, 10b in the
width direction, moving means 15, such as uniaxial actuator or the
like, driven by a servomotor is provided along transverse frames 17
supported in the width direction, and the respective support frames
11 of the traverse guides 10a, 10b are mounted and fixed to a
moving body 16, which is reciprocatively moved by the operation of
the moving means 15 in the width direction, and provided to
reciprocatively move together with the moving body 16. The
transverse frames 17 are supported on body frames 18 laterally
provided upright.
[0039] In the case shown in the figure, guide bar members 7a, 7b,
respectively, for restriction of suspended positions of the lengthy
rubber materials R as fed are provided a little below a feed
position from the feed conveyor device 6 and in positions above the
traverse guides 10a, 10b, which correspond to the installations P1,
P2 whereby the case where the lengthy rubber material R is put on
and suspended from one 7a of the bar members to pass through one
10a of the traverse guides therebelow, and the case where the
lengthy rubber material R is put on and suspended from one 7b of
the bar members to pass through one 10b of the traverse guides
therebelow, can be selected according to winding on winding rolls
described later.
[0040] In addition, the guide bar members 7a, 7b are not
necessarily needed but may be omitted and the lengthy rubber
material R fed from the conveyor device 6 may be passed directly
through one of the traverse guides 10a, 10b.
[0041] Also, an auxiliary feed conveyor (not shown) for adjustment
of a fed position of the lengthy rubber material R at need can be
provided at an end on a feed side of the feed conveyor device 6 to
be movable in a longitudinal direction. In this case, it is also
possible to omit the guide bar members 7a, 7b.
[0042] Winding rolls 30 having flanges 31, 31 at both axial ends
thereof are supported on the carts 20 mounted drawably on the two
installations P1, P2 to be enabled to be rotationally driven as
shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. In a state, in which the carts 20 are
mounted on the installations P1, P2 (chain lines in FIGS. 9 to 11),
spindles 32 of the winding rolls 30 projecting from the flanges 31,
31 at both axial ends thereof are pivotally supported by bearings
22 provided on support frames 21 on the carts 20 so that an axes of
the winding rolls 30 are made in parallel to a moving direction of
the traverse guides 10.
[0043] Engaging connections 33 for engagement with rotation
transmitting portions 23 provided on the body frames 18 along the
installations P1, P2 to be capable of transmitting power thereto
are provided at ends of the spindles 32 of the winding rolls 30
projecting from the support frames 21.
[0044] Specifically, rotation transmitting shafts 26 connected
through rotation transmitting mechanisms 25, such as chain, etc.,
to drive means 24 such as motor or the like are provided on the
body frames 18 to be positioned corresponding axially to the
spindles 32 on the installations P1, P2, and the rotation
transmitting portions 23 comprising plate bodies having a plurality
of engagement holes 23a are provided at opposite ends of the
rotation transmitting shafts 26 to the spindles 32 of the winding
rolls 30. On the other hand, the engaging connections 33 comprising
plate bodies including projections 33a fitted into and engaged by
the engagement holes 23a are provided at ends of the spindles 32 of
the winding rolls 30 on the carts 20. Thereby, the cart 20 is
laterally pushed into and mounted in the installation P1 or P2
whereby the projection 33a of the engaging connection 33 is fitted
into and engaged by the engagement hole 23a of the rotation
transmitting portion 23, so that rotation of the rotation
transmitting shaft 26 can be transmitted to the winding roll
30.
[0045] Rotation of the winding roll 30 is controlled so that the
speed of a surface portion caused by winding is always maintained
constant according to the feed speed of the lengthy rubber material
R and specially controlled so that as the wound diameter of the
lengthy rubber material R gradually increases, the roll rotating
speed gradually decreases and set and controlled so as to be
capable of winding with little tension on the lengthy rubber
material R.
[0046] Also, the traverse guides 10 are controlled in reciprocating
movements so as to axially traverse the winding roll 30 at a
predetermined pitch in an axial direction and in opposite
directions every layer in accordance with winding of the lengthy
rubber material R by rotation of the winding roll 30. In
particular, as shown, in enlarged scale, in FIG. 17, control is
exercised so that traverse movements are made at a larger pitch p
than the width dimension w of the lengthy rubber material R being
wound to retain a spacing S every wound rubber portion Ra of each
circumference. Thereby, it is possible to wind the lengthy rubber
material R on the winding roll 30 such that respective layers
thereof are made spiral with alternately reverse inclination and a
spacing S is retained every wound rubber portion Ra, thus being
capable of decreasing a contact area every layer.
[0047] In addition, it is desirable to control movements of the
traverse guides 10 in a manner to gradually change the moving speed
and switch a direction of movement so that smooth and curvilinear
turning over circumferential wound portions is made on turned
portions of the lengthy rubber material R at both axial ends of the
winding roll 30. That is, the moving speed is gradually decreased
before turning, turning is made through circumferential wound
portions by stoppage of movements, and the speed is gradually
increased after turning to reach a predetermined moving speed.
Thereby, the rubber material R is not folded at both axial ends of
the winding roll 30 but turned smoothly and curvilinearly, thus
being capable of winding every layer spirally with alternately
reverse inclination.
[0048] A shell portion 35 of the winding roll 30 is formed by a
perforate plate or a meshy body as shown in the figure to be
drum-shaped, the drum-shaped shell portion 35 being partially
formed with an opening 36, which enables a wind beginning end Ra of
the lengthy rubber material R to be inserted thereinto and latched
thereon, whereby the wind beginning end Ra can be readily latched
on the shell portion 35 of the roll to be wound.
[0049] The winding apparatus according to the embodiment winds the
lengthy rubber material R in the following manner.
[0050] The lengthy rubber material R extruded from the die 2 of the
extruder 1 is caused to pass through the processing vessel 3 of the
release agent liquid or the like, then dried and conveyed by the
conveyance means 5 of the drying apparatus 4, pulled out of the
drying apparatus 4 in the half portion 4b on a rear conveyance side
in the feed direction by the feed conveyor device 6 to be fed
forward to be continuously forwarded from the tip end of the feed
conveyor device 6.
[0051] In the case where the lengthy rubber material R being
forwarded in the manner described above is to be wound on the
winding roll 30 on the moving cart 20 mounted on one of the two
installations P1, P2 aligned fore and aft, for example, the
installation P1, a tip end of the lengthy rubber material R is
passed in a preparation work for the winding through the traverse
guide 10a, which corresponds to the installation P1, via the guide
bar member 7a above the installation P1, or not via the guide bar
member to be inserted into and latched on the opening 36 of the
shell portion 35 of the roll 30.
[0052] In this manner, while the lengthy rubber material R is
continuously forwarded, the winding roll 30 is rotated at a speed
corresponding to the forwarding speed and the lengthy rubber
material R is wound on the winding roll 30 with little tension
thereon. At this time, the traverse guide 10a is reciprocatively
moved in a width direction perpendicular to the forwarding
direction whereby the lengthy rubber material R is wound on the
winding roll 30 spirally with alternately reverse inclination every
layer at a predetermined pitch according to rotation of the roll,
for example, at a larger pitch p than the width dimension w of the
lengthy rubber material R so as to retain a spacing S every wound
rubber portion Ra of each circumference (FIG. 17).
[0053] When a predetermined quantity wound on the winding roll 30
on the moving cart 20 of the installation P1 is reached, the
lengthy rubber material R is cut and rotation of the winding roll
30 and movements of the traverse guide 10a are stopped, that is,
winding on the winding roll 30 is stopped. On the other hand, a
fresh tip end of the lengthy rubber material R forwarded from the
feed conveyor device 6 is caused to pass through the traverse guide
10b, which corresponds to the installation P2, via the guide bar
member 7b above the other P2 of the installations, or not via the
guide bar member to be inserted into and latched on the opening 36
of the shell portion 35, and the winding roll 30 is rotated in the
same manner described above to wind every layer spirally with
alternately reverse inclination while the traverse guide 10b is
reciprocatively moved in the width direction to make a traverse at
a predetermined pitch.
[0054] Also, while the lengthy rubber material R is wound in the
installation P2, the cart 20 on the installation P1 is pulled out
of the installation P1 to be conveyed to a portion of the extruder
or the like in a tire building process and a cart 20 provided with
an empty winding roll 30 is newly set in the installation P1. In
this manner, the lengthy rubber material R can be wound on the
winding roll 30 on the cart 20 alternately and continuously in the
two installations P1, P2 to be made spiral with alternately reverse
inclination every layer.
[0055] As described above, the lengthy rubber material R is wound
on the winding roll 30 to be made spiral with alternately reverse
inclination every layer whereby the weight of the rubber material R
acts on an inner layer side above the winding roll 30 but acts
little on the inner layer side below the winding roll 30, so that
the weight acting on the inner layer side is decreased as a whole,
thus being capable of winding the lengthy rubber material R without
generation of excessive deformation or bonding and being capable of
correspondingly increasing a quantity as wound.
[0056] Besides, since the lengthy rubber material R wound on the
winding roll 30 is made spiral with alternately reverse inclination
every layer and the wound rubber portions Ra of the respective
layers contact only on mutually intersecting portions thereof, a
contact area between the respective layers decreases and the weight
acting on the inner layer side is small, so that even if the
contacting portions bond, excessive bonding is not generated, thus
being capable of peeling relatively readily.
[0057] Therefore, it is possible to increase the quantity of the
lengthy rubber material Ras wound and to smoothly and continuously
perform pulling-out and supplying to the extruder or the like in a
tire building process.
[0058] Also, in the case where the rubber material is folded
randomly and accommodated in the container, it is difficult to
quantitatively measure the quantity of the rubber material as used
but by winding the rubber material on the winding roll, it becomes
readily possible to measure the quantity of the rubber material as
used on the bases of the rotational count of the roll or the
like.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0059] The method of and apparatus for winding a lengthy rubber
material, according to the invention, can be preferably made use of
in winding a lengthy rubber material, which is supplied to an
extruder of a rubber strip mainly for tire building, on a winding
roll mounted on a moving cart.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0060] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the outline
of the production equipment of a lengthy rubber material, which
includes a winding apparatus of the invention.
[0061] [FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the
equipment.
[0062] [FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a drying
apparatus of the equipment.
[0063] [FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a part of
the drying apparatus.
[0064] [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view crossing a part of
the drying apparatus.
[0065] [FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a conveyor
device of the equipment.
[0066] [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the
conveyor device.
[0067] [FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic, cross sectional view
illustrating the telescopic function of the conveyor device.
[0068] [FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing, in enlarged scale, a
main portion of a winding apparatus.
[0069] [FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing, in enlarged scale,
the main portion.
[0070] [FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing, in enlarged scale,
the main portion.
[0071] [FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a traverse
guide.
[0072] [FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a front view showing the traverse
guide.
[0073] [FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing the
traverse guide.
[0074] [FIG. 15] FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a moving cart
provided with a winding roll.
[0075] [FIG. 16] FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view showing the
moving cart.
[0076] [FIG. 17] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a state, in which a
lengthy rubber material R is wound.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS
[0077] R: lengthy rubber material, Ra: wound rubber portion of one
circumference, w: width dimension, p: pitch, S: spacing, 1: rubber
extruder, 2: die, 3: processing vessel, 4: drying apparatus, 4a,
4b: half portion, 5: conveyance means, 6: conveyor device, 7a, 7b:
guide bar member, 10a, 10b: traverse guide, 11: support frame, 12,
12: pair of forward and rear rollers, 13, 13: pair of left and
right rollers on an upper side, 14, 14: pair of left and right
rollers on a lower side, 15: moving means, 16: moving body, 17:
transverse frame, 18: body frame, 20: cart, 21: support frame, 23:
rotation transmitting portion, 23a: engagement hole, 24: drive
means, 25: rotation transmitting mechanism, 26: rotation
transmitting shaft, 30: winding roll, 31: flange, 32: spindle, 33:
engaging connection, 33a: projection, 35: shell portion, 36:
opening, 41: body, 42: feed roller, 43: guide rail, 51: vertical
shaft, 52: sprocket, 53: turning member, 55: latch bar, 56: roller,
60: conveyor body, 61, 62: rollers at both ends, 63: drive motor,
64, 65: roller, 66: guide member, 67: intermediate roller, 68:
roller for adjustment of movement, 69: drive means for telescopic
adjustment, P1, P2: installation
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