Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02277932 1999-07-14
UN199b073 9~~Imrl016a.c7U51~17
1.
1Il~;THOD A~~ APP~~.a'~1~5 FOR QE~IUVL'IG TIRI~;
'TREADS FROM STORAGE DEVICE
Te hrdc~ 1 field
This irtvc:ntion per~.aii>s to 4he art of methods and apparams~s fc:r st~~ra~e
of
i unvulcar,i~.ed tire trc:~ds. side~ualls, and ocher :ire components, anti
n~orr specifically to
:,
an improved r:tethul and apparatus to ren~,c;ve an unwlcanired trend from a
Storage
device.
8ack»utmd Art
It is known in the art to sloe;, umrulcanilxd tire treads in staragc ~ievicos
' I7 cocnme~nl5~ known as "hear traps" which have a aeries of planar
vleir.ente upon which the
treads see stored. Previously) treads removed from such storage devices were
removed
manually by a human tire buiidtr) lJepending on the size of the tire tread,
the task of
removing tLc tread from the stc:rage device could be cane of the most
distasteful and
urcomfvrtable in the entire tire huildinfi prcxess. For cxampie. for truck
tires and fwr
i ~ aircraf t tires ) the ass«ciated :rends in their ~:nvulcaniz~.i tat: can
approach one hundred
pounds in weight aml can be up t<.~ twelve fee: long. In addition, tJ,.c
treads are "booked"
or stared upside dawn so that a sticky. tacky layer of rubber is ulsward.
Manual
i:.anipulation of the tire treads is rhysically taxing for the tire Luilde-.
in additii~n,
;:ertain r.cm-unifornutes and unde;:irablr qualities could tie imparted to the
tire tread, and
.U evcntuaily to the arc. :'.trouGh !nanual hand?ing of the unwlcanized
tre;aci. JP-~-
0 X175 ,'316 discl~~~~es an automated apparatus ti;r rem:>ving and inverting a
tread. This
app;uacus however dms not readily adjust to misaligne:i treads.
The present invention contemplates a new arid improv~i mEthod and apparatus
for
removing unvulcanized tire treads tro;.~ th: storage devices. The nethod and
apparatus
2~ is simple in design, effective in use) and overcomes the foregoing
difficulties in otters
while prcwiding better and sdvantag~~us overall result..
Disclosure of Invention
in accordance with the present invention. a ae~.w and improved method and
app;~ratus for removing uw:clo.~ni~ed tire treads from a Storage device is
provided.
30 Vlore parti;:ular!y is acoc~rdancc will: the invention, the apparan~s
inc:lu~tes a
tame, an arm movably mounted an the frame, the arm having a horizontal axis, a
first
transtaac~n moans for translating the arm along the vertical axis of the
frame, a gripping
;~~iE~GED Sf-~EET
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WO 98/31621 PCT/US97/00455
2
means for gripping the associated tire tread, a second horizontal translation
means for
translating the gripping means along the horizontal axis of the arm.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a frame
with a vertical axis and an arm assembly movably mounted on the frame. The arm
assembly has a horizontal axis, a vertical moving means for moving the arm
assembly
along the vertical axis, a first horizontal moving means for moving the arm
assembly
along the horizontal axis, a gripping means for gripping the associated tire
tread,
translation means for translating the gripping means about the horizontal
axis, and a
second horizontal moving means for moving the gripping means horizontally
along the
horizontal axis.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new apparatus
which can effectively remove tire treads from a storage device, and invert the
treads)
and place them on an appropriate conveyor for further processing.
Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that such removal
includes
the step of inverting, thereby in a single step removing the tread from the
storage device
and inverting it for application to the tire.
Another advantage of the present invention is the labor savings, increase in
joh
satisfaction, and the easing of strain on the tire builders body by automating
the difficult
task of lifting and positioning an unvulcanized tire tread.
Another advantage of the invention is that the above-recited advantages are
accomplished by an apparatus with relatively few moving parts.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent t~
those
skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of
the f~llowin~
detailed specification.
Brief Descri~ion of Drawing
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of
parts,
a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this
specification and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
Figure 1 is a top view of a tread debooking system including a lifting
apparatus
and conveying apparatus according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of the lifting apparatus according to the invention.
Figure 3 is a side view from perspective 3-3 of Figure 1.
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WO 98/31621 PCT/US97/00455
3
Figure 3A is a partial front view of an arm assembly in a topmost position
before the tread is inverted.
Figure 3B is a partial front view of the arm assembly in a topmost position
after
the tread is inverted.
Figure 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of the tread debooking system
according to the invention.
Figure 5 is an additional front view of the second embodiment of the invention
illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the lifting apparatus is in a different
position.
Figure 6 is another front view of the second embodiment of the invention
wherein the lifting apparatus is in yet another position.
Figure 7 is another front view of the second embodiment of the invention
wherein the lifting apparatus is shown in yet another position.
Figure 8 is a half top view of the second embodiment of the invention.
Figure 9 is a half top view of the second embodiment showing the lifting
apparatus in the position shown in Figure 6.
Figure 10 is a half top view of the second embodiment showing the lifting
apparatus in the position shown in Figure 7.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of
illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes
of
limiting the same) Figures 1-3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a tread
dehooking
system according to the invention. The invention is directed to the problem of
removing and inverting an associated, unvulcanized tire tread 12 from an
associated
tread storage device 14. The storage device 14 illustrated is commonly known
in the
tire industry as a "bear trap. " It comprises a series of planar steel sheets
18 which are
hinged at one end 20 so that they can be flipped upwardly and out of the way
when the
tread 12 is removed, as is illustrated by a tray 18A. Unvulcanized treads 12
are stored
in the storage device 14 on the trays 18. As the associated treads 12 are
removed by
the inventive apparatus, the trays 18 can be pushed upwardly to the position
illustrated
by tray 18A. At the present time, this process is manual, i.e., the human tire
builder
pushes the trays 18 upwardly, but in the preferred and foreseen embodiment
this
CA 02277932 1999-07-14
process is autornatrrd firs at a future date in cunjunctiun with the invention
described
herein.
The aasociateri treads 12 .are aoFed in an invcrtesi position un the trays i8
so that
the ground-contac:ing portion cf the tread is resting on the. upper surface of
the tray 18,
S as is illu:;trater n Figure 3. a~id t: a underside 2=t of the tread is
expusc3. TSis is
f;ritnarii,r due to the tac'~y layer of cushic~lt gum 25 whichyis affixes: :u
the) ur~;:ervide ?4
,~f a tread. The cushion gt:m ?5 is a :elatively tacky unvulcaniTed n:bber.
The cushion
i~u!n 25 performs the important function of hclpine to adhere the tread 12 to
the
unvulcanized carc::tss knot shown) of the tire ;not s.hownj during a separate
step it the
tire-building process. If the treaa I'._' were to ba stored on the tray 1~ in
tl:e stc;rage
device 1~ with undersic:a ?4 resting on uhe upF~er surface c.~f the tray 18,
the cushion
gutn 25 would tend to cause the tread 12 to stiilc to the tray 18. In addition
to the
uctdesirable di;f:culties this nresears in the manufacturir~ process, tire
unif.~rtriry would
also be detrimcncally a:fectcd. 1 ~mre.'orc, one of the steps in sunpiy ing
~he tread to the
S ti:~ buildin g ma4hine is the inversion step where the Lnvertcd tire tread i
y is turned
1 gt;E ::o the cushion ttm sieie ~?f the tre::d 12 is oriented downwaraly .
The' irvc:tirtg of the tire tread 12 is aucu'-nplish~d by lifting ~.pparants
30. Thsr
iiftinb apparae~s 30 includes a game 32 generally comprised ~f two ,tationary
unrig.ht
rr:ambers 3ti joined at one end by a t~'~c~r member ~0, hest shown in Figure
?, although
?p she invention works equally well with free-standing upright memhers :~6.
Thr ir:ime 32
~n:at be Strong enough to withstand r.he static aru dynamic loads placid upon
it by the
manipulatior of the trends I'~. In the przferrPd embodiment, upright n:e:nbers
36 and
t poor member :~4 arc made ~~f steel. The calculation of the size and str~ng-
a~ reqLired for
the upright members s6 and Ilc;or member :10 is a typical calculaticm using
sound
'=S engineering principles and ;iePends on the weight of the tire component
involved.
However, these materials and dimensions may vary from application to
application and
materials anti dimetaioiting should be made with regard to common enQireering
judgment.
The rifting apparatus 30 also includes an arm assembly n0. In a preferred
30 embodiment. arm assembly 60 includes f first arm 90 and second arni 92
which are
spaced from each other along a rod .~ which extaads between upright members
36.
Ftod ~~ is rotatable about its axis as will be discussed in further detail
later in this
a?~i~yGL~ ~i ~~t"T
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WO 98/31621 PCT/US97/00455
disclosure. The rod 44 is preferably made of steel and has a diameter adequate
to
handle the torque required.
A first translation means 50 provides vertical movement for arm assembly 60.
The first translation means 50 includes pneumatic cylinders and one or more
chain
5 drives 54. In the preferred embodiment, each chain drive 54 is a double
chain drive, as
is illustrated best in Figure 2. Each of the chain drives 54 operates between
a pair of
sprockets 56. Parallel to floor member 40 is an axle 64 which is driven by
pneumatic
cylinders mounted within the upright members 36. The chain drives 54 keep the
machine in alignment) as the movement of the axle 64 via the air cylinders may
not
provide the requisite precision. The axle 64 is supported by bearings 66.
Couplings can
also be used instead of bearings, if desired. The first translation means 50
operates tc~
lift or lower arm assembly 60 along the vertical axes of the upright memhers
36.
The lifting apparatus 30 further includes gripping means 74 for securely
gripping tread 12. Gripping means 74 preferably comprises a series of suction
cups 76
operatively associated with a vacuum bar 80. The vacuum bar 80 is mounted at
the t first
ends 68,69 of arms 90.92 respectfully, of the arm assembly 60 and is
operatively
connected to a source of vacuum (not shown). The preferred suction cup 76 is
about
four and one half inches (4.5 inches) in diameter and has a bellows with a
relatively
large volume. The preferred arrangement of suction cups is illustrated in
Figure 2.
2U Note that at the first and second ends 84,86 of vacuum bar 80 the spacing
between thr
individual suction cups 76 narrows. The purpose of the narrowing spacing is
two-fold.
First, it enables a secure grip to be had on the end of the associated tread
12. Second.
because the length of the tread 12 may vary, it enables any suction cups 76
which
would extend beyond the end of the tread 12 to be shut off from vacuum. Each
of the
suction cups 76 is provided with a shut off valve so that vacuum can be suppl
ied only tee
those suction cups 76 which are actually to come in contact with the tread 12.
The
suction cups 76 are a preferred interfacing means for interfacing between the
vacuum
bar 80 and the associated tread 12. However, other devices could be used to
accomplish many of the objectives of this invention. The suction cups 76 do
not
damage the cushion gum 25 on the underside 24 of the tread 12. In the
preferred
embodiment, a single row of suction cups 76 is utilized although, depending on
the size
of the suction cups 76, amount of vacuum pulled and the size of the tread 12
involved,
.r s r~ : w .- b - 5 ~ ...: 5 : .r n r~
CA 02277932 1999-07-14
different configurations of suction cups 7(i might be preferred. For
rxar:~pl;.. the
sucticn ~~ups 7G could be sta~;fiered car br pla;.ed symmctricslly or
nonun::brmlv.
The first dad szc;cmd arms 90. 9'' o= ar m assembly 6U ar a essrntia! l~'
pneumatic,
hydraulic, or ~lec:rically actuated cylinders wnic;Z can extct:d outwar3l~~ or
rct:ac:
inw,~r~!iy rclativ~e m the S~e:ticsl axes of ugriyht tllt'IIIIJCf~ ~~, ShUv~:1
~a; C.'.L! in Figure 3.
The first am 9t) is c. F~erarie separately fr~~m tl~e src:~nd a: n: 92 is tl:e
even: that the
tread ? 2 is nusaligned on tray 1~ in the storage device 1~. (n th.3t event,
the first arm
90 wn ~ extended a distance either greater or irss tlmn the second arm 9~ so
that the
centerline CL? ~3f the vacuum hag ~U tnay nc aligned with the c:ent~rline on
the tread 12.
Joints 110, 112 are ~.rovdai at the interface hctwern t~5e vacuum bar QU . rd
a.-ms 90.92
which allow the vacuum bar 8C to swivel. ~ second tran.~lation means 9F
~°hich ;allows
the r~ctrnsion or retraction of arms 9l),92 comprises lirear hearings 100, iU?
thrc;ugh
which the first and sr';.ond ar:n. 90.92 slide, respectively.
First rotation mean for r~~cating the arrn assembly 6t) includes at least ono,
a.Td
1 ~ pre:rrably two, hyclrauiie act~,ators 120,122 locates at the ends of r«d
~=.~, .W LuatOrS .
120.122 :~ausc rod -1' tie he rotated about its axis- As rod ~ rntates, the
arms 9iJ.92
revUvc around the axis c~f rod ~ as shown the arrow in Fivur~ 3~1 and thereoy
invert the
vacuum bar ~U and t;Ze associated tread 12. The rotat;oii of raci ~ cx:cu; s
aftc: the tread
12 is ~rpped by ,~rippine means ?4 ar.d the ssrn~s 90.92 are retracted towird
the upright
'0 member:: 36 in order for the tread 1'' to char the trays 18.
!n a preferred e:nhcid,imert, the arm assetnhty 6G is vertically trans!atcd tc
a
topmast position, ill~astra:rd 3s 60B in Figure 3A, before rod ~ is rotatcfl.
It is readily
apparent :hen that during lifting c~i the tread 12 from trays 1$, vacuum oar
80 is ab~av~
tread 12. After rod ~ is rotated, vacuum bar 80 is lxisitioned beneath tread
12 as
25 illustrated as 60C in Figure 3B. The arms 9r~. 92 are then extended away
from upright
m~mbtrs 36 and the srm asse~.nbiy 6t3 is nasitioned as illustrate~,1 by 6017
in Figure 3.
A related eletre nt in the systers is a ccmveying apparatus 123. As is best
illustrated in figure 1, com~eJ ing apparatus 12$ includes a slc>tted
eonveyc~r ? .:0. The
upper su~~acr 132 of the slatted convayc~r l30 comprises a plurali~y of
rollers t38, such
30 as arc lcncwn in the art. Fach roller 13$ i, supportrcl by a ball bearing
(nest shown) at
either end. ~n impcmtant advantage of the present invention is the capability
of inverting
the tread 12 and p lacins it ontW he s f otted conveyer 130 ~.vith its undcrs
idc 24
~:-'1 ,~,_._~.~.
~,/t ~~'.::.r vi ~Lt
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WO 98/31621 PCT/US9?100455
7
down. The structure of the slotted conveyor 130 enables the lifting apparatus
30 to
accomplish this desirable event by the provisions of center slot 142 and side
slots
144,146. From the position illustrated as 60D, arm assembly 60 vertically
translates
downwardly toward the conveyor 130. The first ends 68,69 of the arms 90,92
pass
through the side slots 144,146 and vacuum bar 80 passes through the center
slot 142 as
the arm assembly 60 is lowered below the upper surface 132 of the slotted
conveyor
130. However, tread 12 is prevented from passing through the center slot 142
because
the width W 1 of the tread 12 is wider than the width W2 of the center slot
142. In that
way, the outer edges of the tread 12 rest upon the rollers 138 and the tread
12 is
suspended upon the upper surface 132 of the slotted conveyor 130 while the
first ends
68,69 of the arms 90,92 pass downwardly through the side slots 144,146 and the
vacuum bar 80 passes downwardly through the center slot 14? . The vacuum is
turned
off as the arms 90.92 pass through the slotted conveyor.
When the vacuum bar 80 is positioned ahove a tread 1'' , as shown in Figure 1,
the second ends 70,71 of the arms 90.92 may also pass through the side slots
144,146.
After the tread 12 is placed on the slotted conveyor 130, an associated
advancing means
150 advances the tread 12 forward via tread advance cylinder 154. The
translation
device 150 progresses the tread 12, in its proper orientation with the
underside 24
down, through the building machine for inclusion into the tire itsel(~.
With the apparatus described as atxwe, the inventive method of removing a
tread
from a storage device will now he drscritx:d with reference to an operator who
manually operates a joy stick to control some of the movements of the
inventive
apparatus. However, it is within the scope of the present invention tc~
incorporate a
fully automated system. The unwlcanized treads 12 are placed on the trays 18
of the
"bear trap style" storage device 14. In the present embodiment, the treads 12
are
placed manually but it is foreseen that the treads will be automatically
placed in the near
future. Presently, two treads 12 are placed side by side and parallel on each
tray 18
although the invention will work with alternate configurations of tread. An
electric eye
164 mounted on the front side of each of the arms 90,92 can sense the edge of
the top
most tray 18. From a home position, the human operator of the inventive
apparatus and
method has manual control of the arms 90,92. The operator pushes a joy stick
on a
control panel (not shown) to the "cylinder forward" position. The arms 90,92
are
CA 02277932 1999-07-14 F'.03
extended until v;~cuum bar 80 iyositionea aver tread 12. tensors 16~ located
nn the
front side of each of the arms 90,92 sense the lc;catian of the trt:ad,
trereby .stc;ppi::g
each ar~r: 90,92 independently aF the other. The operator now rnw~s the jo~:
stick (non
shown) ie~ a c~ncrol position callrcl "down" and the arm assCZnialy 6i; movCs
downward
until all suction cups 76 have erga~~c: 4'~e underside ~?~. of th°
tread 1?. At this point,
the operator releases the joy stink. ~'pon release of the joy =tick, the
vacuum in each
individual suction cup 76 is drawn. As rnentionesi previously, suction cups 'o
extending beyond the limits of the tread 12 siioulc b~ shut off to Save
vacuum. ,~
pressure rele;tse cylinder is i~stalled so tha orerator can nat ioadvertentlv
apply too
much pressure down:vardly on tag ai thz tread I2 through the vacuum bar 80 and
suction cups 76. 1n :he pre:crred c~r!bodiment, each suction cap 7fi has an
irdividua!
vacuum source. 'Tl:e vacuum supplied to each individual suction cup 76 is
activated
when the cup 76 in question touches the underside ?4 of the tread 12. The
operator
now moves the jciy stick to the "up" positic;n. .Again) a pressure release
regulator is
installed so that the orator can not inadvertently apply too much nressure in
the
upwarc! direction, c7nce the: tread 2 is vertically tree from the tray 18, the
ope:ator
moves the jp stick to an "in" position to retract arna 90,92 while th=
gripping mans
?4 engages the tread 12. 'The arm assembly 60 returns to a "home position" in
whit h
the vacuum bar 8U is near tlae t:pright members 36 cy frame 32. 'i'his ~siticn
is
illus Crated ac 60 g ir, rigure 3 _
~!'hr arm assembly 50 mo :~es vertically upward along fr::tne 32 in response
u~ chain
drive ~q.. When the arm assembly 50 reaches tee tc~pmnst positing. :~
illustrated as 60B in
rigare 3A, sensors (not shown) tt1<~icc contact and sigml actuators IZU, I22
to rotate rod
.~4. These a;;tustors 120,122 rotate the rod ~1:;, causing arm assembly fi0
a:.d vacuum bar
ZS SU to revolve about the axis of rod .i.~ approximately 1 ~0 deere;.s in the
d;rection illustrated
by the arrow shown in Figure 3A. Note that during this process, the trend I2
is inverted
so that the underside 24 is down. A further embodiment of the present
invention would
allow rod :f:: to he rotated simultanermsly with the vertical translation ~>f
arm assembly 60
as long as cleararu;e from trays 18 is achieved.
With the tread 12 now p«aitic~ned above vacuum bar SU, as shown in higurr 313,
the
amts 90, 92 extend to the ful l stroke of the cylinder tc~ the position
illustrated as 60D in
Figure 3. 'The arm assembly ti~J tnoves vertically downward toward the slotted
ppAE~DED S~iEFT
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WO 98/31621 PCT/US97/00455
9
conveyor 130. The arms 90,92 pass through the side slots 140,146 while the
vacuum
bar 80 passes through the center slot 142. In the process, the tread 12
contacts the
upper surface 132 of the slotted conveyor 130 and is retained thereon. As the
tread 12
is lowered, the vacuum ceases, enabling the tread 12 to be easily disengaged
from the
suction cups 76.
The tread 12 is now advanced by advancing means 1 SO toward the tire building
machine (not shown) and the arm assembly 60 is repositioned to lift and invert
another
tread 12. Generally) arms 90,92 retract toward upright members 36, arm
assembly 60
is returned to the topmost position, and rod 44 is again rotated.
One method of advancing the tread 12 incorporates a tread advance cylinder 154
to move suction cups 152 over the tread 12. The suction cups 152 are provided
with
vacuum at this point so that they can grip the tread 12 and move it forward. A
pressure
sensor will indicate when vacuum has been made) thereby causing the cylinders
154 to
lift the end of the tread 12. When the lift is made) tread advance cylinder
154 will
I S make a full stroke forward, thereby moving the tread 12 over power rolls
(not shown).
Other advancing means such as powered rollers may be employed.
With reference to Figures 4-10, a second embodiment of the invention will be
described. This embodiment may be preferred in some applications, such as when
there
is a shortage of headroom in the manufacturing facility. One primary advantage
of the
second embodiment is that less overhead room is needed to operate the lifting
apparatus
30A because the arm assembly 60D does not swing around the axis of rod 44.
For ease of illustration and for brevity, the like components of the second
embodiment shown in Figures 4-10 will not be again described, as their
operation is the
same as in the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-3. Instead, the
differences
between the embodiments will be more thoroughly described.
The primary difference between the first and second embodiments of the
invention concerns the use of twin linear cylinders, first cylinder 202 and
second
cylinder 204, attached to each of the upright members 36A of the lifting
apparatus 30A.
Figures 8-10 show only one upright member 36A and its associated first and
second
cylinders 202, 204. However, the lifting apparatus 30A is generally symmetric
about
centerline CL3 and comprises a second upright member 36A (not shown) and its
associated first and second cylinders 202, 204 (not shown). The presently
preferred
CA 02277932 1999-07-14
WO 98131621 PCT/US97/00455
linear cylinders 202,204 are available from Parker Hannifin and sold under the
trade
name Parker Series RC. The preferred type linear cylinder is a rodless air
cylinder.
Another important difference between the second embodiment and the first
includes the provision of at least one, and preferably two, rotary actuators
212 which
5 are operably connected to the ends of vacuum rod 80A. This rotary actuator
is
commercially available from a variety of sources and inverts the tread 12 soon
after it is
lifted from the tray 18.
The operation of the second embodiment of the invention will now be described.
As before, the operation will be described with reference to a human operator,
although
10 a fully automated system is within the scope of the present invention.
Unvulcanized
treads 12 are placed on the trays 18 of the storage device 14. The human
operator of
the second embodiment of the lifting apparatus 30A manipulates a joy stick on
a control
panel (not shown) to a "cylinder forward" position. Cylinders 202 extend
outward from
upright members 36A until the vacuum bar 80A and associated suction cups 76A
art
1 S positioned over the tread 12. The operator now moves the joy stick to the
control
position called "down" until all suction cups 76A have engaged the underside
24 of the
tread 12. At this point, vertical translation means) such as chain drives
previously
described (not shown), are employed to lift the arm assembly 60E so that the
tread 1
clears the tray 18. In addition, cylinders 202 may be retracted to insure
clearance of
the tread 12 from tray 18. Rotary actuator 212 is activated and vacuum bar 80A
is
rotated in the direction represented by the arrow in Figure 4 approximately
180
degrees. The vacuum bar 80A is selectively positioned at the first ends 220 of
cylinders
202 when the tread 12 is engaged and inverted.
With reference to Figures 8 and 9, the vacuum bar 80A holding the tread 12 is
moveable along cylinder 202 to be selectively positioned at the second ends
222 of
cylinders 202. With particular reference to Figure 10, cylinders 202 are
further
moveable along the lengths of cylinders 204. Therefore tread 12 may be
translated
from tray 18 toward the slotted conveyor 130 by moving vacuum bar 80A from
first
ends 220 to second ends 222 of cylinders 202 and by moving cylinders 202 with
respect
to cylinders 204. The operator of the lifting apparatus 30A manipulates the
joy stick on
the control panel to a "cylinder backward" position to move cylinders 202
toward
slotted conveyor 130. As is readily apparent, the vacuum bar 80A must be
vertically
CA 02277932 1999-07-14 P . 04
. I1
positioned above the slotted cunve;ror 130 hcforz it can urLoad the tread 12.
:Aa
illustrated in t~'igsres ~ and ~, verric :1 lifting nP the arm assembly 60F
may be
acce,~mplished vt any poir.: attar the vacuum har 80A and tread 12 have
cleared tray 13.
.as illast.~atvd i;y Fi~ares 7 and 10, once the vacuum bar ROA and tread 12
arc
L~~sitioned show the sloct;~d conveyer 130) the aim assembly ~0~ is la!~ered
~~v the vertics;
trarnlstion means Ccinders 202 an;i vacuum bar 80A pass tlvUSah slots as
~.rcviousiy
dCSCr ihcd, anu t.-gad 13 is retained on slotted conveyor 1:;0. As with th4
first embc;ulimcnt,
the suctian cups i6r~ are then .released from the tread 12. and the tread 12
is advanced
toward a tire buildi~e machine.
The invantion bas heen described ~.vith reference io preferred embodiment.
Obviously, mcdii~c;dtiorts and alE~ratoons will occur to others upon a reading
and
understanding of this specii'tcarion, it is intended to include atl suca
modii'ications and
altcrn.3t:ons in so far as they cotne within the scope of t,5e appended
claims.
IIaving thus described the inve noon, it is :.o:v claimed:
L11.~c1~;r~~ Sift
~~.ilL. ~Jwr i
