Patent ID: 6592704
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: B26D,B29C,B29D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for forming a segment of elastomeric material of a predetermined length L1 having tacky splicing surfaces at each end from a strip of elastomeric material, the strip having a length L, a width W, a thickness t, a first side and an opposite second side the method comprising:a) assembling a plurality of elastomeric strips of tire components to form the strip of elastomeric material, one or more of the strips of tire components being unvulcanized or partially unvulcanized, at least one strip of elastomeric material having reinforcing cords, the cords being substantially parallel and oriented similarly in the direction of a path formed across the width W of the strip by the ends of the segments being formed: b) forming a low angle skive surface across the width W of the strip the low angle skive surface extending from the first side of the strip to a predetermined depth (d), (d) being less than the thickness t of the strip; c) forming an abutment surface, the abutment surface being perpendicular to the strip plan and extending from the opposite second side of the strip across the width W of the strip intersecting the low angle skive surface thereby forming a first end of the strip, the abutment surface being at a first location S1; wherein the step (b) of forming low angle skive surfaces includes the steps of bending the elastomeric strip along a path parallel to the cords and supporting the strip on the side opposite the side of the first cut, while cutting across the strip in a direction of a cut path substantially parallel and oriented similarly to the cords using a first cutting element, the first cutting being oriented at a desired skive angle &thgr; cutting to the depth (d), the depth (d) being substantially tangent to one or more cords wherein the step of bending and the step supporting the strip includes the step of providing a contoured or inclined support adjacent or substantially flat or planar support; and the step (c) of forming an abutment surface includes the step of cutting across the strip between two adjacent cords with a second cutting element intersecting the first cut at or near the depth (d) forming one cut end of the segment; and d) repeating steps (a) and (b) at a second spaced location S2 spaced a predetermined distance along the length of the strip from the location S1 thereby forming the segment of elastomeric material of a predetermined length L1 and an opposite second end, wherein one of the ends has a low angle skive surface extending inwardly along the length L1 of the segment relative to that end's abutment surface at location S1 and the opposite end has a low angle skive surface extending outwardly from the length L1 of the segment relative to the abutment surface of that respective end at location S2.