Device for transferring and aligning strips intended to be assembled to form a ply

1. A device for manufacturing a reinforcing ply N by assembling lengths of strip cut at an angle, and juxtaposed with one another via their respective selvedges, comprising:

a feed means for delivering a straight-grain strip formed of mutually parallel metallic threads coated in a rubber compound;

an assembly belt;

a transfer means for conveying onto the assembly belt from the feed means a given length of straight-grain strip in a direction that makes a given angle with the longitudinal direction of the assembly belt, and comprising a retaining wall, parallel to planes formed by an upper surface of the assembly belt and a surface of the feed means, and a first face of which is intended to come into contact with the surface of the strip;

a cutting means for detaching a length of strip from the straight-grain strip, in which device the feed means, the transfer means and the assembly belt are fitted with magnetic means able to keep the said strip pressed firmly against the surface of the feed means, of the first face of the transfer means, and of the assembly belt, respectively,

wherein the retaining wall is able to move up and down and back and forth with respect to the planes formed by the upper surface of the assembly belt and the surface of the feed means, and wherein the magnetic means of the transfer means is able to move with respect to the retaining wall in a direction perpendicular to a plane formed by said retaining wall between a raised position and a lowered position, and are adjusted so that, when the device is in operation:

in the lowered position, said magnetic means of the transfer means exerts on the metallic threads of the strip a magnetic field of a strength higher than the strength of the magnetic field exerted by the magnetic means positioned on the feed means, when the two opposite faces of the strip are simultaneously in contact with the first face of the retaining wall on the one hand, and with the surface of the feed means on the other hand, and such that

in the raised position, said magnetic means of the transfer means exerts on the metallic threads of the strip a magnetic field of a strength weaker than the strength of the magnetic field exerted by the magnetic means positioned on the assembly belt, where the two opposite faces of the strip are simultaneously in contact with the first face of said retaining wall on the one hand, and with the surface of the assembly belt on the other hand.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic means positioned on the feed means and on the assembly belt exert on the surface of the feed means and of the assembly belt, a magnetic field of approximately equal strength.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining wall is adjusted so that when the device is in operation, said wall covers the entire surface of the length of strip.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the said retaining wall is made of a nonmagnetic material.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the ends of the retaining wall acts as an anvil for the cutting tool.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said magnetic means are electromagnetic elements or permanent magnets.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the surface intended to receive the lengths of strip of the assembly belt and the surface over which the strip travels on the feed means lie substantially in one and the same plane.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting means comprises a rotary cutter.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer means is mounted on a rotary turret able to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the plane formed by the upper surface of the assembly belt.