The Boeing Company

The Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company

Arnold J Fabris

Scott Lee Rule

Michael Kevin Jones

Leonard S Stokes

Valdis L Pareizs

Benny Granot

William M Brunner, Jr

Curtis Everson

Maher A Matteeka

Omer Einav

A multi-function end effector includes a plurality of tool change mechanisms in a housing in which a spindle is also mounted for translation along an axis of the spindle. Each tool change mechanism has a gripper that releasably grips a tool holder in which a tool is mounted. The gripper of each tool change mechanism is movable between a stowed position to a tool-change position in which the gripper is coaxially aligned with the axis of the spindle for placing a tool holder held in the gripper in a position to be received by the spindle and for positioning the gripper to receive a tool holder from the spindle. The tools mounted in the tool holders include a drill bit, a countersink tool, and a fastener insertion tool. The end effector also includes a fastener feed system, a hammer device, and a sealant applicator.

Multi-function end effector

An apparatus for building a tire having an inner liner to which a sealant strip is to be laminated, comprises a rotary drum having a surface in which a trough or 'groove' is provided. The depth of the groove corresponds approximately to the thickness of a layer of an elastomeric sealant which is to be placed in the groove. If the walls of the groove are contoured so as to confine the sealant layer in a specified manner while accommodating the thermo-viscous properties of the laminate, the completed first stage carcass may be removed without damaging the sealant layer which is adhered to the inner liner. The rotary drum is provided with fingers movable to a position to support the tire bead by means of an annular piston and cylinder surrounding the shaft of the drum and connected to the fingers by bell cranks which are pivotally mounted in the drum and operatively interconnected with means to move the fingers radially between an inactive position and a bead engaging position in response to appropriate axial movement of the drum mechanism.

Grooved drum for tire building machine

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Arnold J Fabris