JP2008196881A - Device and method for measuring thickness distribution of cross section of tire - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thickness distribution measuring device for a cross section of a tire, and a thickness distribution measuring method for the cross section of the tire capable of measuring the thickness distribution of the cross section of the tire nondestructively continuously. <P>SOLUTION: One laser displacement gauge 20I and the other laser displacement gauge 20E are arranged on the inner surface side and the outer surface side of the tire, respectively, so as to face each other, and the thickness distribution of the tire is measured by moving the displacement gauges 20I, 20E. The thickness of a part sandwiched by the displacement gauges 20I, 20E of the tire can be found by subtracting the distance LI from the displacement gauge 20I up to the inner surface of the tire and the distance LE from the displacement gauge 20E up to the outer surface of the tire, from the interval LA between the displacement gauge 20I and the displacement gauge 20E. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tire thickness distribution measuring apparatus for measuring a tire thickness distribution, and a tire thickness measuring method for a tire cross section.

  It is widely performed to measure the thickness distribution of the cross section of a tire (pneumatic tire). For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that the cross-sectional shape of a tire is measured by CT scan. A method of cutting a tire and measuring the gauge (thickness) of the tire is also known.

  However, the use of CT scan as disclosed in Patent Document 1 takes time to create a cross-sectional image after imaging due to the principle of CT scan, and the tire thickness distribution can be continuously measured in a short time. Can not.

Moreover, in the method of cutting the tire, since the measurement is performed by destroying the tire, the performance as a tire cannot be evaluated after the gauge measurement. In addition, it takes time to cut the tire and it is difficult to measure a change in gauge in the tire circumferential direction.
Japanese Patent Publication No.8-1377

  In consideration of the above-mentioned facts, the present invention provides a tire cross-sectional thickness distribution measuring device capable of continuously measuring a tire cross-sectional thickness distribution in a non-destructive manner, and a tire cross-sectional thickness distribution measurement. It is an object to provide a method.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes two arm portions, and two laser displacement meters respectively attached to the tip portion of the arm portion so as to face each other, and the one laser displacement meter is provided. The other laser displacement meter is arranged on the tire inner surface side on the tire outer surface side, and the thickness distribution of the tire is measured by moving one or both of the laser displacement meters by moving one or both of the arm portions. It is characterized by doing.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the two laser displacement meters are thus arranged on the tire inner surface side and the tire outer surface side so as to face each other. Therefore, by subtracting the distance from the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side to the tire inner surface and the distance from the laser displacement meter on the tire outer surface side to the tire outer surface from the distance between the laser displacement meters, The thickness (gauge) of the tire portion sandwiched between the laser displacement meters can be obtained. Therefore, it can be set as the apparatus which measures the thickness distribution of the cross section of a tire non-destructively continuously in a short time.

  Also, a laser displacement meter is attached to the tip of each of the two arm portions, and one or both of the laser displacement meters are moved by moving one or both arm portions. Therefore, the position control of the laser displacement meter can be performed by the position control of the arm portion, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

The invention described in claim 2 has a mechanism for rotating the tire.
Thereby, the thickness distribution in the tire circumferential direction can be easily measured in a short time over the entire circumference of the tire.

  The invention according to claim 3 is provided with a laser displacement meter holding portion having a U-shaped cross section in which the arm portions extend in parallel with each other so as to hold both the laser displacement meters one by one. It is characterized by.

  Thereby, the interval between the two laser displacement meters can be kept constant with a simple configuration, and the arithmetic processing for obtaining the thickness distribution can be simplified.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, one laser displacement meter is disposed on the tire inner surface side and the other laser displacement meter is disposed on the tire outer surface side so as to face each other, and one or both of the laser displacement meters are moved. And measuring the tire thickness distribution.

  In the invention according to the fourth aspect, in this way, the two laser displacement meters are arranged on the tire inner surface side and the tire outer surface side so as to face each other. Therefore, by subtracting the distance from the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface to the tire inner surface and the distance from the laser displacement meter on the tire outer surface to the tire outer surface from each other, The thickness (gauge) of the tire portion sandwiched between the gauges can be obtained. Therefore, the thickness distribution of the cross section of the tire can be continuously measured in a short time without breaking.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the measurement is performed while rotating the tire.
Thereby, the thickness distribution in the tire circumferential direction can be easily measured in a short time over the entire circumference of the tire.

  The invention according to claim 6 uses the thickness distribution measuring device for the cross section of the tire according to claim 3 to rotate the laser displacement meter holding portion around the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side, and at least The thickness distribution of the cross section of the shoulder portion is measured.

  Thereby, it is possible to measure the thickness (gauge) of the shoulder part of the whole tire circumference continuously and in a short time.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, before and after measuring the thickness distribution of the cross section of the shoulder portion, the laser displacement meter holding portion is rotated around the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side to rotate the side wall portion. The thickness distribution of the cross section is measured.

  Thus, measurement of the thickness distribution in the sidewall portion can be performed following the measurement in the shoulder portion, which is efficient.

  The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the thickness distribution of the tread portion is measured by moving the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side and the laser displacement meter on the tire outer surface side in parallel.

  Thereby, it is possible to measure the thickness (gauge) of the tread part of the whole tire circumference continuously and in a short time.

  The invention according to claim 9 uses the thickness distribution measuring device for the cross section of the tire according to claim 3, rotates the laser displacement meter holding portion around the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side, and shoulders Measure the thickness distribution of the tread part by measuring the thickness distribution of the cross section of the tire part and the sidewall part, and moving the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side and the laser displacement meter on the tire outer surface side in parallel. And measuring the thickness distribution of the entire tire cross section.

  Thereby, it is possible to measure the thickness (gauge) of the entire tire circumference efficiently and in a short time.

  According to the present invention, the thickness distribution of the cross section of the tire can be continuously measured in a nondestructive manner.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described and embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the second and subsequent embodiments, the same components as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a thickness distribution measuring apparatus 10 that measures the thickness distribution of a tire cross section according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a mounting table 12 on which a tire (pneumatic tire) 11 to be measured for thickness distribution and a thickness distribution measuring device 10 are used.

  The mounting table 12 mounts the tire 11 so that the tire 11 is mounted horizontally, in other words, the tire rotation axis direction is directed in the vertical direction.

  The mounting table 12 includes a rotating mechanism 13 using a motor or the like so that the mounted tire 11 can be rotated about the tire rotation axis. The mounting table 12 obtains rotation information (for example, angle information) with an encoder (not shown).

  The thickness distribution measuring apparatus 10 includes a laser displacement meter holder 14 that is U-shaped in a side view. The laser displacement meter holder 14 includes arm portions 14I and 14E extending in parallel with each other, and a support portion 14J that supports the arm portions 14I and 14E continuously from the base end portions of the arm portions 14I and 14E.

  In addition, the thickness distribution measuring apparatus 10 includes a laser displacement meter 20I attached to the distal end portion 16I of the arm portion 14I, and a laser displacement meter 20E attached to the distal end portion 16E of the arm portion 14E. The laser displacement meters 20I and 20E are attached so as to face each other. In this embodiment, after the tire 11 to be measured is placed on the placing table 12, the laser displacement meter 20I is arranged on the tire inner surface side, and the laser displacement meter 20E is arranged on the tire outer surface side.

  In addition, the thickness distribution measuring apparatus 10 includes a personal computer (not shown) that performs apparatus control and measurement data calculation processing. Accordingly, processing of data measured by the laser displacement meter 20I (that is, calculation of the distance from the laser displacement meter 20I to the tire inner surface) and processing of data measured by the laser displacement meter 20E (that is, from the laser displacement meter 20E). Calculation of the distance to the tire outer surface) is performed by a personal computer (PT). In the personal computer program, the intersection of the tire equatorial plane and the tire rotation center axis is the origin C, and the coordinates of the laser displacement meters 20I and 20E with respect to the origin C can be obtained.

  The distance LA between the exit 22I of the laser beam 21I from the laser displacement meter 20I and the exit 22E of the laser beam 21E from the laser displacement meter 20E depends on the measurable range (ranging range) of the laser displacement meters 20I and 20E. It is decided in advance. That is, the interval LA is set so that the measurable range 24I of the laser displacement meter 20I and the measurable range 24E of the laser displacement meter 20E overlap. Thus, the tire inner surface portion that is not measured by the laser displacement meter 20I is not generated, and the tire outer surface portion that is not measured by the laser displacement meter 20E is not generated. The arrangement position of the thickness distribution measuring apparatus 10 is automatically determined by a personal computer (PC) according to the tire size.

  In the present embodiment, the laser displacement meter holder 14 can be linearly moved in the tire radial direction U. This linear movement is controlled by a personal computer. By this linear movement of the laser displacement meter holder 14, the thickness distribution of the bead portion 11B and the sidewall portion 11S can be continuously measured with high accuracy for the tire 11 to be measured. Note that the measurement interval (temporal step size) can be variably set in the personal computer.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the laser displacement meters 20I and 20E are respectively attached to the tip portions of the arm portions 14I and 14E, the distance LA between the laser displacement meter 20I and the laser displacement meter 20E is always constant. Therefore, the data measured by the laser displacement meter 20I (the distance from the laser displacement meter 20I to the tire inner surface, the distance LI shown in FIG. 1) and the data measured by the laser displacement meter 20E (laser displacement meter 20E). The distance from the tire outer surface to the tire outer surface, and by causing the personal computer to subtract the distance LE) shown in FIG. 1 from the distance LA, the thickness of the tire 11 can be easily obtained.

  In addition, since the thickness distribution can be measured by linearly moving the laser displacement meter holder 14 in the tire radial direction, the thickness distribution can be measured continuously in the tire circumferential cross section instead of at each measurement point. . Therefore, the thickness distribution in the tire circumferential cross section can be continuously measured in a short time in a non-destructive manner.

  In addition, since measurement can be performed nondestructively in this way, the tire that has been measured can be used for other performance tests and the like.

  Further, the laser displacement meters 20I and 20E are attached to the tip portions of the two arm portions 14I and 14E, respectively, and the thickness distribution is measured by linearly moving the laser displacement meter holder 14 in the tire radial direction. Therefore, the position control of the laser displacement meters 20I and 20E can be performed by the position control of the arm portions 14I and 14E, respectively, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

  Further, the thickness distribution of the tire 11 can be measured in a state where the tire 11 is rotated by the mounting table 12. Therefore, the continuous thickness distribution in the tire circumferential direction (the circumferential thickness distribution of the bead portion 11B and the circumferential thickness distribution of the sidewall portion 11S) can be easily measured in a short time over the entire circumference of the tire. . In this embodiment, the thickness data for one rotation of the tire is acquired in a state where the laser displacement meter holder 14 is stopped, and the position of the laser displacement meter holder 14 is moved outward in the tire radial direction to obtain the next radius. The thickness distribution at the position can be measured sequentially.

  In the personal computer program, the intersection point between the tire equatorial plane and the tire rotation axis is the origin C, and the coordinates of the laser displacement meters 20I and 20E with respect to the origin C can be obtained. Therefore, the thickness (gauge) of the entire tire circumference can be measured by obtaining the spatial coordinates of the entire tire.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the laser displacement meter holding body 14 is rotated around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the tire radial direction with the exit 22I of the laser displacement meter 20I on the tire inner surface side as a rotation center (FIG. 2). In the R direction). This rotation is controlled by a personal computer.

  In the present embodiment, in a state where the rotation of the tire 11 by the mounting table 12 is stopped, the laser displacement meter holder 14 is rotated around the emission port 22I to measure the thickness distribution of the shoulder portion 11R. As a result, even if the cross-sectional shape is steep like the shoulder portion 11R, the thickness distribution can be measured with high accuracy while suppressing an increase in measurement error.

  In the process before and after measuring the thickness distribution of the shoulder portion 11R, the laser displacement meter holder 14 is rotated around the laser displacement meter 20I to measure the thickness distribution of the cross section of the sidewall portion 11S. Also good. Accordingly, the thickness distribution of the sidewall portion 11S can be measured before and after the measurement of the thickness distribution of the shoulder portion 11R, which is efficient.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the laser displacement meter holder 14 is movable in the tire rotation axis direction V. In the present embodiment, the thickness distribution of the tread portion 11T is measured while moving the laser displacement meter holder 14 linearly in the tire rotation axis direction V. In this movement, the laser displacement meters 20I and 20E move in parallel.

  Thereby, it is possible to measure the thickness distribution of the tread portion 11T not continuously at each measurement point but in the tire radial direction cross section. That is, the thickness distribution of the cross section of the tire can be measured in a short time continuously in the tire width direction without breaking. In the present embodiment, the thickness data in the tire width direction is acquired in a state where the laser displacement gauge holder 14 is stopped, and the position of the laser displacement gauge holder 14 is moved in the tire circumferential direction to move to the next circumferential position. The thickness distribution at can be measured sequentially.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the laser displacement meter holder 14 is linearly moved or rotationally moved, and the laser displacement meter holder 14 is linearly moved in the U1 direction (see FIG. 1), and the bead portion is formed by the method described in the first embodiment. 11B and the thickness distribution of the sidewall portion 11S are sequentially measured, and subsequently, the laser displacement gauge holder 14 is rotationally moved in the R1 direction (see FIG. 2), and the shoulder portion 11R by the method described in the second embodiment. The thickness distribution of the tread portion 11T is measured by the method described in the third embodiment by moving the laser displacement meter holder 14 linearly in the V1 direction (see FIG. 3). To do. In the measurement of the thickness distribution of the tread portion 11T, the laser displacement meter holder 14 is moved until the lower movement limit G of the laser displacement meter holder 14 is reached, as shown in FIG.

  Further, the tire 11 is inverted and placed on the placing table 12, and the thickness distribution of the bead portion 11B, the sidewall portion 11S, and the tread portion 11T is sequentially measured in the same manner.

  After the measurement, the position data in each region (bead part 11B, sidewall part 11S, shoulder part 11R, sidewall part 11S) are connected by a personal computer, so that the thickness distribution data as one tire 11 is obtained. Can be easily obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the thickness from the tread portion 11T to the shoulder portion 11R and the sidewall portion 11S to the bead portion 11B is moved by moving the laser displacement meter holder 14 in the direction opposite to the U1, R1, and V1 directions. The thickness distribution can be measured continuously.

  In this embodiment, the thickness distribution of the entire tire cross section can be easily measured in a short time in this manner. For example, in the conventional method, when the cross section of a tire is measured at every angle of 1 degree, it takes about 180 minutes to measure a normal tire for a passenger car even with the latest CT scanning device. According to the present embodiment, the thickness distribution can be measured in about 40 minutes per one.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, these embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

It is typical side surface sectional drawing explaining measuring thickness distribution of a tire in a 1st embodiment. It is typical side surface sectional drawing explaining measuring thickness distribution of a tire in a 2nd embodiment. In 3rd Embodiment, it is typical side surface sectional drawing explaining measuring the thickness distribution of a tire.

Explanation of symbols

10 Thickness distribution measuring device (Thickness distribution measuring device for tire cross section)
11 Tire 11R Shoulder portion 11S Side wall portion 11T Tread portion 13 Rotation mechanism (mechanism)
14 Laser displacement gauge holder (Laser displacement gauge holder)
14I Arm part 14E Arm part 20I Laser displacement meter 20E Laser displacement meter

Claims (9)

Two arms,
Two laser displacement meters respectively attached to the tip of the arm part so as to face each other;
With
One laser displacement meter is disposed on the tire inner surface side, the other laser displacement meter is disposed on the tire outer surface side, and one or both of the laser displacement meters are moved by moving one or both of the arm portions. An apparatus for measuring a thickness distribution of a cross section of a tire, wherein the thickness distribution of the tire is measured.   The tire cross-section thickness distribution measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for rotating the tire.   3. A laser displacement meter holding portion having a U-shaped cross section in which the arm portions extend in parallel with each other so as to hold both the laser displacement meters one by one, respectively. The thickness distribution measuring device for the cross section of the described tire. Place one laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side and the other laser displacement meter on the tire outer surface side so as to face each other,
A method for measuring the thickness distribution of a tire cross section, wherein the thickness distribution of the tire is measured by moving one or both of the laser displacement meters.   5. The tire thickness distribution measuring method according to claim 4, wherein the measurement is performed while rotating the tire.   The apparatus for measuring the thickness distribution of the cross section of the tire according to claim 3, wherein the laser displacement meter holding portion is rotated around the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side, and at least the thickness distribution of the cross section of the shoulder portion is obtained. 6. The method for measuring a thickness distribution of a cross section of a tire according to claim 4, wherein the thickness distribution is measured.   Before and after measuring the thickness distribution of the cross section of the shoulder portion, the thickness distribution of the cross section of the sidewall portion is measured by rotating the laser displacement meter holding portion around the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side. The method for measuring a thickness distribution of a cross section of a tire according to claim 6.   The thickness of the cross section of the tire according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the thickness distribution of the tread portion is measured by moving the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side and the laser displacement meter on the tire outer surface side in parallel. Distribution measurement method. Using the thickness distribution measuring device for the cross section of the tire according to claim 3, the laser displacement meter holding portion is rotated around the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side, and the cross section thickness of the shoulder portion and the sidewall portion Measuring the distribution,
Measuring the thickness distribution of the tread by moving the laser displacement meter on the tire inner surface side and the laser displacement meter on the tire outer surface side in parallel;
6. A method for measuring a thickness distribution of a tire cross section according to claim 4, wherein the thickness distribution of the entire tire cross section is measured.

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