# US 8,465,610 B2 · Rubber strip, method for manufacturing tire and tire component member using same, and apparatus therefor

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- Number: US 8,465,610 B2
- Document ID: US8465610B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/153,670
- Filed: 2008-05-22
- Published: 2008-09-18
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2001-03-29
- Assignees: Bridgestone Corporation
- Applicants: Nobuyuki Hirai; Kenji Yamada; Katsuto Koyama
- Inventors: Nobuyuki Hirai; Kenji Yamada; Katsuto Koyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465610B2

## CPC

- B29D 30/28: Rolling-down or pressing-down the layers in the building process
- B29D 30/16: Applying the layers; Guiding or stretching the layers during application {(applying tread bands to carcasses B29D30/58; retreading B29D30/54)}
- B29D 30/3028: {by feeding a continuous band and winding it helically, i.e. the band is fed while being advanced along the drum axis, to form an annular element (winding and joining, helically in general B29C53/58)}
- B29D 30/60: by winding narrow strips
- B29D 30/62: by extrusion or injection of the tread on carcass
- B29D 2030/4437: {Adjusting the dimensions of the layers}
- B29D 2030/4456: {by using speed differences, e.g. between conveyors or between conveyor and drum}
- B29L 2030/002: {Treads}
- B29L 2030/007: {Sidewalls}
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for building a green tire or a tire component member by winding and laminating a rubber strip on a rigid core or a building drum. The apparatus includes a flattening roll and a rubber strip winder. The flattening roll flattens a projection of a stepped portion produced by overlapping portions of the rubber strip, and a roller of the flattening roll is moved so that it is constantly located at a given position with reference to the rigid core or building drum. The flattening roll moves in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the rubber strip winder during helical winding of the rubber strip on the rigid core or building drum.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for manufacturing a tire, comprising:
building a desired green tire by helically winding and laminating a rubber strip on a rigid core or a building drum;
moving a rubber strip winder so that the rubber strip winder is being constantly located at a given position with reference to the rigid core or the building drum during the winding;
setting a flattening roll such that, as seen in a plan view of a roller of the flattening roll, an extending direction of the rubber strip, at a point at which the strip is passed between the flattening roll and the rigid core or the building drum, is not perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the roller of the flattening roll;
flattening a projection of a stepped portion produced by one portion of the rubber strip and another portion of the rubber strip overlapping thereon under pressure by the flattening roll, a surface of a roller of the flattening roll being moved so that the roller of the flattening roll is being constantly located at a given position with reference to the rigid core or the building drum, the flattening roll moving in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the rubber strip winder which direction is defined during helical winding of the rubber strip on the rigid core or the building drum; and
rotationally driving the roller of the flattening roll at a rotational speed different from that of the rigid core or the building drum.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for manufacturing a tire according to claim 1, wherein a difference in rotational speeds between the rigid core or the building drum and the roller of the flattening roll is set to be greater than 0% to about 30% of a rotational speed of the rigid core or the building drum.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method for manufacturing a tire according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the roller of the flattening roll is set, as seen in a plan view of the rubber strip, to an angle in a range of from about 60 degrees to less than 90 degrees with reference to the extending direction of the rubber strip on the rigid core or the building drum.

### Claim 4

A method for manufacturing a tire component member, comprising:
building a desired tire component member by helically winding and laminating a rubber strip on a tire component member forming drum;
moving a rubber strip winder so that the rubber strip winder is being constantly located at a given position with reference to the tire component member forming drum during the winding;
setting a flattening roll such that, as seen in a plan view of a roller of the flattening roll, an extending direction of the rubber strip, at a point at which the strip is passed between the flattening roll and the tire component member forming drum, is not perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the roller of the flattening roll;
flattening a projection produced by a part of the rubber strip and another part of the rubber strip overlapping thereon under pressure by the flattening roll, a surface of the roller of the flattening roll being moved so that the roller of the flattening roll is being constantly located at a given position with reference to the tire component member forming drum, the flattening roll moving in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the rubber strip winder which direction is defined during helical winding of the rubber strip on the tire component member forming drum; and
rotationally driving the roller of the flattening roll at a rotational speed different from that of the tire component member forming drum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method for manufacturing a tire component member according to claim 4, wherein a difference in rotational speeds between the tire component member forming drum and the roller of the flattening roll is set to be greater than 0% to about 30% of a rotational speed of the tire component member forming drum.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method for manufacturing a tire component member according to claim 5, wherein the axis of rotation of the roller of the flattening roll is set, as seen in a plan view of the rubber strip, to an angle in a range of from about 60 degrees to less than 90 degrees with reference to the extending direction of the rubber strip on the tire component member forming drum.