The present invention relates to a die for molding a roller used, for example, as an image forming roller, a pressurizing roller, or the like for a printer, a copying machine, or the like, with a structure in which a roller body made of a rubber-like elastic material (rubber material or synthetic resin material with rubber-like elasticity) is integrally molded on the outer periphery of an axial core member.
As illustrated in
A manufacturing method is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1-135608A or Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-36247A described below) in which such a roller 100 is manufactured, as illustrated in
However, in the die 200 illustrated in
If the outer circumferential surface of the end portion of the axial core member 101 is brought into press-contact with the supporting portions 201b, 202b in order to prevent such thin burrs 102a from being generated, as illustrated in
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to prevent thin burrs from being generated and a die from being damaged, in molding a roller including a roller body integrally provided on the outer periphery of an axial core member.
As means for effectively solving the technical problem mentioned above, a die for molding a roller according to the invention defined in the first aspect includes a first split mold and a second split mold which are capable of contacting and separating on parting surfaces opposed to each other, and the first split mold and the second split mold are formed with: support portions capable of supporting an axial core member of the roller and closely contacting an outer circumferential surface of the axial core member at an appropriate surface pressure at the time of mold clamping; roller body molding surfaces that define a cavity between the axial core member and the roller body molding surfaces at the time of mold clamping; and recesses located at both end portions of each of the support portions and extending along the parting surfaces, not in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the axial core member at the time of mold clamping, and penetrating the supporting portions.
In the above configuration, when the axial core member of the roller is positioned and disposed between the first split mold and the second split mold and mold clamped, the axial core member is supported in a close contact state between the support portions, and a cavity is defined between the axial core member and the roller body molding surfaces. At this time, a portion of the axial core member supported between the support portions of the first split mold and the second split mold is subject to compressive force due to mold clamping. However, since recesses are formed at both end portions of the support portions, the recesses extending along the parting surfaces of the first split mold and the second split mold, and are not in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the axial core member at the time of mold clamping, the outer circumferential surface of the axial core member is prevented from being bitten between the end portions of the support portions, so that the first split mold and the second split mold are not obstructed from being closed. Therefore, the parting surfaces of the first split mold and the second split mold are brought into close contact with each other. In the step of injecting the uncrosslinked liquid rubber composition into the cavity and crosslinking and curing the liquid rubber composition to integrally mold the roller body on the axial core member, since the support portions of the first split mold and the second split mold and the outer circumferential surface of the axial core member are in close contact with each other, the liquid rubber composition is prevented from permeating therebetween and forming the thin burr, and the liquid rubber composition is also prevented from permeating between the parting surfaces and forming the thin burr.
The die for molding the roller according to the invention defined in the second aspect is that, in the configuration described in the first aspect, the first split mold and the second split mold are formed with tear-off portion molding surfaces located on the opposite side to the roller body molding surfaces interposing the support portions and that define a tear-off portion molding space between the axial core member and the tear-off portion molding surfaces at the time of mold clamping.
In the above configuration, in the step of integrally molding the roller body on the axial core member, the uncrosslinked liquid rubber composition injected into the cavity defined between the axial core member and the roller body molding surfaces by mold clamping flows between the tear-off portion molding space defined between the axial core member and the tear-off portion molding surfaces and the cavity, through the recesses formed to the support portions therebetween as the gate. Hence, gate burrs continuous with the roller body are formed in the gate and the tear-off portion is formed in the tear-off portion molding space by curing the liquid rubber composition. This allows the gate burrs to be torn off together with the tear-off portion after the die is opened.
The die for molding the roller according to the invention defined in the third aspect is that, in the configuration described in the first or second aspect, the axial core member is formed with an annular projection, and an outer circumferential surface of the annular projection is in close contact with the support portions in a state appropriately compressed in a radial direction.
In the above-described configuration, the outer circumferential surface of the axial core member is made to closely contact the support portions of the first split mold and the second split mold in a state in which the annular projection is appropriately compressed in the radial direction, thereby enabling the close contact surface pressure to be heightened and permeation of the liquid rubber composition to be favorably sealed, and the load of the first split mold and the second split mold due to mold clamping to be reduced by compressive deformation of the annular projection.
The die for molding the roller according to the invention defined in the fourth aspect is that, in the configuration described in the first or second aspect, each of the support portions is formed with an arc shape projection.
In the above-described configuration, since the support portions formed in the first split mold and the second split mold are formed by arc shape projections, the range of contact with the axial core member is limited with respect to the axial direction, thereby enabling the close contact surface pressure to the axial core member to be heightened and permeation of the liquid rubber composition to be favorably sealed.
According to the die for molding of the roller of the present invention, in molding a roller including a roller body integrally provided on the outer periphery of an axial core member, the outer circumferential surface of the axial core member is prevented from being bitten between the parting surfaces of the first split mold and the second split mold at the time of mold clamping, a thin burr is prevented from being formed between the outer circumferential surface of the axial core member and the support portions of the first split mold and the second split mold, and between the parting surfaces, and damage to the first split mold and the second split mold due to biting or the like can be effectively prevented.
Preferred embodiments of a die for molding a roller according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. Firstly,
As illustrated in
At both ends of each of the support portions 11, 21, recesses 14, 24 are respectively formed, the recesses extending through the support portions 11, 21 in the axial direction along the parting surfaces 1a, 2a, respectively, being not in contact with the outer circumferential surface 311a of the annular projection 311 of the axial core member 310 at the time of mold clamping, and defining semicircular gates C as illustrated in
Annular grooves 313, 314 are provided on both sides of the annular projection 311 in the axial core member 310 in the axial direction, in other words, the annular projection 311 is formed as a relative protrusion between the annular grooves 313, 314. In addition, the annular projection 311 becomes narrower in width in the axial direction toward the outer diameter side so that the annular projection 311 is easily compressed and deformed when tightened between the support portions 11, 21 of the first split mold 1 and the second split mold 2, and in width w1 in the axial direction support portions 11, 21 and in width w2 in the axial direction of the annular grooves 313, 314 are larger than in width w3 in the axial direction of the outer circumferential surface 311a of the annular projection 311.
In order to form the roller 300 of
At this time, end surfaces of the support portions 11, 21 on the cavity A side are located over the outer periphery of the annular grooves 313, 314, and end surfaces of the support portions 11, 21 on the tear-off portion molding space B side are located over the outer periphery of the annular grooves 313, 314.
The annular projection 311 of the axial core member 310 is subject to compressive deformation due to mold clamping between the support portion 11 of the first split mold 1 and the support portion 21 of the second split mold 2. However, since recesses 14, 24 are formed at both end portions of the support portions 11, 21, the recesses extending along the parting surfaces 1a, 2a, and being not in contact with the outer circumferential surface 311a of the annular projection 311 of the axial core member 310 at the time of mold clamping, the outer circumferential surface 311a of the annular projection 311 is prevented from being bitten between the end portions of the support portions 11, 21 (between the parting surfaces 1a, 2a). The first split mold 1 and the second split mold 2 are therefore not obstructed from being closed, and the parting surfaces 1a, 2a are brought into close contact with each other.
Further, since the axial width of the annular projection 311 becomes narrower toward the outer diameter side, deformation due to mold clamping mainly occurs on the annular projection 311 side, and damage to the support portions 11, 21 (the first split mold 1 and the second split mold 2) is suppressed. In addition, since in width w1 in the axial direction of the support portions 11, 21 and in width w2 in the axial direction of the annular grooves 313, 314 are larger than in width w3 in the axial direction of the outer circumferential surface 311a of the annular projection 311, slight misalignment is allowable in placing the axial core member 310 between the first split mold 1 and the second split mold 2.
Next, for example, an uncrosslinked liquid rubber composition is injected into the die through an injection port (not illustrated) opened in the tear-off portion molding space B. The liquid rubber composition passes from the tear-off portion molding space B through the semicircular shaped gates C defined between the recesses 14, 24 formed at both end portions of the support portions 11, 21 and the outer circumferential surface 311a of the annular projection 311, and fills inside the cavity A to be shaped. Then, the liquid rubber composition in the cavity A is crosslinked and cured, so that the roller body 320 integrated with the axial core member 310 is molded as illustrated in
At this time, as illustrated in
Then, after opening the die by separating the first split mold 1 and the second split mold 2 from each other and taking out the molded article illustrated in
Although the annular rim 323 which is continuous with the roller body 320 remains even after the deburring, the annular rim 323 is formed relatively thick with the annular groove 313 of the axial core member 310, and is not a thin burr. Therefore, when the roller 300 is used as an image forming roller, a pressurizing roller, or the like in a copying machine or the like, the annular rim 323 will not fall off from the axial core member 310 and will not be a foreign object. Thus, the annular rim 323 may be made less liable to fall off by making the annular groove 313 deeper to thereby make the annular rim 323 thicker.
Next,
The second embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that an axial core member 310 has a simple cylindrical shape and support portions 11, 21 of a first split mold 1 and a second split mold 2 has a shape in which in width w1 in the axial direction decreases toward the inner diameter side in the vicinity of the inner diameter portion of the molds. Recesses 14, 24 extending axially through the support portions 11, 21 along parting surfaces 1a, 2a at both end portions of the respective support portions 11, 21 are not in contact with outer circumferential surface 310a of the axial core member 310 at the time of mold clamping, and defines semicircular gates C as illustrated in
Molding by using the die according to the second embodiment including the configuration as described above is basically similar to the case according to the first embodiment. Specifically, first, as illustrated in
At this time, a portion of the axial core member 310, which is fixed between the support portion 11 of the first split mold 1 and the support portion 21 of the second split mold 2, is subject to compressive force due to mold clamping. However, since recesses 14, 24 are formed at both end portions of the support portions 11, 21, the recesses extending along the parting surfaces 1a, 2a, and being not in Contact with the Outer Circumferential Surface 310a of the axial core member 310 at the time of mold clamping, the outer circumferential surface 310a of the axial core member 310 is prevented from being bitten between the end portions of the support portions 11, 21 (between the parting surfaces 1a, 2a). The first split mold 1 and the second split mold 2 are therefore not obstructed from being closed, and the parting surfaces 1a, 2a are brought into close contact with each other.
In addition, the support portions 11, 21 of the first split mold 1 and the second split mold 2 are formed such that the vicinity of the inner diameter portion thereof has a shape in which in width w1 in the axial direction decreases toward the inner diameter side, and therefore the support portions 11, 21 is easily compressed and deformed by the mold clamping force, to thereby be brought into a preferable state of favorable close contact with the outer circumferential surface 310a of the axial core member 310.
Next, for example, an uncrosslinked liquid rubber composition is injected into the die through an injection port (not illustrated) opened in the tear-off portion molding space B. The liquid rubber composition passes from the tear-off portion molding space B through the semicircular shaped gates C defined between the recesses 14, 24 formed at both end portions of the support portions 11, 21 and the outer circumferential surface 310a of the axial core member 310, and fills inside the cavity A to be shaped. Then, the liquid rubber composition in the cavity A is crosslinked and cured, so that the roller body 320 integrated with the axial core member 310 is molded as illustrated in
At this time, as illustrated in
Then, after opening the die by separating the first split mold 1 and the second split mold 2 from each other and taking out the molded article illustrated in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2014- 248971 | Dec 2014 | JP | national |
This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/JP2015/081427, filed on Nov. 9, 2015, and published in Japanese as WO 2016/092998 A1 on Jun. 16, 2016 and claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2014-248971, filed on Dec. 9, 2014. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2015/081427 | 11/9/2015 | WO | 00 |