Tire building apparatus

Claim 2

In an automatic ply applier having a support means, ply stock supply means mounted on one end of said support means, a shaft mounted on the other end of said support means, a tire building drum mounted on said shaft, belt drive rings journaled on said shaft for rotation thereon, a plurality of rollers mounted on said support means, an idler roll mounted on said belt rings for rotation therewith around said shaft, an endless conveyor means mounted on said support means and trained about said rollers and said idler roll, one of said plurality of rollers being moveable in a linear direction, and power operated means connected to said drum and said belt rings to selectively rotate said drum and said belt rings in synchronism for a first predetermined amount of rotation followed by the sole rotation of said drum a second predetermined amount, and said drum being in frictional contact with said endless conveyor means to transfer ply stock from said conveyor means to said drum upon continued rotation of said drum to effect a wrapping around of the ply stock resting on said conveyor means about said drum during actuation of said power operated means.

Claim 3

In an automatic ply applier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said idler roll is moved in an arcuate direction around said drum as said belt rings rotate and said drum rotate while said one roller is moved in a linear direction to compensate for the distance traveled by said idler roll.

Claim 4

In an automatic ply applier as set forth in claim 2 wherein cutter means are mounted on said one end of said support means for severing ply stock delivered to said conveyor means.

Claim 5

In an automatic ply applier as set forth in claim 3 wherein transfer means are mounted on said one end of said support means for effecting a transfer of ply stock after being cut by said cutter means to said conveyor means.

Claim 6

In an automatic ply applier as set forth in claim 4 wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless belt with a plurality of holes therein, said endless belt has an upper conveying run and a lower return run, and a vacuum box mounted beneath said conveying run of said endless belt to retain ply stock thereon in an untensioned condition while being conveyed by said endless belt.

Claim 7

In an automatic ply applier as set forth in claim 5 wherein said transfer means includes a carriage moveable linearly between said one end of said support means to said vacuum box, a vacuum pickup means mounted on said carriage for movement therewith and power operated cylinder means mounted on said carriage and connected to said vacuum pickup means for selectively raising and lowering said pickup means to effect a transfer of ply stock on said conveyor means.

Claim 8

In an automatic ply applier having support means, ply stock supply means mounted on one end of said support means, a tire building drum mounted on the other end of said support means, a belt ring journaled on each end of said drum, drive means connected to said tire building drum and said belt rings for selectively rotating said drum and rings simultaneously and thence rotating said drum relative to said rings, an idler roller journaled for rotation on said belt rings and for arcuate movement therewith, a plurality of rolls mounted on said support means, endless conveyor belt means trained on said rolls and said idler roller for movement thereon, motive means operably connected to said endless conveyor belt means for moving said belt in an orbital movement, certain ones of said rolls mounted for linear movement on said support means and for rotation around said belt rings in cooperation with rotation of said idler roller with said belt rings to wrap a portion of said endless belt means about said drum by said drive means, cut-off means mounted on said one end of said support means for severing a predetermined length of ply stock on said conveyor belt means.

Claim 9

In an automatic ply applier having support means, ply stock supply means mounted on one end of said support means, a tire building drum mounted on the other end of said support means, a belt ring journaled on each end of said drum, drive means connected to said tire building drum and said belt rings for selectively rotating said drum and rings simultaneously and thence rotating said drum relative to said rings, an idler roller journaled for rotation on said belt rings and for arcuate movement therewith, a plurality of rolls mounted on said support means, endless conveyor belt means trained on said rolls and said idler roller for movement thereon, motive means operably connected to said endless conveyor belt means for moving said belt in an orbital movement, certain ones of said rolls mounted for linear movement on said support means and for rotation around said belt rings in cooperation with rotation of said idler roller with said belt rings to wrap a portion of said endless belt means about said drum by said drive means, cut-off means mounted on said one end of said support means for severing a predetermined length of ply stock on said conveyor belt means.

Claim 10

In an automatic ply applier as set forth in claim 7 wherein said drive means rotates said drum and said belt rings simultaneously for less than 360° but rotates said drum for at least a full revolution to provide a splicing of a ply stock.

Claim 11

In an automatic ply applier as set forth in claim 8 wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless belt with a plurality of holes therein, said endless belt has an upper conveying run and a lower return run, and a vacuum box mounted beneath said conveying run of said endless belt to retain ply stock thereon in an untensioned condition while being conveyed on said endless belt.

Claim 12

In an automatic ply applier as set forth in claim 9 wherein said transfer means includes a carriage moveable linearly between said one end of said support means to said vacuum box, a vacuum pickup means mounted on said carriage for movement therewith and power operated cylinder means mounted on said carriage and connected to said vacuum pickup means for selectively raising and lowering said pickup means to effect a transfer of ply stock on said conveyor means.