Tire building machine and method for supplying a tire component

Abstract

The invention relates to a tire building machine comprising a tire component servicer for supplying a tire component in a supply plane and an applicator for transferring the tire component, wherein the tire component servicer comprises a support member and a platform that is retractable in a retraction direction relative to the support member from a support position into a retracted position, in which the platform is recessed and spaced apart from said supply plane, wherein the applicator comprises a leading end retainer with a first claw member and a second claw member which are positionable on opposite sides of the supply plane, wherein one claw member of the first claw member and the second claw member is positionable between the platform and the supply plane when the platform is retracted from the support position towards and / or into the retracted position. The invention further relates to a method.

Description

[0001] Tire building machine and method for supplying a tire component

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] The invention relates to a tire building machine and a method for supplying a tire component .

[0004] JP 2528266 B2 discloses a work head is advanced in a direction of travel along a reciprocating frame to trans fer a soft strip, such as a side wall , from a support section of a cutting device to a forming drum during a tire manufacturing process . The working head comprises a first pressing device in the form of a pressing finger for retaining the strip near a leading end thereof , a second pressing device in the form of a roller to press the strip onto the forming drum, and a third pressing device in the form of a suction tool to retain the strip near a trailing end thereof . The third pressing device is located downstream of the first pressing device in the direction of travel and the second pressing device is located between the first pressing device and the third pressing device .

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A disadvantage of the work head as disclosed in JP 2528266 B2 is that the first pressing device does not pick up the strip at the most distal part , the leading tip, of the leading end . Instead, the first pressing device picks up the strip at a short distance upstream of the leading tip, considered in the direction of travel , such that the leading tip proj ects freely from the first pressing device and can be pressed onto the forming drum by the second pressing device . During the trans fer of the strip from the support section of the cutting device to the forming drum, the leading tip is temporarily unsupported and / or uncontrolled . The position of the leading tip may shift and / or the shape of the leading tip may deform during the trans fer . This is particularly relevant when applying relatively thin strips ( for example having a thickness of less than one millimeter) , which may easily ripple , fold and / or flutter during the transfer . Consequently, the position of the leading tip is unknown and / or potentially inaccurate when applying the strip to the forming drum, which may have a negative influence on the subsequent steps of the tire manufacturing process , such as splicing and / or the application of any subsequent layers , and the tire quality as a whole .

[0007] It is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a tire building machine and a method for supplying a tire component , wherein accuracy of the positioning of the strip on the tire building drum can be improved .

[0008] According to a first aspect , the invention provides a tire building machine comprising a tire component servicer for supplying a tire component in a supply plane and an applicator for trans ferring the tire component from the tire component servicer to a tire building drum in an application direction, wherein the tire component servicer comprises a support member for supporting the tire component in the supply plane and a platform that is retractable in a retraction direction relative to the support member from a support position, in which the platform is flush or substantially flush with the support member in the supply plane, towards and / or into a retracted position, in which the platform is recessed relative to the support member and spaced apart from said supply plane, wherein the applicator comprises a leading end retainer for retaining a leading end of the tire component, wherein the leading end retainer comprises a first claw member and a second claw member which are positionable on opposite sides of the supply plane, wherein one claw member of the first claw member and the second claw member is positionable between the platform and the supply plane when the platform is retracted from the support position towards and / or into the retracted position .

[0009] In the support position, the platform may cooperate with the support member to support the tire component in the supply plane, for example when carrying out operations on the tire component in said supply plane, such as a cutting, aligning, repositioning, etc . Moreover, the platform, in the support position, may prevent deformation of the tire component at the transition from the supply plane to the platform. Meanwhile , in the retracted position, the platform can ef fectively temporarily vacate or clear a space below the supply plane which can be used to conveniently pick-up the tire component from below . In particular, by retracting the platform into the retracted position, the tire component remains supported for the most part by the support member, while one claw member of the applicator can conveniently be positioned below the part of the tire component that was previously support by the platform. The one claw member can cooperate with the other claw member above the supply plane to securely engage the tire component from opposite sides of said supply plane, without being hindered by the platform in the retracted position .

[0010] The platform can be used to expose only the very end of the leading end such that it can be picked-up, reliably held, trans ferred and / or applied to the tire component to the tire building drum. The leading tip is therefore less likely to shift or deform as a result of forces exerted onto the tire component . Hence, the accuracy of the positioning of the tire component on the tire building drum during pick-up, transfer, application and / or stitching can be improved .

[0011] In one preferred embodiment the support member and the platform are contiguous in the supply plane when the platform is in the support position . Hence, the tire component can be supplied in the supply plane over the support member onto the platform without encountering any signi ficant interruption, gap or transition .

[0012] In another embodiment the tire component servicer is further provided with a retraction drive for driving the platform between the retracted position and the support position . Hence , the retraction of the platform can be controlled automatically or semi-automatically .

[0013] In another embodiment the tire component servicer is configured for supplying the tire component in a supply direction parallel to the supply plane , wherein the support member is located upstream of the platform considered relative to the supply direction . Hence , the tire component can be initially supported on the support member before being conveyed further onto the platform in the supply direction . Moreover, when performing operations , such as cutting, on the tire component at the platform, at least a portion of the remaining length of the tire component can still be supported on the support member upstream of the platform .

[0014] Preferably, the tire component servicer comprises a cutting device for cutting the tire component along a cutting line extending in the supply plane perpendicular to the supply direction, wherein the platform is configured for supporting the tire component at the cutting line in the support position and for moving away from the cutting device in the retraction direction . The platform may therefore cooperate with the cutting device for cutting the tire component , while moving away from the cutting device once the tire component has been cut .

[0015] In particular, the cutting device comprises a cutter that is configured for cooperating with the platform for cutting the tire component along the cutting line . Preferably, the cutter is a disc cutter . The disc cutter can be moved along the cutting line from side-to-side, while rotating, to cut the tire component .

[0016] More preferably, the platform is a cutting bar that is configured for cooperating with the cutter . The cutting bar can be made of a hard material that is suitable for cooperating with the cutter to repeatedly cut tire components to length . The cutting bar may also be provided with cutting features , such as a cutting edge , a cutting slot or a cutting profile , to cooperate with the cutter along the cutting line .

[0017] In a further embodiment, that may also be applied independently of the retractability of the platform and the applicator, e . g . in a tire component servicer in combination with a conventional fixed cutting bar, the cutting device further comprises a holder for holding the cutter relative to the supply plane and a tilt drive for tilting the holder about a tilt axis parallel to the cutting line . By tilting the holder, and thus the cutter held by said holder, the cutter can be moved away from the platform and / or the tire component to reduce wear or damage to the cutter, the platform and / or the tire component during non-cutting operations , such as the retracting of platform and / or the return of the cutter to a starting position alongside and / or above the tire component .

[0018] More speci fically, the platform comprises a counter member having a counter cutting face that extends in a cutting plane perpendicular to the supply direction and that ends in a counter cutting edge parallel to or coinciding with the cutting line , wherein the cutter comprises a cutting blade having a cutting face that ends in a cutting edge, wherein the holder is tiltable in a first tilt direction about the tilt axis from a cutting orientation in which the cutting edge is configured to cooperate with the counter cutting edge to cut the tire component along the cutting line in the cutting plane into a first tilted orientation in which the cutting face is moved away from the cutting plane , considered in the supply plane . By moving the cutting face away from the cutting plane , at least at the level of the supply plane , a clearance can be created between the cutting face and the counter cutting face to reduce wear between said cutting faces during non-cutting operations , as mentioned above .

[0019] Preferably, the cutting face is moved away from the cutting plane with at least a vector component in the supply plane in a clearance direction opposite to the supply direction . Hence, the cutting face can be moved with at least a vector component in a direction upstream from the cutting plane, thereby effectively creating a clearance gap between the cutting face and the counter cutting face to reduce wear when said cutting faces are moved relative to each other .

[0020] Additionally or alternatively, the holder is tilted from the cutting orientation into the first tilted orientation over a first tilt angle of at least one-tenth of a degree, preferably at least two-tenths of a degree and most preferably at least three-tenths of a degree . Said relatively small first tilt angle can already be suf ficient to provide clearance and reduce wear .

[0021] In a further embodiment the cutting device comprises a tilt drive for driving the tilt of the holder about the tilt axis , wherein the tilt drive is operationally connected to the retraction drive and configured to tilt the holder into the first tilted orientation prior to or simultaneously with the retraction of the platform from the support position into the retracted position . In this way, the cutting face can be moved away from the counter cutting face prior to or as soon as the platform starts to move towards the retracted position, thereby preventing wear to both cutting faces as a result of the retraction of the platform.

[0022] In another embodiment the holder is tiltable about the tilt axis in a second tilt direction opposite to the first tilt direction from the first tilted orientation into a second tilted orientation in which the cutting blade proj ects at least partially downstream of the cutting plane . By tilting the holder, and the cutter held by said holder, into the second tilt orientation above and clear of the platform, to allow for a return of the cutter to its starting position without interfering with the platform and / or the tire component .

[0023] Preferably, the holder is tilted from the cutting orientation into the first tilted orientation over a second tilt angle of at least two degrees , and preferably at least three degrees . The second tilt angle can be suf ficient to tilt the holder such that the cutter is above and clear of the platform and / or the tire component .

[0024] In a further embodiment the tilt drive is configured to tilt the holder from the first tilted orientation into the second tilted orientation after retraction of the platform from the support position into the retracted position . At this stage, the tire component can be picked up and transferred by the applicator towards the tire building drum. By tilting the holder into the second tilted orientation, the cutter can be returned to its starting position at the other side of the tire component considered along the cutting line, without the cutter interfering with the trans fer of the tire component .

[0025] In another embodiment the application direction is parallel or substantially parallel to the supply direction . Hence, the tire component can be transferred in the same direction as the direction in which it is supplied .

[0026] According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method for supplying a tire component to a tire building drum using the tire building machine according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the method comprises the steps of : providing the platform in the support position to support the tire component in the supply plane ; retracting the platform from the support position towards and / or into the retracted position; and positioning one claw member of the first claw member and the second claw member between the platform and the supply plane when the platform is retracted towards and / or into the retracted position .

[0027] The method relates to the practical implementation of the tire building machine and thus has the same technical advantages , which will not be repeated hereafter .

[0028] In one preferred embodiment the method further comprises the steps of : cutting the tire component along a cutting line extending in the supply plane perpendicular to the supply direction to create the leading end; and supporting the tire component at the cutting line with the platform in the support position .

[0029] More preferably, the method further comprises the steps of : retaining the leading end of the tire component in the supply plane, with the first claw member and the second claw member on opposite sides of the supply plane when the platform is retracted towards and / or into the retracted position .

[0030] In another embodiment , that may also be applied independently of the retractability of the platform, e . g . in combination with a conventional fixed cutting bar, the tire component servicer comprises a cutting device for cutting the tire component along the cutting line, wherein the cutting device comprises a cutter that is configured for cooperating with the platform for cutting the tire component along the cutting line, wherein the method further comprises the step of : tilting the cutter about a tilt axis parallel to the cutting line .

[0031] Preferably, the platform comprises a counter member having a counter cutting face that extends in a cutting plane perpendicular to the supply direction and that ends in a counter cutting edge parallel to or coinciding with the cutting line , wherein the cutter comprises a cutting blade having a cutting face that ends in a cutting edge, wherein the method comprises the step of : tilting the cutter in a first tilt direction about the tilt axis from a cutting orientation in which the cutting edge is configured to cooperate with the counter cutting edge to cut the tire component along the cutting line in the cutting plane into a first tilted orientation in which the cutting face is moved away from the cutting plane, considered in the supply plane . More preferably, the cutting face is moved away from the cutting plane with at least a vector component in the supply plane in a clearance direction opposite to the supply direction .

[0032] In another embodiment the holder is tilted from the cutting orientation into the first tilted orientation over a first tilt angle of at least one-tenth of a degree, preferably at least two-tenths of a degree and most preferably at least three-tenths of a degree .

[0033] In another embodiment the cutter is tilted into the first tilted orientation prior to or simultaneously with the retraction of the platform from the support position into the retracted position .

[0034] In another embodiment the cutter is tiltable about the tilt axis in a second tilt direction opposite to the first tilt direction from the first tilted orientation into a second tilted orientation in which the cutting blade proj ects at least partially downstream of the cutting plane .

[0035] Preferably, the holder is tilted from the cutting orientation into the first tilted orientation over a second tilt angle of at least two degrees , and preferably at least three degrees .

[0036] Additionally or alternatively, the cutter is tilted from the first tilted orientation into the second tilted orientation after retraction of the platform from the support position into the retracted position .

[0037] In another embodiment of the method, that may also be applied independently of the platform and its related features , the method further comprises the step of : generating a tension in the tire component in the supply direction across the cutting line during the cutting . The tension in the tire component can reduce the wear between the cutter and the tire component and may promote a clean and / or accurate cutting of the tire component . The tension may further ensure a proper separation of the cut ends of the continuous strip after cutting .

[0038] In another embodiment of the method, that may also be applied independently of the platform and its related features , the tire component servicer is provided with a first cutting clamp : using the first cutting clamp to clamp the tire component onto the support member in a clamping position upstream of the cutting line during the cutting; retaining the leading end of the tire component with the leading end retainer; moving the first cutting clamp away from the support member up to a first release distance to release the tire component from the first cutting clamp ; moving the applicator in the application direction away from the tire component servicer for transferring the cut-to-length tire component from the tire component servicer to the tire building drum; and moving the first cutting clamp further away from the support member up to a second release distance that is greater than the first release distance . Preferably, the second release distance is at least a factor two greater than the first release distance, an preferably at least a factor three greater than the first release distance .

[0039] When the applicator pulls the tire component through the tire component servicer as the leading end is transferred to the tire building drum, parts of the tire component may wave , j olt or j ump up unpredictably . To prevent damage tire component as a result of contact or entanglement with the tire component servicer during this trans fer, the speed at which the tire component is pulled through is kept deliberately low . However, by moving the first cutting clamp further away from the support member, the open area through which the tire component is pulled, can be increased significantly . Hence, the speed at which the tire component is pulled through and trans ferred can be increased significantly .

[0040] The various aspects and features described and shown in the speci fication can be applied, individually, wherever possible . These individual aspects , in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims , can be made subj ect of divisional patent applications .

[0041] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached schematic drawings , in which : figures 1- 6 show side views of a tire component servicer according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention during the steps of a method for supplying a tire component ; and figure 7 shows a top view of the tire component servicer according to figures 1- 6 .

[0043] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Figures 1-7 show a tire building machine 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention for building or manufacturing a green or unvulcani zed tire .

[0045] As shown in figure 1 , the tire building machine 1 comprises a tire building drum 2 , a tire component supply device or servicer 3 for supplying a continuous strip 9 to the tire building drum 2 in a supply direction S and an applicator 5 for transferring and / or applying the cut-to- length tire components 90 , 90 ' from the tire component servicer 3 to or onto the tire building drum 2 in an application direction A. In this example , the application direction A is parallel to or in line with the supply direction S .

[0046] In this example, the continuous strip 9 is a cord reinforced strip of elastomeric material or rubber, in particular a reinforcement strip for reinforcing the longitudinal edge of a breaker . Alternatively, the continuous strip 9 can be used to manufacture a cap strip, a gum strip or a side wall , or any other strip used in tire building or tire manufacturing, with or without cord reinforcements . The continuous strip 9 is cut-to-length to form a tire components 90 , 90 ' having a leading end LE, LE ' and a trailing end TE , TE ' , considered in the supply direction S . Note that the cutting in figure 1 creates a trailing end TE' for a tire component 90 ' of a previous cycle and simultaneously creates a new leading end LE for a subsequent tire component 90 .

[0047] The tire component servicer 3 comprises a base 30 and a support member 33 for supporting the continuous strip 9 in a supply plane P relative to the base 30 . In this example, the supply plane P extends parallel to the supply direction S . The support member 33 may be a support table , a roller conveyor or a belt conveyor .

[0048] The tire component servicer 3 further comprises a platform 34 that is retractable relative to the support member 33 from a support position, as shown in figure 1 , towards and / or into a retracted position, as shown in figure 2 . The platform 34 only has a limited length in the supply direction S relative to the length of the support member 33 . In particular, the platform 34 has a length in said supply direction S that is less than twenty centimeters , and preferably less than ten centimeters . In particular, the platform 34 has a length in the supply direction S that is at least a factor three smaller, and preferably at least a factor four smaller than the length of the support member 33 in the supply direction S . Hence , the support member 33 can support most of the tire component 90 , while the platform 34 only supports a small portion of the tire component 90 , in particular the portion of the tire component 90 where the leading end LE and the trailing end TE' are formed in figure 1 .

[0049] More in particular, it can be seen that the platform 34 is the last part , the foremost part or the leading part of the tire component servicer 3 to support the tire component 9 from below before the tire building drum 2 . In other words , there are no further support surfaces or elements of the tire component servicer 3 downstream of the platform 34 in the supply direction S .

[0050] In the support position, the platform 34 is flush, substantially flush, coplanar and / or contiguous with the support member 33 in the supply plane P . In the retracted position, the platform 34 is recessed relative to the support member 33 and spaced apart from said supply plane P in a retraction direction D perpendicular to said supply plane P . In other words , the platform 34 is moved from the support position, in which the platform 34 is located at a first distance from or at the supply plane P, to the retracted position in which the platform 34 is at a second distance greater than the first distance from and / or below the supply plane P .

[0051] In this example, the tire component servicer 3 is further provided with a retraction drive 39 for driving the retraction and / or return of the platform 34 between the retracted position and the support position . The retraction drive 39 may be a linear actuator, for example a pneumatic cylinder . The retraction drive 39 is functionally, electronically and / or operationally connected to the control unit 10 .

[0052] As best seen in figure 1 , the tire component servicer 3 further comprises a cutting device 4 for cutting the continuous strip 9 to length along a cutting line L extending in the supply plane P . In this example, the cutting line L extends transverse or perpendicular to the supply direction S . The cutting device 4 is provided with a kni fe or a cutter 41 and a holder 40 for holding the cutter 41 relative to the supply plane P and / or the cutting line L . In particular, the holder 40 is movable in a cutting direction parallel to the cutting line L for moving the cutter 41 along said cutting line L . The holder 40 is rotatably, pivotable , swivable or tiltable about a tilt axis T parallel to the cutting line L .

[0053] The cutter comprises a cutting blade 42 or a cutting kni fe . In this example, the cutter 41 is a disc cutter having a circular or disc shaped kni fe or cutting blade 42 . Alternatively, the cutter 41 may be an ultrasonic kni fe or a guillotine cutter . The cutting blade 42 is provided with, has or defines a cutting face 43 that ends in a cutting edge 44 , in this example a circular cutting edge .

[0054] Similarly, the platform 34 comprises a counter member 35 is provided with, has or defines a counter cutting face 36 for cooperating with the cutting face 43 to cut the tire component 90 . In this example, the counter cutting face 36 extends in a cutting plane C perpendicular to the supply direction S . The counter cutting face 36 extends at least partially above the supply plane P . The counter cutting face 36 ends in a counter cutting edge 37 coinciding with the cutting line L . In this example, the counter cutting edge 37 extends above the supply plane P, thereby slightly lifting the continuous strip 9 from the cutting line L . The counter cutting edge 37 is linear . During cutting, the cutting edge

[0055] 44 overlaps or intersects with the counter cutting edge 37 . The platform 34 moves away from the supply plane P towards the retracted position when the cutting has been completed, as shown in figure 2 , to expose the freshly cut leading end LE as a freely protruding leading end .

[0056] The cutter 41 is rotatable , pivotable, swivable or tiltable together with the holder 40 about the tilt axis T between a cutting orientation, as shown in figure 1 , a first tilted orientation, as shown in figure 2 and a second tilted orientation, as shown in figure 3 .

[0057] The cutting device 4 further comprises a tilt drive

[0058] 45 for driving or controlling the tilt of the holder 40 about the tilt axis T . The tilt drive 45 functionally, electronically and / or operationally connected to the control unit 10 and / or directly or indirectly to the retraction drive 39 .

[0059] As further shown in figure 1 , the tire building machine 1 optionally comprises a first cutting clamp 15 and / or a second cutting clamp 16, preferably provided as part of the tire component servicer 3 , for clamping the tire component 90 in the supply plane P in a clamping position G upstream of the cutting line L during the cutting . The first cutting clamp 15 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the supply plane P away from the support member 33 to release the tire component 90 after cutting in a manner that will be described hereafter in more detail . The second cutting clamp 16 is retractable from the supply plane P to a position below said supply plane P .

[0060] As shown by comparing figures 1 and 2 , the applicator 5 is movable along a guide (not shown) in the application direction A. As shown in figure 1 , the applicator

[0061] 5 comprises a leading end retainer 6 for retaining the leading end LE of the tire component 9, a trailing end retainer 7 for retaining the trailing end TE of the tire component 9, a stitcher 8 for stitching the tire component 9 to the tire building drum 2 , and an applicator body 50 for supporting the leading end retainer 6 , the trailing end retainer 7 and the stitcher 8 relative to each other . In particular, the applicator body 50 holds or positions the leading end retainer

[0062] 6 in a leading end retaining position considered in the supply direction S . The applicator body 50 further holds or positions the trailing end retainer 7 in a trailing end retaining position downstream of the leading end retaining position considered in the supply direction S . Finally, the applicator body 50 holds or positions the stitcher 8 in a stitcher position between the leading end retaining position and the trailing end retaining position, considered in the supply direction S .

[0063] As further shown in figure 4 , the leading end retainer 6 comprises a leading end clamp 60 for retaining the leading end LE of the tire component 9 in or at the supply plane P through clamping . In particular, the leading end clamp 60 comprises an upper claw member or a first claw member 61 and a lower claw member or a second claw member 62 which are positionable on opposite sides of the supply plane P . In this example , the first claw member 61 is located below the supply plane P and is movable towards the second claw member 62 in a retaining direction B transverse or perpendicular to said supply plane P . Alternatively, the second claw member 62 may be movable towards the first claw member 61 or both claw members 61 , 62 may be movable towards each other .

[0064] The second claw member 62 is positionable in the space created, vacated and / or previously occupied by the platform 34 when said platform 34 is retracted into the retracted position, as shown in figure 4 . In particular, the second claw member 62 is dimensioned to fit between or is positionable between the platform 34 and the supply plane P when the platform 34 is in the retracted position .

[0065] As shown in figure 1 , the trailing end retainer 7 comprises at least one trailing end suction cup 70 for retaining the trailing end TE of the tire component 9 in or at the supply plane P through suction . In this example , the trailing end retainer 7 comprises one or more trailing end suction cups 70 . Alternatively, the trailing end retainer 7 may be trailing end clamp similar to the leading end clamp 6.

[0066] Finally, the stitcher 8 comprises a stitching roller 80 for stitching the tire component 9 to the tire building drum 2 through rolling .

[0067] The tire building machine 1 may further optionally comprises a trailing end support 17 for supporting the trailing end TE of the tire component 90 ' that is created when the cutter 41 cuts the continuous strip 9 to length . The trailing end support 17 cooperates with the trailing end retainer 7 to clamp the trailing end TE . When the trailing end TE is engaged by the trailing end retainer 7 , the applicator 5 may be moved into a position that is slightly lower than the level at which the continuous strip 9 is supported on the platform 34 , thereby slightly tensioning the continuous strip 9 to facilitate the cutting . The trailing end support 17 may be kept in position in or slightly below the supply plane P to ensure that the applicator 5 is not lowered too far relative to the supply plane P . The height position of the trailing end support 17 may be controlled by an actuator, in particular a linear actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder .

[0068] A method for supplying the tire component 9 to the tire building drum 2 with the use of the aforementioned tire component servicer 3 and / or the aforementioned tire building machine 1 will now be elucidated with reference to figures 1- 6.

[0069] Figure 1 shows the situation the leading end of a tire component 90 ' from a previous cycle of the method has been applied to the tire building drum 6. The applicator 5 has been returned in a direction opposite to the application direction A to a trailing end pick-up position at or near the platform 34 .

[0070] The platform 34 is in the support position flush with the support member 33 . The counter cutting face 36 extends in the cutting plane C . The cutting device 35 has been controlled to the holder 40 to move the cutter 41 from a position laterally alongside the continuous strip 9 along the cutting line L, thereby laterally cutting into the continuous strip 9 . The cutter 41 is held by the holder 40 in a cutting orientation in which the cutting face 43 of the cutter 41 extends in or parallel to the cutting plane C . In said orientation, the cutting edge 44 of the cutter 41 is configured to cooperate with the counter cutting edge 37 of the counter member 35 formed by the platform 34 to cut the continuous strip 9 to length, thereby creating a trailing end TE ' for the tire component 90 ' of the previous cycle . Simultaneously, a new leading end LE has been created for a subsequent tire component 90 to be applied during the current cycle of the method . Prior to, during or after the cutting, the trailing end retainer 7 has been controlled to engage or retain the trailing end TE ' . Optionally, the trailing end support 17 is controlled or positioned into a position opposite to the trailing end retainer 7 to support the trailing end TE' from the opposite side of the supply plane P . The cutting clamps 15 , 16 have been controlled to clamp the continuous strip 9 or the tire component 90 to be cut from said continuous strip 9 in the supply plane P .

[0071] Figure 2 shows the situation in which the applicator 5 has been moved in the application direction A towards the tire building drum 2 with the trailing end TE' retained in the trailing end retainer 7 , into a position above, at or near a trailing end release position . The platform 34 is retracted towards and / or into the retracted position to expose the leading end LE that has been cut in figure 1 .

[0072] Meanwhile , at the tire component servicer 3 , prior to or simultaneously with the retraction of the platform 34 into the retracted position, the holder 40 is tilted by the tilt drive 45 from the cutting orientation of figure 1 in a first tilt direction R1 into a first tilted orientation, as shown in figure 2 . The holder 40 is tilted from the cutting orientation into the first tilted orientation over a first tilt angle Hl of at least one-tenth of a degree, preferably at least two-tenths of a degree and most preferably at least three-tenths of a degree .

[0073] The tilt of the holder 40 causes the cutting face 43 of the cutter 41 to be positioned in or parallel to a first tilted plane VI extending at the same first tilt angle Hl to the cutting plane C . The cutter 41 may be considered to have been tilted slightly forward considered relative to the supply direction S . As a result, the cutting face 43 is moved away from the cutting plane C with at least a vector component in the supply plane P in a clearance direction E opposite to the supply direction S . This creates a small clearance gap between the cutting faces 36 , 43 prior to or during the retraction of the platform 34 , to prevent wear on both cutting faces 36, 43 during said retraction .

[0074] Note that the cutter 41 , after completing the cut , has moved further along the cutting line L into a position alongside the tire component 9, as shown by the position of the cutter 41 at the bottom of figure 7 . Hence, the tilting of the cutter 41 occurs laterally alongside the tire component 90 and does not interfere with the tire component 90 as such . This is also reflected in figure 2 by the fact that the cutter 41 is shown to extend in front of the leading end LE of the tire component 90 relative to the plane of the drawing .

[0075] Figure 3 shows the situation in which the holder

[0076] 40 is tilted by the tilt drive 45 about the tilt axis T in a second tilt direction R2 opposite to the first tilt direction R1 from the first tilted orientation of figure 2 into a second tilted orientation . In particular, the holder 40 is tilted from the first tilted orientation, through the cutting orientation, into the second tilted orientation over a second tilt angle H2 of at least two degrees , and preferably at least three degrees .

[0077] The opposite tilt of the holder 40 causes the cutting face 43 of the cutter 41 to be positioned in or parallel to a second tilted plane V2 oppositely inclined relative to the cutting plane C compared to the first tilted plane VI in figure 2 . The cutter 41 may be considered to have been tilted slightly rearward or backward considered relative to the supply direction S . In particular, the lower end of the cutter 41 , and more in particular the lower end of the cutting blade 42 or the lower end of the cutting edge 44 extends or proj ects at least partially downstream of the cutting plane P .

[0078] Similar to the situation in figure 2 , the cutter

[0079] 41 in figure 3 is still laterally at a side of the tire component 9 , as shown by the position of the cutter 41 at the bottom of figure 7 , such that the tilting does not interfere with the tire component 90 . The tilting of the cutter 41 has been shown schematically in figure 7 with dashed lines . As soon as the cutter 41 has been tilted suf ficiently to be above and clear of the tire component 90 , the holder 40 can be controlled to return the cutter 41 in a direction parallel to the cutting line L back to its starting position of figure 1 , as shown with the return arrow K in figure 7 .

[0080] Figure 4 shows the situation in which the applicator 5 has been moved into a leading-end pick-up position above the tire component servicer 3 , in particular above, at or near the platform 34 for picking-up the leading end LE . The leading end clamp 60 extends at or near the supply plane P . The applicator 5 has subsequently been moved in a direction opposite to the supply direction S into a position in which the claw members 61 , 62 of the leading end clamp 60 are on opposite sides of the leading end LE in the retaining direction B .

[0081] Figure 5 shows the situation in which the applicator 5 or the leading end retainer 6 has been moved slightly upwards , away from the platform 34 , to lift the retained leading end LE from the support member 33 .

[0082] Moreover, The first cutting clamp 15 has been moved away from the support member 33 up to a first release distance XI to release the tire component 90 from the first cutting clamp 15. The second cutting clamp 16 is also optionally retracted to release the tire component 90 from the second cutting clamp 16.

[0083] Figure 6 shows the situation in which the applicator 5 has been moved in the application direction A away from the tire component servicer 3 for transferring the cut-to-length tire component 90 from the tire component servicer 3 towards the tire building drum 2 .

[0084] Note that the first cutting clamp 15 has been moved further away from the support member 33 up to a second release distance X2 that is greater than the first release distance XI to increase the gap in the tire component servicer 3 for the tire component 90 to move through .

[0085] After applying the leading end LE to the drum 2 , the aforementioned steps of the method may be repeated for another cycle of the method .

[0086] It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention . From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention .

[0087] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0088] 1 tire building machine

[0089] 10 control unit

[0090] 15 first cutting clamp

[0091] 16 second cutting clamp

[0092] 17 trailing end support

[0093] 2 tire building drum

[0094] 3 tire component servicer

[0095] 30 base

[0096] 33 support member

[0097] 34 platform

[0098] 35 counter member

[0099] 36 counter cutting face

[0100] 37 counter cutting edge

[0101] 39 retraction drive

[0102] 4 cutting device

[0103] 40 holder

[0104] 41 cutter

[0105] 42 cutting blade

[0106] 43 cutting face

[0107] 44 cutting edge

[0108] 45 tilt drive

[0109] 5 applicator

[0110] 50 applicator body

[0111] 6 leading end retainer

[0112] 60 leading end clamp

[0113] 61 first claw member

[0114] 62 second claw member

[0115] 7 trailing end retainer

[0116] 70 suction cup

[0117] 8 stitcher

[0118] 80 stitching roller

[0119] 9 continuous strip 90 tire component

[0120] 90 ' tire component

[0121] A application direction

[0122] B retaining direction

[0123] C cutting plane

[0124] D retraction direction

[0125] E clearance direction

[0126] G clamping position

[0127] Hl first tilt angle

[0128] H2 second tilt angle

[0129] K return arrow

[0130] L cutting line

[0131] LE leading end

[0132] LE ' leading end

[0133] P supply plane

[0134] R1 first tilt direction

[0135] R2 second tilt direction

[0136] S supply direction

[0137] T tilt axis

[0138] TE trailing end

[0139] VI first tilted plane

[0140] V2 second tilted plane

[0141] XI first release distance

[0142] X2 second release distance

Claims

C L A I M S1 . Tire building machine comprising a tire component servicer for supplying a tire component in a supply plane and an applicator for transferring the tire component from the tire component servicer to a tire building drum in an application direction, wherein the tire component servicer comprises a support member for supporting the tire component in the supply plane and a platform that is retractable in a retraction direction relative to the support member from a support position, in which the platform is flush or substantially flush with the support member in the supply plane, towards and / or into a retracted position, in which the platform is recessed relative to the support member and spaced apart from said supply plane, wherein the applicator comprises a leading end retainer for retaining a leading end of the tire component, wherein the leading end retainer comprises a first claw member and a second claw member which are positionable on opposite sides of the supply plane, wherein one claw member of the first claw member and the second claw member is positionable between the platform and the supply plane when the platform is retracted from the support position towards and / or into the retracted position .2 . Tire building machine according to claim 1 , wherein the support member and the platform are contiguous in the supply plane when the platform is in the support position .3 . Tire building machine according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the tire component servicer is further provided with a retraction drive for driving the platform between the retracted position and the support position .4 . Tire building machine according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the tire component servicer is configured for supplying the tire component in a supply direction parallel to the supply plane , wherein the support member is located upstream of the platform consideredrelative to the supply direction .

5. Tire building machine according to claim 4 , wherein the tire component servicer comprises a cutting device for cutting the tire component along a cutting line extending in the supply plane perpendicular to the supply direction, wherein the platform is configured for supporting the tire component at the cutting line in the support position and for moving away from the cutting device in the retraction direction .

6. Tire building machine according to claim 5, wherein the cutting device comprises a cutter that is configured for cooperating with the platform for cutting the tire component along the cutting line .7 . Tire building machine according to claim 6, wherein the platform is a cutting bar that is configured for cooperating with the cutter .8 . Tire building machine according to claim 7 , wherein the cutter is a disc cutter .

9. Tire building machine according to any one of claims 6- 8 , wherein the cutting device further comprises a holder for holding the cutter relative to the supply plane and a tilt drive for tilting the holder about a tilt axis parallel to the cutting line .10 . Tire building machine according to claim 9, wherein the platform comprises a counter member having a counter cutting face that extends in a cutting plane perpendicular to the supply direction and that ends in a counter cutting edge parallel to or coinciding with the cutting line , wherein the cutter comprises a cutting blade having a cutting face that ends in a cutting edge, wherein the holder is tiltable in a first tilt direction about the tilt axis from a cutting orientation in which the cutting edge is configured to cooperate with the counter cutting edge to cut the tire component along the cutting line in the cutting plane into a first tilted orientation in which the cutting face is moved away from the cutting plane , considered in the supply plane .11 . Tire building machine according to claim 10 , wherein the cutting face is moved away from the cutting plane with at least a vector component in the supply plane in a clearance direction opposite to the supply direction .12 . Tire building machine according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the holder is tilted from the cutting orientation into the first tilted orientation over a first tilt angle of at least one-tenth of a degree, preferably at least two- tenths of a degree and most preferably at least three-tenths of a degree .13 . Tire building machine according to claim 3 and any one of claims 10- 12 , wherein the cutting device comprises a tilt drive for driving the tilt of the holder about the tilt axis , wherein the tilt drive is operationally connected to the retraction drive and configured to tilt the holder into the first tilted orientation prior to or simultaneously with the retraction of the platform from the support position into the retracted position .14 . Tire building machine according to any one of claims 10-13 , wherein the holder is tiltable about the tilt axis in a second tilt direction opposite to the first tilt direction from the first tilted orientation into a second tilted orientation in which the cutting blade proj ects at least partially downstream of the cutting plane .15 . Tire building machine according to claim 14 , wherein the holder is tilted from the cutting orientation into the second tilted orientation over a second tilt angle of at least two degrees , and preferably at least three degrees .16 . Tire building machine according to claim 13 and any one of claims 14 or 15 , wherein the tilt drive is configured to tilt the holder from the first tilted orientation into the second tilted orientation after retraction of the platform from the support position into the retracted position .17 . Tire building machine according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the application direction isparallel or substantially parallel to the supply direction .18 . Method for supplying a tire component to a tire building drum using the tire building machine according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the method comprises the steps of : providing the platform in the support position to support the tire component in the supply plane ; retracting the platform from the support position towards and / or into the retracted position; and positioning one claw member of the first claw member and the second claw member between the platform and the supply plane when the platform is retracted towards and / or into the retracted position .19 . Method according to claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of : cutting the tire component along a cutting line extending in the supply plane perpendicular to the supply direction to create the leading end; and supporting the tire component at the cutting line with the platform in the support position .20 . Method according to claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises the step of : retaining the leading end of the tire component in the supply plane, with the first claw member and the second claw member on opposite sides of the supply plane when the platform is retracted towards and / or into the retracted position .21 . Method according to claim 19 or 20 , wherein the tire component servicer comprises a cutting device for cutting the tire component along the cutting line, wherein the cutting device comprises a cutter that is configured for cooperating with the platform for cutting the tire component along the cutting line, wherein the method further comprises the step of : tilting the cutter about a tilt axis parallel to the cutting line .22 . Method according to claim 21 , wherein theplatform comprises a counter member having a counter cutting face that extends in a cutting plane perpendicular to the supply direction and that ends in a counter cutting edge parallel to or coinciding with the cutting line, wherein the cutter comprises a cutting blade having a cutting face that ends in a cutting edge , wherein the method comprises the step of : tilting the cutter in a first tilt direction about the tilt axis from a cutting orientation in which the cutting edge is configured to cooperate with the counter cutting edge to cut the tire component along the cutting line in the cutting plane into a first tilted orientation in which the cutting face is moved away from the cutting plane, considered in the supply plane .23 . Method according to claim 22 , wherein the cutting face is moved away from the cutting plane with at least a vector component in the supply plane in a clearance direction opposite to the supply direction .24 . Method according to claim 22 or 23 , wherein the holder is tilted from the cutting orientation into the first tilted orientation over a first tilt angle of at least one- tenth of a degree, preferably at least two-tenths of a degree and most preferably at least three-tenths of a degree .25 . Method according to any one of claims 22-24 , wherein the cutter is tilted into the first tilted orientation prior to or simultaneously with the retraction of the platform from the support position into the retracted position .26 . Method according to any one of claims 22-25, wherein the cutter is tiltable about the tilt axis in a second tilt direction opposite to the first tilt direction from the first tilted orientation into a second tilted orientation in which the cutting blade proj ects at least partially downstream of the cutting plane .27 . Method according to claim 26 , wherein the holder is tilted from the cutting orientation into the first tilted orientation over a second tilt angle of at least two degrees , and preferably at least three degrees .28 . Method according to claim 26 or 27 , wherein the cutter is tilted from the first tilted orientation into the second tilted orientation after retraction of the platform from the support position into the retracted position .29 . Method according to any one of claims 20-28 , wherein the method further comprises the step of : generating a tension in the tire component in the supply direction across the cutting line during the cutting .30 . Method according to any one of claims 20-29, wherein the tire component servicer is provided with a first cutting clamp : using the first cutting clamp to clamp the tire component onto the support member in a clamping position upstream of the cutting line during the cutting; retaining the leading end of the tire component with the leading end retainer; moving the first cutting clamp away from the support member up to a first release distance to release the tire component from the first cutting clamp ; moving the applicator in the application direction away from the tire component servicer for transferring the cut-to-length tire component from the tire component servicer to the tire building drum; and moving the first cutting clamp further away from the support member up to a second release distance that is greater than the first release distance .31 . Method according to claim 30 , wherein the second release distance is at least a factor two greater than the first release distance, and preferably at least a factor three greater than the first release distance .— o— o— o— o— o— o— o— o—RM / HZ

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