Abstract: A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the magnitude of one or more harmonics of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire involves selective removal of tire material at one or more track/area locations along first and second bead profiles. Selective removal may occur via ablation at the bead seat, low flange and/or high flange zones to correct for a selected number of harmonics of such parameters as radial, lateral and tangential force variation. Ablation patterns are calculated and implemented on first and second tire beads to achieve desired levels of force reduction at selected angular locations (within the expanse from 0-360 degrees along each tire bead). Ablation patterns may be calculated for implementation at fixed or varied tire rotational speeds and/or fixed or varied levels of laser power.

Abstract: A rim 58, 83 of a post cure inflator 60 can be changed in an easy and safety manner, while the amount of energy consumption is reduced. A inflator body 61 having the lower rim 58 can be located at a lower position, and the upper rim 83 can be moved downward to a lower position. Thus, the lower rim 58 and the upper rim 83 can be changed at the lower position in response to the change of the type of the tire to be manufactured, whereby the changing operation is made easy and safety. Further, the upper rim 83 moves upward. With this configuration, a vulcanized tire T having a heavy weight only moves in a front and rear direction while being supported by the inflator 61(lower rim 58), whereby the amount of energy consumption can be reduced easily.

Abstract: A combination loader and post cure tire inflator for use with a tire press is provided. A post cure inflator for inflating and curing vulcanized tires includes a plurality of inflator stations with each inflator station including a pair of axially aligned, vertically separable tire inflating chuck rings. A loading apparatus includes a loading arm movable along a linear track relative to the plurality of inflator stations to load and unload each vulcanized tire in a selected one of the plurality of inflator stations without rotating the vulcanized tires in a turnover operation.

Abstract: A tire holding mechanism includes a first support body, a second support body and a moving device. The first support body is provided with a substantially annular first flange which supports a first bead at one side of the tire, a lock shaft having a lock mechanism and which protrudes in an axial direction of the first flange to allow the first flange to move in the axial direction, and a stopper which restrains the first flange at the proximal end of the lock shaft. The second support body is provided with a substantially annular second flange which supports a second bead of the tire, and an engagement portion with which the lock mechanism is removably engaged. The moving device moves the first support body between a tire holding position and a tire transferring position. The lock mechanism is engaged with the engagement portion at the tire holding position.

Abstract: A post cure inflator of the present invention is an apparatus for inflating and cooling a vulcanized tire T by sealing high pressure air into the vulcanized tire, and includes an annular rim for gripping the vulcanized tire at a bead portion, a connecting member fixed at one end portion thereof to the rim, a rim supporting member provided in a body frame, and a clamping device provided in the rim supporting member to clamp the connecting member to the rim supporting member unclampably. This construction permits a post cure inflator in which replacement of the rim is easy and an existing rim can be used.

Abstract: In a post-cure inflator of the present invention, a rim of a pair of disk shape rims for sandwiching bead portions of a tire has one rim surface and the other rim surface in which a plurality of step portions corresponding to the bead portions of different bead diameters are formed so as to reduce thickness from a center to an outer periphery. A pair of the rims is supported switchably between arrangement in which the one rim surfaces face each other and arrangement in which the other rim surfaces face each other. By such a configuration, it is possible to favorably sandwich the tire even when the bead diameter to be treated is added.

Abstract: A post cure inflator of the present invention is an apparatus for inflating and cooling a vulcanized tire T by sealing high pressure air into the vulcanized tire, and includes an annular rim for gripping the vulcanized tire at a bead portion, a connecting member fixed at one end portion thereof to the rim, a rim supporting member provided in a body frame, and a clamping device provided in the rim supporting member to clamp the connecting member to the rim supporting member unclampably. This construction permits a post cure inflator in which replacement of the rim is easy and an existing rim can be used.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a cured tire comprising: A retractable support member having a distal end connected to a support plate; the support plate having an inflatable bladder mounted about its circumferential edge; and wherein the retractable support member is rotatable about its axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a cured tire comprising: A retractable support member having a distal end connected to a support plate; Said support plate having an inflatable bladder mounted about its circumferential edge; and wherein said retractable support member is rotatable about its axis.

Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus 1 has a carrying-in position P1 into which a green tire TA is carried in from an original position P0, a vulcanizing position P2 at which the green tire TA is vulcanized, and a pressure cooling position P3 at which the vulcanized tire TA is pressure-cooled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a receiving device (3) for post-treating tires (1). After vulcanizing the elastomer material, the tires (1) are subjected to internal pressure by means of support gas, and cooled. Said receiving device (3) is embodied such that it can maintain the tires (1) and also seal the inner chamber of the tires. Also, a pressurized gas supply is connected to the receiving device (3). Said receiving device (3) comprises at least two fixed receiving areas (4) for at least two tires (1). The tires undergo at least one introduction process using a positionable handling device (19).

Abstract: This tire holding mechanism holds a tire and transfers the tire to/from other equipments. The tire holding mechanism includes a first support body, a second support body and a moving device. The first support body is provided with a substantially annular first flange which supports a first bead at one side of the tire, a lock shaft having a lock mechanism and which protrudes in an axial direction of the first flange to allow the first flange to move in the axial direction, and a stopper which restrains the first flange at the proximal end of the lock shaft. The second support body is provided with a substantially annular second flange which supports a second bead at the other side of the tire, and an engagement portion with which the lock mechanism is removably engaged. The moving device moves the first support body between a tire holding position and a tire transferring position. The lock mechanism is engaged with the engagement portion at the tire holding position.

Abstract: In a post-cure inflator of the present invention, a rim of a pair of disk shape rims for sandwiching bead portions of a tire has one rim surface and the other rim surface in which a plurality of step portions corresponding to the bead portions of different bead diameters are formed so as to reduce thickness from a center to an outer periphery. A pair of the rims is supported switchably between arrangement in which the one rim surfaces face each other and arrangement in which the other rim surfaces face each other. By such a configuration, it is possible to favorably sandwich the tire even when the bead diameter to be treated is added.

Abstract: A post cure inflator for expansion-cooling a vulcanized tire is provided with a vulcanized-tire holding mechanism for holding the vulcanized tire and a rotating mechanism for rotating the vulcanized tire at a high speed via the vulcanized-tire holding mechanism such that a forced convection becomes more dominant than a natural convection in an air flow around the vulcanized tire.

Abstract: The present invention provides a locking and unlocking mechanism of a post-curing in which a male mold is simplified in structure and reduced in weight, and the entire device including an upper flange hoisting and lowering device is reduced in size and weight. The locking and unlocking mechanism comprises a pair of flanges 1 and 2 for closing openings formed in left and right side surfaces of the tire, and a lock mechanism A provided between the flanges for supporting an expansion load of the tire. The lock mechanism A comprises a male rod 4 projecting from a surface of one of the flanges, and a female mold 3 of the other flange with which a tip end of the male rod 4 is engaged. An adjust mechanism for setting a length of the male rod 4 is connected to a base portion of the male rod 4. The male rod 4 is provided with a slide portion extended as the tire is expanded. The adjust mechanism sets a distance between the flanges 1 and 2 in accordance with a width of the tire.

Abstract: A method of highly efficiently producing pneumatic tires, wherein both bead portions (B) of a green tire (G) are supported by a pair of holders (24, 50) and opposite axial ends of a bladder (25) are tightly attached to the holders (24, 50), respectively. The holders (24, 50) are joined to each other and a fluid is supplied into the bladder (25), to preliminarily inflate the bladder (25) within the green tire (G). The green tire (G) is transferred into a vulcanizer, together with the holders (24, 50) and the preliminarily inflated bladder (25). A heat medium is supplied into the bladder (25), to vulcanize the green tire (G) and form a vulcanized tire (K). The preliminary inflation of the bladder (25) at a location outside of the vulcanizer eliminates or shortens the waiting time within the vulcanizer, thereby improving the overall work efficiency and productivity at a tire factory.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a pneumatic tire (300) with oppositely disposed annularly-shaped beads (324) for mounting on flange shoulders (304) of a wheel rim (302) with the opposed beads (324) spaced apart from one another by a distance “i”. The process comprises the steps of: forming a green tire assembly (308) including a tread (312), and a carcass (316) with a ply (320) and opposed sidewalls (318) that each include a radial inner-end bead portion (322) with one of the beads (324) and wherein each bead portion (322) is spaced apart from one another by a distance “f”. The green tire assembly (308) is cured by applying pressure thereto at an elevated temperature in a vulcanization mold (400). The process is characterized by the steps of spacing the opposed beads (324) apart from one another by a distance “g” which is substantially equal to the distance “f” therebetween when the green tire assembly (308) was formed.

Abstract: A radial force variation of a tire is corrected irrespectively of the kind of the organic fiber cord used, wherein a radial force variation (RFV) is measured at room temperature to specify a tire position indicating a minimum value of RFV, and an inner face of a tread portion is pushed and enlarged outward in a radial direction of the tire by a pushing means at a RFV bottom region sandwiching the position of the minimum RFV value from both sides thereof in a circumferential direction of the tread portion, and such a push enlarged state is kept for a given time.

Abstract: When the loading device or the unloading device is transferred, a procedure for separating the attaching/detaching-side rim mold to separate both the rim molds is eliminated, and the loading procedure and unloading procedure are simplified correspondingly, and the operation efficiency is enhanced. The present invention provides a tire grasping device of a PCI device in which a stroke amount when separating or coupling the attaching/detaching-side rim mold from and to the body-side rim mold is reduced to such a degree that the grasped tire does not interfere with the body-side rim mold and thus, the device is reduced in size. A post-vulcanization inflating device comprises a body-side rim mold 2 and an attaching/detaching-side rim mold 3.

Abstract: When the loading device or the unloading device is transferred, a procedure for separating the attaching/detaching-side rim mold to separate both the rim molds is eliminated, and the loading procedure and unloading procedure are simplified correspondingly, and the operation efficiency is enhanced. The present invention provides a tire grasping device of a PCI device in which a stroke amount when separating or coupling the attaching/detaching-side rim mold from and to the body-side rim mold is reduced to such a degree that the grasped tire does not interfere with the body-side rim mold and thus, the device is reduced in size.

Abstract: The present invention provides a locking and unlocking mechanism of a post-curing in which a male mold is simplified in structure and reduced in weight, and the entire device including an upper flange hoisting and lowering device is reduced in size and weight.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for constrained post cure inflation (CPCI), for improvement of tire uniformity, footprint shape factor, and tread wear. The method comprises the steps of: (1) initiating the method on a tire after the tire has been removed from a tire curing mold (preferably while the tire is still hot); (2) providing 360 degree circumferential tread restraint which holds the tread in an ideal tread shape, concentric to the axis of rotation and nominally perpendicular to the equatorial plane; (3) sealingly holding the beads concentric to, and equidistant from, the axis of rotation, and symmetrically spaced about the equatorial plane; and (4) inflating the tire to a controlled pressure, and holding the controlled pressure for a controlled time while the tread is restrained and the beads are sealingly held.

Abstract: A tire vulcanizing machine has a tire receiving position, tire supplying position, tire vulcanizing position, and tire removing position. A receiving table receives a green tire and provides the tire to a tire supplying device. The tire supplying device positions the tire on a lower die and an upper die closes. The dies vulcanize and mold the green tire therebetween. A removing device transfers the vulcanized tire to a cooling device and ejects the cooled tire to a transfer conveyor. The receiving table, lower die and removing device are joined to each other and make a reciprocating movement at the same time at their set positions along with a transfer unit.

Abstract: A green tire is partially vulcanized as primary vulcanization by a tire vulcanizer. Then the primnarily vulcanized tire is entirely vulcanized as secondary vulcanization by a post-cure inflator. This enables to shorten the cycle time for tire vulcanization by simultaneously applying vulcanization by the tire vulcanizer and the post-cure inflator in parallel to improve the productivity.

Abstract: A tire vulcanizer according to this invention comprises a swing loader for turning and carrying a vulcanized tire or cooled tire between a tire vulcanizing press and a post-cure inflator. The discharge position of the cooled vulcanized tire to a discharge conveyor is arranged within the rotating track of the swing loader between the tire vulcanizing press and the post-cure inflator, so that the discharge conveyor receives the cooled tire carried from the swing loader and discharges it to a carrying-out conveyor juxtaposed in the rear of the post-cure inflator.

Abstract: A post-cure inflator for tires includes a driven shaft for mounting at least one tire chuck for receiving the tire bead and at least one spindle for mounting a tire chuck and being disposed in opposed relationship with the driven shaft. The at least one spindle is movable toward and away from the driven shaft. A tire support shaft is also provided to receive a tire and elevate it into registry to permit mounting of the tire on the chucks. The driven shaft can be provided with opposed ends carrying the chucks and a spindle and chuck may be positioned opposite both ends. The method includes mounting the tire on a rotatable spindle which is disposed in a horizontal plane so that the tire is disposed in a vertical plane, inflating the tire and rotating it in the post-curing operation.

Abstract: A post cure inflation is carried out in a state in which the position of a tire which corresponds to the peak portion of the measured radial runout of the tire whose internal portion is in a high temperature state after vulcanization is restrained or in a state in which the position between bead portions of the tire, which corresponds to the peak portion of the measured radial runout of the tire whose internal portion is in a high temperature state after vulcanization is held at a minimum width. As a result, the tire after vulcanization can be formed in an appropriate configuration.