Pneumatic vehicle tire with integral transponder manufacture involves making an incision into a tire wall without damaging tire cords, inserting transponder and closing the incision before tire vulcanization

摘要

An incision(6) is made by the blade(11) of a cutter(2) into the tire sidewall(5) to a specific depth. Cutter design ensures that the cut depth is less than the distance between the outer wall of the tire and the tire cords(4) in the wall. A transponder(3) is inserted into the incision(6) which is then closed up to retain the transponder inside the tire wall. The cutter(2) is heated when making the incision(6) during cutting. A transponder(3) is inserted into the tire wall before tire vulcanization, preferably in a tire preform before this makes contact with any mold release agent. A guide roll, whose movement is linked to the cutter movement, may be pressed onto the tire wall at the incision point to close the latter after insertion of the transponder. The cutter may have a holder for a transponder and a transponder ejector for inserting into the tire incision. Cut depth is controlled by a spacer in the form of a guide face on the cutter. An independent claim is included for the transponder locating equipment which includes a cutter able to cut into the tire wall to a distance without breaking into tire cords in the wall and a mechanism for inserting a transponder in to the cut tire wall and closing the incision after location.