TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS

Abstract: A tire building apparatus which comprises a group of common fixing members (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) for forming a tire and various interchangeable members (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 18, 19 and 20) for forming a tire, selectively mountable to these common fixing members in accordance with the purposes for forming the tire and being different in construction. As parts selectively interchangeable for the group of the common fixing members (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) for forming the tire, a set of the various interchangeable members (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 18, 19 and 20) being different in construction from one another are provided and modularized, so that a required tire building apparatus can be quickly and inexpensively provided in accordance with changes in the needs, building methods, types of tires or the like in every factory.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a tyre building apparatus. BACKGROUND ART Generally the building of motorcycle tyres, automobile tyres and other tyres is carried out at each factory with individual special building apparatuses different from each other depending on their individual building method, tyre type and the like. Accordingly, for example in the case where motorcycle tyres are built at a factory at which automobile tyres previously have been built, or in the case of a changeover from low grade tyre building to high grade tyre building, the whole machine must be changed. Thus, it takes a long time for the change and consequently the cost therefor is great. In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a tyre building apparatus which can accommodate a changeover required on occasion in each factory, of building method or tyre category without the need for a whole exchange of apparatus. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a tyre building apparatus of the present invention comprises a plurality of fixed components and a plurality of exchangeable components selectively attached to said plurality of fixed components, said plurality of exchangeable components including a former, a belt drum, a bead setter, a transferring member, stitchers, and servicers, said plurality of fixed components including gear boxes, a main shaft for said belt drum, a support base for said transferring member, a support base and a transfer mechanism for said stitchers, a main shaft for said former, a shaft for a ply down finger, and a lower base for supporting each of said plurality of fixed and exchangeable components. In a tyre building apparatus of the present invention, a suite of various kinds of exchangeable members different in structure are gathered as exchangeable members which can be selectively attached to a group of common fixed members for tyre building and are modularised. Accordingly it is possible to provide a necessary tyre building apparatus quickly and economically in response to the needs for building, building method, switchover of kinds of tyre and the like at each factory. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a front view showing an embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention is explained in details with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment. Figure 1 shows a tyre building apparatus of the present invention. This apparatus comprises a tyre building former 1, a belt drum 2, a bead setter 3, a transfer ring 4, a stitcher 5a for the former 1, a stitched 6 for the belt drum 2 etc. A cylindrical tyre carcass is formed on the former 1, a bead with an apex is attached to each side of the tyre carcass, and both edges of the carcass are rolled up around their respective bead. On the other hand, a belt-tread assembly is built on the belt drum 2, which assembly is then transferred to the former 1 by the transfer ring 4. The tyre carcass to which the beads are attached is toroidally shaped to a shape near to that of its final product, and is assembled to the belt-tread assembly to complete the green tyre building. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a group of common fixed members for tyre building and various exchangeable members such as the former 1, the belt drum 2, the transfer ring 4, the stitcher 5a and the like. The necessary many exchangeable members are made as a suite of said members, each of them being different in structure and detail according to their individual purposes. Depending on the individual building process to be carried out a set of exchangeable members is selected from the suite and each is attached to the common fixed members. Thus so-called modularisation is realised. The group of common fixed members specifically includes, as shown in Figures 2, for example a lower base 7 for the whole apparatus, gear boxes 8 and 9 (each including a drive therein) attached to the base 7, a main shaft 10 for the former 1, a main shaft 11 for the belt drum 2, a bead setter 3, a shaft 12 for a ply turn down finger, a lower base 13 for the stitcher 5b, a transfer mechanism 14 for the base 13, a lower base 15 for the transfer ring 4, a transfer mechanism 16 for the base 15, and the like. Thus for the former 1, a main body of the former can be selected, as the exchangeable member, from all the formers 1 available in the suite, each of them being different in structure, function, effect and the like for individual purposes. The selected main body of the former can be set on the main shaft 10, a common fixed member. Therefore, the number of pipes and connections is arranged on the main shaft 10 to that for the former which requires the most number of pipes in the suite. The same is true for the belt drum 2, the transfer ring 4 and the stitcher 5a(5b). As an example suite of exchangeable members, there can be ready a group-type flat former and a lateral-bead-setting type former for the former 1, a belt drum for cut breaker and a belt drum for folded breaker for the belt drum 2, and two bead setters 3 one corresponding to the group-type flat former and one corresponding to the lateral-bead-setting type former, two transfer rings 4, one of standard-type and one with an opening and a triaxial-type stitcher and an exclusive stitcher for shoulder stitching as the stitcher 5a(5b). Further (as occasion demands), a stitcher for cut breaker and a stitcher for folded breaker are included. Servicers 17, 18 and 19 are selected respectively according to the material handling and automisation level at each factory. Servicers for full band, for edge band and for jointless band are also provided shown as a nylon band servicer 20. Accordingly, all the desirable exchangeable members are assembled for an individual building purpose, whereby a necessary tyre building apparatus can be constituted. The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and modification of design is allowed without departing from the present invention. For example, the kinds of the former 1, the belt drum 2 and the like are not limited to the above-mentioned ones. Since the present invention is constituted as above, the following effects result. Needs, building method, and modification of kinds or grade of tyre at each factory can be accommodated easily and quickly. That is, desirable ones selected from the suite of the exchangeable members which are standardised for individual building purposes are assembled with the common fixed members, so that for example a changeover of building method, or a changeover from low grade tyre building to high grade tyre building is simplified. Consequently, product quality is unified, production efficiency is improved and cost is significantly reduced.

Claims: A modular tyre building apparatus characterised by a plurality of fixed components and a plurality of exchangeable components selectively attached to said plurality of fixed components, said plurality of exchangeable components including a former (1), a belt drum (2), a bead setter (3), a transferring member (4), stitchers (5a,5b,6), and servicers (17,18,19,20), said plurality of fixed components including gear boxes (8,9), a main shaft (11) for said belt drum (2), a support base (15) for said transferring member (4), a support base (13) and a transfer mechanism (14) for said stitchers (5,6), a main shaft (10) for said former (1), a shaft (12) for a ply down finger, and a lower base (7) for supporting each of said plurality of fixed and exchangeable components. A modular tyre building apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said exchangeable former (1) is selected from one of a group-type flat former and a lateral-bead-setting type former. A modular tyre building apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said exchangeable belt drum (2) is selected from one of a belt drum for a cut breaker and a belt drum for a folder breaker. A modular tyre building apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said transferring member (4) is selected from one of a standard-type and a transferring member with an opening formed therein. A modular tyre building apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said stitchers (5a,5b,6) are selected from a triaxial-type stitcher, an exclusive stitcher for shoulder stitching, a stitcher for a cut breaker and a stitcher for a folded breaker. A modular tyre building apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said servicers (17,18,19,20) are selected according to material handling and an automation level of said modular tyre building apparatus and for a full band, for an edge band and for a jointless band A modular tyre building apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that a number of piping for said main shaft (10) for said former (1) is set to that for a former requiring a largest number of piping. A modular tyre building apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that a number of piping for said main shaft (11) for said belt drum (2) is set to that for a belt drum requiring a largest number of piping.

Inventors: NOJIRI YASUSHI, OKUDA TAKAAKI, SOEDA KOJI, NOJIRI, YASUSHI, OKUDA, TAKAAKI, SOEDA, KOJI, NOJIRI, YASUSHI, 8-146, NAKAZATO-CHO 1-CHOME, OKUDA, TAKAAKI, 21-114, OAZA SHIRAIGAKESHITA, SOEDA, KOJI, 9-6, MOTOYAMAKITAMACHI 5-CHOME
Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER IND, SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B29D30
IPC codes: B29D30