Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-12-11
Knable, Geoffrey L. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S135000, C156S397000, C156S398000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328836
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to method and apparatus for producing tires and, in particular, to an apparatus which is capable of automatically applying a carcass cord to form a carcass layer on a core having an outer peripheral surface which corresponds in shape to the inner peripheral surface of a product tire, and also to a method for producing tires in which a carcass layer is formed by operating such apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a method of producing tires in which a carcass is formed by applying a carcass cord onto a rigid core. Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,209 discloses an apparatus for applying a carcass cord, in which an eyelet is fixedly secured to an endless chain which is passed over pulleys surrounding a core. The eyelet is arranged so as to undergo a reciprocating movement on the outer peripheral surface of the core in its meridian plane, so that turn-up portions of the carcass cords are successively arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the core. These turn-up portions are adhered onto the core under pressure, by a press device comprised of a fork member and a hammer which are advanced and retracted in association with each other.
However, the known method explained above suffers from problems that the apparatus as a whole is complicated in structure and has an increased size, besides that the fork member and the hammer have to be independently and separately arranged adjacent to the turn-up portion of the cord. The construction and operation of the press device are complicated, and it is thus difficult to realize a compact arrangement. Moreover, there is a problem that when the carcass cord fed through the eyelet is subjected to tension, the endless chain to which the eyelet is attached tends to be twisted, thereby preventing a smooth operation of the chain.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been conceived with an objective to eliminate the above-mentioned problems involved in the conventional method.
A primary object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for producing tires, which can be made simple and compact in structure and operated at an increase speed, ensuring that the carcass cord is always fed in a smooth and positive manner.
Another object of the present invention is provide an improved apparatus for producing tires, including a press mechanism for adhering the turn-up portion of the carcass cord onto the core, which can be made simple and compact in structure.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus wherein a carcass layer is formed by continuously feeding a carcass cord from a cord passage and applying the carcass cord over an outer peripheral surface of a substantially toroidal core so as to extend in a meridian direction of the core while the core is subjected to an indexing movement in its circumferential direction. The apparatus comprises a feed mechanism for causing a reciprocating movement of the cord passage in the meridian direction of the core, and the feed mechanism includes a swing arm having a distal end which supports the cord passage. The apparatus also comprises a press mechanism including a pin about which the carcass cord is supported at a turn-up position of the reciprocating movement of the cord passage, and which can be moved into abutment with the core, and a press head which can be advanced relative to the pin, for pressing a loop portion of the carcass cord to the core. The press mechanism is arranged so that it can be swung in the indexing direction along with the indexing movement of the core, and returned to its initial position after the pin has been separated from the core.
With the above-mentioned arrangement of the apparatus according to the present invention, the reciprocating or swinging movement of the arm in the feed mechanism causes the cord passage to be reciprocated within a predetermined angular range during the indexing movement of the core. Therefore, not only the feed mechanism itself, but also the dividing system therefor can be made simple and compact in structure, while allowing the carcass cord to be linearly arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the core at predetermined circumferential intervals.
Also, during the reciprocating movement of the cord passage, the turn-up portion formed on the carcass cord is wound about, and supported by the pin which is in its advanced position, thereby maintaining the turn-up portion in a desired manner. The turn-up portion is adhered onto to the core by the press head which has been advanced relative to the pin to bring the turn-up portion into tight contact with the core, effectively preventing the jamming or disorder of the carcass cord.
As regards the arrangement of the pin and the press head relative to each other, it is preferred that the press head is attached to a distal end of the a rod which can be advanced and retracted relative to the core, and the pin is attached to the press head so as to be urged in the advancing direction. In this instance, the pin is brought into abutment against the core by an initial advancing stage of the rod, and the press head is then brought into abutment against the core by a successive advancing stage of the rod. Such arrangement is advantageous to realize a press mechanism which is simple and compact in structure.
In connection with the above-mentioned arrangement of the pin and the press head, it is preferred that the press mechanism is capable of achieving a swinging movement in the indexing direction of the core, along with the indexing movement of the core when the pin or press head is in abutment against the core. It is thus possible to operate the pin and the press head even during the indexing operation, thereby effectively reducing the tact time.
Advantageously, the feed mechanism and the press mechanism are connected to a common drive motor, so that the apparatus can be made more compact in structure and less costly.
Preferably, at least one guide roller for the carcass cord fed from the cord passage is disposed adjacent to an opening of the cord passage. In this instance, the rotation of the guide roller allows the carcass cord to be fed smoothly, even when the carcass cord is under tension.
The feed mechanism may be arranged such that the cord passage undergoes a reciprocating movement at a position adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the core. In this instance, the guide roller functions as a pressure roller for causing the carcass cord fed from the cord passage to be directly and positively adhered onto the outer peripheral surface of the core at a linear portion of the carcass cord.
Alternatively, the feed mechanism may be arranged such that the cord passage undergoes a reciprocating movement at a position which is spaced from the outer peripheral surface of the core, thereby making it possible to operate the feed mechanism at a higher speed. In this instance, the feed mechanism preferably comprises a guide plate for guiding the carcass cord fed from the cord passage to the outer peripheral surface of the core. Such a guide plate allows the carcass to be accurately arranged at a desired position on the core, even under an increased operating speed of the cord passage and, hence, under an increased feed speed of the carcass cord.
The arm of the feed mechanism by engaged with a cam groove so as to define a reciprocating path of the cord passage. Such arrangement of the feed mechanism is advantageous in that, when the carcass cord fed from the cord passage is directly adhered onto the outer peripheral surface of the core, the reaction force of the pressure roller while urging the carcass cord onto the core can be effectively born by the cam groove.
Alternatively, the arm of the feed mechanism may be a crank-shaped arm which defines a reciprocating path of the cord passage as a distance between a center of rotation of the arm and the cord passage at the distal end of the arm. Such arrangement of the feed mechanism
Bridgestone Corporation
Knable Geoffrey L.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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