Abstract: A method for vulcanizing a tire wherein firstly heating medium is blown toward a tire internal surface from a supply opening arranged at a position above an equator of the tire in a mold and secondary pressurizing medium is blown toward the tire internal surface from the supply opening, and an apparatus used therefor. By virtue of the method and the apparatus, in vulcanization, abnormal cooling at a lower bead of a tire is prevented and consequently a large temperature difference inside the tire is prevented, so that uniform vulcanization can be carried out to provide products having high quality. Further, prevention of the temperature difference makes it possible to shorten a time period required for vulcanization, to improve productivity, and to reduce energy loss.

Abstract: After loading a green tire in a tire vulcanizing machine and before shaping, bead portions of the green tires are centered relative to bead rings of upper and lower metal molds and are sequentially inserted into the bead rings precisely in parallel thereto by the same extendable/retractable sectors and chucks which are movable vertically. An apparatus preferable for practicing the aforementioned method includes a plurality of such sectors for centering and holding a bead portion of the green tire, slide and linkage mechanisms for extending and retracting chucks to which the sectors are mounted, and a cylinder mechanism for vertically moving the chucks so as to insert the bead portion of the green tire centered and held by the sectors into a bead ring of a tire metal mold.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for vulcanizing an elastomer product, such as automobile tires, wherein the elastomer product is placed in a vulcanizing chamber in a mold steam at an elevated pressure is supplied to the vulcanizing chamber to heat and pressurize the elastomer product until the elastomer product reaches a prespecified temperature or for a prespecified period of time, the steam supply is stopped and a pressurizing gas, at a pressure not lower than the steam supply pressure, is supplied to the vulcanizing chamber until the end of a heating period, said steam being blown in and supplied from an upper position of the center of the vulcanizing chamber in a horizontal direction or in an inclined downward direction, said steam being blown in and supplied from a lower position of the center of the vulcanizing chamber toward an upper region of the vulcanizing chamber.

Abstract: A vulcanizing apparatus having penetrating passages connected and communicated with a jacket portion of a mold member. An upper open end portion of one of the penetrating passages is connected to a steam inlet pipe while an upper open end portion of the other penetrating passage is connected to a steam outlet pipe. The connections and communications of the jacket portion with the steam inlet and outlet pipes can be simultaneously and efficiently completed in a single operation. Inner tubes are slidably disposed along the penetrating passages and pressed against the connecting surface of the mold, and appropriate pressure is applied on the seal packing member on the connecting surface independent from the clamping force of the upper mold in order to ensure reliable sealing.

Abstract: An ejector in a tire vulcanizing machine for ejecting the condensate of vulcanizing steam accumulated within a bladder to the outside of a tire includes a drain extraction pipe elevatably and rotatably supported in the machine and extending through a lower ring and a guide ring for clamping a lower edge portion of the bladder, a drain suction pipe extending horizontally from the top end portion of the drain extraction pipe and having its tip end portion bent downwards, an elevation drive and a rotary drive for the drain extraction pipe, and a rotary limit adjusting mechanism provided in the rotary drive. Preferably, the rotary drive is made up of a rotary shaft of a rotary cylinder mounted to the bottom end portion of the drain extraction pipe so as to be supported in an axially movable manner and a body of the rotary cylinder surrounding the rotary shaft.

Abstract: An upper metal mold clamp device in a tire vulcanizing machine of the type that an upper metal mold is detachably fixed to a bolster by rotating clamp rods vertically penetrating through the bolster and provided with clamp claws at their bottom ends, is improved. Drive units rotate the respective clamp rods independently of rotation of the other clamp rods. Nuts are mounted onto the bolster plate in an unrotatable but vertically movable manner, and threadedly engaged with male screws at the upper portions of the clamp rods. Hollow spaces for accommodating the clamp claws are formed around the clamp rods on the bottom surface of an upper heat plate held in contact with the upper metal mold.

Abstract: A metal mold centering and clamping device in a tire vulcanizing machine has hydraulic cylinders each having a piston rod equipped with a non-directional bearing at its top portion. The cylinders are mounted on a vulcanizing machine frame close to an outer circumference of a metal mold. An outside portion of a centering member is connected to the vulcanizing machine frame via parallel links to form a parallel linkage, and a bottom portion of the same centering member is connected to the piston rod via a link. On the inside of the centering member and on the outer circumference of a lower metal mold are respectively formed centering surfaces opposed to each other. In addition, at an upper portion of the inside surface of the centering member is formed a clamp claw adapted to be engaged with the edge of the lower metal mold.