Device and method for producing unvulcanized band-shaped rubber member

A method of manufacturing an unvulcanized band-shaped rubber member in which the band-shaped rubber member cut at a predetermined length is elongated to a target length, the method comprising:

• detecting across a width direction of the band-shaped rubber member, by a position sensor, a leading end and a trailing end of the band-shaped rubber member placed in a flat state on a placement portion, and inputting detection data from the position sensor into a control unit, the position sensor that detects the leading end being a same position sensor that detects the trailing end;
• and
• by configuring at least one of a leading end holding mechanism that holds the leading end and a trailing end holding mechanism that holds the trailing end to comprise a plurality of holding portions arranged side by side in the width direction of the band-shaped rubber member, and movement portions that each move one of the plurality of holding portions individually in a front-rear direction of the band-shaped rubber member, holding the leading end by the leading end holding mechanism, and holding the trailing end by the trailing end holding mechanism, controlling, by the control unit, based on the detection data and the target length, a displacement of each of the movement portions in the front- rear direction to adjust a degree of elongation in the front-rear direction at or near a held portion of the band-shaped rubber member held by each of the plurality of holding portion;
• wherein
• each of the holding portions is disposed below a respective block base, and
• by attaching at least one of the holding portions to the respective block base by interposing a height adjustment portion, the vertical position of each of the holding portions is set depending on a cross-sectional shape of the band-shaped rubber member.

A manufacturing device for an unvulcanized band-shaped rubber member configured to elongate the band-shaped rubber member to a target length, comprising:

• a placement portion onto which the band-shaped rubber member cut at a predetermined length is placed in a flat state;
• a position sensor that detects, across a width direction of the band-shaped rubber member, a leading end and a trailing end of the band-shaped rubber member placed in the flat state, the position sensor that detects the leading end being a same position sensor that detects the trailing end;
• a control unit into which detection data from the position sensor is input;
• a leading end holding mechanism that holds the leading end;
• and
• a trailing end holding mechanism that holds the trailing end, wherein
• at least one of the leading end holding mechanism and the trailing end holding mechanism comprising a plurality of holding portions arranged side by side in the width direction of the band-shaped rubber member, and movement portions that each move one of the plurality of holding portions individually in a front-rear direction of the band-shaped rubber member, a displacement of each of the movement portions in the front-rear direction being controlled by the control unit based on the detection data and the target length to adjust a degree of elongation in the front-rear direction at or near a held portion of the band-shaped rubber member held by each of the plurality of holding portions, and
• wherein the manufacturing device includes only a single one of the position sensor, the position sensor being configured to move across the width direction of the band-shaped rubber member to detect an entire width of the band-shaped rubber member.