Device and process for storing and transferring strip-shaped products for use in making a tire cover

1. A device for storing and transferring rubber strip sections for making a tire cover, comprising a storage cylinder mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis of revolution on a frame, the frame mounted on a support for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, the support being mounted on a movable carriage said device including a flexible strip forming a closed loop and movable around part of the cylinder, and a set of guides for guiding the flexible strip, with the cylinder and the flexible strip arranged for clamping and frictionally driving a rubber strip section held between the cylinder and the flexible strip to wind the rubber strip section around the cylinder.

2. A storage and transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the movable carriage is guided movably along a rail.

3. A storage and transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the movable carriage carries a cutting tool disposed upstream of the storage cylinder with reference to a direction of movement of the rubber strip sections.

4. A storage and transfer device according to claim 1 , further including a switching device for driving a strip section to and from the storage cylinder.

5. A storage and transfer device according to claim 4 , wherein the switching device comprises at least one movable arm mounted to pivot on the frame about an axis oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the storage cylinder between: a closed position, in which a free end of the arm is brought close to the surface of the storage cylinder, and an open position, in which the free end is at a distance from the surface of the storage cylinder.

6. A storage and transfer device according to claim 5 , wherein the arm includes an endless conveyor belt circulating in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis of the arm.

7. A storage and transfer device according to claim 4 , wherein the switching device includes two movable arms arranged opposite one another on respective sides of the storage cylinder.

8. A storage and transfer device according to claim 1 , further including a tensioning mechanism for holding the flexible strip at constant tension.

9. A storage and transfer device according to claim 1 wherein the storage cylinder is motor-driven and frictionally drives the flexible strip.

10. A storage and transfer device according to claim 1 wherein the substantially horizontal and vertical axes intersect one another.

11. A tire-making facility comprising:

a plurality of supply stations arranged adjacent one another in a row, the supply stations containing respective rubber sections for making a tire,

a tire-building site,

a storage-and-transfer device movable along the row of supply stations between the tire building site and the row of supply stations, the device including:

a movable carriage,

a frame mounted on the carriage for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, and

a storage cylinder mounted on the frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis for storing a rubber section thereon,

wherein the carriage is movable to positions enabling the storage-and-transfer device to receive a rubber section from a selected supply station onto the storage cylinder and transfer the rubber section to the tire-building site from the storage cylinder after rotating the frame by about 180 degrees about the substantially vertical axis.

12. The tire-making facility according to claim 11 wherein the substantially horizontal and vertical axes intersect one another.

13. A process for making tires utilizing a device for storing and transferring rubber sections for making a tire, the device including a frame rotatable about a substantially vertical first axis, and a storage cylinder mounted on the frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal second axis, the process comprising the steps of:

A. winding from a supply station a rubber section of predetermined length around the storage cylinder while rotating the storage cylinder about the second axis,

B. pivoting the frame by about 180 degrees about the first axis,

C. moving the frame on a movable carriage relative to the supply station for positioning the device opposite a tire building site, and

D. subsequent to steps B and C unwinding the rubber section from the storage cylinder and transferring the rubber section to the tire-building site.

14. The process according to claim 13 wherein step A includes positioning the frame adjacent a selected one of a number of supply stations, and step C comprises moving the frame from the selected supply station to a location opposite the tire building site.

15. A process for making tires utilizing a device for storing and transferring rubber sections for making a tire, the device including a frame rotatable about a substantially vertical first axis, and a storage cylinder mounted on the frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal second axis, the process comprising the steps of:

A. winding from a supply station a rubber section of predetermined length around the storage cylinder while rotating the storage cylinder about the second axis which intersects the storage cylinder and the first axis,

B. pivoting the frame by about 180 degrees about the first axis which intersects the second axis at the mid-line of the storage cylinder,

C. positioning the device opposite a tire building site, and

D. subsequent to steps B and C unwinding the rubber section from the storage cylinder and transferring the rubber section to the tire-building site.