Apparatus and method for applying a gum strip to an edge of a cord reinforced ply

2:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first folding member is arranged for folding the second part of the first gum strip simultaneously along the entire elongate first strip region (S1) of the first strip support.

3:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ply support is arranged to remain stationary in the longitudinal direction (L) during the folding.

4:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first folding axis (F1) extends in the support plane (P) or within a range of zero to five millimeters above or below said support plane (P).

5:

• The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ply support is arranged for receiving the cord reinforced ply with the first edge coinciding with the first folding axis (F1) or extending along said first folding axis (F) within a range of zero to three millimeters from said first folding axis (F1).

6:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a first drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the first folding member with respect to the first retaining member about the first folding axis (F1).

7:

• The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first drive mechanism is spaced apart from the first folding axis (F1) in a circumferential direction about said first folding axis (F1).

8:

• The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first drive mechanism comprises an actuator and a linkage assembly that connects the actuator to the first folding member for converting an output of the actuator into a rotation of the first folding member about the first folding axis (F1).

9:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first strip support with the first folding member in the flat position is recessed from the support plane (P) over a first spacing distance (D1).

10:

• The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first folding member is spaced apart from the first folding axis (F1) over said first spacing distance (D1) in a circumferential direction about the first folding axis (F1) in the flat position, the folding position and during the rotation between the flat position and the folding position.

11:

• The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first retaining member is movable in a recessing direction (R) between a first retaining position in which the first retaining member is recessed with respect to the support plane (P) over the first spacing distance (D1) and a second retaining position in which the first retaining member is recessed with respect to the support plane (P) over a second spacing distance (D2) that is larger than the first spacing distance (D1).

12:

• The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first strip support comprises a retaining drive for moving the first retaining member in a stitching direction (T) opposite to the recessing direction (R).

13:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first folding member comprises a single folding body extending in the longitudinal direction (L) along the entire elongate first strip region (S1) of the first strip support.

14:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first retaining member comprises a retaining body and one or more first retaining elements for retaining the first part of the first gum strip to said retaining body.

15:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first folding member comprises a folding body and one or more second retaining elements for retaining the second part of the first gum strip to said folding body.

16:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ply support comprises one or more third retaining elements for retaining the cord reinforced ply in the support plane (P) on the first part of the first gum strip.

17:

• The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one or more first retaining elements are vacuum retaining elements.

18:

• The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the one or more second retaining elements are vacuum retaining elements.

19:

• The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the one or more third retaining elements are magnetic retaining elements.

20:

• The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cord reinforced ply has a second edge parallel and opposite to the first edge, wherein the apparatus is further arranged for applying a second gum strip to said second edge along a second folding axis (F2) of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second strip support that defines an elongate second strip region (S2) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) for supporting the second gum strip below the second edge at the second folding axis (F2), wherein the second strip support comprises a second retaining member extending along the second folding axis (F2) on the same side of the second folding axis (F2) as the ply support for retaining a first part of the second gum strip below the second edge and a second folding member that is rotatable with respect to the second retaining member about the second folding axis (F2) from a flat position on the outside of the second retaining member with respect to the ply support into a folding position opposite to the second retaining member with respect to the support plane (P) for folding a second part of the second gum strip around the second edge.

21:

• The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first strip support and the second strip support are movable relative to each other in a lateral direction (E) parallel to the support plane (P) and transverse or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L).

22:

• The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the ply support has a width (W1, W2) in the lateral direction (E) that is adjustable in response to the movement of the first strip support and the second strip support in said lateral direction (E).

23:

• The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the ply support comprises a plurality of ply support members extending in the longitudinal direction (L), wherein said ply support members are distributed in the lateral direction (E) between the first strip support and the second strip support to define the support plane (P) for the cord reinforced ply, wherein the ply support members are movable towards and away from each other in the lateral direction (E).

24:

• The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the ply support members are evenly distributed and remain evenly distributed between the first strip support and the second strip support when moving towards or away from each other in the lateral direction (E).

26:

• The method according to claim 25, wherein the first folding member folds the second part of the first gum strip simultaneously along the entire elongate first strip region (S1) of the first strip support.

27:

• The method according to claim 25, wherein the ply support remains stationary in the longitudinal direction (L) during the folding.

28:

• The method according to claim 25, wherein the cord reinforced ply has a second edge parallel and opposite to the first edge, wherein the method further comprises the step of applying a second gum strip to said second edge along a second folding axis (F2) of the apparatus.