Abstract 1. Apparatus for automatically controlling a tire calendar to maintain a desired thickness profile in a strip of laminated sheet material comprising first and second layers of rubber and an intermediate layer of tire cord, in which said first layer of rubber is formed in a substantially continuous fashion between a first pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said first pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said first pair of rolls to vary the thickness of said first layer of rubber, and said second layer of rubber is formed in a substantially continuous fashion between a second pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said second pair of rolls to vary the thickness of said second layer of rubber, and in which said layer of tire cord is laminated between said first and second layers of rubber by adjoining calendar rolls, said apparatus comprising first measuring means located in a fixed position adjacent one of said adjoining calendar rolls at the input side thereof for providing an indication of the thickness of said first layer of rubber, first comparison means for comparing a said first layer thickness indication with a first layer target to provide a first layer error indication, first controller means responsive to said first layer error indication for actuating said adjustable elements associated with said first pair of coacting calendar rolls, to maintain said first layer thickness substantially at said fires layer target, second measuring means located at the strip output side of said adjoining calendar rolls for providing an indication of the total thickness of said strip, second comparison means for comparing said total thickness indication with a total thickness target to provide a total error indication for said laminated strip, third comparison means for comparing said first layer error indication with said total error indication to provide an error indication for said second layer, and second controller means responsive to said second layer error indication for actuating said adjustable elements associated with said second pair of coacting calendar rolls, to maintain said total thickness substantially at said total thickness target.
Apparatus for automatically controlling a tire calendar to maintain a desired thickness profile in a strip of laminated sheet material comprising first and second layers of rubber and an intermediate layer of tire cord, in which said first layer of rubber is formed in a substantially continuous fashion between a first pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said first pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said first pair of rolls to vary the thickness of said first layer of rubber, and said second layer of rubber is formed in a substantially continuous fashion between a second pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said second pair of rolls to vary the thickness of said second layer of rubber, and in which said layer of tire cord is laminated between said first and second layers of rubber by adjoining calendar rolls, said apparatus comprising first measuring means located in a fixed position adjacent one of said adjoining calendar rolls at the input side thereof for providing an indication of the thickness of said first layer of rubber, first comparison means for comparing a said first layer thickness indication with a first layer target to provide a first layer error indication, first controller means responsive to said first layer error indication for actuating said adjustable elements associated with said first pair of coacting calendar rolls, to maintain said first layer thickness substantially at said fires layer target, second measuring means located at the strip output side of said adjoining calendar rolls for providing an indication of the total thickness of said strip, second comparison means for comparing said total thickness indication with a total thickness target to provide a total error indication for said laminated strip, third comparison means for comparing said first layer error indication with said total error indication to provide an error indication for said second layer, and second controller means responsive to said second layer error indication for actuating said adjustable elements associated with said second pair of coacting calendar rolls, to maintain said total thickness substantially at said total thickness target.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
376 words
Apparatus for automatically controlling a tire calendar to maintain a desired thickness profile in a strip of laminated sheet material comprising first and second layers of rubber and an intermediate layer of tire cord, in which said first layer of rubber is formed in a substantially continuous fashion between a first pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said first pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said first pair of rolls to vary the thickness of said first layer of rubber, and said second layer of rubber is formed in a substantially continuous fashion between a second pair of coacting calendar rolls having adjustable elements at either end thereof for adjusting the spacing between said second pair of rolls to vary the thickness of said second layer of rubber, and in which said layer of tire cord is laminated between said first and second layers of rubber by adjoining calendar rolls, said apparatus comprising first measuring means located in a fixed position adjacent one of said adjoining calendar rolls at the input side thereof for providing an indication of the thickness of said first layer of rubber, first comparison means for comparing a said first layer thickness indication with a first layer target to provide a first layer error indication, first controller means responsive to said first layer error indication for actuating said adjustable elements associated with said first pair of coacting calendar rolls, to maintain said first layer thickness substantially at said fires layer target, second measuring means located at the strip output side of said adjoining calendar rolls for providing an indication of the total thickness of said strip, second comparison means for comparing said total thickness indication with a total thickness target to provide a total error indication for said laminated strip, third comparison means for comparing said first layer error indication with said total error indication to provide an error indication for said second layer, and second controller means responsive to said second layer error indication for actuating said adjustable elements associated with said second pair of coacting calendar rolls, to maintain said total thickness substantially at said total thickness target.