Abstract: A tire curing press and method are characterized by a center mechanism operative first to center the top bead of a green tire carcass with respect to the top mold section and then the bottom bead with respect to the bottom mold section, and to hold the beads centered and axially separated as the press closes to cause the beads to register and seat with the toe rings of the top and bottom mold sections simultaneously as the press closely approaches its closed condition. The center mechanism comprises top and bottom segmented annular clamping rings adapted to engage and shape the axial interior of the bead area of the tire and respective chuck assemblies including a multi-faceted linear cam and respective followers for each ring segment operative to collapse each alternate ring segment and then each other ring segment. The clamping rings achieve automatic loading, centering and unloading and may be used individually or paired in bladder or bladderless curing.

Abstract: A trunnion type post cure inflator includes a pre-positioning platform and a loader to pick up a tire and bring it to a precise center and in parallelism with an open inside multi-stepped PCI ring, one of a pair capable of sealing different bead diameter tires. The loader works partly in conjunction with the PCI opening and closing mechanism so that the PCI is cleared for loading and the loader cleared for locking, each simultaneously. Tire holding devices are provided to permit cooling without inflation and dump unloading when the trunnion is rotated. Precision centering is obtained minimizing "no PCI" defects and enabling use of multi-step rings so that such rings do not require changing for different tire bead diameters.

Abstract: A curing system including a curing press-post inflator combination wherein the tire moves through the curing and post inflation process under complete control at all times. The post inflator is mounted on the press frame and is aligned with the top mold section of the press in the full open position of the press. The upper or outside bead rim of the post inflator is removed by a mechanism operating, in part, independently of the press top mold section so that the post inflator can be closed and operational prior to the full closing of the press. A chuck in the top mold section not only holds the tire for stripping from the mold sections and bladder but retains control over the tire vertically to place the tire without dropping or any lateral movement on the aligned open bottom or inner bead rim of the post cure inflator.