Abstract: An apparatus for cutting segments from a long sheet of multilayered elastomeric material. An initial opening is formed in the sheet without severing reinforcing cords within the elastomeric sheet by a penetrator/separator. Two ultrasonic knives are inserted on either side of the penetrator/separator and positioned to cut the sheet at a small skive angle &agr; with respect to the plane of the sheet being cut. Then the knives are moved to opposite edges of the sheet of elastomeric material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radial tire forming apparatus capable of being applied to the formation of a carcass band having a large folding length. On a housing for a rollover device of the tire forming apparatus, a plurality of sets of straight rail bearers are fixed at appropriate places, so that a frame provided with rails is advanced toward or retreated from a second forming point on the carcass forming former side by a cylinder fixed to the housing. The diameter of a first rollover ring is slightly smaller than the diameter of a second rollover ring. When the rollover rings are brought closest to each other, the cylindrical portions of the rings enter and lap on each other.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cylindrical-shaped innerliner (10) for storage. The method involves converting the innerliner (10) from a cylinder into a solid torodially-shaped donut (10A).

Abstract: A device and a method for storing an elongated plastically deformable member are provided in which, even if an elongated plastically deformable member and a liner are stored in a state of being superposed together and wound on a take-up reel, deformation of portions of the elongated plastically deformable member and non-uniformity of deformation of the elongated plastically deformable member can be suppressed. When a liner and an unvulcanized tread member are taken-up on and stored on a reel, the reel is supported by a driven roller and a drive roller, and the reel is stored in a state of being rotated constantly. As a result, during storage, a load caused by the wound tread member itself is applied uniformly to an entire wound circumference. Therefore, collapsing deformation caused thereby is made uniform along a longitudinal direction, and differences in a configuration of the tread member at respective wound layers do not arise.

Abstract: Device for transporting material strips made of rubber or a rubber-like synthetic material and for depositing such material strips on an installation drum for pneumatic tires or its parts, in particular, for depositing narrow apex strips on a bellows drum, wherein the advancing material strips are cut to length from an endless material and positioned on a pattern table within the region of the device.

Abstract: Tread guides (24, 26, 28) supported on a frame (16) over a conveyor (10) have rollers (28) for engaging edges of the tread (14) an the conveyor and a constant centering force is provided by ball nuts (50, 52) in engagement with a ball screw (44) connected to a pneumatic torque applying actuator (56). Conicity adjustment (62, 66) is provided by lateral adjustment of the ball screw (44), ball nuts (50, 52) and tread guide assembly as a unit relative to the conveyor (10).