Patent GB-361972-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to tire building machines
IPC: B29D30/28
Filed: 1930-08-29
Abstract: 361,972. Tyre building machines. FIRESTONE TYRE & RUBBER CO., Ltd., Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex.- (Assignees of Flener, 0. L.; 1123, Wilbur Avenue, Akron, Ohio, U.S.A.) Aug. 29,1930, No. 25821. Convention date, Nov. 9, 1929. [Class 144 (i).] A tyre-building machine comprises a rotatable tyre-building drum and stitcher mechanism supported in operative relation therewith which simultaneously stitches down the bead flipper and flips the bottom plies round the tyre beads. As shown, the machine comprises a collapsable drum 10 and a main stitcher roll mounted so as to be swung down into contact with the drum. The stitcher mechanism embodying the invention is pivotally mounted on a shaft 20 supported parallel to the drum axle by the machine frame, and can be turned on its shaft against stops, into operative and inoperative positions on the drum 10. It comprises a centre frame 25 pivoted on the shaft 20 and carrying a shaft 28. Also pivoted on the shaft 20 by studs 33 to yokes 31 mounted thereon are connecting bars 30 which rest on a stationary bar 26 supported below the shaft 28. Brackets 34 carrying stitcher wheels 37 are splined to slide on the shaft 28 when the bars 30 to which they are linked are moved. Chafer stitcher arms 40 having stitching rollers 41 are also carried by the brackets 34. Segmental gears 49 mounted in the bifurcated end 48 of the frame 25 and carrying handles 51, 52 linked by adjustable rods 56, 57 to shifter links 55 operate flippers 53 journalled in the ends of the bars 30. Bead flipper stitcher wheels 58 pivoted on stub shafts 59 mounted to slide on arms 60 on the bars 30 are also provided. A sharp-edged wheel 66 is rotatably mounted in the forked end of a lever adapted to be held wherever it is placed, by springs, to centre the building material on the drums. In operation, after several plies of fabric have been run on the drum 10 and the stitcher mechanism has been dropped into operative position, the side portions of the fabric are stitched down into the bead channels, as in Fig. 4, by pushing the handle 51 downwards and outwards to move the stitcher wheels 37 outwards. The beads are next placed at the ends of the drum and the stitcher wheels 37 and chafer rolls 41 are raised out of the way, by tilting the handle 44, to permit the centre frame 25 to drop to bring the flipper stitchers 58 and the flippers 53 into operative position. The handle 51 is then moved inwardly so that the flipper stitchers 58 stitch down the bead flipper strip, and the angle which the flippers 53, which are shaped as in Fig. 8 and are inserted between the drum and bottom plies of fabrics, makes with the drum is progressively decreased to flip the plies of fabric up around the bead. The stitcher mechanism is then tipped back, the top plies, side walls, tread and chafer stripe are applied and bonded together by the main stitcher. This is then tipped back and the stitcher mechanism again dropped into place and the operating handle 51 moved inwards from its outermost position to engage the chafer strip by the stitcher 41 and tuck it around the bead. The drum may then be collapsed and the tyre removed. The positions of the stitcher wheels 58 and the lengths of the rods 56, 57 are adjustable to adapt the machine for tyres and beads of different construction.