Abstract: A post cure tire inflator is provided for use with a tire press to inflate and cure vulcanized tires. The post cure inflator includes a frame fixed between a pair of outer support columns, a first movable beam that is linearly movable relative to the frame, and a second movable beam that is linearly movable relative to both of the frame and the first movable beam. A pair of inflator stations is arranged in a vertically separated formation with each inflator station including a pair of axially aligned, vertically separable tire inflating chuck rings. One of the tire inflating chuck rings from each pair of inflator stations is secured to the frame, and the other tire inflating chuck ring from each pair of inflator stations is secured to one of the first and second movable beams.

Abstract: A tire curing press for curing vulcanized tires includes an upper cavity part and a base that at least partially forms the lower cavity part. A movable platen is supported by the base that supports a tire mold section received within the upper cavity part. In various examples, an outer riser column is secured to the base and extends vertically upwards from the base to support the upper cavity part, a multi-height lock ring is disposed upon the base and is configured to interface with an annular flange of the upper cavity part via a bayonet connection, first and second cylinders are configured to apply a substantially equal squeeze pressure to the movable platen to thereby establish a final tire curing pressure within the press cavity, and/or a lock plate is carried by the upper cavity part and includes a locking surface for selective engagement with an abutment shoulder.

Abstract: A segmented mold operator includes a main frame fixed to an upper cavity part of a tire press cavity and a control plunger with an axially movable cylinder rod that is configured to apply a squeeze pressure to the tire press cavity. A rotatable lock ring is rotatably coupled about an end of the cylinder rod and axially movable therewith. The lock ring includes a plurality of teeth radially arranged thereon to interface with a mold ring adapter via a bayonet connection. A lock ring frame is independent from the rotatable lock ring and is separated therefrom along the cylinder rod. A locking plunger is configured to selectively engage the rotatable lock ring to thereby prevent rotation of the rotatable lock ring. An electronic lock sensor is configured to electronically sense an axial position of the lock rod.

Abstract: A tire curing press for curing vulcanized tires includes an upper cavity part and a base that at least partially forms the lower cavity part. A movable platen is supported by the base that supports a tire mold section received within the upper cavity part. In various examples, an outer riser column is secured to the base and extends vertically upwards from the base to support the upper cavity part, a multi-height lock ring is disposed upon the base and is configured to interface with an annular flange of the upper cavity part via a bayonet connection, first and second cylinders are configured to apply a substantially equal squeeze pressure to the movable platen to thereby establish a final tire curing pressure within the press cavity, and/or a lock plate is carried by the upper cavity part and includes a locking surface for selective engagement with an abutment shoulder.

Abstract: A combination loader and post cure tire inflator for use with a tire press is provided. A post cure inflator for inflating and curing vulcanized tires includes a plurality of inflator stations with each inflator station including a pair of axially aligned, vertically separable tire inflating chuck rings. A loading apparatus includes a loading arm movable along a linear track relative to the plurality of inflator stations to load and unload each vulcanized tire in a selected one of the plurality of inflator stations without rotating the vulcanized tires in a turnover operation.

Abstract: A combination loader and post cure tire inflator for use with a tire press is provided. A post cure inflator for inflating and curing vulcanized tires includes a plurality of inflator stations with each inflator station including a pair of axially aligned, vertically separable tire inflating chuck rings. A loading apparatus includes a loading arm movable along a linear track relative to the plurality of inflator stations to load and unload each vulcanized tire in a selected one of the plurality of inflator stations without rotating the vulcanized tires in a turnover operation.

Abstract: A loader basket for gripping, transporting, and releasing tires, including a fixed ring, a rotating ring operatively interrelated with the fixed ring, a plurality of shoe arms pivotally attached to the fixed ring, shoe assemblies pivotally mounted on each of the shoe arms, alignment links pivotally mounted on the fixed ring and pivotally attached to each of the shoe assemblies, shoe arm actuating rods pivotally attached to each of the shoe arms and the rotating ring for pivoting the shoe arms about the fixed rings while maintaining the shoe assemblies in concentric relation during movement between collapsed and expanded positions, and an actuator for selectively moving the rotating ring relative to the fixed ring.

Abstract: A center mechanism (10) for manipulating a bladder (20) in a tire curing press (12) includes a lower plate ring (28) for carrying a lower bead (22) of the bladder (20), and an upper plate ring (60) for carrying an upper bead (24) of the bladder (20). The center mechanism (10) may also include a first piston chamber (45) and a second piston chamber (105) positioned radially interior from the first piston chamber (45). An outer piston assembly (37) is operative to selectively raise the lower plate ring (28) and an inner piston assembly (71) is positioned inside the outer piston assembly (37) and is operative to selectively raise the upper plate ring (60) relative to the lower plate ring (28). A guide (120) is coupled to the outer piston assembly (37) and is adapted to slidingly contact the inner piston assembly (71) to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Operating fluid is provided through a single port (52) to selectively raise the outer piston assembly (37) and the inner piston assembly (71).

Abstract: A tire curing press (10) having a frame (20), a bolster (16) for mounting a lower mold section (12), a cylinder (35) mounted on the frame, a cylinder rod (38) of the cylinder for moving the bolster and the lower mold section between a closed position and a partially open position, moveable indexing apparatus (50) interposed between the cylinder rod and the bolster, and a plurality of steps (65) of differing thickness on the indexing apparatus, whereby moving a selected one of the plurality of steps into alignment with the cylinder rod establishes a different partially open position of the lower mold section.

Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating a bladder (25) relative to a tire (B) in a tire curing press (11) including, a lower plate ring (31) for carrying a lower bead (26) of the bladder, an upper plate ring (50) for carrying an upper bead (27) of the bladder, a first cylinder mechanism (35) for selectively moving the lower plate ring and the upper plate ring, a piston rod (56) attached to the upper plate ring and extending through the lower plate ring, a second cylinder mechanism (55) located within the first cylinder mechanism for selectively actuating the piston rod to move the upper plate ring relative to the lower plate ring, a stretch-height control mechanism (57) for controlling the position of the upper plate ring relative to the lower plate ring upon actuation of the second cylinder, and a bladder detector mechanism (110) for positioning the upper plate ring at a predetermined position relative to a tire in the tire curing press.

Abstract: Mold clamping apparatus (30) for selectively detachably securing a lower mold plate (20) mounting a lower mold section (M) relative to the lower platen (21), lower bolster (22) and lower housing (12) of a tire curing press (10) comprising, a plurality of bores (21', 22', 12') extending through the lower platen, the lower bolster and the lower housing, a tapered bore (71) in the lower mold plate, a locking rod (31) positioned in each of the bores and extending into the tapered bore, a contractible member (40) affixed to the lower platen and extending into the tapered bore when the lower mold plate is seated on the lower platen, a jam nut (33) mounted on the locking rod movable into and out of engagement with the contractible member, and a biasing assembly 55 urging the jam nut into contact with the contractible member for locking the contractible member in the tapered bore to secure the lower mold plate to the lower platen.

Abstract: A loader basket (20) for gripping, transporting, and precisely positioning a tire (T), including a framework (21) having a spider (30) with a plurality of radially extending arms (33), a plurality of shoes (40) mounted for radial movement on the arms, a spine plate (41) on each of the shoes for engaging the tire, an actuating assembly (60) for moving the shoes radially inwardly and outwardly on the arms, individually adjustable stop assemblies (70) on each of the arms limiting the extent of radially outward movement of each of the shoes, and a synchronizing mechanism (90) mechanically interconnecting the stop assemblies for uniformly simultaneously adjusting the extent of radial outward movement of each of the shoes.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for applying hot cushion gum (E) in a strip (12) of predetermined thickness and width to the crown surface (14) of a tire carcass (16) having a sagittal plane (68). The apparatus (10) includes a motor (M) for rotating the tire carcass (16), and extrusion means (18) for dispensing hot cushion gum through a die means (26). The angular disposition of the die means (26) may be selected relative to the sagittal plane (68) of the tire carcass (16) to determine the effective width of the strip (12) applied to the crown surface (14), rotational control mechanism (64) is also provided selectively to control the angular velocity of the rotating tire carcass (16) which determines the thickness of the strip (12). According to the present method a tire carcass (16) is mounted for rotation. The die head (26) is positionable at a selected angle (.beta.) within its angular range (.alpha.) measured transversely of the sagittal plane ( 68) of the tire carcass (16) to establish a selected, effective width (W.sub.