US 5,781,973 A · Spreader for calendar line

Abstract

A spreader for spreading a fabric having upper and lower sides, transversely spaced edges and longitudinally extending tire reenforcing cords spaced laterally across the fabric between the edges preparatory to rubberizing the fabric in a calender, where the fabric moves in a given path to the calender, the spreader comprising a cantilever mounted mandrel having an outer generally cylindrical surface concentric with a rotational axis, with the cylindrical surface having a helical groove having convolutions with a pitch equal to a desired cord distribution laterally of the fabric; a mandrel support structure adjacent one edge of the fabric and having means for rotatably mounting the mandrel in a position transverse of the fabric with the cylindrical surface aligned with the fabric path to be generally tangential to a side of the fabric as the fabric moves in the given path; a first motor on the support structure for rotating the mandrel about the axis at a given rotational speed; a second motor for moving the support structure in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the mandrel and at a given linear speed as the first motor is rotating the mandrel until a number of cords of the fabric at the one edge of the fabric are captured in the helical groove and spaced by the pitch of convolutions of the groove at a desired cord distribution; means for stopping the mandrel when the one edge is at a detected transverse location with respect to the mandrel support structure; and, feedback means for thereafter maintaining the one edge at a desired transverse location of the one edge.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A spreader for spreading a fabric having upper and lower sides, transversely spaced edges and longitudinally extending tire reenforcing cords spaced laterally across said fabric between said edges preparatory to rubberizing said fabric in a calender, as said fabric moves in a given path to said calender, with said fabric having a desired transverse location for each of said edges, said spreader comprising:

a cantilever mounted mandrel having an outer generally cylindrical surface concentric with a rotational axis, said cylindrical surface having a helical groove with convolutions having a pitch equal to a desired cord distribution laterally of said fabric;
a mandrel support structure adjacent one edge of said fabric and having means for rotatably mounting said mandrel in a position transverse of said fabric with said cylindrical surface aligned with said fabric path to be generally tangential to a side of said fabric as said fabric moves in said given path;
a first motor on said support structure for rotating said mandrel about said axis at a given rotational speed;
a second motor for moving said support structure in a direction parallel to said rotational axis of said mandrel and at a given linear speed as said first motor is rotating said mandrel until a number of cords of said fabric at said one edge of said fabric are captured in said helical groove and spaced by the pitch of convolutions of said groove at said desired cord distribution;
means for stopping said mandrel when said one edge is at a detected transverse location with respect to said mandrel support structure;
and, feedback means for thereafter maintaining said one edge at said known desired transverse location of said one edge.

3 more elements

A method of spreading a fabric having upper and lower sides, transversely spaced edges and longitudinally extending tire reenforcing cords spaced laterally across said fabric between said edges preparatory to rubberizing said fabric in a calender as said fabric moves in a given path to said calender with said fabric having a desired transverse location for each of said edges, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cantilever mounted mandrel with an outer generally cylindrical surface concentric with a rotational axis, said cylindrical surface having a helical groove with convolutions having a pitch equal to a desired cord distribution laterally of said fabric;
(b) providing a support structure adjacent one edge of said fabric;
(c) rotatably mounting said mandrel with said cylindrical surface aligned with said fabric path to be generally tangential to a side of said fabric as said fabric moves in said given path;
(d) providing a first motor on said support structure for rotating said mandrel about said axis at a given rotational speed;
(e) providing a second motor for moving said support structure in a direction parallel to said rotational axis of said mandrel and at a given linear speed as said first motor is rotating said mandrel whereby a number of cords of said fabric at said one edge of said fabric are captured in said helical groove and spaced by the pitch of convolutions of said groove at said desired cord distribution until said one edge is detected by a sensor fixed with respect to said mandrel;
(f) moving said mandrel laterally until said sensor is at said known desired transverse location;
and,
(g) maintaining said one edge at said known desired transverse location of said one edge.

5 more elements

A system for spreading a fabric having upper and lower sides, transversely spaced first and second edges and longitudinally extending tire reenforcing cords spaced laterally across said fabric between said edges preparatory to rubberizing said fabric in a calender, as said fabric moves in a given path to said calender, with said fabric having a desired transverse location for each of said edges, said system comprising:

a first spreader for spreading said fabric to a position with said edges slightly inboard of said desired transverse location;
a pair of second edge spreaders between said first spreader and said calender and adjacent said calender;
said edge spreader includes a spreader unit operative with one of said edges, said spreader units each including a cantilever mounted mandrel having an outer generally cylindrical surface concentric with a rotational axis, said cylindrical surface including a helical groove with convolutions having a pitch equal to a desired cord distribution laterally of said fabric, a mandrel support structure adjacent one of said edges of said fabric and means for rotatably mounting said mandrel in a position transverse of said fabric with said cylindrical surface aligned with said fabric path to be tangential to the lower side of said fabric as said fabric moves in said given path, a first motor for rotating said mandrel to pull cords onto said mandrel in said groove and a second motor for moving said mandrel inwardly under said fabric;
means for stopping rotation of said first motor when said edge has been spread by said cords engaging said groove of said rotating mandrel until said edge is at a detected location with respect to said mandrel support structure;
and, feedback means for thereafter spreading said fabric to maintain the edges of said fabric at said known desired location at the calender.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spreader for calendar line

Life of this patent

Spreader for calendar line

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45