Patent GB-837364-A (GB)
Title: Servicer for tire building machine
IPC: B29D30/30
Filed: 1958-03-14
Abstract: 837,364. Tyre building machines. GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER CO. March 14, 1958 [April 12, 1957], No. 8289/58. Class 144 (1). The drum D of a tyre building machine C is fed with fabric plies of the same width from a single stock roll R mounted on a servicer A which has a fabric supporting table 30, the table 30 having a fabric-guiding carriage 64 mounted for transverse movement thereon, parallel to the drum axis, so that the carriage can be located in a series of predetermined positions to deliver the plies to the drum with their side edges relatively axially offset. As shown, the machine C is associated with a second servicer B for supplying under-tread fabric and the tread and sidewall strip to the drum D. The servicer A comprises a frame 1-3 supporting the stock roll R, a liner take-up roll L and a drive roll 14, the two latter rolls being driven from a motor 22 and the drive roll 14 incorporating a friction slip-clutch. Fabric f is fed by the drive roll 14 from the roll R into a festoon 103, the length of which is maintained at at least twice that of the carriage 64 by electric eye means 104, 105. From the festoon 103 the fabric passes via a guide means 107 on to the carriage 64. The carriage 64 is slidably mounted on two spaced parallel shafts 37 which extend parallel to the drum D between parallel arms 33, 34 forming the table 30, the arms 33 being rigidly connected to a cross-shaft 31 journalled between frame uprights 2 for swing- ing movement between an upright retracted position (shown in broken lines in Fig. 1), and a horizontal position bridging the aisle between the drum D and the servicer A. Rotation of the shaft 31 is effected by a rack 45, and a quadrant gear 40 secured to the shaft 31, the rack 45 being reciprocable by a double-acting pneumatic motor 47, 48 and the quadrant gear having stops 42, 43 to engage adjustable spring buffers 52 limiting the swinging movement of the table 30. The carriage 64 comprises parallel side arms 65, 66 which carry the bearings 78 by which the carriage is mounted on the table shafts 37, the arms 65, 66 having end rollers 68 and closely spaced intermediate rollers 70 journalled therebetween and being braced by cross-rods 72. The cross-rods 72 carry short rollers 77 and adjustably support a pair of guide rails 51, the lower edges of which are scalloped to embrace the rollers 70 and prevent the fabric ply from slipping under the guide rails. The rails 51 are adjusted to be equidistant from the respective adjacent carriage arm 65, 66. Transverse movement of the carriage along the shafts 37 is effected manually against the bias of springs 82 on the shafts 37 acting between the arms 33 and 65. The carriage may be latched in any of four positions determined by a ratchet 87 fixed to arm 66 and engaged by a spring-loaded pawl 85 carried by the table arm 34, Fig. 6, the latch providing an audible indication of positional change. Fig. 5 shows the median lines a, b, c and d of the fabric plies in each of the four positions of the carriage on the table. The fabric f is guided on to the carriage by U-bent edge guides 112 which are adjustably bolted to a plate 109 which is pivotally mounted at its ends on the shaft 67 of the roller 68. Swinging movement of the plate 109 is limited by a stop 118 engaging the table shaft 37, and a curved fabric spreader bar 116, Fig. 8, carrying a helical fabric-engaging spring 117 is carried by the plate 109. The fabric is held in engagement with the carriage roller 68 by a leaf spring 122 mounted on the shaft 31, and a ply holder bar 124 is bolted to the carriage arms 65, 66 to extend above the rollers 70, the operator folding the ply end over the bar 124 prior to raising the table 30. The servicer B comprises a frame 131-133 supporting stock and liner rolls R\ L<SP>1</SP>, a drive roll 148, a drive motor 140, and a fabric guiding and supporting table 159 which is essentially similar to the carriage 64. The table 159 comprises side arms 160 adjustably mounted at one end on across-shaft 154 and carrying fabric support rollers 165 and fabric centring guide rails 168, and is associated with adjustable U- bent fabric guide means 173 at its fabric receiving end. The delivery end of the table 159 is provided with a plate 192, Fig. 14, the leading edge of which forms a knife guide for cutting the desired length of fabric w from the strip, the latter being held against the plate 192 by a blade 196 which is journalled at its ends in the side arms 160. The control of the festoon length in this servicer is effected by means of a dancer roll 180 carried in the bight of the festoon and suspended at its ends on cables 181 which are guided over pulleys 182, Fig. 10, and connect with counterweights 183 guided in vertical tubes 184. One of the weights 183 co-operates with a micro-switch 187 which controls the drive motor 140 to maintain the desired length of festoon. The tread applicator of the servicer B comprises a tread support table 155 formed of a curved rear end part 156, and a straight delivery part 157 which may be swung between an upright retracted position and a delivery position overhanging the table 159. The curved portion 156 comprises parallel curved side angles 201 adjustably mounted on the crossshaft 154 of the frame uprights 132 and bridged by a plate 204. Rollers 209 journalled at their ends in the angles 201 project through slots 206 in the plate 204 to facilitate movement of the tread and sidewall strip along the table 155. The straight portion 157 comprises side plates 203 pivotally mounted on the shaft 154 and bridged by a plate 205 through which project rollers 209 journalled in the side plates 203. Retention of the table portion 157 in the desired position is effected by grooved rods 217 pivoted to the plates 203 to slide through helical springs 221 captive between the ends of stirrups 219 carried by the table 159. To ensure centring of the tread strip as it is delivered to the carcase on the drum D, chain guides 233 are provided to engage the shoulder portions of the tread, the guides being carried around inclined rollers carried on brackets 226 which are adjustable along a cross-bar 224 extending between the side plates 203. Specification 799,089 is referred to.