Abstract: A system for movably supporting bead portions of a tire during tire manufacture utilizes a bead support assembly having relatively movable parts that cooperate to define an elongate, outwardly opening groove for receiving and supporting bead portions of a tire. The relatively movable parts include a flexible sheath of material forming a cover that overlies a relatively rigid underlying support. The support gives the groove its shape; however, the cover overlies the support and engages such bead portions as extend into the groove. The cover has an excessively wide central portion that slides freely from side to side through the region of the groove to maintain a point-to-point non-slip type of engagement between the cover and such bead portions as engage the cover, thereby enabling such bead portions as extend into the groove to "rotate" through a limited range of movement without causing malformation or distortion of the bead portions.

Abstract: A shaft connection (10) for rapid mounting and dismounting of a tire building drum by rotating a clamping ring (38) on a sleeve member (20) of a main shaft (14) around an end piece (24) of a drum shaft (12) positioned in the sleeve member (20) to engage or disengage overlapping lugs (42,44) on the clamping ring (38) and end piece (24). Screw members (56,58) connect the clamping ring (38) to a segmental ring (54) in a circumferential slot (68) in the sleeve member (20) for rotating the clamping ring (38). Resilient means (60) are associated with at least some of the screw members (56) and biasing the clamping ring (38) and outer lugs (42) against the inner lugs (44) of the end piece (24) to provide a tight fit between the sleeve member (20) and end piece (24). A central shaft (104) has a sliding connection 112' between a retractable inboard section (116) with a sliding connection (112') with an outboard section (114) for engagement after mounting of the sleeve member (20) over the end piece (24).

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for an uncured cylindrical tire component and which comprises a hollow cylindrical housing having a pair of annular sealing and gripping means, preferably air operable bladders, located one at each end of the housing. The housing has a vacuum port located between the two annular gripping and sealing means so after said means seal against the outer side of the cylindrical component, air is evacuated through said port to retain the component in the housing.The invention also describes a method of transporting a cylindrical tire component using the above apparatus.