MXPA96005639A

MXPA96005639A - Rim band bearing server and met

Info

Publication number: MXPA96005639A
Application number: MXPA/A/1996/005639A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Ray Downing Daniel; Dudley Currie William; Michael Hart James; Alex Reichling Jean; Minsart Luc; Ann Kefalos Lori
Original assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Priority date: 1995-11-28
Filing date: 1996-11-18
Publication date: 1998-04-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for transporting and guiding a rim tread on a conveyor having a plurality of rotatable driven rollers, wherein the rim tread rises raised with internal surfaces, and the rotating driven rollers are laterally movable, comprising: a) loading the tread on the transport, b) rotating the driven rollers to transport the tread along the conveyor, on the driven ridiculous, and c) coupling the internal surfaces of the shoulders, lifted from the tread, with guide rollers placed on each side of the conveyor, to exert centering pressure on the tread band

Description

RIM BEARING BAND SERVER AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a rolling belt server for applying a tire tread to a drum and splicing the tread accurately without the need of an operator. In addition, the tread was centered without distorting the edges. So far, the treads have been measured once and the drum rotation speed is varied to compensate for the variations between the rolling bearing length and the drum diameter. There have been no additional measurements during the transport process to compensate for changes in length during the guidance and transport of the tread. There has also been little guidance and positive placement of the rear end front end to provide a precision splice of the tread on the drum. Guide rollers have been used to center the tread, however no provision has been made to prevent distortion of the edges of wide, thin treads or smooth compound treads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides for the measurement of the width of the tread while it is on the conveyor and before it is wrapped on the drum. Then the section is measured a second time after the tread is partially wrapped in the drum. Each time the relation between the length of the tread and the circumference of the drum is obtained and the resulting ratio between the speed of rotation of the drum and the speed of the conveyor of the rear edge of the tread is used to carry the rear edge to a position on the drum where the edge of the liner is positioned to precisely connect the ends of the tread. In this way the stretching of the tread is controlled. In fact, for certain tires, the tread can stretch different amounts where desired using the concept of this invention. In addition to controlling the tread stretch, the ends are controlled by a grapple bar that bears the edge front to a predetermined splice position on the drum and then used to bring the trailing edge to the predetermined splice position. Guiding the tread according to a modification of this invention is provided by inclined guide rollers for coupling the inner side edges of the tread shoulders to avoid distortion of the side edges of the tread. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a rim comprising a rim frame having a pair of spaced lugs connected by reinforcement layers, a circumferentially extending air band member of the ridge framework and a member. of tread band wrapped around the band member, the tread member including a section of elastomeric material extruded to a tread pattern of predetermined transverse section and cut to a predetermined initial length with the tread member being formed by applying to the band member on a rotating drum from a tracked carrier with a discharge end adjacent to the drum the tread application being at a first application rate calculated from the ratio of the initial length of the tread to the circumference of the drum and then to a second regime of application calculated from the ratio of an intermediate length of the tread measured after a predetermined application of the band to the circumference of the drum providing an accurate splice from the trailing edge to the leading edge of the tread I lie . In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for making a rim comprising constructing a tire frame on a first rim construction drum, forming a band member and rim rim band assembly by applying a band member to a second drum is provided. , stretching and applying a tire tread band to the band member on a second drum from a conveyor adjacent to the second drum, which includes the steps of: a. feeding a tire tread to the conveyor until a leading edge of the tire tread band is detected by a first sensor in a first position of the tire tread. b. Fasten the rim tread at the leading edge with a fastener connected to a tran_s carrier encoder. c. continue to move the tread along the conveyor until a trailing edge of the tire bearing track is detected by a second sensor at a second position of the tire tread. d. calculating the length of the tread band by summing the known distance between the first sensor and the second sensor at the distance moved by the fastener as it is fitted by the conveyor coder, and e. calculate a first relationship between the circumference of the drum as measured by a drum encoder and the length of the tire tread as calculated by the conveyor encoder to determine the required speeds of the drum and conveyor to stretch and wrap the tire tread on the second drum, f. remove the bra; g. apply the leading edge of the rim bearing band to the second drum; h. rotating the second drum and driving the transcarrier at the calculated speed until the edge-back of the tire tread is detected by a third sensor positioned adjacent to the conveyor between the first sensor and the second sensor to measure the length of the treadmill in a third position; i. move the fastener to a position on the trailing edge and hold the trailing edge; j. calculate a second ratio between the count of the drum encoder for the length of the drum not wrapped by the tread and the count of the conveyor encoder for the distance between the third sensor and the end of the conveyor ¡k. rotating the drum while the conveyor is operated and moving the fastener at speeds determined in accordance with the second ratio to stretch the tire rip band so that the leading edge and the trailing edge join the splice drum; 1. remove the back edge fastener after splicing; m. transferring the band member and the tread band assembly to the first drum for application to the rim shell; n. transferring the tire with the band and tread member assembly from the first drum to a tire press to cure under pressure at a predetermined temperature; I. Separate the cured tire from the tire press. According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for wrapping and controlling the stretching of an extruded tread member of elastomeric material cut to an initial length around a band member on a drum to provide means for the joining of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the tread member on the drum, comprising: a. a generally horizontal conveyor positioned with a discharge end adjacent to the drum; b. drive rolls on the conveyor for carrying the tread member; c. a roll band fastener arranged up and movable along the conveyor to hold the tread member; d. a first sensor disposed adjacent an inlet end of the conveyor for detecting the positioning of the front edge of the roll band member at a first position of the tread member; and. a second sensor disposed adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor for detecting the collocation of a rear edge of the roll band in a second position of the tread member; F. a third sensor disposed adjacent the conveyor between the first sensor and the second sensor for detecting the -placement of the trailing edge of the tread member -in a third position of the tread; g. a conveyor encoder for measuring the distance in which the tread member and its fastener move on the conveyor; h. a drum encoder for measuring the distance in which the tread member is moved over the drum; and i. the sensors being operatively connected to the drum encoder and conveyor encoder to control the relative speeds of the drum and the conveyor in response to signals from the first sensor and the second sensor, the sensor sensor and by the conveyor encoder and drum encoder to provide the stretching of the tread member and joining the leading edge and the trailing edge in a splice of the tread member at a predetermined position in the drum. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for stretching and applying a tire tread to a rotating drum from a conveyor adjacent to the drum, which includes the steps of: a. feeding the tire tread to a conveyor until a leading edge of the tread is detected by a first sensor in a first position of the tire tread. b. fasten the tread band on the front edge with a fastener connected to a trancarrier encoder; c. continuing to move the tread along the conveyor until a rear edge of the tread band is detected by a second sensor at a second position of the tread; d. calculating the length of the tire tread by adding the known distance between the first sensor and the second sensor to the distance moved by the clip as is determined by the conveyor encoder; and. calculate a first relationship between the circumference of the drum as measured by a drum coder and the length of the tread band as calculated by the conveyor encoder to determine the required speeds of the drum and conveyor to stretch and in return tire rolling bearing on the second drum; F. remove the fastener; g. apply a leading edge of the rim bearing band to the drum; h. rotating the drum and driving the conveyor at the required speeds until the rear edge of the tire tread is detected by a third collet sensor adjacent to the conveyor between the first sensor and the second sensor to measure the length of the belt of bearing in a third position; i. move the fastener to a position on the trailing edge and hold the trailing edge; j. calculating a second relationship between the count of the drum coder for the length of the drum not wrapped by the tread and the count of the transducer coder for the distance between the third sensor and the end of the conveyor; k. rotating the drum while the conveyor is operated and moving the fastener at different speeds determined in accordance with the second relation to stretch the tread of the lantate so that the leading edge and the trailing edge are joined on the splice drum; and 1. separate the fastener from the trailing edge after splicing. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for transporting a lanting roller band on a conveyor having a driven roller diameter to support the tread the driven rollers being laterally movable for Allow the side guide of the tread and guide rollers on each side of the conveyor engageable with the tread to provide lateral guidance. To relate the persons skilled in the art more closely related to the present invention, s describe herein certain preferred embodiments of the same that illustrate the best mode now contemplated for practicing the invention, by and with reference to the attached drawings that form a part of the specification. The modalities shown and described herein are illustrative and will be apparent to those experienced in these techniques and can be modified in numerous ways within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the clauses herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tread applicator shown with the treadmill server in the retracted position; Figure 2 is a frontal elevation partially in section, taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the tread pattern shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a side sectional view of the tread pattern, taken along the line 4-4; in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a fragmentary view like Figure 2 of a modified guide roller arrangement; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view like Figure 1 showing the roll band server extended towards the position adjacent to the drum and showing the tread just as it enters the position between the guide rollers; Figure 7 is a view like Figure 6 showing the tread with the leading edge on the first sensor and with the grabber holder fastener in engagement with the leading edge at the moment when the conveyor coder s is started for measure the length of the tread; Figure 8 is a view like Figure 7 showing the graver bar advancing to the leading edge of the drum band and when a first tread measurement is made; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 which shows the partially wrapped tread around the drum and the grapple bar engaging the trailing edge of the tread with a second measurement being made of the length of the band of bearing; Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the trailing edge advanced by the burin bar to the drum and an automatic splice being made.

Detailed Description of the Invention A tread server 10 that modalizes the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and has a frame 12 with legs 14 for support coupling with a floor 16 in a position adjacent to a drum 18 of construction of lantand band band. The frame 12 supports a tread conveyor 20 having lateral beams 22 supporting transverse rollers 24 at an entrance end 26 and a tread server assembly 28 at an exit end. A guide fence 32 having vertical guide rollers 34 mounted on transversely adjustable fence bars is provided to guide a rolling band 35 along the conveyor 20 that can be automatically or manually fed to the entrance end 26 of the conveyor. The treadmill server assembly 28 has a frame 36 with side rails 38 supported on wheels 40 spaced apart, mounted on the frame 12. Appropriate energy elements such as a motor 42 can be provided to move the band server assembly 28 of the bearing of the recessible position shown in full lines in Figure 1 to the extended position shown in dot and dash lines near the drum 18 band and tread. Mounted on top of the treadmill server assembly 28 is a burill bar assembly 44 having a burill bar frame 46 supported on rails 48 in a top frame construction 50. The chisel rods 52 are mounted on the bar frame 46 for vertical movement toward engagement with the tread band 35 by appropriate lifting and lowering elements 54. The horizontal movement of the burl bar assembly 44 is also provided by an appropriate motor and screw-ball assembly 56. A joint roller assembly 58 is also slidably mounted on the upper frame structure 50. A rail 60 on roller assembly 58 is slidably mounted in a slot 62 of a led sliding bar 63 - by the frame structure 50. Suitable elements for moving the joint roller assembly 58 horizontally towards and away from the drum 18 are provided such as the piston cylinder assembly 64. A nip roll 66 is mounted to a roller piston cylinder assembly 68 fixed to the end of the nip roller assembly 58 for mowing the roller -vertedly toward coupling with the tread band 35. With reference to Figures 3 and 4are shown - amplified views of the bearing assembly 28, which incorporates a plurality of arrows 70 driven, fluted, in side-by-side relation with the rollers 72 having slotted holes 1 for slipping over the feeds. -chas. The springs 74 are disposed at the ends of the arrows 70 in elastic coupling with the end rollers 72 to allow transverse movement of the roller band 36 while at the same time driving the tread band in a predetermined distance. Each of the arrows has a toothed wheel 78 driven by a chain 80 in a rage driven with the drive assembly 82. An encoder can be imposed by the drive assembly 82 to control the movement of the rolling band 35 through the treadmill server assembly 28. A centering mechanism 84 has a rack and pinion assembly for driving the guide rollers 86 inclined toward engagement with the outer surface 88 of the raised shoulders of the rolling bracket 35. In a modification shown in FIG. 5, the spring loaded guide rollers 90 are positioned inwardly from the raised shoulders of the tread band 35 and mounted for engagement with internal surfaces 92 of the raised risers of the belt. of bearing. In order to determine the length and position position of the rolling band 35, sensors such as PEI, PE2 and PE3 photo eyes are placed along the length of the treadmill assembly 28. The first sensor such as the PEI photo eye is placed at a predetermined position near the front end of the assembly as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The second sensor such as the PE2 photo eye is placed at a predetermined distance from the PEI in the retracted position - from the 28 treadmill server set. The third sensor such as the photo eye PE3 is placed in a predetermined position below the upper frame structure 50. A conveyor encoder is connected to the drive assembly 82 to measure and determine the distance at which the belt 35 d moves by rotation of the driven rollers 72. An encoder E2 is connected to an arrow 94 of the drum 18 to terminate the rotation and circumference of the drum wrapped around the envelope of the rolling band 35 around the drum. The operation of the tread server 10 which modalizes the invention is shown diagrammatically in Figures 6 to 10. After the bands (not shown) are wrapped around the drum 18, the treadmill server assembly 28 is It is moved by the drive motor 42 from the retracted position shown in full lines to the extended position shown in dotted line in Figure 1 and in Figures 6 to 10. The rolling band 35 is transported to the joint. 28 on the rollers 24 as shown in Figure 6. The leading edge 98 of the rolling band 35 is held by the rollers 72 in a position covering the PE-3 photo eye and pulling towards the drum 18 between the rollers. Slant Guide 86 When the leading edge 35 passes over the PE-1 photo eye, the grabber bars 52 move downwardly toward engagement-with the leading edge as shown in Figure 7. The grab bars 72 then move. the band 35 of rolling until the rear edge 100 of the tread passes photoeye PE2 as shown in Figure 8. The distance X between the photo eye PE1 and the photo eye PE2 is equivalent to coding accounts and is known . This distance is added to the distance Y in the encoder accounts between the photo eye PE1 and the position of the burr bars 52 in Figure 8 to determine the total initial length of the tread in coder counts. The ratio of the initial length of the tread to the circumference of the drum 18 in coder counts is used to determine the ratio of the conveyor speed to the rotational speed of the drum. For exampleIf the initial measured rolling length is smaller than the circumference of the drum 35 by more than the desired stretch of the tread by the driven rollers 72 and the inclined guide rollers 86, the rotation speed of the drum 18 is regulated so as to be greater than the conveying speed. A second measurement and adjustment of the tread application to the drum 18 is provided when the trailing edge 100 passes over the PE3 photo eye as shown in Figure 9. "n real" encoder to move the rear edge 100 from the PE2 photo eye to the PE3 photo eye. The length between photo eye PE2 and PE3 is "n" beads. Consequently, when controlling the stretching of the treadmill, it is shown by the difference between "n" and "real". The stretch percent = n real - n x 100% n With this information, the initial ratio of conveyor speed to speed of rotation of the drum 18 can be reduced by the stretch percent. The method includes a second step of calculating a second relationship between the drum coder's case for the length z of the drum 18 not wrapped by the rolling band 35 as shown in FIG. 9 and the conveyor coder's count. for the distance between the photoeye PE 3 and the end of the conveyor 20. The rear edge 100 is held by the chisel bars 52 which are carried by the chisel bar frame 46 to a position on the photo eye PE3 as shown in FIG. Figure 9 and then to a position on the drum 18 where the rear edge 100 is palmed to the front edge 98 of the roll band and pressed together in a splice 102 by a joint roll 66 shown in Figure 10. The treadmill assembly 28 can -then be retracted and a transfer ring (not shown) of a rim construction machine is used to transfer the belt and the tread assembly to a frame. rim disposed on a rim configuration drum (not-shown). A typical transfer apparatus is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,304,619 dated December 8, 1981 which is incorporated by reference into this application. After the band and band assembly is applied to the rim frame, the resulting rim will have a rim frame with a pair of spaced beads connected by reinforcement layers, a band member extending the cylindrical ring. Alloy around the rim shell and a tread member 35 wrapped around the band member. A tire of this construction is shown and described in United States Patent No. 4,470,865 dated September 11, 1984, which is incorporated by reference in this application. While certain embodiments and representative details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without abandoning the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. - A rim comprising a rim frame having a pair of spaced beads connected by reinforcement layers, a band member extending circumferentially around the rim shell and a bearing member wrapped around the band member The roller bearing member including a section of elastomeric material extruded to a tread pattern of predetermined cross-section and cut to an initial length pre terminated with the rod member being formed by application to the band member on a revolving drum from a conveyor placed with a discharge end adjacent to the drum; characterized by the application of the belt band to a first rate of application calculated from the ratio of the initial length of the rolling belt to the circumference of the drum and to a second rate of application marked from The ratio of an intermediate length of the rolling band measured during the application of the tread to the drum circumference provides an accurate connection of the trailing edge to the leading edge of the tread band.

2. A rim according to claim 1 further characterized by the intermediate length of the rip band which is measured after about one half of the initial length of the rip band is applied to the drum.

3. A rim according to claim 2 further characterized by the rolling band which is guided by centering rollers between the initial length measurement and the measurement of the intermediate length.

4. A method for making a rim comprising constructing a rim shell on a first rim construction drum, forming a rim band and rim band member by applying a band member to a second rim drum. Stretching and applying a tread band tire band in the second drum from a conveyor to the second drum including the steps of: a. feeding a tire tread to the conveyor until a leading edge of the tire rolling belt is detected by a first sensor in a first position of the tire tread, characterized by: b. fasten the rim tread on the front edge with a fastener connected to a transcarrier coder; c. continue to move the tread along the conveyor until the trailing edge of the tire rip band is detected by a second sensor at a second position of the tire rim band; d. calculating the length of the tire bearing flange by adding the known distance between the first sensor and the second sensor to the distance moved by the holder as set by the conveyor encoder; and e. calculate a first relationship between the circumference of the drum as measured by a drum encoder and the length of the tire rim tape as calculated by the conveyor encoder to determine the required speeds of the drum and conveyor to stretch and in return the tire tread on the second drum; F. separate the fastener; g. apply the leading edge of the rim bearing band to the second drum; h. rotating the second drum and driving the transcarrier to the calculated speed until the rear edge of the tire tread is detected by a third-sensor placed adjacent to the conveyor between the first sensor and the second sensor to measure the length of the tire. the tread band in a third position; i. move the grader to a position on the rear edge and sweep the trailing edge; j. determining a second relationship between the drum count count for the length of the drum not wrapped by the tread and the count of the conveyor encoder for the distance between the third sensor and the end of the conveyor; k. rotating the drum while the conveyor is operated and moving the fastener at speeds determined in accordance with the second ratio to stretch the rim roller band so that the leading edge and the trailing edge are joined on the splice drum; 1. remove the back edge fastener after splicing; and m. transferring the tire band and tread member assembly to the first drum for application to the tire rim weapon.

5. An apparatus for wrapping and controlling the stretching of an extruded tread member of elastomeric material cut to an initial length around a band member on a drum to provide for splicing a leading edge and a rear edge of the tread member on the drum, which comrpenses: a. a generally horizontal conveyor positioned with a discharge end adjacent to the drum; b. drive rolls on the conveyor to carry the tread member; c. a tread holder disposed above and movable along the conveyor to hold the tread member; d. a first sensor disposed adjacent an inlet end of the conveyor for detecting the positioning of the leading edge of the tread member at a first position of the tread member; and. a second sensor disposed adjacent the end of the conveyor die to detect the collocation of a rear edge of the tread member in a second position of the tread member; characterized by f. a third sensor disposed adjacent the conveyor between the first sensor and the second sensor for detecting the positioning of the trailing edge of the tread member in a third position of the tread member; g. a conveyor encoder for measuring the distance of the rolling band member and the fastener moves on the conveyor; h. a drum coder for measuring the distance e that the tread member is moved over the drum; and i. the sensors being operatively connected to the drum encoder and the conveyor encoder to control the relative speeds of the drum and the conveyor and response to signals of the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor and the encoder of conveyor and encoder drum to provide means for the stretching of the tread member and joining the leading edge and the rim behind a rim of the rim tread member at a predetermined position on the drum.

6. - An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, furthermore enclosing the sensors that are optical sensors.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized by sensors that are of the "perfect prox" type.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 further characterized by the fastener that is movable towards coupling with the leading edge of the tread member of the first sensor in the first position of the tread member and movable with the member of the tread member. tread to the second position of the tread member.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 further characterized by the fastener that is movable out of engagement with the leading edge of the tread band member in the second position of the tread member and ?? can be connected to the rear edge of the bearing member in the third position of the rolling belt.

10. - The apparatus according to claim further characterized by the fastener which is movable with the tread band member from the third position of the tread member to a fourth position of the tread member with the trailing edge overlapping the edge of the broach and the fastener pressing the trailing edge against the front bo to provide a joint.

11. The apparatus according to claim characterized further by the fastener having pins for piercing the tread member.

12. The apparatus according to claim further characterized by having a connecting roller adjacent to the drum at the discharge end of the conveyor movable toward engagement with the leading edge of the tread member for pressing the tread member against the drum.

13. The apparatus according to claim further characterized in that it has spring loaded guide rollers engageable with raised shoulders of the tread member to center the tread member on the conveyor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized by the guide rollers which are positioned inwardly from the raised shoulders of the tread member and which are inclined for engagement with the internal surfaces of the tread member. 15.- A method to stretch and apply a tire tread to a rotating drum from a conveyor-adjacent to the drum, characterized by the steps of: a. feeding the tire tread to a conveyor until a leading edge of the tire tread is detected by a first sensor in a first position of the tire tread; b. fasten the rim tread on the front edge with a fastener connected to a carrier encoder; c. continuing to move the tread along the conveyor until a trailing edge of the rim band is detected by a second sensor at a second position of the tread; d. calculating the length of the tire tread by adding the known distance between the first sensor and the second sensor and the distance moved by the clip as is determined by the conveyor encoder; and. calculate a first relationship between the circumference of the drum as measured by a drum encoder and the length of the tire tread as calculated by the conveyor encoder to determine the required speeds of the drum and conveyor to stretch and in return the tire tread on the second drum; F. separate the fastener; g. apply a leading edge of the rim bearing band to the drum; h. rotating the drum and driving the conveyor at the required speeds until the rear edge of the tire tread band is detected by a third sensor positioned adjacent to the conveyor between the first sensor and the second sensor to measure the length of the tread in a third position; i. move the fastener to a position on the trailing edge and hold the trailing edge; j. calculating a second relationship between the drum counting count for the length of the drum not wrapped by the tread and the count of the conveyor encoder for the distance between the third sensor and the end of the conveyor; k. rotating the drum while the conveyor is operated and moving the fastener at different speeds determined in accordance with the second ratio to stretch the rim tread so that the leading edge and the trailing edge are joined on the drum for splice; and 1. remove the back edge fastener after splicing. 16. The apparatus for transporting a tire rim band on a conveyor having a plurality of impregnated rollers for supporting the tread, characterized by the driven rollers that are laterally movable to allow lateral guidance of the tire. tread and -the guide rollers on each side of the dockable conveyor- with the tread to provide lateral guidance. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, further characterized by the driven rollers that are slidably mounted to drive elements to selectively rotate the arrows. 18. The apparatus of claim 16, further characterized by the tread having shoulders raised on each side and the guide rollers which are positioned to fit the inner edges of the shoulders and maintaining a controlled guide pressure in the body. rotation band. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further characterized by guide rollers that are mounted on a self-centering, pressure-controlled mechanism for applying pressure to the shoulders at a predetermined time. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further characterized by the pressure controlled mechanism having a control element for determining the position of the bearing band and pressure actuating element operable in response to control element to apply. pressure from the guide rollers against the shoulders of the tread after the rolling band moves into the space between the guide rails. 21. The apparatus of claim 19, further characterized by the guide rollers comprising a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on top of the conveyor in longitudinally spaced positions of the conveyor and engageable with the rivet web shoulders in spaced apart position throughout. on each side of the tread. 22. The apparatus of claim 18, further characterized in that one of the guide rollers is inclined to engage an inclined surface of one of the shoulders. 23. A method for transporting and guiding a tire tread on a conveyor having a plurality of driven rollers, comprising: a. load the tread on the conveyor characterized by b. moving the tread along the transcarrier on laterally movable driven rollers; and c. Attach the inner edges of the shoulders up two of the roll band with guide rollers to center the tread. 24. The method of claim 23, further characterized by the guide rollers exerting centering pressure on the shoulders towards the outer edges of the belt. 25. The method of claim 24, further characterized by the centering pressure by the guide rollers that is applied after the tread moves toward the pa- rage between the guide rollers. 26. The apparatus for transporting an extruded tread member of elastomeric material, further characterized by: a. a generally horizontal conveyor, b. drive rollers on the conveyors to carry the tread member; and, c. guide rollers positioned inwardly from the raised shoulders of the tread member and inclined for engagement with the internal surfaces of the raised spars to guide without distorting the tread member.