Modular tire turn-up apparatus
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
InventorsNikolas R. Tomassoni, Phillip T. Brasher, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tire turn-up apparatus for selectively engaging a cylindrical tire building drum may include a base and a first plurality of finger assemblies. The tire building drum may be a selected drum from a group of drums of different drum diameters. Each finger assembly may have a backstop connected to the base and a finger pivotally connected to the backstop. Each finger may be moveable between a radially retracted and extended position to turn-up the tire carcass. Each finger may be radially adjustable on its respective backstop to align with different drum diameters.
Claims9
A method of turning up an end of a tire carcass, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) engaging a first drum of a first diameter with a separable turn-up device, the first drum having a first tire carcass disposed thereon;
- (b) turning up an end of the first tire carcass with the turn-up device;
- (c) disengaging the turn-up device from the first drum;
- (d) adjusting a diameter of the turn-up device;
- (e) engaging a second drum of a second diameter with the adjusted turn-up device, the second drum having a second tire carcass disposed thereon;
- and
- (f) turning up an end of the second tire carcass with the adjusted turn-up device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.