US3901756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closed loop line follower
Assignee: Steelastic West Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-26
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus employed for controlling and programming the deposition of rubber tread material on a tire body. The control system employed therefor uses a sensing device which may be magnetic, optical or edge sensing that is adapted to follow a scribed line or a color contrast area which line or area conforms to a desired tread profile. The apparatus employs electrical circuitry which continuously positions the sensing device, and in effect, the control functions in response to the deposition of freshly deposited material.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Wireman
- 👤 Richard Dean Tellinghuisen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:09
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D30/00; B29D30/06; B29D30/52; B29D30/58; B29D30/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
METHOD OF CONTROLLING A DEPOSITION OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PRE-DEFINED PROFILE WHICH CORRESPONDS TO A TIRE TREAD CONTOUR, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: SCRIBING A LINE ON AN ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE PAPER WHICH LINE REPRESENTS TIRE TREAD CONTOUR IN CROSS-SECTION, POSITIONING A SENSING DEVICE IN PROXIMITY TO SAID LINE WHEREBY SAID DEVICE BEING CONNECTED TO SUPPLY MEANS FOR PROVIDING SAID ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL, GENERATING AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IN RESPONSE TO DEVIATION BY SAID SENSING DEVICE FROM SAID SCRIBED LINE CAUSING THE RATE OF SUPPLY OF MATERIAL TO BE DEPOSED TO ADVANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH ELECTRICAL SIGNAL, DIRECTING THE SPEED OF ROTATING OF A TIRE SURFACE BY ENERGIZING MOTOR MEANS BY AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF SAID SENSING DEVICE WITH RESPECT TO SAID SCRIBED LINE, AND CONTINUOUSLY POSITIONING SAID SENSING DEVICE IN THE X-Y COORDINATES RESPONSIVE TO THE DISPOSITION OF FRESHLY DEPOSITED ELASTOMERIC WITH RESPECT TO ADJACENT LAYERS OF SUCH DEPOSITED MATERIAL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
METHOD OF CONTROLLING A DEPOSITION OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PRE-DEFINED PROFILE WHICH CORRESPONDS TO A TIRE TREAD CONTOUR, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: SCRIBING A LINE ON AN ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE PAPER WHICH LINE REPRESENTS TIRE TREAD CONTOUR IN CROSS-SECTION, POSITIONING A SENSING DEVICE IN PROXIMITY TO SAID LINE WHEREBY SAID DEVICE BEING CONNECTED TO SUPPLY MEANS FOR PROVIDING SAID ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL, GENERATING AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IN RESPONSE TO DEVIATION BY SAID SENSING DEVICE FROM SAID SCRIBED LINE CAUSING THE RATE OF SUPPLY OF MATERIAL TO BE DEPOSED TO ADVANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH ELECTRICAL SIGNAL, DIRECTING THE SPEED OF ROTATING OF A TIRE SURFACE BY ENERGIZING MOTOR MEANS BY AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF SAID SENSING DEVICE WITH RESPECT TO SAID SCRIBED LINE, AND CONTINUOUSLY POSITIONING SAID SENSING DEVICE IN THE X-Y COORDINATES RESPONSIVE TO THE DISPOSITION OF FRESHLY DEPOSITED ELASTOMERIC WITH RESPECT TO ADJACENT LAYERS OF SUCH DEPOSITED MATERIAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of feeding an electrical signal generated as a result of said sensing device hunting for a null position is respect to said scribed line into amplifier means; feeding said amplified signal into analog/digital converter means for producing a d.c. signal to thusly energize motor means driving said elastomeric material supply means; moving said sensing means along said scribed line by adjustment means responsive to the X-Y coordinate position of said sensing means witH respect to said scribed line as such elastomeric material is being fed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of rotating a tire to be surfaced with elastomeric material in response to motor means, where such motor means are electrically connected to synchro transmitter means adapted to generate voltage levels consistent with tire surface rpm; transmitting said voltage differential to a synchro receiver for transmission to amplifier means and energization of said sensing device through adjusting means caused by motor means responding to the electrical signal generated by said synchro receiver; and repeating the generation of voltage differentials responsive to tire rotation for a prescribed number of times consistent with the number of tire ribbon wraps.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for controlling the deposition of elastomeric ribbon material upon a tire surface consistent with a pre-defined profile of the ultimate tire cap layer surface as identified by a specifically shaped profile including an electro-conductive substrate adapted to receive said pre-defined cap layer profile; a sensing assembly disposed in proximity to said substrate for seeking a null position with respect to said profile, wherein said sensing assembly includes an optical scanning means disposed upon ways being positionable in the X-Y coordinate axis responsive to the movement of a tire surface to be worked upon, said sensing assembly being coupled to said tire orientation apparatus, whereby deviation of said sensing device from said pre-defined contour causes an electrical signal to be generated allowing the tire building apparatus to rotate in response to said electrical signal; control means coupled to said tire building apparatus enabling movement of said tire building apparatus with respect to elastomeric material being disposed thereon, consistent with the position of said sensing device with respect to said scribed line.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for controlling the deposition of elastomeric ribbon material upon a tire surface consistent with a pre-defined profile of the ultimate tire cap layer surface as identified by a specifically shaped profile including an electro-conductive substrate adapted to receive said pre-defined cap layer profile; a sensing assembly disposed in proximity to said substrate for seeking a null position with respect to said profile, wherein said sensing assembly includes an optical scanning means disposed upon ways being positionable in the X-Y coordinate axis responsive to the movement of a tire surface to be worked upon, said sensing assembly being coupled to said tire orientation apparatus, whereby deviation of said sensing device from said pre-defined contour causes an electrical signal to be generated allowing the tire building apparatus to rotate in response to said electrical signal; control means coupled to said tire building apparatus enabling movement of said tire building apparatus with respect to elastomeric material being disposed thereon, consistent with the position of said sensing device with respect to said scribed line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said substrate is defined by electro-conductive paper having an insulated backing, whereby, once a scribed line is disposed thereon an electrical signal is caused to pass therethrough, the respective sections of said paper are placed in an out of phase condition, thereafter said sensing device is caused to sense said scribed line on said paper, such that any voltage differentials resulting from the movement of said sensing device away from a null position produces a voltage differential; and amplifier means in electrical circuit relationship with said tire building apparatus adapted to receive an electrical signal from said sensing device for transmission to motor means governing the movement of said tire building apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said sensing device is adapted to move in vertical and horizontal positions respectively by means of screw means responsive to the orientation of said tire motion rotation during the tire building operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, including: a control system provided with first and second synchro means, said first synchro means being adapted to rotate in concert with an apparatus holding said tire for rotation, whereby, rotation of said tire causes an electrical signal to be generated and transmitted to second synchro disposed in electrical circuit relationship to said sensing device; said second synchro being adapted to maintain a position for said sensing device to follow enabling said sensing device to be positioned in the vertical direction in response to the revolution of said tire building apparatus; amplifier means connected to said sensing device for transmitting a signal as such sensing device is caused to move away from said scribed line, simultaneously therewith causing an electrical signal sent to said tire building apparatus and urging it to move at a proportional and defined rate in the radial direction consistent with elastomeric material ribbon feed rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of: feeding an electrical signal generated as a result of having an optical pick-up sensing device hunting for a null position with respect to said scribed line into amplifier means; feeding said amplified signal into converter means for producing a d.c. signal to thusly energize motor means driving said elastomeric material supply means; and moving said optical pick-up sensing device along said scribed line by adjustment means responsive to the X-Y coordinate position of said sensing means with respect to said scribed line as such elastomeric material is being fed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, including the steps of: urging an optical sensing device to sense upon color contrasting areas formed on a sheet of plain paper whereby a null position is continuously sought by said sensing device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said sensing assembly includes an optical pick-up device adapted to follow a scribed contrasting line on a standard paper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said sensing device includes an edge following apparatus adapted to follow contrasting areas of color formed on a plain sheet of paper.
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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) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |