Tire building machine

Claim 2

In combination, a tire building machine comprising: a tire building drum having collapsible segments forming an outer drum periphery and being movable between extended and retracted positions, said tire building drum including at least one rotatable shaft and means for connecting said collapsible segments to said rotatable shaft for moving said segments between the extended and retracted positions in response to rotation of said rotatable shaft; drive means for rotating the drum and including an actuation mechanism that is movable between first and second positions relative to said collapsible segments; and adapter means connected between said actuation mechanism and said rotatable shaft for rotating said rotatable in response to movement of said actuation mechanism between the first and second positions, whereby the collapsible segments may be extended and retracted by the rotation of said rotatable shaft in response to the movement of said actuation mechanism as aforesaid.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 wherein said adapter means further comprises a cam mechanism connected between said rotatable shaft and said actuation mechanism.

Claim 4

The machine of claim 1 wherein said adapter means further comprises: a cylindrical output shaft; means for mounting said cylindrical output shaft for rotation about its center axis; and a cam interconnection between said actuation mechanism and said cylindrical output shaft for rotating said cylindrical output shaft in response to movement of said actuation mechanism between said first and second positions.

Claim 5

The machine of claim 1 wherein said adapter means further comprises: a cylindrical sleeve; means for mounting said cylindrical sleeve in said adapter for rotation about its center axis; and a pin and groove interconnection between said actuation mechanism and said sleeve for rotating said cylindrical sleeve in response to movement of said actuation mechanism between said first and second positions.

Claim 6

The machine of claim 1 wherein said adapter means further comprises: a cylindrical sleeve; means for mounting said cylindrical sleeve in said adapter for rotation about its center axis; a groove formed in said sleeve in an orientation inclined with respect to the center axis of said sleeve; and a pin disposed for sliding movement in said groove and being connected to said actuation mechanism for movement therewith, whereby movement of said actuation mechanism between said first and second positions causes linear motion of said pin in said groove and rotation of said sleeve.

Claim 7

In combination, a tire building machine comprising: a tire building drum having collapsible segments forming an outer drum periphery and movable between extended and retracted positions, said tire building drum including first and second rotatable shafts with the drum segments being mounted for rotation on said first rotatable shaft and the collapsible segments being movable between the extended and retracted positions in response to rotational movement of said second shaft; drive means having a drive shaft that is rotatably driveable and an actuation mechanism that is selectively driveable in a reciprocal motion between first and second displaced positions; and adapter means connected between said drive shaft and said first rotatable shaft and between said actuation mechanism and said second rotatable shaft for rotating said first rotatable shaft in response to rotation of said drive shaft and for rotating said second rotatable shaft in response to reciprocal movement of said actuation mechanism to extend and retract said segments.

Claim 8

In combination, a tire building machine comprising: a tire building drum having collapsible segments forming an outer drum periphery and movable between extended and retracted positions, said tire building drum including first and second rotatable shafts with the drum segments being mounted for rotation on said first rotatable shaft and the collapsible segments being movable between the extended and retracted positions in response to rotational movement of said second shaft; drive means having a drive shaft that is rotatably driveable and an actuation mechanism that is selectively driveable in a reciprocal motion between first and second displaced positions; and adapter means connected between said drive shaft and said first rotatable shaft and between said actuation mechanism and said second rotatable shaft for rotating said first rotatable shaft in response to rotation of said drive shaft and for rotating said second rotatable shaft in response to reciprocal movement of said actuation mechanism to extend and retract said segments.

Claim 9

The machine of claim 6 wherein said adapter means further comprises: a linkage between said drive shaft and said first rotatable shaft for rotating said first rotatable shaft; and a cam mechanism between said actuation mechanism and said second rotatable shaft for rotating said second rotatable shaft in response to reciprocal motion of said actuation mechanism.

Claim 10

A tire building apparatus, comprising: an adapter connected between a tire building drum and drive means, said building drum having collapsible segments forming an outer drum periphery and movable between extended and retracted positions, said tire building drum including first and second coaxial rotatable shafts with said segments being mounted for rotation with said first rotatable shaft and said segments being movable between the retracted and extended positions in response to rotation of said second rotatable shaft relative to said first rotatable shaft, and said drive means having a rotatably driven drive shaft and a coaxially mounted reciprocally driven actuation shaft, said adapter comprising first mechanism means connected between said rotatably driven drive shaft and said first rotatable shaft for rotatably driving said first rotatable shaft, and second mechanism means connected between said reciprocally driven shaft and said second rotatable shaft for rotating said second rotatable shaft with respect to said coaxial first rotatable shaft in response to reciprocal motion of said actuation shaft.

Claim 11

A tire building apparatus, comprising: an adapter connected between a tire building drum and drive means, said building drum having collapsible segments forming an outer drum periphery and movable between extended and retracted positions, said tire building drum including first and second coaxial rotatable shafts with said segments being mounted for rotation with said first rotatable shaft and said segments being movable between the retracted and extended positions in response to rotation of said second rotatable shaft relative to said first rotatable shaft, and said drive means having a rotatably driven drive shaft and a coaxially mounted reciprocally driven actuation shaft, said adapter comprising first mechanism means connected between said rotatably driven drive shaft and said first rotatable shaft for rotatably driving said first rotatable shaft, and second mechanism means connected between said reciprocally driven shaft and said second rotatable shaft for rotating said second rotatable shaft with respect to said coaxial first rotatable shaft in response to reciprocal motion of said actuation shaft.

Claim 12

The machine of claim 8, wherein said second mechanism means further comprises a cam mechanism connected between said actuation shaft and said second rotatable shaft.

Claim 13

The machine of claim 8, wherein said second mechanism further comprises a cylindrical output shaft; means for mounting said cylindrical output shaft for rotation about its center axis; and a cam interconnection between said actuation shaft and said cylindrical output shaft for rotating said cylindrical output shaft in response to reciprocal movement of said actuation shaft.

Claim 14

The machine of claim 8, wherein said second mechanism comprises: a cylindrical sleeve; means for mounting said cylindrical sleeve for rotation about its center axis; and a pin and groove interconnection between said actuation shaft and said sleeve for imparting rotational movement to said cylindrical sleeve in response to reciprocal movement of said actuation shaft.

Claim 15

An adapter for connection between a tire building drum and a drive system for mechanically connecting a rotatable shaft and a reciprocally movable mechanism comprising: first adapter means connected to said rotatable shaft; second adapter means connectable to said reciprocally moving mechanism; first and second rotatable adapter shafts disposed coaxially on said adapter; first interconnection means for connecting said first adapter means to said first and second adapter shafts for rotating said first and second adapter shafts when said first adapter means rotates; and second interconnection means for connecting said second adapter means to said first and second adapter shafts for rotating said second shaft relative to said first shaft when said second adapter shaft is operatively connected to the reciprocally moving mechanism and the reciprocally movable mechanism moves reciprocally.

Claim 16

An adapter for connection between a tire building drum and a drive system for mechanically connecting a rotatable shaft and a reciprocally movable mechanism comprising: first adapter means connected to said rotatable shaft; second adapter means connectable to said reciprocally moving mechanism; first and second rotatable adapter shafts disposed coaxially on said adapter; first interconnection means for connecting said first adapter means to said first and second adapter shafts for rotating said first and second adapter shafts when said first adapter means rotates; and second interconnection means for connecting said second adapter means to said first and second adapter shafts for rotating said second shaft relative to said first shaft when said second adapter shaft is operatively connected to the reciprocally moving mechanism and the reciprocally movable mechanism moves reciprocally.

Claim 17

The adapter of claim 12, wherein said second interconnection means comprises a cam mechanism operating on said second output means;

Claim 18

The adapter of claim 12 wherein said second interconnection means comprises a pin and slot mechanism reciprocally driven by said control mechanism to rotate said second output relative to said first output.

Claim 19

The adapter of claim 12, wherein said second interconnection comprises: a cylindrical sleeve for rotating said second output; a slot formed in said cylindrical sleeve and being inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve at an angle of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees; a pin disposed in said slot; and means for reciprocally driving said pin in a linear direction in response to reciprocal motion of said control mechanism to rotate said sleeve and second output relative to said first output.

Claim 20

The adapter of claim 12, wherein said second interconnection means includes a key and keyway mechanism reciprocally driven by said control mechanism to rotate said second output relative to said first output.

Claim 21

The adapter of claim 12, wherein said second interconnection comprises: a cylindrical sleeve for rotating said second output; a keyway formed in said cylindrical sleeve so that said keyway spirals along the inside surface of said sleeve; means defining a key disposed in said keyway; and means for reciprocally driving said key longitudinally of said sleeve in response to reciprocal motion of said control mechanism to rotate said sleeve and second output relative to said first output.

Claim 22

An adapter for connection between a tire building drum and a drive system having a rotatably driven drive shaft and a rotatably and reciprocally driven actuation shaft mounted coaxially within said drive shaft comprising: a hollow adapter shaft for attachment to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; a shaft slot formed in and through said adapter shaft and being oriented in a direction parallel to the center axis of said adapter shaft; a sleeve mounted for rotation on said adapter shaft; a sleeve slot formed in said sleeve at an angle of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the center axis of said sleeve; a pin disposed for sliding movement in said slots; means for connecting said pin to said actuation shaft for reciprocally driving said pin in response to reciprocal motion of said actuation shaft; a first output member connected to said adapter shaft and associatable with the building drum; and a second output member connected to said sleeve, associatable with the building drum and being coaxial with said first output member, said first and second output members being rotatable together by rotation of said drive shaft, said first and second output members being rotatable relative one to the other by reciprocal movement of the actuation shaft, and said pin being movable in said slots to rotate said sleeve on said adapter shaft and to thereby rotate said first and second output members one relative to the other.

Claim 23

An adapter for connection between a tire building drum and a drive system having a rotatably driven drive shaft and a rotatably and reciprocally driven actuation shaft mounted coaxially within said drive shaft comprising: a hollow adapter shaft for attachment to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; a shaft slot formed in and through said adapter shaft and being oriented in a direction parallel to the center axis of said adapter shaft; a sleeve mounted for rotation on said adapter shaft; a sleeve slot formed in said sleeve at an angle of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the center axis of said sleeve; a pin disposed for sliding movement in said slots; means for connecting said pin to said actuation shaft for reciprocally driving said pin in response to reciprocal motion of said actuation shaft; a first output member connected to said adapter shaft and associatable with the building drum; and a second output member connected to said sleeve, associatable with the building drum and being coaxial with said first output member, said first and second output members being rotatable together by rotation of said drive shaft, said first and second output members being rotatable relative one to the other by reciprocal movement of the actuation shaft, and said pin being movable in said slots to rotate said sleeve on said adapter shaft and to thereby rotate said first and second output members one relative to the other.