Fabric Splice End Treatment Patents (Class 156/134)
  • Patent number: 5938869
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an air permeation preventive layer comprised of a film or sheet composed of a polymer composition containing a thermoplastic resin or a blend of a thermoplastic resin and an elastomer with an air permeation coefficient of not more than 25.times.10.sup.-12 cc.multidot.cm/cm.sup.2 .multidot.sec.multidot.cmHg and a Young's modulus of 1 to 500 MPa and wherein the film or sheet is arranged so that at least one turn of the film or sheet in the tire circumferential direction is free from a join.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaido, Kazuto Yamakawa, Jiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5904788
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for centering a belt-shaped material. A conveying direction leading end portion and a conveying direction trailing end portion of triangular portions of the belt-shaped material are displaced in advance in directions opposite directions in which the conveying direction leading end portion and the conveying direction trailing end portion of the belt-shaped material are displaced when applied onto a forming drum. Centering of a constant-width portion of the belt-shaped material is carried out as follows. A width of the constant-width portion of the belt-shaped material is measured while the belt-shaped material is conveyed. In accordance with the measured width, a distance between a pair of guide portions which are disposed so as to be movable in a widthwise direction of the belt-shaped material is adjusted. The belt-shaped material is passed through a space between the adjusted guide portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Kitajima, Kiyoshi Sakayori, Naruhiro Akiyama
  • Patent number: 5830302
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a radial carcass ply wound around the axis of the tire over one turn so that the terminal edge of the winding of the carcass ply overlaps with the starting edge thereof to define an overlap-joint part, the overlap-joint part provided in one of the starting edge and terminal edge with at least one cut by which carcass cords existing therein are cut, and a method of making the same comprises the steps of cutting the starting edge prior to winding a carcass strip or cutting the terminal edge prior to the end of winding a carcass strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Iseki
  • Patent number: 5720837
    Abstract: Method for adjusting the shape of at least one side of the circumference of a strip of flexible material to the shape of a reference side concerned. The method comprises the steps of determining the shape of the at least one side of the strip, comparing the shape as determined of the at least one side with the shape of the reference side, and adjusting the shape as determined of the at least one side to the shape of the reference side, depending on the outcome of the comparison. Belt strip feeding apparatus for feeding a belt strip on a rotating building drum. The feeding apparatus is provided with a supply reel for containing belt material, with means for unwinding belt material from the supply reel, with conveying means for conveying the unwound belt material to the building drum, with cutting means placed above the roller conveyor for cutting the belt material into a belt strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: VMI EPE Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Regterschot, Marcus Anthonius Arnoldus Carolus Ter Horst
  • Patent number: 5709760
    Abstract: A thin gauge, fine diameter steel cord reinforced tire ply fabric 2 is lap spliced. The steel cord 1 has one or more filaments 9, and each filament has a percent elongation of over 2.5% and tensile strength of at least (-2000D+4400 MPa).times.95%, where D is the diameter of the filament in millimeters. For passenger and lightly loaded trucks the fabric 2 is manufactured using a preferred cord 1 which is a 1+5.times.0.18 mm cord spaced 14 ends per inch, and for heavier loaded vehicles such as light trucks load rated E or greater the number of cords 1 is increased to 28 ends per inch. The fabric 2 has a gauge thickness g in the range of the cord diameter C+0.22 mm to C+1.25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Amit Prakash, William James Head, Gary Edwin Tubb, Terry Kenneth Woods
  • Patent number: 5702549
    Abstract: Tire fabrics for reinforcing rubber which includes warps having straight portions arranged in parallel with each other at predetermined intervals and wefts woven with the warps. Each weft comprises a pair of parallel portions and a V-shaped connecting portion. The V-shaped connecting portion is provided at the edge portion of the tire fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Komatsuki, Makoto Ishii, Yukishige Adachi, Keiichi Makino, Shinichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 5679205
    Abstract: A tire liner applier and method wherein a die and anvil shape the ends of the liner at a predetermined section which is transferred to a position adjacent the tire building drum where the section is stretched and the trailing end stitched against the drum. The leading end is clamped and applied to the drum where the next tire is built. The leading end and trailing end are tapered so that they slope away from the drum and provide a smooth transition where the ends contact the drum and outer layer of liner material. A butt splice may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Patrick David Marks, Bryan John McCoy
  • Patent number: 5658405
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprises a radial carcass ply wound around the axis of the tire over one turn so that the terminal edge of the winding of the carcass ply overlaps with the starting edge thereof to define an overlap-joint part, the overlap-joint part provided in one of the starting edge and terminal edge with at least one cut by which carcass cords existing therein are cut, and a method of making the same comprises the steps of cutting the starting edge prior to winding a carcass strip or cutting the terminal edge prior to the end of winding a carcass strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Iseki
  • Patent number: 5582664
    Abstract: In a method for automatically applying cut strips of material with varying lengths onto a tire building drum for manufacturing green tires a cut strip of material, comprising a forward portion with a leading edge, a middle section, and an end portion, is fed with a conveyor belt to a tire building drum. The leading edge of the forward portion is placed onto the tire building drum, being rotated at a first circumferential speed, that is substantially identical to a first feeding speed of the conveyor belt, during application of the forward portion. The first circumferential speed of the tire building drum is increased to a second constant circumferential speed for applying the middle section. Simultaneously, the first feeding speed of the end less conveyor belt is increased to a second feeding speed which is controlled as a function of the actual length of the cut strip of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Sergel, Martin Kolker
  • Patent number: 5571371
    Abstract: A sheet material butt-joining apparatus provides improved joining strength and accuracy between starting and finishing ends (S1, S2) of a sheet material S, by keeping the distance between these ends (S1, S2) of the sheet material (S) at a predetermined value by means of a control pin (63). A motor is continuously operated even after the starting and finishing ends (S3, S4) of the sheet material (S) are held by top and bottom joining pawls (48, 49, 36, 37). In this instance, a cam follower (95) moves in a slot (94) to temporarily stop transfer of a vertically moving force to a vertically movable base (26). On such occasion, the control pin (63) is lowered and retracted from an intermediate position between the starting and finishing ends (S1, S2) of the sheet material (S) to form a gap between these ends (S1, S2). The starting and finishing ends (S3, S4) held by the joining pawls are prevented from deformation or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Senbokuya
  • Patent number: 5437751
    Abstract: An uneven appearance at a sidewall face of a pneumatic radial tire is improved by arranging a particular rubber containing no reinforcing cords sheet onto an outer face of an overlap portion of a carcass material or between opposed edge portions of the carcass material to be overlapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Hirano, Tsuneharu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 5417795
    Abstract: An apparatus for pressure-adhering a joint portion of a tire building component material comprising: a vertically movable table for placing thereon a first cover with its axis oriented vertically and in a state where a joint portion of the component material is provisionally secured; and a vertically movable roller assembly having a device for fixing the first cover, rollers for compressing the first cover from the inside and outside of the first cover, and an impeller device for causing the rollers to move vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Iseki, Youichi Endo, Masakazu Taguchi
  • Patent number: 5348600
    Abstract: A method of forming a cylindrical member includes the steps of: attaching an auxiliary bar having a shape of a substantially triangular prism to a forming drum; supplying a belt-shaped member cut to a predetermined length toward the forming drum and causing a leading end of the belt-shaped member to be attached to one of side surfaces of the auxiliary bar; supplying the belt-shaped member onto the forming drum while the forming drum is being rotated so as to wind the belt-shaped member around the forming drum, and attaching a trailing end of the belt-shaped member to another side surface of the auxiliary bar; separating the leading end and the trailing end of the belt-shaped member from the auxiliary bar; removing the auxiliary bar off the forming drum; and causing the leading and the trailing end of the belt-shaped member to butt against each other on the forming drum. Also provided is an apparatus for forming a cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Ryutaro Ishii
  • Patent number: 5342678
    Abstract: A method of woven webs comprising tire cord splicing headers or tabbies can be stabilized against lateral (weft) distortion without the need for temples, by incorporating reinforcing weft strands of a stiff resilient yarn, i.e. a composite yarn comprising a stiff resilient core mantled with fibers, i.e. staple fibers applied by a core spinning technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: George A. Ingus
  • Patent number: 5328532
    Abstract: A method of forming a ply member such as a carcass ply for a radial tire. The ply member is formed a plurality of belt-shaped members having a width obtained by multiplying .pi. inches by an integral number (1, 2, 3, . . . ) and a constant length. These belt-shaped members are successively attached one by one onto a forming drum having an outer circumferential length obtained by multiplying .pi. inches by an integral number so that the side edges of the belt-shaped members are arranged in parallel with the axis of the forming drum. The adjacent side edges of the belt-shaped members in circumferential directions of the forming drum are forced closer together to butt-join the faces of the side edges with each other. In case that the forming drum is a polygonal cylindrical forming drum whose one side of the polygon has a length obtained by multiplying .pi. inches by an integral number, the belt-shaped members are more easily attached to the forming drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Azuma, Masataka Minakawa
  • Patent number: 5294274
    Abstract: A method of winding a belt-shaped member is used in winding a tire member around a forming drum. A position of a leading end of a tire member is detected to obtain a shifted distance of the leading end relative to the forming drum. The leading end is then transferred to the forming drum, while the leading end is being moved in a width direction to make zero the shifted distance. The leading end is pressed against the forming drum, while the leading end is brought into coincidence with a reference position of the forming drum. The forming drum is then rotated during which the tire member is supplied onto the forming drum. A position of a trailing end of the tire member is detected to obtain a shifted distance of the trailing end relative to the reference position of the forming drum. The trailing end is the supplied onto the rotating forming drum, while the trailing end is moved in a width direction to make zero the shifted distance of the trailing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Inventor: Hiroki Toya
  • Patent number: 5273601
    Abstract: A method for cutting to length a strip of tire building material includes the step of feeding the strip of tire building material via a conveying device tangentially to a winding drum. In a further step the strip of tire building material is wound onto the winding drum by rotating the winding drum and a defined pressure is simultaneously applied with a pressure roller during winding until a length of the strip of tire building material corresponding almost to the circumference of the winding drum has been wound onto the winding drum. The rotating winding drum is then stopped and the strip of tire building material is fixed in a first location in the vicinity of a cutter bar that is positioned directly in front of the conveying device. The pressure roller is then moved from its initial position toward the cutter bar along the circumference of the winding drum to thereby tighten the strip of tire building material and fix the strip of material in a second location closely adjacent to the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Sergel, Gerd Brandes
  • Patent number: 5273600
    Abstract: A chuck (4) grasping the front edge or a tire component material (S) which is supplied from a material feeder (3) generates a motional locus through an initial ascending motion and through a forward motion toward the former and through a subsequent descending motion to the former to lay the front edge onto the carcass (T). A pressing mechanism (6) operates to press the introduced material (S) on the carcass (T), and concurrently the former (2) rotates by a predetermined rotation angle to adhere the tire component material (S) onto the carcass (T). Thereafter a cutter assembly (5) operates to cut the tire component material (S) in a length corresponding to the sum of a required length for joint and a full circumferential length of the carcass. The former (2) rotates again to adhere the tire component material (S) onto the full circumference of the carcass (T), and the front edge and a last edge of the tire component material are jointed by the pressing mechanism (6) so that the adhesion is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Yamamori, Sadao Kurashima, Itsuo Tanihara, Yasuhiko Kudou
  • Patent number: 5240534
    Abstract: Joining elastomeric sheets includes providing a support surface with a cavity therein. End portions of the elastomeric sheets are overlapped so each end portion spans the cavity. A tool is located on a side of the elastomeric sheets opposite the cavity. A portion of the tool is moved into the cavity to deform the end portions of the elastomeric sheets and to form a joint having less than the combined thickness of the end portions of the elastomeric sheets prior to deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company
    Inventors: Noboru Tokita, John R. Lindquist
  • Patent number: 5200009
    Abstract: An apparatus for building a tire comprises a supply of elastomeric sheet material of a predetermined length and having spaced apart first and second end portions. A plurality of parallel extending reinforcing members are contained in the elastomeric sheet material of which adjacent reinforcing members are spaced apart a substantially equal first distance. An embosser for elastically deforming the first and second end portions of the elastomeric sheet material increases the distance between the adjacent reinforcing members in each of the first and second end portions to a second distance greater than the first distance. A drum is provided to receive the elastomeric sheet material with the first and second end portions overlapped. A mold is provided to bond together the first and second end portions of the elastomeric material in the overlapped portion under heated pressure to form a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: The Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company
    Inventor: Noboru Tokita
  • Patent number: 5117887
    Abstract: A radial tire is described having at least one band which extends in the circumferential direction of the tire and which at least regionally surrounds a breaker arrangement, with the ends of the band overlapping each other, in which the band consists of several individual strips the length of which is preferably so selected that the length of the overlap of the individual strip ends in the finished tire is at least substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: SP Reifenwerke GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Lukosch, Hans-Joachim Winter
  • Patent number: 5102490
    Abstract: A tire sheet component is cut and applied to a drum with a retractable applier having a cutter and anvil member for cutting the sheet component at a first position spaced from the drum. Vacuum means are provided for holding the cut leading end on the anvil as it is moved to a second position where the anvil is moved towards the drum to press the leading end portion of the sheet component against the drum with a stitcher roll. The anvil is then moved in a sweeping motion to stitch the leading end against the drum. The drum is rotated a predetermined amount and the sheet is stitched to the drum with a second stitcher roll. The sheet component is cut at the first position providing a trailing end which is then stitched to the drum as it is rotated the final amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Becker, Bernhard W. Kuchel, Ralph D. Ring
  • Patent number: 5092946
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sticking a belt-like member, wherein a belt-like member prepared by cutting a raw material of the belt-like member on a conveyor at two front and rear locations, is conveyed by the conveyor, wrapped around a cylindrical drum and stuck to the drum. The inclination angle of the cut line at the leading end of the belt-like member is measured at the time of cutting, the inclination angle of the cut line at the trailing end is measured at the time of cutting, and by comparing the inclination of the cut line at the trailing end with the inclination angle at the leading end, an amount of correction for the inclination angle is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Okuyama, Makoto Yamamoto, Akihito Ichinohe
  • Patent number: 5073226
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a cylindrical member includes a forming drum having a cylindrical unit formed with a slit extending in an axial direction of the cylindrical unit and around which a belt-shaped member is wound wherein a slight clearance between both ends of the belt-shaped member are aligned with the slit of the cylindrical unit. The cylindrical unit of the forming drum is composed of a plurality of arcuate segments radially movable and having suction devices on their outer circumferences for holding the belt-shaped member by suction. The cylindrical unit includes clearance regulating members capable of penetrating into tghe clearance of the belt-shaped member, a first joining unit arranged in the forming drum aligned with the slit, and a second joining unit arranged on an outer side of the forming drum and movable toward and away from the first joining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Shoujyu Suzuki, Yutaka Takasuga
  • Patent number: 5062462
    Abstract: The invention relates to a butt splicing technique for use in manufacturing reinforced elastomeric articles, in particular pneumatic tires. In the method, after a butt splice is made, a spun-bonded material is applied to the splice area as a splicing strip. The spun-bonded material has stress/strain/expansion characteristics that closely resemble such properties in an elastomeric component of the article which is spliced so that the splicing strip does not unduly distort the reinforcing structure of the component, while preventing opening of the splice during construction. Articles made using the method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Grover W. Rye, David A. Kindry, Carolyn T. Weber
  • Patent number: 5055149
    Abstract: A belt join method, which is used in forming pneumatic radial tires, for joining belt components one upon the other and an apparatus therefor, in which the belt components are centered in such a manner that the center axes thereof are substantially coincident or vertically aligned with one another, by passing through a plurality of longitudinally aligned belt adjusting rollers which are urged by means of a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5021115
    Abstract: An apparatus for building a tire comprises a supply of elastomeric sheet material of a predetermined length and having spaced apart first and second end portions. A plurality of parallel extending reinforcing members are contained in the elastomeric sheet material of which adjacent reinforcing members are spaced apart a substantially equal first distance. An embosser for elastically deforming the first and second end portions of the elastomeric sheet material increases the distance between the adjacent reinforcing members in each of the first and second end portions to a second distance greater than the first distance. A drum is provided to receive the elastomeric sheet material with the first and second end portions overlapped. A mold is provided to bond together the first and second end portions of the elastomeric material in the overlapped portion under heated pressure to form a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: The Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company
    Inventor: Noboru Tokita
  • Patent number: 4959109
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus for fabricating belts are disclosed comprising conveying a first mandrel to a wrapping station, supplying the leading edge of a web from a web supply roll to the first mandrel at the wrapping station, retaining the leading edge of the web on the first mandrel by means of a partial vacuum, wrapping the web around the first mandrel by rotating the first mandrel for about one revolution, severing the web at the wrapping station to form a trailing edge which overlaps the leading edge of the web to form a first belt having a seam, substantially simultaneously conveying the first mandrel to a welding station and conveying a second mandrel to the wrapping station, and substantially simultaneously wrapping the second mandrel with fresh web material from the web supply roll and welding the seam on the first belt on the first mandrel to form a unitary belt. These welded belts may be automatically removed from the mandrels at a belt discharge station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene A. Swain, Marvin Menzin, Edward A. Agranat, Henry R. Cofek, Daniel J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4954205
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an improvement in a joining device for joining ends of cord reinforced belt-shaped materials, in which elastic belt-shaped material having a large number of cords embedded therein at equal intervals with a predetermined inclination is cut in the direction of the cords into a length somewhat shorter than an outer circumferential length of a drum to be fed with the belt-shaped material, the cut length being wrapped around the outer circumference of the drum, and the opposite cut end planar surfaces of the material being drawn towards each other and butt-joined by a splicer. The improvement resides in a splicer having a lateral movement device that is movable in a direction parallel to a shaft of the drum, a press device supported by the lateral movement device, and a splice roller pivotably supported at the bottom end of the press device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jiro Agawa
  • Patent number: 4946525
    Abstract: The process for the butt connecting of the edges of a rubberized fabric wh is formed of reinforcement elements which are parallel to each other and spaced apart by a pitch p by injecting under pressure and heat between the reinforcement elements of the edges spaced apart by an amount d greater than 1.5 p, a rubber mix having properties of coherence and stretching in raw state which are greater than the same properties of the coating mix of the reinforcement elements. In the tire produced from such a fabric, the welding mix has a modulus of elasticity in tension which is greater than said modulus of the coating mix of the reinforcement elements of the radial carcass reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Bernard Aupic, Jean-Claude Tardivat
  • Patent number: 4904319
    Abstract: A method for splicing beveled edges of a relatively thick tire tread strip free of internal reinforcing cords by ultrasonic energy. A contact face of a sonic welding tool or horn is pressed against the mating overlapping edges of the strip at a cylinder pressure within a range of 20 psi to 80 psi. Ultrasonic energy is applied to the strip while the pressure is applied thereto for a period of between 2 seconds and 12 seconds to heat and soften the rubber compound of the strip without vulcanizing the rubber compound. Pressure is maintained by the tool against the strip after application of the ultrasonic energy for a period of generally between 0.5 to 2.0 seconds to permit the softened compound to cool, set and bond together to form a strong bond between the overlapped edges. The contact face of the horn generally matches the contour of the contacted surface of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Costantino L. Divincenzo, Ira L. Wood
  • Patent number: 4874443
    Abstract: A means and method for applying innerliner material to a tire building drum and more particularly to a means and method for cutting and applying the innerliner material and further allowing for stock width measurement and precise centering without the possible edge distortion of known guiding systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Kent K. Kipling
  • Patent number: 4810317
    Abstract: A method for prevention wall indentations in a splice region of the tire carcass by joining two cut edges of the tire carcass and applying to the splice region a splice tape which overlaps the cut edges of the carcass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Viscosuisse SA.
    Inventor: Bruno Lang
  • Patent number: 4804426
    Abstract: In a cylindrical tire forming member building method or apparatus, after the front end portion of a belt-shaped material is pressed against the drum, the belt-shaped material is wound on the drum while being centered, and with the central portion of the rear end portion of the belt-shaped material pressed against the drum with a robot hand, both edge portions of the rear end portion of the belt-shaped material are elongated longitudinally and pressed against the drum with the robot hand, so that the front and rear ends of the belt-shaped material are butt-joined without forming a gap therebetween or without being overlapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Okuyama, Makoto Yamamoto, Hidetoshi Kimura, Taizo Ito
  • Patent number: 4768575
    Abstract: A pneumatic tubeless tire is produced in such a way that the tire cord fabric (also known as the tire carcass fabric or ply fabric) has the ends thereof secured during tire building so that separation of the cord fabric ends, and a resulting blemish, does not occur. The carcass fabric is wrapped around a rubber inner lining body with turned up portions of the carcass fabric at a pair of beads on opposite sides of the body, during tire construction. The free ends of the carcass fabric are butted together around the body, to provide a butt seam. The free ends are held together in substantial butting position by placing an open mesh warp knit splicer fabric highly extensible in both the machine and cross-machine directions over the butt seam and affixing the splicer fabric in place using adhesive or the like. Rubber tack may be applied over the splicer fabric. The open mesh fabric appears to have no machine direction or cross-machine direction yarns, but only bias yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Highland Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Bruner, David W. Tarlton
  • Patent number: 4733709
    Abstract: A reinforcement for the butt splice of the carcass ply of a radial tire, is described as having two sets of polymeric cords or strands which are in cross-hatched relation and which cross adjacent reinforcement cords of the carcass ply at opposite angles A and B of 45.degree.. These strands pantograph in response to radial or circumferential forces exerted against the tire, to resist relative movement between opposing abutting ends of the carcass ply and butt splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: General Tire, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Lambillotte, Jimmie L. Scott
  • Patent number: 4722132
    Abstract: An overlapping layer (24) of a first body of deformable material is pressed by an edge (78) of each of a plurality of blade members (42) into an overlapped layer (26) of a second body of resilient material forming slots (74) in the second body with ribs (88) of the first body displaced therein. The blade members (42) are removed while the ribs (88) are retained in the slots (74) and gripped by the surrounding resilient material. The blade members (42) may be adjustably clamped in a cartridge (40) which is removable from the splicing apparatus (10) for adjustment and replacement of the blade members (42) so that they conform to the surface profile (82) and splice interface line (80) of the bodies to be spliced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: John T. Ciolkevich
  • Patent number: 4600045
    Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire having a carcass and belt made of shot-in cord fabric. In order to achieve a uniform thread density of the warp threads over the width of the layers required for forming the cord fabric, the present invention provides woof threads of finite length. The ends of these threads are guided back into the fabric by an extent which is sufficient to hold them in the fabric structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Continental Gummi-Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Dudziak
  • Patent number: 4596617
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for joining both free ends of a rubber sheet member for use in tire to each other on a drum are disclosed, which comprises winding a hanging portion of the rubber sheet member delivered onto and hung down from a conveyor belt through a festoon around the outer circumferential surface of the drum through a pressure roll, cutting the rubber sheet member laid on the conveyor belt at a position equal to the circumferential length of the drum when the front end of the rubber sheet member crossing over the top of the drum is detected by a sensor, and joining the cut back end of the rubber sheet member to the front end thereof on the drum through the pressure roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Ryutaro Ishii
  • Patent number: 4534393
    Abstract: The side wall (5) of a pneumatic tire comprises an at least double encirculating multi-layer winding (9, 12) which is joined in an interlacing manner with the laterally adjacent winding (9, 12) by means of staggered layers (10, 11, 13, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jakob Ippen, Friedel Stuttgen
  • Patent number: 4531561
    Abstract: A tire consisting of an air-tight internal panel (1), carcass (2), wire cap (10), hump strip (9), belt (5), tread (6), shoulder portion (7), wire core (11) and lateral portion (8), whereby a combined prefabricated air-tight panel (1) with carcass fabric (2) in special rubber mixture encircles at least twice and on which is at least a double encircling coil (5) with textile treads crossing each other in more than three layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jakob Ippen, Friedel Stuttgen
  • Patent number: 4466473
    Abstract: A method of making radial pneumatic tires substantially reduces or eliminates sidewall indentations in the inflated tire. A plurality of cuts is made in one end of each layer of ply fabric where the end of the ply fabric overlaps the other end to form a splice which results in the generally annular shape of the ply layer. The cuts extend in a direction generally transverse to the end edge and preferably have a length which is approximately the same as the width of the overlap of the cut edge with the other edge. The cuts prevent overtensioning of the ply cords, which otherwise result in sidewall indentations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: The General Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Frank E. Matyja, Edward C. Sebak
  • Patent number: 4453993
    Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a method for producing reinforcement for cast tires and a method for the production of reinforced cast tires having bead rings, from castable elastomers, the tire inside the mold being restricted by a core during the formation, characterized in that before the toroidal tire core is installed into the mold, the reinforcement and the bead rings are applied thereto. First, the two bead wires are enclosed by a piece of cut fabric which is adapted to the size of the tire, the warp threads in the fabric running substantially perpendicular to the bead rings, then two sides of the fabric are joined, such that the jointure seam runs substantially parallel to the weft direction, as a result of which, both bead wires are connected via the piece of fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans J. Rau, Gerhard Just
  • Patent number: 4411724
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a splicing apparatus for splicing together the leading end face of one of cord ply segments and the trailing end face of another cord ply segment positioned in front of one of the cord ply segments. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor having a first surface, a second conveyor fixed with respect to the first conveyor and having a second surface spaced apart from and in face-to-face relationship to the first surface of the first conveyor and for conveying the cord ply segments on the second surface thereof in a second conveyance direction substantially in parallel with the first conveyance direction of the first conveyor, and transfer members for transferring each of the cord ply segments on the first surface of the first conveyor to the second surface of the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Bridgestone Tire Company Limited
    Inventors: Taizo Ito, Yusuke Araki
  • Patent number: 4360397
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing radial type motor vehicle pneumatic tires is provided in which an annular reinforcing structure is disposed on a toric carcass. The reinforcing structure is built up of two layers of metallic cords crossed with each other, and an additional third layer of heat shrinkable textile cords that form, with the longitudinal direction of the tire, an angle which is not zero and is a smaller angle than that of the underlying cords.The third textile layer is applied by butt-joining its respective opposite ends along a straight line parallel to the metallic cords of the underlying metallic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Societa Pneumatici Pirelli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renato Caretta
  • Patent number: 4325423
    Abstract: A belted pneumatic tire having an annular bandage-like reinforcing insert including a cord layer made of pull-resistant threads, strands and the like and extending in the peripheral direction of the tire. The insert extends essentially over the width of the tread between the tread and the carcass. The reinforcing insert includes one or more peripheral segments which are joined together into a ring or annular body having an overlapping area extending at an incline to the peripheral direction of the tire. The overlapping area includes segments rising to the left and right of a center line and joined symmetrically by a V-shaped connection, zig-zag-shaped connection, or wave-shaped connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Continental Gummi-Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Seitz, Heinrich Huinink
  • Patent number: 4083738
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for splicing two rolls of tire cord fabric in axially aligned relation. A plurality of splicing rods are forced through overlapped ends of the rolls from opposing longitudinal sides of the fabric. The splicing rods are guided through the overlapped ends at successive points spaced along parallel lines angularly disposed to the parallel warp cords of the fabric and alternately pierce and pass through the pieces of fabric from the farthest spaced faces of the overlapped ends. The splicing rods are firmly snubbed together and held in position by the coaction of the warp cords and weft threads of the fabric, as the fabric is tensioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Joel M. Kahaner
  • Patent number: 3933553
    Abstract: The inner surface of a green tire provided with an air-sealing liner, is cured or partially cured to produce a steam- and water-resistant surface, and the tire after such treatment is cured in a usual press without an air-bag or bladder.One or more plies of a tire, usually the outer fabric plies, are partially cured before assembly in the tire, to insure that plies so located are cured, without over-curing inner and outer portions of the tire.New tires are made by placing a carcass, whether green or partially cured, in a mold and extruding rubber over the outer surface of this carcass to fill the mold, and then giving the final cure to the resulting tire.Tires are retreaded by applying ribbons of tread stock over the carcass prepared in any conventional manner, and then completing the cure without the use of a mold.Retreaded tires are cured by placing a carcass prepared in any conventional manner, in a mold, extruding tread stock into the mold around the carcass, and then curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1976
    Assignee: Mildred Kelley Seiberling
    Inventor: Theophilus K. Seiberling