JP3414920B2 - Runout equipment for tire uniformity machines - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a runout device for a tire uniformity machine, which can reduce the cycle time required for inspection and downsize the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a tire uniformity machine, as shown in FIG. 7, a tire T to be inspected, which is conveyed from a molding process or the like by a conveyor 100, is provided on a conveyor 100 by a lower rim 101 having a lower portion of the conveyor as a standby position. The tire T to be inspected is sandwiched between the upper rim 102 and the upper rim 102 which is located above the through hole (not shown). Then, while pressing the road wheel 105 against the tread portion of the tire T to be inspected with a predetermined load, the rotary drive device 1
By rotating the upper rim 102 at 06, the tire T to be inspected is rotated into a virtual running state.

Further, the runout device 110, which has been waiting on the side until then, is laterally moved to approach a predetermined position with respect to the tire T to be inspected, as shown in FIG. Then, the amount of deformation in the lateral direction is detected by the two LRO detectors 112 and 113 directed to both upper and lower sidewall portions of the tire T to be inspected, and the tread portion of the tire T to be inspected is measured on both sides (both shoulders). Section) and three RRO detection sections 115, 116 and 117 directed to the central section detect the amount of deformation in the radial direction (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 6-35).
971).

The LRO detectors 112, 113 and the RRO detectors 115, 116, 117 have their own height adjusting means 120-124 and individual advance / retreat adjusting means 126-.
128 and the overall advancing / retreating means 130 for advancing / retreating the entire run-out device 110 are movable, and a predetermined positional relationship can be maintained even for inspected tires T having different sizes.

[0005]

In the above runout apparatus, the detection section (the lower LRO detection section 113 or the lower RRO detection section 1 positioned on the lower side of the tire T to be inspected is used.
17 etc.), when positioned as it is, when the lower rim 101 moves the tire T to be inspected up and down, the collision and interference with the tire T to be inspected occur.

Therefore, in the conventional runout apparatus, every time the lower rim 101 moves the tire T to be inspected up and down, that is, every time the tire T to be inspected is replaced, the entire advancing and retracting means 130 is utilized to make the entire apparatus. It was to move laterally (reciprocating). However, the time required for such lateral movement becomes a bottleneck, and it has become difficult to reduce the cycle time required for inspection for each tire T to be inspected. In addition, because of this lateral movement, the overall advancing / retreating means 130
Therefore, it was difficult to reduce the size of the runout device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a runout device for a tire uniformity machine which can shorten the cycle time required for inspecting a tire to be inspected and downsize the device. To aim.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following technical means. That is, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, in the run-out device of the tire uniformity machine, the tire to be inspected is rotated in a virtual running state with the rotation axis being a vertical direction, and the deformation amount in the lateral direction is detected. The upper and lower detectors, which are directed toward the upward and downward sidewalls of the tire ,
Adjust its position on the base frame fixed to the uniformity machine.
And the lower detector is installed in the
Apart from the alignment, it is characterized in that it can be moved in and out between the detection target position and the tire non-interference position outside thereof.

With such a construction, when the tire to be inspected is moved up and down for the purpose of replacement, the lower detection portion for detecting the deformation amount in the lateral direction need only be moved in and out. There is no need to laterally move the device as a whole. Therefore, quick movement is obtained,
The structure for moving in and out can also be simple and compact. The direction in which the lower detection unit is moved in and out is appropriately vertical swing, horizontal swing, horizontal advance / retreat, or the like. Further, as the drive structure, various types such as a fluid pressure cylinder, a screw feed mechanism, a chain feed means, a rack and pinion engagement structure, and the like can be adopted.

Further, according to the present invention, the runout device of the tire uniformity machine is adapted to detect the deformation amount in the radial direction while rotating the tire to be inspected in a virtual running state with the axis of rotation as a vertical direction. In, the plurality of upper and lower detectors directed to the tread portion of the tire to be inspected
Adjusts its position on the fixed base frame of the uniformity machine.
The lower detection unit, which is provided so as to be adjustable and is closer to the shoulder portion of the plurality of detection units facing downward of the tire to be inspected , separately from the position adjustment, is located at the detection target position and outside thereof. It is characterized by being able to move in and out of the tire non-interference position.

It is certain that the lower detecting portion for detecting the amount of deformation in the radial direction is also moved in and out as described above in order to prevent interference with the tire to be inspected.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the runout device 1 according to the present invention. The runout device 1 is provided with a rotary shaft (reference numerals of FIGS. 1 and 2) by upper and lower rims (not shown) of a tire uniformity machine. (See P)
It has the 1st base frame 2 and the 2nd base frame 3 which were provided along the extension in the radial direction with respect to the to-be-tested tire T clamped and hold | maintained vertically.

The first base frame 2 and the second base frame 3 are integrally fixed to a main column 4 having a tire uniformity machine via a bracket 5,
Neither move in the direction of approaching or leaving the tire T to be inspected. As shown in FIG. 1, the first base frame 2 is provided with three upper, middle, and lower detectors 6, 7, and 8.

The upper detection unit 6 is an LRO detection unit (hereinafter referred to as "LROT") which detects the amount of deformation in the lateral direction of the sidewall portion 10 of the tire T to be inspected. Further, the lower detection unit 8 is an LRO detection unit (hereinafter, referred to as “LROB”) that detects the deformation amount in the lateral direction with respect to the downward sidewall portion 11 of the tire T to be inspected.

On the other hand, the central detecting portion 7 is an RRO detecting portion (hereinafter, referred to as "R", which detects a deformation amount in the radial direction with respect to the widthwise central portion of the tread portion 12 of the tire T to be inspected.
ROC ”). As shown in FIG. 4, the support arms 14 and 15 for holding the RROC 7 and the LROB 8 are movably held by the guide frame 16 so as to approach and separate from the tire T to be inspected, and the screw feeding mechanism 18 driven by the motor 17 is driven. To move back and forth.

The support arm 20 holding the LROT 6 is also close to the tire T to be inspected by the guide frame 16.
It is held so that it can move away from it. However, although not shown, the support arm 20 is integrally connected to the support arm 15 of the LROB 8 by an appropriate connecting material. Therefore, the LROT 6 moves forward and backward in the same direction as the LROB 8 moves forward and backward.

Further, the first base frame 2 is provided with three screw feed mechanisms 23, 24, 25 along the longitudinal surface thereof, and the LROT 6 is driven by driving the motors 26 respectively provided for these. The guide frame 16 of No. 7, the guide frame 16 of RROC 7, and the guide frame 16 of LROB 8 can move up and down independently along the guide bar 27. In addition, each guide frame 16 is one of the screw feeding mechanisms 23, 24, and 25.
A screw nut is made to correspond to the one to be driven, and a through hole (not shown) for preventing interference is made to correspond to that for another guide frame 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a swing arm 29 is swingably held at the tip of the support arm 15 of the LROB 8 via an upper swing fulcrum 28. It is attached to the tip of the swing arm 29. The swing arm 29 can be swung by a fluid pressure cylinder 30 attached to the support arm 17, so that the LROB 8 is supported by the tire T to be inspected.
With respect to the detection target position (that is, the position directly below the sidewall portion 11) and the tire non-interference position (see the chain double-dashed line) outside thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second base frame 3 is provided with two upper and lower detecting portions 32 and 33. The upper detection unit 32 is an RRO detection unit (hereinafter, referred to as "RRO detection unit" that detects the amount of deformation in the radial direction with respect to the upper corner portion (upward shoulder portion 12a) of the tread portion 12 of the tire T to be inspected.
"ROT"). Further, the lower detection unit 33 detects the deformation amount in the radial direction with respect to the lower corner portion (downward shoulder portion 12b) of the tread portion 12 of the tire T to be inspected (hereinafter, referred to as "RROB"). Is.

The support arms 35 and 36 for holding the RROT 32 and the RROB 33 are movably held by the guide frame 37 so as to move toward and away from the tire T to be inspected, and moved forward and backward by a screw feeding mechanism 39 driven by a motor 38. . In addition, the second base frame 3 has 2
Two screw feeding mechanisms 43 and 44 are provided, and the RROT is driven by the motor 45 provided separately for each of them.
32 guide frame 37 and RROB 33 guide frame 37
However, each of them can be vertically moved independently along the guide bar 46.

The guide frame 37 of the RROT 32 corresponds to a screw nut with respect to the screw feeding mechanism 43 and a through hole (not shown) for preventing interference with the other screw feeding mechanism 44. ing. RROB3
A swing arm 49 is swingably held at the tip of the support arm 36 of No. 3 via an upper swing fulcrum 48, and the RROB 33 is attached to the tip of the swing arm 49.

The swing arm 49 is a support arm 3
6 is capable of swinging by a fluid pressure cylinder 50, and the RROB 33 does not interfere with a position to be detected with respect to the tire T to be inspected (that is, a position facing the downward shoulder portion 12b) and a tire outside thereof. It is designed to move in and out of the position (see the chain double-dashed line). In the runout apparatus 1 having such a configuration, the positioning of the detection units 6, 7, 8, 32, and 33 with respect to the tire T to be inspected in the proximity direction and the height direction is performed by the screw feed provided for each detection unit. Adjust by the mechanism and start the test.

When the tire T to be inspected is moved up and down for replacement, the fluid pressure cylinder 30 operates on the side of the first base frame 2, whereby the LROB 8 separates from the tire T to be inspected, so-called retreat movement. I do. Further, the fluid pressure cylinder 50 operates on the side of the second base frame 3, which causes the RR
The so-called retreat movement in which the OB 33 separates from the tire T to be inspected is performed.

In the runout apparatus 1, the tire T to be inspected is exchanged as a whole without performing any approaching or separating operation with respect to the tire T to be inspected. After the tire T to be inspected is replaced, the LROB 8 is activated by the reverse operation of the fluid pressure cylinders 30 and 50.
And the RROB 33 is returned to the predetermined detection target position with respect to the tire T to be inspected, and the inspection is restarted.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the LROB 8 is configured to move in and out by horizontally swinging between a detection target position with respect to the tire T to be inspected and a tire non-interference position outside thereof. You can In this case, a swing arm 56 is horizontally swingably connected to the support arm 15 of the LROB 8 via a swing fulcrum 55 at the tip thereof, and the LROB 8 is attached to the tip of the swing arm 56. Has been done.
Although not shown, the swing arm 56 is driven by a crank mechanism or a gear mechanism having a fluid pressure cylinder, a motor or the like as a drive source.

In this way, it is possible to prevent the swing arm 56 and the LROB 8 from colliding and interfering with the conveyor 100 that carries in the tire T to be inspected from the molding process, and the runout device 1 can be installed close to the conver 100. Therefore, it is more advantageous for downsizing the device as a whole. In particular, it can be said that this is an advantageous structure when a wide tire is applied as the tire T to be inspected and the tire position adjustment in the width (height) direction of the road wheel 105 is performed only on the lower side.

In addition to this, the movement in and out of the LROB 8 can also be performed by moving horizontally. However, in this case, the forward / backward movement is performed by a two-position switching forward / backward structure using, for example, a fluid pressure cylinder, in addition to the screw feed mechanism 18 (see FIG. 4) for moving the support arm 15 forward / backward. This is suitable for maintaining the positioning accuracy, simplifying the structure therefor, and shortening the operation time.

The RROB 33 can also adopt the various movement modes similar to those of the LROB 8. Each of the detection units 6, 7, 8, 32 and 33 may be of contact type or non-contact type.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, claim 1
In the present invention described, when the tire to be inspected is moved up and down for replacement, the lower detection portion of the upper and lower detection portions for detecting the lateral deformation amount of the tire to be inspected, its detection target position and this Since the tire can be moved in and out with respect to the outer tire non-interference position, it is not necessary to purposely move the runout device laterally as a whole as long as the tires to be inspected have the same size.

In this case, the movement of the lower detection portion is quick, so that the cycle time required for the inspection per tire to be inspected can be shortened. Further, since it is not necessary to laterally move the runout device as a whole, the structure can be simplified and downsized. In addition, the fact that the lateral movement of the runout device as a whole is unnecessary, because the position adjustment of each detection unit can be made unnecessary each time the tire to be inspected is replaced, it is more beneficial for shortening the time and stabilizing the positioning accuracy. .

Of the upper and lower detectors that detect the amount of deformation in the radial direction, the lower detector can also move in and out between the detection target position and the tire non-interference position outside thereof. This makes it possible to reliably prevent interference with the tire to be inspected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a runout device according to the present invention.

4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a second embodiment of the runout device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a tire uniformity machine equipped with a conventional run-out device.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view showing a conventional runout device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Runout device 6 Upper detector that detects the amount of deformation in the lateral direction 7 Central detection unit that detects the amount of deformation in the radial direction 8 Lower detection part that detects the amount of deformation in the lateral direction 11 Sidewall part facing down 12b Shoulder 32 Upper detector that detects the amount of deformation in the radial direction 33 Lower detection unit that detects the amount of deformation in the radial direction T Inspected tire P rotation axis

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01M 17/02 G01M 1/16

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A runout device for a tire uniformity machine, wherein a tire (T) to be inspected is rotated in a virtual running state with a rotation axis (P) being longitudinal, and the deformation amount in the lateral direction thereof is detected. The upper and lower detection parts (6, 6) directed to the upward and downward sidewall parts (10, 11) of the tire (T).
8) is attached to the base frame (2) fixed to the uniformity machine.
The position of the lower detector is adjustable.
(8) is a runout device for a tire uniformity machine, which is capable of moving in and out between a position to be detected and a tire non-interference position outside thereof, separately from the position adjustment . 2. The tire uniformity machine according to claim 1, wherein the tire to be inspected (T) is rotated in a virtual running state with the rotation axis (P) being vertical and the deformation amount in the radial direction is also detected. In the runout device, the upper and lower detection units (32 , 7, 33 ) directed to the tread portion (12) of the tire (T) to be inspected are uniform.
The base frame (3) fixed to the machine is adjustable in its position.
And the plurality of detection units (32, 7, 33)
The lower detection part (33) of the tire (T) to be inspected, which is closer to the downward facing shoulder part (12b), is
A runout device for a tire uniformity machine, which is capable of moving in and out between a position to be detected and a position where the tires do not interfere with each other, apart from the position adjustment .