Tread-line paint applicator

Abstract

A paint applicator apparatus for applying a paint line to a moving strand of a tire component comprising a paint neck and a paint head. The paint neck includes a receiving neck portion, a discharge neck portion, and a paint supply passage. The receiving neck portion extends along a receiving neck portion axis and the discharge neck portion neck portion extends along a discharge neck portion axis. The paint supply passage includes a paint inlet in the receiving neck portion and a paint outlet in the discharge neck portion. The receiving neck portion axis and the discharge neck portion axis define an obtuse angle. The discharge neck portion axis is oriented substantially parallel to the moving strand, and the receiving neck portion axis is oriented upwardly relative to the moving strand. The paint head is coupled to the discharge neck portion and includes a rotatable paint wheel for carrying paint from the paint outlet to the moving strand.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.