Abstract: Method and apparatus for assembling a tire carcass comprising a precarcass band and a pair of inextensible bead rings. The band is built and consolidated on a form having a rigid cylindrical surface. The band includes at least one cord or wire-reinforced ply and one or more tire liners of a rubbery gum, and may include additional tire components, in particular the components which will form the sidewalls of the tire. The band is removed from its building form and then moved axially freely over a shaping apparatus. An axially narrow central part of the band is expanded sufficiently to resist axial displacement of the band, which is then spread and smoothed outward from its central part by expanding and then moving outwardly a pair of expandable spreading elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a closed torus pneumatic tire in which the components of the tire, exclusive of the belt and tread structures, are wrapped about a cylindrical former, inextensible bead rings are positioned about the former in positions spaced axially apart substantially the same as the final desired axial spacing. The former is radially expanded and expands the carcass structure to clampingly engage the bead rings. Each axially outer end portion of the carcass structures is folded over toward the axial centerplane of the drum in a manner in which the carcass is free of internal restraint at the fold. Each axially outer end of the folded over end portion of the carcass structure freely contracts radially into position to be clamped by a pull-over ring and is pulled axially across the former to a predetermined position past the midcircumferential centerplane of the former and released. A sidewall restraint ring moves into position adjacent the fold to prevent roll back of each end portion.