[0001] The present invention relates to an expandable carrier apparatus for transferring
a tire portion from a first work station to a second work station and more specifically
to an expandable carrier apparatus including an annular fluid expandable tube element
including a plurality of gripper means disposed in an annular array on an annular
peripheral surface thereof with the gripper means being operable to grip a tire portion
disposed centrally thereof upon expansion of the tube element and the resultant decrease'in
the diameter of the annular array of gripper means.
[0002] Transfer apparatus for tire building machines are known in the art. Most of the known
transfer apparatus are extremely complicated which decreases their reliability and
increases their cost. One known such mechanism is disclosed in the Henley U.S. Patent
No. 3 475 254 wherein a transfer apparatus 31 is disclosed. The complexity of devices
such as disclosed in the Henley patent leave much to be desired in providing a carrier
apparatus which is reliable, simple in construction, and yet economical.
[0003] The present invention provides a new and improved expandable carrier apparatus for
transferring a tread and a radial tread ply band from a building station to a further
work station including an annular support member having an annular inner peripheral
surface and a fluid expandable tube element having an upper wall portion and a lower
wall portion. The lower wall portion of the tube element is movable radially away
from the upper wall portion upon expansion of the tube element and is
t movable radially toward the upper wall portion upon contraction of the tube element.
The upper wall portion includes an annular peripheral surface bonded along a portion
of the width thereof to the annular inner peripheral surface of the support member.
The lower wall portion includes an annular outer peripheral surface having a plurality
of gripper means supported in an annular array thereon and operable to engage a tread
and a radial tread ply band upon expansion of the tube element. The gripper means
is operable to engage and grip a tread and a radial tread ply band disposed centrally
of the annular array of gripper means upon expansion of the tube element and the resultant
decrease in diameter of the annular array of gripper means. The tube elemeut when
contracted effects an increase in the diameter of the annular array of gripper means
to thereby release a tread and a radial tread ply band gripped thereby. A plurality
of ply bands are disposed in the lower wall portion of the tube element adjacent the
plurality of gripper means to increase the rigidity of the lower wall portion to provide
for uniform radial movement of the lower wall portion and gripper means upon expansion
of the tube element to effect gripping of a tread and a radial tread ply band thereby
and to prevent col-. lapse of the tube element upon contraction.
[0004] The present invention further provides a new and improved expandable carrier apparatus
for transferring a portion of a built tire from a first work station to a second work
station including an annular support member having an annular peripheral surface and
a fluid expandable annular tube element having an upper wall portion having an outer
peripheral surface adapted to be bonded to the annular peripheral surface of the support
member and a lower wall portion cooperating with the upper wall portion to define
an annular chamber for receiving fluid therein to effect expansion of the tube element.
The lower wall portion is movable in a radially inwardly direction away from the upper
wall portion upon expansion of the tube clement and is movable in a radially outwardly
direction toward the upper wall portion upon contraction of the tube element. The
lower wall portion includes an annular outer peripheral surface including a plurality
of gripper means disposed in an annular array thereon. The gripper means are operable
to engage and grip a tire portion disposed in a position surrounded by the outer peripheral
surface of the lower wall portion upon expansion of the tube element and operable
to ungrip the tire portion upon subsequent contraction of the tube element. The lower
wall portion includes a plurality of ply bands disposed adjacent the outer peripheral
surface to increase the rigidity of the outer peripheral surface to provide for uniform
radial movement of the gripper means upon expansion of the tube element and to provide
increased resiliency in the outer peripheral surface of the lower wall portion to
enable the gripper means to release a tire portion gripped thereby upon contraction
of the tube element.
[0005] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the carrier apparatus of the present invention;
and
[0006] Figure 2 is a reduced scale side view of the carrier apparatus taken approximately
along the lines of 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the tube element in its contracted
condition in full lines and in its expanded condition in phantom lines.
[0007] Referring to the drawings, an expandable carrier apparatus 10 for transferring a
portion of a built tire from a first work station to a second work station has been
illustrated. The expandable carrier apparatus 10 includes an annular support drum
12 having an annular peripheral surface 14 disposed thereon. An annular fluid expandable
tube element 16 is bonded to the annular peripheral surface 14 of the support drum
12. A valve 18 is secured through an opening 20 in the support drum 12 and a suitable
opening in the tube element 16. The valve 13 is connected to a suitable source of
fluid pressure (not illustrated), such as an air line, to enable fluid to be introduced
into an annular cavity 22 in the tube element 16 to effect expansion of the tube element
16 and gripping of a portion of a tire as will be described more fully herein below.
[0008] The tube element 16 includes an upper wall portion 24 and a lower wall portion 26.
The upper and lower wall portion 24, 26 are connected by side wall portions 28. The
upper wall portion 24 includes an annular peripheral surface 30. The annular peripheral
surface 30 includes a raised portion 32 which is bonded to the annular peripheral
surface 14 of the support drum 12. The width of the raised portion 32 of the annular
peripheral surface 30 is less than the width of the tube element 16 and less than
the width of the annular support drum 12.
[0009] In the present embodiment, it is necessary for the tube 16 to withstand approximately
up to 30% circumferential strain or elongation upon expansion. The majority of this
strain is concentrated in the side walls 28 of the tube 16. Thus, it is desirable
to provide flexibility in the side walls 28 to allow for 30% circumferential strain.
Minimizing the bonding area of the surface 30 enables the side walls 28 to flex without
interference. The annular raised surface portion 32 minimizes the area of bonding
of the tube 16 to the support drum 12 to enable the tube 16 to be expanded without
interfering with the movement of the side walls 28. This enables the lower wall portion
26 of the tube element 16 to uniformly expand in an inwardly radially direction away
from the support drum 12. If the tube element 16 were bonded to the support drum 12
substantially throughout the width of its annular peripheral surface 30, then the
bonding of surface 30 to surface 14 would tend to interfere with the radial movement
of the side walls 28 by making the surface 30 essentially rigid where it is bonded
to the support drum 12. By minimizing, the area of bonding of the annular surface
30 to the drum 12, freedom of movement of the side walls 28 is provided upon expansion
and contraction of the tube element 16.
[0010] The lower wall portion 26 includes an annular periphera- surface 34 upon which an
annular array of gripper means or gripper blocks 36 is disposed. T'ne plurality of
gripper blocks 36 are operable to engage with a portion of a tire 27, schematically
illustrated in phantom lines in Figure 2, which has been disposed centrally of the
annular array of gripper blocks 36 upon expansion of the tube element 16. Upon expansion
of the tube element 16, the lower wall portion 26 moves in a radially inwardly direction
along with the gripper blocks 36 to decrease the diameter of the annular array of
gripper blocks. As is illustrated in phantom lines in Figure 2, when a tire portion
is centrally disposed in the annular array of gripper blocks 36 and the tube 16 is
expanded, the diameter of the annular array of gripper blocks will decrease to enable
the gripper blocks 36 to firmly grip the tire portion disposed centrally thereof.
This will enable the carrier apparatus 10 to grip the tire portion and effect movement
thereof to a desired position. When the tube element 16 is contracted, the tire portion
which is gripped thereby will be released due to an increase in the diameter of the
annular, array of gripper blocks 36. The gripper blocks 36 are preferably constructed
of a low durometer rubber which is softer than the rubber from which the walls of
the tube element 16 are constructed to enable the gripper blocks 36 to conform to
a tire portion to be gripped thereby.
[0011] The gripper blocks 36 are bonded to or formed integrally with the annular peripheral
surface 34 of the tube element 16. The adjacent gripper blocks 36 in the annular array
of gripper blocks are separated by the rubber portions 38 which basically have a thickness
equal to the thickness of the lower wall portion 34 of the tube'element 16. The relatively
thin portions 38 between the adjacent gripper blocks 36 allows movement of the wall
portion 34 between adjacent gripper blocks 36 upon contraction and expansion of the
tube element 16. This enables the annular array of gripper blocks 36 to maintain a
substantially annular configuration upon expansion and contraction of the tube element
10 due to the resiliency of the portions 38 which connect the gripper blocks 36. Such
a construction enables the gripper blocks 36 to move in a substantially radial direction
upon expansion and contraction of the tube element 16 to thereby insure that all of
the gripper blocks positively engage a portion of the tire which is desired to be
gripped. If the portions 38 were not flexible, deformation of the annular array of
gripper blocks 36 would occur which would prevent all of the gripper blocks 36 from
uniformly engaging with the surface of a tire portion to be gripped.
[0012] The tube element 16 includes an annular inner tube 40 which is constructed of rubber
and preferably neoprene. (In the present application the terms rubber and neoprene
will be used interchangeably and it is Applicants intention that both such terms denote
rubber or a resilient, nonporous rubber-like substance or the equivalent). Bonded
to the inner tube 40 are four bias plys 42 (schematically illustrated) which add strength
to the tube element 16 without unduly increasing its stiffness which would limit its
expandability. A cover 44 which is in part (in the upper wall portion 24) bonded to
the four biased plys is provided and is constructed of rubber and preferably neoprene.
A pair of ply bands 46 is interposed between the cover 44 and the four biased plys
42 in the lower wall portion 26 of the tube element 16. The ply bands 46 may be bias
ply bands or radial ply bands to add strength to the lower wall portion 26 but in
the preferred embodiment are radial ply bands. The two radial ply bands 46 are coextensive
with the lower wall portion 26 of the tube element 16. The two radial ply bands stiffen
the lower wall portion 26 to prevent the tube 16 from collapsing upon contraction
thereof. Moreover, the bands 46 add strength to the lower wall portion 26 to allow
the gripper blocks 36 to be contracted upon contraction of the tube element 16 without
the use of axuiliary springs.
[0013] It should be appreciated that the radial ply bands 46 do not extend around the total
circumference of the tube 16 but rather are limited to the lower wall portion 26 adjacent
the gripper blocks 36. This provides weaker side walls for large expansion to enable
the tube to withstand a 30% circumferential strain upon gripping a portion of a tire.
The radial ply bands 46 also provide a strong lower wall portion 26 which support
the gripper blocks 36. It is important in the construction of the tube that the side
walls 28 remain flexible to allow for uniform radial expansion and contraction of
the gripper blocks 36 while the lower wall portion 26 has an increased strength to
control the radial movement of the gripper blocks 36 while providing for retraction
of the lower wall portion 26 and the gripper blocks 36 upon contraction of the tube
element 16. If the radial ply bands were to extend totally around the circumference
of the tube 16, the side walls would be made too stiff to allow a 30% circumferential
strain which normally occurs on expansion of the tube element 16. Accordingly, the
radial ply bands only extend in the lower wall portion 26 and a portion of the side
walls 28.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the carrier apparatus 19 is
utilized to transfer a tread and a radial treat ply band for a radial tire from a
work station in which the. band is constructed to a work station wherein the uncured
tread is cured. In operation the carrier 10 is centered over a tread and a radial
tread ply band when the tube element 10 is in its contracted condition. When the tread
and radial tread ply band is centrally located in the annular array of gripper blocks
36, the tube element is pressurized and expanded to decrease the diameter of the array
of gripper blocks 36 and enable the gripper blocks 36 to engage and grip the peripheral
edge of the tread and radial tread ply band. The carrier is then moved to transfer
the gripped tread and radial tread ply band to a predetermined location. When the
tread and radial tread ply band is located in its predetermined position, the tube
element 16 is contracted to increase the diameter of the array of gripper blocks 36
to thereby release the gripped tread and radial tread ply band. The present carrier
apparatus could also be utilized for gripping and transporting other annular portions
of a built tire between workstations.
[0015] From the foregoing, it should be apparent that a new and improved expandable carrier
apparatus for transferring a tread and radial treat ply band from a building station
to a further work station has been provided. The expandable carrier apparatus includes
an annular support member having an annular inner peripheral surface and a fluid expandable
annular tube element having an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion. The upper
wall portion includes an annular peripheral surface bonded along a portion of the
width thereof to the inner peripheral surface of the support member and the lower
wall portion includes an annular outer peripheral surface having a plurality of gripper
means supported thereupon and operable to engage and grip a radial tread ply band
upon expan- si.on of the tube element. The lower wall portion includes a plurality
of radial ply bands disposed adjacent to the plurality of gripper blocks to increase
the. rigidity of the lower wall pcrtion to provide for uniform radial movement of
the lower wall portion and the gripper means upon expansion of tube element and to
prevent collapse of the tube element upon contraction.
1. An expandable carrier apparatus for transferring an annular tire or tire component
from one location to another, comprising a carriage (10) movable from one location
to another, an annular frame (12) on said carriage, an annular radially expansible
tubular element (16) on said frame (12), one radial side (32) of said element (16)
being secured to said frame (12), the opposite radial side (34) of said element (16)
being provided with block segments (36) bonded to or formed integrally with said element
(16) operative to form the component gripping surface when said element (16) is expanded.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular element (16) is on the
inside of said annular frame (12).
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said block segments (36)
are on the inside of said tubular element (16).
4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of clains 1 to 3, wherein said block segments
(36) are each of uniform size and shape.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said block segments
(36) uniformly circumferentially separate or move closer together as said tubular
element (16) is expanded or contracted.
6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said tubular element
(16) is substantially flat when not expanded, is air inflated, and returns to its
substantially flat condition when not air inflated.
7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said tubular element
(16) is essentially rubber and said block segments (36) are of a low durometer rubber
softer than that of said element (16).
8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said tubular element
(16) is bonded to said frame (12) through a relatively narrow raised surface.
9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said tubular element
(16) includes an integrally formed inflation fitting (18) extending through said frame
(12).
10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said tubular element
(16) includes reinforcing bias angle or 0 angle ply bands or belts (42,46) symmetrically
supporting said blocks (36) but not extending through the sidewalls of the element.