Machine for making an anti-static tire tread
AssigneeBridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
InventorWilliam G. Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of providing an extruded tire tread (T) with anti-static properties. In this method, a pin (10) is coated with an electrically conductive material (M). The coated pin (10) pierces the tire tread (T) to form an opening (12) of the desired depth and then is withdrawn. During withdrawal of the pin (10), the material (M) remains in the pierced opening (12) so that a conductive body (14) is formed in the tire tread (T). The pin (10) can then be re-coated with the material (M) and the cycle repeated to produce a plurality of conductive bodies (14) in the tire tread (T).
Claims19
A machine for introducing electrically conductive material into a tire tread traveling along a conveyor, the machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a wheel rotatably mounted to the frame and positioned adjacent to the conveyor;
- a plurality of pins mounted on the wheel and disposed radially outward therefrom;
- and
- a supply system positioned adjacent to the wheel and configured to coat the pins with the electrically conductive material,
- wherein the supply system includes a transfer reel rotatably mounted to the frame by a spindle that is coupled to a spindle for the wheel, such that turning of the wheel causes rotation of the transfer reel,
- wherein the transfer reel includes a slot which captures the electrically conductive material as it passes through the supply system and which receives the pins as the reel passes by the wheel, and
- wherein, upon rotation of the wheel, each pin coated with the electrically conductive material pierces the tire tread to form an opening therein, thereby leaving at least a portion of the electrically conductive material in the opening after the pin is withdrawn therefrom.
A machine for introducing electrically conductive material into a tire tread traveling on a conveyor along a travel path, the machine comprising:
- a frame having a lift mechanism;
- a wheel rotatably mounted to the lift mechanism such that the wheel is configured to be raised and lowered relative to the conveyor;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins mounted on the wheel and disposed radially outward therefrom;
- and
- a supply system positioned adjacent to the wheel and configured to coat the pins with the electrically conductive material,
- wherein the supply system includes a transfer reel rotatably mounted to the frame by a spindle that is coupled to a spindle for the wheel, such that turning of the wheel causes rotation of the transfer reel,
- wherein the transfer reel includes a slot which captures the electrically conductive material as it passes through the supply system and which receives the pins as the reel passes by the wheel,
- wherein movement of the tire tread along the travel path causes the wheel to rotate, and
- wherein, upon rotation of the wheel, the pins coated with the electrically conductive material pierce the tire tread at regular intervals to form openings therein, thereby leaving at least a portion of the electrically conductive material in the openings after the pins are withdrawn therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.