Method of applying ply to a tire building drum

A method for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body, the sheet having a first and second lateral edge and a front edge, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving the sheet of flexible material onto a conveyor belt of a conveyor table, wherein the conveyor belt can translate in an X direction, wherein the conveyor belt has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the conveyor belt, wherein a rotational axis of each roller is parallel with the X direction so the sheet can be moved in a Y direction transverse to the X direction by the plurality of rollers;
• b. aligning one of the lateral edges of the sheet with an edge guide of the conveyor table by tilting the conveyor table;
• c. tilting the conveyor table back to a level position;
• d. moving a front edge of the conveyor table adjacent the cylindrical body;
• e. and applying the sheet onto the cylindrical body;
• wherein said conveyor table further comprising a plurality of support legs, each support leg comprising:
• an outer leg portion telescopically slidable over an inner leg portion, a respective nut connected to each outer leg portion, and a respective spindle engaged within each nut, each spindle being rotatably mounted in a longitudinally-fixed manner to the inner leg portion of its support leg;
• and
• wherein rotation of each spindle within its nut causes actuation of its nut and consequently the telescopic sliding of its outer leg portion over its inner leg portion.