Abstract: Tire building apparatus and method wherein the cut to length tread is transported to a drum on a conveyor having laterally movable driving rollers and inverted guide rollers engaging the inner surfaces of raised shoulders of the tread. Control of the tread length is provided by measuring the length of the tread before and while it is being wrapped on the drum and then varying the stretching and rate of tread application to the drum to provide a precise splice of the ends of the tread. The position of the tread ends are controlled by a pricker bar to insure placement of the leading end on the drum and then placement of the trailing end on the drum over the leading end to provide the desired splice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 200 for building a laminate 10A and in forming a subassembly 10 for a pneumatic tire from an assembly of reinforced or unreinforced tire components wherein the method has the steps of providing an apparatus 200 for simultaneously forming, positioning, attaching and conveying a plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components and activating the apparatus simultaneously forming, positioning and attaching the plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components to adjacent strips of tire components as they are conveyed thus forming a laminate 10A of reinforced or unreinforced tire components suitable for use as a subassembly for a neumatic tire.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and for cutting an intermediate article of manufacture, the intermediate article of manufacture being a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate. The laminate when cut to length, becomes a carcass for a pneumatic tire. The laminate is cut by a cutting element at angles .theta. greater than 60.degree. relative to a normal plane (NP) perpendicular to a cord reinforced ply of the laminate and parallel to the cords to thereby create large substantially flat planar splice surfaces without significant deformation or precuring of the unvulcanized elastomeric materials. To facilitate this cut, the relative position of the cutting element and the ply is changed to an angle .beta., .beta. being less than .theta.. The ply is cut a short distance, at the angle .beta., to position the cutting element between two parallel cords. Then the cutting element is reoriented to the angle .theta. to complete the cut.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and for cutting an intermediate article of manufacture, the intermediate article of manufacture being a cord reinforced elastomeric laminate. The laminate, when cut to length, becoming a carcass for a pneumatic tire. The laminate is cut by a cutting element at angles .theta. greater than 60.degree. relative to a normal plane (NP) perpendicular to a cord reinforced ply of the laminate and parallel to the cords to thereby create large substantially flat planar splice surfaces without significant deformation or precuring of the unvulcanized elastomeric materials. To facilitate this cut, the relative position of the cutting element and the ply is changed to an angle .beta., .beta. being less than .theta.. The ply is cut a short distance, at the angle .beta., to position the cutting element between two parallel cords. Then the cutting element is reoriented to the angle .theta. to complete the cut.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting an elongated body of elastomeric material includes a tensioned wire which is oscillated in a generally up and down motion while traversing through the elastomeric material. The wire acts as a cutting blade and prepares the cut surface of the elastomeric material to improve splices. The wire is suspended between a pair of pivotally mounted arms so that the wire oscillates as the arms are rocked by an eccentric mounted to a rotating shaft. The cutter wire passes through the body of elastomeric material at an angle relative to the plane in which the body of elastomeric material lies. The body of elastomeric material is secured in place by clamp segments which conform themselves to the cross-sectional shape of the body. The cutter wire is traversed through the elastomeric material on a cutter frame which is moved by a ball screw driven by a variable speed electric motor.