Method of building a tire and a longitudinal cutter for plies

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a method of building a tire having at least one cord reinforced belt ply. The method is comprised of layering various tire components on a tire building drum. Prior to placing the belt ply on the building drum, at least one belt ply is longitudinally cut, forming a plurality of belt ply segments. The belt ply segments are placed onto the building drum and the cords in each belt ply segment are oriented in the same direction. Also disclosed is a longitudinal cutter for dividing belt ply material into the plurality of belt ply segments. The cutter has at least a pair of shear cutters and a cutting surface against which the shear cutters rotate to cut the continuous belt ply. The shear cutters are mounted on a rail and are moveable along the length of the rail.

1 . A method of building a tire, the tire comprising at least one cord reinforced belt ply, wherein the method is comprised of layering tire components on a tire building drum, the method being characterized by: 
 longitudinally cutting at least one belt ply prior to placing the at least one belt ply on the building drum to form a plurality of belt ply segments, placing the plurality of belt ply segments on the building drum so the cords in each belt ply segment of each belt ply are oriented in the same direction.    
     
     
         2 . A method of building a tire in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the method is further characterized by longitudinally cutting at least two belt plies to form a plurality of belt ply segments and placing the plurality of belt ply segments of each belt ply on the building drum so the cords in the belt ply segments of each belt ply are oriented in opposite directions relative to the belt ply segments of the adjacent belt plies.  
     
     
         3 . A method of building a tire in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the method is further characterized by cutting the belt ply immediately prior to placing the belt ply on the building drum.  
     
     
         4 . A cutter for dividing a continuous belt ply into a plurality of segments, the cutter comprising at least a pair of shear cutters and a cutting surface against which the shear cutters rotate to cut the continuous belt ply, the cutter being characterized by: 
 the shear cutters being mounted on a rail and being moveable along the length of the rail.    
     
     
         5 . A cutter in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the cutter is further characterized by the cutting surface being comprised of a base plate and at least one cutting bar mounted on the base plate against which the shear cutters rotate.  
     
     
         6 . A cutter in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the cutter is further characterized by the base plate having a plurality of grooves and the cutting bar having at least one tang on the base of the bar which interlocks with the grooves to secure the cutting bar to the base plate.