Patent ID: 7799159
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: B29C,B29D

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a reinforcement comprised of adjacent sections of reinforcement wire embedded in an elastomer matrix, the method comprising the steps of: A. positioning, in front of an elastomeric covering of a surface-of-revolution reception surface of a support, an assembly comprising a rotary distributor and a rotary conveying member arranged to rotate about a common rotation axis located outwardly of the support, the conveying member arranged to convey a reinforcement wire to the distributor and including a tubular portion oriented substantially radially with respect to the rotation axis and disposed radially inwardly relative to the distributor, the distributor including a deflector comprised of an elbowed tube forming a corridor having a wire inlet and a wire outlet spaced farther from the rotation axis than the wire inlet, the wire inlet spaced from a wire exit orifice of the conveying member to form a gap therebetween, the rotation axis arranged such that during rotation of the distributor the wire outlet repeatedly reaches a deposit location of its travel path and passes across the elastomeric covering; B. driving the assembly by a motor such that the distributor and the conveying member are rotated together about the rotation axis by the motor at a controlled speed, C. feeding the wire at a controlled speed through the tubular portion and the corridor during step B; D. cutting the wire at the gap with a knife as the wire outlet reaches the deposit location so that a section of the wire disposed in the corridor exits the corridor through the wire outlet and is deposited onto a portion of the elastomeric covering; and E. moving the elastomeric covering relative to the assembly to present a new portion of the elastomeric covering at the deposit location, to receive another wire section.