Tread band applicator device and method for applying a tread band to a tire being retreaded
AssigneeA-Z Formen- und Maschinenbau GmbH
InventorFlorian Fischer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tread band applicator device is provided for building a tread band on a tire carcass and includes a press applicator head for applying a tread band raw material mass onto the tire carcass as the tire carcass is rotated. The press applicator head is movable along the direction of the axis of rotation of the tire carcass in correspondence with the curvature of the outer surface of the tire carcass and is operable to apply the tread band raw material in a width which is less than the width of the tire carcass. The press applicator head is a component of an extruder which is mounted for movement about a plurality of axes.
Claims22
A In a tread band applicator device for building a tread band on a tire carcass, the improvement comprising:
- a press applicator head for applying a tread band raw material mass onto the tire carcass as the tire carcass is rotated, the press applicator head being movable along the direction of the axis of rotation of the tire carcass in correspondence with the curvature of the outer surface of the tire carcass and being operable to apply the tread band raw material in a width which is less than the width of the tire carcass, the press applicator head including an opening through which the tread band raw material is extruded and a side flank extending axially to one side of the opening, as viewed relative to the axis of rotation of the tire carcass, and the press applicator head is operable to apply the tread band raw material onto the tire carcass by extrusion of the tread band raw material through the opening as the tire carcass is rotated, wherein the extruded tread band raw material forms a tread strip extending circumferentially around the tire carcass, and the press applicator head being displaceable axially to successive positions transversely across the width of the tire carcass for extruding at each successive position another tread strip in axially abutting contact with the respective just-applied tread strip and the side flank of the press applicator head being disposed in sealing manner on the outer surface of each respective just-applied tread strip as the tread band raw material is extruded to form the next successive tread strip such that the extruded tread band raw material is sealed off from flow in the direction of the respective just-applied tread strip on which the side flank is disposed.
A method of applying a tread band onto a tire carcass, comprising:
- providing a press applicator head operable to apply a tread band raw material mass onto the tire carcass which is rotatably supported for rotation about an axis of rotation during the application of a tread band thereon, the press applicator head including an opening and a side flank extending axially to one side of the opening, as viewed relative to the axis of rotation of the tire carcass;
- and
- applying the tread band raw material mass onto the tire carcass by moving the press applicator head transversely across the tire carcass in a manner such that the width of the respective applied tread band raw material mass applied by the press applicator head is always less than the full axial width of the tire carcass, wherein the step of applying the tread band raw material mass onto the tire carcass includes extruding the tread band raw material mass through the opening in the press applicator head as the tire carcass is rotated, wherein the extruded tread band raw material forms a tread strip extending circumferentially around the tire carcass, and displacing the press applicator head axially to extrude successive axially abutting tread strips on the tire carcass with the side flank of the press applicator head being successively disposed in sealing manner on the outer surface of each respective newly formed axially abutting tread strip as the tread band raw material is extruded to form the next successive tread strip such that the extruded tread band raw material is sealed off from flow in the direction of the respective axially abutting tread strip on which the side flank is disposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.