Tubular sleeve handling and cut-off system

Abstract

A system for handling a flexible thin wall tubular extrudate of an elastomeric material of the type used as a body ply element for the manufacture of tires, and for cutting-off a predetermined length sleeve of the extrudate and delivering the sleeve to a discharge station. A pair of grippers is movably mounted on carriage assemblies which move the grippers horizontally and transversely with respect to the axis of the extrudate. The leading gripper provides tension to the extrudate and pulls it along a production axis. The trailing gripper engages the extrudate and moves in unison with the extrudate and the leading gripper along the production axis. The grippers completely circumferentially envelop the length of sleeve to be cut from the extrudate and retain the shape of the extrudate by applying a vacuum thereto. A cutting mechanism having a fixed motor driven blade and a pair of similar pivotally mounted blades moves vertically down into contact with the extrudate between the pair of grippers. The rotating blades are rotated through at least 120.degree. arc to achieve a 360.degree. cut on the extrudate as it is being moved under tension longitudinally by the grippers. After completion of the actual cutting operation the leading gripper transfer the severed sleeve to a discharge station and returns to a home position and now becomes the trailing gripper. The previous trailing gripper becomes the leading gripper and continues to advance the extrudate along the production axis and apply tension thereto for the next cutting operation.