Abstract: A method for vulcanizing a tire wherein firstly heating medium is blown toward a tire internal surface from a supply opening arranged at a position above an equator of the tire in a mold and secondary pressurizing medium is blown toward the tire internal surface from the supply opening, and an apparatus used therefor. By virtue of the method and the apparatus, in vulcanization, abnormal cooling at a lower bead of a tire is prevented and consequently a large temperature difference inside the tire is prevented, so that uniform vulcanization can be carried out to provide products having high quality. Further, prevention of the temperature difference makes it possible to shorten a time period required for vulcanization, to improve productivity, and to reduce energy loss.

Abstract: After loading a green tire in a tire vulcanizing machine and before shaping, bead portions of the green tires are centered relative to bead rings of upper and lower metal molds and are sequentially inserted into the bead rings precisely in parallel thereto by the same extendable/retractable sectors and chucks which are movable vertically. An apparatus preferable for practicing the aforementioned method includes a plurality of such sectors for centering and holding a bead portion of the green tire, slide and linkage mechanisms for extending and retracting chucks to which the sectors are mounted, and a cylinder mechanism for vertically moving the chucks so as to insert the bead portion of the green tire centered and held by the sectors into a bead ring of a tire metal mold.

Abstract: A bead locking apparatus includes bead support segments disposed in an annular arrangement at each of the axially opposite ends of a building drum mounted on a rotary shaft, the support segments being movable outward or inward radially of the drum, an elastic ring fitted in an annular recess formed in the outer periphery of the annular arrangement of segments, a segment drive device for moving the bead support segments radially outward, and a device for radially expanding the elastic ring independently of the segments. The bead is first primarily locked by the elastic ring and then secondarily locked by the support segments.

Abstract: A green tire building process wherein a cylindrical belt (B) comprising a tread (A) and a breaker (3) are applied around a toroidally shaped tire carcass (1) on a tire carcass building drum (13) to assemble a green tire. The breaker cushions (6) are fit to the inner circumferential surfaces of the opposite edge portions of the breaker (3) prior to applying the belt (B) around the tire carcass (1). The breaker cushions are fit to the breaker by first winding the cushions around axial end portions of a belt forming drum in a manner such that the diameter of the radially inner peripheral surfaces of the breaker cushions decrease in diameter towards the axially outer extremities of the drum and the radially outer surfaces of the cushions are generally flat. Then the breaker and tread are wound onto the breaker cushions to form the belt which is later removed from the belt forming drum before being applied onto the tire carcass.

Abstract: A bead locking apparatus includes bead support segments disposed in an annular arrangement at each of the axially opposite ends of a building drum mounted on a rotary shaft, the support segments being movable outward or inward radially of the drum, an elastic ring fitted in an annular recess formed in the outer periphery of the annular arrangement of segments, a segment drive device for moving the bead support segments radially outward, and a device for radially expanding the elastic ring independently of the segments. The bead is first primarily locked by the elastic ring and then secondarily locked by the support segments.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for vulcanizing an elastomer product, such as automobile tires, wherein the elastomer product is placed in a vulcanizing chamber in a mold steam at an elevated pressure is supplied to the vulcanizing chamber to heat and pressurize the elastomer product until the elastomer product reaches a prespecified temperature or for a prespecified period of time, the steam supply is stopped and a pressurizing gas, at a pressure not lower than the steam supply pressure, is supplied to the vulcanizing chamber until the end of a heating period, said steam being blown in and supplied from an upper position of the center of the vulcanizing chamber in a horizontal direction or in an inclined downward direction, said steam being blown in and supplied from a lower position of the center of the vulcanizing chamber toward an upper region of the vulcanizing chamber.

Abstract: A vulcanizing apparatus having penetrating passages connected and communicated with a jacket portion of a mold member. An upper open end portion of one of the penetrating passages is connected to a steam inlet pipe while an upper open end portion of the other penetrating passage is connected to a steam outlet pipe. The connections and communications of the jacket portion with the steam inlet and outlet pipes can be simultaneously and efficiently completed in a single operation. Inner tubes are slidably disposed along the penetrating passages and pressed against the connecting surface of the mold, and appropriate pressure is applied on the seal packing member on the connecting surface independent from the clamping force of the upper mold in order to ensure reliable sealing.

Abstract: An ejector in a tire vulcanizing machine for ejecting the condensate of vulcanizing steam accumulated within a bladder to the outside of a tire includes a drain extraction pipe elevatably and rotatably supported in the machine and extending through a lower ring and a guide ring for clamping a lower edge portion of the bladder, a drain suction pipe extending horizontally from the top end portion of the drain extraction pipe and having its tip end portion bent downwards, an elevation drive and a rotary drive for the drain extraction pipe, and a rotary limit adjusting mechanism provided in the rotary drive. Preferably, the rotary drive is made up of a rotary shaft of a rotary cylinder mounted to the bottom end portion of the drain extraction pipe so as to be supported in an axially movable manner and a body of the rotary cylinder surrounding the rotary shaft.

Abstract: An upper metal mold clamp device in a tire vulcanizing machine of the type that an upper metal mold is detachably fixed to a bolster by rotating clamp rods vertically penetrating through the bolster and provided with clamp claws at their bottom ends, is improved. Drive units rotate the respective clamp rods independently of rotation of the other clamp rods. Nuts are mounted onto the bolster plate in an unrotatable but vertically movable manner, and threadedly engaged with male screws at the upper portions of the clamp rods. Hollow spaces for accommodating the clamp claws are formed around the clamp rods on the bottom surface of an upper heat plate held in contact with the upper metal mold.

Abstract: A metal mold centering and clamping device in a tire vulcanizing machine has hydraulic cylinders each having a piston rod equipped with a non-directional bearing at its top portion. The cylinders are mounted on a vulcanizing machine frame close to an outer circumference of a metal mold. An outside portion of a centering member is connected to the vulcanizing machine frame via parallel links to form a parallel linkage, and a bottom portion of the same centering member is connected to the piston rod via a link. On the inside of the centering member and on the outer circumference of a lower metal mold are respectively formed centering surfaces opposed to each other. In addition, at an upper portion of the inside surface of the centering member is formed a clamp claw adapted to be engaged with the edge of the lower metal mold.

Abstract: Disclosed in a powered crimping tool for crimping a metallic terminal upon a wire lead for accomplishing both electric and mechanical connection therebetween, comprising: a casing having a die member attached thereto; an electric motor having an output shaft; a reduction unit for reducing the rotational speed of the output shaft of the electric motor, having a rotating output end; and a mechanism such as a slider crank mechanism for converting the rotary motion of the output end of the reduction unit into a rectilinear motion of a crimping punch member which cooperates with the die member. The casing which is shaped an elongated box accommodates a die member and a punch member at an longitudinal end thereof and an electric motor at the other longitudinal end thereof, a reduction unit being disposed therebetween. This powered crimping tool can be made light enough to be used on a desk top or held by the hand of the user.