METHOD FOR CUTTING BALE RUBBER AND BALE RUBBER CUTTING DEVICE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on Japanese patent application 2020-170182 (Filing date: Oct. 7, 2020) and enjoys preferential benefits from this application. This application shall include all of the contents of Japanese Patent Application 2020-170182 by reference to Japanese Patent Application 2020-170182.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for cutting a bale rubber and a bale rubber cutting device.

BACKGROUND ART

A rubber mixture used as a material of a tire is prepared by mixing raw material rubber, a reinforcing material, a functional material, and the like in a predetermined ratio. As the raw material rubber used here, a bale rubber piece cut out from a bale rubber, which is a substantially rectangular mass of rubber, is used. As described in PTL 1, the bale rubber is cut by a cutter coming down from above and divided into a plurality of bale rubber pieces. It is required that there is no variation in the plurality of bale rubber pieces made by dividing.

Normally, bale rubber is intermittently fed toward a cutting position, and each time the bale rubber is fed, it is cut by a cutter to cut out a bale rubber piece. In the related art, a feed distance of the bale rubber is the same each time.

PTL 1: JP-A-2002-18785

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem that the Invention is to Solve

However, the bale rubber is not a precise rectangle and a cross-sectional shape on a plane orthogonal to a feed direction of the bale rubber is indeterminate. Even a bale rubber, which is initially close to a precise rectangle, will be deformed due to an influence of gravity when stored for a long period of time.

Despite such deformation, when the bale rubber is fed at the same distance each time, a weight of the bale rubber piece will vary.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a method for cutting a bale rubber and a bale rubber cutting device in which the weight of the bale rubber piece is less likely to vary.

Means for Solving the Problem

A method for cutting a bale rubber of an embodiment includes the steps of feeding the bale rubber to a cutting position and cutting out a bale rubber piece from the bale rubber which reaches the cutting position with a cutter and further includes the steps of measuring a weight of the cut-out bale rubber piece and determining a feed amount of the bale rubber in a subsequent step of feeding the bale rubber to the cutting position based on a difference between the measured weight of the bale rubber piece and a target weight of the bale rubber piece.

A bale rubber cutting device of an embodiment including a feeding device which feeds a bale rubber to a cutting position and a cutter which cuts out a bale rubber piece from the bale rubber which reaches the cutting position includes a measuring device which measures a weight of the cut-out bale rubber piece and a control unit which determines a subsequent feed amount of the feeding device based on a difference between the weight of the bale rubber piece measured by the measuring device and a target weight of the bale rubber piece.

Advantage of the Invention

According to the embodiment described above, the weight of the bale rubber piece is unlikely to vary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cutting device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the cutting device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bale rubber holding device as viewed from the front. A length measurement sensor is omitted in FIGS. 4 to 7.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bale rubber holding device as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bale rubber holding device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the bale rubber holding device when gripping a bale rubber.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, when the bale rubber is on a constant-rate feed conveyor.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, when the bale rubber moves to a position contacting a first cutter.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, when the bale rubber moves to under the first cutter.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, when the bale rubber is cut by the first cutter.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for determining a feed distance of the bale rubber.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example and those which are appropriately modified without departing from a spirit of the present invention shall be included in a scope of the present invention.

1. Overall Configuration of Cutting Device

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a cutting device 10, a preparation conveyor 11, a first measurement conveyor 12, and a constant-rate feed conveyor 13 are arranged in a row in this order. Next to the conveyors 11, 12, and 13, a non-defective product box 14, a non-defective product transport conveyor 15, a second measurement conveyor 16, and a defective product box 17 are arranged in a row in this order. The two rows are parallel. A cutting portion 18 and a discharge conveyor 19 are provided between the constant-rate feed conveyor 13 and the second measurement conveyor 16. The cutting portion 18 is arranged on the constant-rate feed conveyor 13 side and the discharge conveyor 19 is arranged on the second measurement conveyor 16 side.

The preparation conveyor 11 is a belt conveyor. A bale rubber 20 is arranged on the preparation conveyor 11. The bale rubber 20 is a mass of rubber as a raw material for a tire, is substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is packaged with a resin sheet (not illustrated). The preparation conveyor 11 rotates in a direction of moving the bale rubber 20 on the preparation conveyor 11 toward the first measurement conveyor 12. The preparation conveyor 11 is rotated by being driven by a motor 35 (see FIG. 3).

The first measurement conveyor 12 is a roller conveyor composed of a plurality of rollers 30. The roller 30 can rotate in a direction of moving the bale rubber 20 which has moved from the preparation conveyor 11 to the constant-rate feed conveyor 13. The roller 30 is rotated by being driven by a motor 36 (see FIG. 3). The plurality of rollers 30 are provided on a first weight sensor 38 (see FIG. 3) and the weight of the bale rubber 20 placed on the rollers 30 can be measured by the first weight sensor 38. The first weight sensor 38 may be located under the roller 30 while the bale rubber 20 is moving and may rise above the roller 30 when the bale rubber 20 is stopped to measure the weight of the bale rubber 20.

The constant-rate feed conveyor 13 is a roller conveyor including a plurality of rollers 31. The roller 31 is a rotatable free roller and can rotate in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the roller 30 of the first measurement conveyor 12.

A snap cover chain 23 which moves up and down with respect to the constant-rate feed conveyor 13 is provided. The snap cover chain 23 is an endless chain which rotates in the same direction as a transport direction of the first measurement conveyor 12 when driven by a motor 24 (see FIG. 3). The snap cover chain 23 is provided at a gap between the roller 31 and the roller 31 of the constant-size feed conveyor 13. Then, the snap cover chain 23 rises above the roller 31 or descends below the roller 31 by a cylinder 48 (see FIG. 3). The bale rubber 20 is transported from the first measurement conveyor 12 to a vicinity of a center of the constant-rate feed conveyor 13 by the snap cover chain 23.

A feeding device 50 is provided on the constant-rate feed conveyor 13. The feeding device 50 includes a cylinder 51 which operates with liquid or gas and a plate-shaped push plate 52 attached to a tip of a rod of the cylinder 51. The push plate 52 is provided with a bale rubber holding device 54 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) capable of gripping a rear end portion of the bale rubber 20. When the rod of the cylinder 51 advances, the push plate 52 pushes and feeds the bale rubber 20 on the constant-rate feed conveyor 13 toward the cutting portion 18. In the following description, a direction in which the feeding device 50 sends out the bale rubber 20 is referred to as “forward” and an opposite direction is referred to as “rear”. While the push plate 52 pushes the bale rubber 20, the bale rubber holding device 54 grips a rear end portion of the bale rubber 20. The bale rubber holding device 54 will be described below.

A servomotor may be used instead of the cylinder 51 as a device for moving the push plate 52.

A length measuring sensor 53 is provided on the push plate 52. When a first cutter 40, which will be described below, of the cutting portion 18 is lowered, the length measuring sensor 53 can measure a distance from the push plate 52 to the first cutter 40.

The cutting portion 18 is a portion which cuts the bale rubber 20 sent from the constant-rate feed conveyor 13 into a bale rubber piece 22. As will be described below, the cutting portion 18 is provided with the first cutter 40 which descends toward the bale rubber 20 and a second cutter 41 which rises toward the bale rubber 20.

The discharge conveyor 19 is a belt conveyor. The discharge conveyor 19 can rotate in the same direction as the rollers 31 of the constant-rate feed conveyor 13. The discharge conveyor 19 is rotated by being driven by a motor 33 (see FIG. 3). The discharge conveyor 19 is inclined to be high on a cutting portion 18 side and low on a second measurement conveyor 16 side. The bale rubber piece 22 formed by being cut by the cutting portion 18 is conveyed to the second measurement conveyor 16 by the discharge conveyor 19.

The discharge conveyor 19 maybe composed of a plurality of free rollers. Instead of the discharge conveyor 19, a sliding plate inclined with respect to a horizontal plane may be used.

The second measurement conveyor 16 is a belt conveyor. The second measurement conveyor 16 can rotate in a direction parallel to the preparation conveyor 11 and the first measurement conveyor 12. The second measurement conveyor 16 is rotated by being driven by a motor 37 (see FIG. 3).

The defective product box 17 is arranged on one side of a rotation direction of the second measurement conveyor 16 and the non-defective product transport conveyor 15 and the non-defective product box 14 are arranged on the other side. The second measurement conveyor 16 is provided on a second weight sensor 39 (see FIG. 3) and a weight w_n(the weight of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out at the n-th time) of the bale rubber piece 22 placed on the second measurement conveyor 16 can be measured by the second weight sensor 39. When the weight of the bale rubber piece 22 is within a reference value, the second measurement conveyor 16 rotates in a direction of the non-defective product box 14, and when the weight of the bale rubber piece 22 exceeds the reference value, the second measurement conveyor 16 rotates in a direction of the defective product box 17.

The non-defective product transport conveyor 15 is a belt conveyor. The non-defective product transport conveyor 15 transports the bale rubber piece 22 sent from the second measurement conveyor 16 to the non-defective product box 14. The non-defective product transport conveyor 15 is rotated by being driven by a motor 32 (see FIG. 3).

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cutting device 10 is provided with a control unit 25. The control unit 25 includes a storage unit 26, a calculation unit 27, and the like.

The first weight sensor 38, the second weight sensor 39, the length measuring sensor 53, motors 24, 32, 35, 36, and 37, cylinders 42, 46, 47, 48, and 51, and the like are connected to the control unit 25. An input device 28 for inputting manufacturing conditions and the like to the control unit 25 is also connected to the control unit 25. The control unit 25 controls the motors 24, 32, 35, 36, and 37, the cylinders 42, 46, 47, 48, 51, and 60, and the like based on measured values of the connected sensors and input values from the input device 28.

2. Configuration of Bale Rubber Holding Device

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, the bale rubber holding device 54 includes plate-shaped movable portions 55 provided on both the left and right sides (In the description of the bale rubber holding device 54, left and right are one side and the other side in a width direction of the push plate 52) of the push plate 52 and claws 56 provided to project forward from a front surface of the movable portion 55. A plurality of (three in the drawing) claws 56 are provided for one movable portion 55 and the claws 56 are arranged in a row in an up-down direction. Each claw 56 is curved toward the center in the width direction of the push plate 52 and has a sharp tip.

A horizontal plate-shaped extension portion 57 is provided to extend from the movable portion 55 toward a back side (the side opposite to the front side in a feeding direction) of the push plate 52. The extension portion 57 is extended to a position beyond a center in the width direction of the push plate 52 on the back side of the push plate 52. An elongated hole 58 is formed in a vicinity of the center of the push plate 52 in the width direction to penetrate the extension portion 57 in the up-down direction. The elongated hole 58 extends in an extension direction of the extension portion 57.

The bale rubber holding device 54 further includes a cylinder 60 fixed by a fixing member 59 to the back surface of the push plate 52 and a rod member 62 provided at a tip of a rod 61 of the cylinder 60. The rod member 62 is a single rod-shaped member extending in the up-down direction. The rod member 62 vertically penetrates the elongated holes 58 of the left and right extension portions 57.

On the left and right sides of the back surface of the push plate 52, shaft member holding portions 63 projecting rearward are provided. On both the left and right sides, the shaft member holding portions 63 respectively hold shaft members 64 extending in the up-down direction.

The shaft members 64 on both the left and right sides respectively penetrate holes 66 (see FIG. 5) formed in the extension portions 57 on both the left and right sides in the up-down direction. The extension portion 57 and the movable portion 55 integrated with the extension portion 57 can be displaced by a predetermined angle in a rotation direction with the shaft member 64 as a rotation axis.

In such a bale rubber holding device 54, when the cylinder 60 advances the rod 61 forward (lower side in FIGS. 6 and 7), while the rod member 62 slides in the elongated holes 58 of the extension portions 57 on both the left and right sides, portions of the elongated holes 58 of the extension portions 57 are pushed forward. The extension portion 57 is displaced in a rotation direction with the shaft member 64 as a rotation axis and the extension portion 57 and the movable portion 55 integrated with the extension portion 57 are parallel to the push plate 52 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The state here is referred to as a state in which the movable portion 55 is open.

When the cylinder 60 moves the rod 61 backward (upper side in FIGS. 6 and 7), while the rod member 62 slides in the elongated holes 58 of the extension portions 57 on both the left and right sides, the portions of the elongated holes 58 of the extension portions 57 are pulled backward. Then, the extension portion 57 is displaced in the rotation direction with the shaft member 64 as the rotation axis and the movable portion 55 integrated with the extension portion 57 comes out forward. Then, when the movable portion 55 moves forward, the claw 56 advances toward the center in the width direction of the push plate 52 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The state here is referred to as a state in which the movable portion 55 is closed.

When the bale rubber 20 contacts the front surface of the push plate 52, if the claw 56 advances toward the center of the push plate 52 in the width direction, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the claw 56 bites into the bale rubber 20 and the claws 56 on both the left and right sides grip the bale rubber 20.

On the back surface of the push plate 52, a mounting portion 65 to which the rod of the above-described cylinder 51 is mounted is provided. The push plate 52 and the bale rubber holding device 54 are integrally sent out by the cylinder 51.

3. Configuration of Cutting Portion

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the cutting portion 18 is provided with the first cutter 40 and the second cutter 41 adjacent to each other. The first cutter 40 and the second cutter 41 are arranged on a plane orthogonal, to the feeding direction of the bale rubber 20. The first cutter 40 is located on the constant-rate feed conveyor 13 side and the second cutter 41 is located on the discharge conveyor 19 side.

The first cutter 40 can be moved up and down by the cylinder 42 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) and descends from an upper standby position toward the bale rubber 20. The second cutter 41 can be moved up and down by the cylinder 46 (see FIG. 3) and rises from a lower standby position toward the bale rubber 20. A slight gap exists in a traveling direction of the bale rubber 20 between the first cutter 40 when descending and the second cutter 41 when ascending.

As a part of the cutting portion 18, a first arrangement member 43 is provided between the constant-rate feed conveyor 13 and the first cutter 40 and a second arrangement member 44 is provided between the second cutter 41 and the discharge conveyor 19. An upper surface of the first arrangement member 43 and an upper surface of the second arrangement member 44 are on the same surface as an upper surface of the constant-rate feed conveyor 13. A portion from the upper surface of the first arrangement member 43 to the upper surface of the second arrangement member 44 is a cutting position arranged when the bale rubber 20 is cut.

The first arrangement member 43 is provided with a cutter receiving portion 45 to which a cutting edge of the first cutter 40 descending from above contacts. The cutter receiving portion 45 is formed as an inclined surface along the cutting edge of the first cutter 40. The cutter receiving portion 45 can be displaced in a width direction of the first cutter 40 by the cylinder 47 (see FIG. 3).

The first cutter 40 descends until it contacts the cutter receiving portion 45. Therefore, the first cutter 40 cuts the bale rubber 20 from an upper end to a lower end. On the other hand, the second cutter 41 rises to a position slightly above the upper surface of the second arrangement member 44. Then, the lowering of the first cutter 40 and the ascending of the second cutter 41 are performed in synchronization, but the second cutter 41 supports the bale rubber 20 from below while the first cutter 40 cuts the bale rubber 20.

4. Manufacturing Method of Bale Rubber Piece by Cutting Device

First, manufacturing conditions are input from the input device 28 to the control unit 25. The manufacturing conditions are the number of times one bale rubber 20 is cut, a target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22, and the like. The input may be performed manually by an operator, or may be performed by an imaging unit (not illustrated) reading a work instruction sheet or the like.

Next, the bale rubber 20 wrapped in a resin sheet (not illustrated) is placed on the preparation conveyor 11. The control unit 25, which detects that the bale rubber 20 is placed, drives the motor 35 to rotate the preparation conveyor 11 and drives the motor 36 to rotate the first measurement conveyor 12, in such a manner that the bale rubber 20 is transported to the center of the first measurement conveyor 12.

When the control unit 25 detects that the bale rubber 20 reached the center of the first measurement conveyor 12, the first weight sensor 38 measures a weight W of the bale rubber 20. The measured weight W is stored in the storage unit in the control unit 25.

The control unit 25 then controls the cylinder 48 to raise the snap cover chain 23 above the roller 31 of the constant-rate feed conveyor 13. Next, the control unit 25 drives the motors 36 and 24 to rotate the first measurement conveyor 12 and the snap cover chain 23. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the bale rubber 20 is transported to a predetermined position of the constant-rate feed conveyor 13.

Next, the control unit 25 controls the cylinder 51 to move the push plate 52 of the feeding device 50 toward the bale rubber 20 at the predetermined position and stop the push plate 52 at a position where the push plate 52 comes into contact with the bale rubber 20. Here, the movable portion 55 (not illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11) of the bale rubber holding device 54 is open.

Next, the control unit 25 controls the cylinder 60 and closes the movable portion 55. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the claws 56 provided in the movable portion 55 grip the bale rubber 20 from two directions on the left and right. Here, the claw 56 bites into the rear end portion of the bale rubber 20.

Next, the control unit 25 controls the cylinder 42 to lower the first cutter 40 until the first cutter 40 contacts the cutter receiving portion 45 (see FIG. 9). Next, the control unit 25 controls the cylinder 51 to advance the push plate 52 and the bale rubber holding device 54 toward the first cutter 40 of the cutting portion 18. During the advance operation, the bale rubber holding device 54 is still gripping the bale rubber 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 25 moves the push plate 52 to the position where the bale rubber 20 contacts the first cutter 40. The bale rubber holding device 54 also moves together with the push plate 52. When the bale rubber 20 contacts the first cutter 40, the control unit 25 stops the movement of the bale rubber holding device 54 and the like. The stop of the bale rubber holding device 54 or the like may be performed when a sensor detects that the bale rubber 20 contacts the first cutter 40, or may be performed when the bale rubber holding device 54 moves by a preset distance.

Next, the control unit 25 measures a distance L from the push plate 52 of the feeding device 50 to the first cutter 40 with the length measuring sensor 53. The distance L measured here coincides with the length of the bale rubber 20 in the feeding direction to the cutting portion 18. The measured distance (length of bale rubber 20) L is stored in the storage unit 26 of the control unit 25.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the control unit 25 raises the first cutter 40. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the bale rubber 20 is sent out by the feeding device 50. During feeding, the bale rubber holding device 54 continues to grip the bale rubber 20. The feeding puts the bale rubber 20 under the first cutter 40. A feed distance S_n(S_nmeans the n-th feed distance, and n=1 in the case of the first feeding as here) by the feeding device 50 here will be described below.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the control unit 25 lowers the first cutter 40 and at the same time raises the second cutter 41. Here, the first cutter 40 descends until it contacts the cutter receiving portion 45, but the second cutter 41 rises only slightly above the second arrangement member 44. Therefore, the bale rubber 20 is cut by the descending first cutter 40 while being supported by the second cutter 41 from below. The second cutter 41 may make a notch in a lower part of the bale rubber 20. Even during the cutting of the bale rubber 20, the bale rubber holding device 54 continues to grip the bale rubber 20.

At the same time that the lowered first cutter 40 contacts the cutter receiving portion 45, or after the lowered first cutter 40 contacts the cutter receiving portion 45, the control unit 25 controls the cylinder 47 to displace the cutter receiving portion 45 in the width direction (left-right direction) of the first cutter 40. As a result, even when the lower end of the bale rubber 20 and the resin sheet wrapping the bale rubber 20 remain uncut, the remaining portion is torn off between the first cutter 40 and the cutter receiving portion 45.

The second cutter 41 may be displaced in the width direction (left-right direction) of the second cutter 41 while rising or after being raised due to cutting of the bale rubber 20.

The bale rubber piece 22 made by such cutting is transported to the second measurement conveyor 16 by the discharge conveyor 19. When the control unit 25 detects that the bale rubber piece 22 has reached the second measurement conveyor 16, the control unit 25 measures the weight w_n(w_nis the weight of the n-th bale rubber piece 22, and in the case of the first one as here, n=1) of the bale rubber piece 22 with the second weight sensor 39. The measured weight w_nof the bale rubber piece 22 is stored in the storage unit 26 of the control unit 25.

When the weight of the bale rubber piece 22 meets acceptance criteria, the control unit 25 controls the motor 37 to rotate the second measurement conveyor 16 and transports the bale rubber piece 22 to the non-defective product box 14. On the other hand, when the weight of bale rubber piece 22 does not meet the acceptance criteria, the control unit 25 controls the motor 37 to rotate the second measurement conveyor 16 and transports the bale rubber piece 22 to the defective product box 17.

The control unit 25 sends out the bale rubber 20 again by the feeding device 50 after the first cutting of the bale rubber 20 and performs the second cutting. The control unit 25 repeats feeding by the feeding device 50 and cutting by the first cutter 40 until the entire bale rubber 20 is divided into a plurality of bale rubber pieces 22. The second and subsequent feed distance S_nby the feeding device 50 will be described below.

The bale rubber holding device 54 continues to grip the rear end portion of the bale rubber 20 until the final cutting of the bale rubber 20 is completed. After the final cutting of the bale rubber 20, the control unit 25 opens the movable portion 55 of the bale rubber holding device 54 to release the remaining bale rubber 20 (that is, the last bale rubber piece 22) from the bale rubber holding device 54. Then, the control unit 25 pushes the last bale rubber piece 22 to the discharge conveyor 19 with the push plate 52.

5. Method for Determining Feed Amount of Bale Rubber

Here, a method for determining the feed distance S_nof the bale rubber 20 by the feeding device 50 will be described based on a flowchart of FIG. 12.

First, as described above, the first weight sensor 38 measures the weight W of the bale rubber 20 before cutting on the first measurement conveyor 12 (ST1). The measured weight W is stored in the storage unit 26 of the control unit 25.

Next, as described above, the length measuring sensor 53 measures the length L of the bale rubber 20 before cutting pressed against the first cutter 40 by the feeding device 50 (ST2). The measured length L is stored in the storage unit 26 of the control unit 25.

The calculation unit 27 of the control unit 25 calculates a first feed amount (feed distance) S₁of the bale rubber 20 by the feeding device 50 after measuring the length L of the bale rubber 20 (ST3). The feed distance S₁is calculated by the following equation so that when the length of the bale rubber piece 22 becomes S₁, the weight of the bale rubber piece 22 becomes a target weight w_t. The target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22 is stored in the storage unit 26 in advance by an operator.

$\begin{matrix} S_{1} = \frac{w_{t} \times L}{W} & [Equation 1] \end{matrix}$

Next, the control unit 25 controls the feeding device 50 and sends the bale rubber 20 forward (in a direction of the first cutter 40) by the obtained distance S₁(ST4). Next, the control unit 25 controls the first cutter 40 and the second cutter 41 to cut the bale rubber 20 and cut out the bale rubber piece 22 having a length S₁(ST5).

Next, as described above, the second weight sensor 39 provided on the second measurement conveyor 16 measures the weight w₁of the cut-out bale rubber piece 22 (ST6). The measured weight w₁is stored in the storage unit 26 of the control unit 25.

Next, the control unit 25 determines whether the entire bale rubber 20 is divided into the bale rubber pieces 22 (ST7).

For example, a sensor detects the amount of the bale rubber 20 remaining further on the feeding device 50 side than the first cutter 40. When the detected amount is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, it is determined that the division is not completed, and when the detected amount is less than the predetermined amount, it is determined that the division is completed.

Alternatively, the number of cuts required to divide the entire bale rubber 20 into the bale rubber piece 22 is set in advance in the control unit 25. The control unit 25 determines that the division of the bale rubber 20 is not completed when the cutting of the set number of cuts is not completed. When the cutting of the set number of cuts is completed, it is determined that the division of the bale rubber 20 is completed.

Anyway, when the control unit 25 determines that the division of the bale rubber 20 is not completed (No in ST7), the control unit 25 proceeds to a next step (ST8, ST9). On the other hand, when the control unit 25 determines that the division of the bale rubber 20 is completed (Yes in ST7), the control unit 25 ends the above flow.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the bale rubber 20 is cut 10 to 15 times. Therefore, when the above-described first cutting is completed, the control unit 25 determines that the division of the bale rubber 20 is not completed (No in ST7). Therefore, the flow proceeds to the next step (ST8, ST9).

In the next step (ST8, ST9), the calculation unit 27 calculates a distance S₂of second feeding of the bale rubber 20 so that a weight w₂of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out the second time can be brought closer to the target weight w_t. Specifically, the calculation unit 27 calculates the distance S₂of the second feeding by the following equation using the weight w₁of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out immediately before.

$\begin{matrix} S_{2} = \frac{w_{t} \times S_{1}}{w_{1}} & [Equation 2] \end{matrix}$

That is, although a cross-sectional area (area in a plane orthogonal to the feeding direction) of the bale rubber 20 changes depending on the location, it is assumed that the cross-sectional area is approximately the same at the location of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out the first time and the location of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out the second time. Based on the assumption, it can be said that the weight per unit length of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out the second time matches the weight w₁/S₁per unit length of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out the first time. Therefore, the target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22 is divided by the weight w₁/S₁per unit length of the bale rubber piece 22 to determine the distance S₂for the second feeding.

When the distance S₂for the second feeding is determined, the process returns to a step (ST4) of feeding the bale rubber 20 and the feeding device 50 feeds the bale rubber 20 by the distance S₂. The first cutter 40 cuts out the second bale rubber piece 22 and the weight w₂of the bale rubber piece 22 is measured by the second weight sensor 39.

After that, the control unit 25 repeats the routine after ST4 until it is determined that the division of the bale rubber 20 is completed (Yes in ST7). In the routine, the (n+1)-th feed distance S_n+1of the bale rubber 20 is calculated by the following generalized equation using the n-th feed distance S_nand the weight w_nof the bale rubber piece 22 cut out at the n-th time.

$\begin{matrix} S_{n + 1} = \frac{w_{t} \times S_{n}}{w_{n}} & [Equation 3] \end{matrix}$

6. Effect of Embodiment

As described above, the method of the present embodiment includes a step of feeding the bale rubber 20 to the cutting position, a step of cutting out the bale rubber piece 22 from the bale rubber 20 which has reached the cutting position with the first cutter 40, and a step of measuring the weight w_nof the cut-out bale rubber piece 22. The method of the present embodiment further includes a step of determining the feed amount (feed distance) S_nwhen the bale rubber 20 is subsequently fed to the cutting position based on a difference between the measured weight w_nand the target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22.

As such, the weight w_nof the bale rubber piece 22 cut out immediately before is measured and the feed amount S_nwhen the bale rubber 20 is subsequently fed is determined based on the difference between the weight w_nand the target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22, in such a manner that the weight w_n+1of the bale rubber piece 22 to be cut out next can be brought close to the target weight w_t. Therefore, the weight of the bale rubber piece 22 is unlikely to vary.

Here, the bale rubber 20 is gently deformed from the front to the rear in the feeding direction. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out at the n-th time and the bale rubber piece 22 cut out at the (n+1)-th time are almost the same. As a result, the weight per unit length is also almost the same (the density of bale rubber is generally uniform, so it is not necessary to consider the difference in density for each bale rubber piece 22).

In the embodiment, as a specific method for determining the feed amount (feed distance) S_n+1of the bale rubber 20, from the previous feed amount S_nand the weight w_nof the bale rubber piece 22 cut out last time, the weight per unit length w_n/S_nof the bale rubber piece 22 cut out last time is obtained, and then the number obtained by dividing the target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22 by the obtained w_n/S_nis defined as the next feed amount (feed distance) S_n+1of the bale rubber 20.

By such method, the weight w_nof the bale rubber piece 22 cut out at the n-th time can be made extremely close to the target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22. Then, since the weight w_nof all the bale rubber pieces 22 to be cut out can be made extremely close to the target weight w_t, the weight of the bale rubber piece 22 is unlikely to vary.

In particular, the method of the embodiment is very effective when dealing with a material which is easily deformed as time passes or a material which is easily deformed when an external force is applied as the bale rubber 20.

For example, when measuring the area of the cut surface of bale rubber 20 to determine the next feed amount S_n+1, various sensors and large-scale equipment are required. However, according to the method of the embodiment, the next feed amount S_n+1can be determined with a simple equipment configuration.

In the embodiment, the feeding device 50 presses the bale rubber 20 before cutting against the descending first cutter 40. Then, the length measuring sensor 53 provided in the feeding device 50 measures the distance L from the feeding device 50 to the first cutter 40. By such method, the length L of the bale rubber 20 can be easily and accurately measured.

7. Modification Example

Various modifications can be made to the embodiment described above.

Here, a modification example of the method of determining the first feed amount (feed distance) S₁of the bale rubber 20 will be described.

In the embodiment described above, the first feed amount S₁of the bale rubber 20 is obtained by the calculation of Equation 1 based on the weight W and the length L of the bale rubber 20 before cutting and the target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22.

However, the deformation of the bale rubber 20 is large and a front end portion (that is, the portion to be cut out first) of the bale rubber 20 in the feeding direction may be thinned. In such a case, when the first feed amount S₁is determined by the calculation of Equation 1, the weight w₁of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out for the first time becomes smaller than the target weight w_t.

In order to prevent such case, in the present modification example, the control unit 25 uses the value (that is, value obtained by dividing the length L of the bale rubber 20 before cutting by the value obtained by dividing the weight W of the bale rubber 20 before cutting with the target weight w_tof the bale rubber piece 22) of S₁obtained by the calculation of Equation 1 as a reference value B. Next, the control unit 25 multiplies the reference value B by a correction value C and sets the obtained value B×C as the first feed amount S₁. Here, C is a value larger than 1, for example, 1.1 or more and 1.3 or less. The value of C may be set by an operator who sees the shape of bale rubber 20.

As a result, the first feed amount S₁becomes longer than the distance obtained by Equation 1, so that the weight w₁of the bale rubber piece 22 cut out at the first time becomes close to the target weight w_t.

There are various ways to deform the bale rubber 20. Therefore, the value of the correction value C may be determined or the method (that is, whether to add, subtract, multiply, or divide) of causing the correction value C to act on the reference value B may be determined according to the deformation of the bale rubber 20. Then, the value obtained by applying the correction value C to the reference value B may be the first feed amount S₁of the bale rubber.

METHOD FOR CUTTING BALE RUBBER AND BALE RUBBER CUTTING DEVICE

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