| 摘要 |
A method of manufacturing an annular toroidially-shaped cord reinforced ply for a tire is described. The method involves applying an elastomeric layer (4) on a toroidal surface (50) and placing and stitching one or more cords (2) in continuous lengths onto the elastomeric layer (4) in predetermined cord paths. The method further includes dispensing the one or more cords (2) from spools (74) and guiding the cord (2) in a predetermined path as the cord (2) is being dispensed. Preferably, each cord (2) is held against the elastomeric layer (4) after the cord (2) is placed and stitched and then indexing the cord path to a next circumferential location forming a loop end (12) by reversing the direction of the cord (2) and releasing the held cord (2) after the loop end (12) is formed and the cord path direction is reversed. This method allows the step of forming loop ends (12) to occur at more than one diameter on the toroidal surface (50). In one embodiment the toroidal surface (50) has a first concave curvature, a convex crown and a second concave curvature and the step of placing and stitching each cord includes traversing the cord across a path including at least one of the first or second concave curvatures and at least a portion of the convex crown. This method is best performed using an apparatus (100) for forming an annular toroidially shaped cord reinforced ply which has a toroidal mandrel (52), a means to dispense one or more cords (2), a means to guide the dispensed cords (2) along predetermined paths, a means to place an elastomeric layer (4) on the toroidal mandrel (52), a means to stitch the cords (2) onto the elastomeric layer (4), and a means to hold the cords (2) while loop ends (12) are formed. <IMAGE> |
