Machine for making an anti-static tire tread
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, 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 The coated pin (10) pierces the tire tread (T) to form an opening (12) of the desired depth and then is withdrawn.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).
Claims20
An apparatus for introducing a material into an article, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a wheel rotatably mounted to the frame;
- 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 at least one pin with the material,
- wherein the supply system includes a transfer reel rotatably mounted to the frame,
- wherein the transfer reel includes at least one slot which receives the pins and contains the material so that at least one pin can be coated with the material as the reel passes by the wheel, and
- wherein, upon rotation of the wheel, at least one pin coated with the material pierces the article, thereby leaving at least a portion of the material in the article after the pin is withdrawn therefrom.
An apparatus for introducing electrically conductive material into a tire tread, the apparatus 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;
- 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 at least one pin with the electrically conductive material,
- wherein the supply system includes a transfer reel rotatably mounted to the frame,
- wherein the transfer reel includes at least one slot which receives the pins and contains the material so that at least one pin can be coated with the material as the transfer reel passes by the wheel, and
- wherein, upon rotation of the wheel, at least one pin coated with the electrically conductive material pierces the tire tread, thereby leaving at least a portion of the electrically conductive material in the tire tread after the pins are withdrawn therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.