Patents Examined by Alexander D Booth
  • Patent number: 11020920
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire building system including a first drum, a second drum and first stations, a first support, a first carrier that carries the first drum with respect to the first support, a second support and a second carrier that carries the second drum with respect to the second support, wherein the first carrier is movable along the first support in a first positioning plane, wherein the second carrier is movable along the second support in the first positioning plane, wherein the first support is arranged for supporting the first carrier from below the first positioning plane and wherein the second support is arranged for suspending the second carrier from above the first positioning plane. The disclosure further relates to a method for positioning the first drum and the second drum with respect to the first stations with the use of the aforementioned system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Antonie Slots, Evert Doppenberg
  • Patent number: 11014319
    Abstract: To solve problems of complication and malfunction of the device's structure, an increase in the process time, and malfunction caused by catching of a front end portion of a bead apex rubber. A bead apex rubber forming method comprises a forming step P1, a connecting space opening step P2, a connecting space closing step P3, and a connecting step P4. In a rear closed state R of a molding chamber 11, the forming step P1 injects unvulcanized rubber G while a bead core A is being rotated, and forms a bead apex rubber B having a front end portion Bf. when the front end portion Bf approaches a rear shutter part 9, the connecting space opening step P2 removes a second lateral surface S2 together with the rear shutter part 9, and forms, between the front end portion Bf and a rear end portion Br, a connecting space J whose second side surface S2 side is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NAKATA ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoyasu Nakao
  • Patent number: 10994507
    Abstract: This invention provides an envelope configuration for retreading tires using a cold-retreading process. Envelopes formed by two parts are known in the prior art. However, the known sealing means between parts are not satisfactory, either due to sealing problems or due to decreasing the envelope useful life. In order to overcome these limitations, this invention provides an envelope (20) comprised of two parts (22, 24), in which an end region (224a) of a flap (224) of the first part (22) is covered by an end region (244a) of a flap (244) of the second part (24), or vice-versa, in order to form an overlapping joint, in which a free end of the flap (224) of the first part (22) has at least one differentiated cross section (224b) whose thickness is greater than that of the flap (224) of the first part (22), and in which the overlapping joint is covered by an elastic ring (26) that is wide enough to cover said differentiated cross section (224b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: BORRACHAS VIP AL S.A.
    Inventors: Mauri Roque Ferreto, Eleno Rogrigues Vieira, Ismael Borges Vieira, Leandro Gustavo Guedes, Paulo Rampon
  • Patent number: 10960627
    Abstract: A method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The method of building the tire carcass includes the steps of applying one or more tire building components onto a drum forming a cylindrically shaped tire carcass. Placing a first and second bead onto the tire building components on the drum so that the tire carcass ends of the tire carcass extend laterally between the beads. Radially expanding a first and second bead lock mechanism into engagement with a respective first and second bead. Inflating the carcass under low pressure into engagement with a belt and tread package while moving the beads axially inward. Moving the beads axially inward to the axial width of the widest breaker position; Turning up the outer lateral ends of the cylindrically shaped tire carcass about a respective first and second bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: George Michael Stoila, Michael James Hogan
  • Patent number: 10960626
    Abstract: A bidirectional stitching wheel may be able to conform to peaks and valleys of green rubber while building a tire. The bidirectional stitching wheel may include an inner ring including a stitcher rotation axis. The inner ring may be rotatable in a first stitcher rotational direction about the stitcher rotation axis. The inner ring may also be rotatable in a second stitcher rotational direction about the stitcher rotation axis. A flexible outer ring may be radially spaced from the inner ring. A flexible intermediate layer may be disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The flexible intermediate layer may be substantially equally deformable during rotation of the inner ring in both the first stitcher rotational direction and the second stitcher rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Zachary G. Lorenz, Jason J. Para
  • Patent number: 10946602
    Abstract: A radially expandable building drum, in which is intended for manufacturing an adapter for mounting a tire on a wheel rim, includes a central shaft, a first set of segments, and a second set of segments. All of the segments are arranged circumferentially around the shaft to form a generally cylindrically shaped external face of the drum. The segments of the first set and the segments of the second set face one another axially. The drum is structured to allow a different radial expansion of the segments of the first set in relation to the segments of the second set, between two working positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Thomas Guy, Patrick Marchal, Henri Hinc, David Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10919243
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding a plurality of tread bands in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels. Each tread band initially includes, on a side thereof, a service fabric. The tread bands are initially arranged at different heights. The method includes positioning a first auxiliary conveyor belt of an auxiliary collection device including a plurality of juxtaposed auxiliary conveyor belts at a first height corresponding to the height of a first tread band, then, proceeding with the removal of the service fabric from the first tread band while the first tread band is transferred onto the first auxiliary conveyor belt. The method also includes positioning at least one second auxiliary conveyor belt of the auxiliary collection device at at least one second height corresponding to that of at least one second tread band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Pulici
  • Patent number: 10857709
    Abstract: An injection-molding process for injecting a shoe soling including at least two adjacent injection-molding layers onto a shoe upper drawn over a shoe last, uses a mold cavity including a frame, the cavity being covered at the top by the upper also serving as a mold cover, with plastic material being injected into the cavity below the upper. To produce two adjacent injection-molding layers of plastic materials having different properties and reaction times in one operation, i.e. without needing an interim mold opening, before covering the cavity a film is clamped over it by a clamp mounted on the frame. When filling the cavity, the space below the film is first filled with plastic material to produce the first injection-molding layer and then, to produce the adjacent second injection-molding layer, the space above the film is filled with plastic material. Plastic materials are used that inseparably attach to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: KLOECKNER DESMA SCHUHMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventors: Adrian Strauss, Joachim Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 10857748
    Abstract: A tire production device is provided for pressure bonding products that are presented in a product profile (120) on a forming drum surface. The device includes a multidisc roller system (100) having a frame (102) relative to which a plurality of disc assemblies (104, 104?) are disposed along a common axis. Each disc assembly includes an actuatable arm 106 that is linearly displaceable relative to the frame, a pair of removably attached demi-discs (110, 110?) and a bearing (112) that accommodates rotation of the demi-discs (110). An actuator is associated with each disc assembly (104, 104?) for bringing the disc assemblies (104, 104?) into and out of contact with the product profile (120). A method is also provided for assembling tire components for the manufacture of tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Cedric Astier, Henri-Alexandre Oursaire
  • Patent number: 10807335
    Abstract: A bead core formation apparatus includes a former, a guide device, and a clamping device. The former includes a circumferentially extending groove around which a steel wire is wound. The guide device guides the steel wire to the former. The clamping device is coupled to the former to clamp the distal end of the steel wire. The clamping device includes a first wall and a second wall that hold the steel wire in between to clamp the steel wire. The first wall is movable between a position where the first wall is opposed to the second wall and a position where the first wall is not opposed to the second wall. The guide device includes a steel wire moving portion that moves the distal end of the steel wire from a position separated from the second wall to a position adjacent to the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: FUJI SEIKO CO., LTD., FUJI SHOJI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Nomura, Kazuhiko Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 10792878
    Abstract: A pressing device for tire-building machines, having a pressing device axis, a plurality of disk elements, and at least one force application device for applying force to at least one of the disk elements. The pressing device is divided into at least two zones and the zones are equipped with force application devices of different types such that a surface pressure made uniform or a surface pressure gradient can be applied to a tire semifinished-product web in some regions by the plurality of disk elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: HARBURG-FREUDENBERGER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: André Arends, Jan-Sören Meyermann, Albert Milczarek
  • Patent number: 10792879
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is formed by winding a sheet member (A) and a sheet member (B) onto a molding drum and molding a cylindrical body. A laminate body (M) in which the sheet member (B) is layered in advance on the outer periphery of the sheet member (A) is wound onto a molding drum (10), the tack value of a material (a) constituting the sheet member (A) being smaller than the tack value of a material (b) constituting the sheet member (B), the length of the sheet member (A) being configured so that a starting end (As) of winding on the molding drum (10) and an ending end (Ae) of winding do not overlap, and the length of the sheet member (B) being configured so that the ending end (Be) of winding extends longer in the circumferential direction than the ending end (Ae) of winding of the sheet member (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Hara, Hideki Seto
  • Patent number: 10759131
    Abstract: The present technology provides a method of building a tire and a tire building machine. When bonding together longitudinal direction end portions of an outer circumferential side strip-shaped rubber member wrapped around a building drum to form a cylindrical shape, inner circumferential surfaces of projecting parts of the longitudinal direction end portions that project in a drum width direction relative to an inner circumferential side strip-shaped rubber member are supported by a support section, and the inner circumferential surfaces are positioned at a level of an outer circumferential surface of the inner circumferential side strip-shaped rubber member. In this state, the projecting parts are pressed in the drum width direction by a pressing section, and the longitudinal direction end portions are bonded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Yamamura, Tomohiro Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 10759132
    Abstract: A plant for building tyres, includes: a shaping work station configured for receiving a carcass sleeve; at least one radially expandable/contractible toroidal forming drum engageable in the shaping work station; at least one work station configured for building at least one component of a crown structure on a radially external surface of a tyre being processed, defined starting from the carcass sleeve that is shaped and coupled to the forming drum; transfer devices configured for moving said forming drum along a closed-loop completion path and arranging it in proximity to the work station in order to obtain a green tyre, the closed-loop completion path being extended from an initial work station to a final work station coinciding with the shaping work station; and a pick-up device configured for picking up said green tyre decoupled from the respective forming drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Stefano Sangiovanni, Pierangelo Misani, Lothar Brohm
  • Patent number: 10744692
    Abstract: An extrusion molding machine for manufacturing the spiral bicolor LED hose light just needs a single process and equipment to greatly increase the production efficiency and save the equipment investment costs. The input channel terminal of the second flow channel connected with a first horizontal channel is gradually smaller, and the transportation end terminal of the first horizontal channel connected with a second horizontal channel of larger diameter is gradually larger. The transportation end terminal of the second extruder is connected with the input terminal of the third flow channels. The light strip input channel inputs the LED light strip to pass through the first and second flow channel, which the transparent molten plastic squeezed by the first extruder wraps and covers the LED light strip and the molten plastic with the other color squeezed by the second extruder is spirally wounded on the surface of the transparent molten plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventor: Lin-Yu Cao
  • Patent number: 10744731
    Abstract: A belt drum device 1 for forming a belt 37 includes a drum base 2 rotatable around a drum rotational axis (2c) and belt support portions 3 arranged outside the drum base 2 and capable of extending and contracting. Each belt support portion 3 includes a first link plate 5 and a second link plate 6 both rotatable and each having an outer peripheral surface 11 around which the belt 37 is wound. The outer peripheral surface 11 in a contracted state includes a flat surface portion 16 extending straight in a drum axial direction on an outer-end side and an arc-shaped curved surface portion 17 curved toward the drum rotational axis (2c). The curved surface portions 17 of both link plates 5 and 6 in an expanded state are substantially continuous to form a continuous arc region 24 convex outwardly in a drum radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Takai
  • Patent number: 10695997
    Abstract: A transporter and a method are provided for retrieving at least one reinforcing ply and conforming the at least one reinforcing ply to a forming surface of a rotatable forming drum having one or more tire components disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Raymond Balzer, Almira Aleckovic, Michael Petrovich, Eric Rivers, Larry Satterfield
  • Patent number: 10682825
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire includes forming a green tire. Forming the green tire includes: a first step of forming a first belt portion by winding a first belt on an outer peripheral surface of an inner liner and, thereafter, forming a second belt portion by winding a second belt on the first belt portion thus acquiring a belt layer; and a second step of acquiring a reinforcing layer by winding a reinforcing belt on the second belt portion. The second step includes: a first parallel winding treatment where the reinforcing belt is wound one turn on a first circumference; a spiral winding treatment where the reinforcing belt is spirally wound in a tire width direction; and a second parallel winding treatment where the reinforcing belt is wound on a second circumference within a range of from 240°±30° with one turn set to 360°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10576703
    Abstract: A kit for repairing a tire, comprising, a first pressurized container including a first fluid and a second pressurized container including a second fluid. The first fluid comprises a first propellant and an emulsion comprising styrene butadiene rubber, a foaming agent, and an antioxidant. The second fluid comprises isopropyl alcohol and a second propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Holt Lloyd International Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Ellis, Richard Hitchman
  • Patent number: 10532530
    Abstract: A device, which converts a reinforcing strip from being flat to being undulating, includes a transporter that guides fingers along a closed circuit, with the fingers being able to bear against a first face of the strip; a support plate that rotates about a plate axis and that supports rollers having axes parallel to the plate axis, with the rollers being able to bear against a second face of the strip; and a synchronizer that synchronizes a rotation of the support plate and a forward motion of the transporter. The closed circuit has an intersecting portion at which the synchronizer allows the fingers and the rollers to move rotationally in a common plane perpendicular to the plate axis, with the fingers and the rollers being interposed at the intersecting portion so as to cause the strip to have undulating waves that extend in the common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Christian Beaudonnet, Michel Deboeuf, Philippe Bournerie