Process for making tape useful as a tire cap ply from greige fabric
View Patent ↗An apparatus and process are used to make a ready-to-apply tape from greige fabric. This tape can be used as cap plies, breakers and reinforcement in the carcass of tires. The tape is made by dipping a greige mini-fabric which comprises a plurality of single end cords in a solvent-based cement. The cement, which comprises solvent and an elastomeric composition, is dried so that the majority of the solvent evaporates. The elastomeric composition remains, encapsulating the fabric, thereby forming the tape.
1. A process for producing a tire cap ply tape wherein the tire cap ply tape comprises a width of about ¼ inch to about ⅜ inch, the method consisting:
a) running a plurality of single end cords in a warp direction;
b) weaving a weft yarn through the plurality of single end cords in a cross-machine direction to form a greige fabric, wherein the width of the greige fabric is about ¼ inch to about ⅜ inch;
c) treating the greige fabric with an activator;
d) directing the greige fabric into a cement dip pan comprising a plurality of receiving rolls and a press roll wherein the receiving rolls and press roll each comprise crests and grooves adapted to accept the greige fabric, and wherein the dip pan contains a solvent-based cement comprising a solvent and an elastomeric composition;
e) at ambient temperature and pressure, advancing the greige fabric through solvent-based cement by running said fabric through the rolls of the dip pan whereby the fabric rides through the grooves of the receiving rolls and on the crests of the press roll to form a solvated tape;
f) guiding the tape from the dip pan to an oven using at least one guide roll wherein the guide roll comprises grooves for accommodating the solvated tape;
g) drying the solvated tape in the oven whereby the majority of the solvent evaporates, and the elastomeric composition remains, encapsulating the greige fabric to form the tire cap ply tape; and
h) winding the tire cap ply tape on a bobbin using a winder wherein the tire cape ply tape is stored on the bobbin.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the activator comprises resourcinol-formaldehyde latex.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is toluene.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric composition is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, a natural rubber with styrene butadiene or styrene butadiene with polybutadiene.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein the weft yarn is an elastic yarn.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein the weft yarn is covered with cotton.