Apparatus for manufacturing and feeding tyre beads on to an automotive tyre building drum

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for manufacturing automotive tire beads (2) wherein a pair of mandrels (3) for forming respective beads (2) each present an inner ring (9) which defines part of a drum (6) for winding a continuous metal wire (7) constituting the respective bead (2), and consists of two coaxial annular bodies (10, 11) designed to move between a detached and mated position; and an outer grip ring (52) consisting of a number of segments (55) designed to move back and forth in relation to the inner ring (9); which segments (55) are carried on an annular support (51) designed to move both transversely, between a position coaxial with the respective inner ring (9) and a position coaxial with a tire building drum (54), and axially along the tire building drum (54).

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing and feeding tire beads on to an automotive tire building drum. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing and automatically feeding on to a tire building drum pairs of beads preferably, but not exclusively, of the type described and claimed in EP-A-0 433 918 (such an apparatus is known to the applicant, but does not form part of the prior art), the content of which is fully incorporated herein, and which relates to an automotive tire bead consisting of a substantially circular-section annular element formed from a first wire, usually a continuous metal cable, wound in such a manner as to form a number of packed coils. Said coils are arranged over the substantially circular section of said annular element according to a given law, and are held together by a second non-metal wire or yarn of heat-shrinkable material coiled about said annular element. One apparatus for automatically feeding and setting beads onto a tyre building drum, is known from EP-A-0 240 973. According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing automotive tire beads, and comprising two mobile mandrels for forming respective said beads; characterized in that each said mandrel comprises an inner drum for winding a continuous metal wire constituting a respective said bead, and an outer device for housing and gripping said bead; each said inner drum comprising an inner ring consisting of two coaxial annular bodies, a first supporting element for each said annular body, first actuating means for moving said two first supporting elements between a first position, wherein said two annular bodies are mated, and a second position wherein said two annular bodies are axially detached; each said outer device for housing and gripping said bead comprising a second supporting element, an outer ring comprising a number of segments carried on said second supporting element, second actuating means for moving said segments radially in relation to said second supporting element, and third actuating means for moving said second supporting element both transversely, between a third position wherein said outer ring is coaxial with said two annular bodies, and a fourth position wherein said outer ring is coaxial with a tire building drum, and axially along said tire building drum. Each said annular body is preferably mounted for rotation on said respective first supporting element; fifth actuating means being provided for turning said annular bodies about a common axis in relation to said respective first supporting elements. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows a schematic front view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention in the final operating position; FIGURES 2 to 6 show schematic top plan views, with parts removed for simplicity, of the FIGURE 1 apparatus in various operating positions; FIGURE 7 shows a section along line VII-VII in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 8 shows a section along line VIII-VIII in FIGURE 4; FIGURE 9 shows a section along line IX-IX in FIGURE 5; FIGURE 10 shows a section along line X-X in FIGURE 4; FIGURE 11 shows an exploded part view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of a detail on the FIGURE 1 apparatus; FIGURE 12 shows a partial side view of the bead formed on the FIGURE 11 apparatus. Numeral 1 in FIGURE 1 indicates an apparatus for manufacturing automotive tire beads 2. Apparatus 1 comprises a pair of mandrels 3, numbered respectively 3a and 3b, for forming respective beads 2, and running along a pair of parallel, substantially horizontal guides 4 and 5. Each mandrel 3 comprises an inner drum 6 for winding a continuous metal wire 7 constituting a respective bead 2, and an outer device 8 for housing and gripping finished bead 2. As shown in FIGURE 10, each inner drum 6 comprises an inner ring 9 consisting of two annular bodies 10 and 11 having a common axis 12 parallel to guides 4 and 5 and lying substantially in the same horizontal plane defined by the same. Annular bodies 10 and 11 are substantially cylindrical, and each is defined by a substantially cylindrical outer surface 13, a substantially cylindrical inner surface 14 coaxial with outer surface 13, and an annular outer lateral surface 15. Annular bodies 10 and 11 are also defined by respective inner annular lateral surfaces 16 and 17 designed to mate with each other; said surface 16 presenting an annular groove 18 coaxial with axis 12 and of substantially trapezoidal section; and said surface 17 presenting an annular centering rib 19 having a section designed to engage and mate with groove 18. At the radius between surfaces 13 and 16 on annular body 10 and surfaces 13 and 17 on annular body 11, each annular body 10 and 11 presents an annular groove having a section substantially in the form of a quarter arc of a circle, and defining, with the corresponding groove on the other annular body 11 and 10, and when surfaces 16 and 17 are arranged contacting each other, an annular groove 20 extending along the center line of inner ring 9 and designed to receive part of bead 2, the remainder of which extends radially outwards of inner ring 9. Drum 6 also comprises two supporting elements or annular supports 21 and 22 respectively supporting annular bodies 10 and 11 in rotary manner, and each comprising a tubular body 23 connected to surface 14 of respective annular body 10, 11 via the interposition of a bearing 24, and an outer radial end flange 25 connected to surface 15 of respective annular body 10, 11 via the interposition of a bearing 26. Tubular body 23 of annular support 21 presents an inner radial appendix 27 having an outer cavity 28 parallel to axis 12 and housing a pinion 29 fitted on to the output shaft 30 of a motor 31 parallel to axis 12 and supported on annular support 21. A slot 32 formed through tubular body 23 of annular support 21 at cavity 28 enables pinion 29 to engage a ring gear 33 extending radially inwards from surface 14 of annular body 10. Annular supports 21 and 22 present respective substantially L-shaped outer brackets 34 and 35 whereby they are connected integral to respective slides 36 and 37 running along guides 4 and 5. As shown, for example, in FIGURE 8, each slide 36, 37 presents two through holes 38 and 39 engaged in sliding manner by guides 4 and 5. Moreover, guide 4 presents an outer rack 40, and each of slides 36 and 37 supports a reversible electric motor 41 driving a respective sprocket (not shown) engaging rack 40 for moving respective slide 36, 37 along guides 4 and 5 between a first position, wherein annular bodies 10 and 11 are mated, and a second position wherein annular bodies 10 and 11 are detached axially. According to a variation (not shown), one of slides 36, 37 is mounted in a fixed position on guides 4 and 5, whereas the other is powered for moving respective annular body 10, 11 in relation to the other annular body 11, 10 between said two positions. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 7, devices 8 comprise a common guide 42 parallel to guides 4 and 5, extending along an axis 43 parallel to axis 12, and defining, with axis 12, a plane perpendicular to that defined by guides 4 and 5. Guide 42 presents a substantially square section, and each device 8 comprises a slide 44 connected prismatically to guide 42, and supporting a reversible electric motor 45 connected to guide 42 via a rack-and-pinion connection 46 for moving slide 44 both ways along guide 42. About slide 44, there is mounted for rotation a tubular body 47, the angular position of which in relation to slide 44 is regulated by a reversible electric motor 48 connected to slide 44 via a worm-and-helical-gear connection 49 for turning tubular body 47 about axis 43 and both ways in relation to slide 44. One end of a radial column 50 is connected integral with the outer surface of tubular body 47, the other end of which column 50 is connected to the outer surface of an annular support 51 supporting an outer ring 52. Annular support 51 is powered by motor 48 so as to move between a first position, wherein ring 52 is coaxial with axis 12, and a second position wherein ring 52 is coaxial with axis 53 of a known tire building drum 54. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, outer ring 52 consists of three segments 55, each connected (FIGURE 10) to the output rod 56 of a respective hydraulic or pneumatic jack 57 supported on annular support 51 for moving respective segment 55 between a contracted position, wherein the ends of segments 55 substantially contact one another, and an expanded position wherein segments 55 are detached and substantially contact the inner surface of annular support 51. When contracted, segments 55 define ring 52, which presents a substantially cylindrical inner surface 58 of substantially the same diameter as surface 13. Along the center line of surface 58, there is formed an annular groove 59 extending over all of segments 55, of substantially semicircular section, and of the same diameter as groove 20. As operation and timing of both mandrels 3 are identical, operation of device 1 will be described with reference to mandrel 3a and commencing from the starting position shown in FIGURE 1. To begin with, slides 36 and 37 are so positioned on guides 4 and 5 as to maintain annular bodies 10 and 11 separated by a distance at least equal to the thickness of outer ring 52 and annular support 51, which is positioned coaxial with axis 12 of annular bodies 10 and 11. As shown in FIGURE 3, slide 37 is then moved towards slide 36 so as to move bracket 35, together with annular support 22 and annular body 11, forward through outer ring 52, and so bring annular body 11 into contact with annular body 10. If necessary, slide 36 is then moved, together with slide 37, so as to move inner ring 9 in relation to outer ring 52 and so uncover groove 20 and prevent access to the same from being impeded by outer ring 52. One end of metal wire 7 is then secured, in any known manner, to ring 9 and inside groove 20, and motor 21 is activated for turning inner ring 9 about axis 12 and so coiling wire 7 along groove 20. As shown in FIGURE 3, wire 7, which is normally fed off a reel 60, is fed about a pulley 61 and into groove 20 through a known type of control unit 62 having an oscillating guide member 63 engaged by wire 7 and designed to oscillate, by virtue of a computer (not shown), in such a manner as to arrange wire 7 in coils extending along groove 20 and arranged in a given order in relation to one another. Once wound, wire 7 is cut, and the finished bead 2 presents a given section, part of which is housed inside groove 20 and the remainder of which projects radially outwards of inner ring 9. As shown in FIGURE 4, via operation of motor 45, annular support 51, with segments 55 in the expanded position, is then moved along axis 12 and outwards of ring 9, after which (FIGURE 5), segments 55 are contracted so as to form ring 52 and receive, inside groove 59 of ring 52, the portion of bead 2 projecting outwards of groove 20. At this point (FIGURE 6), motors 41 are activated for separating annular bodies 10 and 11 and so releasing finished bead 2 inside groove 59 of outer ring 52. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 1, motor 48 is then activated for moving annular support 51 transversely from its current position coaxial with axis 12 into a position wherein it is coaxial with axis 53 of tire building drum 54. Motor 45 is then operated for moving annular support 51, together with outer ring 52 and bead 2 housed inside the same, axially along axis 53, and so setting bead 2 in the assembly position on tire building drum 54. Successive operation of jacks 57 and motors 45 and 48 provides for expanding segments 55, thus releasing bead 2 on to tire building drum 54, and for restoring annular support 51 to the cycle start position in FIGURE 2. Bead 2 produced on apparatus 1 as described above may be any known type of "program" bead or, preferably, as already stated, of the type described and claimed in copending Italian Patent Application n. 68168-A/89, and numbered 64 in FIGURE 12. As shown in FIGURE 12, bead 64 is of substantially circular section, and is formed by winding wire 7 in such a manner as to form coils 65 packed together by a coiled outer non-metal wire or yarn 66 of heat-shrinkable material. Bead 64 as described above is produced on apparatus 1 using mandrels 3 as shown schematically in FIGURE 11 and as described in EP-A-0 433 918, the content of which is fully incorporated herein. When annular bodies 10 and 11 and segments 55 are arranged contacting as shown in FIGURE 5, mandrel 3 in FIGURE 11 defines a circular duct consisting of grooves 20 and 58, for receiving coils 65 formed by wire 7; and a duct 67 coiled about said duct 20-58 and comprising portions 68 formed through annular body 10, portions 69 formed through annular body 11, and portions 70 formed through outer ring 52. When annular bodies 10 and 11 and outer ring 52 are arranged contacting as shown in FIGURE 5, portions 68, 69 and 70 define duct 67 along which wire 66 is blown as described in the aforementioned document EP-A-0 433 918. Wire 66 is brought into contact with coils 65 via a slot 71 extending over the entire length of duct 67 and located between duct 67 and the duct defined by grooves 20 and 58.

Claims: An apparatus (1) for manufacturing automotive tire beads (2), and comprising two mobile mandrels (3a, 3b) for forming respective said beads (2); characterized in that each said mandrel (3a, 3b) comprises an inner drum (6) for winding a continuous metal wire (7) constituting a respective said bead (2), and an outer device (8) for housing and gripping said bead (2); each said inner drum (6) comprising an inner ring (9) consisting of two coaxial annular bodies (10, 11), a first supporting element (21)(22) for each said annular body (10)(11), first actuating means (41) for moving said two first supporting elements (21, 22) between a first position, wherein said two annular bodies (10, 11) are mated, and a second position wherein said two annular bodies (10, 11) are axially detached; each said outer device (8) for housing and gripping said bead (2) comprising a second supporting element (51), an outer ring (52) comprising a number of segments (55) carried on said second supporting element (51), second actuating means (57) for moving said segments (55) radially in relation to said second supporting element (51), and third actuating means (46, 48) for moving said second supporting element (51) both transversely, between a third position wherein said outer ring (52) is coaxial with said two annular bodies (10, 11), and a fourth position wherein said outer ring (52) is coaxial with a tire building drum (54), and axially along said tire building drum (54). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each said annular body (10)(11) is mounted for rotation on said respective first supporting element (21)(22); fifth actuating means (31) being provided for turning said annular bodies (10, 11) about a common axis (12) in relation to said respective first supporting elements (21, 22). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by further comprising a first slide (36)(37) integral with each said first supporting element (21)(22); and first guide means (4, 5) extending parallel to the common axis (12) of said annular bodies (10, 11) and connected to said first slides (36, 37); said first actuating means (41) being carried by each said first slide (36)(37) for moving the same (36)(37) along said first guide means (4, 5) and said respective first supporting elements (21, 22) between said first and second positions. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by further comprising a second slide (44) supporting a respective said outer device (8); and second guide means (42) extending parallel to the common axis (12) of said annular bodies (10, 11) and to the axis (53) of said tire building drum (54), and connected to said second slides (44); said third actuating means (45, 48) being carried by each said second slide (44). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said third actuating means (45, 48) comprise a first (48) and second (45) reversible motor; each said outer device (8) being connected to a respective said second slide (44) so as to turn in relation to the same (44) about said second guide means (42) and, by virtue of said first motor (48), between said third and fourth positions, and so as to travel with said respective second slide (44) along said second guide means (42) by virtue of said second motor (45). An apparatus as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said annular bodies (10, 11) present respective outer circumferential grooves (20), and said segments (55) present respective portions of an inner circumferential groove (58); said grooves (20, 58) defining, when said annular bodies (10, 11) and said segments (55) are arranged contacting, with said annular bodies (10, 11) in said first position and said segments (55) contacting the outer surface of said annular bodies (10, 11), a first circular duct (20-58) for receiving a number of coils (65) of said metal wire (7). An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that said annular bodies (10, 11) and said segments (55) present respective portions (68, 69, 70) of a second duct (67) coiled about said first duct (20-58) and engaged by a non-metal wire (66) of heat-shrinkable material wound about said coils (65); a slot (71) extending over the entire length of said second duct (67) enabling communication between said first and second ducts (20-58, 67).

Inventors: GIORGETTI CARLO, SIEGENTHALER KARL J, GIORGETTI, CARLO, SIEGENTHALER, KARL J.
Applicants: BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE INC, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B29D30
IPC codes: B29D30, B60C15