# US 2008/0185095 A1 · Device For Picking Up, Displacing And Placing Bands Or Strips Of Flexible Material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185095 A1 - Document ID: US20080185095A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/793,364 - Filed: 2005-12-22 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2004-12-22 - Inventors: Heinz Gutknecht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185095A1 ## CPC - B29D 30/42: Endless textile bands without bead-rings - B29D 30/44: Stretching or treating the layers before application on the drum (during application B29D30/30) - B29D 30/46: Cutting textile inserts to required shape - B65H 5/026: {between belts and stationary pressing, supporting or guiding elements forming a transport nip} - B65H 29/16: by contact of one face only with moving tapes, bands, or chains {(with suction belts B65H29/242)} - B65H 2404/281: porous - B65H 2404/283: magnetic - B65H 2801/93: Tyres - Y10T 83/04: Processes - Y10T 83/2192: Endless conveyor - Y10T 83/654: With work-constraining means on work conveyor [i.e., "work-carrier"] - Y10T 83/6584: Cut made parallel to direction of and during work movement - Y10T 83/6648: Continuous conveying during, cutting; e.g., straw cutting - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a device (1) for picking up, displacing and placing a strip or band of flexible material (3) particularly unvulcanised rubber, more particularly unvulcanised rubber provided with reinforcement cords, comprising: a frame (15), a conveyor belt (7) which runs over at least a first (11) and a second (14) roller, and a retaining unit (8) provided with retaining means (9) for retaining the strip or band onto the conveyor belt, wherein the frame (15) is provided with the first roller (11), the retaining unit (8) is displaceably mounted on the frame (15) and provided with the second roller (14), and the device is furthermore provided with tensioning means (12,13) for keeping the conveyor belt (7) tensioned during the displacement of the retaining unit (8). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Device for picking up, displacing and placing a band or strip of flexible material, particularly unvulcanised rubber, more particularly unvulcanised rubber provided with reinforcement cords, with a leading end of the strip or band from a starting position to an end position in a downstream direction, comprising: a frame; a conveyor belt which runs over at least a first roller having a first axis of rotation and a second roller having a second axis of rotation, and a retaining unit provided with retaining means for retaining the strip or band onto the conveyor belt, wherein the frame is provided with the first roller, the retaining unit is displaceably mounted on the frame and provided with the second roller, the device is furthermore provided with tensioning means for keeping the conveyor belt tensioned during the displacement of the retaining unit, and the second roller has a first position with the second axis of rotation upstream from the starting position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the first roller has a position with the first axis of rotation downstream from the end position, preferably, at least when the device is operative, the first roller is fixedly positioned with respect to the end position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the frame when the device is operative, is fixedly positioned with respect to the end position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning means comprise a third further roller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Device according to claim 4, wherein the third further roller is mounted on the retaining unit, preferably with its axis of rotation downstream with respect to the axis of rotation of the second roller, more preferably when the device is operative with a fixed position with respect to the second roller, and more preferably with a first position with its axis of rotation upstream from the axis of rotation of the second roller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning means comprise a fourth further roller that is mounted on the frame, preferably, when the device is operative, with a fixed position with respect to the first roller, preferably upstream therefrom. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) Device according to claim 5, wherein the device comprises the third and fourth further rollers, wherein the third roller is mounted on the retaining unit and the fourth roller is mounted on the frame, wherein the rollers are mutually positioned for during said displacement of the retaining unit keeping the conveyor belt tensioned, preferably when the device is operative an axis of rotation of the third roller is downstream from the fourth roller during the displacement of the strip or band, further preferably. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Device according to claim 7, wherein the retaining unit comprises an upstream rear retaining end and a downstream front retaining end and, when the device is operative, the retaining unit is displaceable from a first position with its rear retaining end at least near the starting position to a second position with its front retaining end at least near the end position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Device according to claim 8, wherein the retaining unit is displaceable parallel to at least a part of a displacement path of the band. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining unit is displaceable along a linear displacement path, preferably a horizontal displacement path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means are positioned within the conveyor belt, and preferably comprise magnets or means for generating a vacuum. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive device for driving the conveyor belt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Device according to claim 12, wherein the drive device for the conveyor belt is connected to the frame, particularly stationary connected to the frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive device for the displacement of the retaining unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Device according to claim 14, wherein the drive device for the retaining unit is connected to the frame, particularly stationary connected with respect to the frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Device according to claim 15, wherein the drive device comprises a displacement member which can be drivably displaced with respect to the frame by the drive device, preferably movable parallel to a displacement path along which the strip or band is displaced when the device is operative, and the retaining unit comprises a flight that engages onto the displacement member in order to set the retaining unit into motion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyor belt drive unit for driving the conveyor belt for in operation effecting a displacement or placement of the strip or band, wherein preferably the conveyor belt drive unit is arranged at the frame, preferably stationary with respect to the frame, wherein the conveyor belt drive unit preferably drives the first roller or, if present, another roller mounted on the frame or a combination of said rollers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, when provided with the third roller, wherein the second and third roller have been mounted on the retaining unit such with respect to each other that a first tangent line that notionally contacts both rollers is substantially parallel to a displacement path of the retaining unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) Device according to claim 17, and further provided with the fourth roller, wherein the third and fourth roller have been mounted such with respect to each other that a second tangent line that notionally contacts both rollers is substantially parallel to the first tangent line. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt is a toothed belt. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the device is adapted for displacing the band substantially along a longitudinal axis of the band. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt is positioned above the band. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining unit and a drive unit for driving the conveyor belt are operationally connected to a control unit for in mutual cooperation of the displacement of the retaining unit and the conveyor belt displacing the band along a displacement path. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) Device according to claim 23, further comprising location readers or location sensors, operationally connected to the control unit, for reading the position of the band or strip. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) Device according to claim 16, wherein the retaining unit and a drive unit for driving the conveyor belt are operationally connected to a control unit for in mutual cooperation of the displacement of the retaining unit and the conveyor belt displacing the band along a displacement path, and wherein the control unit is further operationally coupled to the conveyor belt drive unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) Device according to claim 24, wherein the control unit based on the position of the strip or band read by means of the location readers or location sensors, carries out a correction of the drive unit and, if present, the conveyor belt drive unit. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) Assembly, comprising a device according to claim 1, further comprising a cutting device for along a cutting line cutting off a strip from an end of the band, positioned between the starting position and the end position, wherein the device is positioned downstream from the cutting device for when operative extending upstream past the cutting device and picking up the band at its end, subsequently passing the end of the band downstream past the cutting device, with when operative the first position of the second roller upstream from the cutting line. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) Assembly according to claim 27, wherein the band is provided with reinforcement cords extending in longitudinal direction of the band, and wherein the cutting device is positioned for cutting with the cutting line at an angle to the reinforcement cords. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) Assembly according to claim 27, further comprising: a supply device for supplying the band to the cutting device in a supply direction; a discharge device for discharging the strip cut off by the cutting device in a discharge direction, wherein the device is placed for picking up the band from the supply device and bringing the end of the band past the cutting device and subsequently bringing the strip cut off by the cutting device from the end of the band on the discharge device, or bringing the end of the band on the discharge device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) Assembly according to claim 27, wherein the placement unit comprises a conveyor belt having a conveyor member having a longitudinal axis parallel to the supply direction and having a feed side which, when the assembly is operative, is displaceable from the supply device to the discharge device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) Assembly according to claim 27, wherein the retaining unit is displaceable parallel to the conveyor belt. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) Assembly according to claim 27, wherein the retaining unit has an end oriented towards the cutting device, which retaining unit is provided with the second roller, wherein the retaining unit is displaceable from a first position with the second roller upstream with respect to the cutting device to a second position with the second roller downstream past the cutting device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) Assembly according to claim 32, wherein the supply device is provided with a supply surface on which a band can be supplied, preferably the supply device comprises a supply conveyor belt, and the second roller in the first position is above the supply surface, preferably just above the supply surface for taking off a band or strip therefrom. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) Assembly according to claim 32, wherein the supply unit is displaceable in line with respect to the supply device. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) Assembly according to claim 32, wherein the discharge device is provided with a discharge surface on which a strip or a component manufactured therefrom can be discharged, preferably the discharge device comprises a discharge conveyor belt, and the second roller in the second position is above the discharge surface, preferably just above the discharge surface for discharging a band or strip thereon. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) Assembly according to claim 32, wherein the first roller is positioned in line with respect to the second roller wherein a notional tangent line notionally contacting the first and second roller is substantially parallel to the supply surface. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) Assembly according to claim 32, wherein the first roller is positioned in line with respect to the second roller wherein a notional tangent line notionally contacting the first and second roller is substantially parallel to the discharge surface. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) Assembly according to claim 32, wherein the first roller is positioned downstream past the second position. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) Assembly according to claim 32, wherein the supply device is positioned with respect to the discharge device such that the supply direction is at an angle to the discharge direction. ### Claim 40 Assembly for producing a strip from a band of flexible material, particularly unvulcanised rubber, more particularly unvulcanised rubber provided with reinforcement cords, comprising: a cutting device for along a cutting line cutting off a strip from an end of the band; a supply device for in a supply direction supplying the band to the cutting device; a discharge device for in a discharge direction discharging the strip cut off by the cutting device; a pick-up and placement unit for picking up the band at its end from the supply device, subsequently passing the end of the band past the cutting device, and bringing the strip cut off from the end of the band by the cutting device on the discharge unit, or bringing the end of the band on the discharge unit, wherein the placement unit comprises a conveyor belt having a longitudinal axis parallel to the supply direction and displaceable parallel to its longitudinal axis and having an end that, when the assembly is operative, is at a first side of the cutting device prior to cutting and at the other side after cutting. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) Assembly according to claim 40, wherein the placement unit comprises a retaining unit for retaining the strip or the end of the band on the conveyor belt. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) Assembly according to claim 40, wherein the cutting device comprises a lower blade and upper blade, and the end of the conveyor belt is displaceable in between the lower blade and the upper blade. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) Assembly according to claim 40, wherein the pick-up and placement unit comprises a device for picking up, displacing and placing a band or strip of flexible material, particularly unvulcanised rubber, more particularly unvulcanised rubber provided with reinforcement cords, with a leading end of the strip or band from a starting position to an end position in a downstream direction, comprising: a frame, a conveyor belt which runs over at least a first roller having a first axis of rotation and a second roller having a second axis of rotation, and a retaining unit provided with retaining means for retaining the strip or band onto the conveyor belt, wherein the frame is provided with the first roller, the retaining unit is displaceably mounted on the frame and provided with the second roller, the device is furthermore provided with tensioning means for keeping the conveyor belt tensioned during the displacement of the retaining unit, and the second roller has a first position with the second axis of rotation upstream from the starting position. ### Claim 44 Method for cutting strips from a band of flexible material, particularly unvulcanised rubber, more particularly unvulcanised rubber provided with reinforcement cords, comprising the steps: by means of a supply device supplying the band in a supply direction to a cutting device; by means of a device for picking up and placing a band of flexible material, picking up the strip upstream with respect to the cutting device from the supply device and passing it downstream past a cutting device; cutting off the strip from the band. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) Method according to claim 44, wherein the cutting device comprises a lower blade and an upper blade, and the device for picking up and placing reaches in between the lower blade and the upper blade for picking up the band and passes the band past the blades. ### Claim 46 Device for cutting a strip from a continuous band of unvulcanised rubber material, comprising a first and second cutting member, positioned for carrying out a cutting motion with respect to each other, a supply conveyor device for conveying the continuous band to the cutting members, and a displacement unit provided with a conveyor belt having a feed side, wherein the conveyor belt is positioned in a first position downstream past the cutting members, is provided with displacement means for displacing the feed side upstream in between the cutting members in an upstream position up to the supply conveyor device, and is provided with retaining means for in the upstream position of the feed side retaining the band on the conveyor belt and retaining it thereon while the conveyor belt returns to the first position. ### Claim 47 Device for picking up, displacing and placing a strip or band of flexible material, particularly unvulcanised rubber, more particularly unvulcanised rubber provided with reinforcement cords, with a leading end of the band or strip from a starting position to an end position, comprising: a frame; a conveyor belt which runs over at least a first roller having a first axis of rotation and a second roller having a second axis of rotation, and a retaining unit provided with retaining means for retaining the strip or band on the conveyor belt, wherein the frame is provided with the first roller, the retaining unit is displaceably mounted on the frame and is provided with the second roller, the device is furthermore provided with tensioning means for keeping the conveyor belt tensioned during the displacement of the retaining unit. ### Claim 48 (canceled) ### Claim 49 (canceled)