Abstract: An apparatus and improved method for transversely cutting strips of deformable material with a rotating cutting blade which is moved generally transversely across the strip at a predetermined rake angle and bevel angle. A vacuum applied to certain chambers of a platen draws the strip firmly against a supporting structure at two locations on opposite sides of a cutting line during the cut cycle. A lubricant is sprayed through nozzles onto the blade as it cuts the strip and blow-off nozzles remove excess lubricant during the cut and return cycles of the blade to prevent contamination of the cut strip edges. A release bar assists in disengaging the strip from the platen after the strip is cut. Grippers remove the cut strip and then an input conveyor advances the remaining strip toward the cutting line where the grippers pull the strip forward to a predetermined position for the next cut cycle.

Abstract: A system and apparatus therefor which stores and processes flexible strip materials and particularly tire manufacturing components such as the tread portion. A portable storage unit has a pair of hollow, cylindrical-shaped spools loosely supported on a pair of cradles within a frame. A pair of annular flanges adjacent the ends of each of the spool surfaces engages stop plates on the frame to retain the spools in position on the cradles when the frame is in both a vertical load and unload position and a horizontal storage and transport position. Drive units for loading and unloading the spools preferably are similar, each including a pair of expanding mandrels and a motor driven chain connected to one of the mandrels. The storage unit is placed on a carriage which is located adjacent the mandrels of the drive units by material handling equipment. The carriage is moved horizontally toward the stationery mandrels until the mandrels are inserted within the spool interiors.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a tire building apparatus (10) and preferred method for building a tire. The apparatus includes a longitudinally movable carriage (12), a guideway (20) for the longitudinal movement of the carriage, a headstock (14) mounted on the carriage, a tire assembly drum (11) having an inboard end (29) and an outboard end (28), and a drum support (15) mounted on the carriage. A plurality of operation stations (A-G) are spaced longitudinally along the guideway, and mechanical datum (30), fixedly located at each operation station, are provided to engage mechanical locators (31) secured to the carriage. A bladder (42) is provided selectively to cause engagement of the locators with the mechanical datum at each successive station to locate the tire assembly drum precisely with respect to the operation station.

Abstract: A bead bundle positioning mechanism is provided to accurately locate one axial surface of each bead bundle prior to radial expansion of the tire carcass. Each bundle (62) is held by a plurality of circumferentially spaced clamping mechanisms (10) each of which has a pair of clamping elements (40,48) respectively engaging the axially inner (68) and axially outer (72) surfaces of the bead bundle (62). The axially inner surface (68) of each bead bundle (62) is located by respective clamp members (40,48) which are adapted to cooperate with a tire building machine to provide a predetermined axial distance between the bead bundles during tire assembly while also maintaining the inner axial surfaces in parallel planes which are normal to the longitudinal axis (15) of the tire building drum (74). The inner and outer clamping elements (40,48) are actuated by independent fluid motors (34,36).