Device and method for generating reference geometric data for tire inspection

• US 7,997,129 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Inventors: Kokubu, Takao, Sukegawa, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J
• Application Number:
  US12/309,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2522 the position of the object changing and being recorded
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/9542 using a probe

Abstract

A split mold for vulcanizing a tire is held at a mold holding section, which is held on a rotatable base, and then a measuring section measures distances to an inner surface of the split mold in the inside diameter direction and in the axial direction. An operating section acquires two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold from the distances measured above, and further acquires geometric data over the entire circumference by rotating the rotatable base, and the data are combined to acquire three-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold and make reference geometric data for tire inspection.

Claims

1. A device for generating reference geometric data for inspecting a tire by measuring a split mold, comprising:

a mold holder that holds the split mold for vulcanizing a tire,

a measuring device that measures distances to an inner surface of the split mold in an inside diameter direction and in an axial direction,

a rotatable base that carries and rotates the mold holder, and

a computing device that generates data used in tire inspection by acquiring two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold from the distances measured by the measuring device, additionally acquiring geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold over an entire circumference while rotating the rotatable base, and combining the data to acquire three-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the split mold is used to vulcanize the tire.

2. A device for generating reference geometric data for inspecting a tire by measuring a split mold, comprising:

a fixing base that carries the split mold for vulcanizing a tire,

a measuring device that measures distances to an inner surface of the split mold in an inside diameter direction and in an axial direction,

a computing device that generates data used in tire inspection by acquiring two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold over an entire circumference from the distances measured by the measuring device while rotating the measuring device, additionally acquiring two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold over the entire circumference across the split mold in the axial direction, and combining the data to acquire three-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold.

3. A method for generating reference geometric data for tire inspection, comprising the steps of:

placing a split mold for vulcanizing a tire on a rotatable base to center the split mold,

measuring distances to an inner surface of the split mold in an inside diameter direction and in an axial direction,

acquiring two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold from the distances thus measured, and

generating reference geometric data for tire inspection by further acquiring geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold over an entire circumference while rotating the rotatable base, and combining the data to acquire three-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold.

4. A method for generating reference geometric data for tire inspection comprising the steps of:

placing a split mold for vulcanizing a tire on a rotatable base to center the split mold,

measuring distances to an inner surface of the split mold over an entire circumference across the split mold in an inside diameter direction,

acquiring two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold over the entire circumference from the distances thus measured,

generating reference geometric data for tire inspection by further acquiring two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold over the entire circumference across the split mold in an axial direction, and combining the data to acquire three-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold.