US3849231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bead mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-15
•
Granted: 1974-11-19
•
Expires: 1991-09-15
Abstract
Abstract 1. A mechanism for automatically feeding beads, as they are needed, to a machine used in a tire making process for setting beads in position on green tires, said mechanism comprising: A. A PAIR OF ARMS POSITIONED ADJACENT THE MACHINE IN PREDETERMINED SPACED RELATION TO THE OVERALL LENGTH OF A DRUM WITH TIRE MAKING MATERIAL WRAPPED THEREON; B. MEANS FOR MAKING THE ARMS FOR ROTATING IN PLANES ANGULARLY DISPOSED TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF A DRUM POSITIONED IN THE MACHINE FOR RECEIVING BEADS; C. A SOURCE OF BEADS DISPOSED ADJACENT EACH ARM; D. A PLURALITY OF ARCUATELY SPACED FINGERS CARRIED BY EACH ARM FOR TRANSPORTING BEADS FROM THE SOURCE TO THE MACHINE FOR RECEIPT THEREBY, THE FINGERS BEING MOVEABLE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BEADS; E. MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ARMS AND FINGERS INTO POSITION FOR GRABBING BEADS FROM THE SOURCE; F. MEANS FOR MOVING THE FINGERS INTO GRABBING ENGAGEMENT WITH A PAIR OF BEADS FROM SAID SOURCE; G. MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ARMS AND FINGERS WITH ENGAGED BEADS, TOWARDS THE MACHINE FOR DELIVERY OF THE BEADS; AND H. MEANS FOR MOVING THE FINGERS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DELIVERED BEADS WHEN THE MACHINE ACCEPTS THEM; I. A SHOULDER ON EACH FINGER FOR ENGAGING BEADS; AND J. MEANS CARRIED BY THE FINGERS FOR DEFLECTING BEADS AGAINST THE SHOULDERS; THE SOURCE OF BEADS INCLUDING: K. AT LEAST ONE STACK OF BEADS ADJACENT EACH ARM; L. MEANS FOR HOLDING THE BEADS IN SPACED RELATION IN THE STACKS; AND M. MEANS FOR MOVING THE BEADS TOWARDS ONE END OF THE STACKS FOR REMOVAL THEREFROM BY THE FINGERS.
Inventors
- 👤 W Hostetler
- 👤 E Loeffler
- 👤 H Kolm
- 👤 F Elder
- 👤 W Brey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:10
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D30/00; B29D30/06; B29D30/08; B29D30/20; B29D30/32; B29D30/48; B29D30/0016; B29D2030/0044; B29D30/24; B29D30/26; B29D2030/2671; B29D2030/2692; B29D2030/487; B29K; B29K2021/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A mechanism for automatically feeding beads, as they are needed, to a machine used in a tire making process for setting beads in position on green tires, said mechanism comprising: a. a pair of arms positioned adjacent the machine in predetermined spaced relation to the overall length of a drum with tire making material wrapped thereon; b. means for mounting the arms for rotating in planes angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of a drum positioned in the machine for receiving beads; c. a source of beads disposed adjacent each arm; d. a plurality of arcuately spaced fingers carried by each arm for transporting beads from the source to the machine for receipt thereby, the fingers being movable into and out of engagement with the beads; e. means for rotating the arms and fingers into position for grabbing beads from the source; f. means for moving the fingers into grabbing engagement with a pair of beads from said source; g. means for rotating the arms and fingers with engaged beAds, towards the machine for delivery of the beads; and h. means for moving the fingers out of engagement with the delivered beads when the machine accepts them; i. a shoulder on each finger for engaging beads; and j. means carried by the fingers for deflecting beads against the shoulders; the source of beads including: k. at least one stack of beads adjacent each arm; l. means for holding the beads in spaced relation in the stacks; and m. means for moving the beads towards one end of the stacks for removal therefrom by the fingers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
A mechanism for automatically feeding beads, as they are needed, to a machine used in a tire making process for setting beads in position on green tires, said mechanism comprising: a. a pair of arms positioned adjacent the machine in predetermined spaced relation to the overall length of a drum with tire making material wrapped thereon; b. means for mounting the arms for rotating in planes angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of a drum positioned in the machine for receiving beads; c. a source of beads disposed adjacent each arm; d. a plurality of arcuately spaced fingers carried by each arm for transporting beads from the source to the machine for receipt thereby, the fingers being movable into and out of engagement with the beads; e. means for rotating the arms and fingers into position for grabbing beads from the source; f. means for moving the fingers into grabbing engagement with a pair of beads from said source; g. means for rotating the arms and fingers with engaged beAds, towards the machine for delivery of the beads; and h. means for moving the fingers out of engagement with the delivered beads when the machine accepts them; i. a shoulder on each finger for engaging beads; and j. means carried by the fingers for deflecting beads against the shoulders; the source of beads including: k. at least one stack of beads adjacent each arm; l. means for holding the beads in spaced relation in the stacks; and m. means for moving the beads towards one end of the stacks for removal therefrom by the fingers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The mechanism of claim 1, which includes: n. means for positioning the stacks in predetermined relation adjacent the arms; o. means for rejecting the stacks from their positions adjacent the arms when the last beads of the stacks are removed; and p. means for moving new stacks of beads into position in response to the rejection of depleted stacks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
a plurality of plastic clips removably inserted in the links of the chains in predetermined spaced relation, the clips extending outwardly from the link chains for supporting engagement with beads positioned thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
a plurality of plastic clips removably inserted in the links of the chains in predetermined spaced relation, the clips extending outwardly from the link chains for supporting engagement with beads positioned thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The mechanism of claim 1, which includes: n. a platform o. means responsive to an empty stack of beads, for rotating the platform to position a new stack of beads, for removal by the fingers; p. means responsive to a platform with depleted stacks of beads, for rejecting the platform from its position adjacent the arm; and q. means responsive to a platform being rejected for positioning an adjacently disposed platform, with fresh stacks of beads, in said predetermined fixed relation to the adjacent arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
7 words
a rotatable screw coextensive with the stacks;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
7 words
a rotatable screw coextensive with the stacks;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
means responsive to a bead being removed from the top of a stack, for rotating the screw; and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
means responsive to a bead being removed from the top of a stack, for rotating the screw; and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The mechanism of claim 3, wherein the bead holding means (l) includes:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The mechanism of claim 4, wherein the bead moving means m includes:
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for translating rotary motion of the screw into corresponding axial movement of the chains.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for translating rotary motion of the screw into corresponding axial movement of the chains.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
7 words
a sensing mechanism positioned below the platform;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
7 words
a sensing mechanism positioned below the platform;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mechanism of claim 5, and means for positioning each stack on the platform, the platform rotating means o including:
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the means p includes:
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
a pin carried by the screw and movable axially therealong when the screw rotates, the pin engaging the sensing mechanism, after the last bead in a stack is removed;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
a pin carried by the screw and movable axially therealong when the screw rotates, the pin engaging the sensing mechanism, after the last bead in a stack is removed;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the means q includes:
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for rotating the platform when the sensing mechanism is engaged by the pin; and
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for rotating the platform when the sensing mechanism is engaged by the pin; and
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for stopping rotation of the platform when a new stack of beads is positioned for removal by the fingers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for stopping rotation of the platform when a new stack of beads is positioned for removal by the fingers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
82 words
A bead storage device used in conjunction with a tire-making machine for automatically setting beads, comprising: a. a platform mounted on rollers; b. means for holding a plurality of beads in vertically stacked spaced relation from the platform; and c. means for moving the beads in a direction away from the platform, said moving means including d. a plurality of arcuately spaced continuous link chains extending in looped relation from the platform; and e. means for causing movement of the link chains.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
82 words
A bead storage device used in conjunction with a tire-making machine for automatically setting beads, comprising: a. a platform mounted on rollers; b. means for holding a plurality of beads in vertically stacked spaced relation from the platform; and c. means for moving the beads in a direction away from the platform, said moving means including d. a plurality of arcuately spaced continuous link chains extending in looped relation from the platform; and e. means for causing movement of the link chains.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
The storage device of claim 9, wherein the holding means b includes: f. a plurality of plastic clips removably inserted in predetermined spaced relation in the links of the chains, the clips extending from the chains for supporting engagement with beads positioned thereon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
7 words
a ram for engaging the platform; and
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
7 words
a ram for engaging the platform; and
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for moving the ram axially to engage and push the platform out of position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for moving the ram axially to engage and push the platform out of position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
The storage device of claim 10, wherein the means e for causing movement of the beads includes: g. a rotatable screw disposed between arcuately spaced chains; and h. means carried by the screw for moving adjacently disposed chains in unison, in response to rotary movement of the screw.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
66 words
The storage device of claim 11, wherein each plastic clip includes: i. an outstanding ledge for supporting beads; j. a pair of fingers extending in spaced relation from the ledge and insertable in adjacent spaces of the chain formed by spaced pins and cover plates thereof; and k. means for holding the fingers in the spaces in compressed engagement with adjacently disposed pins of the chain.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
a configured frame disposed in a rest position in spaced relation from the ram;
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
a configured frame disposed in a rest position in spaced relation from the ram;
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for removably clamping a platform, with stacks of beads, against the frame;
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for removably clamping a platform, with stacks of beads, against the frame;
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The storage device of claim 12, which includes: l. a plurality of arcuately spaced frames extending from the platform, each frame supporting a plurality of link chains.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for moving the frame along a fixed pathway to guide the platform into position adjacent the arm; and
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for moving the frame along a fixed pathway to guide the platform into position adjacent the arm; and
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for moving the frame out of engagement with the platform and returning the frame to its rest position.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for moving the frame out of engagement with the platform and returning the frame to its rest position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |