Abstract: A method and apparatus 100 for forming an annular elastomeric tire component has the steps of extruding at least one elastomeric material annularly onto a support surface 60 and shaping the at least one strip 2 of elastomeric material to a predetermined profile by forming the at least one strip 2 of material between a shaping die 84 and the support surface 60 thereby smoothing and spreading the strip to the desired profile. The method may include applying additional strips 2 to form multilayered components. The support surface 60 may be separate from a tire building station 200 or may be integral to a tire building station 200. The formed strips may include any one or more tire components such as a sidewall 20, a chafer 30, a bead apex 10, ply stock coatings 40, an innerliner 50, or a tread 22.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 100 for forming an annular elastomeric tire component has the steps of extruding at least one elastomeric material annularly onto a support surface 60 and shaping the at least one strip 2 of elastomeric material to a predetermined profile by forming the at least one strip 2 of material between a shaping die 84 and the support surface 60 thereby smoothing and spreading the strip to the desired profile. The method may include applying additional strips 2 to form multilayered components. The support surface 60 may be separate from a tire building station 200 or may be integral to a tire building station 200. The formed strips may include any one or more tire components such as a sidewall 20, a chafer 30, a bead apex 10, ply stock coatings 40, an innerliner 50, or a tread 22.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an annular tire component such as a tire bead includes locating a toroidal support; placing an ejector nozzle in an interference relationship to the toroidal support; and simultaneously ejecting through the nozzle a continuous stream of an elastomeric belt component material in a suitably fluid state and a continuous length of at least one thread component disposed within the stream onto the toroidal support in a predetermined bead configuration. The bead configuration is at least partially defined by a relief in the nozzle ejection port and by the toroidal support onto which the bead is formed. Rotation of the toroidal support may be coupled with the simultaneous ejection of the elastomeric component and thread component in order to create an annular bead structure. A tire may be constructed having a desired bead configuration and location by means of the method and apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a continuous preparation ply of the type used to make vehicle tires from preparation ply sections having nonmetallic cords. An infeed conveyor successively feeds the preparation ply sections to a butt splicing machine that joins the ends of the two preparation ply sections to form a butt joint. A gum strip applier receives the continuous preparation ply from an outfeed conveyor and applies a gum strip over the butt joint. A method is provided for forming a continuous preparation ply by first automatically forming a butt joint, and thereafter automatically placing a gum strip on the butt joint.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an annular tire component such as a tire bead includes locating a toroidal support; placing an ejector nozzle in an interference relationship to the toroidal support; and simultaneously ejecting through the nozzle a continuous stream of an elastomeric belt component material in a suitably fluid state and a continuous length of at least one thread component disposed within the stream onto the toroidal support in a predetermined bead configuration. The bead configuration is at least partially defined by a relief in the nozzle ejection port and by the toroidal support onto which the bead is formed. Rotation of the toroidal support may be coupled with the simultaneous ejection of the elastomeric component and thread component in order to create an annular bead structure. A tire may be constructed having a desired bead configuration and location by means of the method and apparatus.