Automatic and continuous calibration of feed cord properties
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorDouglas Bruce Wood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is an apparatus and method for accurately applying a cord to a rotatable mandrel while manufacturing cord reinforced articles. The apparatus includes a rotating build mandrel, a cord supply, and a feed capstan for assisting in feeding cord from the cord supply to the mandrel along a defined cord path. At least two drums of differing diameters are located in the cord path. Encoders are connected to each drum for measuring at least the angular movement of the drum. Using the angular movement of the drums, the effective pitch line differential of the cord is determined.
Claims11
An apparatus for accurately applying a cord to a rotatable mandrel, the apparatus comprising a rotating build mandrel,a cord supply, a feed capstan for assisting in feeding cord from the cord supply to the mandrel along a defined cord path, the apparatus characterized by:
- two drums located in the cord path, the drums being of different diameters,
- an encoder connected to each drum, the encoder measuring at least the angular movement of the drum, and
- control means to measure the effective pitch line differential of the cord as the cord travels through the cord path.
A method of applying a cord to a rotatable mandrel, the method comprising supplying a cord, feeding the cord along a defined cord path, and winding the cord onto a rotatable build mandrel, the method characterized by:
- prior to winding the cord onto the rotatable mandrel, passing the cord over two drums of differing diameters,
- measuring the angular movement of the drums as the cord passes over the drums, and
- calculating the effective pitch line differential of the cord by the following equation:
- EPLD = ( RL * AL ) - ( RS * AS ) ( AS - AL )
- where R is the radius of each drum, A is the angular displacement, L represents the larger drum, and S represents the smaller drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.