Abstract: A pneumatic tire building machine with a rotatable building drum adapted for forming thereon a tire carcass of rubberized plies and for expanding the formed carcass to a toric shape. A transfer mechanism positions a separately formed tread and belt assembly substantially concentrically around and spaced from the tire carcass disposed on the building drum. Annular guide means with rolling surfaces are also positioned substantially concentrically around and spaced from the tire carcass disposed on the building drum. When the tire carcass is expanded to a toric shape, the carcass contacts the guide means in rolling engagement and is guided to mate in precision alignment with the tread and belt assembly.

Abstract: The inner surface of a green tire provided with an air-sealing liner, is cured or partially cured to produce a steam- and water-resistant surface, and the tire after such treatment is cured in a usual press without an air-bag or bladder.One or more plies of a tire, usually the outer fabric plies, are partially cured before assembly in the tire, to insure that plies so located are cured, without over-curing inner and outer portions of the tire.New tires are made by placing a carcass, whether green or partially cured, in a mold and extruding rubber over the outer surface of this carcass to fill the mold, and then giving the final cure to the resulting tire.Tires are retreaded by applying ribbons of tread stock over the carcass prepared in any conventional manner, and then completing the cure without the use of a mold.Retreaded tires are cured by placing a carcass prepared in any conventional manner, in a mold, extruding tread stock into the mold around the carcass, and the curing.

Abstract: In bonding a prevulcanized tread strip to a tire casing with a low-temperature-vulcanizable bonding medium temporary support elements in the form of elastic rings are inserted in the circumferential tread grooves during pressing of the tread strip against the tire casing for the purposes of achieving uniform pressure over the whole tread strip and preventing distortion or movement of portions of the tread strip and/or bonding medium during the bonding operation.

Abstract: A process monitoring and control system is provided for use in a tire calendering system producing a strip of rubber tire material comprising a layer of tire cord laminated between first and second layers of rubber. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the first rubber layer is measured by a single point radiation backscatter gauge at a point prior to its lamination with the tire cord and second layer. The thickness of the first layer is controlled to a desired target by means of a control loop including the single point gauge. The total thickness of the combined layers is measured at the calender output by a total thickness gauge. Gauge coordination means, including a delay means, are provided whereby measurements of the thickness of the first layer and of the combined strip are derived over the same longitudinal portion of the strip.