Apparatus for supporting and holding a bead core-apex subassembly and method of producing and transporting the bead core-apex subassembly

摘要

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for supporting an annular bead core-apex subassembly, the apparatus comprising a spacer disc for supporting the annular bead core-apex subassembly, and a clamping device comprising a supporting surface for supporting the spacer disc, as well as a plurality of clamping elements for selectively clamping the spacer disc to the supporting surface. The clamping elements are movable between an expanded position in which the spacer disc is clamped to the supporting surface, and a retracted position in which the spacer disc is released and can be lifted from the supporting surface. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a system comprising a respective apparatus for supporting an annular bead core-apex subassembly as well as the subassembly. Finally, the present invention is also directed to a method of transporting an annular bead core-apex subassembly.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
an annular bead core apex-subassembly for making a tire; an apparatus for supporting the annular bead core-apex subassembly, the apparatus comprising: a center axis S; a spacer disc for supporting the annular bead core-apex subassembly, the spacer disc having planar annular face surfaces for supporting the subassembly between an inner diameter of the spacer disc and an outer diameter of the spacer disc, the inner diameter of the spacer disc being smaller than an inner diameter of the subassembly and the outer diameter of the spacer disc being larger than an outer diameter of the subassembly; a clamping device comprising an annular supporting surface for carrying and supporting the spacer disc along one of said planar annular face surfaces of the spacer disc, and a plurality of clamping elements for selectively clamping the spacer disc to the annular supporting surface of the clamping device, the clamping elements being movable relative to the center axis S between an expanded position in which the spacer disc is clamped to the annular supporting surface of the clamping device, and a retracted position in which the spacer disc is released and can be lifted from the annular supporting surface of the clamping device, wherein the clamping elements are movable in parallel to and above the planar annular face surfaces of the spacer disc such that, when the clamping elements are in the expanded position, the spacer disc is held on the annular supporting surface of the clamping device; wherein the spacer disc comprises a central aperture defining an inner, annular edge of the spacer disc at the inner diameter of the spacer disc; and wherein the plurality of clamping elements has each clamping element having an inner first segment with a radially outer shoulder for clamping the inner, annular edge of the spacer disc such that, when the clamping elements are in the expanded position, the outer shoulder of the inner first segment of each of the clamping elements positions the spacer disc at a defined position with respect to the annular support surface of the clamping device and holds the inner, annular edge of the spacer disc by a form fit; wherein the each clamping element has an outer second segment having a further radially outer shoulder for clamping an inner edge of the annular bead core-apex subassembly such that, when the clamping elements are in the expanded position, the further radially outer shoulder of each of the outer second segments of each of the clamping elements positions the bead core at a defined position on the spacer disc and holds the inner edge of the bead core-apex subassembly by a form fit; and wherein each clamping element has its outer second segment slidably mounted with respective to its inner first segment such that the distance between the radially outer shoulder of each inner first segment is adjustable with respect to the further radially outer shoulder of its associated outer second segment.