Patent Abstract:
A tire forming system includes a band forming machine, a shaping forming machine, a belt/tread forming machine, means for supplying a band member and means for supplying a belt/tread member. The means for supplying the band member include an inner liner supply means, carcass supply means, band rubber parts supply means and bead supply means. The means for supplying the belt/tread member include belt supply means and tread rubber parts supply means. The means for supplying the band member and the means for supplying the belt/tread member are operative to cooperate with one another to continuously in series form a plurality of tires having different tire sizes.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a tire forming system for consistently forming a pneumatic tire from materials and a tire forming method using the system and, more detailedly, relates to a tire forming system and a tire forming method, which facilitate a stage switchover of tires different in specification and make it possible to greatly increase a production efficiency of the tire. 
     In the pneumatic tire, there are many sizes owing to differences in oblate ratio and tread width even if bead inner diameters are the same. Further, even if the tire sizes are the same, there is the fact that kinds of compounds and the like are finely assorted in compliance with use objects. 
     In case of forming such many and various pneumatic tires, setting conditions of a forming machine for the tire size can be almost automatically changed at present, but a lot of time is required in a stage switchover of members supplied to the forming machine. Therefore, hitherto it is adapted such that the members for every tire size are preliminarily prepared, these members are supplied to a forming process and collected in a lot unit for every tire size to assemble unvulcanized tires. That is, in the tire forming process, by increasing the number of tires in one lot, the stage switchover operation is reduced, so that it becomes possible to increase a productivity. 
     However, a vulcanizing cycle time consumed for vulcanizing one tire is about 5 to 10 times a forming cycle time consumed for forming one tire, so that a correspondence of one to one has been impossible. Therefore, even if tires of specified size are continuously formed in a lot unit, it is impossible to use metal molds for vulcanizing the tires of specified size in agreement with the forming cycle time and, as a result, the unvulcanized tires stagnate as intermediate goods in process, i.e., a lead time increases, so that the production efficiency has been reduced. 
     Further, in case where, like the prior art, the members for every tire size are preliminarily prepared and these members are supplied to a forming process, it is indispensable to prepare and stock many intermediate members in compliance with many and various pneumatic tires. Therefore, material expenses and management costs of the intermediate members increase, so that a production cost of the tire has been raised. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a tire forming system and a tire forming method, which facilitate a stage switchover of tires different in specification and make it possible to greatly increase a production efficiency of the tire. 
     In order to achieve the above object, the invention provides a tire forming system including a band forming machine, a shaping forming machine and a belt/tread forming machine, in each of which setting conditions of a tire size can be optionally changed, and having transport means for delivering a semi-fabricated product to each forming machine, wherein as means for supplying a band member there are provided: 
     (1) inner liner supply means for cutting a sheet-like inner liner material having a width, in which a splice margin is added to a band periphery length, to a length corresponding to a specification width of a formed tire, and supplying the cut inner liner to the band forming machine; 
     (2) carcass supply means for cutting a sheet-like carcass material having a width, in which a splice margin is added to a band periphery length, to a length corresponding to a specification width of the formed tire, and supplying the cut carcass to the band forming machine; 
     (3) band rubber parts supply means for injecting a rubber strip from an injection unit, winding the rubber strip around a drum of the band forming machine, and forming, on the basis of its laminated structure, a rubber parts having a profile corresponding to a specification of the formed tire; and 
     (4) bead supply means for supplying a completed bead corresponding to a specification of the formed tire to the band forming machine through a bead setter; and 
     as means for supplying a belt/tread member there are provided: 
     (5) belt supply means for cutting a strip-like belt material, in which plural cords are arranged and rubberized, to predetermined length and angle, mutually splicing edge portions of the plural cut strip pieces to form a belt for one tire, which has a length, a cord angle and a width corresponding to specifications of the formed tire, and supplying the belt to the belt/tread forming machine; and 
     (6) tread rubber parts supply means for injecting a rubber strip from an injection unit, winding the rubber strip around a drum of the belt/tread forming machine, and forming, on the basis of its laminated structure, a rubber parts having a profile corresponding to a specification of the formed tire. 
     In the tire forming system in which the setting conditions of the tire size can be optionally changed in this manner, in regard to the tire having a specified band periphery length, since the supply means for all parts are constituted so as to be optionally set in compliance with the specification of the formed tire, it is possible to instantaneously perform the stage switchover so long as the tire has the same bead inner diameter, so that it is possible to continuously form the tires different in specification in one unit. Incidentally, the specification of the formed tire means tire forming conditions including a tire size, a thickness of rubber parts, a profile of tire, and the like. 
     And, if it becomes possible to form the tires different in specification in one unit, since it becomes null that unvulcanized tires waiting for being vulcanized in a specified metal mold are accumulated, it is possible to improve an operating efficiency of the metal mold, thereby reducing the goods in process of the unvulcanized tires. Further, in the above tire forming system, since parts preparation process is connected to each forming machine, it is possible to reduce the goods in process of intermediate members. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce costs of the goods in process, a management and auxiliary members, so that it becomes possible to greatly increase the production efficiency of the tire and, additionally, manufacture the tire stable in its quality. 
     In the invention, as the sheet-like inner liner and carcass materials, although one having the width in which the splice margin is added to the band periphery length is used, this width may be formed by a single sheet material, or may be formed by splicing plural sheet materials in their width direction. For example, in case where the inner liner and the carcass each having a width of about 50 inches are required, a sheet material having a width of about 50 inches may be used singly, or five sheet materials each having a width of about 10 inches may be bonded in parallel. However, in case where the plural sheet materials are used, it is necessary to take a splice margin between the sheets into consideration. 
     The aforesaid bead supply means is one for supplying the completed bead having a bead core and a bead filler which correspond to specifications of the formed tire and, more concretely, it is preferable that the bead supply means is constituted such that it holds plural kinds of completed beads each having a bead core corresponding to the band periphery length, selects the completed bead corresponding to the specification of the formed tire from the plural kinds of completed beads, and supplies the selected completed bead to the band forming machine through the bead setter. However, it may be constituted such that the bead core corresponding to the band periphery length is prepared, and on its outer periphery there is formed the bead filler corresponding to the specification of the formed tire. 
     Further, as the injection unit it is preferable to use a plunger type injection unit in which there is accommodated, for the respective rubber parts, a rubber amount corresponding at least to the specification of the formed tire. Such a plunger type injection unit can precisely inject a required volume of unvulcanized rubber for the respective rubber parts and, moreover, can easily change the require volume for every tire. 
     Further, in order to achieve the aforesaid object, the invention provides a tire forming method using a tire forming system including a band forming machine, a shaping forming machine and a belt/tread forming machine, in each of which setting conditions of a tire size can be optionally changed, and having transport means for delivering a semi-fabricated product to each forming machine, wherein as a process for supplying a band member there are provided: 
     (1) an inner liner supply process for cutting a sheet-like inner liner material having a width, in which a splice margin is added to a band periphery length, to a length corresponding to a specification width of a formed tire, and supplying the cut inner liner to the band forming machine; 
     (2) a carcass supply process for cutting a sheet-like carcass material having a width, in which a splice margin is added to a band periphery length, to a length corresponding to a specification width of the formed tire, and supplying the cut carcass to the band forming machine; 
     (3) a band rubber parts supply process for injecting a rubber strip from an injection unit, winding the rubber strip around a drum of the band forming machine, and forming, on the basis of its laminated structure, a rubber parts having a profile corresponding to a specification of the formed tire; and 
     (4) a bead supply process for supplying a completed bead corresponding to a specification of the formed tire to the band forming machine through a bead setter; and 
     as a process for supplying a belt/tread member there are provided: 
     (5) a belt supply process for cutting a strip-like belt material, in which plural cords are arranged and rubberized, to predetermined length and angle, mutually splicing edge portions of the plural cut strip pieces to form a belt for one tire, which has a length, a cord angle and a width corresponding to specifications of the formed tire, and supplying the belt to the belt/tread forming machine; and 
     (6) a tread rubber parts supply process for injecting a rubber strip from an injection unit, winding the rubber strip around a drum of the belt/tread forming machine, and forming, on the basis of its laminated structure, a rubber parts having a profile corresponding to a specification of the formed tire. 
     It is preferable that, in the above bead supply process, plural kinds of completed beads each having a bead core corresponding to the band periphery length are prepared, the completed bead corresponding to the specification of the formed tire is selected from the plural kinds of completed beads, and the selected completed bead is supplied to the band forming machine through the bead setter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a tire forming system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view showing, partially omitted, the tire forming system according to the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view exemplifying a rubber servicer used in the invention; 
         FIG. 4(   a ) to  FIG. 4(   d ) are sectional views of main portion, showing forming processes of a band member by the tire forming system of the invention; 
         FIG. 5(   a ) to  FIG. 5(   d ) are sectional views of main portion, showing forming processes of a belt/tread member by the tire forming system of the invention; 
         FIG. 6(   a ) to  FIG. 6(   b ) are sectional views of main portion, showing shaping processes by the tire forming system of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a tire forming system according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side view showing, partially omitted, the tire forming system according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a tire forming system according to an embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 2  a side view of the same. However, in  FIG. 2 , a part of constitution is omitted. 
     This system is a tire forming system including a band forming machine  10 , a shaping forming machine  20  and a belt/tread forming machine  30 , and having a band transfer  40  and a belt transfer  50  as transport means for delivering a semi-fabricated product to the respective forming machines  10 ,  20 ,  30 . Each of the band forming machine  10 , the shaping forming machine  20  and the belt/tread forming machine  30  is constituted such that setting conditions of a tire size can be optionally changed. Further, the band forming machine  10 , the band transfer  40 , the belt transfer  50  and the belt/tread forming machine  30  are arranged so as to be movable on one pair of left/right linearly laid rails  55 . The shaping forming machine  20  is arranged so as to be movable on one pair of left/right rails  56  intersecting the rails  55 . 
     The band forming machine  10  is provided on a carriage  12  having wheels  11  with a driving section  13 , and supports a band drum  14  such that its rotary shaft horizontally extends from the driving section  13 . The band drum  14  is constituted so as to be retractable in a drum radius direction by a drive of the driving section  13 . The carriage  12  is controlled in its position on the rails  55  by a control unit (not shown). 
     The shaping forming machine  20  is provided on a carriage  22  having wheels  21  with a driving section  23 , and supports the driving section  23  such that it extends from a rails  56  side to a region just above the rails  55  and a retractable driving shaft  25  having one pair of shaping drums  24  horizontally extends from the driving section  23 . One pair of shaping drums  24  are adapted such that a mutual spacing is variable by a retraction of the driving shaft  25 . Further, a bead clamp section of the shaping drum  24  is constituted so as to be retractable. The carriage  22  is controlled in its position on the rails  56  by a control unit (not shown). 
     The belt/tread forming machine  30  is provided on a carriage  32  having wheels  31  with a driving section  33 , and supports a forming drum  34  such that its rotary shaft horizontally extends from the driving section  33 . The forming drum  34  is constituted so as to be retractable in a drum radius direction by a drive of the driving section  33 . The carriage  32  is controlled in its position on the rails  55  by a control unit (not shown). 
     The band transfer  40  has a constitution in which one pair of left/right holding rings  43  for holding a band member in its cylindrical form intact and one pair of left/right bead setters  44  for holding completed beads to predetermined positions in an outer periphery side of the band member are provided on a carriage  42  having wheels  41 . The carriage  42  is controlled in its position on the rails  55  by a control unit (not shown). 
     The belt transfer  50  has a constitution in which a grip section  53  for gripping a belt/tread member from outside is provided on a carriage  52  having wheels  51 . The carriage  52  is controlled in its position on the rails  55  by a control unit (not shown). 
     In the tire forming system mentioned above, as means for supplying the band member, there are arranged an inner liner servicer  60 , a carcass servicer  70 , rubber parts servicers  80  and a bead servicer  90 . 
     The inner liner servicer  60  is adapted such that a long sheet-like inner liner material  61  having a width in which a splice margin is added to a specified band periphery length is held by a reel  62 , the inner liner material  61  unwound from the reel  62  is sent with a predetermined length unit by a conveyor  63  and cut by a cutter  64  to a length corresponding to a specification width of a formed tire, and thus an inner liner  65  having a necessary dimension is formed. 
     The carcass servicer  70  is adapted such that a long sheet-like carcass material  71  having a width in which a splice margin is added to a specified band periphery length is held by a reel  72 , the carcass material  71  unwound from the reel  72  is sent with a predetermined length unit by a conveyor  73  and cut by a cutter  74  to a length corresponding to a specification width of the formed tire, and thus a carcass  75  having a necessary dimension is formed. 
     That is, the inner liner servicer  60  and the carcass servicer  70  are adapted such that they can respectively supply the inner liner  65  and the carcass  75  which are used in a tire having the same bead inner diameter corresponding to the specified band periphery length, and the cut dimensions of the inner liner and the carcass can be changed in compliance with an oblate ratio and a tread width of the formed tire. The inner liner  65  and the carcass  75  are adapted so as to be sequentially supplied to the band forming machine  10  through a carrying conveyor  66 . The inner liner material  61  can be composed of a rubber and the like. Further, as the carcass material  71 , it is possible to use a calender material rubberized by pulling together plural cords along a sheet longitudinal direction. 
     The plural rubber parts servicers  80  are arranged in the vicinity of the band forming machine  10  such that compounds constituting the band member, such as a rim cushion, side walls and a belt edge cushion, correspond to different parts. Each of the rubber parts servicers  80  has an injection unit  82  extending from a hydraulic cylinder  81  toward the band forming machine  10 , and a feed extruder  83  is provided in a tip portion of the injection unit  82 . The rubber parts servicer  80  is constituted so as to be shiftable by a driving unit (not shown) to an optional position in axial and radial directions of the band drum  14 . And, the rubber parts servicer  80  is adapted such that a rubber strip injected from the injection unit  82  is wound around the band drum  14  to thereby form, on the basis of its laminated structure, the rubber parts for band having a profile corresponding to a specification of the formed tire. 
     More concretely, the above strip winding technique is adapted such that a desired profile is realized by bonding a tip of the rubber strip to the band drum  14 , rotating the band drum  14  while continuously injecting the rubber strip from the injection unit  82 , traversing the rubber parts servicers  80  along an axial direction of the band drum  14 , and controlling a rotating speed of the band drum  14  and traversing speeds of the rubber parts servicers  80 . 
     The bead servicer  90  is one for supplying a completed bead corresponding to a specification of the completed tire to the band forming machine  10  through the bead setter  44 . More concretely, the bead servicer  90  is adapted such that plural kinds of completed beads A to F are respectively held, while being classified by the kind, on plural holding arms  92  radially extending from a bead stocker  91 . Each of the completed beads A to F is one in which a bead core corresponding to the band periphery length and bead fillers of variously different shapes or compounds are combined. The bead stocker  91  is rotatable, and adapted such that one pair of completed beads corresponding to the specification of the formed tire are selected from the plural kinds of completed beads A to F, and the selected one pair of completed beads are delivered to a bead transfer  93 . The bead transfer  93  is extended to a region just above the band transfer  40 , and adapted such that the selected one pair of completed beads are supplied to the bead setter  44  through a delivering arm  94 . 
     In the above tire forming system, as means for supplying the belt/tread member, there are arranged a belt servicer  100 , and rubber parts servicers  110 . 
     The belt servicer  100  is adapted such that a cutter  102  extending in a conveyor carrying direction is arranged in an edge portion of a carrying conveyor  101 , and a strip-like belt material  103  is supplied onto the carrying conveyor  101  while being passed below the cutter  102 . The belt material  103  is transported by a conveyor  104 , and carried to a predetermined position on the carrying conveyor  101  while being guided by a splicer  105  having a guide function. A supplying angle of the belt material  103  with respect to a carrying direction of the carrying conveyor  101  is adapted so as to be changeable about a center axis O together with the conveyor  104  and the splicer  105 . Therefore, a cutting angle of the belt material  103  can be optionally selected on the basis of the supplying angle of the belt material  103 . On the other hand, a cut length of the belt material  103  can be optionally selected on the basis of a feeding amount of the conveyor  104 . Further, the belt material  103  is one rubberized by pulling together plural cords. Such a belt material  103  may be directly supplied from a calender unit or an insulation extruder, or may be supplied from a reel around which one formed by the calender unit or the insulation extruder has been once wound. 
     If the carrying conveyor  101  transports a strip piece  106  cut from the belt material  103  by a distance corresponding approximately to a strip width to a belt/tread forming machine  30  side, the further belt material  103  is supplied onto the carrying conveyor  101 . And, the splicer  105  mutually splices, in order, edge portions of the strip pieces  106 ,  106  adjoining each other. By means of splicing integer number of strip pieces  106  by repeating such a process, it is possible to form a belt  107  for one tire having a length, a cord angle and a width, which correspond to specifications of the formed tire. On this occasion, in order to make the number of the strip pieces  106  an integer, it is preferable to cause the length of the belt  107  to agree with a specification belt length by adjusting a minute angle (within ±1°) with respect to a specification cord length of the formed tire. The belt  107  is supplied as it is to the belt/tread forming machine  30  through the carrying conveyor  101 . 
     The plural rubber parts servicers  110  are arranged in the vicinity of the belt/tread forming machine  30  such that compounds constituting the belt/tread member, such as an under tread and a cap tread, correspond to different parts. Each of the rubber parts servicers  110  has an injection unit  112  extending-from a hydraulic cylinder  111  toward the belt/tread forming machine  30 , and a feed extruder  113  is provided in a tip portion of the injection unit  112 . The rubber parts servicer  110  is constituted so as to be shiftable by a driving unit (not shown) to an optional position in axial and radial directions of the forming drum  34 . And, the rubber parts servicer  110  is adapted such that a rubber strip injected from the injection unit  112  is wound around the forming drum  34  to thereby form, on the basis of its laminated structure, the rubber parts for tread consisting of a profile corresponding to a specification of the formed tire. 
     More concretely, the above strip winding technique is adapted such that a desired profile is realized by bonding a tip of the rubber strip to the forming drum  34 , rotating the forming drum  34  while continuously injecting the rubber strip from the injection unit  112 , traversing the rubber parts servicers  110  along an axial direction of the forming drum  34 , and controlling a rotating speed of the forming drum  34  and traversing speeds of the rubber parts servicers  110 . 
     As the aforesaid injection unit of the rubber parts servicers  80 ,  110 , it is preferable to use a plunger type injection unit accommodating a rubber amount corresponding, for the respective rubber parts, at least to a specification of the formed tire.  FIG. 3  exemplifies the rubber parts servicer using the plunger type injection unit. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a plunger type injection unit  120  has a constitution in which a plunger  122  is slidably provided inside a cylindrical injection pot  121  and the plunger  122  is moved back and forth by a piston cylinder  124  extending from a hydraulic cylinder  123 , and is adapted such that an unvulcanized rubber accommodated in the injection pot  121  is injected from a die  125 . The plunger type injection unit  120  has advantages that it can precisely inject the unvulcanized rubber in a volume necessary for the respective rubber parts and, moreover, can easily change a volume of the compounds necessary for every one tire. 
     Further, as means for pouring the unvulcanized rubber into the plunger type injection unit  120 , it is preferable to use a screw type feed extruder  130 . The screw type feed extruder  130  has a constitution in which a screw  132  is rotatably provided inside a cylindrical cylinder  131  and the screw  132  is driven to rotate by a hydraulic motor  133 , and is adapted such that the unvulcanized rubber supplied from a rubber supply section  134  is moved by a rotation of the screw  132  to feed it from a discharge port  135  into the injection pot  121  of the injection unit  120 . The discharge port  135  of the feed extruder  130  is connected to an input port  126  provided in the injection pot  121 . Further, a check valve  136  for regulating a flow of the unvulcanized rubber in one direction is provided in the discharge port  135 . When feeding to the injection unit  120 , the plunger  122  of the injection unit  120  is retracted by pouring the unvulcanized rubber from the feed extruder  130  into the injection pot  121  of the injection unit  120 . 
     Further, it is preferable that dimensions of a rubber strip injected from the injection unit  120  are made 0.5 to 3.0 mm in thickness and 5 to 30 mm in width. If these dimensions are too small it becomes difficult to efficiently form the tire and, reversely, if they are too large an accuracy of a profile of the rubber parts is deteriorated. 
     Next, it is detailedly explained about a tire forming method using the tire forming system mentioned above. 
       FIG. 4(   a ) to  FIG. 4(   d ) show forming processes of the band member. In the forming processes of a band member  140 , the band drum  14  is first disposed to a position facing the rubber parts servicers  80  by moving the band forming machine  10  on the rails  55 . And, the desired compounds are accommodated, for the respective rubber parts, in the injection units  82  of the rubber parts servicers  80 , corresponding to the rim cushion and the side wall, and the rubber strips supplied from the injection units  82  are wound around the band drum  14  while controlling the rotating speed of the band drum  14  and the traversing speeds of the rubber parts servicers  80 . In this manner, a side wall  141  shown in  FIG. 4(   a ) is formed at a position, in the band drum  14 , corresponding to the specification of the formed tire and, additionally, a rim cushion  142  shown in  FIG. 4(   b ) is formed. 
     Next, the desired compounds are accommodated, for the respective rubber parts, in the injection unit  82  of the rubber parts servicers  80 , corresponding to the belt edge cushion, and the rubber strip supplied from the injection unit  82  is wound around a predetermined position of the carcass  75  on the band drum  14  while controlling the rotating speed of the band drum  14  and the traversing speed of the rubber parts servicer  80 . In this manner, a belt edge cushion  143  shown in  FIG. 4(   d ) is formed at a position corresponding to the specification of the formed tire. 
     Next, the desired compounds are accommodated, for every parts, in the injection unit  82  of the rubber parts servicers  80 , corresponding to the belt edge cushion, and the rubber strip supplied from the injection unit  82  is wound around a predetermined position of the carcass  75  on the band drum  14  while controlling the rotating speed of the band drum  14  and the traversing speed of the rubber parts servicer  80 . In this manner, a belt edge cushion  143  shown in  FIG. 4(   d ) is formed at a position corresponding to the specification of the formed tire. 
     On the other hand, the bead servicer  90  selects one kind of completed bead corresponding to the specification of the formed tire from the plural kinds of completed beads A to F, and they are set to the bead setter  44  of the band transfer  40 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 4(   d ), one pair of left/right completed beads  144  are disposed on an outer periphery side of the band drum  14  by moving the band transfer  40  on the rails  55 . And, one pair of left/right completed beads  144  are fixed to the band member  140  wound around the band drum  14  by slightly expanding the band drum  14  in its diameter. And, the band transfer  40  is moved on the rails  55  while holding the band member  140  in its cylindrical form by the holding rings  43  of the band transfer  40 , and the band member  140  is carried to the shaping forming machine  20 . 
       FIG. 5(   a ) to  FIG. 5(   d ) show forming processes of the belt/tread member. In the forming processes of a belt/tread member  150 , the forming drum  34  is first disposed to a position facing the carrying conveyor  101  of the belt servicer  100  by moving the belt/tread forming machine  30  on the rails  55 . And, a 1st belt  151  and a 2nd belt  152 , for one tire, which have lengths, cord angles and widths corresponding to the specifications of the formed tire are supplied from the belt servicer  100 . In this manner, the 1st belt  151  is wound around the forming drum  34  as shown in  FIG. 5(   a ) and, additionally, the 2nd belt  152  is wound as shown in  FIG. 5(   b ). As occasion demands, rubber tapes may be wound on both end portions of the 1st belt  151 , or a jointless belt reinforcing layer may be wound on the 2nd belt  152 . 
     Next, the forming drum  34  is disposed to a position facing the rubber parts servicers  110  by moving the belt/tread forming machine  30  on the rails  55 . And, desired compounds are accommodated in the injection unit  112  of the rubber parts servicer  110  for the under tread, and the rubber strip supplied from the injection unit  112  is wound around the forming drum  34  while controlling the rotating speed of the forming drum  34  and the traversing speed of the rubber parts servicer  110 . In this manner, an under tread  153  shown in  FIG. 5(   c ) is formed around the forming drum  34 . Then, desired compounds are accommodated in the injection unit  112  of the rubber parts servicer  110  for the cap tread, and a cap tread  154  shown in  FIG. 5(   d ) is formed by the rubber strip winding on the basis of a control similar to the above. 
     Next, the belt transfer  50  is moved on the rails  55  and the grip section  53  is disposed to an outer periphery side of the forming drum  34 . Then, after gripping the belt/tread member  150  by the grip section  53 , by slightly contracting the forming drum  34  in its diameter, the belt/tread  150  is held by the grip section  53 . And, the belt/tread member  150  is carried to the shaping forming machine  20  by moving the belt transfer  50  on the rails  55 . Incidentally, when carrying the belt/tread member  150  to the shaping forming machine  20 , the shaping forming machine  20  is preliminarily moved on the rails  56  so as to deviate from an orbit of the belt transfer  50 . 
       FIG. 6(   a ) to  FIG. 6(   b ) show shaping processes. In the shaping processes, as shown in  FIG. 6(   a ), the band member  140  is mounted by expanding one pair of left/right shaping drums  24  of the shaping forming machine  20  in their diameters. And, as shown in  FIG. 6(   b ), a carcass end portion of the band member  140  is rolled up around the bead while exerting a pressure from an inside of the band member  140 , and the band member  140  is expanded in its diameter by narrowing a mutual spacing of the shaping drums  24 , thereby integrating the band member  140  and the belt/tread member  150 . Further, in order to strengthen a bonded state between the integrated band member  140  and the belt/tread member  150 , a bonded portion may be worked by a stretcher and the like. 
     In the above tire forming system, so long as the tire has the same bead inner diameter, the stage switchover can be performed instantaneously. For example, as to the inner liner  65  and the carcass  75 , the stage switchover is completed merely by changing the cutting lengths of the inner liner servicer  60  and the carcass servicer  70 . As to the rubber parts for band, such as the side wall  141 , the rim cushion  142  and the belt edge cushion  143 , the stage switchover is completed merely by changing the setting of the rubber parts servicer  80 . As to the completed bead  144 , the stage switchover is completed merely by changing the selection of the bead servicer  90 . As to the belt such as the  1 st belt  151  and the  2 nd belt  152 , the stage switchover is completed merely by changing the setting of the belt servicer  100 . As to the rubber parts for tread, such as the under tread  153  and the cap tread  154 , the stage switchover is completed merely by changing the setting of the rubber parts servicer  110 . And, since each of the above stage switchovers can be performed by means of an automatic control by a computer and the like, the stage switchovers of the whole system can be automatically performed instantaneously. As a result, the tire whose bead inner diameter is the same but which is different in its tire size, use and characteristics can be continuously formed in one unit. 
     In this manner, if it becomes possible to form the tires different in specification in one unit, such a fact becomes null that the unvulcanized tires waiting for being vulcanized in a specified metal mold are accumulated. For example, if six kinds of tires corresponding to the completed beads A to F are formed in order, since it is possible to supply in order the unvulcanized tires to six kinds of metal molds, it is possible to reduce the lead time by causing the forming cycle time to agree with the vulcanizing cycle time, thereby reducing the goods in process of the unvulcanized tires. 
     Further, in the above tire forming system, since the parts preparation process is connected respectively to the band forming machine  10  and the belt/tread forming machine  30 , it is possible to nullify the goods in process of the intermediate members other than the completed beads A to F. 
     Accordingly, if the forming of the pneumatic tire is performed by the above tire forming system, it becomes possible to reduce costs of the goods in process, a management and auxiliary members, so that it becomes possible to greatly increase a production efficiency of the tire and manufacture the tire stable also in its quality. 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a tire forming system according to another embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 8  is a side view of the same. However, in  FIG. 8 , a part of the constitution is omitted. This embodiment is one in which only the band forming machine  10  and the belt/tread forming machine  30  are differentiated from the aforesaid embodiment, so that the same reference numeral is given to the same component as  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , and the detailed explanation of that component is omitted. 
     The band forming machine  10  has two band drums  14   a ,  14   b  in front and rear of the driving section  13 . The driving section  13  is connected to a reversing unit  16  through a horizontally extending support shaft  15 . The reversing unit  16  is adapted so as to rotate the driving section  13  around the support shaft  15 , thereby replacing positions of the two band drums  14   a ,  14   b . Further, the carrying conveyor  66  and the rubber parts servicers  80  are arranged in positions respectively facing the two band drums  14   a ,  14   b.    
     In this manner, by providing the band forming machine  10  with the two band drums  14   a ,  14   b  to constitute such that both are interchangeable, it becomes possible to perform a forming operation of the rubber parts for band by one band drum  14   b  while performing a winding operation of the inner liner and the carcass by the other band drum  14   a , so that it is possible to further increase the production efficiency of the tire. 
     On the other hand, the belt tread forming machine  30  has two forming drums  34   a ,  34   b  in front and rear of the driving section  33 . The driving section  33  is connected to a reversing unit  36  through a horizontally extending support shaft  35 . The reversing unit  36  is adapted so as to rotate the driving section  33  around the support shaft  35 , thereby replacing positions of the two forming drums  34   a ,  34   b . Further, the carrying conveyor  101  and the rubber parts servicers  110  are arranged in positions respectively facing the two forming drums  34   a ,  34   b.    
     In this manner, by providing the belt/tread forming machine  30  with the two band drums  34   a ,  34   b  to constitute such that both are interchangeable, it becomes possible to perform a forming operation of the rubber parts for tread by one forming drum  34   b  while performing a winding operation of the belt by the other forming drum  34   a , so that it is possible to further increase the production efficiency of the tire. 
     In the invention, as to the band forming machine, the shaping forming machine and the belt/tread forming machine, although it is required that setting conditions of the tire size can be optionally changed, a concrete constitution therefor is not limited specifically, and it is possible to adopt an optional expansion/contraction mechanism or retractable mechanism, and the like. 
     As explained above, according to the invention, in the tire forming system capable of optionally changing the setting conditions of the tire size, since it is constituted such that, in regard to the formed tire having the specified band periphery length, the supply means of all parts can be optionally set in compliance with the specification of the formed tire, it is possible to perform the stage switchover instantaneously so long as the tire has the same bead inner diameter, so that it is possible to continuously form the tires different in specification in one unit. Further, since the parts preparation process is connected to each forming machine, it is possible to reduce the goods in process of the intermediate members. 
     Accordingly, if the tire forming system of the invention is adopted, in comparison with the prior art, it becomes possible to reduce costs of the goods in process, a management and auxiliary members, so that it becomes possible to greatly increase the production efficiency of the tire and manufacture the tire stable also in its quality.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1