Abstract: A mold heating device for heating a tire mold (M) for a green tire (T) includes an upper ring member (11) and a lower ring member (12) arranged so as to face one other in a specific direction with the space in which the tire mold (M) is disposed therebetween. A plurality of nonmagnetic members (13) are disposed at a plurality of positions aligned in the circumferential direction of the ring members (11, 12) with spaces therebetween so as to connect the upper ring member (11) and the lower ring member (12). Ferromagnetic non-conductive members (14) are provided on the inner surfaces of the nonmagnetic members (13), and a coil (15) is supported by the nonmagnetic members (13) with the ferromagnetic non-conductive members (14) therebetween so as to surround the space where the tire mold (M) is disposed from the outside in the direction perpendicular to the specific direction.

Abstract: A tire vulcanizing method reduces consumption energy and increases productivity of vulcanization. This method involves supplying an inert gas to an internal space of the tire via a supply pipe, discharging the gas from the internal space via a return pipe, and supplying the gas from the return pipe to the supply pipe by a rotation type circulation device. A heating device heats the circulated gas. An internal outlet gas temperature sensor detects a temperature of the gas in the return pipe. A controller decreases a rotating speed of the circulation device when the return pipe gas temperature is a rotating speed decrease temperature or more.

Abstract: To effectively suppress a shift of a rotating axis of an upper chuck with respect to a rotating axis of a lower chuck due to a separating force. A tire testing device (1) includes: vertical frames (30a, 30b) which are supported by a lower frame (20); a beam (40) which bridges between the vertical frames (30a, 30b) and is movable in the vertical direction; an upper chuck (45) which is attached to the center of the beam (40), the center corresponding to the center of the beam in the longitudinal direction; and a lower chuck (25) which is attached to the lower frame. When viewed from the vertical direction, a rotating axis of an upper rotating member (47) is positioned at the center of a straight line formed by connecting supporting points where each of the vertical frames (30a, 30b) support the beam (40).

Abstract: In a tire vulcanizer having two sets of portions, each of which includes a lower mold, an upper mold, and a center mechanism provided with a bladder, a nitrogen gas heated in a first heating device is supplied to an interior of the bladder of the center mechanism which is placed on the upstream side in the circulating direction of the nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas discharged from the interior of the bladder of the center mechanism is used for vulcanization and patterning and a temperature thereof is lowered. However, this nitrogen gas is heated again in a second heating device, so that the temperature is increased. Therefore, the nitrogen gas heated in the second heating device is supplied to an interior of the bladder of the center mechanism which is placed on the downstream side in the circulating direction of the nitrogen gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heating unit capable of easily and inexpensively adjusting total impedance based on tire mold size so that a power source can be used at a high power factor, and a tire heating apparatus using the same. A ferromagnetic metallic member 10a heats a tire mold M1 by heat conduction. An induction heating coil C1 is disposed on the side of the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a opposite the tire mold M1 to induction-heat the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a by generating magnetic field lines. A nonmagnetic conductor 30a is disposed on the side of the induction heating coil C1 opposite the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a to shield the magnetic field lines generated by the induction heating coil C1. A heating unit 100a including these elements heats the tire mold M1 storing a tire.

Abstract: To effectively suppress a shift of a rotating axis of an upper chuck with respect to a rotating axis of a lower chuck due to a separating force. A tire testing device (1) includes: vertical frames (30a, 30b) which are supported by a lower frame (20); a beam (40) which bridges between the vertical frames (30a, 30b) and is movable in the vertical direction; an upper chuck (45) which is attached to the center of the beam (40), the center corresponding to the center of the beam in the longitudinal direction; and a lower chuck (25) which is attached to the lower frame. When viewed from the vertical direction, a rotating axis of an upper rotating member (47) is positioned at the center of a straight line formed by connecting supporting points where each of the vertical frames (30a, 30b) support the beam (40).

Abstract: A tire vulcanizer used for vulcanizing a raw tire and includes a mold for removably housing the raw tire; a medium path which is connected to the inner space of the raw tire housed in the mold and through which a heating and pressurizing medium for vulcanizing the raw tire flows; and a heating unit, provided to the medium path, for controlling the temperature of the heating and pressurizing medium flowing through the medium path. The heating unit includes a heated body internally provided with a flow channel through which the heating and pressurizing medium flows, and an induction heating unit for heating the heated body through electromagnetic induction so as to heat the heating and pressurizing medium flowing through the flow channel.

Abstract: A tire vulcanizing method reduces consumption energy and increases productivity of vulcanization. This method involves supplying an inert gas to an internal space of the tire via a supply pipe, discharging the gas from the internal space via a return pipe, and supplying the gas from the return pipe to the supply pipe by a rotation type circulation device. A heating device heats the circulated gas. An internal outlet gas temperature sensor detects a temperature of the gas in the return pipe. A controller decreases a rotating speed of the circulation device when the return pipe gas temperature is a rotating speed decrease temperature or more.

Abstract: In a tire vulcanizer configured to perform opening and closing of a mold using an efficient ball screw shaft or the like, a top mold mounting member holding a top mold is lifted and lowered by rotating the ball screw shaft with a driving mechanism to vertically lift and lower a ball nut, and the lifting and lowering of the top mold mounting member is stopped by fixing the ball screw shaft by the de-excitation of an electromagnetic brake connected directly to the ball screw shaft, independently from the driving mechanism. According to such a structure, the opening and closing of the mold can be stopped, even if abnormality of the driving mechanism or the brake occurs.

Abstract: In a tire vulcanizer having two sets of portions, each of which includes a lower mold, an upper mold, and a center mechanism provided with a bladder, a nitrogen gas heated in a first heating device is supplied to an interior of the bladder of the center mechanism which is placed on the upstream side in the circulating direction of the nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas discharged from the interior of the bladder of the center mechanism is used for vulcanization and patterning and a temperature thereof is lowered. However, this nitrogen gas is heated again in a second heating device, so that the temperature is increased. Therefore, the nitrogen gas heated in the second heating device is supplied to an interior of the bladder of the center mechanism which is placed on the downstream side in the circulating direction of the nitrogen gas.

Abstract: In a center mechanism of a tire vulcanizer of the present invention, in order to improve working efficiency and lower total height, after a green tire is vulcanized and patterned and becomes a vulcanized tire, a bladder well is lifted from a bottom position where a lower bead ring is positioned on a lower mold and a bladder is installed in the green tire to a top position where the lower bead ring is positioned above the lower mold and an upper clamp, and the upper clamp, a lower clamp, and the bladder are placed in the bladder well, while heights of the upper clamp and the lower clamp are fixed.

Abstract: A post cure inflator of the present invention is an apparatus for inflating and cooling a vulcanized tire T by sealing high pressure air into the vulcanized tire, and includes an annular rim for gripping the vulcanized tire at a bead portion, a connecting member fixed at one end portion thereof to the rim, a rim supporting member provided in a body frame, and a clamping device provided in the rim supporting member to clamp the connecting member to the rim supporting member unclampably. This construction permits a post cure inflator in which replacement of the rim is easy and an existing rim can be used.

Abstract: In a tire vulcanizer of the present invention, a locking mechanism which secures a top mold and a bottom mold in a closed condition comprises tie rods disposed alongside the top mold, and each having a top end part fixed to a top mold mounting member and a lower end part on which a plurality of grooves are formed one above the other in a vertical direction; through holes formed in a bottom mold mounting member for allowing each of the tie rod to pass through each of the through holes; lock plates capable of engaging and disengaging, along a horizontal direction, with the groove on each tie rod having passed through each through hole, and lock plate shifting mechanisms each opening and closing the lock plates only in a horizontal direction relative to each tie rod. With the configuration as described above, adjustment based on a height of a mold is simplified, while reducing an overall height of the tire vulcanizer.

Abstract: In a center mechanism of a tire vulcanizer of the present invention, in order to improve working efficiency and lower total height, after a green tire is vulcanized and patterned and becomes a vulcanized tire, a bladder well is lifted from a bottom position where a lower bead ring is positioned on a lower mold and a bladder is installed in the green tire to a top position where the lower bead ring is positioned above the lower mold and an upper clamp, and the upper clamp, a lower clamp, and the bladder are placed in the bladder well, while heights of the upper clamp and the lower clamp are fixed.

Abstract: Provided is an easy-to-produce, and inexpensive mold heating device for heating a tire mold (M) which houses a green tire (T). The mold heating device is provided with an upper ring member (11) and a lower ring member (12) which are arranged so as to face one other in a specific direction with the space in which the tire mold (M) is disposed therebetween; a plurality of nonmagnetic members (13) which are disposed at a plurality of positions aligned in the circumferential direction of the ring members (11, 12) with spaces therebetween so as to connect the upper ring member (11) and the lower ring member (12); ferromagnetic non-conductive members (14) which are provided on the inner surfaces of the first plate members (13); and a coil (15) which is supported by the first plate members (13) with the second plate members (14) therebetween so as to surround the space where the tire mold (M) is disposed from the outside in the direction perpendicular to the aforementioned specific direction.

Abstract: Provided is a tire testing machine capable of measuring a force generated in a tire with high precision. The tire testing machine includes a spindle shaft (20) for holding a tire (T), a housing (22) for rotatably supporting the spindle shaft (20) through a rolling bearing (25), a running device (10) having a surface rotated by rotational driving and imparting a rotational force to a tire contacting the surface, and a measurement device (4) which is provided in the housing (22) and measures a force and moment generated in the spindle shaft (20) when the tire (T) is running. Furthermore, the tire testing machine includes a torque canceller (5) for preventing the spindle shaft (20) from such an impact that rotational friction torque (My1) generated by rotational friction, which is received by the spindle shaft (20) in the housing when the spindle shaft (20) rotates, is imparted onto the shaft (20).

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent or suppress the occurrence of a temperature difference between upper and lower portions of a green tire in a vulcanizing process carried out by a tire vulcanizing machine 1 and thereby stabilize the tire quality. The tire vulcanizing machine 1 comprises a tire vulcanizing bladder 20 disposed inside a green tire 4, a jet section 90 for jetting a heating/pressurizing medium to the interior of the bladder 20, a medium supply path for supplying the heating/pressurizing medium to the jet section 90, and a holding section 14 for holding an edge portion of the bladder 20, the edge portion being located on the side close to the medium supply path. Further, there are disposed heat insulators 7, 11, 8 and 6 so as to suppress the transfer of heat from the heating/pressurizing medium jetted from the jet section 90, to a lower edge portion of the green tire 4.

Abstract: A center mechanism of a tire vulcanizer is provided with a screwing mechanism provided with a screw shaft and a screw nut screwed onto the screw shaft, a motor for rotating the screw shaft so as to raise and lower an upper ring body, an inverter for controlling the motor, and a mechanical brake for retaining a predetermined position of the upper ring body so that a bladder retains a shaping state. Within a time range from start of a closing action of the upper die to contact between the upper die and the upper ring body, an operation of the mechanical brake is released and position control of the upper ring body by the inverter is started, and at least after the release of the operation of the mechanical brake, a position of the upper ring body is controlled by the inverter. By such a configuration, even when there is an erroneous operation of the brake or incorrect setting, it is possible to prevent damage and breakage of constituent parts and have a simple structure.

Abstract: In a post-cure inflator of the present invention, a rim of a pair of disk shape rims for sandwiching bead portions of a tire has one rim surface and the other rim surface in which a plurality of step portions corresponding to the bead portions of different bead diameters are formed so as to reduce thickness from a center to an outer periphery. A pair of the rims is supported switchably between arrangement in which the one rim surfaces face each other and arrangement in which the other rim surfaces face each other. By such a configuration, it is possible to favorably sandwich the tire even when the bead diameter to be treated is added.

Abstract: In a tire vulcanizer according to the present invention configured to perform opening and closing of a mold by an elevating means using an efficient ball screw shaft or the like, a top mold mounting member holding a top mold is lifted and lowered by rotating the ball screw shaft with a driving mechanism to vertically lift and lower a ball nut, and the lifting and lowering of the top mold mounting member is stopped by fixing the ball screw shaft with an excitation-free electromagnetic brake connected directly to the ball screw shaft independently from the driving mechanism. According to such a structure, the opening and closing of the mold can be stopped, even if abnormality of the driving mechanism or the brake occurs.