FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10, rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: MULTI-SEGMENTED TOOTHED SHAFT
2. Applicant(s)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
CEAT LIMITED Indian RPG HOUSE, 463, Dr. Annie Besant
Road, Worli, Mumbai - Maharashtra 400 030, India
3. Preamble to the description
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates, in general, to tire building machines and, particularly but not exclusively, to transmission assemblies in the tire building machines.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A tire building machine is used in the building of a green tire. In a tire building machine, various components and layers of a tire, such as a tread, sidewalls, inner liner, body ply, beads, and cord body, are assembled to form the green tire. Various parts of the tire building machine include conveyors, toothed shafts, rollers, drums, cutters, and the like. The quality and durability of the green tire are dependent on the efficient construction and operation of the tire building machine and its various parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0003] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying
figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure
in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout
the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a multi-segmented toothed shaft, in
accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter.
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the multi-segmented toothed shaft, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] The present subject matter relates to aspects relating to a toothed shaft in a tire building machine.
[0007] Conventionally known toothed shafts are manufactured as a single segment toothed shaft, with teeth formed on a shaft. Further, a belt, such as a conveyor belt, may be placed on the teeth, such that on a rotation of the shaft, the belt may also move

to facilitate the transfer of objects placed on the belt from one location to another in a tire building machine.
[0008] However, the single segment toothed shaft suffers from diverse issues, such as run-out, improper tooth profile, and difficulty in manufacturing due to lengthy construction. In an example, the length of the single toothed shaft may be approximately 1.2 Meters. Moreover, conventional toothed shafts may also create issues like belt slippage, jerks, wastage of components that are transferred, frequent replacement of shaft and conveyer belt, as they become defunct, high noise and vibrations and frequent breakdowns due to the deformities. Hence, the single segment toothed shaft suffers from problems associated with the handling and safety of the tire building machine and components transferred in the tire building machine. [0009] A multi-segmented toothed shaft for tire building machine is described in the present subject matter. In an embodiment, the multi-segmented toothed shaft may overcome the above-described problems associated with handling and safety of the tire building machine and components transferred in the tire building machine. [0010] In accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter, a multi-segmented toothed shaft assembly may include an inner shaft. In an example, the inner shaft may be fitted as a static member. The multi-segmented toothed shaft assembly may also include a plurality of toothed pulleys assembled on the inner shaft. In an example, an actuation member may be positioned between the inner shaft and the plurality of toothed pulleys to enable controlled rotation of the plurality of toothed pulleys on the inner shaft. In another example, spacers may be positioned between adjacent toothed pulleys to enable independent movement of each toothed pulley. [0011] Thus, the present subject matter discloses the multi-segmented toothed shaft that facilitates a smooth and seamless transmission of components in a tire building machine, implementing the multi-segmented toothed shaft, due to plurality of independent toothed pulleys mounted on the inner shaft. Further, due to independent toothed pulleys, the tooth profile of the multi-segmented toothed shaft is uniform and

the issue of run-out is obliviated. Accordingly, the multi-segmented toothed shaft disclosed in the present subject matter overcomes issues associated with handling, safety, and operation of components in the tire building machine. [0012] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the following figures. While aspects of the multi-segmented toothed shaft can be implemented in any number of different configurations, the embodiments are described in the context of the following device(s) and method(s). It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0013] Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate schematics of a multi-segmented toothed shaft for a tire building machine, in accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter. Fig. 1 discloses a side view of the multi-segmented toothed shaft. Further, Fig. 2 discloses a sectional view of the multi-segmented toothed shaft. [0014] The multi-segmented toothed shaft, in an implementation of the present subject matter, includes a plurality of toothed pulleys segments 102-1, 102-2, 102-3,…102-N mounted on an inner shaft 104, wherein the inner shaft (104) is having a first end (110) and a second end (112). The plurality of toothed pulleys segments 102-1,..., 102-N, may be collectively referred to as toothed pulleys 102. Each of the toothed pulleys 102 may have a uniform teeth profile. In an embodiment, the inner shaft 104 may be fitted as a static member, such that the inner shaft 104 may remain stationary unless disturbed by an external force. An advantage of stationary inner shaft 104 is less wear to the inner shaft 104 and longevity in the life of the multi-segmented toothed shaft 100. In an example, the inner shaft 104 may be circular. In another example, the external force may be an electric motor. In another example, eight toothed pulleys may be mounted on the inner shaft 104.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the toothed pulleys 102 and the inner shaft 104 may be held together by locking bushes 106-1,106-2. In an example, the locking bushes 106-1, 106-2 may lock the toothed pulleys 102 and the inner shaft 104 on ends of the multi-segmented toothed shaft 100. [0016] In an implementation, a plain pulley 108 may also be mounted on the inner shaft 104. The plain pulley 108 may fill up the gap between adjacent toothed pulleys. Further, the plain pulley 108 may not be used for the transmission of components in the tire building machine. In an example, the operation and movement of each of the toothed pulleys 102 may be independent. In another example, the operation and movement of each of the toothed pulleys 102 may be independent of the operation and movement of the plain pulley 108. In an embodiment, conveyor belts, such as timing belts may be placed on the toothed pulleys 102 for transmission of components within the tire building machine (not shown).
[0017] As illustrated in fig. 2, actuation members 202 are positioned between the toothed pulleys 102 and the inner shaft 104 to enable rotation of the toothed pulleys 102 on the inner shaft 104. In an embodiment, the actuation members 202 may be understood as points of contact between the toothed pulleys 102 and the inner shaft 104. Thus, the toothed pulleys 102 are mounted on the actuation members 202 and the actuation members 202 are positioned on the inner shaft 104. In another embodiment, the actuation members 202 reduce rolling friction and facilitate smooth and seamless rotation of the toothed pulleys 102 on the inner shaft 104. In an example, the actuation members 202 may be ball bearings.
[0018] In an implementation, spacers 204 are placed between adjacent toothed pulleys 102. The spacers 204 provide a requisite gap between adjacent toothed pulleys for independent operation and movement of the toothed pulleys by obliviating contact friction between the adjacent toothed pulleys and to lock the bearings between the toothed pulley 102 and the inner shaft 104. In an example, the spacer 204 may be formed of steel.

[0019] In an operation, the multi-segmented toothed shaft 100 is used for conveying various finished and semi-finished components from one location to another, for example, from an application tray to drum and main conveyor to application tray. In an implementation, both ends of the multi-segmented toothed shaft 100 are locked with bearing blocks. Further, one end of the multi-segmented toothed shaft is connected with an external actuator, such as a servo drive. This toothed shaft is considered as the driveshaft and on another side, the plain driven shaft is fixed. [0020] Hence, the external actuator rotates the inner shaft 104. The rotational motion is transferred from the inner shaft 104 to the actuation member. The actuation members 202 are low friction actuators and facilitate controlled rotation of the toothed pulleys 102 about the inner shaft 104. Thus, the rotational force from the external actuator is transferred to the toothed pulleys 102. In an example, flexible timing belts may be connected to the toothed pulleys 102 and on the timing belts, the components may be placed and conveyed by way of rotation of the toothed pulleys 102. [0021] Thus, the multi-segmented toothed shaft 100 disclosed herein performs a precise smooth movement of belt rotation, without any slippage, jerks and abnormal vibrations. The main advantage of the multi-segmented toothed shaft is that conventional lengthier toothed shaft is divided into multi-segment pulleys. As a result of the multiple pulleys, the run-out issue of the lengthier shaft is eliminated and the tooth cutting process made easier, amounting to a uniform tooth profile. The uniform tooth profile leads to full contact of the timing belt with the toothed pulley and smooth rotation without any slippage, jerks and abnormal vibrations facilitated by the actuation members 202. Additionally, the cost and effort of manufacturing the multi-segmented toothed shaft are low compared to the conventionally known single toothed shaft.
[0022] Although implementations for the multi-segment toothed shaft for the tire building machine are described, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features of the systems described herein.

Rather, the specific features are disclosed as implementations for the multi-segment toothed shaft for the tire building machine.

I/We Claim:
1. A shaft assembly (100) for a tire building machine, the shaft assembly (100)
comprising:
an inner shaft (104) having a first end (110) and a second end (112);
a plurality of toothed pulley segments (102) mounted on the inner shaft (104);
a plurality of actuation members (202) positioned between the plurality of toothed pulley segments (102) and the inner shaft (104) to enable a controlled rotation of the plurality of toothed pulley segments (102) on the inner shaft (104); and
a first locking bush (106-1) and a second locking bush (106-2) provided at the first end (110) and at the second end (112) of the inner shaft (104), respectively, to prevent an axial movement of the plurality of toothed pulley segments (102) along the inner shaft (104).
2. The shaft assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the toothed pulley segment (102) has a uniform teeth profile.
3. The shaft assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of toothed pulley segments (102) are disposed in between the first locking bush (106-1) and the second locking bush (106-2), each of the plurality of toothed pulley segments (102) being equal in length.
4. The shaft assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner shaft (104) has a circular cross-section, the inner shaft (104) being rotatable by an electric motor.
5. The shaft assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plain pulley (108) mounted on the inner shaft (104), wherein a movement of each of the toothed pulley segment (102) is independent of a movement of the plain pulley (108).

6. The shaft assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothed pulley segments (102) are mounted on the inner shaft (104) using actuation members (202).
7. The shaft assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the actuation member (202) comprises ball bearings.
8. The shaft assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spacer (204) placed between each adjacent toothed pulley (102) segments, wherein the spacer (204) is to enable independent movement of the plurality of toothed pulley segments (102).