Transfer ring having selective adjustability of shoe movement

Abstract: An improved transfer ring for use in vehicle tire making equipment wherein the carcass of the tire and the belt and tread package are made up at different and separate physical locations and thereafter the belt and tread package is transferred onto the carcass employing the transfer ring whereupon the two components of the tire are married. The present transfer ring includes first and second motive means (72, 76) for effecting grasping motion of a plurality of shoes (32) of the transfer ring to cause the shoes (32) to engage the belt and tread package about its outer circumference. In a preferred embodiment, the grasping motion is effected in multiple stages and the extent of motion is selectively adjustable. A method for effecting transfer of a belt and tread package is disclosed.

Description: This invention relates to equipment useful in the manufacture of vehicle tires, and particularly to a transfer ring useful in the transfer of a belt and tread package onto a tire carcass wherein the transfer ring has improved adjustability for grasping the package for effecting the transfer. In the manufacture of vehicle tires, it is a common practice to make up a carcass for the tire, this carcass including substantially all of the tire except the outer circumferential reinforcing belts and tread package, at a first location and then transfer the carcass to a tire forming drum where the carcass is positioned for receiving a ring-shaped belt and tread package about the outer circumference of the carcass. The belt and tread package is made up separate from the carcass and therefore must be transferred from its manufacturing location to the location of the carcass and positioned thereupon precisely about the circumference of the carcass. The geometry of the belt and tread package and the fact that it must be placed about the outer circumference of the carcass only permits the package to be grasped about its outer circumference for effecting the transfer. The operation of transferring of the belt and tread package onto the carcass is of great importance in the successful manufacture of a vehicle tire. First, it will be recognized that vehicle tires must be balanced for rotational stability when installed on a vehicle. This requires, among other things, that all of the components of the tire be uniformly positioned about the circumference of the tire. It further requires that the components be positioned precisely symmetrically about a plane which extends through the centre of the tire between the opposite sidewalls thereof. As noted, a common practice in the manufacture of vehicle tires is to make up the tire carcass at one location, make up the belt and tread package at a different and physically separated location, and then to marry these components at a third location. This general procedure allows one to precisely form the carcass to the desired tire size to provide the base upon which the tire is finally formed. However, this procedure places inordinate requirements upon the equipment which is required to transfer the belt and tread package onto the outer circumference of the carcass for the reasons that, first, the belt and tread package is a relatively flimsy ring and because of its make up it is also subject to deleterious deformation when grasped by a transfer ring. Second, the belt and tread package must be quickly and precisely positioned about the outer circumference of the carcass so that the package is symmetrically positioned about the carcass before the two components can be joined to form the tire precursor which later is placed in a mold for final formation of the tire and its tread. Commonly, in the industry the time allowed for the transfer of the belt and tread package onto the carcass is very short, for example a few seconds. Transfer rings of the prior art, for example as disclosed in JP-A-06170982, include one or more outer rings which serve to mount and house a plurality of shoes, each of which is an arcuate segment of a circle, that are movable radially inwardly and outwardly of their housing. This radial movement of the shoes permits the shoes to be retracted radially outward for positioning of the transfer ring about a belt and tread package residing on its formation drum (belt and tread drum) and to be advanced radially inwardly for contacting and grasping the belt and tread package while it is still on its formation drum. Thereupon the formation drum is collapsed to leave the belt and tread package in the grasp of the transfer ring. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer ring design having an enhanced range of movement of the shoes whereby fewer machines are needed to accommodate the given range of tire sizes. Importantly, it is to be understood that nonuniform circumferential movement of the belt and tread package by as much as a few thousandths of an inch (25 mm is approximately 1 inch) is to be avoided if possible, such movement being most important in that such small movements prevent the belt and tread package from being positioned with its centre axis coincident with the centre axis of the carcass, thereby resulting in an unbalanced tire. In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved transfer ring for use in vehicle tire making equipment wherein the carcass of the tire and the belt and tread package are made up at different and separate physical locations and thereafter the belt and tread package is transferred onto the carcass employing a transfer ring whereupon the two components of the tire are married. The transfer ring of the present invention includes a plurality of shoes movable between a radially inner position of engagement with a belt and tread package about the outer circumference thereof and a radially outer position out of engagement with said package, the transfer ring including actuating means for moving said shoes between said positions of engagement and disengagement with said belt and tread package, said actuating means including first and second motive means disposed in operative alignment with one another, said first motive means being arranged to move the shoes radially inwardly of the transfer ring, and said second motive means being arranged to cause the shoes to move a further radial distance inwardly, a pivoting link assembly linking said first and second motive means to said shoes for effecting the change in radial position of said shoes upon actuation of said first and second motive means, a braking means for braking said first motive means against further movement when said shoes reach a radial position corresponding to contact of the shoes with an associated belt and tread package in use, and means for actuating said second motive means, after such braking to effect said further radially inward change in the position of said shoes. Such a transfer ring design provides an enhanced range of movement through the use of pivoting links to support and move the shoes and this is contrary to the perceived wisdom in the art that the circumferential movement which accompanies movement on pivoting links renders such constructions impractical in transfer ring designs. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the second motive means is provided with means for selectively adjusting the extent of the radially inward movement of the shoes of the transfer ring by the second motive means. Further, there is provided means for visually indicating the extent of radially inward movement of each shoe of the transfer ring by reason of the force developed by the second motive means. Still further, in one embodiment, said linkage provides a one-to-one ratio of movement of each of the motive means and the radial movement of each shoe. The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a tire manufacturing machine which employs a transfer ring; Figure 2 is a representation of a vehicle tire carcass as formed on a bead lock drum; Figure 3 is a representation of a belt and tread package as formed on a belt and tread drum; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a transfer ring embodying various of the features of the present invention and depicting the shoes in their radially midpoint position; Figure 5 is a side elevational view as in Figure 4 and showing the shoes in their radially inward position; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 4; Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 4; Figure 10 is a side elevational view, in section of one embodiment of a secondary piston-cylinder motive means and taken generally along the line 10-10 of Figure 11; Figure 11 is a right-hand end view of the secondary piston-cylinder motive means depicted in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a left-hand end view of the secondary piston-cylinder motive means depicted in Figure 10; Figure 13 is a plan elevational view of a locking ring employed in the secondary piston-cylinder motive means depicted in Figure 10; Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the locking ring depicted in Figure 13; Figure 15 is a side elevational view, in section of the locking ring depicted in Figure 13 and taken generally along the line 15-15 of Figure 13; Figure 16 is a side elevational view of a transfer shaft employed in the secondary piston-cylinder motive means depicted in Figure 10; Figure 17 is a sectional view, in side elevation, of a sleeve means employed in the secondary piston-cylinder motive means depicted in Figure 10 and taken generally along the line 17-17 of Figure 19; Figure 18 is a left-hand end view, in elevation, of the sleeve means depicted in Figure 17; Figure 19 is a left-hand end view of the transfer shaft depicted in Figure 16; Figure 20 is an elevational view of an adjustment ring employed in the secondary piston-cylinder motive means depicted in Figure 10; Figure 21 is a side elevational view, in section, of the adjustment ring depicted in Figure 20 and taken generally along the line 21-21 of Figure 20; Figure 22 is a side elevational view of the adjustment ring depicted in Figure 20; Figure 23 is a partial side elevational view of a secondary piston-cylinder motive means and depicting the adjustment ring and locking ring in locking engagement; and Figure 24 is a partial side elevational view of a secondary piston-cylinder motive means and depicting the locking ring thereof out of locking engagement with the adjustment ring. Referring to the Figures wherein like parts are provided with like numerals, in one embodiment of the present invention, there is depicted in Figure 1 a schematic representation of a typical tire-making machine 10 including a belt and tread drum 12 on which a belt and tread package 14 (see Figure 3) is formed, a first stage drum 16 which receives thereon a carcass 18 (see Figure 2), and a transfer ring 20 suitable for transferring the belt and tread package 14 from the belt and tread drum 12 onto the carcass 18 . A transfer ring 20 incorporating various of the features of the present invention is depicted in Figures 4-9. The depicted transfer ring 20 includes first and second outer housing rings 22 and 24 which are held in spaced apart and concentric relationship by a plurality of rod-type spacers 26. A mounting ring 28 is disposed between the housing rings 22 and 24 and is rotatably mounted with respect thereto as by means of a plurality of roller bearings 30 which are mounted on individual ones of the spacers 26. As required, the housing rings 22 and 24 are provided with mounting means 27 for mounting of the transfer ring on a vehicle tire manufacturing machine. A plurality of shoes 32 are mounted for radial movement with respect to the housing rings 22 and 24 by means of a plurality of secondary linkage sets, each set including inner and outer links 34 and 36, and a plurality of "T"-links, each "T"-link including inner and outer links 38 and 40 which are rigidly secured to a shaft 42 extending transversely of the orientation of the links 38 and 40 and between the outer housing rings 22 and 24 (see Figures 4, 7 and 8). The most radially inward ends 44 and 46 of each of the links 34 and 36, respectively, are pivotally anchored to a respective shoe 32 as by means of a shaft 48 (see Figures 4 and 7). The opposite ends, end 50 for example, of the links 34 and 36 are pivotally anchored to the support ring 28 as by a shaft 54 (see Figure 9). The radially inward ends 56 and each 58 of each "T"-link are pivotally mounted on the shaft 48 thereby securing these ends to the shoe 32. One of the links of a set of secondary links, link 60 in Figure 4, is modified by the addition to the end 50 thereof an extension arm 62 to define an actuator link 60. This arm 62 is rigid with respect to the link 34 and oriented at an acute angle with respect thereto to extend radially outwardly of the transfer ring. In the depicted embodiment of Figure 4, the outboard end 64 of the arm 62 of the actuator link 60 is pivotally connected, as by a shaft 66 of a tubular connector 67, to the end 68 of a transfer shaft 70 of a secondary motive means which in the depicted embodiment takes the form of a secondary piston-cylinder assembly 72. In turn, this secondary piston-cylinder assembly is operatively connected to a primary motive means which in the depicted embodiment takes the form of a primary piston-cylinder assembly 76. By these means, actuation of the primary piston-cylinder assembly and/or the secondary piston-cylinder assembly, and acting through the actuator link 60, the links 34 and 36, the "T"-links 38 and 40, and the support ring 28, serves to move the shoes radially inwardly or outwardly with respect to the transfer ring and between positions of engagement and non-engagement with a belt and tread package which is disposed within and encompassed by the transfer ring. The depicted transfer ring, the housing rings, the support ring, the radially movable shoes, the linkages connecting the shoes to the transfer ring itself and to an external motive means are described for illustration purposes and may take any of the several embodiments of transfer rings heretofore known in the art. As noted hereinabove, however, prior art transfer rings are incapable of accommodating any dislocation of a belt and tread package which might occur after the shoes of the transfer ring have been moved radially inwardly and have grasped the belt and tread package. With primary reference to Figures 4-9, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided in operative position between the primary motive means 76 and the actuator link 60, a secondary motive means 72. Whereas the primary and secondary motive means depicted in the Figures take the form of piston-cylinder assemblies, it is to be understood that other motive means may be employed without departing from the present invention. In any event, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a secondary motive means which is capable of accommodating radially inward movements of the belt and tread package after the package has been initially grasped by the transfer ring. As noted hereinabove, this feature is accomplished through the means of a secondary motive means which is actuated upon the limiting out of the radially inwardly movement of the shoes of the transfer ring under the influence of the force applied by a primary motive means. As depicted in Figure 10, the secondary piston-cylinder means is of the double-acting type and includes a cylinder means 80 which serves to house therein a piston means 82 which is slidable within the cylinder between extended and retracted positions under the influence of pressure, such as hydraulic pressure, applied to one of the internal chambers 81 and 83 of the cylinder. The piston 82 includes a piston rod 84 which projects outwardly of the end wall 86 of the cylinder and is internally threaded to threadably receive therein one end 88 of an externally threaded connecting rod 90. The opposite end 92 of the rod 90 is threadably received within an internally threaded passageway 94 of the transfer shaft 70 to thereby connect the shaft 70 with the piston 82 so that movement of the piston 82 is translated into like movement of the shaft 70. As discussed hereinabove, this movement of the shaft 70 is translated by the components of the transfer ring into radial movement of the shoes 32 of the transfer ring. Importantly, in one aspect of the present invention, the limits of travel of the piston 82 within the cylinder 80, i.e. limits of extension and/or retraction of the piston, are selectively adjustable to thereby permit the selective adjustment of the extent of radial movement of each shoe of the transfer ring upon actuation of the secondary piston-cylinder means. In the depicted embodiment, this is accomplished by means of a novel micrometer nut subassembly which includes a locking ring 96 which is mounted on the circumference of the shaft 70 and rendered non-rotatable therewith by means of a pin 98 which extends transversely through the passageway 94 of the shaft 70 and into appropriate bore holes 100 and 102 provided 180 degrees apart in the first ring 96 (see Figure 13). As best seen in Figure 16, the passageway 94 includes a portion which defines a longitudinal slot 104 within which the pin 98 is free to slide. Spring means 106 disposed within the passageway 94 provides a force biasing the pin 98 and the locking ring in a direction toward the cylinder 80. One or more locking lugs 108 and 110 are provided on the inward face 112 of the locking ring and project inwardly of the subassembly (i.e. toward the cylinder 80). The most longitudinally inward end 114 of the shaft 70 is provided with external threads and threadably receives thereon an internally threaded sleeve 116. The most inward end 118 of the sleeve is positioned to engage the end wall 120 of the cylinder 80 and serve as a stop against retraction of the piston 82 within the cylinder 80. Because of the threaded relationship of the sleeve 116 to the shaft 70, rotation of the sleeve upon the shaft provides for adjustment of the distance between the end 118 of the sleeve and the end wall 120 of the cylinder, thereby providing for selective adjustment of the extent of retraction movement of the piston. An adjustment ring 122 (see Figures 10 and 21 to 24) is provided in circumferentially encompassing relationship to the sleeve 116 and is releasably secured to the sleeve as by means of a set screw 124. When this adjustment ring is rotationally fixed to the sleeve 116, rotation of the adjustment ring serves to rotate the sleeve and establish its longitudinal position relative to the shaft 70. In the embodiment depicted in Figure 10, for purposes of illustration, the sleeve 116 is shown with its end 118 in engagement with the end wall 120 of the cylinder and the piston is shown in its most extended position, a combination which prevents any movement of the piston within the cylinder 80. In this arrangement, the secondary motive means is effectively a rigid member and any motive force exerted by the primary motive means will be transmitted through the secondary motive means, without modification or adjustment, to the shoes. In the usual operational situation, however, the sleeve 116 is adjusted along the length of the shaft 70 to establish a clearance between the end 118 of the sleeve and the end wall 120 of the cylinder when the piston is so disposed within the cylinder as to be retracted upon the introduction of hydraulic pressure, for example, into the chamber 83 of the cylinder. Indicia are provided on the outer circumference of the adjustment ring 122 to provide a visual indication of the distance between the sleeve and the end wall 120 of the cylinder 80. In the depicted embodiment, the limit of extension of the piston 82 within the cylinder 80 is established by means of a stop ring 126 positioned in encompassing relationship with the piston rod 84 and within the chamber 83 of the cylinder. This feature permits one to initially choose a piston-cylinder assembly in which the limits of travel of the piston are relatively large and then select a properly sized stop ring to limit the extension movement of the piston to that which may be required in a given situation. As desired, the sizing of the piston-cylinder (as respects the limits of travel of the piston) may be chosen to provide inherent limits of travel and thereby eliminate the use of a stop ring. Referring to Figures 4 and 10, the secondary piston-cylinder means is operatively connected to the outboard end 128 of the piston rod 74 of the primary piston-cylinder means 76. In the depicted embodiment, this connection is accomplished by means of an end plate 130 affixed to the end 132 of the cylinder 80, this plate being provided with an internally threaded bore 134 into which there is received the externally threaded outboard end 128 of the piston rod 74 of the primary piston-cylinder assembly. The primary piston-cylinder assembly, in the depicted embodiment, is of the conventional double-acting type in which the cylinder 133 is divided internally into two chambers 135 and 137 by a piston 139 which slidably disposed within the cylinder. Hydraulic pressure, for example, is transmitted into, or released from, the chambers through conventional conduits 136 and 138 which connect the chambers to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid 140. The same source of pressurized hydraulic fluid may be used to supply pressurized fluid to the chambers 81 and 83 of the cylinder 80 via conduits 140 and 142 . Selective control of the flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid is provided for by conventional control means 144 including motion sensors, solenoid-operated valves, etc. The primary piston-cylinder 76 is fixedly mounted on the adjustment ring 28. The location of this mounting about the circumference of the mounting ring is not critical so that if in a given tire manufacturing machine the mounting location requires a specific location, this requirement is readily accommodated by the present invention. Because of the rigid connection of the secondary piston-cylinder means to the primary piston-cylinder means, no independent mounting of the secondary piston-cylinder means is required. It will be noted that because the primary piston-cylinder 76 is fixedly mounted to the mounting ring 28 which, in turn, is rotatably mounted within the housing rings 24 and 26, movement of either of the pistons 139 or 82 within their respective cylinders to actuate the linkages for radial movement of the shoes 32 results in a degree of counterclockwise movement of the mounting ring 28. This is occasioned by reason of the relationship of the linkages and the mounting of the primary piston-cylinder directly onto the rotatable mounting ring 28. When designing the ratio of movement of the pistons 139 and 82 within their respective cylinders to the resulting radial movement of the shoes, one must take into consideration this counterclockwise movement of the mounting ring. These relative movements of the several components of the device are well understood by those skilled in the art as are the calculations involved for establishing the movement ratio. Referring to Figures 23 and 24, in the depicted embodiment, selective adjustability of the position of the sleeve 116, to which there is secured the adjustment ring 122, along the length of the threaded transfer shaft 70, is accomplished through rotation of the adjustment ring 122 about the shaft 70 to thereby rotate the sleeve about the shaft and cause the threaded sleeve to move longitudinally of the shaft 70. In the preferred embodiment, the rotational movement of the adjustment ring 122 is limited by means of the locking ring 96. This latter locking ring, as noted hereinabove, is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 70, but is slidable longitudinally of the shaft 70 to the extent of the length of the longitudinal slot 104 provided in the shaft 70 and within which the pin 98, which passes through the bores 100 and 102 in the ring 96, resides. The face 123 of the adjustment ring 122 is provided, in the depicted embodiment, with a plurality, for example, twenty, outwardly opening bores 125 which are equally spaced apart in a circle around the perimeter of the face 123. The locking ring 96 is provided with at least one, and preferably two, locking pins 108 and 110 which project from the face 123 of the locking ring 96 and toward the open bores of the face of the adjustment ring 122. These locking pins are adapted to be received in respective ones of the open bores of the adjustment ring, when in register therewith, to thereby lock the adjustment ring against rotation when the pins are thus received, inasmuch as the locking ring is non-rotatable about the shaft 70. Recalling that the locking ring is biased by the spring means 106 toward the cylinder 70, the locking ring is thus biased toward its locking position with respect to the adjustment ring 122. However, when it is desired to adjust the distance between the end of the sleeve and the outward end of the cylinder 80, the locking ring may be moved longitudinally along the shaft 70 to withdraw the locking pins 108 and 110 from the open bores in the adjustment ring and thereby free the adjustment ring for rotation about the shaft 70. As noted, this rotational movement of the adjustment ring 122 provides for selection of the position of the sleeve 116 with respect to the end of the cylinder 80. Initial setting of the distance between the sleeve and the end wall of the cylinder 80 is accomplished when the piston 82 is in its most extended position within the cylinder 80 and the locking ring is disengaged from its locking relationship with the adjustment ring 122. Under these conditions, the sleeve is initially positioned in engagement with the end wall of the cylinder 80 and the adjustment ring is thereupon rotated until the zero indicia marking on the adjustment ring is aligned with a line mark 160 on the circumference of the locking ring, whereupon the locking ring is released to permit the biasing action of the spring 106 to move the pins 108 and 110 into respective open bores in the adjustment ring to lock these rings against further rotational movement relative to one another so long as they are so engaged. Subsequent adjustment of the distance of the sleeve from the end wall of the cylinder 80 is accomplished merely by disengaging the locking ring from the adjustment ring, rotating the adjustment ring to the amount required to reposition the sleeve from the end wall, and reengaging the locking ring to secure the adjustment. In a typical operation of the present invention, the transfer ring is moved into position about a belt and tread package which has been formed on the belt and tread drum. Thereupon the primary piston-cylinder is activated by the introduction of pressurized fluid to the chamber 137 thereof to retract the piston 139 within the cylinder 133. Again because of the rigid relationship between the primary and secondary piston-cylinder assemblies, this retraction movement of the piston 139 is transferred through the secondary piston-cylinder assembly, through the actuator link 60, to the several linkages and support ring 28, thence to the shoes 32 to move the shoes radially inwardly of the transfer ring to engage the belt and tread package. It is to be noted that the depicted arrangement of the linkages and other components of the transfer ring, retraction of the piston 139 moves the shoes radially inwardly and extension of the piston 139 moves the shoes radially outwardly. This same relationship of movement of the shoes is carried over into the retraction and extension of the piston 82 of the secondary piston-cylinder assembly. It will be recognized that this relationship of movement of the piston and the shoes could be reversed as desired. This initial movement of the shoes by the action of the primary piston-cylinder assembly is limited to that extent of inward movement of the shoes as will cause the shoes to engage the belt and tread package, but will not deleteriously deform the package, such as imprinting the footprint of a shoe within the package. Such shoe imprinting can result in the formation of cavities which capture air, or in the localized weakening of the tire in the course of marrying of the belt and tread package to the carcass. Upon the limiting out of the retraction of the piston 139, the movement of the piston 139 within the cylinder 133 is braked, as by the equalization of the pressure within the chambers 135 and 137 of the cylinder via the control means 144. Thereupon pressurized hydraulic fluid is admitted to the chamber 83 of the secondary piston-cylinder 72 to effect retraction of the piston 82 within the cylinder 80. Because the movement of the piston 139 is braked and recalling the rigid relationship between the primary and secondary piston-cylinder assemblies, it will be recognized that retraction of the piston 82 within the cylinder 80 effects further radially inwardly movement of the shoes of the transfer ring. The extent of this further movement is limited to that movement of the piston 82 which is permitted by the position of the sleeve 116 to the end wall 120 of the cylinder 80 so that the further movement of the shoes, following their initial engagement with the belt and tread package, is selectively adjustable by selectively adjusting the position of the sleeve 116 relative to the end wall of the cylinder 80. In a typical embodiment, the range of adjustment of the retraction movement of the piston is between a maximum of about 15mm (or about one-half inch) and a minimum of zero. Commonly, the desired secondary movement of the shoes is less than about 7·5mm (or about one-fourth inch) per shoe. Therefore, the separation distance of the sleeve 116 and end wall of the cylinder 80 is selected to be about 7·5mm (or about one-fourth inch) when there is a one-to-one relationship between the movement of the secondary piston 82 and movement of each shoe of the transfer ring. This movement of each shoe radially any given amount produces a change in diameter of the circle defined by the shoes of twice the radial movement of a single shoe. It will be recognized that the range of radial movement of the shoes 32 can be altered by relocating the shafts 42 and 54 radially inwardly or outwardly of the transfer ring to thereby alter the triangular relationship of these shafts and the shaft 48 which mounts a shoe to the linkages which serve to move the shoe radially inwardly and outwardly. Whereas the invention has been described herein in terms of specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize equivalents thereof, and the invention is intended to be limited only as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Claims: A transfer ring for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires, the ring including a plurality of shoes (32) movable between a radially inner position of engagement with a belt and tread package about the outer circumference thereof and a radially outer position out of engagement with said package, the transfer ring including actuating means for moving said shoes (32) between said positions of engagement and disengagement with said belt and tread package, said actuating means including first and second motive means (76, 72), said first motive means (76) being arranged to move the shoes (32) radially inwardly of the transfer ring, and said second motive means (72) being arranged to cause the shoes (32) to move a further radial distance inwardly, the transfer ring being characterised by , said first and second motive means (76, 72) being disposed in operative alignment with one another, a pivoting link assembly (34, 36) linking said first and second motive means (76, 72) to said shoes (32) for effecting the change in radial position of said shoes (32) upon actuation of said first and second motive means (76, 72), a braking means for braking said first motive means (76) against further movement when said shoes (32) reach a radial position corresponding to contact of the shoes with an associated belt and tread package in use, and means for actuating said second motive means (72), after such braking to effect said further radially inward change in the position of said shoes (32). A transfer ring as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the permissible extent of further radial movement of said shoes (32) by said second motive means (72) is limited to about 15mm (one-half inch). A transfer ring as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised by means (116) for selectively adjusting the extent of radial movement of said shoes (32) by said second motive means (72). A transfer ring as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said first and second motive means (72, 76) comprise first and second piston-cylinder means (72, 76), respectively. A transfer ring as claimed in Claim 4 when dependent upon Claim 3, characterised in that said means (116) for selectively adjusting is arranged to adjust the effective extent of travel of the piston component (82) of said second piston-cylinder means (72) to thereby selectively adjust the extent of radial movement of each shoe (32) of said transfer ring effected by said second piston-cylinder means (72). A transfer ring as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterised in that the first piston-cylinder means (76) is adapted to effect relatively gross radial movement of said shoes (32) between said positions of engagement and disengagement with said belt and tread package, and the second piston-cylinder means (72) is disposed relative to said first piston-cylinder means (76) so as to effect relatively small movement of said shoes (32) radially inwardly toward said belt and tread package after said first piston-cylinder means (76) has completed its movement of said shoes (32) into engagement with said belt and tread package, to effect limited additional radially inward movement of said shoes (32) toward said belt and tread package. A transfer ring as claimed in Claim 6 when dependent upon Claim 5, characterised in that said means (116) for selectively adjusting the extent of radially inward movement of said shoes (32) by said second piston-cylinder means (72) includes, linkage means (60) disposed between said second piston-cylinder means (72) and said shoes (32) and adapted to move said shoes (32) in response to movement of the piston component (82) of said second piston-cylinder means (72), rigid transfer shaft means (70) operatively connected at one of its ends to said linkage means (60) and at its other end being rigidly connected to said piston component (82) of said second piston-cylinder means (72) whereby longitudinal movement of said shaft means (70) effects movement of said linkage means (60), at least the most inward end of said shaft means (70) having external threads, internally threaded sleeve means (116) threadably received on the externally threaded portion of the shaft means (70) and including a surface thereof adapted to engage the cylinder component (80) of said second piston-cylinder means (72), adjustment ring means (122) circumferentially encompassing at least a portion of the outer perimeter of said sleeve means (116), means for releasably securing said adjustment ring means (122) to said sleeve means (116) whereby when said adjustment ring means (122) is secured to said sleeve means (116), rotation of said adjustment ring means (122) effects rotation of said sleeve means (116) and resultant movement of said sleeve means (116) longitudinally of said shaft means (70), locking ring means (96) disposed about the girth of said shaft means (70) and being non-rotatable relative to said shaft means (70) and limitedly longitudinally displaceable therealong, said locking ring means (96) further including internal threads thereon, means for releasably connecting said adjustment ring means (122) and said locking ring (96) to one another to thereby render said adjustment ring means (122) non-rotatable relative to said shaft means (70). A transfer ring as claimed in Claim 7, further characterised by means (90) for rigidly connecting said piston rod component (82) of said second piston-cylinder means (72) to said threaded shaft portion (70). A transfer ring as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, further characterised by indicia associated with said adjustment ring means (122) suitable to visually indicate the distance between that surface of said sleeve means (116) adapted to engage said cylinder component (80) of said second piston-cylinder means (72) and said cylinder component (80) of said second piston-cylinder means (72). A transfer ring as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 9, characterised in that said transfer ring includes first and second outer housing rings (22, 24) and an inner ring (28) rotatably mounted therebetween and including means mounting said first piston-cylinder means (76) on said inner ring for movement therewith upon actuation of said first piston-cylinder means (76). A transfer ring as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 10, characterised in that the extent of radially inward movement of each shoe (32) of said transfer ring is directly proportional to the extent of extension of said piston component (82) of said second piston-cylinder means (72). A transfer ring as claimed in Claim 11, characterised in that there is a one to one ratio of the movement of each of said shoes (32) to the extent of movement of said piston component (82) of said second piston-cylinder means (72). A method for the transfer of a belt and tread package component of a vehicle tire from a first location onto a carcass component of said tire at a second location employing a transfer ring which includes a plurality of shoes (32) disposed in an annular configuration within said transfer ring and which are movably radially inwardly and outwardly of said transfer ring comprising the steps of, positioning said transfer ring in encircling relationship to the outer circumference of said belt and tread package with said shoes (32) disposed in position to engage said outer circumference of said belt and tread package, applying a first force to said shoes (32) sufficient to cause said shoes (32) to engage said outer circumference of said belt and tread package, applying a second force to said shoes (32) sufficient to move said shoes (32) a radial distance inwardly of said transfer ring which is less than that distance which causes deleterious distortion of said belt and tread package but is at least equal to that distance which ensures that said shoes (32) supportingly engage said belt and tread package when said belt and tread package is otherwise unsupported and free to assume a substantially relaxed state, and thereafter while said belt and tread package is engaged by said transfer ring, transferring said belt and tread package onto a vehicle tire carcass, the method being characterised by the use of a pivoting link assembly (34, 36) for supporting said shoes (32) and translating operation of first and second motive means (76, 72) to said shoes, and in that the application of said first force is arrested with said shoes (32) in engagement with said outer circumference of said belt and tread package, prior to the application of said second force to said shoes through said link arrangement. A method as claimed in Claim 13, further characterised by the step of selectively adjusting the extent of movement of said shoes (32) effected by the application of said second force. A method as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, further characterised by the step of generating said first and second forces employing hydraulic pressure applied to first and second motive means. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 15, further characterised by the step of providing for selective adjustment of the magnitude of said second force. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 16, further characterised by the step of limiting the magnitude of said second force to that force which effects not more than about 15mm (one-half inch) of radially inward movement of each of said plurality of shoes (32).

Inventors: BYERLEY MARK SHANE, BYERLEY, MARK SHANE
Applicants: WYKO INC, WYKO, INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B29D30
IPC codes: B29D30