FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Method and Apparatus for Tread Splice Cement Elimination in Pneumatic
Tire Building Process
APPLICANT
CEAT LIMITED
of RPG HOUSE, 463, Dr. Annie Besant Road,
Worli, Mumbai 400 030, Maharashtra, India
Nationality: Indian
INVENTORS
Albin Antony, Anto P T, C Manoj Kumar, Benny Joseph, Unnikrishnan G
All of CEAT LIMITED
RPG House, 463, Dr. Annie Besant Road,
Worli, Mumbai 400 030, Maharashtra, India
Nationality: Indian
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the
manner in which it is performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention related to the method and apparatus for the elimination of tread splice cement in pneumatic tire building process. More precisely the machine and method for splicing or joining two ends of the pre-cut or freshly cut tread rubber, in the tire building process without splice cement application. This invention enables to eliminate the application of tread splice cement or paint in the building process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Manufacturing of pneumatic tires involves a number of steps. The first step in the tire manufacturing process is the mixing of raw materials—rubber, carbon black, sulphur, and other materials—to form the rubber compound. After the rubber compound is prepared, it is sent to 'extrusion' and 'calendaring' units prepare the components. Extrusion is the processes in which the mixed compound is undergoing to extrusion process, where the required profile or shape is made. Calendaring is the process in which the mixed compound the coating or applying over the fabric materials. The rubberised fabric is then called 'ply', which is used in the tyre body. The pre maid components are then taken to a tire-building machine, where a worker builds up the rubber layers to form the tire. At this point, the tire is called a "green tire." When a green tire is finished, the metal drum collapses, allowing the tire assembler to remove the tire. The green tire is then taken to a mould for curing. Curing is the process of subjecting the green tyre to temperature and pressure for specified time. During this process „vulcanisation‟ is happening. The green tire is placed inside a large mould for the curing process. A tire mould is shaped like a monstrous metal clam which opens to reveal a large, flexible balloon called a bladder. The green tire is placed over the bladder and, as the clamshell mould closes, the bladder fills with steam and expands to shape the tire and force the blank tread rubber against the raised interior of the mould. During this curing process, the steam heats the green tire. Time in the mould depends on the characteristics desired in the tire.

[0003] After curing is complete, the tire is removed from the mould for cooling and then inspection. Each tire is thoroughly inspected for flaws such as bubbles or voids in the rubber of the tread, sidewall, and interior of the tire.
[0004] Initially all the components are prepared separately and then assembled together to form uncured tire called „green tire‟ the same has explained earlier. As a first step tire 'carcass' is prepared. In the subsequent steps the remaining components are assembled. In a step tire tread and/or tread strip, pre-cut and/or fresh cut and/or tread in creel form is applied above the “carcass”. The extruded tread can be wound in a spool, then it is called creel form of tread. The uncured tire tread has a degree of tackiness, sometimes mentioned as 'green tack' or 'building tack'. This 'green tack' helping the tread end to join together. Sometimes the 'green tack' exhibited by the tread compound may not be sufficient enough to keep the tread ends together. It is a general practice in the tire industry to use a cement solution or paint solution, which is applied on the tread cut surface area or joints to provide enough strength to hold both the cut ends together. The cement solution is generally prepared form rubber, rubber chemicals like tackifying resins etc. and a solvent medium. The present invention is a move to reduce the anthropogenic effect to the mother nature, by eliminating the tread splice cement application in the tire building process. Moreover, by the elimination of the tread splice cement application process a considerable reduction in cost and manpower utilisation are there.
[0004] Because of under inflation there is increase in tyre wear, tyre heating and fuel consumptions by vehicle. It also leads to reduction in resistance of punctures and cuts to tyre. Sometimes under inflation leads to fatal accident.
[0005] Technical Problem
The conventional pneumatic tire building process includes the application of tread splice cement which is highly inflammable in nature, because of the presence of solvent involved in the manufacturing process of the tread splice cement or paint.

[0006] The conventional rectangular shaped tread end; splice jamming or pressing machine is not capable of transferring energy throughout the splice, because it is not in contact with the whole splice area of the green tyre.
[0007] It is well known to the person who is skilled in the art of tire manufacturing and rubber compounding, that the tread splice cement or paint itself is a foreign material to the tire tread, which can reduce the strength of the tread ends, splice. However, because of the presence of tackifying resins in the tread splice cement solution, it is providing tackiness to the tread joint surface. The green tire tread ends; splice should withstand the force which is generated during the building and the lift force which is generated during the forming process of the green tire inside the mould, before vulcanisation or curing process. If the green tack is not adequate to withstand the said forces during the building and forming process of the green tire, the tread ends; splice area will open, and resulting in scrapping the tire. The enhanced green tack provided by the takifying cement or paint will strengthen the splice area to be a single tread after the joining process in the surface of the tire carcass. It is the jammed or pressed under a jamming or pressing machine under specified pressure of a specified time. The conventional splice jamming or pressing machine is in a rectangular shape, and it fails to cover the full splice area of the green tire. This results in opening of the splice area during the lift inside the mould while shaping.
[0008] The cement application process is a manual process and hence manual work is required. Since it is a manual job, chances of error are high. For example, sometimes the cement applied on the tread end surfaces may not cover the full cut surface area, and this can reduce the strength of the splice and results in opening the green tire either during the building or during the forming process inside the mould. This will result in a defective cured product.

[0009] The solvent utilized for the manufacturing of the tread splice cement is a non-renewable natural resource. Moreover, it a highly inflammable substance and the usage of the material can be leads to fire accidents.
[0010] Patent References
1. US20140202619A1 - Adhesive Bonding For A Pneumatic Tire
2. US20120128994A1 - Promoting Uncured Tack And Cured Adhesion For Tire Component Rubber Compositions Including A Tread Splice
3. JP2007269893A - Rubber Cement For Tire
4. KR100746109B1 - Tread splicing apparatus
5. EP2757128A1 - 23 Rubber cement and tire with fabricated tire tread
6. US 9,302,439 Β2 - Methods And Apparatus For Joining Treads.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The object of the present invention is to elimination of tread splice cement application.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide enough green tack without usage of tread splice cement.
[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is elimination of inflammable materials from the process to reduce the anthropogenic impacts on environment and enhancing the safety in the work area.
[0014] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention related to the method and apparatus for the elimination of tread splice cement in pneumatic tire building process. More precisely the machine and method for splicing or joining two ends of the pre-cut or freshly cut tread rubber, in the tire building process without the application of tread splice cement or paint. This invention enables to eliminate the application of

tread splice cement or paint in the building process. Thus this is move towards the reduction of anthropogenic effects to the mother nature.
[0016] The current invention enhances the green tack of the tread end surfaces, without the usage of tread splice cement or paint. In this invention, other than conventional methods of splice jamming or pressing, in which the green tyre tread joints are subjected to mechanical force under an equipment called splice jammer or presser. Conventional splice jamming machine consists of a base where the green tyre is placed, where is subjected to mechanical jamming or pressing by the top portion of the machine. The top portion of the splice jamming or pressing machine consists of metallic plates which can transfer the mechanical energy to the green tyre during the jamming process. In the current invention we introduced a roller type splice jamming machine, which will provide adequate „green tack‟ to the ends of the treads, to be there in the „green tire‟ as a single unit, and the same will be reflecting in the tire after the vulcanisation process called „cured tire‟. The specially designed grooves and humps in the roller type splice jamming machine will transfer adequate mechanical energy to the green tire tread end surfaces throughout the splice area by the rolling motion, to equip itself with enough „green tack‟ to be there in the tire as a single unit.
[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In accordance to this invention the figures are described as follows:
[0018] Figure 1 shows the cross-sectional view of groove and hump area of the said invention
[0019] Figure 2 shows the sectional view of the diagram 2 as per the present invention
[0020] Figure 3 shows the cross-sectional view of the roller mentioned in the said invention.

[0021] Figure 4 shows the table which describes the control and trial tyre buffing results in along and opposite direction in millimetre.
[0021A] Figure 5 shows the aerial view of the machine
[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND INVENTION
For the purposes of the following detailed description, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Moreover, other than in any operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing, for example, quantities of ingredients used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". It is noted that, unless otherwise stated, all percentages given in this specification and appended claims refer to percentages by weight of the total composition and the recitation of all numerical ranges by endpoints is meant to include the endpoints of the range, all numbers subsumed within the range and any range within the stated range.
[0023] In describing and claiming the invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any sensing device, methods, system and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred sensing device, methods, system and materials are described herein. As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning associated with it in this section. Specific and preferred values listed below for individual components, substituents, and ranges are for illustration only; they do not exclude other defined values or other values within defined ranges for the components and substituents.

[0024] The terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention. As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e. to mean including but not limited to.
[0025] Thus, before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particularly exemplified systems or process parameters that may of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
[0026] The following definitions are used in connection with the present application unless the context indicates otherwise. As used herein,
[0027] The term “Bead” refers to wire bundles formed on a wire wrapping machine. The bundles are then formed into rings, and the rings are covered with rubber.
[0028] The term “Ply and carcass” refers to strips of cloth-like fabric that are covered with rubber. Each strip of rubberized fabric is used to form a layer called a ply in the tire body and the entire fabric structure called carcass.
[0029] The term “Tread and Side Wall” refers to the rubber for the tire tread and sidewalls travels from the batch mixer to another type of processing machine called an extruder. In the extruder, the batch is further mixed and heated and is

then forced out through a die—a shaped orifice—to form a layer of rubber, which is called Tread and Side wall.
Figure 1 represents the cross-sectional view of groove and hump area of the said invention, roller in the splice jamming machine, which enhances the adhesion property of the tread surface when it is subjected to jamming. This figure helps to explain the said invention.
Figure 2 represents the sectional view of the roller surface as per the present invention. This will help to understand the present invention. The groves and hump described in this figure helps to enhances the jamming efficiency and thus the adhesion force between the two tread surfaces.
Figure 3 shows the cross-sectional view of the roller mentioned in the said invention, which will give a better clarity to the present invention. This figure gives the idea about the shape of the said invention roller.
Figure 4 shows the table which describes the control and trial tyre buffing results in along and opposite direction in millimetre. Buffing is a finishing process for smoothing or removing excessive material workpiece's surface using an abrasive and a work wheel or a leather strop in the said case rubber compound from the surface of the cured tyre. The table is explained as below
'I' in figure 4 represents the number of tyres, which is selected for the validation of the effectiveness of the said invention by measuring the tread splice area appearance for any cracks. The word 'crack' represents the appearance of the line like appearance in the tread surface area while carrying out the buffing operation, which is explained earlier.
'II' in figure 4 represents the buffing depth, which is measured in millimetre. Initially measuring the tread depth by a tread depth gauge with a least count of 0.1 millimetre. The direction mentioned in this table is based on the direction of the tread splice. The terminology 'III' 'along direction' means the buffing operation is

done in the same direction of the direction of the splice in the cured control tyre. The term 'IV' 'opposite direction' represent the buffing operation is carried out in the opposite direction of the tread splice in the cured control tyre. Control tyre is the regular tyre which followed the conventional splice jamming procedure and which selected for carrying out the buffing operation. „Trial tyre is the tyre in which the present invention is used to do the splice jamming operation. 'V' in the table represents the „along direction‟ buffing results of the trial tyre. „VI‟ represents the „opposite direction‟ buffing results of the trial tyre. By carrying out the buffing operation for the trial and the control tyres we found that the tyre which were under gone the splice jamming operation in the present invention showing a good improvement. Number of tyres with cracks observed in the splice area reduces to 7% from 40% when buffing operation done in opposite direction.
Figure 5 shows the aerial view of the machine. 'F' represents the motor in the said invention which helps to drive the motion of the 'upper roller' which is represented by 'G'. 'H' in the figure 5 represents 'lower roller' which can be connected to the motor or can be an idle roller. 'I' in figure 5 represents the 'proximity sensor' which is placed adjacent to the lower splicing roller. 'J' in the figure 5 represents the switch which is used to enable the invention by powering. 'K' in figure 5 represents the 'frame' which holds the said inventions rollers.
[0030] Technical Solution
To solve the problems mentioned above, the present invention is helping in
Process elimination:
a. Elimination of tread splice cement application:
The present invention provides the technical solution to the problem by giving enough green tack without usage of tread splice cement. This is achieved by heating the pre-cut and/or fresh cut and/or tread in the form of creel before applying above the tire carcass, and the green tack of the tread splice in the green tire is then subjected to splice jamming or pressing under the new splice jamming

machine, which is a roller, with specially designed grooves and humps, and the rolling motion of the roller, which will transform extra mechanical energy throughout the tread splice area compared to conventional splice jamming or pressing machine, and which will results in a defect free product by eliminating the defect of open tread splice in the cured tyre. Open tread splice is a defect in which the tread splice area is getting opened in the cured tyre.
[0031] Manpower reduction & cost saving
a. By the elimination of tread splice cementing.
Tread splice cementing application is a manual process and hence manual labour
is involved in it. By eliminating the process considerable cost is saving there, and
which enhances the industrial applicability of the present invention. By
eliminating the tread splice cement the cost involved in make the same is also
eliminated, which also leads to additional cost saving.
[0032] Safety enhancement
a. Elimination of inflammable materials from the process.
By the elimination of the tread splice cement solution application, inflammable
material elimination is happening and thus it will reduce the anthropogenic
impacts to the mother nature and also enhances the safety in the work area.
[0033] Example and validation
Validation of the products; tires produced by utilizing the present invention
proves that the tires are defect free; there is no tread splice opening after curing.
[0034] Method of validation: Control tires are the tires those which made without splice cement and splice jamming or pressing done under conventional splice jamming or pressing machine. Trial tires are the tires in which no splice cement or paint is applied and those are heated before application above the tire carcass and are subjected to splice jamming or pressing under the newly designed roller jamming or pressing machine. The results „No crack” and „Crack‟ are classified

based on the visual appearance under magnifying lens after buffing the tires in opposite and along direction of the tread splice. „Crack‟ in the buffed tyre is defined as the appearance of a line in between the tread joints. 5 tires were randomly selected for buffing the splice area. Pre-marked tread splice area is buffed along and opposite direction of the splicing. The below are the results of the buffing along and opposite direction of the tread splice.
[0035] The method as per the present invention is differ from the conventional splice jamming method. In the conventional splice jamming method, the „green tyre‟ is placed in the lower plate which is stationary and the top plate which is also stationary, and only the top arm is moving down to do the splice jamming operation. In the present invention, the method of splice jamming operation is not stationary, it‟s a moving mechanism, which will ensure the proper jamming of the green tyre which is placed in the moving machinery. The proximity sensor which is placed adjacent to the lower roll in the present invention ensure the splice jamming operation throughout the splice area in the green tyre. The splice jamming operation is by the movement of the bottom and top rollers from one end to the other end of the green tyre splice area. Conventional splice jamming machine is not capable of ensuring the jamming throughout the splice area in the green tyre. In the present invention, the method of jamming the splice area is a double moving process. First the movable upper arm will move towards the lower arm which is stationary. Secondary movement of the upper and bottom roller ensure the jamming of the splice of the green tyre which is placed in between the arms and the upper and lower rollers.
The apparatus as per the present invention for tread ends; splice jamming or pressing process in tire manufacturing process, the motion of the designed roller; splice jamming or pressing machine with grooves and humps throughout the surface of the roller and the movement of the roller through the tread ends; splice without tread splice cement or paint, ensuring the energy transfer throughout the splice area, the pre-heating of the treads before application above the tire carcass

to enhance the green tack and the enhancement of green tack of the tread ends; splice, which is applied above the tire carcass; by the mechanical force which is transferred by the designed roller to the entire tread ends; splice area by the continues rolling movement of the profiled roller, which enhances the mechanical bonding between the pre-cut and/or fresh cut and/or tread in creel and/or strips, without tread splice cement, which is pre-heated before the application above the preassembled carcass of the tire and the combined effect of the top profiled roller and the bottom base, which can be flat and/or profiled and/or stationary or moving, which is holding the preassembled green tire during the jamming or pressing process.
The proximity sensor in the said invention adjacent to the lower roller will ensure the complete jamming process throughout the splice area of the green tyre. The whole parts of the machinery as per the current invention is fixed in the metallic frame which capable of withstanding the weight and the force generated during the operation of the splice jamming. As per the present invention the bottom roller is placed in the arm which is attached in the metallic frame, and the same is stationary. The upper roller which is fixed in the arm, which is a movable arm, which is operated with an electrical motor, which is placed in the metallic frame. The movable arm will move towards the lower arm which is stationary.
[0036] The tread splice cement application is eliminated in the pre-cut and/or fresh cut and/or tread in creel and/or strips, wherein the green tack of the tread ends; splice is enhanced mechanically throughout the splice in the green tire by the profiled and/or flat roller with and/or without grooves and humps on top and/or bottom, which can be moving and/or stationary.
[0037] The diameter of the top and/or bottom roller is same and/or dissimilar, and the diameter of the roller is less than or equal to 300 mm. The working pressure of jamming or pressing roller is not more than 10 kg /cm2.

[0038] The motion of the roller, which is profiled and/or plane, over the tread
ends; splice, jamming or pressing machine is in rotational motion.
Letter 'A' represents the „Groove‟ in diagram 1 and diagram 3.
Letter 'B' represents the „Hump‟ in diagram 1 and diagram 3.
Letter 'C' represents the „Groove Width‟ in diagram 1 and diagram 2.
Letter 'D' represents the „Hump Width‟ in diagram 1.
Letter 'E' represents the „Groove Depth‟ in diagram 1.
Letter „F represents the „Motor‟ in diagram 5
Letter 'G' represents the „Upper Roller‟ in diagram 5
Letter 'H' represents the „Lower Roller‟ in diagram 5
Letter 'I'represents the „Proximity sensor‟ in diagram 5
Letter 'J' represents the „Switch‟ in diagram 5
Letter 'K' represents the „Frame‟ in diagram 5
Numeric 'I' represents tyre number in figure 4
Numeric 'II' represents buffing depth from tread surface in mm
Numeric 'III' represents control tyre along direction buffing result
Numeric 'IV' represents control tyre opposite direction buffing result
Numeric 'V' represents trial tyre along direction buffing result
Numeric 'VI' represents trial tyre opposite direction buffing result

[0039] Part List:

FIGURE PART NUMBER PART DESCRIPTION
1 A GROOVE
1 B HUMP
1 C GROOVE WIDTH
1 D HUMP WIDTH
1 E GROOVE DEPTH
2 C GROOVE WIDTH
2 D HUMP WIDTH
3 A GROOVE
3 B HUMP
4 I TYRE NUMBER
4 II BUFFING DEPTH (FROM TREAD SURFACE) MM
4 III CONTROL TYRE ALONG DIRECTION BUFFING DATA
4 IV CONTROL TYRE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BUFFING DATA
4 V TRIL TYRE ALONG DIRECTION BUFFING DATA
4 VI TRIAL TYRE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BUFFING DATA
5 F MOTOR
5 G UPPER ROLLER
5 H LOWER ROLLER
5 I PROXIMITY SENSOR
5 J SWITCH
5 K FRAME
[0040] A person skilled in the art will be able to practice the present invention in view of the description presented in this document, which is to be taken as a whole. Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, one of skill in the art will appreciate that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
[0041] While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and

alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

We Claim:
1. A splice connecting device for connecting two ends of tread splices of a
pneumatic tire, wherein the device comprising:
a rotatable splicing roller (G) attached to a motor that assists rotation of the rotatable splicing roller (G);
a rotatable splicing roller (H); and a sensor (I).
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable splicing roller (G) optionally comprises ridges.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor (I) attached adjacent to the rotatable splicing roller (H).
4. A method for constructing a pneumatic tire consists connecting two ends of tread splices of a pneumatic tire, wherein the method comprising:
providing two splice ends of the tread;
securing the splice ends to each other with a splice connecting device having a rotatable splicing roller (G) attached to a motor that assists rotation of the rotatable splicing roller (G);
a rotatable splicing roller (H); and
a sensor (I).
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein providing two splice ends optionally involves splice cement.
6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tread component is cured or vulcanized.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tread component is un-cured or un-vulcanized.
8. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pneumatic tire is a retreaded pneumatic tire.
9. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein providing two splice ends optionally involves heating.
10. A splice connecting device for connecting two ends of tread splices of a pneumatic tire, wherein the device comprising:
a rotatable splicing roller (G) attached to a motor that assists rotation of the rotatable splicing roller (G);
a rotatable splicing roller (H);
a sensor (I); wherein the splice connecting process involves connecting two ends of tread splices of an un-cured or pre-vulcanized pneumatic tire, wherein the method comprising:
a) providing two splice ends of the tread; and
b) securing the splice ends to each other with the splice connecting device.

ABSTRACT
Method and Apparatus for Tread Splice Cement Elimination in Pneumatic
Tire Building Process
The present invention provides the technical solution to the problem by giving enough green tack without usage of tread splice cement. This is achieved by heating the pre-cut and/or fresh cut and/or tread in the form of creel before applying above the tire carcass, and the green tack of the tread splice in the green tire is then subjected to splice jamming or pressing under the new splice jamming machine, which is a roller, with specially designed grooves and humps, and the rolling motion of the roller, which will transform extra mechanical energy throughout the tread splice area compared to conventional splice jamming or pressing machine, and which will results in a defect free product. Fig 1.