JP2012245652A - Method and apparatus for producing reinforcing member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for producing a reinforcing member by which the reinforcing member with uniform density can be produced without occurrence of the problem of intertwining of reinforcing fiber pieces.SOLUTION: A reinforcing fiber piece layer formed of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces obtained by cutting a reinforcing fiber to prescribed length is interposed between a pair of band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets to produce the reinforcing member. The method for producing the reinforcing member includes a cutting step for producing a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces by cutting the reinforcing fiber, a scattering step for forming the reinforcing fiber piece layer by scattering reinforcing fiber pieces on one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet from above another band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet extending in a longitudinal direction, a supply step for supplying another band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet onto one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet to superpose them and for interposing the reinforcing fiber piece layer between one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and another band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and a press-contacting step for carrying out press-contact by mutually pressing one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and another band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet. The cutting step and the scattering step are continuously carried out.

Description

  The present invention relates to a reinforcing member manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as “manufacturing method” and “manufacturing apparatus”), and more specifically, a manufacturing method and a manufacturing method of a reinforcing member suitably used for reinforcing a pneumatic tire or the like. It relates to the improvement of the apparatus.

  Conventionally, it is known to apply a reinforcing member in which a plurality of short fibers are sandwiched between a pair of rubber sheets to a pneumatic tire. A nonwoven fabric is known as a reinforcing material using such short fibers, and a general method for producing a nonwoven fabric includes a method using a fiber opening device. The fiber opening device is a device in which massive fibers are introduced while the needle roller rotates, and the fibers are opened and spread in a sheet form. The fibers dispersed in the form of a sheet are finally crimped by a crimping roller to form a nonwoven fabric.

  As a technique for applying a reinforcing member using a short fiber to a tire, for example, in Patent Document 1, a short fiber is blended with at least one kind of rubber, a modulus b in a short fiber orientation direction, and a modulus a in a direction perpendicular thereto. Two or more rubber reinforcing layers having a ratio b / a of 1.5 or more are provided on at least a part of the bead portion from the tire shoulder portion so that the short fiber orientation directions intersect with each other, and approximately half of the short fibers are provided. A pneumatic tire is disclosed in which the tire is disposed at an angle of + 25 ° to + 65 ° with respect to the tire circumferential direction, and the remaining short fibers are disposed at an angle of −25 ° to −65 ° with respect to the tire circumferential direction.

  Moreover, as a prior art including the dispersion | distribution process of a fiber reinforced resin sheet, for example, in patent document 2, many continuous continuous fibers are formed on a sheet-like resin-containing fiber material in which a thermoplastic resin powder is adhered to many continuous long fibers. A strip-shaped cut piece of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin sheet reinforced with long fibers is dispersed so that the fiber orientation direction of the strip-shaped cut piece does not coincide with the fiber orientation direction of the sheet-shaped resin-containing fiber material, A method for producing a fiber composite sheet in which this is heated and pressurized to melt and integrate a thermoplastic resin is disclosed. Furthermore, in Patent Document 3, a chopped fiber bundle in which reinforcing fibers are substantially aligned in one direction is continuously run through a plurality of continuous fiber bundles, and widening means disposed in the middle of the run. A chopped fiber bundle that widens the fiber bundle so that the ratio between the width W1 of the fiber bundle before widening and the width W2 of the fiber bundle after widening is within a predetermined range, and then simultaneously cuts the plurality of widened fiber bundles. A manufacturing method is disclosed.

  Furthermore, in Patent Document 4, for a long elastic sheet in which short fiber groups are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the sheet, the direction is alternately changed for each predetermined dimension from one surface to the other surface of the elastic sheet. A method for forming an elastic body containing oriented short fibers is disclosed in which a cut is made, and an elastic body in which short fiber ends are exposed on both sides is formed by alternately bending, laminating and pressing along the cut. Furthermore, in Patent Document 5, a device for repeatedly supplying a fiber bundle in an arbitrary fiber direction from a magazine roll of fiber yarn at the time of production of a preform of a thermosetting resin product is used to form a nip for fiber yarn. A supply device having a pair of first and second driven feed rollers for supplying fiber yarns from a magazine roll, a cutting device for cutting the fiber yarns to a desired length, and a pneumatically driven fiber extrusion disposed downstream of the cutting device An arbitrary fiber-directional fiber comprising a device, wherein the first feed roller pair is driven at a slightly lower feed rate than the second feed roller pair, and the fiber extrusion device comprises an oblong tube sleeve having a turbulent air passage A bundle feeder is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-334323 (Claims etc.) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-150691 (claims, etc.) JP 2009-62648 A (Claims etc.) JP-A-6-71776 (Claims etc.) Japanese National Patent Publication No. 9-505033 (Claims etc.)

  As described above, as a general method for producing a nonwoven fabric, there is a method using a fiber opening device. In order to spread the spread short fibers at a uniform density, the short fibers are dispersed by a spreading means. It must be manually set at the material inlet at a uniform density. It is not easy to feed the short fibers that have been cut in advance at a uniform density, and it is necessary to feed the short fibers immediately while measuring the short fibers. In particular, when steel fiber short fibers are used as the reinforcing fibers, if the short fibers are entangled with each other, they cannot be easily unraveled. It becomes difficult.

  Therefore, establishment of a technique capable of supplying a certain amount of short fibers in a certain time without producing such a problem of entanglement between short fibers and manufacturing a reinforcing member having a uniform density is desired. It was rare.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to supply a certain amount of reinforcing fiber pieces in a certain time without producing a problem of entanglement between reinforcing fiber pieces when manufacturing a reinforcing member using reinforcing fiber pieces of a predetermined length. It is possible to provide a reinforcing member manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing a reinforcing member having a uniform density.

  As a result of intensive studies, the present inventor can solve the above-mentioned problem by continuously performing the process of cutting the reinforcing fiber into a predetermined length to obtain the reinforcing fiber piece immediately before the dispersion of the reinforcing fiber piece. As a result, the present invention has been completed.

That is, the method for manufacturing a reinforcing member of the present invention includes a reinforcing member in which a reinforcing fiber piece layer composed of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces obtained by cutting reinforcing fibers into a predetermined length is interposed between a pair of belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets. A manufacturing method of
A cutting step of cutting the reinforcing fibers to produce the plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces, and the reinforcement on the one strip-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet from above one of the strip-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets extending in the longitudinal direction. A spreading step of spreading the fiber pieces to form the reinforcing fiber piece layer; and supplying the other of the belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheets on the one belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheet and superposing the one and the other Including a feeding step of interposing the reinforcing fiber piece layer between the belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets, and a crimping step of pressing the one and the other belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets against each other, and the cutting step, The spraying step is performed continuously.

  In the manufacturing method of this invention, it is preferable to vibrate said one strip | belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet in the said dispersion | spreading process. In this case, it is preferable that the one band-like unvulcanized rubber sheet is vibrated at a vibration frequency of 1 Hz to 1 kHz.

Further, the reinforcing member manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is a reinforcing member in which a reinforcing fiber piece layer composed of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces obtained by cutting reinforcing fibers into a predetermined length is interposed between a pair of belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets. Manufacturing equipment,
Cutting means for cutting the reinforcing fibers to produce the plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces, and the reinforcing material on the one belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheet from above one of the belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheets extending in the longitudinal direction. Sprinkling means for sprinkling fiber pieces to form the reinforcing fiber piece layer, and supplying the other of the band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet on the one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and superposing the one and the other A supply means for interposing the reinforcing fiber piece layer between the belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets, and a pressure-bonding means for pressing the one and the other belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets against each other, and the cutting means, The spraying means is provided integrally.

  In the manufacturing apparatus of this invention, it is preferable to provide the vibration generation mechanism which vibrates said one strip | belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet. In this case, the vibration frequency of the vibration generating mechanism is preferably in the range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz. Furthermore, it has a pair of wall part parallel to the longitudinal direction of this one strip | belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet between the said one strip | belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and the said spreading | diffusion means, Between this pair of wall parts A guide body whose interval is narrower than the width of the one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet is installed, and a distance h from the lower end of the guide body to the surface of the one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet is The length of the reinforcing fiber piece is preferably 5 times or less. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the guide body further includes a pair of wall portions parallel to the width direction of the one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and opens only in the vertical direction.

  In the present invention, the cutting step of cutting the reinforcing fibers to produce a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces and the spraying step of spreading the reinforcing fiber pieces on the belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet are continuously performed. Therefore, it becomes possible to supply a certain amount of reinforcing fiber pieces in a certain time without causing the problem of entanglement between the reinforcing fiber pieces. Further, in the present invention, since a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces are spread in advance on one rubber sheet, the reinforcing fiber pieces after spreading are supported from below by a flat rubber sheet in a lying state. As a result, since the method of lodging is random if the supporting rubber surface is flat, the orientation direction of the reinforcing fiber pieces can be easily randomized, and the distribution can be easily made uniform. It became. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily manufacture a reinforcing member having a uniform density. Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is a merit that a reinforcing member having a small thickness can be obtained as compared with the prior art.

It is a partially cutaway front view showing one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the II line | wire of FIG. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows the reinforcement member which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. In the present invention, a reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 composed of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12 obtained by cutting reinforcing fibers into a predetermined length is interposed between a pair of strip-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets 11A and 11B as shown in FIG. The present invention relates to an improvement in technology when manufacturing the reinforcing member 10.

  The reinforcing member 10 includes a belt-like rubber sheet 11A made of unvulcanized rubber, a belt-like rubber sheet 11B made of unvulcanized rubber superimposed on the rubber sheet 11A and pressure-bonded, and the rubber sheets 11A and 11B. It is formed from a reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 composed of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12 interposed therebetween. The rubber sheets 11A and 11B have the same width. The reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 has substantially the same width as that of the rubber sheets 11A and 11B, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the rubber sheets 11A and 11B. In this embodiment, as the rubber sheets 11A and 11B, rubber sheets whose temperature has been lowered to room temperature are used.

  In the present invention, the rubber constituting the rubber sheets 11A and 11B can be appropriately selected from rubber types conventionally used for reinforcing member applications such as tires, and is not particularly limited. Absent. Specifically, general-purpose rubbers such as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), butadiene rubber (BR), isoprene rubber (IR), and chloroprene rubber (CR) can be used. Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in particular as thickness of rubber sheet 11A, 11B, Although it can determine suitably according to the target reinforcement performance, The inside of the range of 0.3-1.0 mm is preferable. When the thickness of the rubber sheets 11A and 11B is less than 0.3 mm, a part of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 may protrude from the outer surface of the reinforcing member 10 during vulcanization, while 1.0 mm is set. When it exceeds, there exists a possibility that a rubber gauge may become thick and the intensity | strength of a reinforcement member may fall.

  In addition, the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 is formed in a layer shape by a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12 being substantially uniformly distributed while intersecting at a plurality of locations. In the present invention, the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 in the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 are not intricately intertwined with each other like a non-woven fabric, but extend linearly and simply overlap each other, and are hardly intertwined. In the present invention, the reinforcing fiber piece 12 may extend in a curved shape such as an arc shape or an S shape. Further, these reinforcing fiber pieces 12 are randomly oriented (the extending direction is disordered), fall down on the rubber sheet 11A, and extend parallel to the upper surface thereof.

  As a result, the reinforcing member 10 has substantially the same strength in any direction, and even when the reinforcing member 10 is cut and used, the reinforcing fiber piece has a very small cross-sectional area at the cut end. Since only a large number of the 12 cut surfaces are exposed, they do not become the core of crack generation. Furthermore, the strength of the reinforcing member 10 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the density (weight density) of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 in the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13.

  As described above, the vulcanized reinforcing member 10 can be suitably applied to a belt layer, a carcass layer, a wire chafer, a conveyor belt, a rubber crawler for a crawler vehicle, and the like constituting a pneumatic tire. In the present invention, the orientation of some of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 may be adjusted, for example, to increase the proportion of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 extending in the width direction or the longitudinal direction of the rubber sheet.

Here, the length (predetermined length) of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 after cutting is preferably 10 to 100 mm, and more preferably 30 to 60 mm. The diameter of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm. Further, when the reinforcing member 10 is used for the above-described applications, the basis weight (mass per 1 m ² ) of the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 is preferably 100 to 1000 g from the viewpoint of strength, rigidity, and the like. Preferably, it is within the range of 300 to 800 g.

  In the present invention, it is not necessary that all the reinforcing fiber pieces used for the reinforcing member have a single length and diameter, and a mixture of reinforcing fiber pieces having a plurality of types of lengths and diameters may be used. However, it is preferable to use a material having a length and diameter within the above range. In particular, if the length of the reinforcing fiber piece is too long, the uniformity of the reinforcing member is impaired. For example, when applied to a tire, the tire shape and the tire rigidity are uniform in the circumferential direction, which is a component that determines uniformity. It is not preferable from the point that property falls. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the reinforcing fiber is basically circular, but a polygonal shape such as an ellipse or a triangle may be used.

  In the present invention, any material may be used as the reinforcing fiber, and it can be appropriately selected from various materials usually used for reinforcing members such as tires. Specifically, for example, inorganic fibers include metal fibers such as steel filaments and glass fibers, and organic fibers include aromatic polyamide fibers, fatty acid polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyparaphenylenebenzeneoxazole fibers, and polyvinyl alcohol-based synthetics. Examples thereof include fibers and carbon fibers. In the present invention, among the above, it is preferable to use inorganic fibers, particularly steel filaments, as the reinforcing fibers.

  Moreover, since the said reinforcing fiber is embed | buried in rubber | gum and forms a reinforcement member, in order to ensure adhesiveness with rubber | gum, it needs to be plated or adhesive-treated. That is, in the present invention, when the reinforcing fiber is a metal fiber, a plated one is used, and when the reinforcing fiber is an organic fiber, an adhesive-treated one is used. In a metal fiber such as a steel filament, for example, when general Cu + Zn plating is performed, Cu during plating plays a role of adhering rubber and reinforcing fiber when forming a reinforcing member. When the surface of the metal cord is not plated, the rubber and the reinforcing fiber are easily peeled off, and there is a concern that the progress of peeling easily occurs along the reinforcing fiber. Accordingly, in the present invention, when metal fibers are used as the reinforcing fibers, it is necessary to use plated ones, and even when a stranded wire cord is used as a raw material, single wires must be plated. is there. When the metal cord is made of a copper wire, the copper wire itself has an adhesive effect, so that plating is not necessary. In addition, in the case of non-metallic cords made of organic fibers, etc., by using an adhesive dipped in accordance with a conventional method, as with plated metal cords, adhesion to rubber is ensured. Is possible.

  Here, there is no restriction | limiting in particular as plating provided in the metal fiber surface as a reinforcement fiber, Brass, bronze, Cu, Zn plating, etc. may be sufficient. If the outer surface of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 is plated, the coefficient of friction on the outer surface of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 becomes a very small value, so that it easily slips and flows.

  The manufacturing apparatus shown in the figure has a fixed frame 22 that is fixed on a floor surface 21 and extends in the front-rear direction. A main conveyor 23 that extends in the front-rear direction is attached to the lower part of the fixed frame 22. The main conveyor 23 includes a pair of pulleys 24 rotatably supported at the front end and the rear end of the fixed frame 22, and a conveyor belt 25 that extends between the pair of pulleys 24 and extends in the front-rear direction. Yes. Here, a driving force is applied to one of the pair of pulleys 24 from a driving mechanism such as a motor (not shown). As a result, the transport unit 25a located on the upper side of the conveyor belt 25 can travel forward. When the conveyance unit 25a is traveling forward, when the rubber sheet 11A is supplied onto the conveyance unit 25a from the rear side by a supply unit (not shown), the rubber sheet 11A is supported from below by the conveyance unit 25a. It is conveyed toward the front.

  In addition, a cutting means including an upper blade 28 and a lower blade 29 is attached to the upper end portion of the rear end portion of the fixed frame 22 via support portions 30 and 31. A transport unit 32 for transporting the reinforcing fibers 14 is disposed. Here, the reinforcing fiber 14 may be fed out and conveyed by a roller (not shown) on the conveyance unit 32 or may be conveyed using a conveyor similar to the main conveyor 23. The conveying section 32 and the rollers or conveyors as a whole constitute spraying means for spraying a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12 on the rubber sheet 11A to form the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13.

  The reinforcing fiber 14 mechanically conveyed forward on the conveying unit 32 is cut at the front end of the lower blade 29 by the upper blade 28 and the lower blade 29 to form a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12 on the rubber sheet 11A. Fall. The front end of the lower blade 29 is located immediately above the rear end portion of the main conveyor 23. In this way, a cutting means for cutting the reinforcing fiber 14 into the reinforcing fiber piece 12 and a spreading means for spreading the cut reinforcing fiber piece 12 on the rubber sheet 11A are integrally provided, Since the cutting step and the spraying step are performed continuously, the reinforcing fiber pieces are not entangled with each other because the reinforcing fiber pieces are not cut in advance, and the need for opening is not generated. Further, if the reinforcing fibers 14 are unwound at a constant speed and cut at a constant speed, the cut reinforcing fiber pieces 12 can be obtained at a constant speed, so that a certain amount can be easily obtained at a constant time. The reinforcing fiber pieces 12 can be supplied. If the amount of cutting at one time is not large, the reinforcing fiber pieces are not entangled with each other, and it is not necessary to pass through a fiber opening machine. Therefore, if the reinforcing fiber 12 pieces cut at a constant speed are spread on the rubber sheet 11A as they are, the reinforcing member 10 having the random positions and the random orientation of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 in the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 is obtained. be able to.

  Here, the amount of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 produced by cutting, that is, the supply amount of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 per unit time is adjusted to a predetermined value by setting the conveying speed of the reinforcing fibers 14. The number of the reinforcing fibers 14 to be conveyed can be a predetermined number based on the supply amount of the target reinforcing fiber pieces 12 and the width of the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13.

  The reinforcing fiber pieces 12 dropped from the conveying unit 32 are spread (spread) on the rubber sheet 11A at the spreading position P of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 with respect to the rubber sheet 11A. Since the dispersion of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 and the conveyance of the rubber sheet 11A are continuously performed as described above, the reinforcement composed of the plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12 and extending in the longitudinal direction of the rubber sheet 11A is provided on the rubber sheet 11A. A fiber piece layer 13 is formed.

  As described above, since the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 is formed by previously spreading the plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12 on the rubber sheet 11A, the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 after the spreading are laid down by the flat rubber sheet 11A. Supported from below. As a result, the orientation direction (extending direction) of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 can be easily randomized, and the distribution can be easily made uniform. Further, since the reinforcing member 10 can be manufactured simply by spreading the reinforcing fiber pieces 12, supplying the rubber sheet 11A, and pressing, the manufacturing cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

Here, if the ratio between the supply amount of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 per unit time (conveying speed of the reinforcing fibers 14) and the running speed of the conveyor belt 25 in the main conveyor 23 is changed, the reinforcing fiber piece layer to be formed is changed. The basis weight of 13 can be easily adjusted. The supply amount of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 per unit time is m (g / s), and the width (target width) of the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 to be formed on the rubber sheet 11A is d (m). Assuming that the traveling speed is speed V (m / s), the basis weight ρ (weight per unit area (g / m ² )) of the reinforcing member 10 that can be manufactured by the present apparatus is represented by the following formula.
ρ = m / Vd

  In the present invention, the rubber sheet 11A is placed on the support base and is kept stationary, while the spraying means installed above the rubber sheet 11A is moved in the longitudinal direction of the rubber sheet 11A, while the rubber means 11A The reinforcing fiber pieces 12 may be dispersed on the sheet 11A.

  Reference numeral 46 indicates a guide body installed between the spraying means and the rubber sheet 11 </ b> A. The guide body 46 is attached to the fixed frame 22 via an attachment plate 47. Here, the guide body 46 has a pair of wall portions 46a parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rubber sheet 11A, and the interval between the pair of wall portions 46a is formed narrower than the width of the rubber sheet 11A. Yes. By arranging such a guide body 46, the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 spread by the spreading means are supplied onto the rubber sheet 11A while being guided by the guide body 46, so that the rubber sheet of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 is supplied. The scattering of 11A to the outside in the width direction is effectively prevented. However, in this case, since the scattering of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 in the longitudinal direction of the rubber sheet 11A occurs slightly, portions where the density of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 is low are formed in the spray start portion and the end portion. Therefore, more preferably, the guide body 46 further includes a pair of wall portions 46b parallel to the width direction of the rubber sheet 11A, and is open only in the vertical direction and has a passage having a rectangular cross section inside. Thereby, since it becomes possible to prevent scattering of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 in the longitudinal direction of the rubber sheet 11A, scattering of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 around the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 can be more effectively prevented. All the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 can be dispersed in the target range on the rubber sheet 11A. In addition, the shape of the channel | path inside the guide body in this case may be a cross-sectional circle other than a cross-sectional rectangle.

  In addition, some of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 collide with the guide body 46 during the fall, and the collision of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 changes randomly due to the collision, and as a result, the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 become the rubber sheet. 11A is further uniformly distributed in a random orientation direction.

  Here, when the guide body 46 is installed between the spraying means and the rubber sheet 11A, the distance h from the lower end of the guide body 46 to the surface of the rubber sheet 11A is five times the length of the reinforcing fiber piece 12. In the following, it is particularly preferable to set it within the range of 1 to 3 times. When the height h of the guide body 46 is increased more than necessary, the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 are scattered around and it is difficult to accurately distribute the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 within the range of the target width d.

  Further, in order to make the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 on the rubber sheet 11A more uniform and randomly oriented, for example, a plurality of baffle rods or baffles extending linearly or curvedly on the inner surface of the guide body 46 are used. A plate or the like may be attached so that the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 falling on the rubber sheet 11A from the spraying means collide with a baffle rod or the like, and more reinforcing fiber pieces 12 may be rebounded during the dropping. Furthermore, in the present invention, in order to adjust the basis weight of the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13, a generating means for generating a magnetic field or an electric field is installed in the guide body 46, or an adjusting plate in which a plurality of slits are formed is installed. You can also

  Reference numeral 50 is a support base attached to the upper end of the fixed frame 22 in front of the spraying means, and on this support base 50, a winding roll in which a long and continuous rubber sheet 11B is wound in a roll shape many times. 51 is rotatably supported. The rubber sheet 11 </ b> B unwound from the winding roll 51 is guided by a plurality of guide rollers 52 that are rotatably supported by the fixed frame 22 immediately below the winding roll 51, and is a supply position positioned forward from the spraying position P. D (supply position of rubber sheet 11B to rubber sheet 11A) is supplied from above, and is superimposed on rubber sheet 11A at supply position D. At this time, reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 is interposed between rubber sheets 11A and 11B. Be dressed.

  The support base 50, the winding roll 51, and the guide roller 52 as a whole supply and superimpose the rubber sheet 11B on the rubber sheet 11A, and supply the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 between the rubber sheets 11A and 11B. The means 53 is configured. In the present invention, as a supply means for supplying the rubber sheets 11A and 11B to the main conveyor 23, an extruder or a calender roll device may be used. In this case, the rubber sheet 11A having a high temperature immediately after molding may be used. 11B is supplied to the main conveyor 23.

  Reference numeral 56 is a pressure-bonding means installed immediately before the supply position D. The pressure-bonding means 56 has two pairs of upper and lower rollers 57 and 58 which are separated from each other in the vertical direction, and these two pairs of upper and lower rollers 57 and 58. Are arranged at a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction. Both ends of these two upper rollers 57 are rotatably supported by the fixed frame 22 and are in rolling contact with the upper surface of the rubber sheet 11B superimposed on the rubber sheet 11A. On the other hand, both of the two lower rollers 58 are supported by the fixed frame 22 so as to be freely rotatable, and are in rolling contact with the lower surface of the conveying portion 25a of the conveyor belt 25 in a pressed state.

  Further, a driving force is applied to the upper roller 57 from a driving mechanism (not shown), whereby the upper roller 57 has the same traveling speed (conveying speed of the rubber sheet 11A and the like) as the peripheral speed. Drive and rotate. As a result, when the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 and the rubber sheets 11A, 11B immediately after being overlapped pass between the two pairs of upper and lower rollers 57, 58, the rubber sheets 11A, 11B are interposed between the reinforcing fiber piece layers 13. In a worn state, they are pressed against each other and pressed, whereby the reinforcing member 10 is manufactured.

  Here, the upper and lower rollers 57 and 58 are preferably heated to a temperature in the range of 50 to 100 ° C. The reason is that when the upper and lower rollers 57 and 58 are heated to this temperature range, the rubber of the rubber sheets 11A and 11B is plasticized without proceeding with the vulcanization of the rubber sheets 11A and 11B, and the gap between the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 is increased. This is because the rubber can be adhered to the entire outer surface of each reinforcing fiber piece 12. In the present invention, a bladder that expands or contracts by supplying or discharging a heating medium may be used as the pressure bonding means. In this case, the rubber sheets 11A and 11B are pressed against each other by the expansion of the bladder. And crimp.

  Between the spraying position P and the supply position D, a rotatable entanglement roller 62 having a plurality of protrusions 61 on the outer periphery and parallel to the pulley 24 is disposed immediately above the rubber sheet 11A and the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13. ing. On the other hand, immediately below the entanglement roller 62, a support roller 63 is installed in parallel with the entanglement roller 62 and in rolling contact with the lower surface of the conveying portion 25a of the conveyor belt 25. The support roller 63 conveys the rubber sheet 11A. It is supported from below via the part 25a. Both ends of the entanglement roller 62 and the support roller 63 in the axial direction are rotatably supported by the fixed frame 22, but the entanglement roller 62 is given a driving force from a drive mechanism (not shown). The entanglement roller 62 is driven to rotate at the peripheral speed at the tip of the protrusion 61 at the same speed as the traveling speed of the conveyor belt 25.

  When the entanglement roller 62 rotates in this way, the tip of the protrusion 61 pushes a part of the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 conveyed by the main conveyor 23 toward the rubber sheet 11A, and a part of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 is moved. By deforming, some of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 are partially entangled with each other. As a result, even if the position of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 on the rubber sheet 11A is stable and the friction coefficient of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 is small as described above, the reinforcing fiber piece 12 moves from both ends of the rubber sheet 11A. Can be strongly suppressed from falling (sliding down). Here, the radial length of the protrusion 61 is preferably in the range of 1 to 100 mm.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes a crushing roller installed between the spraying position P and the supply position D, here between the entanglement roller 62 and the supply position D. The crushing roller 66 is connected to the entanglement roller 62. While extending in parallel, both ends in the axial direction are rotatably supported by the fixed frame 22. A driving force is applied to the crushing roller 66 from the driving mechanism. As a result, the crushing roller 66 rotates at a peripheral speed on the outer surface thereof at the same speed as the traveling speed of the conveyor belt 25. it can. Further, a certain degree of unevenness is formed on the outer surface of the crushing roller 66 by knurling, shot blasting, or the like, thereby increasing the friction coefficient between the crushing roller 66 and the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13, Slip between them is suppressed.

  On the other hand, immediately below the crushing roller 66, a support roller 67 is installed in parallel with the crushing roller 66 so as to be in rolling contact with the lower surface of the conveying portion 25 a of the conveyor belt 25. The support roller 67 supports the rubber sheet 11 </ b> A from below via the transport unit 25 a, and both axial ends thereof are rotatably supported by the fixed frame 22. The crushing roller 66 presses the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 against the rubber sheet 11A when the rubber sheet 11A and the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 pass between the crushing roller 66 and the support roller 67, thereby reinforcing the reinforcing fiber piece layer. Crush 13 slightly in the thickness direction as a whole.

  Thereby, the position of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 on the rubber sheet 11A is further stabilized. As a result, even if the friction coefficient of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 is small as described above, the reinforcing fiber piece 12 on the rubber sheet 11A is Movement, in particular, dropping from both side ends of the rubber sheet 11A can be strongly suppressed. In the present invention, the entanglement roller 62 may be installed in front of the crushing roller 66, contrary to the above.

  Although not shown, in the present invention, it is preferable to further provide a vibration generating mechanism for vibrating the rubber sheet 11A. That is, it is preferable to arrange a vibration generator on the main conveyor 23 that conveys the rubber sheet 11A. The higher the density of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 that have fallen on the rubber sheet 11A, the easier it is to form lumps with the surrounding reinforcing fiber pieces 12, and these lumps cause uneven density. In the present invention, the vibration generating device is disposed on the main conveyor 23, the conveyor belt 25 is vibrated, and the rubber sheet 11A is vibrated in the spraying step, thereby eliminating the agglomeration of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12. it can. The vibration generating mechanism can be disposed, for example, inside the conveyor belt 25, and the vibration direction can be the width direction of the rubber sheet 11A. The vibration frequency at this time is preferably in the range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz, more preferably 1 Hz to 1000 Hz, and even more preferably 10 Hz to 100 Hz. When the vibration frequency is 1 Hz or less, the vibration energy is small and the reinforcing fiber piece 12 is difficult to move. On the other hand, if the vibration frequency is too high, the energy is too strong and the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 may be scattered around.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described.
In order to manufacture the reinforcing member 10 as described above, first, the reinforcing fiber 14 is sent out in the direction of the fixed frame 22 by the transport unit 32. At this time, the rubber sheet 11A is supplied to the main conveyor 23 from the rear side. The rubber sheet 11A supplied to the main conveyor 23 in this way travels forward from the conveyance unit 25a and is conveyed from below by the conveyance unit 25a. It is conveyed toward the front while being supported.

  Here, the reinforcing fiber 14 is cut by the upper blade 28 and the lower blade 29 at the front end of the lower blade 29 to form a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12, and falls onto the rubber sheet 11A. At this time, the supply amount of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 per unit time is adjusted to a predetermined value by the conveyance speed of the reinforcing fibers 14. The dropped reinforcing fiber pieces 12 fall on the rubber sheet 11A, here spreading slightly to the spraying position P, and are sprayed uniformly and randomly. In this way, if the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 are spread on the rubber sheet 11A by dropping the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 from above the rubber sheet 11A, the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 can be easily and reliably attached to the rubber sheet 11A. Can be sprayed on top.

  During the fall, the reinforcing fiber piece 12 is guided by the guide body 46, and scattering of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 to both sides is effectively prevented. In addition, some of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 collide with the guide body 46 in the middle of dropping, and the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 jump around due to the collision, and the posture changes randomly. As a result, the reinforcing fiber pieces on the rubber sheet 11A 12, the distribution becomes more uniform and the orientation direction becomes further random. Furthermore, if vibration is given to the conveyor belt 25 to vibrate the rubber sheet 11A, the agglomeration of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 can be more effectively suppressed. Since the dispersion of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 and the conveyance of the rubber sheet 11A are continuously performed, the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 composed of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces 12 extending in the longitudinal direction of the rubber sheet 11A on the rubber sheet 11A. Is formed.

  Thereafter, the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 is conveyed forward together with the rubber sheet 11A by running of the conveyor belt 25 and passes between the entanglement roller 62 and the support roller 63. At this time, the protrusion of the entanglement roller 62 The front end portion 61 pushes a part of the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 toward the rubber sheet 11A, deforms some of the reinforcing fiber pieces 12, and partially entangles the reinforcing fiber pieces 12 with each other. The position of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 on 11A is stabilized.

  Next, the rubber sheet 11A and the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 are conveyed by the conveyor belt 25 and supplied to the crushing roller 66 and the support roller 67. The rubber sheet 11A and the support roller 67 are interposed between the rubber sheet 11A and the support roller 67. When the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 passes, the crushing roller 66 presses the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 against the rubber sheet 11A to slightly crush the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 in the thickness direction as a whole, and on the rubber sheet 11A. The position of the reinforcing fiber piece 12 is further stabilized.

  When the rubber sheet 11A and the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 are conveyed to the supply position D by the conveyor belt 25, the rubber sheet 11B unwound from the winding roll 51 of the supply means 53 is supplied onto the rubber sheet 11A from above and overlapped. Thus, the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 is interposed between the rubber sheets 11A and 11B. Thereafter, the rubber sheets 11 </ b> A and 11 </ b> B and the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 are supplied to the upper and lower rollers 57 and 58 by the conveyor belt 25. When the rubber sheets 11A and 11B and the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 pass between the upper and lower rollers 57 and 58, the rubber sheets 11A and 11B are pressed against each other with the reinforcing fiber piece layer 13 interposed between them and pressure bonded. Then, the reinforcing member 10 is manufactured.

  At this time, since the upper and lower rollers 57 and 58 are heated to the above-described temperature range, the rubber of the rubber sheets 11A and 11B is plasticized and flows into the gap between the reinforcing fiber pieces 12, Rubber adheres to the entire surface. The reinforcing member 10 manufactured in this way is vulcanized and cut into a predetermined length and used for the above-described applications.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.
A steel filament (wire diameter 0.15 mm) is predetermined between a pair of strip-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets (each thickness 0.5 mm) according to the conditions shown in the following table using an apparatus as shown in FIGS. A reinforcing member in which a reinforcing fiber piece layer composed of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces cut into lengths was interposed was manufactured. In Examples 4 and 7, a vibration generator was provided on the conveyor belt, and the rubber sheet on the conveyor belt was vibrated when spraying the reinforcing fiber pieces. Moreover, the conditions at the time of pressure bonding of a pair of rubber sheets were set to a pressure of 2 MPa, 80 ° C., and 60 seconds.

（式中、Ｍ_{ｒｕｂｂｅｒ}：サンプルを作製するのに使用したゴムの重量、Ｎ：切り出したサンプルの数） <Quantitative evaluation of density non-uniformity>
Each of the obtained reinforcing members was cut into 10 mm squares, and the weight distribution was evaluated. Specifically, 1000 or more samples were obtained at a time, and the weight mi of each sample was weighed. Using this, the average value μ was determined according to the following formula. Further, the standard deviation σ was obtained, and the magnitude of the variation was evaluated based on how many times σ was μ. The results are also shown in the table below. Although the allowable range of the density variation depends on the use of the reinforcing member, for example, in the case of tire reinforcement, if σ / μ is 0.15 or less, the variation is extremely small and is excellent. If it is 20 or less, there is no problem, and if it exceeds 0.2, there is a possibility that the variation slightly increases and a problem occurs.

( _Wherein , M _rubber : weight of rubber used to prepare the sample, N: number of cut samples)

  As shown in the above table, in Examples 1, 3 and 6, some scattering of the reinforcing fiber pieces occurred, whereas in Examples 2 and 5, the intended basis weight density was obtained, and the uniformity of the reinforcing fibers. There was no problem. Furthermore, in Examples 4 and 7, the desired basis weight density was obtained, and the uniformity of the reinforcing fibers was extremely good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reinforcing member 11A, 11B Band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 Reinforcing fiber piece 13 Reinforcing fiber piece layer 14 Reinforcing fiber 21 Floor surface 22 Fixed frame 23 Main conveyor 24 Pulley 25 Conveyor belt 25a Conveying portion 28 Upper blade 29 Lower blade 30, 31 Supporting section 32 Conveying section 46 Guide bodies 46a, 46b Wall section 47 Mounting plate 50 Supporting base 51 Winding roll 52 Guide roller 53 Supplying means 56 Crimping means 57 Upper roller 58 Lower roller 61 Protrusion 62 Entangling roller 63 Supporting roller 66 Crushing roller 67 Support roller

Claims (8)

A method of manufacturing a reinforcing member in which a reinforcing fiber piece layer consisting of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces obtained by cutting reinforcing fibers into a predetermined length is interposed between a pair of belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets,
A cutting step of cutting the reinforcing fibers to produce the plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces, and the reinforcement on the one strip-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet from above one of the strip-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets extending in the longitudinal direction. A spreading step of spreading the fiber pieces to form the reinforcing fiber piece layer; and supplying the other of the belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheets on the one belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheet and superposing the one and the other Including a feeding step of interposing the reinforcing fiber piece layer between the belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets, and a crimping step of pressing the one and the other belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets against each other, and the cutting step, The manufacturing method of the reinforcement member characterized by performing the said dispersion | spreading process continuously.   The method for manufacturing a reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein, in the spreading step, the one belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheet is vibrated.   The method for manufacturing a reinforcing member according to claim 2, wherein the one band-like unvulcanized rubber sheet is vibrated at a vibration frequency of 1 Hz to 1 kHz. A reinforcing member manufacturing apparatus in which a reinforcing fiber piece layer consisting of a plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces obtained by cutting reinforcing fibers into a predetermined length is interposed between a pair of belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets,
Cutting means for cutting the reinforcing fibers to produce the plurality of reinforcing fiber pieces, and the reinforcing material on the one belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheet from above one of the belt-like unvulcanized rubber sheets extending in the longitudinal direction. Sprinkling means for sprinkling fiber pieces to form the reinforcing fiber piece layer, and supplying the other of the band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet on the one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and superposing the one and the other A supply means for interposing the reinforcing fiber piece layer between the belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets, and a pressure-bonding means for pressing the one and the other belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheets against each other, and the cutting means, The apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcing member, wherein the spraying means is provided integrally.   The manufacturing apparatus of the reinforcement member of Claim 4 provided with the vibration generation mechanism which vibrates said one strip | belt-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet.   The reinforcing member manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a vibration frequency of the vibration generating mechanism is in a range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz.   Between the one strip-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and the spreading means, there is a pair of wall portions parallel to the longitudinal direction of the one strip-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet, and an interval between the pair of wall portions is A guide body that is narrower than the width of the one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet is installed, and the distance h from the lower end of the guide body to the surface of the one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet is the reinforcement It is 5 times or less of the length of a fiber piece, The manufacturing apparatus of the reinforcement member as described in any one of Claims 4-6.   The reinforcing member manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the guide body further includes a pair of wall portions parallel to the width direction of the one band-shaped unvulcanized rubber sheet and opens only in the vertical direction.

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