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: A tire curing press for the curing of radial tires includes top and bottom mold sections, relatively movable top and bottom bead rings, the latter being on top of a well, and a center mechanism in the bottom bead ring well. The top mold section includes a sectional mold operator, a top bead ring actuator and an actuator for raising and lowering a chuck for the top bead ring of an uncured tire. The chuck includes a series of horizontal L-shape plates each of which swings about a respective swing axis. An open vertical tube aligned with the top mold section includes a gear at its bottom in mesh with gear segments on the chuck plates so that rotation of the tube opens and closes the chuck. The extent of rotation of the tube controls the extent of the chuck.

Abstract: A tire press having upper and lower cavity molds with a tire loader which is vertically and horizontally movable and has a chuck which grips a tire by the tread rather than the bead. The gripper has plural gripping shoes movable by bell-cranks and piston actuators. The chuck of the invention grips a tire by the tread and positions it adjacent a mold where the tire bead is gripped by a second chuck (not claimed) which deposits the tire in the mold.

Abstract: A tire press of the slideback type has mounted on the press head beam a precision loader for the uncured tires. The beam moves vertically and then laterally or horizontally while maintaining the top mold section in parallelism with the bottom mold section for concurrent opening, loading of the uncured tire and discharge of the cured tire from the press. The invention includes a pair of tire chucks mounted on a loader beam for precise vertical movement through an electric motor driven rack and pinion drive. The loader beam is in turn mounted on the press head beam but through a lost motion connection. In this manner the loader is uncoupled from the press head during the final loading horizontal travel thereof to allow independent movement of the loader and press head. The loader is biased toward the press head by springs.

Abstract: A spring finger ply down for a tire building machine comprising an annular array of spring fingers, an annular support for the fingers and a constrictable clamp for securing each finger to the support at an axial interference between each finger and the support. The constrictable clamp includes an elastic band stretched circumferentially around the fingers and/or a clamping ring of relatively inextensible material that is adjustably constricted or cinched around the fingers or, if used, the elastic band for holding rigidly or relatively rigidly the fingers to the support. The elastic band is locally radially deformable to permit radial release of the axial interference for easy insertion and removal of a finger without disturbing adjacent fingers.

Abstract: A tire curing press incorporates an improved seal assembly for the center mechanism or bladder assembly. The bottom or lower clamp ring assembly for the shaping bladder is normally threaded on a hub. The hub and ring assembly include cylindrical telescoping surfaces and axially facing surfaces with an O-ring or seal ring provided between the former and a harder bumper ring provided between the latter. The present invention eliminates the seal between the cylindrical surfaces and provides between the axially facing surfaces a special seal assembly which includes an annular sealing plate with a low coefficient of friction and two sealing O-rings on each side thereof. The seal assembly prevents "blow-by" and makes the parts easier to assemble and disassemble under various temperature conditions.

Abstract: A hydraulic tire curing press comprises a center column and two outer columns respectively located at the apex and ends of a shallow V, and a pair of press cavities each located between the center column and a respective outer column. The press cavities each include a lower cavity part and an upper cavity part, the latter being supported by and between the center column and respective outer column for vertical movement by an in line or shallow V arrangement of actuators which raise and lower the upper cavity parts in order to open and close the press cavities. The center column, when at the front of the press, is used as a common mount for a pair of tire loaders respectively associated with press cavities.

Abstract: A tire press and loader achieves precision and accuracy in positoning an uncured tire on or near the bottom mold section after the top mold section has been moved to open the press. The loader utilizes a horizontally movable carriage which is mounted on a track system for shuttling between a pick-up and loading position through the action of a cable piston-cylinder assembly. The track system includes a rod rail at one side with preloaded spaced ball bushings riding thereon and a channel rail at the other side with three spaced rollers riding therein with the center roller being eccentrically loaded against one side of the channel in turn to load the other rollers against the opposite side of the channel. A pair of loader chucks are mounted on the lower ends of vertically movable posts which are each supported by vertically spaced sets of three rollers on the carriage.

Abstract: A tire press, loader and method employs a stationary bottom mold section and a vertically movable top mold section which moves upwardly to open the press clearing the area therebetween for discharge of the cured tire and loading of the green or uncured tire. The press loads the green tire initially into the top mold section centering and holding the top bead of the green tire on the bead ring of the top mold section. To position the uncured tire for such top loading there is provided a loader which engages the uncured tire at the lower shoulder of the tread area. The loader includes pivotally movable chuck sector assemblies, each mounted on a ring. The ring can readily be centered with respect to the axis of the mold sections and each assembly can be moved concurrently uniformly radially of the ring to accommodate tires of different sizes.

Abstract: A tire curing press with an improved loader includes a shaping or center mechanism which includes a vertically movable well on which is mounted the bottom bead or toe ring. The press includes a loader of improved design affording precision centering and accuracy which is driven for vertical movement by a ball screw and nut drive which positions the green tire concentric with the upper and lower mold sections and over the bottom bead ring. The loader then moves the green tire downwardly until the lower bead of the green tire reaches a predetermined point touching or fairly closely adjacent the elevated bead ring. Simultaneously, an adjustable pad on the loader contacts the tip of an extended rod of a vertically oriented synchronizer piston-cylinder assembly.

Abstract: A loader for a tire curing press comprising a support, a loader frame mounted to the support for vertical and horizontal movement, a loader basket mounted to the loader frame for engaging, holding and releasing a tire, a first actuator for vertically moving the loader frame, a second actuator for horizontally moving the loader frame into and out of the press when open, and a mechanical guide for guiding the loader frame from an over-center position in the press to a center position as the loader frame is moved vertically in the press. The loader frame is supported on a spline shaft for movement therealong and rotation therewith by ball bushings riding in the grooves of the spline split. The loader basket comprises a plurality of generally radially movable shoes, an adjustable stop for limiting radial movement of each shoe and an adjustment mechanism for simultaneously and uniformly adjusting the adjustable stops.

Abstract: A pop-up, rotating nozzle in a tire curing press provides for dispersed and uniform introduction of fluid media into the upper containment portion of a curing and shaping bladder during tire cure and cooling, and yet allows for relatively close spacing of upper and lower bladder clamps such as during bladder insertion and stripping operations. The nozzle has an outlet head in communication with the interior of the bladder and a supply stem mounted in a lower bladder clamp and porting assembly of the press for both axial and rotational movement. The nozzle is movable against a spring biasing force by the upper bladder clamp to a lowermost retracted position which allows the bladder clamps to be axially spaced apart a distance substantially less than their axial spacing during cure.

Abstract: A tire curing press has a loader assembly comprising a bead grip for engaging and lifting the axial interior of the upper bead of a green tire and a tread positioning ring movable axially to an adjusted position to engage the tire tread shoulder and to force a predetermined distance between the upper bead and tread to identify precisely the transaxial middle or crown plane of the tread. The loader includes means to swing the bead grip and tread register from a tire pick-up position to a load position centered in the press and to position the lower bead of the green tire on or close to a movable toe ring, and then to lower the bead grip, tread register and toe ring uniformly with the green tire held open and firmly therebetween to match the transaxial middle plane of the tread to that of a bladder mounted in a center mechanism in the press by independently movable top and bottom bladder bead clamps.

Abstract: A dual cavity hydraulic tire press utilizes a single long stroke piston-cylinder assembly vertically positioned substantially in line with the center of gravity of the vertically movable upper mold sections, the latter being supported on the underside of the outer ends of a shallow V-shaped beam which is mounted for vertical movement on a readily removable column or post. In the closed position of the press the top mold cavities are locked to the base of the press by rotatable bayonet locks. Four short stroke hydraulic clamp piston-cylinder assemblies are positioned beneath each bottom mold section to achieve clamping pressure during cure. In one embodiment mechanical stops may be provided to achieve mold height adjustment and to preclude the molds opening significantly upon loss of fluid pressure to the clamping piston-cylinder assemblies. In another embodiment the clamp-piston-cylinder assemblies are mechanically adjusted to obtain the proper position for mold height adjustment.

Abstract: A tire curing press has a loader assembly comprising a bead grip for engaging and lifting the axial interior of the upper bead of a green tire and a tread positioning ring movable axially to an adjusted position to engage the tire tread shoulder and to force a predetermined distance between the upper bead and tread to identify precisely the transaxial middle or crown plane of the tread. The loader includes means to swing the bead grip and tread register from a tire pick-up position to a load position centered in the press and to position the lower bead of the green tire on or close to a movable toe ring, and then to lower the bead grip, tread register and toe ring uniformly with the green tire held open and firmly therebetween to match the transaxial middle plane of the tread to that of a bladder mounted in a center mechanism in the press by independently movable top and bottom bladder bead clamps.

Abstract: A dual cavity hydraulic tire press utilizes a single long stroke piston-cylinder assembly vertically positioned substantially in line with the center of gravity of the vertically movable upper mold sections, the latter being supported on the underside of the outer ends of a shallow V-shaped beam which is mounted for vertical movement on a readily removable column or post. In the closed position of the press the top mold cavities are locked to the base of the press by rotatable bayonet locks. Four short stroke hydraulic clamp piston-cylinder assemblies are positioned beneath each bottom mold section to achieve clamping pressure during cure and are provided with extended coolant passages between the clamp actuating fluid and the heat of the mold cavity to preclude degradation of the fluid employed.

Abstract: A loader for tire machinery such as tire presses is disclosed, which loader is supported from a vertically and horizontally movable frame and which includes a vertical shaft or sleeve journaled with respect to the frame with a horizontal plate secured for rotation therewith. Loader shoes are mounted on the frame for radial movement and respective links interconnect the plate and each loader shoe, each link extending at a common angle with respect to a radius from the center of rotation of the plate, and rotation of the plate in one direction will reduce the angle accordingly moving the shoes radially outwardly and rotation of the plate in the opposite direction will increase the angle moving the shoes radially inwardly. Each link is adjustable in length and the extent of rotation of the plate in one or both directions is limited by adjustable stops. The loader shoes remain parallel throughout their movement and are supported for radial movement by self-aligning slider blocks.