Abstract: A deflection roller for guiding and/or deflecting a rubber tire component, has a shaft that defines an axis of rotation of the deflection roller and a plurality of bristles distributed circumferentially around the shaft and extending radially outwards and orthogonally with respect to the axis of rotation to form a circumferential brush surface that is concentric to the axis of rotation. The deflection roller further has a first boundary element and a second boundary element extending adjacent to the plurality of bristles in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and protruding radially outside the circumferential brush surface at a first end and a second end of the circumferential brush surface, respectively, for binding the circumferential brush surface in the axial direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extruder tooling for placement in an extruder head and for forming an elastomeric strip with reinforcement cords, wherein the extruder tooling includes a die for applying elastomeric material to the reinforcement cords and a cord guide for guiding the reinforcement cords in a guide plane towards the die, wherein the cord guide includes cord guide members, wherein the extruder head is provided with flow channels which are arranged to debouch, via slits in the cord guide members, into the die, wherein the lower cord guide member and the upper cord member are each provided with an inner body extending on the inside of the lower slit and the upper slit, respectively, and an outer body extending on the outside of the lower slit and the upper slit, respectively, wherein the inner bodies are integrally connected to the respective outer bodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medication dispensing container for holding medications, which container is provided with a dispensing mechanism comprising: an arranging body comprising passageways, each for accommodating a number of medications in a single row, a first wall member with an output opening arranged below said arranging body, said arranging body is arranged to subsequently align one of said passageways with said output opening, a separating member which blocks a passageway when aligned with the output opening, a storage body comprising waiting chambers arranged below said first wall member, each waiting chamber is arranged for receiving the medication(s) from one passageway, a second wall member with an outlet opening arranged below said storage body, said storage body is arranged to subsequently align one of said waiting chambers with said outlet opening, and a detection arrangement for the detection whether or not one of said waiting chambers is filled.

Abstract: A tire building machine for applying an apex to a bead to form a bead-apex assembly for a green tire, including a bead holder for holding the bead, wherein the tire building machine includes a first gripper and a second gripper for engaging and moving the apex in a direction of conveyance towards the bead, wherein the first gripper is moveable between a first start position and a first end position and the second gripper is moveable between a second start position and a second end position, wherein the tire building machine is provided with wedges, wherein the grippers are biased to a closed state in which the grippers are arranged to engage the apex, and wherein the wedges are arranged for countering the bias of the grippers when the grippers are at one of the start positions or the end positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for picking up and placing a tire components, wherein the method includes the steps of picking up a supplied first tire component with a transfer drum, rotating the transfer drum in a first direction for winding a predetermined length of the continuous length of the first tire component, rotating the transfer drum in the opposite second direction, while at the same time moving the transfer drum downstream into a cutting position, wherein a part of the predetermined length of the first tire component is unwound from the transfer drum, cutting the unwound part, thereby obtaining a cut-to-length first tire component, and rotating the transfer drum again in the first direction for winding up the unwound part of the cut-to-length first tire component up to the trailing end.

Abstract: A cutting station for a tire building machine includes a cutting device and a feeding device for feeding a strip of rubber material into the cutting device. The cutting device includes a cutting table for supporting the strip of rubber material in a support plane (P) and a cutting element for cutting the strip of rubber material along a cutting line (C) that extends parallel to the support plane (P), wherein the support plane (P) extends at a support angle (B) with respect to a first vertical plane in a range of five to thirty degrees and wherein the feeding device (5) is arranged for feeding the strip of rubber material onto the cutting table in a downward feeding direction parallel to the support plane. Also provided is a tire building machine incorporating the cutting station and a cutting method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning device for use in a tire building system and a method for positioning a bead. The device includes a holding unit including a substantially planar holding surface having a first side, a transport unit movable parallel to the holding surface and including a gripper for gripping the bead and moving the gripped bead substantially along the holding surface, and a bead retainer arranged for at least temporarily retaining the bead in abutment against the holding surface at the first side thereof. The gripper is moveable between a first position in which the gripper projects at least partially out of the holding surface at the first side thereof for gripping the bead, and a second position, in which the gripper is completely arranged behind the holding surface, as viewed from the first side.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of forming an annular apex filler for tire beads. Said apparatus comprises a cylindrical former (2) for supporting a cut length of an apex filler strip (91) of elastomeric material, wherein said cylindrical former (2) comprises a hollow rotary shaft (21) and a plurality of rigid, circumferentially spaced apart fingers (22). The fingers (22) are movably connected to support members (24) for flipping the apex filler when wound on the cylindrical former. The support members (24) are movable connected to substantially radially extending guiding members (25). The guiding members (25) are connected to a hollow rotary shaft (21). The fingers (22) are connected via linkages (27) to a driving member (281) which is connected to a push/pull shaft (28) which extends at least partially through the hollow rotary shaft (21).

Abstract: Provided is a foil removal device and a method for removing a foil from a tire tread in a removal direction, wherein the foil removal device includes a foil collection unit with a winding element, a winding drive for receiving the foil at or near one of the ends of the foil, a gripper for engaging the foil prior to the removal of the foil and a gripper drive for moving the gripper from the gripping position towards the foil collection unit to partially remove the foil from the tire tread. The gripper is arranged for releasing the foil when the foil collection unit has received the foil. The winding drive is arranged for driving the winding element to engage and subsequently remove the foil. The removal device includes a displacement drive for moving the foil collection unit simultaneously with the winding drive driving the winding element.

Abstract: Provided is a device and method for butt-splicing strip members for tire components, having a first clamp and a second clamp arranged for clamping a first end of a first strip member and a second end of a second strip member, respectively, wherein at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp is movable along a butt-splice direction into a butt-splicing position opposite to the other of the first clamp and the second clamp for butt-splicing the ends, wherein the first clamp includes a first upper clamp member and a first lower clamp member, wherein the second clamp includes a second upper clamp member and a second lower clamp member, wherein the first lower clamp member projects beyond the first upper clamp member over a first overlap distance and wherein the second upper clamp member projects beyond the second lower clamp member over a second overlap distance.

Abstract: Provided is an unloading system and a method for unloading a tire tread carrier, wherein the tire tread carrier includes a plurality of plates, wherein each plate is arranged for supporting at least one tread for a tire, wherein the unloading system includes an arm with a retaining device for picking up and retaining treads, wherein the arm is provided with a lifting device that is arranged to move together with the arm for lifting one of the plates, wherein a control system is arranged for controlling a drive system to position the arm in a starting position in which the lifting device extends at least partially underneath said one plate and to subsequently move the arm upwards such that the lifting device is moved towards a lifting position, thereby lifting said one plate; from the closed position towards the open position.

Abstract: Provided is a device and method for butt-splicing strip members for tire components, having a first clamp and a second clamp arranged for clamping a first end of a first strip member and a second end of a second strip member, respectively, wherein at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp is movable along a butt-splice direction into a butt-splicing position opposite to the other of the first clamp and the second clamp for butt-splicing the ends, wherein the first clamp includes a first upper clamp member and a first lower clamp member, wherein the second clamp includes a second upper clamp member and a second lower clamp member, wherein the first lower clamp member projects beyond the first upper clamp member over a first overlap distance and wherein the second upper clamp member projects beyond the second lower clamp member over a second overlap distance.

Abstract: A tire layer application assembly and a method for applying a tire layer around a substantially circular circumferential surface of an object. The assembly is provided with a drive which, during application, is coupled to the object for driving the object in a driven rotation about a concentric axis of rotation with respect to the circumferential surface, wherein the assembly includes a tracking device which, during application, is arranged to be fixed to a part of the tire layer that is applied to the circumferential surface, wherein the tracking device is rotatable in a tracking rotation about the axis of rotation of the object, independent of the driven rotation of the object about the same axis of rotation.

Abstract: Provided is a foil removal device and a method for removing a foil from a tire tread in a removal direction, wherein the foil removal device includes a foil collection unit with a winding element, a winding drive for receiving the foil at or near one of the ends of the foil, a gripper for engaging the foil prior to the removal of the foil and a gripper drive for moving the gripper from the gripping position towards the foil collection unit to partially remove the foil from the tire tread. The gripper is arranged for releasing the foil when the foil collection unit has received the foil. The winding drive is arranged for driving the winding element to engage and subsequently remove the foil. The removal device includes a displacement drive for moving the foil collection unit simultaneously with the winding drive driving the winding element.

Abstract: A stitcher (1) for connecting strips of rubber material (4, 5) into a substantially continuous strip according to this invention comprises a surface (3), a stitching head (6) placed over it having a stitch unit (7) for stitching the strips of rubber material together along a stitch line, which stitch line includes an angle ? having a longitudinal direction (L) of the continuous strip, a drive mechanism for driving a relative movement of the stitching head with respect to the surface along a first (X) and a second (Y) direction, wherein the second direction is oriented transverse to the first direction, and a control device (11) for controlling the drive mechanism such that the stitch unit follows the stitch line. In one embodiment the stitching head is rotatably connected to the drive mechanism wherein the axis of rotation extends transverse to the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly and a method for manufacturing a green tire and/or a green air spring. The device comprises a template having a shaping surface (2) for placing a tire component thereon comprising a layer of unvulcanized rubber for the green tire and/or green air spring. The shaping surface (2) is provided with an attachment surface (9) for at least temporarily retaining at least a leading section of the tire component. The attachment surface (9) comprises a number of adhering surface sections (3) with non-adhering surface sections (4) placed in between them, wherein the non-adhering surface sections (4) are at least partially receded with respect to the adhering surface sections (3). In one embodiment the attachment surface (9) comprises a substantially saw-tooth-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for picking up and placing a tire components, wherein the method includes the steps of picking up a supplied first tire component with a transfer drum, rotating the transfer drum in a first direction for winding a predetermined length of the continuous length of the first tire component, rotating the transfer drum in the opposite second direction, while at the same time moving the transfer drum downstream into a cutting position, wherein a part of the predetermined length of the first tire component is unwound from the transfer drum, cutting the unwound part, thereby obtaining a cut-to-length first tire component, and rotating the transfer drum again in the first direction for winding up the unwound part of the cut-to-length first tire component up to the trailing end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a building drum (1) for manufacturing a package of a belt layer (6) and a tread layer (7) into a substantially cylindrical tire component, wherein the drum is rotatable about a drum centre line (2) and comprises a rigid support surface (3) for the tire component situated at the outward facing circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the drum comprises two support members (4, 5) which are arranged spaced apart in a substantial longitudinal direction of said drum, wherein the support members (4, 5) each comprises a tread support surface (41, 51) which faces away from the drum centre line and which tread support surfaces are radially movable between a retracted position wherein the tread support surface is arranged at or near the rigid support surface, and a raised position wherein the tread support surface is arranged in a radially outward position with respect to the rigid support surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a building drum for building an unvulcanized tire or air spring using rubber components. The building drum comprises a central shaft and a casing that can be slid onto the shaft. The casing is detachably attached to the shaft via a coupling pin that can be moved to a coupled position for mutually coupling the shaft and the casing and into an uncoupled position in which the casing can be removed from the central shaft. The casing further comprises a locking device with a locking pin, wherein the locking pin is adapted for, in the coupled position of the coupling pin, engaging thereon for substantially blocking a movement of the coupling pin. The locking device comprises a locking member that in a condition in which the locking pin does not engage onto the coupling pin, is placed such that it prevents a connection of lines to the casing, and/or provides an indication of the casing being mounted incorrectly.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of forming an annular apex filler for tire beads. Said apparatus comprises a cylindrical former (2) for supporting a cut length of an apex filler strip (91) of elastomeric material, wherein said cylindrical former (2) comprises a hollow rotary shaft (21) and a plurality of rigid, circumferentially spaced apart fingers (22). The fingers (22) are movably connected to support members (24) for flipping the apex filler when wound on the cylindrical former. The support members (24) are movable connected to substantially radially extending guiding members (25). The guiding members (25) are connected to a hollow rotary shaft (21). The fingers (22) are connected via linkages (27) to a driving member (281) which is connected to a push/pull shaft (28) which extends at least partially through the hollow rotary shaft (21).