Patent ID: 7314073

Claim:
Apparatus for constructing a tire reinforcement structure comprising threads disposed substantially parallel to one another, the apparatus comprising: a substantially toroidal form on which the reinforcement structure is to be progressively constructed in the form of respective reinforcing plies deposited one upon the other, the form being rotatable about a longitudinal center axis and having axially spaced first and second sides; a reference framework arranged adjacent the form in predetermined relationship thereto; and a head connected to the framework for movement relative thereto and relative to the form in a direction substantially parallel to the center axis of the form, the head including: a guidance passage for guiding, toward the form, a strip containing the threads, a rolling-down device disposed between an end of the guidance passage and the form for pressing down the strip against the form; and a cutter disposed upstream of the form and arranged for cutting the strip into separate arches each having a length extending from a location adjacent the first side of the form to a location adjacent the second side of the form, wherein each reinforcing ply comprises separate arches arranged in side-by-side circumferentially adjacent relationship; wherein the guidance passage and the cutter are disposed on a turn-over device arranged to invert the guidance passage, the cutter and the strip about the strip's own longitudinal axis to cause an opposite side of the strip to face the form between the laying of successive plies.