Abstract: A method for detecting ply wire anomalies in a tire carcass ply having a plurality of spaced apart ply wires extending across a tire carcass, the method comprising the steps: constructing a green tire carcass in a diametrically expanded toroidal configuration, the carcass comprising a pair of beads, the carcass ply extending from bead to bead, at least one crown layer covering the carcass ply and having a peripheral skirt region; and sidewalls covering the carcass ply and extending from the beads to the crown layer and having edge portions intersecting the crown layer; mounting a wire sensor apparatus proximal to the tire carcass ply, the wire sensor apparatus including a wire sensor for detecting the presence of a proximal ply wire; establishing relative movement between the wire sensor and the tire carcass whereby the plurality of spaced apart ply wires are sequentially placed into proximal relationship with the wire sensor; and generating sequential data from the wire sensor indicative of at least one ply

Abstract: The method of building and transferring a tread belt structure on a portable and collapsible building drum 10 mounted coaxially on a building machine 100 with a rotatable shaft 120 is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming the annular tread belt 4 on the building drum 10, transferring the building drum 10 with the tread belt 4 from the rotatable shaft 120 onto a pivoting transfer device 200, pivoting the transfer device 200 about 90° rendering the tread belt 4 and axis of the building drum 10 perpendicular to a horizontal plane, collapsing the building drum 10, separating the annular tread belt 4 from the building drum 10, removing the tread belt 4, expanding the tire building drum 10, pivoting the building drum 10 into coaxial alignment with the rotatable shaft 120, moving the building drum 10 onto the shaft 120. The tread belt 4 has one or more elastomeric components applied while hot and the equipment provides means for weighing the tread belt 4.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a green tire carcass is provided having a bladder mounted to a first and second support, a retractable support shaft mounted inside the bladder, and upper and lower bead ring for mounting the beads of the tire carcass thereon, wherein one of said bead rings has a channel in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid, wherein said channel has an outlet located between said bladder and said carcass for injecting pressurized fluid between the carcass and the bladder.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire curing system having a plurality of molds disposed in side by side relation, transporting means for transporting green tires to the tire curing system, loading means for loading a green tire into a bottom mold half of one of the molds, mold closing means for closing a top mold half over the bottom mold half, self-locking means for locking the top mold half to the bottom mold half, curing means for curing the green tires, mold opening means for opening the top mold half from the bottom mold half, unloading means for unloading the cured tire from the bottom mold half and take-away means for carrying the cured tires away from the curing system. The loading means and the unloading means include a movable robot and the mold closing means and the mold opening means include a movable manipulator. The robot and the manipulator move in straight lines.

Abstract: A ply wire sensor system is provided for a tire carcass ply in a green tire carcass having a toroidal shape, the tire carcass ply having a plurality of spaced apart ply wires extending across the toroidal shape. The sensor system includes a wire sensor mounted in close proximity with the tire carcass ply, the wire sensor detecting the presence of a proximal ply wire; and means for establishing relative movement between the wire sensor and the tire carcass whereby the plurality of spaced apart ply wires are sequentially placed into proximity with the wire sensor. The wire sensor generates sequential data indicative of at least one ply wire parameter of the plurality of spaced apart ply wires.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire curing system having a plurality of molds disposed in side by side relation, transporting means for transporting green tires to the tire curing system, loading means for loading a green tire into a bottom mold half of one of the molds, mold closing means for closing a top mold half over the bottom mold half, self-locking means for locking the top mold half to the bottom mold half, curing means for curing the green tires, mold opening means for opening the top mold half from the bottom mold half, unloading means for unloading the cured tire from the bottom mold half and take-away means for carrying the cured tires away from the curing system. The loading means and the unloading means include a movable robot and the mold closing means and the mold opening means include a movable manipulator. The robot and the manipulator move in straight lines.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire curing system (10) having a plurality of molds disposed in side by side relation, transporting means (91) for transporting green tires (20) to the tire curing system, loading means (71) for loading a green tire (20) into a bottom mold half (14) of one of the molds, mold closing means (34) for closing a top mold half (13) over the bottom mold half (14), self-locking means (15) for locking the top mold half to the bottom mold half, curing means (18) for curing the green tires, mold opening means (35) for opening the top mold half from the bottom mold half, unloading means (72) for unloading the cured tire (22) from the bottom mold half (14) and take-away means (17) for carrying the cured tires (22) away from the curing system (10). The loading means (71) and the unloading means (72) include a movable robot (40) and the mold closing means (34) and the mold opening means (35) include a movable manipulator (30). The robot and the manipulator move in straight lines.

Abstract: A tire mold heat transfer system in which heat pipes are enclosed in tubular passages in the tire mold to transfer heat to heated positions adjacent the tread and sidewall forming sections of the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of a tire (10) in a bladderless tire mold (12) that incorporates sealing rings (16, 18, 70) that enable the tire (10) to be easily and quickly installed within the tire mold (12) so that the pressurized gas or fluid used to inflate and vulcanize the tire (10) does not leak around the tire bead sections (44, 46) of the tire (10) and escape into the mold cavity (60). An improved method of mounting the tire (10) into the bladderless tire mold (12) allows the tire (10) to be quickly and easily loaded in and unload from the tire mold (12) without the need of moving any mold parts into or out of the space between the tire bead sections (44, 46).