Abstract: An apparatus builds an uncured tire. The apparatus includes a cylindrical tire building drum for receiving a ply structure, an applicator for applying a first wedge strip and a second wedge strip to each of two shoulder portions of the ply structure, an extruder for dispensing a strip of material, and a cutting device for splitting the strip of material into the first wedge strip and the second wedge strip.

Abstract: A second stage tire building drum is disclosed. The tire building drum has two hubs with an inner sleeve mounted to a central shaft of the tire building drum and configured for axial movement. At least one of the hubs is configured for free axial movement. Preferably, each hub further include a sliding sleeve mounted on the inner sleeve for unconstrained sliding in the axial direction relative to the inner sleeve. Preferably, each hub has a bead receiving mechanism mounted on the sliding sleeve and comprised of one or more segments that are radially expandable. Preferably, each segment has a pocket with a curved surface for receiving a bead.

Abstract: A method of building a tire on a second stage tire building drum is disclosed. The method employs the steps of mounting a green cylindrically shaped tire carcass onto a tire building drum so that each bead are seated in a respective bead pocket segment, inflating the carcass under low pressure and expanding the carcass into engagement with tread and belt assembly while allowing the one or more of the hubs or one or more of the bead pocket segments to freely slide in the axial direction.

Abstract: A second stage tire building drum is disclosed. The second stage tire building drum comprises a first and second hub, wherein each hub is mounted on a central shaft of the second stage tire building drum. Each hub is axially movable and has a bead receiving mechanism. The bead receiving mechanism includes one or more bead segments, wherein each bead segment has a pocket.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire having a first and second bead on a tire building drum is disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying a green tire carcass onto the tire building drum, said tire building drum having a left and right hub, each hub having a bead pocket. The method includes the steps of placing the first and second bead onto a first and second respective bead pocket of the tire building drum and then inflating the carcass into engagement with a belt and tread package while moving at least one of the left and right hubs in the axial direction at a controlled velocity towards the other respective hub.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire apex and bead assembly is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes mounting a bead in a rotatable bead holder, rotating the bead and bead holder and extruding one or more passes of a continuous strip of elastomeric material onto the outer surface of the bead, and shaping the one or more passes of elastomeric material between two opposed rotating rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus forms an elastomeric strip. The apparatus includes a roller and an adjustable surface. The roller has a cylindrical surface. The roller rotates at a predetermined angular velocity. The adjustable surface confronts the cylindrical surface and has a first stationary position relative to the cylindrical surface such that the apparatus forms an elastomeric strip having a first thickness. The adjustable surface is adjustably pivotable relative to the cylindrical surface such that the adjustable surface moves to a second stationary position for forming an elastomeric strip having a second thickness.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire apex and bead assembly is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes mounting a bead in a rotatable bead holder, rotating the bead and bead holder and extruding one or more passes of a continuous strip of elastomeric material onto the outer surface of the bead, and shaping the one or more passes of elastomeric material between two opposed rotating rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus forms an elastomeric strip. The apparatus includes a roller and an adjustable surface. The roller has a cylindrical surface. The roller rotates at a predetermined angular velocity. The adjustable surface confronts the cylindrical surface and has a first stationary position relative to the cylindrical surface such that the apparatus forms an elastomeric strip having a first thickness. The adjustable surface is adjustably pivotable relative to the cylindrical surface such that the adjustable surface moves to a second stationary position for forming an elastomeric strip having a second thickness.

Abstract: A segmented tire core structure may include a segmented tire core and a segmented tire core removal system. The segmented tire core removal system may include a first wheel that is rotatable to cause a first section of the segmented tire core to move away from an inner surface of the cured tire and a second wheel that is rotatable to cause a second section of the segmented tire core to move away from an inner surface of the cured tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for separating two or more annular members such as bead assemblies or bead and apex assemblies. First, a flexible member is inserted into the annulus of the annular members. Next, the flexible member is inflated until the outer surface of the flexible member contacts the inner diameter of the annular member. Then the flexible member is axially expanded until the annular members are separated. Then the flexible member is deflated so that the annular members can be removed.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus for shearing a elastomeric material having large steel cords having a diameter in the range of 0.2 inches to about 0.3 inches is described. The cutter apparatus has: a first round blade rotatably mounted to a first hub, a second round blade rotatably mounted to a second hub, wherein the first and second hub are driven by a first and second motor, respectively; wherein the first and second blades are placed in parallel relationship with the centers of each blade being offset a distance d from each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for separating two or more annular members such as bead assemblies or bead and apex assemblies. First, a flexible member is inserted into the annulus of the annular members. Next, the flexible member is inflated until the outer surface of the flexible member contacts the inner diameter of the annular member. Then the flexible member is axially expanded until the annular members are separated. Then the flexible member is deflated so that the annular members can be removed.

Abstract: A hybrid liner (40) and system for using a hybrid liner includes a first portion (42) being made of one material and a second portion (44) being made of a separate material. The two materials have a different propensity for sticking to the unvulcanized rubber component (20) as well as a different cost. The invention concerns using the less sticky, more expensive liner in the areas of the liner roll where sticking is more likely to occur and using the less expensive material where liner to rubber adhesion is less of a problem.

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: An extrusion apparatus for extruding visco-elastic materials includes an extruder head for preliminary shaping of a visco-elastic melt and a splice bar die assembly for final shaping of the visco-elastic melt. Both the extruder head and the die assembly have flow channels that include low elongational flow zones where elongational flow is reduced and controlled, thereby reducing and controlling the resulting shrinkage of the extrudate. Extrudate shrinkage can also be reduced and controlled by controlling the die swell of the visco-elastic melt by rotating the roller at a selected roller speed less than the melt speed.

Abstract: A strip of sheet material is wound on a spool by a driving belt wrapped around spaced rollers of a surface winder which urge the sheet material into contact with the spool, rotating the spool, and at the same time, applying the sheet material to the spool, with layers of the material being separated by a liner wrapped around the spool as the sheet material is being applied.

Abstract: Changing the contour of a recess (12) in a body of solid material to a revised contour wherein a pattern (24) is made having the revised contour and this pattern is placed in the recess with a curable plastic material (31). After the curable plastic material is hardened, the pattern is removed providing the revised contour (30) of the recess. The body of solid material can be a flow channel block.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a winding bay and a method of winding to provide for a high quality wind of a viscoelastic material. A viscoelastic material and a supporting liner are wound onto a roll. After unwinding the liner from a liner let-off roll, the liner is guided under high tension. Before guiding the viscoelastic material onto the liner, the tension in the liner is isolated to reduce the tension in the liner. The viscoelastic material is guided onto the liner, and the viscoelastic material and the supporting liner are wound onto a windup roll.

Abstract: A quantity of material contained in a bank between a pair of calendering rolls is determined by digital imaging technology. Manipulation of digital images provided by a camera yields a light-hued image of material in the bank against a dark-hued background. The light-hued image is then divided into control zones associated with discrete regions of the bank fed by separate feed lines. Quantity and distribution of material in the bank can be controlled by adjusting feed rates based on information obtained through the digital images.