WO1999004959A1 - Improvements in tyre manufacture - Google Patents

Improvements in tyre manufacture Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999004959A1
WO1999004959A1 PCT/GB1998/002195 GB9802195W WO9904959A1 WO 1999004959 A1 WO1999004959 A1 WO 1999004959A1 GB 9802195 W GB9802195 W GB 9802195W WO 9904959 A1 WO9904959 A1 WO 9904959A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
spindles
calender
rollers
rotatable
fabric
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1998/002195
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Eric Holroyd
Colin Holroyd
Original Assignee
Holroyd Associates Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Holroyd Associates Limited filed Critical Holroyd Associates Limited
Priority to AU84546/98A priority Critical patent/AU8454698A/en
Publication of WO1999004959A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999004959A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04HMAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H3/00Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
    • D04H3/08Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating
    • D04H3/12Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating with filaments or yarns secured together by chemical or thermo-activatable bonding agents, e.g. adhesives, applied or incorporated in liquid or solid form
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04HMAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H3/00Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
    • D04H3/02Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments
    • D04H3/04Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments in rectilinear paths, e.g. crossing at right angles
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29DPRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D30/00Producing pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof
    • B29D30/06Pneumatic tyres or parts thereof (e.g. produced by casting, moulding, compression moulding, injection moulding, centrifugal casting)
    • B29D30/38Textile inserts, e.g. cord or canvas layers, for tyres; Treatment of inserts prior to building the tyre
    • B29D2030/385Textile inserts, e.g. cord or canvas layers, for tyres; Treatment of inserts prior to building the tyre made by winding and joining a continuous reinforced rubber band onto a mandrel, to obtain a tubular article as an intermediate element in the manufacture of the insert
    • B29D2030/388Textile inserts, e.g. cord or canvas layers, for tyres; Treatment of inserts prior to building the tyre made by winding and joining a continuous reinforced rubber band onto a mandrel, to obtain a tubular article as an intermediate element in the manufacture of the insert the tubular article being flattened to obtain a two-layer insert

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns improvements in tyre manufacture, particularly the manufacture of radial tyre carcass reinforcement fabric.
  • the carcass reinforcement of a radial tyre comprises one or more plies of weftless fabric which, in the shaped tyre, has all the reinforcement cords lying in substantially radial planes so that each cord of the fabric extends from tyre bead to tyre bead around the tyre cross section.
  • U.K. Patent Applications GB-A-2212441 and GB-A-2212529 describe a system whereby a tape having longitudinally extending cords is wrapped helically around a mandrel. The wound tape is then cut transversely to produce a flat sheet having reinforcing cord extending thereacross. The flat sheet can then be used as a ply in tyre manufacture.
  • U.K. Patent 995613 describes a similar system whereby the wound tape is continuously fed off the mandrel and through cutters. The strips formed thereby have cords running transverse thereof and they can be used as ply fabric in tyre manufacture.
  • U.K. Patent Application GB-A-2132573 describes a method for manufacture of a tyre ply material, in which a cord is wound helically around a cylindrical former. The winding is then covered by a helical winding of uncured rubber tape, and then the composite winding is cut longitudinally of the former to produce a rectangular piece of ply material.
  • United Kingdom Patent Application GB-A-2159185 describes apparatus and a method of manufacturing reinforcing fabric ply for pneumatic tyres, comprising a pair of parallel spindles rotating in the same direction, each spindle being surrounded by a helical sleeve rotating in the opposite direction to the spindles.
  • An arm having a bobbin at one end thereof winds cord onto the two spindles, and a fabric is created thereby. The fabric is moved off of the spindles by means of the travel of the cord along the helical sleeves.
  • UK Patent 1319205 describes a mechanism for constructing ply material, including the delivery of cord through spindles. However, the mechanism would not operate efficiently in practice, because the construction of the spindles precludes the effective winding of strong ply material.
  • apparatus for manufacturing fabric comprising a pair of parallel rotatable spindles, each spindle having a helical channel for training cord therealong towards a distal end of each of the spindles, said spindles being rotatable in unison, and a dispensing arm rotatable around the spindles for winding cord around said spindles, wherein the spindles are tubular, such that a bead wire can be delivered from the distal end of each of said tubular spindles in use.
  • bead wires can be interlaced with the cord at each edge of the ply, thereby providing a more integrated product.
  • further bead wires will be added to the construction of the tyre, but the bead wire within the ply is useful for purposes of location.
  • the dispensing arm in accordance with the invention is preferably rotatable on an axis parallel to the spindle axes.
  • the dispensing arm and the spindles are preferably rotatable in the same sense.
  • the dispensing arm comprises two dispensers spaced radially outwardly of the spindles, each dispenser being operative to deliver cord to be wound around said spindles.
  • a fabric may be achieved which has a favourably dense construction, being formed of a double helical structure.
  • the two dispensers may be diametrically opposed relative to the axis of rotation of the dispensing arm. That is advantageous in that the arm will be balanced for rotation, thereby reducing wear on bearings.
  • the apparatus comprises a calender, said calender comprising two rollers rotatable on axes substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the spindles, the rollers defining a nip, and coating means for coating fabric passing through the nip of the calender with a layer of elastomeric material, wherein each of the spindles has a distal end towards which cord is trained in use, each distal end being directed into the nip between the rollers, such that the entire width of a fabric wound on the spindles in use is fed into the calender.
  • cord wound on the spindles is directly introduced into the calender for coating thereof across the entire width thereof.
  • the distal ends of the spindles may be tapered. In that way, cord wound on the spindles can be introduced deeper into the nip of the calender. Furthermore, the taper allows the wound cord to be removed from the spindle more easily.
  • the distal ends of the spmdles may be trapped in the nip of the calender. That allows an advantageous positive location of the spindles in the nip of the calender.
  • the calender comprises four rollers, including two inner rollers constituting the two above described rollers defining the nip therebetween and two outer rollers outside said two inner rollers, each of said outer rollers defining a nip with a respective inner roller.
  • the coating means comprises means for dispensing elastomeric material to each of the nips defined between a respective inner roller and outer roller, such that elastomeric material can be introduced onto the surface of each inner roller for transfer to fabric passing through the calender.
  • the apparatus comprises pressing means arranged to receive coated fabric from said calender for pressing said fabric.
  • tension relieving means is provided between said calender and said pressing means.
  • the apparatus having a calender as defined above, comprises a second calender for receiving coated fabric and applying a liner thereto.
  • Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ply manufacturing station including a winding apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a side elevation similar to that illustrated in figure 1 of another ply manufacturing station
  • FIG. 3 is a detail plan of the winding apparatus illustrated in figures 1 and 2;
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view of the winding apparatus of preceding drawings showing a preferred mode of operation.
  • a ply forming station 10 comprises a ply winding apparatus 12, a rubberising calender 14, a press 16, a lining calender 18 and a trimmer 20. Those components are aligned in the order stated abo ⁇ e.
  • the winding apparatus 12 is described more particularly with reference to figure 3.
  • a turret 22 comprises a base 24 and front and rear upstanding members 26, 28.
  • a generally horizontal axle 30 is journalled in the upper end of the rear upstanding member 28, and extends towards the front of the turret 22.
  • a tubular sleeve 32 is arranged coaxially with the axle 30, and is journalled, via bearings 34, in the front upstanding member 26.
  • the sleeve 32 is rotatable relative to the turret 22.
  • a pair of arms 36 extend radially outwardly.
  • the arms 36 are diametrically opposed.
  • Each arm 36 has a radial portion, and at the end of the radial portion a portion at right angles thereto, i.e. parallel with the axis of rotation of the sleeve 32.
  • the axial portio ' n extends forward of the turret 22.
  • a similar pair of arms 38 are mounted thereon; they are oriented generally towards the rear of the turret 22.
  • the arms 36, 38 are generally coplanar.
  • a front plate 40 is mounted on the front end of the axle 30, adjacent the front end of the sleeve 32.
  • the front plate 40 is generally planar and is oriented in a plane at right angles to the axle 30.
  • the front plate 40 comprises a pair of spindles 42 extending forwardly of the front plate 40 and parallel to the axle 30. The spindles 42 are equally spaced either side of the axle 30.
  • Each spindle 42 has a helical groove in the surface thereof. Each spindle is arranged to rotate relative to the plate; drive to the spindles 42 is conducted via shafts through the axle 30 and side shafts 44.
  • Each of the arms 38 has a radially inwardly extending pin 46 on which is provided a bobbin 48 of cord.
  • the sleeve 32 has a pair of parallel axial channels 50, diametrically opposed about the axis of the sleeve 32, and along which cord is conducted from respective bobbins 48 to the front of the sleeve 32 and therefrom to the tips of the arms 36.
  • the arms 36, 38 and the channels 50 are all provided with pulley wheels 52 to assist the passage of cord to the tips of the arms 36.
  • the sleeve 32 is rotated by a drive motor situated on the turret 22.
  • the drive is transferred by means of a belt 54 riding in a flanged wheel 56.
  • cord is dispensed from the tips of the arms 36, and wound around the spindles 42.
  • the cord will ride in the helical grooves, and by rotation of the spindles, the wound cords will traverse away from the front plate towards the ends of the spindles 42.
  • the rubberising calender 14 is arranged to receive wound cord from the winding apparatus 12.
  • the calender 14 comprises upper and lower inner rollers 60, 62, arranged in parallel.
  • the inner rollers 60, 62 are oriented at right angles to the spindles 42, and define a nip 64 into which the ends of the spindles 42 extend. Hence, cords wound on the spindles are delivered into the nip 64.
  • the inner rollers 60, 62 in use rotate in opposite directions so as to draw the wound cord from the spindles and into the nip 64.
  • Each of the inner rollers 60, 62 has a respective outer roller 66 arranged thereagainst.
  • the rubberising calender 14 is known as a "four bowl” calender.
  • a delivery outlet 68 is arranged between each inner and outer roller combination 60, 66, 62, 66, and out of which is delivered pellets of elastomeric material. Those pellets are squeezed between the inner and outer roller and become a coating on the surface of the inner roller. That coating is transferred in use to either side of the wound cord passing through the nip 64 between the inner rollers 60, 62.
  • the calender 14 further includes an accumulator 69 to which the coated cord is passed after exiting the nip 64.
  • the accumulator prevents minor variations in speed in the process from causing ply to break.
  • the press 16 comprises a top plate 70 and a bottom plate 72, between which successive portions of the coated wound cord exiting the rubberising calender 14 are pressed. The effect of that is to push the elastomeric material tl ⁇ ough the windings of the wound cord to achieve strike through. In that way, a ply material having cord embedded therein is formed.
  • the lining calender 18 is situated to receive ply from the press 16.
  • the lining calender 18 is a three bowl calender, in that it comprises three rollers 74, 76, 78 arranged one above another in parallel. The ply is passed between the upper two rollers 74, 76, in use.
  • the lowest roller 78 is served by a delivery outlet 80 which deposits pellets of elastomeric material between the lowest roller 78 and the roller 76 adjacent thereto.
  • the deposited material forms a layer on the adjacent roller 76 which is subsequently transferred to the ply passing through the calender 18. Accordingly, the calender 18 forms a lining layer on the ply.
  • the trimmer 20 comprises a pair of cutters 82 arranged one each side of a roller track 84 .
  • the cutters trim each edge of the ply passing therethrough, and so produce a parallel sided product.
  • a " trimming removal duct 86 is arranged to remove trimmings; trimmed elastomeric material can be recycled for future use.
  • the station illustrated in figure 2 is similar to that illustrated in figure 1. Those parts thereof which are common to the two stations are given the same reference numeral and will not be described further.
  • the station 100 of figure 2 includes a ply winding apparatus 12, a rubberising calender 14, a press 16, a trimmer 20 and a slitter 90. Those components are aligned in the order stated above. It will be appreciated that the station 100 does not include a lining calender 18, but that one could be provided if necessary.
  • the slitter 90 comprises a plurality of parallel slitting heads 92 arranged across the width of the ply to draw off a plurality of parallel strips of the ply material. Therefore, for convenience a number of small components may be produced out of a wide strip of ply material.
  • the slitter 90 comprises a plurality of transporters 94 to separate and transport away the strips formed thereby.
  • Figure 4 shows a winding apparatus in schematic form.
  • the spindles 42 of figure 4 are tubular, and bead wire is delivered down the tubular spindles.
  • the ply formed by the apparatus of figure 4 may incorporate bead wire at each edge thereof.
  • the trimmer suitably will be finely adjusted or omitted altogether.

Abstract

Apparatus for manufacturing fabric comprises a pair of parallel rotatable spindles (42). Each spindle (42) has a helical channel for training cord therealong towards a distal end of each of the spindles. The spindles are rotatable in unison. The apparatus further comprises a dispensing arm (36) rotatable around the spindles for winding cord around the spindles. The spindles are tubular, such that a bead wire can be delivered from the distal end of each of the tubular spindles in use.

Description

Title: Improvements in Tyre Manufacture
The present invention concerns improvements in tyre manufacture, particularly the manufacture of radial tyre carcass reinforcement fabric.
The carcass reinforcement of a radial tyre comprises one or more plies of weftless fabric which, in the shaped tyre, has all the reinforcement cords lying in substantially radial planes so that each cord of the fabric extends from tyre bead to tyre bead around the tyre cross section.
Various different methods are known for producing a ply of fabric as described above. U.K. Patent Applications GB-A-2212441 and GB-A-2212529 describe a system whereby a tape having longitudinally extending cords is wrapped helically around a mandrel. The wound tape is then cut transversely to produce a flat sheet having reinforcing cord extending thereacross. The flat sheet can then be used as a ply in tyre manufacture.
U.K. Patent 995613 describes a similar system whereby the wound tape is continuously fed off the mandrel and through cutters. The strips formed thereby have cords running transverse thereof and they can be used as ply fabric in tyre manufacture.
U.K. Patent Application GB-A-2132573 describes a method for manufacture of a tyre ply material, in which a cord is wound helically around a cylindrical former. The winding is then covered by a helical winding of uncured rubber tape, and then the composite winding is cut longitudinally of the former to produce a rectangular piece of ply material.
In each of the above cases, the strength of the ply fabric formed by the systems described relies on the strength of joints between lapped tape windings. United Kingdom Patent Application GB-A-2159185 describes apparatus and a method of manufacturing reinforcing fabric ply for pneumatic tyres, comprising a pair of parallel spindles rotating in the same direction, each spindle being surrounded by a helical sleeve rotating in the opposite direction to the spindles. An arm having a bobbin at one end thereof winds cord onto the two spindles, and a fabric is created thereby. The fabric is moved off of the spindles by means of the travel of the cord along the helical sleeves.
UK Patent 1319205 describes a mechanism for constructing ply material, including the delivery of cord through spindles. However, the mechanism would not operate efficiently in practice, because the construction of the spindles precludes the effective winding of strong ply material.
According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for manufacturing fabric, the apparatus comprising a pair of parallel rotatable spindles, each spindle having a helical channel for training cord therealong towards a distal end of each of the spindles, said spindles being rotatable in unison, and a dispensing arm rotatable around the spindles for winding cord around said spindles, wherein the spindles are tubular, such that a bead wire can be delivered from the distal end of each of said tubular spindles in use.
In that way, bead wires can be interlaced with the cord at each edge of the ply, thereby providing a more integrated product. Generally, further bead wires will be added to the construction of the tyre, but the bead wire within the ply is useful for purposes of location.
The dispensing arm in accordance with the invention is preferably rotatable on an axis parallel to the spindle axes.
The dispensing arm and the spindles are preferably rotatable in the same sense.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispensing arm comprises two dispensers spaced radially outwardly of the spindles, each dispenser being operative to deliver cord to be wound around said spindles. In that way, a fabric may be achieved which has a favourably dense construction, being formed of a double helical structure.
The two dispensers may be diametrically opposed relative to the axis of rotation of the dispensing arm. That is advantageous in that the arm will be balanced for rotation, thereby reducing wear on bearings.
Preferably the apparatus comprises a calender, said calender comprising two rollers rotatable on axes substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the spindles, the rollers defining a nip, and coating means for coating fabric passing through the nip of the calender with a layer of elastomeric material, wherein each of the spindles has a distal end towards which cord is trained in use, each distal end being directed into the nip between the rollers, such that the entire width of a fabric wound on the spindles in use is fed into the calender.
In that way, cord wound on the spindles is directly introduced into the calender for coating thereof across the entire width thereof.
The distal ends of the spindles may be tapered. In that way, cord wound on the spindles can be introduced deeper into the nip of the calender. Furthermore, the taper allows the wound cord to be removed from the spindle more easily.
The distal ends of the spmdles may be trapped in the nip of the calender. That allows an advantageous positive location of the spindles in the nip of the calender.
In a preferred embodiment, the calender comprises four rollers, including two inner rollers constituting the two above described rollers defining the nip therebetween and two outer rollers outside said two inner rollers, each of said outer rollers defining a nip with a respective inner roller.
Preferably, the coating means comprises means for dispensing elastomeric material to each of the nips defined between a respective inner roller and outer roller, such that elastomeric material can be introduced onto the surface of each inner roller for transfer to fabric passing through the calender.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises pressing means arranged to receive coated fabric from said calender for pressing said fabric.
Preferably, tension relieving means is provided between said calender and said pressing means.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus, having a calender as defined above, comprises a second calender for receiving coated fabric and applying a liner thereto.
Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ply manufacturing station including a winding apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation similar to that illustrated in figure 1 of another ply manufacturing station;
Figure 3 is a detail plan of the winding apparatus illustrated in figures 1 and 2; and
Figure 4 is a schematic view of the winding apparatus of preceding drawings showing a preferred mode of operation.
Referring to figure 1, a ply forming station 10 comprises a ply winding apparatus 12, a rubberising calender 14, a press 16, a lining calender 18 and a trimmer 20. Those components are aligned in the order stated abo \ e. The winding apparatus 12 is described more particularly with reference to figure 3. A turret 22 comprises a base 24 and front and rear upstanding members 26, 28. A generally horizontal axle 30 is journalled in the upper end of the rear upstanding member 28, and extends towards the front of the turret 22.
A tubular sleeve 32 is arranged coaxially with the axle 30, and is journalled, via bearings 34, in the front upstanding member 26. The sleeve 32 is rotatable relative to the turret 22. At the front end of the sleeve 32, a pair of arms 36 extend radially outwardly. The arms 36 are diametrically opposed. Each arm 36 has a radial portion, and at the end of the radial portion a portion at right angles thereto, i.e. parallel with the axis of rotation of the sleeve 32. The axial portio'n extends forward of the turret 22.
At the rear end of the sleeve 32, a similar pair of arms 38 are mounted thereon; they are oriented generally towards the rear of the turret 22. The arms 36, 38 are generally coplanar.
A front plate 40 is mounted on the front end of the axle 30, adjacent the front end of the sleeve 32. The front plate 40 is generally planar and is oriented in a plane at right angles to the axle 30. The front plate 40 comprises a pair of spindles 42 extending forwardly of the front plate 40 and parallel to the axle 30. The spindles 42 are equally spaced either side of the axle 30.
Each spindle 42 has a helical groove in the surface thereof. Each spindle is arranged to rotate relative to the plate; drive to the spindles 42 is conducted via shafts through the axle 30 and side shafts 44.
Each of the arms 38 has a radially inwardly extending pin 46 on which is provided a bobbin 48 of cord. The sleeve 32 has a pair of parallel axial channels 50, diametrically opposed about the axis of the sleeve 32, and along which cord is conducted from respective bobbins 48 to the front of the sleeve 32 and therefrom to the tips of the arms 36.
The arms 36, 38 and the channels 50 are all provided with pulley wheels 52 to assist the passage of cord to the tips of the arms 36.
The sleeve 32 is rotated by a drive motor situated on the turret 22. The drive is transferred by means of a belt 54 riding in a flanged wheel 56. On rotation of the sleeve 32, cord is dispensed from the tips of the arms 36, and wound around the spindles 42. The cord will ride in the helical grooves, and by rotation of the spindles, the wound cords will traverse away from the front plate towards the ends of the spindles 42.
The rubberising calender 14 is arranged to receive wound cord from the winding apparatus 12. The calender 14 comprises upper and lower inner rollers 60, 62, arranged in parallel. The inner rollers 60, 62 are oriented at right angles to the spindles 42, and define a nip 64 into which the ends of the spindles 42 extend. Hence, cords wound on the spindles are delivered into the nip 64. The inner rollers 60, 62 in use rotate in opposite directions so as to draw the wound cord from the spindles and into the nip 64.
Each of the inner rollers 60, 62 has a respective outer roller 66 arranged thereagainst. Hence, the rubberising calender 14 is known as a "four bowl" calender. A delivery outlet 68 is arranged between each inner and outer roller combination 60, 66, 62, 66, and out of which is delivered pellets of elastomeric material. Those pellets are squeezed between the inner and outer roller and become a coating on the surface of the inner roller. That coating is transferred in use to either side of the wound cord passing through the nip 64 between the inner rollers 60, 62.
The calender 14 further includes an accumulator 69 to which the coated cord is passed after exiting the nip 64. The accumulator prevents minor variations in speed in the process from causing ply to break.
The press 16 comprises a top plate 70 and a bottom plate 72, between which successive portions of the coated wound cord exiting the rubberising calender 14 are pressed. The effect of that is to push the elastomeric material tlπough the windings of the wound cord to achieve strike through. In that way, a ply material having cord embedded therein is formed. The lining calender 18 is situated to receive ply from the press 16. The lining calender 18 is a three bowl calender, in that it comprises three rollers 74, 76, 78 arranged one above another in parallel. The ply is passed between the upper two rollers 74, 76, in use. The lowest roller 78 is served by a delivery outlet 80 which deposits pellets of elastomeric material between the lowest roller 78 and the roller 76 adjacent thereto. The deposited material forms a layer on the adjacent roller 76 which is subsequently transferred to the ply passing through the calender 18. Accordingly, the calender 18 forms a lining layer on the ply.
The trimmer 20 comprises a pair of cutters 82 arranged one each side of a roller track 84 . The cutters trim each edge of the ply passing therethrough, and so produce a parallel sided product. A "trimming removal duct 86 is arranged to remove trimmings; trimmed elastomeric material can be recycled for future use.
The station illustrated in figure 2 is similar to that illustrated in figure 1. Those parts thereof which are common to the two stations are given the same reference numeral and will not be described further.
The station 100 of figure 2 includes a ply winding apparatus 12, a rubberising calender 14, a press 16, a trimmer 20 and a slitter 90. Those components are aligned in the order stated above. It will be appreciated that the station 100 does not include a lining calender 18, but that one could be provided if necessary.
Once ply has exited the trimmer 20, it enters the slitter 90. The slitter comprises a plurality of parallel slitting heads 92 arranged across the width of the ply to draw off a plurality of parallel strips of the ply material. Therefore, for convenience a number of small components may be produced out of a wide strip of ply material. The slitter 90 comprises a plurality of transporters 94 to separate and transport away the strips formed thereby.
Figure 4 shows a winding apparatus in schematic form. For guidance, the components of the winding apparatus, and portions of a calender, have been labelled with reference numerals appropriate to the specific embodiment described above. Figure 4 shows some further features of the specific embodiment of the invention. The spindles 42 of figure 4 are tubular, and bead wire is delivered down the tubular spindles. In that way the ply formed by the apparatus of figure 4 may incorporate bead wire at each edge thereof. Clearly, with bead wire being incorporated at each edge of the ply, the trimmer suitably will be finely adjusted or omitted altogether.

Claims

Claims
1. Apparatus for manufacturing fabric, the apparatus comprising a pair of parallel rotatable spindles (42), each spindle (42) having a helical channel for training cord therealong towards a distal end of each of the spindles, said spindles being rotatable in unison, and a dispensing arm (36) rotatable around the spindles for winding cord around said spindles, wherein the spindles are tubular, such that a bead wire can be delivered from the distal end of each of said tubular spindles in use.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing arm (36) comprises two dispensers spaced radially outwardly of the spindles, each dispenser being operative to deliver cord to be wound around said spindles (42).
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the two dispensers are diametrically opposed relative to the axis of rotation of the dispensing arm (36).
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim and further comprising a calender (14), said calender comprising two rollers (60, 62) rotatable on axes substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the spindles (42), the rollers defining a nip, and coating means for coating fabric passing through the nip of the calender with a layer of elastomeric material, wherein each of the spindles has a distal end towards which cord is trained in use, each distal end being directed into the nip between the rollers, such that the entire width of a fabric wound on the spindles in use is fed into the calender.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the distal ends of the spindles (42) are tapered.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the distal ends of the spindles (42) are trapped in the nip of the calender.
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the calender (14) comprises four rollers (60, 62, 66), including two inner rollers constituting the two above described rollers defining the nip therebetween and two outer rollers outside said two inner rollers, each of said outer rollers defining a nip with a respective inner roller.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 and wherein the coating means comprises means (68) for dispensing elastomeric material to each of the nips defined between a respective inner roller and outer roller, such that elastomeric material can be introduced onto the surface of each inner roller for transfer to fabric passing through the calender.
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8 and further comprising pressing means (16) arranged to receive coated fabric from said calender for pressing said fabric.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising tension relieving means (69) between said calendar (14) and said pressing means (16).
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10 comprising a calender (18) for receiving coated fabric and applying a liner thereto.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the dispensing arm is rotatable on an axis parallel to the spindle axes.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the dispensing arm and the spindles are rotatable in the same sense.
PCT/GB1998/002195 1997-07-23 1998-07-22 Improvements in tyre manufacture WO1999004959A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU84546/98A AU8454698A (en) 1997-07-23 1998-07-22 Improvements in tyre manufacture

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9715457.9 1997-07-23
GB9715457A GB2327434A (en) 1997-07-23 1997-07-23 Apparatus for making fabric for tyres

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999004959A1 true WO1999004959A1 (en) 1999-02-04

Family

ID=10816278

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1998/002195 WO1999004959A1 (en) 1997-07-23 1998-07-22 Improvements in tyre manufacture

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU8454698A (en)
GB (1) GB2327434A (en)
WO (1) WO1999004959A1 (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB649335A (en) * 1947-02-26 1951-01-24 Us Rubber Co Improvements in apparatus for making wire tyre fabric
US3728195A (en) * 1969-02-10 1973-04-17 Deering Milliken Res Corp Apparatus for the production of non-woven net fabrics
US3885279A (en) * 1973-06-18 1975-05-27 Deering Milliken Res Corp Yarn feed guide arms
GB1440081A (en) * 1972-11-06 1976-06-23 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Structures of reinforced elastomeric material
FR2351040A1 (en) * 1976-05-10 1977-12-09 Rhone Poulenc Ind Straight lengths of hollow fibres for dialysers, etc. - from windings lowered successively along guides into vibrated containers
JPS6445627A (en) * 1987-08-14 1989-02-20 Asahi Chemical Ind Manufacture of topping sheet for reinforcing tire

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL6614362A (en) * 1965-10-20 1967-04-21
US3646647A (en) * 1970-03-19 1972-03-07 Deering Milliken Res Corp Apparatus for the production of nonwoven materials
US3638290A (en) * 1970-09-04 1972-02-01 Deering Milliken Res Corp Apparatus for producing nonwoven fabrics
GB2212529B (en) * 1987-11-13 1991-09-25 Holroyd Associates Ltd Improvements in and relating to the manufacture of ply fabric material

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB649335A (en) * 1947-02-26 1951-01-24 Us Rubber Co Improvements in apparatus for making wire tyre fabric
US3728195A (en) * 1969-02-10 1973-04-17 Deering Milliken Res Corp Apparatus for the production of non-woven net fabrics
GB1440081A (en) * 1972-11-06 1976-06-23 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Structures of reinforced elastomeric material
US3885279A (en) * 1973-06-18 1975-05-27 Deering Milliken Res Corp Yarn feed guide arms
FR2351040A1 (en) * 1976-05-10 1977-12-09 Rhone Poulenc Ind Straight lengths of hollow fibres for dialysers, etc. - from windings lowered successively along guides into vibrated containers
JPS6445627A (en) * 1987-08-14 1989-02-20 Asahi Chemical Ind Manufacture of topping sheet for reinforcing tire

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 013, no. 234 (M - 832) 30 May 1989 (1989-05-30) *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9715457D0 (en) 1997-09-24
AU8454698A (en) 1999-02-16
GB2327434A (en) 1999-01-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP4167817B2 (en) Tire production system and production method
US4283241A (en) Method of producing a tire for a pneumatic tire arrangement
JP4646297B2 (en) Manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method of rubber sheet reinforced with cord by double cylinder
EP2978595B1 (en) Process and apparatus for obtaining tyres for vehicle wheels
EP0899080B1 (en) Method and apparatus for manufacturing a tyre bead filler
US5192390A (en) Mandrel means
JP4570567B2 (en) Manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method of rubber sheet reinforced with cord
EP1216852B1 (en) Cord embedded rubber tape for making tyre component, tyre component and tyre
JPH0584734B2 (en)
GB2327435A (en) Apparatus for making fabric for tyres
WO1999004959A1 (en) Improvements in tyre manufacture
EP3826827A1 (en) Process and equipment for making tyres for vehicle wheels
WO1999004954A2 (en) Improvements in tyre manufacture
CN100395101C (en) Method and apparatus for manufacturing pneumatic tires
KR101111139B1 (en) A process and apparatus for producing a semifinished product for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels
JP2713381B2 (en) Ply fabric material and improvements related to the manufacture of the material
GB2327391A (en) Manufacture of ply for tyres
EP0386093B1 (en) Mandrel means
JP4390253B2 (en) Apparatus and method for manufacturing rubber sheet reinforced with cord comprising cylindrical conveyor
RU2358870C2 (en) Method and device for manufacturing of semi-finished product used for producing wheel tires of transport vehicles
EP1345755B1 (en) Method and apparatus for manufacturing pneumatic tires
JP2006088338A (en) Method and apparatus for winding strip-like rubber member
GB2327390A (en) Tyre manufacture

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

Ref document number: 1999509517

Format of ref document f/p: F

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA