Patent ID: 7686053

Claim:
A cord tensioning mechanism coupled to a tire cord applicator head, the mechanism comprising: a mounting block, the tire cord applicator head coupled to the mounting block and the mounting block operative to reciprocally move with the tire cord applicator head between a plurality of cord application positions, the mounting block having a cord guiding passageway entering the block and a cord guiding terminal passageway exiting the block and extending to the tire cord applicator head; a timing belt carried by the mounting block between the plurality of cord application positions; belt drive means mounted to the mounting block for rotationally driving the timing belt at a pre-selected speed; means mounted to the mounting block for laterally forcing the cord into engagement against a segment of the timing belt to place the cord in a preferred level of tension; and the timing belt directing the cord from engagement against the segment of the belt into the cord guiding terminal passageway exiting the block.