Spring loaded tooling head and method for tire cord application

Abstract

A tooling head for bidirectional tire cord application to an annular surface reciprocates in a forward and a reverse direction across the annular surface. The tooling head includes a housing; a nose block assembly coupled to the housing and reciprocating in an axial direction relative to the tooling head housing; a pair of cord engaging rollers mounted to a remote end of the nose block assembly and moving therewith in a forward and a reverse direction across the annular surface, the rollers positioning at least one cord against the annular surface in the forward and reverse directions; and a biasing element engaging against the nose block assembly for alternatively biasing the rollers against the annular surface.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A method for bidirectional tire cord application to an annular surface, the method comprising:
 mounting a tooling head for reciprocal movement in a forward and a reverse direction across the annular surface, the tooling head having a plurality of annular surface engaging roller components at the annular surface;   feeding a length of tire cord through the tooling head to the terminal end of the tooling head;   selectively routing the tire cord between at least one roller component and the annular surface as the tooling head moves across the annular surface; and   biasing the at least one roller component against the annular surface as the tooling head moves across the annular surface.   
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein further comprising utilizing a pneumatic spring for biasing the roller component against the annular surface at a substantially constant pressure as the tooling head moves across the annular surface. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 pivotally reorienting the tooling head between a first orientation and a second orientation at the conclusion of tooling head movement in the forward and reverse directions.   
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein further comprising rotationally indexing the annular surface in coordination with the pivotal reorientation of the tooling head between the first and second orientations.