HK1003507B - Apparatus and method for applying an apex filler to a bead ring - Google Patents

Description

Apparatus and method for applying bead filler to bead

The present invention relates generally to a method and an apparatus for applying a bead filler having a high aspect ratio to an annular bead, thereby obtaining a finished green tire bead to be incorporated into an automotive tire. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying a linear bead filler having a high aspect ratio to an annular bead of steel, which method and apparatus minimize the formation of flash, beads or craters in the finished green bead. More particularly, the present invention relates not only to a method and unique apparatus for efficiently applying a relatively high aspect ratio bead filler to an endless bead, but also to a servo mechanism for facilitating the operation of the method and the method of applying the bead filler to the endless bead.

The unique bead filler applicator apparatus to which the present invention is directed is the improvement of the apparatus described in prior U.S. patent 5,100,497, owned and filed by the assignee of the present invention. The apparatus disclosed and claimed in the prior art patents described herein is effective for applying a bead of filler material having a limited aspect ratio, that is, a bead of filler material having a radial dimension of at most about 3/4 inches and a base width of about 1/4 inches, resulting in an aspect ratio of about 3: 1. However, the prior art devices are not capable of applying any bead filler having an aspect ratio significantly greater than the aforementioned 3: 1 ratio, which would otherwise result in undesirable burrs, beads or dimples on the bead filler on the finished semi-finished ring.

As we will see, the aspect ratio desired for the current bead fillers suitable for low profile tires is likely to be from 8: 1 up to 16: 1. As exemplified by the apparatus disclosed in USP 5,100,497, the prior art mechanism of combining a bead wire and a bead filler to form a bead cannot simply form such a bead with such a bead filler having a high aspect ratio. To better understand the shape of such high aspect ratio apex fillers, a typical apex filler has a radial dimension of about three and one-third inches, a width of about one-quarter (1/4) inches, and an aspect ratio of about thirteen to one (13: 1). The bead filler has a width ranging from slightly less than 1/4 inches to slightly greater than 1/4 inches, and the bead filler has a radial dimension ranging from about 3 inches to as much as 5 inches, all of which are calculated to be much larger than prior art shapes.

In order to understand more clearly its history and status, the function of the bead filler should be understood as a tyre having two parts with a bead spaced in the transverse direction, which determine the diameter of the innermost part of the tyre. Each bead comprises an annular metal bead ring assembly which imparts circumferential strength and structural integrity to the bead, i.e., provides the tire with a rim-engaging structure. Generally, the semifinished bead of each tire contains, in addition to the metal-wire bead, a bead filler, since this combination ensures a smooth transition joint between each portion of bead and the adjacent sidewall portion of the tire.

While low profile tires are believed to contribute to improved aesthetic appearance of a vehicle on which the tire is mounted, operation of a vehicle with a low profile tire at high speeds can degrade the lateral stability of the vehicle. Particularly, if the use of a rubberized material constituting the tire sidewall is reduced in designing a low-profile tire, the tire is adversely affected by the use of a smaller amount of a rubber material in the sidewall when the automobile turns at a high speed. The addition of a ply to at least the sidewall portions will enhance the lateral stability of the tire, which not only adds cost, but also undesirably increases the thickness of the tire at the bottom of the rim.

It has been found that by simply extending the bead filler further, and in some cases to the shoulder portions of the sidewalls, the lateral stability of the tire sidewalls can be satisfactorily increased, enabling driving at high speeds. However, the bead fillers used in current tire designs are far from providing a clean transition between each bead portion and the adjacent tire sidewall. Furthermore, the bead fillers are used today as a performance modifier. That is, its function is to increase cornering stability and to mitigate resonance of the undercarriage of a vehicle fitted with the tyre. While this is a relatively easy configuration for the tire designer, applying the bead filler of the desired size to the bead ring does not simply allow the bead ring to bond to the bead filler (i.e., to form the green tire bead) to an acceptable level.

In order to facilitate the manufacture of the tire, the annular bead ring and the bead filler are generally combined into a composite semi-finished tire bead around which the carcass of the tire may be wrapped. The foregoing USP 5,100,497 provides a significant advance in the art of applying a bead filler to an endless coil of wire.

The progress made by USP 5,100,497 is best understood by recognition of the two main manufacturing techniques reproduced previously in that patent. One such historical prior art method is to form a semi-finished bead by laying a flat strip of elastomeric material around the inner periphery of a rubberized bead ring and then wrapping the bead ring radially outwardly around the bead ring with a bead of adhesive. The portion of the bead extends radially outward from the bead to form the bead filler. This method is fraught with difficulties, particularly with the engagement of the depending end of the wrapping strip. When the elastomeric strip is so wound to wrap the bead, the outer periphery of the material is forced to stretch to accommodate the difference between the circumferential dimension of the bead and the circumferential dimension of the radially outer periphery of the elastomeric strip. This stretching induces stresses, causes warping in the disc shape, and creates a depression or burr along the radially outer portion of the resulting bead filler.

Another historical method for manufacturing semi-finished beads consists in applying the bead filler to a rotating bead until the starting point of the bead filler is close to the point of the bead filler first applied to the bead, i.e. about one turn, and in cutting the bead. The partially bonded bead ring and filler strip assembly is then moved to a second processing station where a clamping and pulling device brings the filler strip near the end to complete the semi-finished bead. This also results in more pull-out than is already associated with the bead ring as the bead filler circumference is pulled radially outward. Such pulling can cause the common and equally inherent distortion problem as discussed above for several prior art methods.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to propose a new method and apparatus for applying an elastomeric bead filler to a substantially annular bead, even when the aspect ratio of the bead filler applied to the bead, i.e. the ratio of the radial height to the transverse width, is much greater than that achievable by the mechanisms of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for a shaped bead filler, wherein the aspect ratio is based on the radial dimension of the bead filler, which is significantly larger than the values achievable by the prior art mechanisms.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for applying a strip of elastomeric material as above, by feeding the strip into a nip defined by a pair of opposed applicator rolls having specially treated engagement surfaces to produce a substantially annular bead filler having an increased aspect ratio.

It is a further object of the present invention to propose an improved method and apparatus for applying a strip of elastomeric material, such as the above bead filler, wherein a strip of elastomeric material is deposited into a roll gap provided in an opposed applicator roll and deposited at a speed equal to or less than the speed of the rotating surface of the applicator roll.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for manufacturing and applying a bead filler to an endless bead ring, as above, wherein the circumference of the elastomer formed into the bead filler is progressively elongated in relation to its radial direction by interaction between the elastomer strip and a pair of specially treated mating surfaces of a pair of oppositely angled applicator rollers, while the bead filler is applied to the outer periphery of the bead ring which is also rotated by engagement with the applicator rollers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for applying a bead filler to an annular bead ring wherein the bead ring is rotatably mounted on a chuck assembly having rollers that are physically adjustable to support bead rings having different diameters.

It is an even further object of the present invention to provide an improved servo mechanism in the nature of a traveller conveyor which works in conjunction with a lock which accurately locates the traveller in the locating portion of the conveyor. The precise stepping of the conveyor belt accurately transfers the positioned bead ring to the take-up/pay-off section where a further servo mechanism in the nature of a conveyor removes the bead ring from the conveyor belt and transfers it to another servo mechanism in the nature of a chuck head carried by a turret type chuck assembly. The turret-type chuck assembly then positions the traveler to receive the bead filler. The transfer mechanism is also used to remove the combined bead ring and bead filler, i.e. the semifinished bead, and to transfer it to the take/place position of the conveyor belt.

These and other objects of the present invention, as well as advantages over the prior art, will become apparent in view of the following detailed description and claims.

In general, a bead filler applicator assembly embodying the teachings of the present invention employs a chuck assembly for selectively receiving an annular bead ring having a radially outer surface. The extrusion mechanism provides a linear elastomeric strip having a substantially triangular cross-section that is applied to the outer surface of the traveler. A pair of opposed, frusto-conical applicator rollers each having an axis of rotation and spaced apart outer surfaces defining a roller gap therebetween. The gap is shaped to engage the substantially triangular cross-section resilient strip and apply it to the outer surface of the annular bead ring. The elastic strips are placed in the gap at a surface speed equal to or less than the surface speed of the outer surface of the cloth-pasting roll rotating along the respective rotation axis. The device serves to ensure that the chuck device is stepped to a desired position relative to the roll gap defined by the adjustably mounted, opposite applicator roll, at least while supporting the traveller. The device is also used to ensure that the strip is cut to a desired length equal to the perimeter of the outer surface of the bead ring.

In order that those skilled in the art will better understand the present invention, a preferred embodiment of an adhesive filled strip applicator illustrating the best mode of practicing the invention is described herein, while making reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification. The details of this example of the bead filler applicator assembly are not intended to be exhaustive or to show all of the various modifications which can be made to the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments shown and described herein are illustrative in nature and, thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended and the description is not to be taken in a limited sense.

FIG. 1 is a partial side cross-sectional view of a semi-finished bead including an annular bead ring upon which a bead filler is applied in accordance with the method of the present invention and using the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is a view similar to fig. 2 but depicting another configuration a: a bead filler may be applied to the annular bead in accordance with the concepts of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrating an exemplary adhesive bead filler applicator;

FIG. 6 is a basic procedure used in accordance with the concepts of the present invention to apply a cloth having a high aspect ratio to an endless loop of wire;

FIG. 7 is a top view similar to FIG. 5 of an entire bead filler applicator, but showing more detail than in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of FIG. 8 detailing the mechanism of operation for applying the bead filler strip to the bead ring, with the applicator roll being individually adjustable both vertically and horizontally, and also rotationally adjustable about a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis along which the bead ring is aligned;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of the area of FIG. 10 depicting the locking portion of the adjustment mechanism in a side view, this area being encircled by a dashed line in FIG. 10, the encircled portion of the dashed line being particularly labeled "FIG. 10A";

FIG. 11 is a top plan view taken substantially along line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11A is an enlarged view of the area of FIG. 11 depicting a cross-sectional end view of the locking mechanism, the area being encircled in FIG. 11 by a dash-dot line designated specifically as "FIG. 11A";

FIG. 12 is a front sectional view of one of the chuck heads in the turret-type chuck stack;

figures 13A and 13B are generally vertical cross-sectional views taken substantially along line 13-13 of figure 12, depicting the structural components of the chuck head, some of which are at least partially cut away to reveal their connection, and the use of the chuck head to position an annular wire loop in the nip of a cloth application roller, the roller being shown in phantom, figures 13A and 13B forming two separate portions of the overall chuck head and being designated in the block diagrammatic illustration of figure 13, taken together as figure 13;

FIG. 14A is a side sectional view, partially broken away, of a turret arm depicting a portion of the turret arm, and in dotted lines, a power source for rotating the turret arm and a mechanism for selectively extending and retracting the chuck head- -depicting the mechanism being extended and extended;

FIG. 14B is a side sectional view similar to FIG. 14A, partially cut away, but depicting a mechanism for selectively deploying or retracting the chuck head, while the chuck head is in a retracted position;

FIG. 15 is a front cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 1.5-15 of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 16 is a rear cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 16-16 of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 17-17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the exemplary lock-pin mechanism taken generally along line 18-18 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of a preferred drive mechanism for use in an apparatus employing the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a side cross-sectional view depicting the general interrelationship of the extruder and the directional feed mechanism, feed mechanism and turret-type chuck unit;

FIG. 23 is a top plan view taken substantially along the line 23-23 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged side sectional view of a portion of FIG. 22, with the specific object being a directional feed mechanism and a feed mechanism through which the attached elastic system is fed into the nip of the applicator mechanism;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 24, the enlarged area in FIG. 24 being encircled by a dotted oval, said oval being particularly "FIG. 25";

FIGS. 26A-26D are cross-sectional views taken substantially along the line 26A-26D spaced along the compliance axis in FIG. 25, and arranged in the longitudinal direction;

FIGS. 26E1 and 26E2 are enlarged views of cross-sections taken substantially along the line 26E-26E in FIG. 25, with FIG. 26E1 showing the gripper mechanism separated from the bead of filler material passing thereover and FIG. 26E2 showing the gripper mechanism grasping the bead of filler material passing thereover;

FIG. 27 is a top plan view taken substantially along the line 27-27 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged side sectional view of the feeding mechanism taken generally along line 28-28 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a top plan view taken substantially along the line 29-29 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 27 depicting the guillotine cutter, the fragmentary area being an ellipse bounded by the dashed and dotted lines in FIG. 27, the ellipse being designated specifically as "FIG. 30";

FIG. 31 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 31-31 of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a side sectional view of FIG. 30 and its relationship to chuck heads in a turret-type chuck assembly, which is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 8;

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33-33 of FIG. 32;

fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 34-34 of fig. 32.

Overview of bead filler applicator set and operation thereof

One representative form of a bead filler applicator assembly embodying the concepts of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in the drawings. The exemplary bead filler applicator assembly 10, as illustrated in FIG. 5, includes a bead filler applicator, generally designated 50, which preferably operates in conjunction with a plurality of servos, such as turret-type chuck assembly 250, and includes a bead filler feed mechanism 642, a guillotine cutter 640, a conveyor mechanism 550, and a conveyor system 450. A bead ring 12 is received on a receiving portion (station No. 1) 452 of a belt 454 of the belt system 450, upon which a bead filler 14 (fig. 1 and 2) is to be applied.

As described above in the basic step flow diagram (see fig. 6), at the beginning and subsequent steps-the conveyor belt 454 is moved in steps, the bead ring 12, which was previously positioned on the receiving portion 452 of the conveyor belt 454, is passed to the positioning portion (station number 2) where the bead ring 12 engages the positioning mechanism 500, the operation of which accurately positions the bead ring 12 relative to the conveyor belt 454.

Prior to the second stepping motion of the conveyor 454, the second bead ring 12 is placed on the receiving portion 452 of the conveyor 454 (station No. 1), such that the second indexing motion of the conveyor 454 will move the second bead ring to the positioning portion 456 (station No. 2). The second stepping motion of the conveyor also transfers the initially deposited bead ring 12 from the positioning section 456 to the core/release section 458 (station No. 3) where the bead ring is engaged by the conveyor mechanism 550.

The conveyor mechanism 550 removes the loop of wire on the take-up/pay-off section 458 from the conveyor belt 454 and mounts it to a chuck head 252 on the turret-type chuck assembly 250. The chuck head 252 of the traveler 12 received from the transport mechanism 550 is located in what will be referred to hereinafter as a chuck head loading/unloading station, indicated at 264A in fig. 9. Together with the bead ring 12 received on the chuck head 252 at the loading/unloading station 264A, the turret chuck assembly 250 is caused to move in steps to rotate the chuck head 252 with the bead ring 12 mounted thereon to a position hereinafter referred to as the application position, indicated at 264B in fig. 9, at which point the bead of filler material is applied to the bead ring 12. The two chuck heads 252 on the turret-type chuck assembly 250 may be identical, but their relative positions are different, as indicated by the letter footnote a or B.

It should be understood that at the outset, no bead ring 112 is present on either chuck head 252, and therefore, when the transfer mechanism 550 has just transferred the first bead ring 12 by the conveyor 454 to the chuck head at the loading/unloading position 264A, the turret-type chuck assembly 250 is stepped to rotate the chuck head 252 holding the bead ring 12 from the loading/unloading position 264A to the application position 264B. This initial step, which is also the turret chuck assembly 250, rotates the empty chuck head 252, which is in place at the application position 264B, to the loading/unloading position 264B to receive a traveler 12. In this way, the conveyor 454 will step, placing two successive wire loops 12 on the take-up/pay-off companion 458 (station No. 3) of the conveyor 454, and then a completed semi-finished bead 16 is transferred to the take-up/pay-off position 458 of the conveyor 454.

As will be generally described below, as the turret-type chuck assembly 250 steps the chuck head 252 carrying the bead ring 12 from the chuck head loading/unloading position 264A to the chuck head application position, the bead ring 12 mounted on the chuck head 252 at the chuck head application position 264B is accurately positioned relative to the roll gap defined between the applicator rolls 54 and 56 on the bead filler applicator 50 (fig. 5, 8, 10 and 13A). When a bead ring 12 is so positioned intermediate the roll gap 52, the bead filler 14 (which is converted from the uncured elastomeric material 20 by the extruder 630 into the bead to be applied, i.e., the bead filler 14) is properly positioned thereon by the orientation feed mechanism 638 (described more fully below in connection with fig. 24-27) for application to the bead ring 12 and is properly inserted into the roll gap 52 by the feed mechanism 642 (also described more fully below in connection with fig. 24 and 27-28), the bead filler applicator 50 applies the bead filler 14 to the annular bead ring 12 to complete a completed green tire bead 16.

During the initial start-up step, and each subsequent application of the bead filler to the wire loop supported on the chuck head 252 at the chuck head application position 264B, the turret chuck 250 is stepped to remove the completed green tire bead 16 from the roll gap 52, providing that the completed green tire bead 16 remains supported on the chuck head 252 at the chuck head loading/unloading position 264A. The transfer mechanism 550 here removes the completed semi-finished bead from the chuck head 252 it supports and delivers it to the depositing/withdrawing position 458 of the conveyor 454. The same this step of the turret chuck assembly 250 positions the chuck head 252 supporting the subsequent traveler 12 in the roll gap 52 of the applicator 50 at the chuck head application position 264B.

How the aforementioned bead ring 12 and semi-finished bead 16 are transferred between the chuck 252 and the conveyor 454 will be explained more fully hereinafter, but in order to enhance the preliminary understanding of the present invention, it should be understood that the C-shaped frame 552 (fig. 9) of the transfer mechanism 550; as best seen in fig. 8, is selectively movable between three positions. In the first transfer position 550A of the transmission mechanism, c-shaped frame 552 is positioned parallel to conveyor belt 454 so that the loop to be positioned at take/place position 458 of conveyor belt 454 can be operatively secured by frame 552 and lifted from conveyor belt 454.

In the second position 550B, the C-frame 552 is in a position perpendicular to the conveyor 454. That is, the traveler 12 supported on the transport mechanism 550 is in its planar position with the chuck head 252 at the chuck head loading/unloading position 264A. Thus, at the location of the transport mechanism 550B, the support of the traveler 12 can be changed from the frame 552 to the chuck head 252 at the chuck loading/unloading location 264A. Instead, at the position of the transfer mechanism 550B, the support of the completed semi-finished bead 16 may be changed from the chuck 252 to the frame 552.

In the third position 550C of the transfer mechanism 550, the C-frame 552 remains idle. In the third position 550C, it has no function other than to avoid engagement with other components of the bead filler applicator assembly 10. After the traveler 12 is transferred from the frame 552 to the chuck head 252 at the chuck head loading/unloading position 264A, the frame 552 is moved from the second transfer mechanism position 550B to the third position 550C. Conversely, when the completed semi-finished bead 16 is supported on the chuck head at the chuck head loading/unloading position 264A, the frame 552 is moved from the third position 550C to the second position 550B. This movement causes the frame 552 to grip the semi-finished bead and change the support of the semi-finished bead 16 from the chuck head 252 to the frame 552.

The movement of the frame 552 from the second position 550B back to the first position 550A brings the completed green bead 16 from the frame 551 to the depositing/dispensing position 458 of the conveyor 454.

When the conveyor 454 is stepped after the semi-finished bead 16 has been transferred onto the conveyor 454, the next subsequent bead ring 12 is moved to the take/put position 458 of the conveyor 454, while the completed semi-finished bead 16 is conveyed to the conforming station 616 (station No. 4), which maintains the semi-finished bead 16 in the desired shape as it is at least partially cooled. The next step movement of the conveyor belt transfers the semi-finished bead 16 to the separating portion 618 (station No. 5), while the next several bead rings 12 are successively transformed into the finished semi-finished bead 16. As shown, there may be 2 separate portions 618A and 618B (stations nos. 5 and 6).

Overview of adhesive tape filling and sticking machine

Since the bead filler 14 is bonded to the annular bead ring 12 using a method or apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention, let us first look at the bonded bead ring and bead filler-or semi-finished bead. As shown in fig. 1-3, and as is well known in the art, the traveler 12 can have several shapes. However, figures 1 and 2 illustrate a typical configuration in which each bead 12 comprises a coiled metal band 18 (which may be considered as a plurality of wire loops in a loop) that is wrapped by coating with a layer of uncured elastomeric material 20 so that not only does the connection between the various layers of wound band 18 (or wire layers) occur to form a loop bead 12, but also the attachment between the loop bead 12 and the bead filler 14 occurs without the use of a special adhesive. For simplicity of disclosure, annular wire loop 12 is drawn as a square cross-section and bead 14 is shaped as an isosceles triangle in cross-section with base 22 engaging outer circumferential surface 24 of wire loop 12 so that bead 14 will extend outwardly in the form of an isosceles triangle with outer edge 26. It must be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this particular shape.

For example, a semi-finished bead as illustrated in FIG. 3 utilizes a bead filler 14A of another shape. In fig. 3, bead ring 12 is shown attached to bead filler 14A having an unequal-sided triangle cross-section. The base 22A of the bead filler 14A also engages the outer circumferential surface 24 of the bead ring 12, but the radially outer edge 26A of the bead filler 14A is laterally offset from the position occupied by the outer edge 26 in the bead filler 14 in the completed semi-finished bead 16 as depicted in fig. 1 and 2. Another form of bead ring and apex filler assembly 16A and its components may be manufactured using the same equipment and processes used to manufacture the semi-finished bead 16 and its components.

In this regard, it is contemplated that there are similar situations in which very different structural members, assemblies or arrangements may be used in different locations. When referring generally to these types of structures, assemblies or arrangements, the same reference numerals will be used. However, when one of the structures, components or arrangements must be identical to the other to be considered identical, the identification number used will be accompanied by a footnote to identify such structure, component or arrangement generally. For example, reference is made to two substantially similar but widely different bead fillers. This bead filler is generally designated by the numeral 14, but a particularly different bead filler is designated by the numeral 14A in the description and drawings. Similarly, the various structural members, components or arrangements may be placed in distinct positions one after another. Here, the components will generally also be indicated by their reference numerals, and footnotes will be used to distinguish their different positions. Examples of this are, for example, reference numerals 264A and 264B to denote two positions of the chuck head 252 and 550A, 550B and 550C to denote three positions of the C-shaped frame of the transport mechanism 550. Such written definitions will also be used in the specification.

The shape of the aperture in die 652 through extruder 630 determines the shape of bead 14 or 14A, but application of either bead 14 or 14A to bead ring 12 is accomplished by a specifically shaped roll gap 52 defined by opposed frustoconical surfaces 58 and 60 on applicator rolls 54 and 56 used in the filled gum applicator 50. The bead filler 14 can be manufactured in a variety of shapes using equipment embodying the concepts of the present invention. The ability to change die 652 on extruder 630 and to independently and selectively adjust the degree of use of each applicator roll 54 and 56, coupled with the ability to select the desired cross-sectional shape of applicator roll 54 or 56, allows for application of various cross-sectional shapes of bead fillers 14 provided by extruder 630.

Adhesive tape filling and sticking machine

Referring more particularly to fig. 7-9, the adhesive filled strip applicator 50 is shown erected by a main frame 62 which may employ four vertical posts 64A-64D which preferably extend upwardly from fixed locations on the floor 66. The tops of the struts 64 are preferably interconnected by structural beams 68A-68D that span between the struts 64A-64B, 64B-64C, 64C-64D, and 64D-64A, respectively.

As foreseen in the preceding paragraphs, one specific structure, member or arrangement may be used in more than one location. When referring to a structural member, component or arrangement of this type, a common number is used. However, when a structure, component or arrangement must be individually distinguished, footnote inscriptions should be used in conjunction with numerical designations that generally indicate the structure, component or arrangement. Thus, more than one identical strut is identified. The struts are generally indicated at 64, but individual struts are indicated at 64A, 64B …, etc., both literally and graphically. Such rules are also used throughout the specification.

Various additional structural components may be incorporated into the main frame 62 as desired, but in order to reduce interference and to simplify the illustration, various geometric relationships between each structural component used to support the operating member and the main frame are not shown. Thus, in the event that an operating member needs to be attached to a non-movable member that may be part of the frame 62, but when the particular geometric relationship between that structural member and the frame 62 is not important to the overall operation of the invention, it will be simply noted that the operand is "buried" in the structural number, simply designated as the frame 62.

A first main support beam 70A is mounted between vertical struts 64A and 64B and a second main support beam 70B is mounted parallel and spaced laterally with respect to first main support beam 70A between vertical supports 64C and 64D.

As best seen in fig. 10 and 11, a pair of parallel and laterally spaced guide members 72A and 72B are mounted on the main support beam 70 in a generally vertical orientation. The main support beam 70b may also be provided with identical, laterally spaced guides (not shown). A bracket 74 is movably mounted on each guide 72 as it follows the dovetail rail 76. A connecting plate 78 is secured between the laterally spaced brackets 74A and 74B to connect the brackets together and, as best shown in fig. 10A and 11A, an adjustment mechanism 80 is provided for selecting the vertical position of the brackets 74 relative to the main support beam 70. Such an adjustment mechanism 80 may be a threaded rod 82 that passes through a threaded support 84 secured to the main frame 62 of the bead filler assembly 10 as shown in the figures as if secured to the main support beam 70. In addition to this threaded support, the shaft 82 is also threadedly engaged with a stepped locking nut 86 mounted on the transverse web 78.

The locking nut 86 has a mounting portion 88 which has a larger outer diameter than the locking portion 90, but the bore 92 through the stepped locking nut 86 is of a single diameter and engages the shaft 82 by a threaded engagement. The mounting portion 88 is secured in a hole 94 through a flange 96 that is secured to and extends outwardly from the transverse web 78. A set screw 98 may extend transversely through the flange 96 against the mounting portion 88 of the stepped locking nut 86 received in the bore 94, thereby locking the stepped locking nut 86 in a fixed position relative to the transverse web 84.

The locking portion 90 of the stepped lock nut 86 is not only smaller in diameter than the mounting portion 88, but also provides a pair of opposed longitudinally oriented notches, as shown at 100A and 100B, such that the locking portion 90 surrounds the shaft 82 which is threadably engaged with the bore 92 extending through the stepped lock nut 86 for retaining the snap ring 101 surrounding the outer end of the locking portion 90. The collar 101 itself may be open so that the adjusting nut 102 may be tightened or loosened with the locking pin 103 in order to force the locking portion 90 into a locked or rotatable state and into engagement with the shaft 82. By rotating the threaded shaft 82 via the ratchet rocker 104, the rotating shaft 82 simultaneously vertically adjusts the brackets 74A and 74B vertically along the guides 72A and 72B when the adjustment nut 102 is loosened.

A haunch bracket 106 (see fig. 11) is secured to and cantilevered outwardly from each bracket 74 such that brackets 106A and 106B extend outwardly from the laterally spaced brackets 74A and 74B, respectively, parallel to each other and opposite a corresponding pair of brackets 106C and 106D which extend outwardly from substantially identical, laterally spaced brackets supported on the main support beam 70B.

The cloth rollers 54 and 56 and the means for powering them are mounted at the ends of the parallel carriages 106, close to their top ends 110, with the necessary articulation. That is, the first applicator roll 54, motor 112 and reducer 113 which selectively drives roll 54 about its axis of rotation 114 are mounted on the top ends 110A and 110B of the parallel haunch brackets 106A and 106B. Similarly, a second applicator roll 56, motor 116 and optional reducer 117 about a rotating shaft 118 are mounted on the top ends 110C and 110D of the parallel haunch brackets 106C and 106D.

A guide plate 120 is mounted on an outer surface 122 opposite the haunch bracket 106. That is, the guide plate 120A is attached to the surface 122A of the bracket 106, such as with mechanical screws 124. The guide plate 120B is similarly secured to the surface 122B of the bracket 106B by screws 124. Similar guide plates 120 may be used with the haunch brackets 106C and 106D. Each guide plate 120 may be provided with an upper dovetail rail 126 adapted to engage a dovetail slot 128 longitudinally cut in a strip 130 receivable for sliding movement in each rail 126.

Further, side plates 132 of a generally U-shaped mounting bracket 134 are secured to the slats 130. As shown, side plates 132A and 132B of mounting bracket 134A are secured to laths 130A and 130B by machine screws 136. Similarly, U-shaped mounted brackets (not shown in detail) are similarly supported by haunch brackets 106C and 106D.

The base plate 138 of the U-shaped mounting bracket 134A is attached, such as with machine screws 140, and extends laterally at respective inner ends 142A and 142B of each side plate 132A and 132B. An adjustment mechanism 144 acts on the base plate 138 to bring the U-shaped mounting bracket 134 to a desired horizontal position. The adjustment mechanism 144 may be a threaded shaft 146 that is secured in a thrust bearing 148 on the attachment plate 78. In addition to engaging the thrust abutments, the shaft 146 is also threadedly engaged with a stepped lock nut 150, which is virtually identical in construction and operation to the stepped lock nut 86. Therefore, a description and operation of the adjustment mechanism 144 need not be described again.

The use of the ratchet arm 164 rotates the threaded shaft 146 which is used to adjust the horizontal position of the U-shaped mounting bracket 134, but only when the stepped lock nut 150 is loosened. Otherwise, the horizontal position of the U-shaped mounting bracket 134 is fixed.

The applicator rolls 54 and 56 may be directly attached to the main drive shaft 166 168 extending from the respective reduction boxes 113 and 117, with the housings 170 and 172 of the respective motors 112 and 116 being rotatably supported by the outer ends 174 of the side plates 132 in the U-shaped bracket 134. Housings 170 and 172 are each specifically secured to a bracket 176 having a pivot mount 178. Each pivot support 178 rotatably receives a pivot pin 180 that extends through the end 174 of each side plate 132.

An adjustment mechanism 186 (also best seen in fig. 10) is used to select the turning position of each bracket 176, and thus the turning position of each applicator roll 54 and 56. Each adjustment mechanism 186 may be essentially a threaded shaft 188 that passes through a thrust bracket secured to the U-shaped bracket 134. In particular, a jawset 192 is secured to the side plate 132A by a mechanism screw 194 extending downwardly from the U-shaped bracket 134 and has a U-shaped clip 196 that rotatably receives a gudgeon pin 198 extending radially outwardly from the thrust bracket 190. In addition to the thrust bearing 190, the shaft 188 is also threadably engaged with a stepped lock nut 200 that is mounted on a U-shaped clip 202 defined by a base 204, and 204 extends upwardly from the bracket 176 and is secured thereto. As shown, the lock nut is preferably mounted on a pivot plate 206, which itself has an axial end pin 208 rotatably received in the U-shaped card 202. The stepped lock nut 206 may have a mounting portion with an outer diameter smaller than the remainder of the lock nut 200, but the bore 214 through the stepped lock nut 200 is of a first diameter and is threadably secured to the shaft 188. The mounting portion 210 is secured in the aperture 216 and the aperture 216 passes through the pivot plate 206 mounted to the U-shaped card 202 of the base 204. To secure the mounting portion 210 within the aperture 216, the engagement surface may be threaded, or may be secured by a set screw (not shown), transversely through the rotating plate 206 to engage the mounting portion of the stepped lock nut 200. Either way, the stepped locking nut 200 can be secured in a fixed position relative to the bracket 176.

A threaded locking ring 220 having a cut-out axially along its circumference is also received on the shaft 188 adjacent the thrust bearing 190 to allow the ring 220 to be snug and locked to the shaft against rotation. When the loop 220 is released, the threaded shaft 188 is rotated by the ratchet swivel arm 222, by which the roll of the bracket 176 is adjusted, thereby adjusting the roll position of the applicator rolls 54 and 56.

As will be apparent, the cross-sectional shape of the roll gap defined between the adjacent and compound frustoconical surfaces 58A and 58B of the applicator rolls 54 and 56 is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the bead filler strip to be applied to the bead ring received in the gap 52. As shown, the first portions 58a1 and 58a2 of each of the frustoconical exterior surfaces 58 of the respective rollers 54 and 56 can be clamped to engage the radially outer corners 224A and 224B9 (fig. 2 or 3) of the annular bead ring 12, while the second portions 58B2 of the frustoconical exterior surfaces of the respective rollers 54 and 56 can be used not only for gripping, but also for forming and applying the apex filler 14, as will be described in greater detail below.

First, with respect to the surface portion 58A of each roller 54 and 56, it should be understood that although the representative bead ring 12 is drawn as a right-angle square, it may have other geometries: such as hexagonal, octagonal, or even circular, to name a few. This is because the surface portions 58a1 and 58a2 of the opposing upper rollers 54 and 56 should have a shape such as is necessary to drive engagement with the sides of the traveler 12, which in the square shape depicted are the corners 224A and 224B.

In any event we want to use composite, frustoconical portions 58A and 58B on opposing rollers 54 and 56 to provide such a cross-sectional shape easily for the semi-finished beads as illustrated in figures 1 and 2, respectively. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is fully capable of manufacturing bead fillers 14 having a variety of cross-sectional shapes. It must therefore be understood that not only conical surfaces are required, but that the opposed applicator rolls 54 and 56 form the roll gap 52. The roller gap 52 may also be formed, for example, using oppositely disposed curved surfaces, one of which may be convex and the other of which may be concave. Whatever shape is used to determine this roller gap, the shape of the opposing surfaces must be set so that at each upper corresponding point there is the same distance from the respective axis when the applicator roller with these two opposing points is rotated. As a result, the contact of the formed roller with the bead filler will be rectilinear. That is, the speed of the roll gap surface at any point on one forming roll will be exactly equal to the speed of the corresponding point on the opposite roll, so that the material between these two points is not subjected to the transverse action of the gap 52, and successive points along the diameter of each roll 54 and 56 move at increasing speeds radially outward of the forming rolls in such a way that substantially no differential elongation is applied when the elastomeric material is formed into a bead filler having the desired cross-sectional shape.

Applicator rolls 54 and 56 are preferably treated or coated with a release material to prevent uncured elastomeric strip 20 from which bead filler 14 is made from sticking to applicator rolls 54 and 56 while it is being applied to bead ring 12. While many such materials are known, including fluorocarbon coatings, silicone coatings or tapes, Teflon X tapes or sleeves, and chrome plated layers, one particularly useful coating includes a nickel chromium material in a polymeric matrix, applied by plasma spraying. Suitable Coating materials of this nature are available from Plasma Coating company (Plasma Coating slnc.) of Waterbury, CT under the trade name of rcclean/Traction Coating, series 700. While the precise composition is patented, the properties of such coatings include thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, low coefficient of friction, high wear resistance, and moderate corrosion resistance. Such coatings can withstand extended operating temperatures of 400F.

Suitable coating thicknesses are about 0.006 to 0.008 inches, although thickness is not a limitation of the present invention. As depicted in the drawings, the coating 226 (best seen in fig. 13A) does not completely cover the entire frustoconical surfaces 58 or 60 of the two forming rolls 54 and 56, since the use of a coating at the contact portion of either roll that produces the frustoconical surface that engages the traveler 12 or that contacts the opposing roll is undesirable. Generally, insulation is not necessary locally in contact with the bead wire, and most of the coating will be worn away due to the near continuous engagement with the bead filler 12 between the two former rolls. It should be understood that the foregoing description is meant to be an enabling disclosure of suitable coatings, and not limiting. As will be well understood by those skilled in the art, the coating itself should not peel or otherwise introduce foreign material into the bead filler, which could adversely affect the tire, and the coating material should not be selected to dissolve the rubber strip in contact therewith.

Chuck unit

Referring to fig. 9 and 12-17, several chuck heads 252 of the turret-type chuck assembly 250 rest on turret arms 256 in a radially outward and diametrically opposed manner along a rotational axis 254 of the turret-type chuck assembly 250. Turret arm 256 is secured to a drive shaft 258 that is rotatable about axis 254 by a power source, preferably a cam-type stepper 260, that is supported on structural support 26 to be provided by posts 64A and 64B or, conversely, by the ground to frame 62. A cam stepper 260 imparts a copying step motion to the turret arm 256. In particular, this profiled stepping motion provided by the cam stepping means 260 will include: an acceleration portion, a constant speed portion and a deceleration portion.

The semi-circular rotational stepping motion of the turret arm 256 caused by the drive shaft 258 causes the chuck head 252 to make a complete sequential stepping motion at two diametrically opposed locations, namely, around the chuck head loading/unloading station 264A (fig. 14-17) and the chuck head application station 264B (fig. 12 and 13). As best seen in fig. 9, when one of the chuck heads 252 is positioned to receive an endless wire loop on an actuator 550, as will be hereinafter defined, that chuck head 252 is in the loading/unloading position 264A. Conversely, when any one of the chuck heads 252 is swung into position with the bead ring in the gap 52 of the bead filler applicator 50, that chuck head 252 is in the application position 264B. In order to provide a conventional version of the bead filler applicator assembly 10 for disclosure, the turret chuck assembly 250 will now be described in detail.

A turret arm 256 extends laterally outwardly from the drive shaft 258 with a hub portion 266 of the turret arm 256 being secured to the shaft 258 by a nut and bolt combination 268. A set of parallel guide shafts 270 are mounted at each of the diametrically opposed ends of the radially outwardly extending turret arm 256. That is, a pair of parallel guide shafts 270A and 270B extend outwardly from one end of the turret arm 256, while an opposing pair of parallel guide shafts 270 (not shown in detail) extend outwardly from the opposite end of the turret arm 256. The opposite ends of the turret arm 256 may be split as at 272 to facilitate insertion of the guide shaft 270, and the turret arm 256 may be secured to the guide shaft 270 with a transverse nut and bolt combination 24.

An end fitting 276A is mounted to and extends between the outer ends of parallel guide shafts 270A and 270B extending outwardly from one end of the turret arm 256, and a similar end fitting 276B is mounted to and extends between the outer ends of oppositely extending parallel guide shafts 270 (not shown in detail) extending outwardly from one end of the turret arm 256. A biasing arm 278 is mounted to a central portion of each end fitting 276 and each biasing arm 278 is provided with a roller 280 adapted to engage and help support the traveler 12. As will be described in greater detail below, the roller 280 carried by the biasing arm 278 is free to rotate about its own axis 282, but is limited in its translation in the plane 284 of the roller 280 and a roller 380 to be described below.

Each chuck head 252 has a pair of relatively rotatable disks 286 and 288 (fig. 12) mounted on a cap screw 290 that extends axially through disks 286 and 288 and 286 and 288 will be threadably attached to a bore 292 in a drive wheel block 294, 294 further being mounted on a set of parallel guide shafts 270 for longitudinal translation therealong. A low friction backing plate 295 preferably overlaps between drive block 294 and flanged disk 288. Thus, there are two drive blocks 294A and 294B in the illustrated turret-type chuck assembly 250. One drive guide 294A is mounted on guide shafts 270A and 270B and the other drive guide is mounted on an oppositely extending guide shaft 270 (not shown in detail).

The center disk 286 in each chuck head 252 is received in a cylindrical recess 296 formed in the outer surface 298 of the edge-carrying disk 258. In the representative turret-type chuck assembly 2509 depicted (and as seen in fig. 13A and 13B), the center disk 286 may be approximately 6 inches in diameter. A low friction backing plate 300 is interposed between the recess 296 of the edge-carrying disk 288 and the central disk 286. A pair of annular bearings 302A and 302B are around the cap screw 290 and are separated by an annular spacer ring 304 which positions the bearings 302A and 302B in the plane of the respective discs 286 and 288 to enhance the relative rotational effect thereof.

As best seen in fig. 12, several drive arms 306 are employed per chuck head 252, each drive arm 306 having a radially inner fold line portion 308 and a radially outer fold line portion 309. The fold portions 308 and 309 preferably diverge by an angle α, which may be between 130-135 for the exemplary chuck head 252. The radially inner fold segment 308 of each drive arm 392 is rotatably connected to the central disk 286 by a cap screw 310, the cap screw 310 passing through a larger sized aperture 312 (fig. 13B) located at the radially inner end of the inner fold segment 308 of the drive arm 306, and the cap screw 310 being received in a spaced threaded aperture 314 radially inwardly of the radially outer edge 316 of the central disk 286. In the representative turret-chuck assembly 250 depicted, the threaded bore 314 is located on a bolt circle 315 (FIG. 12) having a diameter of about 5 inches. A spacer 318 is received in the larger sized bore 312 and the axially outer end of the bore 312 is enlarged in a countersunk groove 320 for receiving a bearing 322. Thus, when each individual cap screw 310 is tightened, it will position the bearing 322 adjacent the step 322 formed by the intersection of the bore 312 and the counterbore 320. The spacer shim 318 will abut the outer surface 326 of the center disk 286 and the opposite underside 328 of the bearing 322 and hold the bearing 322 in place. Thus, the bearing 322 on each cap screw 310 provides a rotational axis about which the drive arm 306 will rotate in response to relative rotation between the center disk 286 and the rim disk 288, as will be described in more detail below.

The inner break line segment 308 of each drive arm 306 has a longitudinally extending slot 330, which in the illustrated representative chuck head 252 is approximately 3 inches in length. The stepped cap screw 332 preferably has a smooth cylindrical shank portion 334 between a head portion 336 and a threaded body portion 338. The body portion 338 is slightly smaller in diameter than the smooth root portion 334, defining a shoulder 340 therebetween that abuts the outer surface 298 of the flanged disk 288 when the body portion 338 of the stepped cap screw is threadably secured to the opening 342 at a distance inwardly from the radially outward rim 344 of the rim 346 of the flanged disk 288. In the depicted representative turret-chuck assembly embodiment, the holes 342 are distributed along a bolt circle 345 having a diameter of about 7.5 inches. An annular collet seat 348 encases the smooth root portion 334 of the stepped cap screw 332 to facilitate relative movement between the slot 330 and the root portion of the stepped cap screw 332.

The outer fold segment 309A of the actuating arm 306A is due to the means for mounting the roller 280 on the actuating arm 306A and the deflection arm 350 depicted in FIG. 13A; and cooperates with the biasing arm 278. That is, the roller 280 is rotatably mounted on the stepped cap screw 350, and the stepped cap screw 350 is passed through a hole 352 in the radially outer end of the outer fold segment 309A of the drive arm 306A and received and secured in a threaded hole 354 in the biasing arm 278 extending radially and axially outwardly from the end fitting 276. A flanged sleeve mount 356 is inserted between the smooth cylindrical root portion of the stepped cap screw 356 and the bore 352 of the drive arm 306. The radially extending flange portion 360 of the sleeve mount 356 abuts the outer surface 263 of the drive arm 306 and the radially inner edge portion 364 on the underside 366 of the roller 280 to accurately position the roller 280 in the plane 284. A support collar 368 having a Z-shaped cross-section has a first flange 370 that presses under the head 372 of the stepped cap nut 350, a cylindrical section 374 that circumscribes the head 372, and a second flange 376 that flares radially outward and abuts the upper side 378 of the roller 280, by which the roller 280 is gripped when the stepped screw cap 350 is tightened into position.

The remaining drive arms 306B-306F have rotatably mounted support rollers 380 that are in the same plane 284 as the roller 280. Each support roller 380 is mounted on a capped thread 382 threaded into a threaded bore 384 at the radially outer end of the outer fold segment 309 of the drive arm 306-306F. Each support roller rotates on a bearing 386, which is coaxial with the cap screw 382 and is supported on either side of the bearing by spacers 388A and 388B. The rollers 380 themselves have a radially inwardly directed flange 390 that abuts the underside 392 of the bearings 386, thereby securing each roller 380 in the plane of the roller 280.

To make it easier to load the bead rings 12 onto the chuck heads 252 and to remove the finished semi-finished bead 16 from the chuck heads 252, the support rollers projecting from the radially outer ends of the drive walls 306B to 306F on each chuck head 252 can be positioned simultaneously in a radial plane with respect to the single chuck head 252. The positioning of the support rollers in a common plane is achieved by the axial movement of the drive block 294 associated with the particular chuck head 252 of the backup roller 380. Thus, the distance between the center of each support roller 380 to the center of the chuck head supporting these rollers is simultaneously adjusted due to the axial movement of the drive block 294 associated with the chuck head 252 being adjusted.

Oppositely mounted on guide shaft 270 are drive blocks 294A and 294B (fig. 8) each of which is a complete mechanism having two longitudinally extending bores 394A and 394B (fig. 17) each of which receives a respective support sleeve 396A and 396B therein to reduce friction between drive block 294 and guide shaft 270 for low friction movement of drive block 294 upon displacement thereof relative to the respective guide shaft 270.

At the opposite end 398 of the axially spaced drive blocks 294A and 294B, a bore is drilled and tapped to receive a collar thread 400 (fig. 14 and 17) therein which is adapted to engage the end-face connector 402 of a tension spring 404 between the spaced drive blocks 294 so that each is biased toward the other. To accommodate the spring 404, the turret arm 256 is preferably hollow. Each drive block 294 has a hole, such as 408, in one face for receiving a mounting pin 410, and a return block 412 supported on 410 for selective rotational movement. As shown, the mounting pin 410 may be a cap screw. The return block 412 may have several abutment surfaces, such as from abutment surfaces 414A through 414E (FIG. 16), that selectively position the drive block 294 so that each is selectively positionable against the piston head 416, and the cylinder 418 is selectively extendable from the cylinder 418, and the cylinder 418 may be mounted to the underside of the structural support 262 that supports the power source 260.

Although the return block 412 may be rotated to a selected position on the mounting pin 410, the selected position of the return block 412 may be secured by a locking lock 420 which passes through a locating hole 422 in the return block 412 and is received in one of several locking holes 424 (equal in number to the number of abutment surfaces 414) in the drive block 294 which are struck at appropriate circumferential intervals adjacent a bolt circle 426 which is immediately around the hole 408 which receives the mounting pin 410. A support plate 428 may be secured to the surface 406 of the drive block 294 by a screw 430. The support plate maintains proper spacing of the return blocks 412 facing outward from the drive block 406 and also provides a stable foundation when the return blocks 412 are secured in a selected position.

To provide a means by which to limit the extent to which the return block 412 moves towards the piston 416, a stop flange 432 (fig. 14A and 14B) may be mounted on the end of the turret arm 256. The stop flange is directed toward the return block 412 and the stop flange 432 contacts the selected abutment surface 414 when the drive block 294 is moved to the desired extent due to the bias of the tension spring 404.

As will be seen below in connection with the operation of the turret-type chuck assembly 250, the bias of the tension spring 404 urges the radial position of the roller 380 supported on the chuck head 252 to expand. Instead, the urging force given by the piston head 416 forces the support roller 380 supported on the chuck head 252 to move with the drive block 294 by contact with the piston 416. It should now be appreciated that only the chuck head 252 received at the loading/unloading station 264A may be retracted, even though the spring 404 continues to hold the bolt circle of the roller 380 on the chuck head 252 at the placement station 264B as the bolt circle of the roller 380 on the chuck head 252 is retracted, while being fully extended relative to the traveler 12, with the traveler 12 partially received in the mixing gap 52.

Specifically, when the piston head 416 is retracted, the tension spring 404 is moved radially inward relative to the turret arm 256 along the guide shaft 270 supporting the drive block 294A and/or 294B, causing the drive block to be out of abutment. Referring to FIG. 14A and in comparison to FIG. 14B, when the tension spring 404 causes, for example, a radially inward movement of the drive block 294 (which is reflected by the difference between the dimensions h1 and h 2), the center disk 286 rotates counterclockwise. Rotation of the center disk 286 is effected by the fact that the roller 280 secured to the outer end of the drive arm 206A is also secured by a stepped cap screw 350 to a fixed offset arm extending from an end fitting 276 attached to the rail shaft 270. Thus, drive arm 306A will rotate about the fixed axis of roller 280, at which point the drive block moves away from end fitting 276. This rotation of the inextensible drive arm 306A, due to the displacement of the center disk 286, forces the center disk 286 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to accommodate the movement of the drive block 294 and the center disk 286 supported thereon. Since the stepped cap screw 322 connects the rim plate 288 to the drive arm 306A through the interaction of the cap stepped screw 322 with the slot 330 formed in the drive arm 306A, the rim plate 288 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction but at a lesser angle than the rotational angle of the center plate 286 due to the crank action of the drive arm 306A.

The resulting relative rotation of center disk 286 with respect to flanged disk 288 forces each drive arm, 306B-306F, to rotate about the cap screw 310B-310F securing the drive arm to center disk 286 due to the reaction of slots 330B-330F to the movement of the stepped cap screws 332B-332F. The same counterclockwise movement of the rim plate 288 with respect to the center plate 286 effects movement of the rollers 380 on the actuating arms 306B-306F radially outward to the bolt circle 405, which becomes increasingly larger in diameter until the stop flange 432 abuts the selected abutment surface 414 on the return block.

To retract the bolt circle used by the chuck head 252A or 252B to route the rollers 380, the piston head 416 is extended into contact with the selected abutment surface 414 to radially displace the actuating block 294A or 294B outwardly relative to the turret arm 256 along the guide shaft 270 supporting the actuating block 294A and/or 294B. Referring to FIG. 14B, when piston 416 moves drive block 291 radially outward, for example, center disk 286 rotates clockwise.

The roller 280, which is secured to the outer end section of the drive arm 306A, causes rotation of the center disk 286 because it is also secured by a stepped cap screw 350 to a fixed offset arm 278 extending through an end fitting 276 attached to the guide arm 270. Therefore, as the drive block 294 is moved toward the end fitting 276, the drive arm 306A rotates about the fixed shaft 282 of the roller 280. This rotation of the non-deployable fold line drive arm 306A by drive block 294 forces the center disk 286 clockwise to accommodate the movement of drive block 294 and the supported center disk 286.

Because the stepped cap screw 332 connects the rim plate 288 to the drive arm 306A by its interaction with the slot 330 formed in the upper surface of the drive arm 306A, the rim plate 288 will also rotate clockwise, but at a lesser angle than the angle of rotation of the center plate 286 caused by the crank action of the drive arm 306A.

In the illustrated embodiment of the representative turret-type chuck assembly 250, axial movement of the drive blocks 294 in an amount of about 2.5 inches can accommodate wire turns having an inner diameter of about 12 to about 17 inches. That is, each bolt circle 405 can expand to or retract from such a large diameter, which would provide the aforementioned dimensions to the wrap around portion of the roller 380.

Conveyor belt

Referring to fig. 5, a conveyor system 450 is provided for receiving an endless bead 12 at a receiving section 452 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as station 1) of a conveyor 454 such that as the conveyor 454 is stepped, the endless bead 12 is transferred from station 1 (receiving section 452) to a positioning mechanism 500, operatively associated with positioning section 456 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as station 2). When the endless bead 12 is passed from station No. 1 to station No. 2, a subsequent bead 12 is placed on station No. 1 of the conveyor 454. During the next step of the conveyor 454, the endless bead ring already at station No. 2 is placed on the take/place section 458 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as station No. 3). With the stepwise movement of the conveyor belt 454, the annular bead ring that has been at the No. 1 station is fed to the No. 2 station, and the next annular bead ring 12 is again placed at the No. 1 station. While at least two additional step positions are provided along the longitudinal dimension or when the running conveyor 454 is operated, these will be discussed after the basic structure of the conveyor system 450 is described, and after the structure of the positioning mechanism 500 and at least the conveying mechanism 550 is described.

Referring to fig. 7-9, the conveyor system 450 is supported on a horizontal frame 460 that may employ laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side members 462A and 462B that are essentially channel steel. The side members 462 may be supported by several downwardly extending legs, like the assembly 464 shown in the figure. At the lower end of each leg 464 is a leg pedal 466 which, in conjunction with the foot, extends downwardly therefrom into engagement with the floor 66 by an adjustment pin 468.

A structural plate 470 may extend between legs 464A and 464B on one side of frame 460 to support cam stepper 472. Cam stepper 472 may be driven by a motor 474, which is shown as extending upward. Force output wheel 476 is rotated by cam stepper 472 and input wheel 478 is driven by power transmission mechanism 480. In some arrangements, wheels 476 and 478 may be pulleys, in which case the power transmission member is a belt. However, in some arrangements, the wheel may be a sprocket, in which case the power transmission element is most suitably a chain. In either case, the cam stepper 472 produces a profile stepping motion to the power take-off wheel 476. As previously described in connection with the operation of the cam stepper 260, this contoured stepping motion will include: an acceleration section, a constant speed section and a deceleration section.

In either case, the input wheel will selectively rotate a belt drive roller 482, receiving a conveyor belt 954 about the roller 482. Belt drive roller 482 may be located at one end of endless conveyor belt 454 and a return roller 484 may be located at the other end of endless conveyor belt 454. In the prior art arrangement, the belt 454 is preferably received on a planar support member 486 which provides the belt 454 with minimal resistance to sliding as the belt slides longitudinally along the support member 486. This support is therefore finally made of a low friction material (such as teflon) or coated with such a coating.

The section of the upper surface of belt 454 moving from reverse roller 484 to adhesive filled strip applicator 50 includes the aforementioned receiving section 452 (station No. 1) adapted to receive annular bead ring 12.

The conveyor belt 450 may also be provided with a lift and shift mechanism 488, which is essentially a table 490 positioned between the belt 454 and the planar support 486. The table 490 is supported on a pair of force transfer plates 492A and 492B, each of which is attached to the outer end of a respective piston rod 494A and 494B, and which are simultaneously extended or retracted by operation of the hydraulic cylinders 496A and 496B, respectively. The elevation displacement mechanism 488 works in conjunction with a transfer mechanism 550 to be described later, so that it is used with the portion of the upper facing surface of the belt 454, which includes a take/place section (station No. 3) to be described later in detail in conjunction with the transfer mechanism 550.

Between the receiving section 452 (station No. 1) and the pick/place section 458 (station No. 3) is a positioning section 456 (station No. 2) of the conveyor, which will be described in more detail later in the description of the positioning mechanism 500.

Positioning device

The positioning mechanism 500 (fig. 7-9, 18) that cooperates with the belt 454 of the conveyor system 450 at the other station 456 (station No. 2) preferably uses a pair of guide bars 502A and 502B that extend outwardly in opposite directions at approximately 45 ° from the longitudinal centerline 504 of the belt 454, covering the entire width of the belt 454. It has been found that although the inner angle (which is typically changed to 90) formed by the intersection of the guide rods 502 at the belt 454 may be suitably matched with annular bead rings having different inner diameters to provide precise positioning thereof relative to the belt 454, if the bead filler applicator assembly 10 is to use bead rings of various sizes, particularly annular bead rings having different inner diameters, then the guide rods 502 preferably intersect a stop rod 506, which are two rods extending in opposite directions at an angle of about 60 outwardly from the longitudinal centerline 504 of the conveyor belt 454. The internal angle formed by the intersection of the two stop bars at the centerline of the strap 454 will be greater, being about 120. It has now been found that the increased internal angle resulting from the use of the stop rod 506 facilitates positioning of annular bead rings of different diameters to the same forward extent relative to the belt 454. This stability in the positioning of the ring traveler 12 facilitates the operation of the transmission mechanism 550 to be described later.

Whether the guide posts 502 intersect each other or the guide posts 502 and the stop posts 506 intersect each other, the intersection of the guide posts 502 or the stop posts 506, and thus the crossbar 508, is proximate where the crossbar 508 overlaps the centerline 504. A pair of side members 510A and 510B are secured to opposite ends of the cross bar 508 and extend outwardly in preferably parallel relation and intersect and are secured to the outer ends of the respective guide rods 502.

Each side member 510 has a web 512 that is obliquely secured thereto. As shown, one end of each web 512 may be directly connected to the side member to which it is connected, and the other end of each web 512 is secured to a raised tab 514, the tab 514 extending upwardly for the side member to which it is connected in order to ensure that the web is inclined downwardly and rearwardly (with reference to the direction of belt travel).

An adjuster 516 traverses the belt 454 and is supported on a cantilever beam 518 that also traverses the belt, which beam is secured to the laterally spaced vertical posts 64C and 64D, or is attached directly to the frame 62. A pair of actuating cylinders 524A and 524B are each secured to an L-shaped bracket 532A and 532B, respectively, at the end of adjuster 516 through which piston rod 530 passes in the axial direction. Piston rods 530A and 530B exit respective hydraulic cylinders 524A and 524B through throat caps 528 and are connected, without limitation, to inclined webs 512 on respective cross members 510A and 510B by L-shaped brackets 532A and 532B. In addition, a pair of adjustment screw members 534A and 534B are secured through threaded turns 536A and 536B in holes 538 in the adjustment member 516 and are rotatably received in a pair of thrust brackets 540 received in holes 542 through the cantilever beam 518. Thus, the longitudinal position of the guide rod 502 and/or the stop rod 506 of the positioning mechanism 500 relative to the belt 454 may be precisely selected by manually turning the screw via the respective handles 544A and 544B. The hydraulic cylinders 524 act to retract the respective piston rods 530, causing the tilt linkage plate 512 to move rearwardly and upwardly, thereby moving the guide rods 502, the spacing rods 506 and the side bars 510 rearwardly and upwardly, respectively, out of engagement with the belt 454. On the other hand, the extension of the piston rod 530 forces the inclined web 512 downward and forward, which moves the guide rod 502, the stop rod 506, and the side member 510 downward and forward into contact with or at least close to the surface of the belt 454.

When the conveyor belt 454 is stepped to transport a bead ring 12 from the receiving station (station No. 1) to the positioning station 456 (station No. 2), with the stop bar 506 and/or guide bar 502 positioned immediately above the belt 454, the movement of the belt 454 will bring the bead ring 12 into contact with the positioning mechanism 500, as desired to accurately position the bead ring at station No. 2 of the belt 454 when the stepping of the belt 454 is stopped. A susceptor 546 may be mounted just before an apex 548 at which the restraining bar 506 (or guide bar 502) is attached together to check the position of the bead ring 12 on the belt 454.

With the traveler 12 accurately positioned, the hydraulic cylinder 524 is actuated to lift the stop bar 506 and guide bar 502 to allow the traveler 12 to pass under the positioning mechanism 500 without restriction before the belt 454 is next stepped. With the positioning mechanism 500 thus properly employed, the traveler will arrive exactly at station No. 3 when the next step of the conveyor 454 is taken, where the conveyor mechanism 550 is operative to clamp the traveler 12.

It will be observed that the guide rod 502, including the stop rod 506 if used, is at an angle to the belt 454, which ensures that once the positioning mechanism 500 has accurately positioned the endless bead on the belt 454, the positioning mechanism 500 will not then inadvertently move the bead on the belt 454.

Conveying mechanism

Referring to fig. 19-21, the conveyor mechanism 550 cooperates with the belt 454 of the conveyor belt 450 at the take/put section 458 (station No. 3) to remove the bead ring 12 from the take/put station 458 and transfer it onto the chuck head 252 of the turret-type chuck assembly 250 while the chuck head 252 is at the loading/unloading position 264A. For example, as shown in fig. 8, for the chuck head 252 at the loading/unloading position 264A, a unique transport mechanism 550 may be used to load the bead ring 12 onto the chuck head 252 such that the turret chuck assembly 250 then rotates to step the annular bead ring 12 loaded onto the chuck head 252 into the gap 52 of the bead filler applicator 50 such that the bead filler 14 may be applied to the bead ring 12 on the chuck head 252 at the application position 264B.

With particular reference to fig. 19, it is observed that the transfer mechanism 550 employs a generally C-shaped frame member 552 rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 554 for movement between a generally horizontally disposed "pick and place" position (designated 550A in fig. 8), a generally vertically disposed "chuck-on and chuck-off" position (designated 550B), and a rearwardly tilted "ready" position of operation 550C. The transverse axis 554 about which the frame member 552 rotates may be fixedly mounted to respective horizontally disposed members 558A and 558B of the main frame 62 or even to support blocks 556A and 556B on the horizontally disposed side rails 462 of the conveyor belt frame 460. The stub shafts 560A and 560B are secured to and extend laterally outward from the connecting plates 561A and 561B, which are in turn secured to the C-shaped frame member 552. Stub shafts 560 are rotatably received on respective support blocks 556A and 556B.

The first passive arm 562 is secured at a central portion to the stub shaft 560A and at opposite ends 564 and 566 thereof are each secured to an actuator. That is, the first piston rod 568 is operatively deployed or retracted by the generally horizontally disposed piston cylinder 570. First piston rod 568 is pivotally connected by clevis 572 to one end 564 of crank arm 562. The second piston rod 574 is operatively deployed or retracted by a generally vertically disposed piston cylinder 576, and the second piston rod 574 is pivotally connected to the other end 566 of the first crank arm 562 by a clevis 578. The base plate 580 of the horizontal piston cylinder 570 is attached to the anchor plate 584 by a clevis 582, which may be attached to one of the vertical posts 64 or, conversely, to the main frame 62 of the bead filler applicator assembly 10 or to one of the vertical legs 464 of the conveyor frame 460. In any event, the horizontal piston cylinder is mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane.

Base plate 586 of vertical piston cylinder 576 is attached to one end 590 of second curved arm 592 by a U-shaped support 588, and 592 extends outwardly from web 561A, which is secured to C-shaped frame member 552. Thus, the vertical piston cylinder 576 is also mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane.

When the piston rod 574 is retracted into the piston cylinder 576 and when the piston rod 568 is retracted into the piston cylinder 570, the frame member is placed in its generally horizontal pick/place position 550A (fig. 8). With piston rod 574 still in the retracted position relative to piston cylinder 576 and piston rod 568 extended relative to piston cylinder 570, the frame member is placed in its generally vertical chuck loading and unloading position 550B (fig. 8 and 19). When the piston rod 574 is in an extended position relative to the piston cylinder 576 and the piston rod 568 is in an extended position relative to the piston cylinder, the frame members are in a generally rearwardly inclined ready position 550C (fig. 8) relative to each other.

The inner edge of the generally C-shaped frame member 552 is preferably shaped to have a pair of opposed end projections 606A and 606B and a pair of projections 608A and 608B, with two intermediate projections 608 separated by an intermediate recess 610. One side indentation 612A is disposed intermediate the end protrusion 606A and the middle protrusion 608A, and a second side indentation 612B is disposed intermediate the end protrusion 606B and the middle protrusion 608B. An electromagnet 614 is mounted on each of the protrusions 606 and 608. When the C-shaped frame member 552 of the conveyor mechanism 550 is placed in the generally horizontal pick/place position 550A, the traveler 12 is accurately positioned with the positioning mechanism 550, and the electromagnet 614 attracts the metal band 18 on the ring-shaped traveler 12, thereby fixing and releasing the ring-shaped traveler 12 to the conveyor mechanism 550.

In order to be able to transfer the completed semi-finished beads 16 of various sizes without causing deformation due to insufficient clearance between the transfer mechanism 550 and the transfer belt 454, the clearance between the C-shaped frame member 552 and the transfer belt 454 is preferably greater than the corresponding size between any of the semi-finished beads 16 to be placed. In order to adapt the spacing between the frame member 552 and the conveyor belt 454 to the respective dimensions of the bead ring 12 and/or the semi-finished bead 16, the bead ring 12 may be raised very close to the frame member 552 using a planar support 486.

The recessed edges 610 and 612 ensure that the rollers 380 mounted on the radially outer segment 309 of the drive arm 306 on the chuck head of the turret-type chuck assembly 250 will not abut the C-shaped frame member 552 of the transfer mechanism 550 because the frame member 552 is rotated from the generally horizontal pick/place position 550A to the generally vertical chuck-on and chuck-off position 550B, rather than from the generally vertical chuck-on and chuck-off position 550B to the rearwardly tilted ready position 550C.

When the C-shaped frame member 552 is placed in the generally vertical chucking and dechucking position 550B, the turret-type chuck assembly 250 is operated to extend the drive arm 306 to transfer the support of the wire loop 12 from the transfer mechanism 550 to the turret-type chuck assembly 250. Thereafter, the electromagnet 614 may be actuated. Once the transfer is complete, the C-shaped frame member 552 of the transfer mechanism 550 is moved to the rearwardly inclined ready position 550C to await application of the resilient strip 16 to the bead ring 12 as will be described in detail below. After that, the C-shaped frame member 552 of the transfer mechanism 550 will be moved from the rearwardly inclined preparation position 550C to the generally vertical chuck loading and unloading position 550B. At this point, the completed semi-finished bead 16 is timely attracted by the electromagnet 614, and the chuck head 252 is again retracted so that the completed semi-finished bead 16 is individually supported by the conveyance mechanism 550. The C-shaped frame member will then be rotated from the generally vertical chuck loading and unloading position 550B to the generally horizontal pick/place position 550A.

When the C-frame 552 is in the pick/place position 550A, the electromagnet 614 will again stop and place the completed green tire bead 614 on the pick/place segment 458 of the conveyor belt 450. The flat support 486 can then be lowered so that the completed semi-finished bead 16 will no longer be inadvertently gripped by the transfer mechanism 550 and the conveyor belt steps transfer the completed semi-finished bead 16 to the conforming segment 616 (two 4). This same stepping action of the conveyor belt conveys the next bead ring 12 to the take/put position 458 of the conveyor belt 450.

This is followed by a final step, the step movement of which transfers the finished semi-finished bead 16 to the extraction segment 618A of the conveyor 450 (station No. 5). No special structure or mechanism is necessary associated with the removal segment 618 of the carousel 450. The removal segment 618 provides only one support surface from which the finished green bead 16 can be removed for later use in a tire (not shown). As shown, a second removal section 618B (station No. 6) may also be provided to provide sufficient time to enable removal of the completed green bead 16 during this time. The increased time also facilitates allowing the completed semi-finished bead to cool sufficiently before removal.

Shape keeper (if desired or necessary)

Referring to fig. 5, 7 and 8, a shape retainer 620 can be placed on the conformal segment 616 of the conveyor belt 454. The shape retainer 620 may include several longitudinally spaced rollers 622 rotatably mounted on their own axes between a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending support rods 626A and 626B. Rollers 622 are vertically spaced in the longitudinal direction so as to apply only sufficient pressure to the green beads 16 beneath them, and following cooling of the bead filler 14 on the green beads 16, conformal rollers 622 will ensure that the bead filler 14 does not lose its desired shape.

Filling rubber strip supply device

Referring to FIGS. 22-27, uncured elastomeric material 20 is fed into a conventional extruder 630 to generally form a continuous bead filler 14 which may be further passed over the upper surface of a freely rotatable discharge roll 632 to form an accumulation ring 634, passed over an elevated powered endless strand weight reduction roll 636 to a directional sizing mechanism 638, passed over a feed mechanism 642 which feeds bead filler 14 into roll gap 52, and passed over a guillotine chip (FIG. 27).

A more conventional extruder 630 utilizes a screw housing 644 having a feed inlet 646 into which the uncured elastomeric material 20 is fed. The extruder 630 kneads the uncured elastomeric material 20 in the usual manner, but since the material 20 (fig. 5) is uncured, the temperature of the extruder 630 must be controlled so that the temperature of the material 20 does not exceed the temperature at which curing begins, while at the same time the temperature is high enough to be suitable for plasticizing and extrusion.

Temperature control of the extruder 630 may be accomplished by a heat exchange system, such as a jacket 650 surrounding the screw housing 644, as is also common. The heat exchanger 650 provides a heating or cooling fluid to the screw housing 644 in accordance with a temperature control (not shown, but may be incorporated into the heat exchange system 650. the heat exchanger 650 maintains the temperature of the uncured elastomeric material 20, both within the screw housing 644 and as the material 20 is forced through the die 652 into the apex filler 14, the apex filler 14 is extruded from the die 652 at a temperature below the temperature at which vulcanization is initiated in the uncured elastomeric material 20 (i.e., the "ignition" temperature). more specifically, the uncured elastomeric material, particularly if the material 20 is generally used as an apex filler rubber, is maintained at a temperature of about 180 to 205F (about 82 to 96 c), which is generally below the typical "ignition" temperature at which the apex 14 will begin to cure, but is such that the uncured elastomeric material 20 will plasticize in the extruder 630 and then the green tire 16 is placed into a tire, the tire itself is also cured.

The accumulation of the extruded bead filler 14 as an accumulation ring 634 via exit rollers 632 is such that the bead filler 14 is deposited onto the coils 12 at a faster rate than the continuous bead filler 14 exits die 652, allowing the bead filler 14 to be replenished in the space between successive deposits onto the next bead ring 12.

As the length of the bead filler strip 14 in the accumulation ring increases, the heaviness of the bead filler strip 14 in the accumulation ring 634 can adversely affect the desired free entry of the bead filler strip 14 into the directional feed mechanism 636 and the feed mechanism 642. The bead filler 14 is passed over a roller 636, which is a powered roller that rotates at a constant speed, i.e., the speed at which the bead filler 14 enters the directional feeder 638 and the feeder 642, so that the undesirable effects of an accumulation loop are eliminated.

As best seen in fig. 24-27, the directional feed mechanism 638 rides on a horizontally oriented support platen 654, which in turn rides on the main frame 62 of the adhesive filled strip applicator 50. A feed channel 656 is attached to the outer end of the support platen 654. The feed chute 656 receives the bead filler 14 from the powered and loop weight reduction rollers 636 and then it passes downwardly away from the horizontally disposed loop weight reduction rollers 636 into the transition roll bank 660, which is used to longitudinally divert the bead filler 14 from its horizontal disposition as it exits the feed chute 656 to the vertical upward position required for operation of the feed mechanism 642 and guillotine cutter 640.

Referring specifically to fig. 25-27, the bent 660 begins at an entry roller horizontally mounted to laterally spaced support blocks 664A and 664B mounted on the outer end 658 of the platen 654. A stop roller 666 extends generally perpendicularly upwardly from each support block 664 to laterally restrain the apex filler 14 relative to the entry rollers 662. Thus, the spacing of stop rollers 666A and 666B in the transverse direction is slightly greater than the major dimension of bead filler 14.

A series of transition rolls are generally oppositely arranged in pairs. The first pair of transition rollers 668A and 668B are rotatably secured to support stubs 670A and 670B, respectively, extending outwardly from a locating block 672A mounted on the longitudinal bar 674, the position of 672 at 674 being adjustable. Positioning block 672A has a first angled mounting surface 676A and a second angled mounting surface 678A that are perpendicular to each other, but are both positioned on positioning block 672A such that transition roll 668A is angled upwardly at about 22.5, which is shown as angle β to horizontal reference plane 680 in fig. 26B.

The slope of the first inclined roller 668A initially raises the outer edge 26 of the bead of filler material 14, while the slope of the second inclined roller 668B serves to hold the apex 22 of the bead of filler material in alignment with the longitudinal axis 682 of the orienting feed mechanism 638 and to counteract the lateral displacement forces that result from the raising of the outer edge 26 of the bead of filler material 14.

A second pair of transition rollers 668C and 668D are rotatably mounted on support stubs 670C and 670D, respectively, that each extend outwardly from a positioning block 672B also mounted on the longitudinal bar 674, the position of 672B along 674 being adjustable. The positioning block 672B has a first inclined surface 676C that inclines the transition roll 668C mounted on the support stub 670C outwardly at an angle of about 45 deg. to the reference horizontal plane 680, which is shown as beta in fig. 26C₂。

However, the second inclined mounting surface 678B supporting the support roller 668D mounted on the support stub 670D is also perpendicular with respect to the first mounting plane 676C. The positioning block 672B may be axially aligned with the directional feed mechanism 638 in a manner such that the side plate extensions 688 of the feed mechanism 642 are vertically disposed opposite the rollers 668c, as will be described in more detail below. The right-angled relationship between the positions of support rollers 668C and 668D is intended to make support roller 668D abut base 22 of bead filler 14 preventing it from sliding laterally off transition roller 668C, the presence of side plate extensions 688 ensuring that bead filler 14 does not tip over.

The third pair of transition rollers includes a transition roller 668E rotatably mounted on a support stub 670E extending outwardly from the first inclined surface 676E of the positioning block 672C. The mounting of the first mounting surface 676E causes the transition roller 668E to be tilted upward about 66.5 from the horizontal reference plane 680, which is labeled β in FIG. 26₃. A positioning block 672C may also be mounted on the side rail 674, and the position of the positioning block 672C at 674 may be adjustable.

The third pair of transition rollers further includes a roller 668F mounted on a support stub axle 670F extending outwardly from the second angled mounting surface 676F. Here, the mounting surface 676F of the support roller 668F is placed perpendicular to the mounting surface 676E. At this station, the side panel extensions of the back panel 700 of the feeding mechanism 642 are positioned vertically opposite the rollers 668E as will be described more fully below. Thus, roller 668F is also intended to support base 22 of bead filler 14 against lateral sliding off transition roller 668E, while the side panel extensions continue to ensure that bead filler 14 does not flip over.

One or more pairs of transition rollers may also be used if desired or needed, and because of the different aspect ratios of the apex filler to be applied in the apex filler applicator 10, these additional transition rollers may also extend from a positioning block 672 mounted on the longitudinal axis 674, with the position of some others 672 at 674 being adjustable.

Starting from near the transition rolls 668C and/or 668D and extending forward between the directional feeder mechanism 638 and the feeding mechanism 642, a rearwardly directed, substantially vertically oriented side plate extension projects from the back plate 700 of the feeding mechanism 642. The skirt extensions may oppose transition rolls 668C, 668E and any necessary additional transition rolls that are desirable to transition the finished apex filler strip 14 from its horizontal, vertical position.

The back panel 700 and side panel extensions 688 of the feed mechanism 642 are preferably coated with a low friction coating 702, such as Teflon or the same coating material 226 used on the applicator rolls 54 and 56, in order to reduce resistance to longitudinal movement of the continuous strip of apex filler 14 prior to application by the feed mechanism 642.

A guide plate 704, also supported on the deck 654, is secured in a laterally spaced relationship relative to the back plate 700 of the feeder mechanism 642 by a plurality of nut-and-bolt sets extending through the guide plate 704 and the back plate 700. A spacer ring 708 (fig. 29) surrounds the bolt shank portions of the set 706 to define the spacing between the guide plate 704 and the backing plate 700. A bushing roller 710 is rotatably mounted on the spacer ring 708 and supports the bead filler 14 as it moves between the guide plate 704 and the backing plate 700 in the feed mechanism 642.

The plate body portion 712 of the guide plate 704 is provided with at least one longitudinal bore 714 between which a plurality of vertically oriented sleeve rollers 716 are mounted on vertical pins 718. Sleeve roll 716 is opposite backing plate 700 and provides a powerful means of facilitating the passage of the continuous strip of apex filler 14 through feeding mechanism 642 with minimal resistance.

An elongated lip 720 extends forwardly at the forward end of the plate portion 712 to engage the laterally lowermost edge 722 of the bead filler 14, thereby preventing the bead filler 14 from falling from above as it moves behind the plate portion 712 of the guide plate 704. A clamping roller 726 is located in a gap 724 formed by the junction of the guide plate 704 and the extended lip 720. The clamping roller 726 is mounted on a one-way clamping mechanism 728 supported by a shaft 730, the shaft 730 depending from one end 732 of a crank arm 734, and the crank arm 734 being pivotally mounted on a bracket 736 supported by an angle bracket 738, 738 being attached at a projection 740 extending upwardly from the body portion 712 of the backplate 700.

An operating cylinder 742 is also fixedly mounted by a machine screw 744 to the angle bracket 738 so that a piston rod 746 operated by it passes through the angle bracket and is pivotally coupled to one end of a hinge 748. The other end of hinge 748 is attached to second end 750 of crank arm 734. With this mechanical arrangement, when the piston rod 746 is selectively extended due to operation of the operating cylinder 742, inward advancement of the pinch rollers 726 forces the bead filler 14 against the resistance on the surface of the backing plate 700 against the friction coating 702. Thereby allowing movement of the strip 14 relative to the feed mechanism 642, but allowing only one-way movement as dictated by the one-way gripper mechanism 728.

The feeding mechanism 642 is provided with selective reciprocating motion by a stroke cylinder 752. Although any number of structural arrangements may be used, one preferred arrangement is to "root" a pair of longitudinally spaced support columns 753A and 753B onto support frame 62. A pair of rails 754A and 754B are secured to and extend longitudinally between rooted support columns 753A and 753B. A crosshead 755 is slidably mounted on the track 754 to enhance movement of the crosshead 755 along the track 754, and two pairs of sleeve supports 756a1 and 756a2 and 756B1 and 756B2 may be positioned between the crosshead 755 and the respective support rails 754A and 754B. The cross head 755 is fixedly secured to the backing plate 700, thus providing a single support for the feeding mechanism, i.e., the backing plate 700 and the mechanisms connected thereto. A piston rod 757 extends from the stroke cylinder 752, and a tip 758 thereof is also fixed to the support column 753A. Therefore, the extension and contraction of the piston rod 757 causes the feed mechanism 642 to reciprocate.

The retraction mechanism 840 includes a grasping mechanism 842 and a displacement mechanism 844. The displacement mechanism 842 is mounted on a support platen 654 that extends longitudinally below the directional feed mechanism 638 and the feed mechanism 642. As described in more detail below, opposing tabs 846A and 846B are typically used to selectively grasp and release the strip of fill adhesive 14 as it enters the feeding mechanism 642. The tab 846 is mounted so that it can move longitudinally with and relative to the feeding mechanism.

As can be seen in fig. 26E1 and 26E2, a mechanism for grasping and releasing the opposed flaps 846 may be accomplished by pivotally mounting the flaps 848 on a common shaft 848 which is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes 682 of the orienting and feeding mechanisms 638 and 642, respectively (fig. 27), and thus also substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apex filler 14 received in the feeding mechanism 642. The actuator arms 852A and 852B extend angularly outward from bushings 854A and 854B, respectively, at which each of the flaps 846A and 846B are mounted to the common shaft 848. The reciprocating motion of the wedge shaped piston head 858, mounted on the selectively reciprocating piston rod 860, caused by the cylinder 862, while simultaneously urging the spaced apart actuator arms 852A and 852B together, will force the opposed flaps 846A and 846B to grasp and engage the continuous strip of filler material 14 disposed between the two flaps 846, as shown in fig. 26E 2. A tension spring may be coupled between and tension the opposing actuating arms 852A and 852B so that when the wedge shaped piston head 858 is pulled, the tabs 846A and 846B move apart releasing the bead of filler 14 between the tabs 846, as shown in FIG. 26E 2.

As seen in fig. 28, the grasping mechanism 842 of the retracting mechanism 840 itself is reciprocated longitudinally by the action of a double acting cylinder 866 which is fixed to the support platen 654. The outer ends 868 of a pair of piston rods 870A and 870B (fig. 29) that are telescopically moved by the double acting cylinder 866 each support the hydraulic cylinder 862 and the grasping mechanism 842 such that the grasping mechanism 842 follows the feed mechanism 642 without actuating the double acting cylinder 866. But the grasping mechanism 842 will be moved relative to the feeding mechanism by means of the piston rod 870 extending from the double acting cylinder 866. A pair of piston rods 870 are used to ensure directional stability of the dual acting cylinders as they push the grasping mechanism.

Before explaining the reasons for the reciprocating action of the feed mechanism 642, pinch roller 726 and retraction mechanism 840, the guillotine cutter 640 is best understood.

Gate type cutter

Guillotine cutter 640 (fig. 30 and 31) employs a leading end cutting edge 760 and a trailing end cutting edge 762 which act simultaneously to impinge a reaction surface provided from a platform 764 (fig. 28 and 29). The platform 764 is mounted on the back plate 700 of the feeding mechanism 642. As shown in fig. 31, cutting edges 760 and 762 are disposed at an angle θ to one another to accommodate the act of curing the elastomeric bead filler 14, i.e., the act of applying it to bead ring 12 as applicator rollers 54 and 56 rotate relative to bead filler 14. Thus, the respective angular positions of blades 760 and 762 will ensure that when follower 766 is attached to its leading end 768, the two ends 766 and 768 will merge together with great precision.

The two blades 760 and 762 are secured to a mounting head 770, which in turn is secured to the end of a piston rod 772 reciprocated by the action of a cutter operating cylinder 774, and 774 is also preferably mounted to the frame 62 of the tape application mechanism 50. The cutting edges 760 and 762 are angled relative to each other by theta and delta relative to a vertical reference frame 776, and the angles delta plus theta, as indicated by lines 778 and 780 in fig. 28, define the angles of the leading and trailing ends 768 and 766, respectively (fig. 1 and 4), and fig. 28 shows the position of the platform 764 when the stroke cylinder 752 extends the back plate 700 of the feed mechanism 642 by hatching. On the other hand, the horizontal angular orientation of the cutting edge caused by the common horizontal angle (represented as angle φ in FIG. 27) of guillotine cutter 640 relative to transverse reference frame 782 determines the angle of the flap cut (the angle of opposed surfaces 784B and 784A caused by leading end 768 and trailing end 766, respectively, of bead filler 14 as depicted in FIG. 4), which causes trailing end 768 and leading end 768 to be overlapped together as they complete the application of bead 14 to bead ring 12.

As a result of such angled discharge of the cutting edges 760 and 762, there will be a generally triangular waste edge 786 (FIG. 31) that should be removed to avoid wrapping around the leading end of the next bead of apex 14 that will be fed into the nip 52 of the apex tacker 50. An effective slitter edge removal mechanism 790 employs a long stroke piston rod 792 actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 794. The outer end of the piston rod 792 is a generally cylindrical crown 796. Extending axially forward from the axial forward face 800 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced barbs or teeth 798 that clear the land 786 when the piston rod 792 is extended. The teeth 798 pull the waste 786 as the rod 792 retracts, transferring it past a ribbon 802, which strips the waste 786 off the teeth and allows it to fall into the receptacle 804. An alternative efficient disposal system, not shown, may use a conveyor belt (not shown) which returns the scrap pieces to the inlet 646 of the extruder 630 for reuse.

The operation of the feed mechanism 642 will be well understood in conjunction with the guillotine cutter 640, the pinch rollers, and the retraction mechanism 840. It should be understood that when a sensor (e.g., a laser sensor, not shown) is signaled, the leading end 768 of a still-continuous bead of filler material 14 passes a particular position near the circumference of the chuck head 252 at the placement station 264B, and the length of the bead passing through the feed mechanism 642 is measured by the rotation angle of the drive motors 112 and 116. The drive motor 112 or 116 rotates the respective applicator roller and the double-edged guillotine cutter 640 cuts the strip 14 by pushing it against a platform 764 mounted on a feeder mechanism 642 by means of cutting edges 760 and 762 when the selected length of apex filler 14 has passed.

The precise position of the susceptors, which may be conventional devices such as optical, electrical or fluid-induced susceptors, each of which is compatible with the central processor, can be determined for each size of the green bead 16 to be manufactured on the bead applicator assembly 10, and this information can be stored in the central processor 837. These devices are known and it is believed that a more careful discussion of them is not necessary.

Retracting and feeding mechanisms co-operating with guillotine-type cutters

The bead filler is severed at the knife edges 760 and 762 striking the platform 764 and the grasping mechanism 842 of the retracting mechanism 840 is actuated to cause the flaps 846 to grasp them as the bead filler enters the feeder 642. After the grasping mechanism 842 is actuated, the displacement mechanism is also actuated to draw the newly formed leading edge 768 of the bead of filler material from the cutting edge 760 by about 1.5 inches. After such pulling over the leading end 768, at least cutting blade 760 retracts, and in the depicted embodiment both blades 760 and 762 retract simultaneously. This sequence ensures that the leading end 768 is not deformed by the retraction of the cutting edge 760.

During the cutting sequence described above, the one-way pinch roller 726 is held in its pinching position whereby it pushes the bead of filler material 14 past the backing plate 700. However, the one-way mechanism 728 continues movement of the follower end 766 severed by the cutting edge 762.

In preparation for feeding the leading end 768 of the cut bead of filler material 14 into the roller gap 52, the pinch roller 726 is moved to an open position spaced from the backing plate 700. The grip mechanism 842 is also actuated to release the bead of filler material 14 from the grip of the opposing flaps 846A and 846B. With the gum filler residing only in the feeder mechanism, the feeder mechanism 642 is urged rearward by the stroke cylinder 752, which is also effected relative to the gum filler 14.

The pinch roller 726 is now urged toward the back plate 700 by the action of the operating cylinder 742, so that when the turret chuck assembly 250 moves the next bead ring 12 into the roller gap 52, the feed mechanism 642 will move forward, inserting the lead 768 into the roller gap 52. It should be noted that the linear velocity of the leading end 768 as it is fed into the roller gap 52 is equal to or less than the tangential velocity of the frustoconical surfaces 58 and 60 on the applicator rollers 54 and 56. It has been found that the aforementioned speed differential helps to urge the base 22 of the bead filler 14 into intimate contact with the outer circumferential surface 24 of the bead ring 12. If the linear velocity urging the leading end 768 into the roller gap 52 is greater than the tangential velocity of the frustoconical surfaces 58 and 60, the leading end of the apex filler 14 will have a tendency to jump off the bead ring 12. Therefore, a suitable relative speed is important.

When the roller gap 52 abuts the leading end 768, the one-way clamping mechanism 728 causes the bead ring 12 to be pulled through the feed mechanism 642 between the pinch rollers 726 and the backing plate 700.

Accessories

A pair of diverging spaced pressure rollers 806A and 806B (FIG. 13A) are mounted for rotation on diverging mounting arms 808 which in turn are fixed through the main frame 62 and exist on the inlet side of the roller gap 52 between the opposed applicator rollers 54 and 56 of the bead filler applicator 50. Pinch rollers are provided to hold the trailing end of bead filler 14 in position against outer circumferential surface 24 of annular bead 12 after gate cutter 640 has severed bead filler 14 and trailing end 766 has entered gap 52.

Referring to fig. 32-34, it will be observed that the clamping system 810 preferably employs a high aspect ratio bead ring 14 to ensure that the bead of glue 14 does not begin to dent, curl or bend even at the brief intervals that occur when the bead of glue 14 is applied to the bead ring 12 by the applicator 50.

Generally, the clamping system 810 will use several circumferentially segmented arcuate plate members 812. The plates 812A and 812B may be secured to and supported by the turret arm 256. Thus, the plate members 812A and 812B will step with the turret arm 256 between the diametrical locations 264A and 264B of the chuck head 252. The plates 812C and 812D are on the same side of the chuck head as the plates 812A and 812B, but are supported on a crosshead 814 that is secured to an outer end 816 of the piston rod 818 to selectively extend and retract the piston rod 818 by the action of a positioning hydraulic cylinder that may be attached to the haunch carriage 106A. A pair of guide rods 822 are secured to the cross-head 814 and extend through aligned holes 824 provided in a head plate 826 of the positioning cylinder 820. Extension of the plunger rod 818 moves the plates 812C and 812D closer to the bead ring 14 that is applied to the bead ring at the chuck head application station 264B, and retraction of the plunger rod 818 pulls the plates 812C and 812D.

The opposing plate 828 is preferably frusto-disc shaped. This is a section of the disc removed along the chord 830 to form the plate 828. The plate 828, by being secured to the outer end of the piston rod 832, may also be attached to and removed from proximate the chuck head 252 at the placement site 264B. A hydraulic cylinder 833, mountable on a shelf 834 supported at the upper end of the fixed column, causes the extension and retraction of piston rod 832. Most of the plates 812 and 828 are mounted in a manner that allows them to transition to and from the chuck head 252 at the chuck head station 634B, providing easy access to the area in which the chuck head 252 is positioned when the bead filler 14 is applied to the bead ring 12.

If the plate itself is not made of a low friction material, each section of plate 812 will be provided with at least a low friction surface.

Further details of operating the bead filler applicator unit

The continuous bead 14 enters the directional feed mechanism 638 along with the bead 12 in the nip of the rolls by means of powered loop weight reduction rolls 636. The forward thrust exerted on the bead of filler material 14 by the roller 636 rotates the bead of filler material 14 about the longitudinal axis 682 of the directional feeder mechanism 638 so that the bead of filler material enters the feeder mechanism 642 at the desired vertical position. At the initial entry of the bead, the operator will ensure that the leading end 768 of the bead filler 14 is in front of the point where the bead filler 14 overlies the leading end cut line 778, and advance the bead filler 14 manually if necessary. Thus, the gate cutter 640 is moved to position the leading end 768 of the bead filler 14.

It will be recalled that whatever shape the surface portions 58a1 and 58a2 of the opposed applicator rollers 54 and 56 have, must be in the necessary driving engagement with the sides of the traveler 12, which in the case of the square drawn in figure 2 are the corners 224A and 224B. Thus, rotation of applicator rollers 54 and 56 not only rotates bead ring 14 on chuck head 252, but also continuously pulls bead filler 14 onto roller gap 52 and onto bead ring 12. As a result of the triggering action caused by the passage of the leading end 768 of the bead of apex filler 14, the guillotine cutter 640 simultaneously acts to sever the continuous bead of apex filler 14 along the predetermined cut lines 778 and 780, and reciprocally retracts the feeder mechanism 642. As the follower end 766 of the bead filler 14 approaches the roller gap 52, the pinch rollers 806 prevent the follower end 766 from being lifted upward to a significant extent, which helps to mate the follower end 766 with the lead end 768 previously attached to the wire loop 12.

With the foregoing supplementary description of the operation of the bead filler assembly 10 embodying the concepts of the present invention, those skilled in the art will readily program the central processor 837 to operate the assembly 10 at least semi-automatically.

Conclusion

Although only a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, it should be clearly understood that many variations, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are equally acceptable. The scope of the invention is therefore not to be limited to the details shown or described, but it is intended to include all modifications and changes that are encompassed by the appended claims.

It should now be understood that the present invention not only teaches us that an apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention for applying a bead filler to a bead ring can apply a bead filler having an aspect ratio substantially greater than that which can be used with prior art apparatus, but also teaches us that other objects of the present invention can be similarly achieved.

Claims (36)

1. Apparatus (10) for applying a bead filler (14) to an endless bead ring (12), comprising:

(a) a chuck means (252) for selectively receiving an annular traveler (12) having an outer circumferential surface (24);

(b) a pair of opposed frusto-conical applicator rolls (54, 56) each having an axis of rotation (114, 118) and an outer surface (58) spaced from each other to define a roll gap (52) therebetween having the desired shape of the bead filler (14);

(c) means (250) for placing said chuck means (252) into said roll gap (52) at least when they support an annular traveler (12);

(d) means (638) for providing a linear uncured elastomeric material (20) onto the outer circumferential surface (24) of said annular bead ring (12) in a cross-sectional shape generally conforming to the desired shape of the apex filler (14);

(e) said roll nip (52) being adapted to engage said linear strip of uncured elastomeric material (20) and to apply said linear strip (20) to said outer circumferential surface (24) of said annular bead ring (12);

(f) means for cutting said elastic strip (20) to a desired length to cover said outer circumferential surface (24) of said annular bead ring (12); it is characterized in that the above device further comprises:

(g) a clamping mechanism (810), said clamping mechanism (810) engaging the entirety of said bead filler strip (14) as said bead filler strip (14) is applied to said outer circumferential surface (24) of said traveler (12) to substantially maintain the radial position of said bead filler strip (14) applied to said traveler (12) through said roll gap (52) while avoiding adhesion between said clamping mechanism (810) and said elastomeric strip (20).

2. The apparatus (10) for applying a bead of filler material (14) to an endless wire loop (12) of claim 1, wherein said apparatus (10) further comprises:

means (226) on said outer surface (58) of said applicator roll (54, 56) for preventing said outer surface (58) from bonding to said elastomeric strip (20).

3. The apparatus (10) for applying a bead of filler material (14) to an endless wire loop (12) of claim 1, wherein said clamping mechanism (810) substantially engages both sides of said bead of filler material (14).

4. The apparatus (10) for applying a bead of filler material (14) to an endless bead ring (12) of claim 1 wherein said means (638) for providing said strip of strand-like unvulcanized elastomeric material (20) onto said outer circumferential surface (24) of said bead ring (12) further comprises:

a feeding mechanism (642);

a guillotine cutter (640);

said guillotine cutter (640) having a leading end cutting edge (760) and a trailing end cutting edge (762);

said leading and trailing end cutting edges (760, 762) being angled relative to one another and disposed relative to a vertical reference frame (776) to sever said elastomeric strip at leading (768) and trailing (766) ends to accommodate the processing action of said applicator rollers (54, 56) on said uncured elastomeric material (20) by causing mating engagement of said leading (768) and trailing (766) ends of said uncured elastomeric material (20) as said strip is applied to said bead ring (12).

5. Apparatus (10) for applying said bead filler (14) to said endless wire loop (12) according to claim 4, wherein:

the cutting edges (760, 762) are also angled relative to a transverse reference frame (782) to define a notch (784) angle at the leading (768) and trailing (766) ends of the elastomeric strip (20) to enable mating engagement of the leading (768) and trailing (766) ends upon completion of application of the elastomeric strip (20) to the bead ring (12).

6. The apparatus (10) for applying said apex filler (14) to said endless bead ring (12) according to claim 4, wherein said feeding mechanism (642) further comprises:

(a) a backplane device (700);

(b) -guide means (704) laterally spaced with respect to said back plate means (700) to receive an uncured elastomeric strip (20) therebetween;

(c) a platform (764) mounted on the backplane assembly (700);

(e) driving at least one cutting edge (760, 762) into abutment with said platform (764) to cut said uncured elastic strip (20) to a predetermined length, and retracting at least one cutting edge (760, 762) so that said elastic strip (20) passes unobstructed through said means (774) of said feeding mechanism (642);

(f) means (842, 846) for selectively grasping the elastic strip (20) into the feeding mechanism (642) to prevent the elastic strip (20) from passing through the feeding mechanism (642) after the at least one cutting edge (760 or 762) severs the elastic strip (20).

7. Apparatus (10) for applying a bead of filler material (14) to said annular bead ring (12) as recited in claim 6, wherein said means (842, 846) for selectively gripping the uncured elastomeric strip (20) further comprises:

a pinch roller (726) supported by said backplane assembly (700) in parallel therewith;

means (728) for limiting the rotation of said pinch roller (726) in one direction;

means (732-750) for moving said pinch rollers (726) in parallel toward and away from said uncured elastomeric material (20) and for selectively gripping or releasing said elastomeric material (20) for axial movement relative to said backplane means (700) in a direction opposite to that permitted by said unidirectional rotation of said pinch rollers.

8. The apparatus (10) for applying a bead of filler material (14) to said endless wire loop (12) according to claim 7, wherein said feeding mechanism (642) further comprises:

means (752, 758) for selectively reciprocating said back plate means (700).

9. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead filler (14) to said endless wire loop (12) of claim 8, further comprising:

retraction means (840) in said feeding mechanism (642) for selectively abutting said uncured elastomeric strip (20) and retracting said strip (20) a spaced distance.

10. Apparatus (10) for applying said bead filler (14) to said endless wire loop (12) as set forth in claim 9 wherein:

the means (752-758) for selectively reciprocating the back plate means (700) moves the platform (764) longitudinally behind the pinch roller (726) to be contacted by the at least one cutting edge (760 or 762).

11. Apparatus (10) for applying said bead filler (14) to said endless wire loop (12) according to claim 10,

the retraction device (840) retracts the glue strip (20) after the at least one cutting edge (760 or 762) touches the platform (764), but before the at least one cutting edge (760 or 762) retracts from the platform (764).

12. The apparatus (10) for applying said apex filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12) according to claim 9, wherein said means (840) for retracting said apex filler further comprises:

(a) a gripping device (842) and a displacement device (844);

(b) said displacement means (844) being mounted on said feeding mechanism (642);

(c) the gripping means (842) are housed in the displacement means (844).

13. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead of filler material (14) to said endless wire loop (12) as set forth in claim 12, wherein said gripping device (842) comprises:

-two opposing flaps (846) that are selectively movable towards and away from each other to grasp the elastic strip (20) therebetween;

an actuating arm (852) attached to each of the flaps (846);

piston means (860, 862) operatively associated with said actuator arm (852) for moving said opposed flaps (846) relative to each other;

a spring means (864) separating the two flaps (846) from each other.

14. Apparatus (10) for applying a bead filler (14) to an endless wire loop (12) according to claim 13, wherein said displacement means (844) comprises:

a double-acting hydraulic cylinder device (866) mounted on the feeding mechanism (642);

a piston rod (870) selectively extendable and retractable from the double-acting hydraulic cylinder device (866);

said flap-actuating hydraulic cylinder (860, 862) mounted on said piston rod (870) selectively extendable from said double-acting hydraulic cylinder (866).

15. An apparatus (10) for applying said apex filler (14) to an endless bead ring (12) according to claim 1 wherein said means (638) for feeding said linear uncured elastomeric strip (20) onto said outer circumferential surface (24) of said bead ring (12) further comprises:

-an extruder for converting the strand-like uncured elastomeric material (20) into said strip having a cross-sectional shape generally corresponding to the desired shape of the apex filler (14);

a feeding mechanism (642);

said feeding mechanism (642) delivering said unvulcanized elastomeric strip (20) into said gap (52);

an accumulation ring (634);

a powered loop de-weighting roller (636);

a directional charging mechanism (638);

a feeding chute (656) for receiving an uncured elastomeric strip (20) from said powered loop de-weighting roller (636) and for feeding said strip (20) in a horizontal direction to said directional feeding mechanism (638);

the directional feeder mechanism (638) employs a successive, longitudinally spaced, row of transition rolls (668) (660);

the successive transition rolls (668) turn the strip (14) from the horizontal disposition to a vertical disposition into the feeding mechanism (642).

16. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead filler (14) to an endless wire loop (12) as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chuck means (252) further includes:

a turret-type chuck assembly (250);

at least one chuck head (252) mounted on said turret-type chuck assembly (250);

said chuck head (252) adapted to selectively abut and position a traveler (12) having an outer circumferential surface (24) in said roller gap (52);

a drive block (294) mounted to said turret-type chuck assembly (250) for reciprocating movement toward and away from said at least one chuck head (252);

-means (404) for moving said drive block (294) in a radial direction to deploy said chuck head (252) to engage and hold said annular bead (12), said chuck head (252) being deployed from a point on the circumference of said chuck head (252); and

means (418) for moving said drive blocks in a radially opposite direction to retract said chuck head (252) to release an annular coil ring supported on said chuck head (252).

17. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead filler (14) to an endless bead ring (12) as set forth in claim 16 wherein said chuck means (252) further includes:

a turret-type chuck assembly (250);

at least one chuck head (252) mounted on said turret-type chuck assembly (250);

said at least one chuck head (252) adapted to selectively engage and disengage a traveler (12) having an outer circumferential surface (24);

said chuck means (252) having a drive block (294);

said chuck means (252) having a peripheral disk means (288) supported on said drive block (294) for rotation relative to said drive block (294) and for movement with said drive block (294);

said chuck assembly (252) further having a central disk assembly supported on said drive block (294) for rotation relative to said drive block (294) and said outer-edged disk assembly (288) and for movement with said outer-edged disk assembly (288) and said drive block;

having at least three drive arms (306) with a radially inner end (308) rotatably mounted on the central disk arrangement (286), a central arrangement (330) guided in a straight line on the peripheral disk arrangement (288), and a radially outer end (309);

the radially outer end (309) of one of the at least three drive arms (306) is fixedly positioned relative to the central disk arrangement (286);

means (404 and 418) for reciprocating said drive block (294) relative to an outer end (309) of said mounting means of one of said drive arms (306);

reciprocating movement of said drive block (294) in one direction causes relative rotation of said central disc means (286) with respect to said peripheral disc means (288) such that said radially outer end (309) of said drive arm (306) moves radially outwardly against and is secured to an annular bead ring (12) on said chuck means (252); and

reciprocating movement of the drive block (294) in opposite directions relatively counter-rotates the central disk arrangement (286) and the peripheral disk arrangement (288) moving the radially outer end (309) of the drive arm (306) radially inwardly to release the annular bead ring (12) supported on the chuck arrangement (252).

18. The apparatus (10) for applying said apex filler (14) to said endless wire loop (12) according to claim 17, wherein said apparatus (10) further comprises:

a turret arm (256) having a middle section and an opposite end section;

a rotating shaft (254) passing transversely from the mid-section of the turret arm;

chuck heads (252) mounted on opposite ends of the turret arm (256);

a power unit (260) operative to rotate said turret arm (256) about said transversely extending shaft (254) to move said chuck head (252) relative to said transverse shaft (254) at diametrically opposite end positions (264A and 264B).

19. The apparatus (10) for depositing said bead of filler material (14) onto said endless wire loop (12) as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

one of said straight radial positions (264A) serving as a loading/unloading position for receiving the bead ring (12) and for releasing the finished semifinished bead (16);

another of said diametrical locations (264B) positions said traveler (12) mounted on any one of said chuck heads (252) at least partially within said roll gap (52) and thus serves as a placement location.

20. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead filler (14) to an endless wire loop (12) according to claim 1, further comprising:

(g) a substantially horizontal conveyor means (450);

(h) a receiving stepping station (452) connected to said conveyor (450);

(i) said receiving stepping station (452) being adapted to receive an annular bead ring (12) received thereon;

(j) a positioning stepping station (456);

(k) a positioning mechanism (500) cooperating with said positioning stepping station (456) and capable of accurately positioning said endless bead ring (12) disposed at said receiving stepping station (452) and transferring said bead ring (12) from said receiving stepping station (452) to said positioning stepping station (456) as said conveyor means (450) is stepped;

(m) a take/put stepping station (458) to which the annular traveler (12) positioned by the positioner is transferred to the chuck means (252).

21. The apparatus (10) for applying said apex filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12) according to claim 20, wherein said positioning mechanism (500) further comprises:

an angularly diverging restraint bar (506) opening toward the receiving stepping station (452) to abut an annular traveler (12) on the conveyor belt (450) and to precisely position the annular traveler (12) relative to the conveyor belt; and

means (524) for selectively moving said stop bar (506) and said conveyor belt (450) away from one another to allow said precisely positioned endless bead ring (12) to be stepped by said conveyor belt (450) without interference between said conveyor belt (450) and said positioning mechanism (500).

22. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead of filler material (14) to said endless wire loop (12) as set forth in claim 21, wherein said means (524) for relatively separating said check rod (506) from said conveyor belt (450) further comprises:

means (524) for forcibly moving said restraint bar (506) obliquely upward and away from said positioning and stepping station (456).

23. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead of filler material (14) to said endless wire loop (12) as set forth in claim 22, wherein said positioning mechanism (500) further comprises:

means (534) for selectively adjusting the longitudinal position of the restraint bar (506) relative to the conveyor belt (450).

24. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead of filler material (14) to said endless wire loop (12) as recited in claim 23, wherein said positioning mechanism (500) further comprises:

an inner end and an outer end on each of said restraint rods (506);

said stop rods (506) being connected together at their respective inner ends and diverging outwardly therefrom;

the guide rods (502) are forced to extend outwards from the outer end of each limiting rod (506);

the guide rods (502) extend obliquely outward from the outer end of each stopper rod (506).

25. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead filler (14) to an endless wire loop (12) according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus (10) further comprises:

a pick/place stepping station (458);

-a transfer device (550) for removing the traveler (12) from the pick/place stepping station (458) and placing it against the chuck device (252) in cooperation with the pick/place stepping station.

26. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead of filler material (14) to said endless wire loop (12) as set forth in claim 25, wherein said conveyor (550) further includes:

a rotatably mounted frame member (552);

means (614) for grasping and releasing the bead ring (12) on said frame member (552);

means (570, 576) for selectively rotating said frame member (552) between a pick/place position (550A) substantially parallel to said load/unload section (458) of said conveyor (450), a chuck pick and place position (550B) substantially perpendicular to said load/unload position (458) of said conveyor (450), and a ready position (550C) disposed at a greater angle than perpendicular with respect to said load/unload section (458) of said conveyor (450).

27. The apparatus (10) for applying said apex filler (14) to said endless wire loop (12) of claim 26, wherein said actuator (550) further comprises:

a first hydraulic cylinder (570) for rotating said frame member (552) between said pick/place station (550A) and said chuck loading and unloading station (550B); and

a second hydraulic cylinder device (576) for rotating said frame member (552) between said chuck loading and unloading position (550B) and said preparation position (550C).

28. The apparatus (10) for applying said bead of filler material (14) to said endless wire loop (12) as set forth in claim 27, wherein said conveyor (550) further includes:

a structural anchor 584 connected to the ground 62;

a stub shaft assembly (560) connected to the ground (556, 558) for rotatably supporting said frame member (552);

a side plate arrangement (561) attached to said frame member (552) proximate said stub axle (560);

a crank arm (562) having opposed first and second ends (564, 566) and a middle portion;

said intermediate portion of said crank arm (562) being pivotally mounted on at least one of said stub shafts (560);

the first hydraulic cylinder (570) is connected to a strut (62) and the first end (564) of the crank arm (562); and

the second hydraulic cylinder (576) is connected between the second end (566) of the crank arm (562) and at least one end of the side plate (561).

29. Apparatus (10) for applying said bead of filler material (14) to said endless wire loop (12) according to claim 27, wherein said conveyor further comprises:

a platform device (490)

Said platform means (490) moving said pick/place stepping station (458) vertically in cooperation with said pick/place stepping station (458) on said conveyor means (450);

means (496) for selectively moving said platform means (490) closer to and away from said transfer means (550) when said actuator means (550) is placed in said pick/place position (550A).

30. A method of applying said bead filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12) comprising the steps of:

placing the endless wire loop (12) on a conveyor belt (450);

stepping the conveyor belt (450) to position the position where the annular bead ring (12) is placed on a pick/place stepping station (458);

transferring said traveler (12) to a plurality of engagement means on a chuck head (252) and positioned along a bolt circle having a constricted diameter;

the bolt circle is positioned in a common radial plane with all of the engagement means;

one of said engagement means held fixedly positioned in said common radial plane;

expanding the diameter of the bolt circle, the engagement means being arranged to grip the traveler along the bolt circle while continuing to retain one of the engagement means fixedly positioned in the common radial plane;

positioning the bead ring in a roll gap (52) of a bead tape applicator (54, 56);

feeding the elastic strip (14) into the gap (52);

the elastic strip (14) is attached to the bead ring (12);

shrinking the diameter of said bolt circle, said joining means being arranged along said bolt circle to release said joined-together bead ring and bead filler (16); and

the joined bead ring and bead filler (16) are placed on a take/place station (458) of a conveyor (450).

31. The method of applying said apex filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12) of claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

-stepping said conveyor belt to precisely position a traveller (12) on the conveyor belt (450) at said pick/place station (458);

selectively moving the annular traveler (12) upwardly at the pick/place station (458) to facilitate engagement of the annular traveler (12) by engagement means disposed along the constricted diameter bolt circle.

32. The method of applying said apex filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12) according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

pulling the elastic strip onto a loop weight reducing roller (636) positioned above a roller gap (52) of the bead tape applicator (54, 56);

pulling the elastomeric strip into the roll gap (52) of the strip placement machine (54, 56) from a loop weight reducing roll (636) positioned above the roll gap (52) of the placement machine (54, 56).

33. A method of applying said bead filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12), comprising the steps of:

precisely placing the annular traveler (12) on a horizontally disposed conveyor belt (450);

-stepping the conveyor belt (450) to convey the position where the endless bead ring (12) is placed onto a take/put stepping station (458);

disposing a plurality of engagement means on a chuck head (252) and positioned along a bolt circle having a constricted diameter;

one of said engagement means held fixedly positioned in said common radial plane;

contracting the diameter of said bolt circle while continuing to maintain one of a plurality of said engagement means fixedly positioned relative to the bolt circle regardless of its diameter;

inserting said engagement means into said annular traveler (12);

one of the plurality of engagement means held in fixed position relative to the bolt circle;

expanding the diameter of the bolt circle, the engagement means being arranged to grip the traveller along the bolt circle while continuing to retain one of the engagement means fixedly positioned relative to the bolt circle;

rotating the engagement means to position the traveler (12) in the gap (52);

feeding an elastic strip (14) into the gap (52);

-applying the elastic strip (14) to the bead ring (12) in the middle of the roll gap (52) of the bead applicator (54, 56);

rotating the traveler (12) to apply the elastic strip (14) on the outer circumference of the traveler (12);

removing said joined bead and bead filler (16) from said gap (52); and

contracting the diameter of said bolt circle, said engagement means being arranged to grip the traveller along said bolt circle while continuing to retain one of said engagement means fixedly positioned relative to said bolt circle;

-placing said joined bead ring and bead filler (16) on a take/place location (458) of a conveyor belt (450).

34. The method of applying said apex filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12) according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

a loop weight reducing roller (636) passing through the elastic strip in an inverted position above a roller gap (52) of the cloth sticking machine (54, 56),

drawing the bead of filler material onto the loop weight reducing roller (636);

positioning the bead filler to pass from the loop weight reduction roller (636) into the roll gap (52) of the cloth sticking machine (54, 56), the loop weight reduction roller (636) being positioned higher than the roll gap (52) of the cloth sticking machine (54, 56);

-stepping the bead ring and bead filler (16) together to a take-off section (618) of the conveyor belt; and

the bead rings and bead fillers (16) are removed from the conveyor belt.

35. The method of applying said apex filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12) according to claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

positioning the joined bead ring and bead filler strip (16) in a form holder (616) after the joined bead ring and bead filler strip (16) is delivered to a take/put section (458) of the conveyor belt (450).

36. A method of applying said bead filler (14) to said annular bead ring (12) comprising the steps of:

placing the endless wire loop (12) on a conveyor belt (450);

stepping the conveyor belt (450) to position the location at which the endless wire loop (12) is placed at a pick/place stepping station (458);

positioning a chuck head (252) having a plurality of engagement means in a common plane and selectively engaging said traveler (12) along a bolt circle;

one of the engagement means is fixedly positioned within a bolt circle in a common plane;

shrinking those engagement means not fixedly positioned within said common plane along a bolt circle of reduced diameter until said diameter is reduced sufficiently small to allow said engagement means to be inserted into said annular traveler;

expanding those engagement means not fixedly positioned within said common plane along a bolt circle of expanded diameter until said diameter is increased sufficiently to allow said engagement means to release said annular traveler;

expanding the diameter of the bolt circle along which the engagement means is arranged to grip the annular traveler;

positioning the traveler supported by the engagement means of the chuck head in a roller gap (52) of a glue strip applicator (54, 56);

feeding the elastic strip (14) into the gap (52) and applying it to the traveller (12);

retracting said engagement means not fixedly positioned within said common plane to release said traveler; and

the joined bead ring and bead filler (16) are placed on a take/place station (458) of a conveyor (450).