US 5,635,016 AGranted

Transfer ring or drum apparatus with adjustable circumference

AssigneeWyko Corporation

InventorMark S. Byerley

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Abstract

Apparatus defining an outer circumference suitable to serve as a forming surface or an inner circumference suitable to serve as a circumference-engaging surface. The apparatus is particularly useful in the forming of the belt and tread package of a vehicle tire or as a transfer ring for grasping a belt and tread package of a vehicle tire. The apparatus includes a plurality of multi-sectioned segments of arcuate cross-section which collectively define the cylindrical surface of the apparatus and which are supported for movement radially of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus for adjustment of the circumference of the cylindrical surface. Each segment includes an intermediate section and two side sections hingedly connected to the intermediate section. The segments also include guide plates which cooperate with a side section of an adjacent segment so that movement of each segment radially of the drum effects a corresponding hinged movement of a side section of an adjacent arcuate segment.

Claims12

Dependent claims

Apparatus defining an outer circumference or an inner circumference to serve as a forming surface or as a circumference-engaging surface, respectively, comprising

frame means having a central axis,
a plurality of multi-sectional segments mounted by said frame means in side-by-side relationship about said central axis thereof, said segments being radially movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the central axis of said frame means and including arcuate surfaces which move toward one another when said segments are moved radially inwardly and away from one another when said segments are moved radially outwardly to collectively define a circumference,
each segment including an intermediate section and circumferentially adjacent first and second side sections flanking the intermediate section on respective ones of the opposite sides thereof,
means pivotally mounting each of the first and second side sections to a respective side of the intermediate section for hinged movement of each side section with respect to the intermediate section,
guide means secured to each of the opposite ends of the intermediate section of a first segment, the guide means on one end of the intermediate section extending therefrom in the direction of a side section of a further segment adjacent to the first segment, and the guide means on the opposite end of the intermediate section extending therefrom in the direction of a side section of a still further segment adjacent to the opposite side of the intermediate section,
means interconnecting each of said guide means to their respective side section of said further and said still further segments whereby radial movement of the intermediate section of the first segment is converted into hinged movement of the side sections of said further and said still further segments.

3 more elements

In a transfer ring or drum apparatus for use in the manufacture of a vehicle tire wherein the apparatus has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of arcuate segments which each define an arc of an inner or outer cylindrical surface of the apparatus so that the segments collectively define the cylindrical surface and wherein the segments are supported for movement radially of the longitudinal axis to accommodate an adjustment in the circumference of the cylindrical surface, the improvement characterized in that:

each arcuate segment comprises two side sections associated with an intermediate section and being radially moveable therewith wherein each section defines a portion of the are of the cylindrical surface and wherein the side sections are hingedly movable relative to the intermediate section about an axis of pivot oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus;
and
guide means associated with each arcuate segment for coordinating the movement of the segment with the movement of a section of a circumferentially adjacent arcuate segment so that the movement of each arcuate segment radially of the longitudinal axis during an adjustment of the circumference of the outer cylindrical surface effects a hinged movement of a section of the adjacent arcuate segment about its axis of pivot.

In a drum apparatus or a transfer ring apparatus for use in the forming or conveyance, respectively, of a cylindrical component of a vehicle tire wherein the drum or transfer ring apparatus has a longitudinal axis and an adjustable outer cylindrical circumference about the longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of arcuate segments which collectively define the cylindrical surface of the apparatus and which are supported for movement radially of the longitudinal axis to adjust the circumference of the cylindrical surface, and wherein each arcuate segment includes means providing a row of spaced fingers arranged in such a relationship with the fingers of the finger-providing means of an adjacent arcuate segment of like construction so that as the circumference of the cylindrical surface is increased and decreased as the arcuate segments are moved radially of the longitudinal axis, the fingers of the one segment move into and out of the spacings provided between the fingers of the adjacent arcuate segment, the improvement comprising:

guide means associated with one arcuate segment and connected to the finger-providing means of the adjacent segment for coordinating the movement of the finger-providing means of the adjacent arcuate segment with the movement of the one arcuate segment radially of the longitudinal axis, said guide means including means slidably connecting the one arcuate segment with the finger-providing means of the adjacent arcuate segment so that as the arcuate segments are moved radially of the longitudinal axis to adjust the circumference of the outer cylindrical surface, the one arcuate segment and the finger-providing means of the adjacent segment act as cam and cam follower as the finger-providing means moves in response to the movement of the one arcuate segment radially of the longitudinal axis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.