Method for winding strips on the tire building machine

A method of winding a strip member on a drum of a tire building machine, comprising:

• providing a first strip end sensor directed at a first detection position on said drum;
• whereat said strip member is brought into initial contact with said drum;
• providing a second strip end sensor directed at said drum and angularly displaced from said first strip end sensor;
• providing an angle detector to detect an angle of rotation of said drum;
• rotating said drum in a drum rotational direction while delivering a front end of said strip member to said drum to begin wrapping said strip member on said drum;
• detecting said front end of said strip member using said first strip end sensor and initiating a first angular measurement using said angle detector;
• detecting arrival of said front end of said strip member at said second strip end sensor;
• completing said first angular measurement using said angle detector and initiating a second angular measurement when said front end of said strip member is detected by said second strip end sensor and continuing to rotate said drum in said drum rotational direction;
• calculating a first angle representing angular displacement from said second strip end sensor to said first strip end senor in the drum rotational direction based on output from said angle detector;
• detecting arrival of a trailing end of said strip member at said first strip end sensor brought about by rotating said drum in said drum rotational direction;
• completing said second angular measurement using said angle detector when said trailing end of said strip member is detected by said first strip end sensor to yield a second angle;
• and
• calculating an overlap length if said second angle is greater than said first angle and calculating a gap length if said second angle is less than said first angle.