| US 7,610,873 B2 | ||
| Machine for making an anti-static tire tread | ||
| William G. Campbell, Gallatin, Tenn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, | ||
| Filed on Jun. 12, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/451,211. | ||
| Application 11/451211 is a division of application No. 10/235474, filed on Sep. 04, 2002, abandoned. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/317000, filed on Sep. 04, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0231019 A1, Oct. 19, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. B29D 30/52 (2006.01); B32B 38/04 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 118—35 [118/211; 118/212; 118/216; 152/152.1; 152/209.5; 152/DIG. 2; 156/406.4] | 19 Claims |
| 1. A machine for introducing electrically conductive material into a tire tread traveling along a conveyor, the machine comprising:
a frame;
a wheel rotatably mounted to the frame and positioned adjacent to the conveyor;
a plurality of pins mounted on the wheel and disposed radially outward therefrom; and
a supply system positioned adjacent to the wheel and configured to coat the pins with the electrically conductive material,
wherein the supply system includes a transfer reel rotatably mounted to the frame by a spindle that is coupled to a spindle
for the wheel, such that turning of the wheel causes rotation of the transfer reel,
wherein the transfer reel includes a slot which captures the electrically conductive material as it passes through the supply
system and which receives the pins as the reel passes by the wheel, and
wherein, upon rotation of the wheel, each pin coated with the electrically conductive material pierces the tire tread to form
an opening therein, thereby leaving at least a portion of the electrically conductive material in the opening after the pin
is withdrawn therefrom.
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