Tire tread guiding

US5882457A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company · US

Inventors

• William Dudley Currie · Elmira, CA
• Daniel Ray Downing · Uniontown, US
• James M. Hart · Belleville, US
• Lori Ann Kefalos · Barberton, US
• Luc Minsart · Bastogne, BE
• Jean Alex Reichling · Diekirch, LU

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 1997
• Grant date: Mar 16, 1999
• Expiry date: Apr 23, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29D2030/4456
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Tire building apparatus and method wherein the cut to length tread is transported to a drum on a conveyor having laterally movable driving rollers and inverted guide rollers engaging the inner surfaces of raised shoulders of the tread. Control of the tread length is provided by measuring the length of the tread before and while it is being wrapped on the drum and then varying the stretching and rate of tread application to the drum to provide a precise splice of the ends of the tread. The position of the tread ends are controlled by a pricker bar to insure placement of the leading end on the drum and then placement of the trailing end on the drum over the leading end to provide the desired splice.