US 5,735,995 A · Apparatus for applying an apex filler to a bead ring · patentgrep

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Abstract

The assembly applies an apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of an annular bead ring. The apex filler applying assembly incorporates an apex filler applicator that is preferably operable in conjunction with a plurality of server mechanisms. One server mechanism is a conveyor that receives a bead ring. A locator operates in conjunction with the conveyor to position the annular bead ring precisely on the conveyor so that it may be engaged by a transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism removes the bead ring from the conveyor and mounts it on a chuck turret assembly. A chuck head in the chuck turret assembly engages the bead ring and accurately positions the bead ring relative to applying rollers in the apex filler applicator, in which position the apex filler--which has been directed from an extruder through an orienting mechanism, into an in-feed mechanism and severed to length by an in-flight guillotine cutter--is applied to the annular bead ring. After the apex filler has been applied to the bead ring the transfer mechanism removes the finished tire bead sub-assembly from the chuck head and deposits the tire bead sub-assembly on the conveyor for removal from the assembly.

Claims29

Dependent claims

Apparatus for applying an apex filler to an annular bead ring comprising:

chuck means for selectively receiving an annular bead ring having an outer circumferential surface;
a pair of opposed, frusto-conical, applying rollers each having a rotational axis and outer surfaces, portions of which are spaced, one with respect to the other, in order to define a nip therebetween having a cross sectional configuration in the shape of the desired apex filler;
means for delivering said chuck means, at least when supporting an annular bead ring, into said nip;
means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material in the general cross sectional configuration of the desired apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said nip adapted to engage said linear strip of uncured elastomeric material and to apply said linear strip to said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
means for cutting said elastomeric strip to the length required to cover said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
and
retainers to engage substantially the entire apex filler as it is applied to said outer circumferential surface of said bead ring in order substantially to maintain the radial disposition in which said apex filler is applied to said bead ring by said nip while obviating adherence between said retainers and said elastomeric strip.

5 more elements

Apparatus for applying an apex filler to an annular bead ring comprising:

chuck means for selectively receiving an annular bead ring having an outer circumferential surface:
a pair of opposed frusto-conical, applying rollers each having a rotational axis and outer surfaces, portions of which are spaced one with respect to the other, in order to define a nip therebetween having a cross sectional configuration in the shape of the desired apex filler;
means for delivering said chuck means, at least when supporting an annular bead ring, into said nip;
means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material in the general cross sectional configuration of the desired apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said nip adapted to engage said linear strip of uncured elastomeric material and to apply said linear strip to said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
means for cutting said elastomeric strip to the length required to cover said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material to said outer circumferential surface of said bead ring further comprising:
an in-feed mechanism;
a guillotine cutter;
said guillotine cutter having a leading end cutter blade and a trailing end cutter blade;
said leading and trailing end cutter blades being angularly disposed with respect to each other and being disposed with respect to a vertical frame of reference to sever said elastomeric strip with leading and trailing ends in order to accommodate working of said uncured elastomeric material by said applying rollers and thereby to effect a mating engagement between said leading and trailing ends of said uncured elastomeric material as it is applied to said bead ring.

8 more elements

Apparatus for applying an apex filler to an annular bead ring comprising:

chuck means for selectively receiving an annular bead ring having an outer circumferential surface;
a pair of opposed, frusto-conical, applying rollers each having a rotational axis and outer surfaces, portions of which are spaced, one with respect to the other, in order to define a nip therebetween having a cross sectional configuration in the shape of the desired apex filler;
means for delivering said chuck means, at least when supporting an annular bead ring, into said nip;
means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material in the general cross sectional configuration of the desired apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said nip adapted to engage said linear strip of uncured elastomeric material and to apply said linear strip to said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
means for cutting said elastomeric strip to the length required to cover said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material to said outer circumferential surface of said bead ring further comprising:
an extruder to convert an uncured elastomeric material into said strip having the cross sectional configuration of a desired apex filler;
an in-feed mechanism;
said in-feed mechanism delivering said uncured elastomeric strip into said nip;
an accumulating loop;
a powered, loop-weight reducing roller;
said powered, loop-weight reducing roller being elevated with respect to said linear strip as it enters said orienting feed mechanism;
an orienting feed mechanism;
and
a feed throat to receive an uncured elastomeric strip from said powered, loop weight-reducing roller and deliver said strip in a horizontal disposition to said orienting feed mechanism;
said orienting feed mechanism employing a bay of successive, longitudinally-spaced, transitional rollers;
said successive transitional rollers effecting rotation of said strip from said horizontal disposition to a vertical disposition for entry into said in-feed mechanism.

15 more elements

Apparatus for applying an apex filler to an annular bead ring comprising:

chuck means for selectively receiving an annular bead ring having an outer circumferential surface;
a pair of opposed, frusto-conical, applying rollers each having a rotational axis and outer surfaces, portions of which are spaced, one with respect to the other, in order to define a nip therebetween having a cross sectional configuration in the shape of the desired apex filler;
means for delivering said chuck means, at least when supporting an annular bead ring, into said nip;
means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material in the general cross sectional configuration of the desired apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said nip adapted to engage said linear strip of uncured elastomeric material and to apply said linear strip to said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
means for cutting said elastomeric strip to the length required to cover said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said chuck means further comprising:
a chuck turret assembly;
at least one chuck head mounted on said chuck turret assembly;
said chuck head having at least three drive arms adapted selectively to engage and position a bead ring, having an outer circumferential surface, in said nip, the radially outer end of one of said at least three drive arms being fixedly positioned with respect to said turret assembly;
a drive block incorporated in said chuck turret assembly for reciprocation toward and away from said at least one chuck head;
means to translate said drive block in one direction to effect radial expansion within a radial plane of the radially outer ends of all of said drive arms except said drive arm having a fixedly positioned outer end in order to engage and to secure an annular bead ring on said chuck head;
and,
means to translate said drive block in the opposite direction to effect radial contraction within said radial plane of the radially outer ends of all of said drive arms except said drive arm having a fixedly positioned outer end in order to release an annular bead ring supported on said chuck head.

11 more elements

Apparatus for applying an apex filler to an annular bead ring comprising:

chuck means for selectively receiving an annular bead ring having an outer circumferential surface;
a pair of opposed, frusto-conical, applying rollers each having a rotational axis and outer surfaces, portions of which are spaced, one with respect to the other, in order to define a nip therebetween having a cross sectional configuration in the shape of the desired apex filler;
means for delivering said chuck means, at least when supporting an annular bead ring, into said nip;
means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material in the general cross sectional configuration of the desired apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said nip adapted to engage said linear strip of uncured elastomeric material and to apply said linear strip to said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ting;
means for cutting said elastomeric strip to the length required to cover said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring
said chuck means further comprising:
a chuck turret assembly;
at least one chuck head mounted on said chuck turret assembly;
said at least one chuck head adapted selectively to engage and release a bead ring having an outer circumferential surface;
said chuck means having a drive block;
said chuck means having a rimmed outer disk means supported on said drive block for rotational movement relative to said drive block as well as translational movement with said drive block;
said chuck means also having a central disk means supported on said drive block for rotational movement relative to both said drive block and said rimmed outer disk means as well as for translational movement with said rimmed outer disk means and said drive block;
at least three drive arms having a radially inner end pivotally mounted on said central disk means, a medial means linearly guided on said rimmed outer disk means and a radially outer end;
said radially outer end of one of said at least three drive arms being fixedly positioned with respect to said turret assembly;
means to effect reciprocal translation of said drive block with respect to said fixedly positioned outer end of one said drive arm;
reciprocal translation of said drive block in one direction effecting relative rotation of said central disk means with respect to said rimmed outer disk means in order to move said radially outer ends of all said drive arms except said drive arm having a fixedly positioned outer end radially outwardly to engage and secure an annular bead ring on said chuck means;
and,
reciprocal translation of said drive block in the opposite direction effecting relative retro-rotation of said central disk means and said rimmed outer disk means to move said radially outer ends of all said drive arms except said drive arm having a fixedly positioned outer end radially inwardly to release the annular bead ring supported on said chuck means.

16 more elements

Apparatus for applying an apex filler to an annular bead ring comprising:

chuck means for selectively receiving an annular bead ring having an outer circumferential surface;
a pair of opposed, frusto-conical, applying rollers each having a rotational axis and outer surfaces portions of which are spaced, one with respect to the other, in order to define a nip therebetween having a cross sectional configuration in the shape of the desired apex filler;
means for delivering said chuck means, at least when supporting an annular bead ring, into said nip;
means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material in the general cross sectional configuration of the desired apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
said nip adapted to engage said linear strip of uncured elastomeric material and to apply said linear strip to said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
means for cutting said elastomeric strip to the length required to cover said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
a substantially horizontal conveyor means;
a receiving index station associated with said conveyor;
said receiving index station adapted to accept an annular bead ring deposited thereon in a substantially horizontal position;
a locating index station;
a locator mechanism cooperatively associated with said locating index station capable of precisely locating annular bead rings of different diameters deposited on said receiving index station with respect to a point along the circumference of said annular bead ring as said conveyor means indexes to transport said bead ring from said receiving index station to said locating index station;
and
a pick up/delivery index station where bead rings positioned by said locator are transferred to said chuck means.

10 more elements

Apparatus for applying an apex filler to an annular bead ring comprising:

chuck means for selectively receiving an annular bead ring having an outer circumferential surface;
a pair of opposed, frusto-conical, applying rollers each having a rotational axis and outer surfaces, portions of which are spaced one with respect to the other, in order to define a nip therebetween having a cross sectional configuration in the shape of the desired apex filler;
means for delivering said chuck means, at least when supporting an annular bead ring, into said nip;
means for presenting a linear strip of uncured elastomeric material in the general cross sectional configuration of the desired apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring:
said nip adapted to engage said linear strip of uncured elastomeric material and to apply said linear strip to said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
means for cutting said elastomeric strip to the length required to cover said outer circumferential surface of said annular bead ring;
a pick-up/delivery index station;
and
transfer means cooperatively associated with said pick-up/delivery index station to pick-up a substantially horizontally disposed bead ring from said pick-up/delivery index station and position said bead ring substantially vertically for engagement by said chuck means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.