JPH0617019B2 - Elastomer article vulcanizing method and vulcanizing apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a so-called gas vulcanizing method for an elastomer article such as an automobile tire and a vulcanizing apparatus therefor.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a method of gas vulcanizing an elastomer article such as an automobile tire using a vulcanizer, when a bladder is used, an elastomer article (in the example shown in the figure, an automobile tire in a mold a) is used as shown in FIG. b)), the bladder c is inflated by the supply of shaping internal pressure, the tire b is moved near the inner surface of the mold, and then the mold is closed to apply steam as a heating medium to the vulcanizer central mechanism. From a blowout port e provided to communicate with the supply passage d, the air is blown into the vulcanization chamber inner space f from a position below the center of the mold in a substantially horizontal direction to heat and pressurize the tire b, so that the tire b has a predetermined width. When the temperature is reached or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the supply of the steam is stopped, and then combustion gas or nitrogen as the same or high pressure medium as the steam,
The tire inner space f is horizontally provided from the same outlet e in the horizontal direction or from the outlet for exclusive use of the pressurizing medium communicating with the supply passage provided at the same height as the outlet e of the steam.
The temperature of the tire b is kept at a predetermined temperature by this gas.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In the conventional technology, steam is blown out from the lower part of the vulcanization chamber in a substantially horizontal direction, so that the condensed drain is not discharged and accumulates in the lower part of the lower surface of the tire, thus heating the lower sidewall part. Inhibit. In other words, when the internal flow stops as the inflow of steam weakens as the internal pressure increases, the steam that has lost enthalpy and becomes moist steam becomes minute water droplets that increase in relative specific gravity and settle down, leaving it in an overheated state. Steam rises because its relative specific gravity is small. As a result, a vertical temperature gradient occurs inside the tire b. In addition, the temperature of the pressurized gas is relatively lower than that of steam, and it is blown horizontally to the lower part of the tire from the same nozzle on the lower part of the tire as steam, so the part where the gas flow hits (lower bead part etc.) is cooled and the temperature is In the state where the internal pressure fluctuates and the inflow of gas is stopped as the internal pressure rises and the internal flow is stopped, the specific gravity is relatively larger than that of steam, and it tends to accumulate in the lower part of the internal space f of the tire, and thus the low temperature gas The temperature of the lower side wall and the lower bead part where the slabs contact decreases.

On the other hand, the steam is biased to the upper part of the internal space f, and the low-temperature gas is supplied by the gas introduced at high pressure,
The steam is adiabatically compressed for a short time and the temperature rises,
This will raise the temperature of the upper sidewall portion.

Therefore, in the inner space f of the tire, a layer g mainly containing steam is formed in the upper part thereof, a layer h mainly containing gas is formed in the lower part, and a layer i of the steam drain is formed in the lowermost part.
Therefore, the temperature inside the tire b is, as shown in FIG. 7, at a point A of the upper bead portion of the tire, an imaginary line 16 after gas supply.
At the point B of the lower bead portion of the tire, a downward tendency as shown by the phantom line 15 is shown after the introduction of gas, so that a large temperature between point A and point B There will be a difference (eg 13 ° C).

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, at the point C on the upper side wall portion of the tire, there is a rising tendency as shown by the imaginary line 16a after the gas is supplied, and at the point D on the lower side wall of the tire 2. After the introduction of the gas, the temperature does not rise as shown by the phantom line 15a. Therefore, a large temperature difference (for example, 12 ° C.) occurs between the points C and D.

When a large temperature difference as described above occurs, this is not completely eliminated by the end of vulcanization, so that the upper and lower side surfaces of the tire b have different degrees of vulcanization from each other, which is unfavorable in terms of quality and temperature rise. Since the required vulcanization time is set in accordance with the lower part of the tire b, which is delayed, it takes a longer time than necessary, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of productivity and energy saving.

The present invention has been made to solve such conventional drawbacks, a temperature difference does not occur inside the elastomer article during gas vulcanization, and uniform vulcanization is performed,
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for vulcanizing an elastomer article and a device therefor capable of achieving a reduction in energy loss.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, one of the methods for vulcanizing an elastomer article according to the present invention is to install an elastomer article in a vulcanization chamber of a mold and supply a heating medium such as steam to the elastomer. The article is heated and pressurized, and when the elastomer article reaches a predetermined temperature or when a predetermined time elapses, the supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is used as a pressurizing medium. Elastomer article that is supplied at the same or higher pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step, and after completion of the heating step, discharges the vulcanizing medium that is a mixture of the heating medium and the pressurizing medium to complete vulcanization In the vulcanization method, the heating medium is sprayed in the horizontal direction from an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the center of the mold toward the equator of the elastomer article or its vicinity, and the pressurizing medium is blown below the center of the mold. It is intended to blow obliquely upward toward the upper side wall portion to its upper opening edge portion of the elastomeric article from the position.

Other methods of the elastomer article vulcanization method according to the present invention,
The heating medium is sprayed obliquely downward toward the equator of the elastomer article or in the vicinity thereof so that the distribution of the heating medium from the position above the center of the mold to the lower side wall of the elastomer article increases. The above-mentioned pressurizing medium is sprayed obliquely upward from a position below the center of the mold toward the upper side wall of the elastomer article or the upper opening end edge thereof.

Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned methods, it is also preferable to forcibly discharge the drain, which condenses the heating medium and accumulates at the bottom of the vulcanization chamber (elastomer article) during vulcanization, to the outside of the elastomer article.

One of the devices of the elastomer article according to the present invention is that a vulcanization chamber of a mold is mounted with an elastomer article and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article so that the elastomer article has a predetermined temperature. When, or when a predetermined time has elapsed, supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then the remaining time of the heating step at the same or high pressure as the heating medium using an inert gas such as nitrogen as a pressurizing medium. In an elastomer article vulcanizer for supplying the temperature of the elastomer article to a predetermined temperature by supplying to the end, the heating medium is horizontally directed from an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the center of the mold toward the equator of the elastomer article or its vicinity. When the heating medium outlet for blowing in the direction is formed in the upper bladder holding portion or the center post head arranged above the center of the mold. And a pressurizing medium outlet for spraying the pressurizing medium obliquely upward from a position below the center of the mold toward the upper side wall of the elastomer article or the upper opening end edge thereof. The bag well arranged at the lower position of the central portion of is formed in the lower bladder holding portion.

Another device of the elastomeric article according to the invention is the equator of the elastomeric article so that the distribution of the heating medium from the upper center of the mold to the lower sidewall of the elastomeric article is increased. Or, a heating medium outlet for spraying obliquely downward toward the vicinity thereof is formed in the upper bladder holding portion or the center post head arranged above the center of the mold, and the pressurizing medium is used. A pressurizing medium outlet for spraying obliquely upward from the lower position of the center of the mold toward the upper side wall of the elastomer article or the upper opening edge of the elastomer article at the lower position of the center of the mold. It is formed on the bag well or the lower bladder holding portion to be arranged.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned vulcanizers, it is also preferable to provide a drain discharge mechanism for forcibly discharging the drain, which condenses the heating medium and accumulates in the lower part of the vulcanization chamber (that is, the elastomer article), to the outside of the elastomer article.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned vulcanizers, it is preferable that the heating medium outlet is formed in a detachable outlet nozzle, and the pressurized medium outlet is formed in a detachable outlet nozzle.

[Action]

In the horizontal direction from the vertical middle position of the center of the mold, for example, in the horizontal direction from the upper bladder holding part toward the tire equator or its vicinity, the upper half part and the lower half part of the tire are evenly distributed. A steam jet hits and can perform uniform heating.

Further, in the case of being sprayed obliquely downward from the position above the center of the mold toward the tire equator or its vicinity, the distribution of steam to the lower side wall increases. That is, when the elastomer article is a low-oblateness tire, if the heating medium is blown out in the horizontal direction and hits the equator or its vicinity, the direct heating effect of the steam jet is reduced in the upper and lower side wall portions. As a result, in a state where the steam flow rate decreases with an increase in the internal pressure and the flow state of the gaseous steam in the vulcanization chamber is almost stopped, the wet steam that lost the enthalpy settles, and the steam in the heated state rises, A vertical temperature gradient of the elastomeric article will result.

However, if the distribution of steam to the lower side wall is increased by spraying obliquely downward, the temperature gradient can be reduced and the temperature difference between the upper and lower sides can be reduced.

Also, the drain accumulated in the lower part of the vulcanization chamber (recess in the lower side wall part) is forcibly discharged to the outside by the drain discharge mechanism during vulcanization, so contact with high temperature steam is prevented and Since the drain pool that hinders the temperature rise is not generated, the heating delay of the lower side wall portion is prevented, and the difference in the heating conditions inside the tire is significantly reduced.

Further, by blowing the pressurized medium (gas) upward, for example, in the vicinity of the upper side wall portion, steam flowing into the tire is weakened, and then relatively high temperature steam unevenly distributed in the upper portion is cooled to a low temperature. The gas flow of is directed diagonally, and without adiabatically compressing the steam, the jet kinetic energy causes a swirling stirring flow in the vertical direction with respect to the steam, eliminating the uneven distribution of high-temperature steam, and the temperature gradient in the tire The upper part of the tire, which has become relatively hot, is cooled, and the vertical temperature of the tire is made uniform.

Also, if the blowing nozzle is detachable, changing the nozzle can change the blowing direction of the heating medium and the pressurizing medium. , It can be set to blow out at an angle to obtain the best effect.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a so-called rolling-in-bladder type vulcanizing device for a tire as an example of an elastomeric article according to the present invention, and the center part mechanism of a mold and a vulcanizer is almost the same as a known conventional device, As will be described later, the difference is that the structure of the blowing means for steam and gas formed in the central part mechanism and the drain discharge mechanism are provided. That is, this apparatus mounts the raw tire 2 in the vulcanization chamber of the mold 1, and
The bladder 3 in which the upper inner end portion 21 is held by the upper bladder holding portion 10 and the lower inner end portion 22 is held by the lower bladder holding portion 11 is filled with shaping internal pressure to obtain the raw tire 2
Is placed near the inner surface of the mold 1, then the mold 1 is closed and a heating medium such as steam is supplied into the bladder to heat and pressurize the tire 2 to bring the tire 2 to a predetermined temperature. When reaching or when a predetermined time has elapsed, supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurizing medium at the same or higher pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step. Then, the temperature of the tire 2 is maintained at a predetermined temperature to complete the vulcanization. The mold 1 is the upper mold 1.
It is composed of a and a lower mold 1b.

Then, the upper bladder holding portion 10 has the center post 41
The ring body 42, the block body 43, and the blowing nozzle 45 attached to the block body 43 are provided at the upper end, that is, at a position above the center of the mold 1. Then, the ring body 42
The upper clamp ring 48 is formed by the block body 43 and the link body 42 and the block body 43 are fixed to each other by the bolt 12, and the upper inner end portion 21 of the bladder 3 is held in a sandwiched manner. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the blowout nozzle 45 is ring-shaped and is detachably fitted into the block body 43 to form an annular empty chamber 44 with the block body 43. Further, the blow-out nozzle 45 is provided with a blow-out port 4 that communicates the empty chamber 44 and the vulcanization chamber 6. And this outlet 4
Are formed along the circumferential direction at predetermined intervals.
The direction, the number, and the diameter of the air outlets 4 are selected according to the tire size.

In addition, a heating medium such as steam is vacant in the block body 43.
A supply passage 40 for supplying to 44 is connected, and the supply passage 40 penetrates the bag well 46 and is connected to a steam source (not shown). Therefore, the heating medium from the passage 40 is blown out in the horizontal direction from the air outlet 4 into the vulcanization chamber through the empty chamber 44. A plurality of blowout nozzles 45 are prepared in which the blowout port 4 opens horizontally toward the equator E inside the tire or in the vicinity thereof.

Therefore, in this case, the heating medium is blown out in the horizontal direction from the intermediate position in the vertical direction of the center of the mold 1, the steam jet flow is evenly distributed in the vertical direction, and the heating is performed evenly.

The outlet 4a of the outlet 4 is inclined with respect to the radial direction as shown in FIG. 3B, and the heating medium blown out from the outlet 4 is swirled in the circumferential direction. Although the steam supply passage 40 is provided outside the center post 41 in the above embodiment, it may be provided inside the center post 41 instead.

A supply passage 50 for an inert gas such as nitrogen is disposed in the bagwell 46, and the supply passage 50 is connected to an annular supply relay chamber 51 formed inside the bagwell 46. Further, the relay chamber 51 is communicatively connected to a plurality of supply passages 52 arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, and a blowout nozzle 54 for blowing out gas is bolted to the upper opening of the supply passage 52. Removably attached to the upper area of Bagwell 46 via 56. A plurality of air outlets 5, which connect the supply passage 52 and the vulcanizing chamber, are provided in the air outlet nozzle 54 at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG.
That is, the pressurized medium from the supply passage 50 enters the plurality of supply passages 52 via the relay chamber 51, and is blown upward from the outlet 5 into the vulcanization chamber.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4B, the blowout nozzle 54 has a ring shape, and the blowout port 5 extends from a position above the center of the mold 1 to an upper side wall portion 25 of the tire 2. A plurality of Qs that open upward toward a desired portion are prepared. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the air outlet 5 is open toward the vicinity of the upper side wall portion 25 of the tire 2. Therefore, in this case, the pressurizing medium traverses the tire inner space 6 as indicated by the arrow. It is blown out diagonally upward.

In this way, the pressurizing medium (gas) is blown upward from the lower position of the center of the mold 1 into the vulcanization chamber, so that the gas flow has a long distance to pass through the tire internal space 6, and
The effect of mixing and stirring with steam is further increased, and the temperature difference in the tire internal space 6 is eliminated. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the blown pressure medium is rotated in the circumferential direction,
The outlet 5a is inclined with respect to the radial direction.

Therefore, as another embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the above embodiment (steam is blown horizontally from the center of the mold 1 and gas is blown upward from the lower position of the center of the mold 1) A drain discharge mechanism 13 can be additionally provided in the vulcanization chamber. That is, the drain discharge mechanism 13
Pipe 71 as a discharge passage inserted into Bagwell 46
Is connected to the pipe 71 and has an arcuate swing arm 72 having a middle chamber formed therein, and is connected to the tip of the swing arm 72 and is positioned at the lower portion of the vulcanization chamber (lower side wall portion). And a small diameter pipe 73. The pipe 71 is connected to the trap 26 and the like as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the pipe 71 can be moved up and down by an elevating mechanism 29 including an air cylinder 28 and the like, and can be swung by a swiveling mechanism 30 including a rotary actuator 27 and the like, so that it can be moved to a bag well. Installed. That is, the swing arm 72 swings and moves up and down as shown by arrows X and Y as shown in FIG. Therefore, during vulcanization, the swing arm 72 is housed on the bag well 46 as shown by the solid line in FIG. Further, at the time of storage, the small diameter pipe 73 is inserted into the hole 55 provided in the bag well 46. Specifically, the swing arm 72 is in a solid line state (see FIG. 1). To change from the state shown in (1) to the state shown by the phantom line, first, the above-mentioned lifting mechanism.
The pipe 71 is raised by 29, and the pipe 71 is rotated by the above-described turning mechanism 30 in this state, and the swing arm 72 is swung as indicated by the arrow X, so that the small diameter pipe 73
Is made to correspond to the hole 55, and then the pipe 71 is lowered by the elevating mechanism to insert the small diameter pipe 73 into the hole 55. Further, in order to change from the state shown by the virtual line to the state shown by the solid line, the reverse of the above may be performed.

Therefore, as for the lifting mechanism 29 and the turning mechanism 30, specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end of the pipe 71 is connected to the rotary actuator 27, and the rotary actuator 27 is connected to the rod 28a of the air cylinder 28. The air cylinder 28 is connected to the press lower frame 31 and is erected.
32 is a rotation preventing rod, 33 is a sliding bearing through which the rod 32 slides, 34 is a support for the bearing 33,
It is erected on the press lower frame 31. Also pipe
A flexible hose 35 is communicatively connected to 71, and the trap 26 is connected to the flexible hose 35.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a press lower frame that supports the pipe 71 so as to be slidably rotatable.

In addition, the drain 14 is
It is forcibly discharged to the outside of the tire via the steam trap 26 through the assembled pipe 73, the hollow passage of the swing arm 72, and the pipe 71. The drain can be sucked and discharged by connecting to a vacuum mechanism.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 is a drain, a discharge port for gas and the like.

Next, a method of vulcanizing the tire 2 as an elastomer article using the apparatus configured as described above will be described.

First, the tire 2 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the bladder 3 in a contracted state, and while the mold is closed, a shaping medium is supplied through a pipe (not shown) to expand the bladder 3 so that the tire 2 closely follows the shape of the inner surface of the mold. And crimp it.

Next, the mold 1 is completely closed and the pressure in the supply passage 40 is 15 kg / cm.
The steam of ² is supplied, and the steam is supplied to the vulcanization chamber (that is, the internal space 6 in the bladder 3) from the blow-out port 4 located above the center of the mold 1 for 5 minutes. That is, the steam from the blowout port 4 is blown out in the horizontal direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, and becomes a uniform jet up and down blown to the equator E. Due to this steam supply, the temperature of the tire 2 is raised to a temperature necessary for proceeding the vulcanization reaction, for example, about 180 ° C. Then, a pressurized gas having a pressure of 18 kg / cm ² is supplied to the gas supply passage 50 at a low temperature of about room temperature (for example, 40 ° C.),
It is jetted upward from the outlet 5 into the internal space 6 for 5 minutes. That is, the gas from the blow-out port 5 is blown upward, cools and stirs the upper portion of the internal space 6, then gradually goes downward, and is mixed with the internal steam.

Therefore, in addition to the above-mentioned jet flow of steam evenly above and below, a large temperature difference occurs between the upper portion and the lower portion of the internal space 6 due to the cooling effect and the mixing action of the upper portion of the tire 2 due to the upward gas flow. Is prevented, steam is adiabatically compressed toward the upper part of the tire as in the past, and the temperature of the upper part is prevented from rising significantly.
Will not be cooled.

Thus, in the case where the drain discharge mechanism 13 is provided, at the same time when the bladder 3 is pressure-bonded to the inner surface of the tire 2, the pipe 71 of the drain discharge mechanism 13 is lifted up a short distance by the lifting mechanism, and then the swing arm is moved. 72 Y by turning mechanism
After oscillating in the direction, the pipe 71 is lowered by the elevating mechanism so as to project from the bag well 46 into the vulcanization chamber as shown in FIG. The lower side wall portion 24 of the second bladder surface is close to the bladder surface.
That is, the drain 14 generated in the tire 2 due to the inflow of steam is accumulated in the lower portion as shown in the figure, but the pressure in the tire 2 causes the small-diameter pipe 73, the swing arm 72, and the pipe to sequentially flow.
It is forcibly discharged to the outside through the steam trap 26 via 71.

The steam trap prevents the pressure in the tire 2 from decreasing.

Therefore, the discharge of the drain reservoir 14 that hinders the contact with the high temperature steam and prevents the temperature rise of the lower side wall portion of the tire 2 greatly reduces the difference in the heating conditions in the tire 2 and also the above-described steam blowing direction. In addition to the above optimization, the temperature of the tire 2 during vulcanization is largely equalized due to the effect of upward blowing of gas.
The tip end opening edge 7 of the small diameter pipe 73 is inclined as shown in FIG. 6A so that the drain 14 can flow even when it comes into contact with the surface of the bladder 3, or As shown in FIGS. 6B and 6B, a plurality of grooves 61 are formed.
The groove 61 is, for example, a radial groove that connects the outside and the hole of the small diameter pipe 73.

Then, after vulcanization, a valve of a pipe (not shown) is opened to discharge the vulcanizing medium, which is a mixture of the heating medium (steam) and the pressurized medium (gas) in the internal space 6, from the discharge line. . Next, raise the pipe 71 of the drain discharge mechanism 13,
Subsequently, the swing arm 72 is swung in the X direction, and then the pipe 71
To lower the bladder 3 by lowering the center post 41, bagwell 46 and lower bladder holding part 11 by closing the valve and opening the other valve. While removing from the tire 2,
The mold 1 is opened and the vulcanized tire 2 is taken out. However, in the case of bladderless vulcanization, it goes without saying that the above-mentioned bladder removing step is not necessary.

In the figure, S represents steam as a heating medium, and G represents gas as a pressurizing medium.

Therefore, FIG. 7 shows the temperatures at the point A of the upper bead portion 23 and the point B of the lower bead portion 23 of the tire 2 when the device shown in FIG. 1 is used, as shown in FIG. ing. That is, at the point A, the temperature tendency as shown by the solid line 18 is shown after the gas supply, and at the point B, the temperature tendency as shown by the solid line 17 is shown after the introduction of the gas. The temperature difference between the two is about 2 ° C.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a point C of the upper side wall (upper side wall portion 25) of the tire 2 and a lower side wall (lower side wall portion) when the device shown in FIG. 1 is used, as shown in FIG. It shows the temperature with point D in 24). That is, at the point C, the temperature tendency shown by the solid line 18a after the gas supply is shown, and at the point D after the gas supply, the temperature tendency shown by the solid line 17a is shown. And the temperature difference is about 2 ° C.

That is, in the present invention, the temperature difference between the point A and the point B is, for example, about 2 ° C., whereas in the conventional example, the temperature between the point A of the upper bead portion and the point B of the lower bead portion is, for example. Is a virtual line
As shown by 16 and 15, in the latter half of the steam process, a temperature difference gradually occurs as the steam flow velocity decreases, and after the gas supply, the outlet is at the bottom and is blown to the bottom of the tire.
The lower bead portion is cooled by the low temperature gas, while the upper bead portion rises in temperature due to the adiabatic compression effect despite the supply of the low temperature gas. Follow. As a result, for example, the temperature difference between the upper and lower beads is 13 ° C., but it is clear that the difference is greatly reduced by the method and apparatus of the present invention as described above.

Further, in the present invention, the temperature difference between the points C and D is, for example, about 2 ° C., whereas in the conventional example, the temperature at the point C on the upper side wall is indicated by the imaginary line 16a, and The temperature difference at the point D on the side wall portion is expanded by the virtually same reason as described above as indicated by the imaginary line 15a, and finally the temperature difference between the upper and lower sides is, for example, about 12 ° C. According to
It is clear that this difference is very small.

Thus, blowing the heating medium horizontally toward the center of the equator of the vulcanization chamber is the best way to perform uniform heating in the vertical direction, but when the thickness of the elastomer part is large, the heating medium is If it is necessary to set the introduction time for a long time, as described above, in the latter half of the introduction of the heating medium, the temperature difference between the upper side and the lower side becomes large, so this is compensated for by the method described below. In some cases, it may be necessary to minimize the temperature difference.

An example will be described below.

FIG. 9 shows an example thereof, and in this case, it is used for a low flatness tire.

The low flatness tire has a large tread width, that is, the maximum sectional width in the width direction of the tire as compared with the dimension from the bead portion 23 to the tread 2a, that is, the sectional height. Since the distance between them is large, as shown in FIG. 1, if the heating medium is blown out in the horizontal direction,
The direct heating effect of the steam jet is due to the upper and lower side walls 25, 24
In the state where the flow rate of steam decreases as the internal pressure rises, and the flow state of gaseous steam in the vulcanization chamber is almost stopped, the wet steam that lost enthalpy as described above settles, Although steam in a heated state rises, if the vertical dimension of the tire is large, the effect of producing a vertical temperature gradient inside the tire is further magnified.

Therefore, in such a case, as shown in FIG. 9, if the heating medium (steam) is blown downward from the position above the center of the mold 1 toward the equator E or its vicinity, the lower side wall 24 By increasing the distribution of steam in the direction and compensating for the effect caused by the temperature gradient, the temperature difference between the upper and lower sides can be made smaller.

In this case, the drain discharge mechanism 13 described above is also used to forcibly discharge the drain accumulated in the lower portion of the vulcanization chamber. In addition,
The structure of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 except the above-mentioned steam blowing direction, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

Next, FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment, which is used for a large diameter and high flatness tire.

In a large diameter, high flatness tire, the distance from the outlet 4 to the tread surface is large, and the distance from the tread portion 2a to the bead portion 23 is large.
When steam is blown onto the surface of the vulcanization chamber, the flow velocity of the steam hitting the tread portion 2a is reduced, and the direct heating effect of the steam jet to the vulcanization chamber surface is reduced. Further, since the distance from the tread portion 2a to the bead portion 23 is large, the heating due to the returning flow of the steam flow is small, the heating to the bead portion 23 is relatively delayed, and after the gas flow is stopped, Due to the above effect, the temperature of the lower bead portion 23 is likely to be lower than that of other portions.

Therefore, in such a case, as shown in FIG. 10, the heating medium (steam) is fed from the upper position of the center of the mold 1 to the lower side wall part.
If it is blown downward toward 24, the above effect can be supplemented by increasing the steam toward the lower bead portion 23.

Also in this case, the drain discharge mechanism 13 described above is also used to forcibly discharge the drain 14 accumulated in the lower portion of the vulcanization chamber. The configuration of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 except the above-mentioned steam blowing direction, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

However, in the present invention, as described above, the blow-out nozzle 45 has a structure in which it can be attached and detached with bolts or the like, so that the direction, number, and diameter of the blow-out ports 4 are selected according to the tire size. In addition, by blowing the pressurized medium obliquely upward, for example, toward the upper side wall portion 25, the relatively high temperature steam portion unevenly distributed in the upper portion due to the temperature gradient in the vertical direction in the tire 2 causes low temperature The gas is directed in an oblique direction, and the jet kinetic energy causes a swirling stirring flow in the vertical direction against the steam without adiabatically compressing the steam, and due to uneven distribution of high-temperature steam and the vertical temperature gradient in the tire 2, Since the upper portion of the tire 2 that has reached a high temperature is cooled, the vertical temperature of the tire 2 can be made uniform. Further, the pressurized medium is blown out obliquely upward and in a direction inclined with respect to the radial direction, so that a swirling flow in the circumferential direction is generated in the inner space of the tire 2, and the effect of stirring and mixing with steam is promoted. . Further, in the embodiment, since the nozzle 54 is replaceable, it is possible to blow out the pressurized medium (gas) in the optimum direction according to various sizes and shapes.

Next, FIG. 11 shows another embodiment using a so-called bagomatic type (BOM) type vulcanizing apparatus. In this apparatus, a center post 41 is provided with a heating medium (steam) supply passage 40, Further, a plurality of supply passages 39 ... Are radially provided in the upper bladder holding portion 10, and the supply passages 39 are provided.
Are connected to the supply passage 40. A ring-shaped blow-out nozzle 45 is detachably attached to the opening of the supply passage 39 by a bolt (not shown). The outlet 4 of the outlet nozzle 45 is opened in the horizontal direction. Further, since the blow-out nozzle 45 is detachable, the blow-out port 4 can be set so as to open obliquely downward as shown by an imaginary line. That is, as the nozzle 45, a nozzle having an optimum air outlet depending on the shape and size of the tire is attached.

Therefore, in this case, the steam is blown toward the vicinity of the tire equator E and the upper and lower areas thereof.

In addition, it is preferable that the steam that injects the blowout passages 4a with each being inclined with respect to the radial direction flows out so as to swirl in the circumferential direction in the vulcanization chamber.

Therefore, the support body (hub) 60 of the lower bladder holding portion 11 is provided with the supply passage 50 for the pressurized medium (gas), and passes through the passage 50, above the vulcanization chamber, for example, the upper side wall. Department
A plurality of outlets 5 ... Are opened in the direction toward 25. The air outlets 5 ... Are provided in the air outlet nozzle 54 that is detachably attached to the support body 60 with bolts (not shown). In other words, the optimum direction according to the shape and size of the tire,
A nozzle 54 having a number of outlets 5 ...

Even in this case, if the blowout passages 5a are respectively inclined with respect to the radial direction, the ejected gas will flow out in the inner space 6 of the vulcanization chamber so as to swirl in the circumferential direction, and the steam inside will be discharged. Mix effectively.

Further, a discharge passage 9 for steam and gas is formed in the support body 60 of the lower bladder holding portion 11, the upper end portion of this passage 9 extends in the outer diameter direction, and the tip opening portion thereof is located in the tire inner space 6. It is open at the place.

In addition, as the drain discharge mechanism 13 for discharging the drain 14 generated during the vulcanization and accumulated in the lower side wall portion 24 in this case,
Unlike the case shown in the figure, for example, a hose with high flexibility
37 and pipe 71 are used. In this case, in principle, it is not necessary to move the pipe 71 up and down and turn.

Therefore, in the present invention, as described above, the heating medium (steam) is sprayed horizontally from the position above the center of the apparatus without the drain discharge mechanism 13, and the pressurizing medium (gas) is used in the mold 1. It may be sprayed from a position below the central portion of the above to above the vulcanization chamber. Here, spraying horizontally means spraying horizontally toward, for example, the equator of the tire 2 or its vicinity, as described above, and upward means the central portion of the mold 1 as described above. The area Q extends from the upper position to the upper side wall portion 25 of the tire 2. The upper position of the center of the mold 1 is, for example, the upper bladder holding portion 10 as described above, and the lower position of the center of the mold 1 is, for example, the rolling-in position as described above. In the bladder type vulcanizer, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, it is at the upper end position of the bag well 46. That is, the blowing nozzle 54 is detachably attached to the upper area of the bag well 46. The blow-out nozzle 54 is provided with a plurality of blow-out ports 5 ... Opening toward a desired portion of the area Q extending from the upper position of the central portion of the device to the upper side wall portion 25 of the tire 2 along the circumferential direction. . In this case, it is preferable that the air outlets 5 ... Are located at the same position as or slightly lower than the upper end of the lower bead portion 23 of the tire 2. In the illustrated example, the air outlets 5 ...
28 It is positioned slightly lower than the top edge.

Therefore, the gas is blown directly across the tire inner space 6, the distance that the gas flow passes through the space is increased, the mixing and stirring effect with the steam is further increased, and the temperature difference in the tire inner space 6 is increased. Is eliminated. Further, the steam jet flow is evenly applied to the upper half portion and the lower half portion of the tire, and the upper half portion and the lower half portion are heated uniformly.

Further, in the bagomatic type vulcanizer, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower position of the center of the mold 1 (as described above) is the upper position of the support 60 of the lower bladder holding portion 11.
That is, the blowing nozzle 54 is detachably attached to the upper portion of the support 60. The outlet nozzle 54 is provided with a plurality of outlets 5 ... Opening toward the area Q along the circumferential direction.

Therefore, also in this case, as in the case shown in FIG. 1, the distance that the gas flow passes through the tire inner space 6 is long, the temperature difference in the tire inner space 6 is eliminated, and moreover, the upper half portion and the lower half portion are eliminated. Will be heated uniformly.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 12, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a so-called bladderless type vulcanizing device that does not use a bladder, and in this case, as shown in FIG. Rings 29, 29 may be provided.

Further, in this embodiment, the steam blowing mechanism is such that the block body 43 is attached to the head of the center post, the block-shaped blowing nozzle 45 is attached to the block body 43, and the empty chamber 44 is provided. Is connected to a steam supply passage 40 and the nozzle 45 is provided with an outlet port 4. The gas blowing mechanism is
A blow-out nozzle 54 is provided in an upper area of the bag well 46, and a gas supply passage 50 is connected to the blow-out nozzle 54 and a blow-out port 5 is provided. Then, the steam is blown downward from the outlet 4 at the upper position, and the gas is blown upward from the outlet 5 at the lower position.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and the design can be freely changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in FIG.
It can be installed inside.

〔The invention's effect〕

 The present invention has the following effects.

In the horizontally blown elastomer article oriented toward the equator E or its vicinity, the elastomer article is heated evenly in the upper and lower halves, and due to the pressure medium, the temperature gradient of the elastomer article causes It is possible to make the upper and lower temperatures of the elastomer article, which have become relatively high, uniform.

Therefore, the elastomeric article can be uniformly vulcanized to provide a high quality product.

Further, since there is no temperature difference in the internal space of the elastomer article, the vulcanization time can be shortened, and productivity can be improved and energy loss can be reduced.

Further, in the case where the vulcanizing medium is sprayed obliquely downward from the position above the center of the mold 1 toward the equator E or its vicinity, the distribution of steam to the lower side wall 24 is increased, and the steam is blown out in the horizontal direction. In this case, a temperature gradient is generated in the vertical direction), but the temperature gradient can be reduced to reduce the temperature difference between the upper and lower sides, which is suitable for low flatness tires, and the low flatness tires manufactured have high quality. .

Further, by having the drain discharge mechanism 13 as well, it is possible to more effectively prevent the temperature difference that tends to occur in the internal space of the elastomer article mounted in the mold 1.

Further, in the vulcanization device in which the suction nozzles 45 and 54 are replaceable, the suction nozzles 45 and 54 having the blowing direction corresponding to the shape and size of the elastomer article can be easily attached, and the optimum direction and amount can be set. A heating medium and a pressure medium can be supplied.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a vulcanizing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view, FIG. 3A is a simplified perspective view of a heating medium blowing nozzle, and FIG. 3B is the same plan view. FIG. 4A is a simplified perspective view of a blowout nozzle for a pressurized medium, FIG. 4B is a plan view of the same, FIG. 5 is a simplified view of a lifting / swinging mechanism, and FIG. 6A is an example of a small diameter pipe of a drain discharge mechanism. 6B is another embodiment of the small diameter pipe, FIG. 6B is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part, FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view of the same part, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the temperature difference, FIGS. 9 and 10 and 11 are sectional views showing different embodiments, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the main part of the bladderless type. FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a conventional example. 1 ... Mold, 4, 5 ... Air outlet, 10 ... Upper bladder holding part, 11 ... Lower bladder holding part, 13 ... Drain discharge mechanism, 14 ... Drain, 25 ... Upper side wall part, 45 , 54 ……
Blowing nozzle, 46 …… Bagwell, 60 …… Support, E ……
Equator, Q ... area.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical display location B29L 30:00 4F (72) Inventor Michito Kobayashi 5-9-11 Gogaoka, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture (72) ) Inventor Masaaki Ijiri 4-2-1 Shiratori, Shirotori, Togo-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi 408-407 (72) Inventor Nobuhiko Irie 1-1, Atsunoura-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Nagasaki Shipyard Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Hasegawa 1-1, Atsunoura-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Nagasaki Shipyard (72) Inventor Hideaki Katayama 1-1, Atsunoura-cho, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Nagasaki Shipyard (72) Inventor Toshifumi Murakami 1-1, Atsunoura-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Nagasaki Shipyard (72) Inventor Katsumi Sakaguchi 1-1, Atsunoura-cho, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki (56) References JP 57-185134 (JP, A) JP 2-147207 (JP, A) JP 57-70632 (JP, A) Actual development Sho 57 -88532 (JP, U) Actual opening Sho 59-38020 (JP, U) Actual opening Sho 59-24323 (JP, U)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. When an elastomer article is mounted in a vulcanization chamber of a mold 1 and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article, and the elastomer article reaches a predetermined temperature. , Or when a predetermined time has passed,
The supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurized medium at the same or a high pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step, and after the heating step, the heating medium In a method for vulcanizing an elastomer article, in which a vulcanizing medium, which is a mixture of a resin and a pressurizing medium, is discharged to complete the vulcanization, the heating medium is applied to the equator of the elastomer article from an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the center of the mold 1. It is sprayed in the horizontal direction toward E or its vicinity, and the above-mentioned pressurizing medium is pushed from the position below the center of the mold 1 to the upper side wall 25 of the elastomer article.
Or a method for vulcanizing an elastomer article, characterized by spraying obliquely upward toward the upper opening edge 23. 2. When the elastomer article is mounted in the vulcanization chamber of the mold 1 and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article, and the elastomer article reaches a predetermined temperature. , Or when a predetermined time has passed,
The supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurized medium at the same or a high pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step, and after the heating step, the heating medium In a method for vulcanizing an elastomer article, in which a vulcanizing medium, which is a mixture of a resin and a pressurizing medium, is discharged to complete the vulcanization, the heating medium is applied to the equator of the elastomer article from an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the center of the mold 1. It is sprayed in the horizontal direction toward E or its vicinity, and the above-mentioned pressurizing medium is pushed from the position below the center of the mold 1 to the upper side wall 25 of the elastomer article.
Or, the drain 14 is sprayed obliquely upward toward the upper opening end edge portion 23 thereof, and further, during the vulcanization, the drain 14 accumulated in the elastomer article by the condensation of the heating medium is forcibly discharged to the outside of the elastomer article by using the discharge mechanism 13. A method for vulcanizing an elastomer article, comprising: 3. When a vulcanization chamber of the mold 1 is mounted with an elastomer article and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article to reach a predetermined temperature, Or, when a predetermined time has elapsed, supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurized medium at the same or high pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step, After the heating process,
A method for vulcanizing an elastomer article, in which a vulcanizing medium, which is a mixture of a heating medium and a pressurizing medium, is discharged to complete vulcanization, in which the heating medium is added to the elastomer article from a position above the center of the mold 1. The heating medium is sprayed obliquely downward toward the equator E of the elastomer article or its vicinity so that the distribution of the heating medium to the lower side wall portion 24 is increased, and the pressure medium is positioned below the center of the mold 1. A method for vulcanizing an elastomer article, which comprises spraying obliquely upward from the upper side wall portion 25 of the elastomer article to the upper opening end edge portion 23 thereof. 4. When the elastomer article is mounted in the vulcanization chamber of the mold 1 and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article to reach a predetermined temperature, Or, when a predetermined time has elapsed, supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurized medium at the same or high pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step, After the heating process,
A method for vulcanizing an elastomer article, in which a vulcanizing medium, which is a mixture of a heating medium and a pressurizing medium, is discharged to complete the vulcanization, wherein the heating medium is located above the center of the mold 1 and below the elastomer article. It is sprayed obliquely downward toward the equator E of the elastomer article or its vicinity so that the distribution of the heating medium to the side wall portion 24 is increased, and the pressure medium is applied from a position below the center of the mold 1. A draining mechanism 13 is used to spray a drain 14 obliquely upward toward the upper side wall portion 25 or the upper opening end edge portion 23 of the elastomer article, and further, during vulcanization, a heating medium is condensed and accumulated in the elastomer article. A method for vulcanizing an elastomer article, characterized in that the elastomer article is forcibly discharged to the outside. 5. When the elastomer article is mounted in the vulcanization chamber of the mold 1 and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article to reach a predetermined temperature, or When a predetermined time has elapsed, the supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurized medium at the same or higher pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step. In an elastomer article vulcanizing apparatus for maintaining the temperature of the elastomer article at a predetermined temperature, in order to spray the heating medium in a horizontal direction from an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the center of the mold 1 toward the equator E of the elastomer article or its vicinity. The heating medium outlet 4 is formed in the upper bladder holding portion 10 or the center post head which is arranged at a position above the center of the mold 1, and the pressurizing medium is The pressurizing medium outlet 5 for spraying obliquely upward from the lower position of the center of the mold 1 toward the upper side wall part 25 of the elastomer article or the upper opening end edge part 23 thereof is provided at the center of the mold 1. An elastomer article vulcanizing apparatus characterized in that a bag well 46 disposed at a lower position of the portion is formed in the lower bladder holding portion 11. 6. When the elastomer article is mounted in the vulcanization chamber of the mold 1 and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article to reach a predetermined temperature, or When a predetermined time has elapsed, the supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurized medium at the same or higher pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step. In an elastomer article vulcanizing apparatus for maintaining the temperature of the elastomer article at a predetermined temperature, in order to spray the heating medium in a horizontal direction from an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the center of the mold 1 toward the equator E of the elastomer article or its vicinity. The heating medium outlet 4 is formed in the upper bladder holding portion 10 or the center post head which is arranged at a position above the center of the mold 1, and the pressurizing medium is The pressurizing medium outlet 5 for spraying obliquely upward from the lower position of the center of the mold 1 toward the upper side wall part 25 of the elastomer article or the upper opening end edge part 23 thereof is provided at the center of the mold 1. A bag well 46 disposed at a lower position of the portion is formed in the lower bladder holding portion 11, and further, a drain discharge mechanism 13 for forcibly discharging the drain 14 accumulated in the elastomer article by condensing the heating medium to the outside of the elastomer article.
An elastomer article vulcanizing apparatus, characterized in that: 7. When the elastomer article is mounted in the vulcanization chamber of the mold 1 and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article to reach a predetermined temperature, or When a predetermined time has elapsed, the supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurized medium at the same or higher pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step. In an elastomer article vulcanizing apparatus for maintaining the temperature of an elastomer article at a predetermined temperature, the distribution of the heating medium from the position above the center of the mold 1 to the lower side wall portion 24 of the elastomer article is increased. An upper bladder provided at a position above the center of the mold 1 with a heating medium outlet 4 for spraying obliquely downward toward the equator E of the elastomer article or its vicinity. And forming the lifting unit 10, or center post head, the upper side wall portion 25 to its upper opening edge portion of the elastomeric article of the pressurized medium from the center position below the mold 1
Elastomers characterized in that a pressurizing medium outlet 5 for spraying obliquely upward toward 23 is formed in a bag well 46 or a lower bladder holding portion 11 arranged at a position below the center of the mold 1. Article vulcanization equipment. 8. An elastomer article is mounted in a vulcanization chamber of a mold 1, and a heating medium such as steam is supplied to heat and pressurize the elastomer article to reach a predetermined temperature. Alternatively, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the supply of the heating medium is stopped, and then an inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied as a pressurized medium at the same or higher pressure as the heating medium until the end of the remaining time of the heating step. In an elastomer article vulcanizer for maintaining the temperature of the elastomer article at a predetermined temperature, the distribution of the heating medium from the position above the center of the mold 1 to the lower side wall 24 of the elastomer article is increased. An upper bladder disposed at a position above the center of the mold 1 so as to provide a heating medium outlet 4 for spraying obliquely downward toward the equator E of the elastomer article or its vicinity. The pressurizing medium is formed on the holding portion 10 or the center post and the head portion, and the pressurizing medium is obliquely upward from the lower position of the central portion of the mold 1 toward the upper side wall portion 25 of the elastomer article or the upper opening end edge portion 23 thereof. A pressurizing medium outlet 5 for spraying on the bag well 46 or the lower bladder holding portion 11 disposed at a position below the center of the mold 1, and
An elastomer article vulcanizing device, characterized in that a drain discharge mechanism (13) for forcibly discharging the drain (14) condensed by the heating medium and accumulated in the elastomer article to the outside of the elastomer article is provided. 9. The vulcanizer according to claim 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the heating medium outlet 4 is formed in a detachable outlet nozzle 45. 10. The vulcanizer according to claim 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the pressurizing medium outlet 5 is formed in a detachable outlet nozzle 54.