GB1040316A - Method of and apparatus for applying tire components - Google Patents

Abstract

1,040,316. Tyre building apparatus. YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO. Ltd. June 25, 1963 [July 16, 1962], No. 25290/63. Heading B7C. A method of applying tyre bands or a tread band to a tyre building drum comprises the steps of fitting a band 3 over a cylindrical, inflatable bladder 1, positioning a vacuum drum 2, having end clamp means at opposite ends thereof, around the bladder, inflating the bladder 1 to expand the band 3 radially, operating the end clamp means to secure the edges of the band 3 to the cylindrical body of the vacuum drum 2, evacuating the drum 2 to retain the band 3 on the inner periphery thereof, evacuating the bladder 1 so that it collapses, moving the vacuum drum 2 to position the band 3 over a tyre building drum and then releasing the vacuum in the drum 2 and unclamping the band edges so that the band 3 contracts on to the tyre building drum. The bladder 1, the vacuum drum 2 and the tyre building drum are mounted coaxially, the bladder and tyre building drum being fixed while the vacuum drum 2 moves therebetween. The bladder 1 is supported on a barrel comprising two circular end plates 6 which carry a plurality of circumferentially spaced, parallel bars 4. The barrel is mounted on a shaft 9 having an axial bore 10 by which the bladder 1 is connected to a source of vacuum or compressed air. The cylindrical body or inner wall of the vacuum drum 2 is provided with holes 2B while the outer wall has an aperture 2C so that the annular space 2A defined by the inner and outer walls of the drum 2 may be connected to a source of vacuum or compressed air. A cylindrical member 5 may be fitted over the cylindrical body of the vacuum drum 2 on each side of the outer wall thereof for axially sliding movement to serve as an extension of the vacuum drum 2. Each end clamp means includes a number of piston-cylinder assemblies 13-14 mounted at circumferentially spaced positions on one of the extension members 5 and which operate levers 17 having clamping blades 19 at their free extremities. When the levers 17 are operated the tip portions of the blades 19 move radially inwardly along the path indicated at 20 to slip between the edges of the bladder 1 and the band 3, while forcing the bladder wall radially inwards, until the adjacent edge of the band 3 is clamped between the blades 19 and the member 5. When applying a tread band the cylindrical body of the vacuum drum 2 is recessed to accommodate the crown portion of the band. When the vacuum drum 2 is positioned over the tyre building drum the band 3 is transferred by releasing the clamping blades 19 and interrupting the vacuum supply.