TWIN ROD FESTOON ROLL
A festoon assembly, system or arrangement includes at least one festoon roll having first and second opposite sides movably mounted to a respective support member. A linear bearing having an opening at least partially receiving therein a respective support member is arranged on at least one of the first and second sides. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a twin rod festoon roll as well as a festoon assembly, system or arrangement utilizing one or more festoon rolls and having first and second opposite sides movably mounted to a respective support member.
This invention also relates to a method of accumulating strip material using a festoon assembly of any of the type disclosed herein.
2. Discussion of Background Information
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,873 to ABE, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a festoon assembly which accumulates tire bead material strip using rolls 35 (see
It is therefore desirable to provide a more cost effective, robust and stable festoon arrangement which can properly deal with multiple strip materials and/or with the forces generated during tire strip material accumulation as compared to the conventional devices discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one non-limiting aspect of the invention, there is provided a festoon assembly, system or arrangement comprising at least one festoon roll having first and second opposite sides movably mounted to a respective support member. A linear bearing having an opening at least partially receiving therein a respective support member is arranged on at least one of the first and second sides.
In embodiments, the festoon assembly is a tire manufacturing festoon assembly.
In embodiments, the festoon roll comprises plural festoon rolls.
In embodiments, the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate at least one tire sidewall material strip.
In embodiments, the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate plural side by side tire sidewall material strips.
In embodiments, the linear bearing having an opening receiving therein a respective support member is arranged on each of the first and second sides.
In embodiments, each respective support member comprises one of a metal rod, a steel rod, and a solid material rod.
In embodiments, the assembly further comprises a lift or lifting structure structured and arranged to lift the at least one festoon roll.
In embodiments, the lift structure comprises at least one shock absorber or damper structured and arranged to contact at least one of an element movable with the at least one festoon roll and a portion of the linear bearing.
In embodiments, the list structure comprises at least one carrier block having a main opening structured and arranged to receive therein the respective support member.
In embodiments, the assembly further comprises a lift table structured and arranged to lift the at least one festoon roll to at least one position above a plane defined by plural drive rolls and below a plane defined by plural drive rolls.
According to one non-limiting aspect of the invention, there is provided a festoon assembly comprising plural festoon rolls each having first and second opposite sides and plural support members. The first side of each festoon roll is movably mounted to a respective support member via a linear bearing. Each linear bearing comprises a bearing block and an opening receiving therein the respective support member.
In embodiments, the festoon assembly is a tire manufacturing festoon assembly.
In embodiments, each festoon roll is mounted to two support members and is vertically movable independent of movement of other festoon rolls.
In embodiments, the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate at least one tire sidewall material strip.
In embodiments, the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate plural side by side tire sidewall material strips.
In embodiments, each respective support member comprises one of a metal member having a circular cross-section and a solid steel rod.
In embodiments, the assembly further comprising a lift structure structured and arranged to lift the plural festoon rolls at the same time and comprising at least one of plural shock absorbers or dampers and plural carrier blocks each having a main opening structured and arranged to receive therein the respective support member.
In embodiments, there is also provided a method of accumulating strip material using the festoon assembly of any of the types disclosed herein, wherein the method comprises lifting the at least one festoon roll to a position that allows the strip material to pass beneath the festoon roll and above at least one drive roll and allowing the at least one festoon roll to move under the force of gravity to a position below the at least one drive roll.
According to one non-limiting aspect of the invention, there is provided a festoon assembly comprising plural generally horizontally arranged festoon rolls each having first and second opposite sides and plural generally vertically arranged support members. The first side of each festoon roll is movably mounted to a respective support member via a linear bearing. Each linear bearing comprises a bearing block having an opening sized to receive therein the respective support member. A lifting arrangement is structured and arranged to lift the plural festoon rolls at the same time. The lifting arrangement comprises at least one of plural shock absorbers or dampers and plural carrier blocks each having a main opening structured and arranged to receive therein the respective support member.
Non-limiting advantages of the invention include greater stability of the festoon rolls through an entire range of motion. The festoon rolls can also accommodate a larger width material strip, e.g., including about a 30 inch extrusion, as well as two or more strips or strip sidewall extrusions. The shocks or dampers function better than standard stops during threading of the material strip. The arrangement of the lifting table, support members and festoon roll bearing supports of the invention can also be used on existing festoon assemblies permitting their modification or retrofit.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.
The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
The invention contemplates and recognizes using any one or more features or elements of one embodiment or drawing figure on any one or more of the other herein disclosed embodiments of drawing figures. Materials which can be used for various parts where weight is of concern include, e.g., T6061 aluminum. A non-limiting exemplary bearing 130 which can be utilized includes, e.g., A Thompson Super Smart Pillow Block 1¼″ Bore Closed Model # SSUPB20.
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
LIST OF REFERENCES
- 10 Festoon Roll
- 20 Support Member
- 21 Receiving Channel
- 30 Bearing Support
- 31 Roll Connecting Portion
- 32 Channel Inserting Portion
- 100 Festoon Assembly
- 110 Festoon Roll
- 120 Support Member
- 130 Linear Bearing
- 131 Roll Connecting Flange
- 132 Bearing Block
- 133 Receiving Opening
- 140 Drive Roll
- 150 Drive Roll Frame
- 160 Lift Structure or Table
- 161 Table Frame
- 162 Stationary Roll
- 170 Shock Absorber or Damper
- 180 Carrier Block
- 181 Main Opening
- 182 Shock Support Surface
- 190 Drive Motor
- SM Strip Material
Claims
1. A festoon assembly comprising:
- at least one festoon roll having first and second opposite sides movably mounted to a respective support member; and
- a linear bearing having an opening at least partially receiving therein a respective support member arranged on at least one of the first and second sides.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the festoon assembly is a tire manufacturing festoon assembly.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the festoon roll comprises plural festoon rolls.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate at least one tire sidewall material strip.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate plural side by side tire sidewall material strips.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the linear bearing having an opening receiving therein a respective support member is arranged on each of the first and second sides.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each respective support member comprises one of:
- a metal rod;
- a steel rod;
- a solid material rod.
8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lift structure structured and arranged to lift the at least one festoon roll.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the lift structure comprises at least one shock absorber or damper structured and arranged to contact at least one of:
- an element movable with the at least one festoon roll; and
- a portion of the linear bearing.
10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the lift structure comprises at least one carrier block having a main opening structured and arranged to receive therein the respective support member.
11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lift table structured and arranged to lift the at least one festoon roll to at least one position:
- above a plane defined by plural drive rolls; and
- below a plane defined by plural drive rolls.
12. A festoon assembly comprising:
- plural festoon rolls each having first and second opposite sides;
- plural support members;
- the first side of each festoon roll being movably mounted to a respective support member via a linear bearing; and
- each linear bearing comprising: a bearing block; and an opening receiving therein the respective support member.
13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the festoon assembly is a tire manufacturing festoon assembly.
14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each festoon roll is mounted to two support members and is vertically movable independent of movement of other festoon rolls.
15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate at least one tire sidewall material strip.
16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the festoon assembly is sized and configured to accumulate plural side by side tire sidewall material strips.
17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each respective support member comprises one of:
- a metal member having a circular cross-section; and
- a solid steel rod.
18. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lift structure structured and arranged to lift the plural festoon rolls at the same time and comprising at least one of:
- plural shock absorbers or dampers; and
- plural carrier blocks each having a main opening structured and arranged to receive therein the respective support member.
19. A method of accumulating strip material using the festoon assembly of claim 1, the method comprising:
- lifting the at least one festoon roll to a position that allows the strip material to pass beneath the festoon roll and above at least one drive roll;
- allowing the at least one festoon roll to move under the force of gravity to a position below the at least one drive roll.
20. A method of making a festoon assembly comprising:
- movably mounting first and second opposite sides of at least one festoon roll via first and second linear bearings having an opening adapted to at least partially receive therein a respective support member.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 25, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 31, 2013
Applicant: CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH (Hannover)
Inventors: Gregory FITTS (Mount Vernon, IL), Clint HAWKINS (West Frankfort, IL), James C. KELTON (West Frankfort, IL)
Application Number: 13/455,697
International Classification: B65H 23/16 (20060101);