Abstract: A second stage building drum assembly (10) mounted on a rotatable drive shaft (15) for the application of belts and the like to a carcass includes a drum (12) rotatably carried by the drive shaft (15) for mounting a carcass (143) and first and second belt guide ply rings (13 and 14) reciprocably movable with respect to the drum. Further provided are means (30) for reciprocably moving one side (32) of the drum (12) with respect to the other (33) and, means (22, 23 and 96) for moving the first and second belt guide ply rings into engagement with the drum (12) for the application of at least one belt (154) to a carcass (143) mounted thereon.

Abstract: A green tire building process comprises: the steps of: jointing both longitudinal ends of a belt-like tread rubber for producing an endless tread band, and applying the endless tread band on an inner periphery of an annular face: jointing both longitudinal ends of a belt-like breaker ply for producing an endless breaker band, and disposing the endless breaker band within said endless tread band with its mid-circumferential plane being aligned with that of said endless tread band; expanding the endless breaker band radially and applying the endless breaker band on the inner periphery of the endless tread band for building a tread breaker assembly; disposing a cylindrical green case within and in coaxial relation with the tread breaker assembly; deforming the cylindrical green case toroidally to be applied on the inner periphery of the endless breaker band for integrally building the cylindrical green case and the tread breaker assembly.

Abstract: The apparatus incorporates a rigid cylindrical form or mandrel on the outer surface of which a belt structure is built, between a pair of end dams. The radially inward surface of the mandrel is cylindrical and provides a large unobstructed cylindrical opening therethrough. The mandrel is constructed of a multiplicity of axially extending segments which are rigidly locked to and extend between a pair of end rings which provide the edge dams. Upon completing the belt structure, the belt structure together with the rigid mandrel are inserted freely into an annular channel between an outside and an inside curing assembly. The inside curing assembly includes a single cylindrical diaphragm expandable radially into contact with the cylindrical inner surface of the mandrel solely to apply curing heat thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a pneumatic tire and particularly a giant off-the-highway radial type pneumatic tire is provided preferably by first forming a tire carcass around a tire carcass building drum and transporting the tire carcass to a second stage tire building machine by a carcass transport support means. The second stage machine comprises a first rotatable detachable building drum on a first shaft preferably capable of vertical positioning for placing the tire carcass on the first drum. The first drum is adapted to expand the tire carcass to a substantially toric configuration. A second rotatable collapsible drum for building a breaker assembly is mounted on a second shaft coaxially of the first shaft. Breaker transfer means travels over and between the drums to transfer the breaker assembly from the second drum to the first drum. When the breaker assembly is positioned over the first drum, the carcass is expanded into a toric configuration and mates with the breaker assembly.

Abstract: A tire building machine comprises a number of modular packages which can be used interchangeably in single stage, or first stage tire component assembly. Some of the modular components are particularly useful in the manufacture of larger or truck type tires but can also be used in the automatic or semi-automatic production of smaller passenger size tires. One of the principal components is a carriage mounted device for transfer of components such as bands or belt and tread assemblies, or finished tires, which also functions as a bead setter and as a retractable two-position idle journal support for the non-driven end of the main shaft of the tire building drum or shaper. The shaft supports a wide variety of shapers or drums for single, first or second stage building. The device is mounted for movement to and from the shaper or drum and includes a support arm which moves in a circular arc to assume and maintain various positions during various periods in the machine cycle.

Abstract: An improved tire building and tire transfer apparatus and method includes a pivotally mounted transfer ring. After picking up an uncured tire band from its building drum and transferring the tire band to a position away from the building drum, the transfer ring is capable of pivoting about a vertical axis to rotate the tire band. In the rotated position, the tire band can be transferred to a tire support arm and carried away from the transfer ring.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus comprises in combination: a tire building drum including a cylindrical tire building drum body formed radially contactable and rotatable around a rotary axis thereof, and a pair of bead applying mechanism disposed in close proximity of both axial ends of the tire building drum body to be rotatable together with the tire building drum body and formed radially contactable; and a transfer ring including an annular frame movable toward and away from a position where the annular frame surrounds the tire building drum, a tire component carrying mechanism having a plurality of tire component carrying members radially movably mounted on the annular frame and capable of carrying a tire component in concentrical relation with the rotary axis of the tire building drum body to mount the tire component on and around the tire building drum, and a pair of bead carrying mechanisms mounted on the annular frame to be disposed at both axial ends of the tire component carrying mechanism in spaced relati

Abstract: An expandable carrier apparatus for transferring a tread and a radial tread ply band from a first work station to a further work station in a tire building machine includes an annular support member and a fluid expandable annular tube element having an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion. The lower wall portion of the tube element is movable radially away from the upper wall portion upon expansion of the tube element and is movable radially toward the upper wall portion upon contraction of the tube element. The upper wall portion includes an annular peripheral surface which is bonded along a portion of the width thereof to the support member and the lower wall portion includes an annular outer peripheral surface having a plurality of gripper means disposed in an annular array supported thereon which are operable to engage and grip tread and a radial tread ply band upon expansion of the tube element.

Abstract: A method for mounting or installing on a tire building machine an annular inflatable bladder for use in turning or folding the edge of a ply disposed around the building drum about a bead ring or a fold line. The method employs a collapsible cylindrical form which can comprise a split cylindrical ring or a cylindrical array of strips placed inside the annular bladder, which form is expanded to permit its movement axially over the drum. The method enables the bladders to be placed or replaced on the drum without dismantling the drum and particularly without requiring that the drum be removed from the shaft on which it is mounted thereby reducing the time required for installation of the bladder and the out-of-service time of the building drum.

Abstract: A tire component building machine includes a rotatable hub with a plurality of circumferentially spaced circular segments each having the same radius of curvature and each including a stem mounted on the hub for radial movement. A stud passing through and removably secured to each stem includes a projecting portion engaging a spiral cam, one end of each stud being exposed on a common side of the stems whereby each stud may readily be removed and the segments replaced by another set of segments each having another same radius of curvature. A drive assembly mounted on the hub rotates the hub and cam relative to one another radially to expand and contract the segments. In addition, the maximum expansion of the drum may be precisely regulated by an adjustable stop. A gap shield is provided to present a continuously firm circular work surface.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a process of and an apparatus for producing green tires, in which a green case shaped on a tire band building drum is transferred onto a tire building drum by a transfer ring mechanism and an inextensible endless belt built on a belt building drum is also transferred and applied onto the green case, deformed into a toroidal form on the tire building drum, by the transfer ring mechanism. The transfer ring mechanism serves to hold and release the green case and the endless belt and has such a construction to be movable along the axes of the tire band building drum, the tire building drum and the belt building drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring a tire component such as a belt and tread assembly includes an annular supporting frame with a plurality of radially movable component gripping sectors mounted on the frame at equal circumferentially spaced locations, each of the sectors being carried by a pair of radially spaced generally parallel links pivotally connected to the frame and to the sectors. An actuating ring is movable circumferentially of the frame and for each sector, an actuating link extends generally axially between the ring and at least one of each pair of links to pivot the links radially upon circumferential movement of the actuating ring. In this manner, the sectors move radially uniformly. The links are connected to one common side of the sectors by fasteners projecting from the other common side so that a different set of sectors may readily be installed. An adjustable stop limits the movement of the sectors. The frame is transported from one position to another to transfer the tire component.

Abstract: A device for removing a tire from the drum of a tire building machine is mounted on the transfer ring of the device which transfers the assembled plies of a breaker structure to the tire building drum. The device has a frame-like cradle with a pivotable bottom member and a drive member for moving the frame-like member against a bottom segment of the tire. It also has a swinging arm member and a fluid actuated cylinder for disposing the arm against a side of the tire. The swinging arm structure is movable parallel to the axis of the drum to slide a shaped tire from the drum. The pivotable bottom of the cradle-like member is pivoted to discharge the tire.

Abstract: A rigid fixed diameter cylindrical drum for building a tire band, i.e., a straight cylindrical ply assembly without bead rings or other circumferentially inextensible elements subsequently to be a part of a complete tire, is enabled to release the band built thereon for coaxial movement of the cylindrical band off the drum. The cylindrical surface of the drum is knurled in a coarse diamond-toothed pattern. Perforations or orifices for air pressure and flow are also provided. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: A coordinated method and apparatus system for concurrently building an endless band and an endless inextensible belt, transferring the band coaxially of itself to a carcass forming and shaping drum, enfolding beads in inwardly turned ends of such band to form a carcass, then shaping the carcass while swinging the drum about a vertical axis to transfer the endless belt coaxially of itself and of the shaped carcass. The apparatus includes a band building drum with cooperating ply stock servicer for building the tire band and a belt building drum also with a cooperating servicer for supplying belt ply stock and, optionally, tread stock. Axes of the band drum and belt drum are disposed to intersect a vertical axis about which a turret mounted carcass forming drum swings into alternate coaxial alignment with the band building drum and the belt building drum.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for building green tires, wherein stitching means is mounted on a carrier which transfers a tire component to and around the circumference of another tire component laid on a tire building drum. The carrier in the form of a ring shape is adapted to be axially movable toward and away from the circumference of the tire building drum and has holding means for releasably holding a tire component and a green tire. The stitching means stitches the tire components together on the tire building drum while the carrier is surrounding the circumference of the tire building drum.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an apparatus for removing and mounting a tire component from and onto a collapsible building drum which is in a collapsed state. The apparatus comprises a truck movable toward and away from a collapsible building drum, drive means mounted on the truck to move the truck toward and away from the building drum, an upstanding post assembly mounted on the truck, a pair of tire component supporting rods mounted on the upstanding post assembly to be revolvable around the circumferential outer surface of the building drum for removing and mounting a tire component from and onto the tire building drum held in a collapsed state, and revolving means mounted on the upstanding post assembly to revolve the tire component supporting rods around the circumferential surface of the building drum.

Abstract: A machine for retreading worn-out pneumatic tires comprises a chuck which is adapted to support a tire to be retreaded, an arrangement for rotating the tire, a peeling arrangement for removing the worn-out tread, a finishing arrangement for preparing the surface of the carcass for application of a new tread ring thereto, an arrangement for expanding the new ring and positioning the same on the carcass, and an arrangement for pressing the positioned tread ring against the tire, all of the arrangements being mounted on a common support with said chuck either axially or radially of the same for selective sequential movement toward and away from the tire to be retreaded.

Abstract: A tire band building drum for manufacturing a tire band of a carcass structure for a green tire, comprises a drive shaft adapted to be rotatable about a building drum axis and a collapsible drum portion axially covering a predetermined length from the forward end thereof. The collapsible drum portion includes a plurality of first arcuate drum segments circumferentially equi-distantly spaced apart from each other and a plurality of second arcuate drum segments each of which is interposed between the first arcuate drum segments to collectively define the collapsible drum portion surface in a substantially cylindrical form upon building the tire band thereon. The first arcuate drum segments are expanded while the second arcuate drum segments are contracted in inclined relation with the building drum axis for the purpose of facilitating withdrawal of a finished tire band out of the tire band building drum.

Abstract: A device for transferring a tire carcass having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and provided with core rings, from a tire building-up station to a forming station. This transfer is effected by means of an annular holder composed of segments and provided with suction cups adapted to be placed onto the outer substantially cylindrical surface of the carcass to be transferred for supporting the carcass. The holder is variable in diameter and is supported by a carrier which is movable from the tire building-up station to the forming station. The holder has curved segmental supporting elements for supporting at least one end portion of a carcass engaged and carried by the suction cups which are selectively connectable to a vacuum creating device.

Abstract: A method for press-bonding molding of breaker layers for radial tires by pressing the breaker plys on a molding drum to form a cylindrical breaker layer. The method is characterized in that at least during the press-bonding of the breaker plys, the press-bonding face which makes no parallel relative movement with respect to the face of the breaker ply to be press-bonded.

Abstract: A tread strip is positioned in proximity to the outer periphery of a tire carcass. A bonding substance is provided intermediate the carcass and the strip and has adhesive characteristics sufficient to temporarily bond the strip to the carcass when the strip and carcass are pressed together. The bonding substance is also sufficiently plastic to result in intimate contact by the substance of the facing surface of the strip and the carcass when the strip and carcass are pressed together. The bonding substance, for example unvulcanized rubber, is capable of permanently bonding the strip to the carcass when the bonding substance is sufficiently heated. Initially, the strip and carcass are pressed together in such a manner as to expel gases from between the strip and carcass and in such a manner as to cause the bonding substance to temporarily bond the strip to the carcass.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a machine for applying an endless precured tire tread to a prepared tire casing. A tread assembly is mounted for movement along guide rods supported by a base. The tread assembly includes a rotatably mounted head assembly having finger assemblies which mount an endless precured tread. The finger assemblies are movable radially inwardly and outwardly. A tire mounting assembly is positioned on said base in opposed and aligned relationship to the head assembly and mounts a prepared tire casing. Rollers are provided for stitching the endless tread to the prepared casing.

Abstract: To compensate for shifts of the mid-circumferential centerline of an expansible carcass relative to the apparatus for expanding the carcass into an inexpansible breaker-belt positioned coaxially and in annularly spaced relation therearound, a reference plane is provided by three circumferentially spaced points directly connected to and equidistantly from the mid-circumferential line of the carcass. The breaker-belt can then be registered in symmetrically centered relation to the carcass by reference to such reference plane despite shifts of such line relative to the apparatus.The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: A first stage radial ply carcass and an endless breaker belt are built conventionally about horizontal axes. Carcass and belt separately are upended, to axis-vertical positions. The respective mid-circumferential planes of the carcass and the belt are made coplanar and coincident about the vertical axis of a shaping and curing core, without fixed reference to the vertical axis. The core is raised, into and through the carcass and expanded, first to support the carcass without significant radial deformation due to gravity, and then to expand the carcass to adhere the belt therearound. The assembly of core and belted carcass is then returned to horizontal orientation to receive tread therearound. The tire is cured conventionally while the shaping core remains in the tire, still inflated, preferably with an inert gas.