Patent GB-814047-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for applying preformed bands to a tyre building machine
IPC: B29D30/28
Filed: 1957-03-26
Abstract: 814,047. Tyre building machines. GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER CO. March 26, 1957 [March 26, 1956], No. 9897/57. Class 144 (1). A preformed endless tyre ply or tread stock band 3 is applied to a tyre building drum D by being expanded radially, under internal pressure, against the internal surface of a hollow transfer cylinder A to exclude the air from therebetween, the cylinder A with the band held therein by the suction effect then being sleeved axially over the building drum D and the band 3 being released from the cylinder to contract into position on the drum D. As shown, the band 3 is first loosely mounted over an expansible drum B which is rotatably mounted on bearings 99 and 104 on a hollow shaft 90 supported cantilever fashion from a pillar 89 carried on a mobile trolley 88. The drum B comprises an elongated rigid metal cylinder 69 carrying an axially elongated flat annular inflatable tube 70 on its surface, the outer portion of the tube being covered by a metal sheet 85. The tube 70 is built up of one or more plies of parallel cords 73 extending axially, or at about 5 degrees thereto, of the annulus, sandwiched between rubber layers 71, 72, and comprises inextensible beads in its inner periphery to hold it against the cylinder 69. The beads 74 are spaced axially inwardly of the tube ends 75 to permit bulging of said ends on inflation of the tube, Fig. 11. To facilitate mounting of the band 3 on the drum B a ring of flat wooden rollers 83 is mounted on a rod 82 supported at one end of the drum cylinder 69, the roller ring having a greater external diameter than that of the drum tube 70 in its uninflated state. To ensure even cord spacing in the band 3 after positioning on the drum B, the tube 70 is first partially inflated, via conduits 110, 107 and 114, to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 9, and then deflated so that the band 3 again hangs loosely. The drum is then manually rotated through 180 degrees, after which the tube 70 is fully inflated to expand the band 3 into contact with the interior of the open-ended transfer cylinder A which has been sleeved over the drum B. The transfer cylinder A comprises a thin metal shell 20 which is braced by inner and outer end rings 57, 56, an outer central ring 58, and outer angle rings 59, and which is bushed with a metal, or moulded rubber, cylinder 60 having a knurled inner surface to provide a multiplicity of protuberances 63 separated by axial and circumferential air-conducting grooves 64, 65, Fig. 12. The cylinder A is adjustably suspended, by frame bars 11-13, from a pair of trolleys 7, 8 running on an overhead guide rail 4, a railengaging brake 32 operable by cords 43 being provided to hold the cylinder when in the desired position over the drum B or the building drum D. To retain the expanded band 3 against its inner surface, the transfer cylinder may be connected to a vacuum pump via a bored boss 51 which is normally closed by a plug 52. Alternatively, as shown, the ends 54, Fig. 11, of the band 3 may be cuffed over the ends of the transfer cylinder A, such cuffing being facilitated by the bulging of the ends of the inflatable tube 70. When the transfer cylinder A with the cuffed band 3 is moved on its rail 4 to sleeve over the building drum D, release of the band 3 to contract on to drum D is achieved by uncuffing the ends 54 to allow air to enter along the grooves 64, 65 between the band 3 and the cylinder A. In the arrangement described, the expansible drum B is essentially axially longer and radially smaller than the tyre band 3 which in turn is axially longer and radially smaller than the transfer cylinder A, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than the building drum D. Specification 799,089 is referred to.