# US 10,307,980 B2 · Tire building applicator members and systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,980 B2 - Document ID: US10307980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/771,410 - Filed: 2013-02-20 - Published: 2014-08-21 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-20 - Assignees: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Applicants: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company - Inventors: Boaz E. Eidelberg; Mark A. Sieverding; Robert T. Irwin; Max Joel Miller, Jr.; Robert D. Irwin; Peter Bruder; James Wiley; James M. Dunn; Brad Kraus - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307980B2 ## CPC - B29D 30/1635: {by feeding a continuous band and moving it back and forth (zig-zag) to form an annular element} - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) ## Abstract An applicator assembly for applying a cord to a tire-building surface that rotates during tire construction. The applicator assembly includes an applicator member to apply the cord. A first rotary device rotates the applicator member about a first axis that is transverse to the surface. A first translation device moves the applicator member in a first linear path relative to the surface. The applicator member may include a roller and/or a resilient member. A second rotary device may rotate the applicator member and the first rotary device around a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A second translation device may move the applicator member, the first rotary device, the second rotary device, and the first translation device. A system for applying the cord to a core member may further include a spindle to rotate the core member about the axis of rotation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An applicator assembly for applying a cord to a tire-building surface configured to rotate about an axis during tire construction, the applicator assembly comprising: an applicator member with an application surface configured to apply the cord to the tire-building surface; a first motor that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to rotate the applicator member about a first axis relative to the tire-building surface, the cord being collinear with the first axis through at least a portion of the applicator assembly; a first linear positioner that is operatively coupled to the applicator member, the first linear positioner configured to move the applicator member in a first linear path relative to the tire-building surface; a second motor that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and the first motor, the second motor being configured to rotate the applicator member and the first motor about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the first motor and the second motor lying along the second axis; and a second linear positioner operatively coupled to the applicator member and configured to move the applicator member in a second linear path perpendicular to the first linear path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly of claim 1 wherein the applicator member is a roller and is configured to rotate about a roller axis that is oriented perpendicular to the first axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a resilient member that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to compress when the applicator member applies the cord to the tire-building surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The applicator assembly of claim 3 wherein the resilient member is compressible along a third axis that is parallel to the first axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly of claim 1 wherein the applicator member is a roller and is configured to rotate about a roller axis that is oriented perpendicular to the first axis and further comprising: two resilient members that are each operatively coupled to the applicator member, each resilient member being configured to compress when the applicator member applies the cord to the tire-building surface, wherein the resilient members are in a non-collinear relationship with the first axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly of claim 1 wherein the first motor is configured to rotate the applicator member over a limited range of less than or equal to 180°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly of claim 1 further including a guide roller that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to align the cord to be collinear with the first axis before the cord contacts the application surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly of claim 1 wherein the first motor includes a first shaft and the second motor includes a second shaft that defines the second axis and the first shaft is collinear with the second axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The applicator assembly of claim 8 wherein the first shaft is perpendicular to the first axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly of claim 1 wherein the applicator member is operatively coupled to a bevel gear defining an opening and the cord is configured to extend through the opening prior to contact with the applicator member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The applicator assembly of claim 1 wherein the second linear positioner is configured to move the first linear positioner and the second motor along the second linear path. ### Claim 12 An applicator assembly for applying a cord to a tire-building surface that is configured to rotate about an axis during cord application, the applicator assembly comprising: an applicator member including a roller with an application surface that is configured to apply the cord to the tire-building surface, the roller being configured to rotate about a roller axis when the application surface applies the cord to the tire-building surface; a first motor that is operatively coupled to the applicator member, the first motor being configured to rotate the applicator member about a first axis relative to the tire-building surface; a guide roller that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to align the cord to be collinear with the first axis before the cord contacts the application surface; a second motor that is operatively coupled to the applicator member, the second motor being configured to rotate the applicator member, the first motor, and the guide roller about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the first motor and the second motor lying along the second axis; a first linear positioner that is operatively coupled to the applicator member, the first linear positioner being configured to move the applicator member, the first motor, and the second motor in a first linear path relative to the tire-building surface; and a second linear positioner that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to move the applicator member, the first motor, the second motor, and the first linear positioner in a second linear path that is perpendicular to the first linear path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The applicator assembly of claim 12 further comprising: a resilient member that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to compress when the roller applies the cord to the tire-building surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The applicator assembly of claim 13 wherein the resilient member is compressible along a third axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The applicator assembly of claim 12 wherein the first axis intersects the roller axis. ### Claim 16 A system for applying a cord to a core member having a tire-building surface and an axis of rotation about which the core member rotates, the system comprising: a spindle that is configured to rotate the core member about the axis of rotation; and an applicator assembly including an applicator member with an application surface that is configured to apply the cord to the tire-building surface, a first motor that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to rotate the applicator member about a first axis relative to the tire-building surface, a second motor that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to rotate the applicator member about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the first motor and the second motor lying along the second axis, the cord being collinear with the first axis through at least a portion of the applicator member, a first linear positioner that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to move the applicator member in a first linear path relative to the tire-building surface, and a second linear positioner that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to move the applicator member in a second linear path perpendicular to the first linear path, one of the first linear path and the second linear path being parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein as the spindle rotates the core member, the first motor, the second motor, the first linear positioner, and the second linear positioner are configured to move the applicator member in a predetermined manner relative to a position of the core member to apply the cord in a predetermined pattern to the tire-building surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the applicator member is a roller and is configured to rotate about a roller axis, wherein the axis of rotation and the first axis are coplanar and the roller axis intersects the first axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 further comprising: a resilient member that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to compress when the applicator member applies the cord to the tire-building surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein the resilient member is compressible along a third axis that is parallel to the first axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 further including a guide roller that is operatively coupled to the applicator member and is configured to align the cord to be collinear with the first axis before the cord contacts the application surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the first linear positioner is configured to move the second linear positioner along the first linear path. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The applicator assembly of claim 16 wherein the first axis is coplanar with the axis of rotation.