Abstract: The present invention is aimed to simplify a configuration of a device and to reduce installation and running cost. A carriage is driven on a curved potions 31a, 32a of an oval-shaped endless moving path 5 under a guide of rails 31, 32. The carriage positioned on the ground side is engaged with a carrier 37 driven along the curved portions 31a, 32a. The carriage is towed over the entire length of the curved portion by the carrier 37.

Abstract: A tire building system, which does not require prolonging tact time for tire building, specific occupying space for endless circulative traveling of a building carriage, and increasing noises and vibrations, and which is free from possibility of premature deterioration of carriage positioning accuracy. The system includes workstations configured to mount applicable tire components onto a building drum, respectively; a building carriage configured to support the building drum to thereby move the building drum among the respective workstations; and carriage guiding means for guiding a movement of the building carriage on a predetermined path. The carriage guiding means includes two inner and outer endless rails, and wheels provided on the building carriage, the wheels each being configured to roll on opposite side surfaces of associated one of the endless rails to thereby restrict a carriage position in a direction orthogonal to an extending direction of the endless rails.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining the ends of belt-shaped members. The apparatus includes first and second transporting devices, a positioning device, and an end affixing device. The first and second transporting devices extend and retract in the longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped member, and transport the belt-shaped members in the longitudinal direction thereof. The positioning device stops the transport of the belt-shaped members and positions the belt-shaped members as opposing ends of the belt-shaped members on the first and second transporting devices being driven abut against the positioning device. The end affixing device joins the aligned ends of the belt-shaped members. Accordingly, the apparatus for joining the ends of belt-shaped members properly positions and joins the opposing ends of the belt-shaped members on the first and second transporting devices.

Abstract: A method of forming a ply member such as a carcass ply for a radial tire. The ply member is formed a plurality of belt-shaped members having a width obtained by multiplying .pi. inches by an integral number (1, 2, 3, . . . ) and a constant length. These belt-shaped members are successively attached one by one onto a forming drum having an outer circumferential length obtained by multiplying .pi. inches by an integral number so that the side edges of the belt-shaped members are arranged in parallel with the axis of the forming drum. The adjacent side edges of the belt-shaped members in circumferential directions of the forming drum are forced closer together to butt-join the faces of the side edges with each other. In case that the forming drum is a polygonal cylindrical forming drum whose one side of the polygon has a length obtained by multiplying .pi. inches by an integral number, the belt-shaped members are more easily attached to the forming drum.