Abstract: Provided is a drum set for manufacturing a bead-apex for a tire and an assembly including the drum set, wherein the drum set has drum segments which form a drum, wherein the drum segments are radially movable, wherein the drum set is arranged to be movable between an operational position in which the drum set is supported on a base and a storage position in which the drum set is unsupported by the base. The drum set further includes a support member for supporting the drum segments of the drum set with respect to each other, wherein the support member is provided with guides for guiding the radial movements of the drum segments when the drum set is in the operational position, while the guides are arranged for retaining the drum segments of the drum set to the support member when the drum set is in the storage position.

Abstract: Provided is a drum set for manufacturing a bead-apex for a tire and an assembly including the drum set, wherein the drum set has drum segments which form a drum, wherein the drum segments are radially movable, wherein the drum set is arranged to be movable between an operational position in which the drum set is supported on a base and a storage position in which the drum set is unsupported by the base. The drum set further includes a support member for supporting the drum segments of the drum set with respect to each other, wherein the support member is provided with guides for guiding the radial movements of the drum segments when the drum set is in the operational position, while the guides are arranged for retaining the drum segments of the drum set to the support member when the drum set is in the storage position.

Abstract: A tire building machine for applying an apex to a bead to form a bead-apex assembly for a green tire, including a bead holder for holding the bead, wherein the tire building machine includes a first gripper and a second gripper for engaging and moving the apex in a direction of conveyance towards the bead, wherein the first gripper is moveable between a first start position and a first end position and the second gripper is moveable between a second start position and a second end position, wherein the tire building machine is provided with wedges, wherein the grippers are biased to a closed state in which the grippers are arranged to engage the apex, and wherein the wedges are arranged for countering the bias of the grippers when the grippers are at one of the start positions or the end positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning device for use in a tire building system and a method for positioning a bead. The device includes a holding unit including a substantially planar holding surface having a first side, a transport unit movable parallel to the holding surface and including a gripper for gripping the bead and moving the gripped bead substantially along the holding surface, and a bead retainer arranged for at least temporarily retaining the bead in abutment against the holding surface at the first side thereof. The gripper is moveable between a first position in which the gripper projects at least partially out of the holding surface at the first side thereof for gripping the bead, and a second position, in which the gripper is completely arranged behind the holding surface, as viewed from the first side.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of forming an annular apex filler for tire beads. Said apparatus comprises a cylindrical former (2) for supporting a cut length of an apex filler strip (91) of elastomeric material, wherein said cylindrical former (2) comprises a hollow rotary shaft (21) and a plurality of rigid, circumferentially spaced apart fingers (22). The fingers (22) are movably connected to support members (24) for flipping the apex filler when wound on the cylindrical former. The support members (24) are movable connected to substantially radially extending guiding members (25). The guiding members (25) are connected to a hollow rotary shaft (21). The fingers (22) are connected via linkages (27) to a driving member (281) which is connected to a push/pull shaft (28) which extends at least partially through the hollow rotary shaft (21).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of forming an annular apex filler for tire beads. Said apparatus comprises a cylindrical former (2) for supporting a cut length of an apex filler strip (91) of elastomeric material, wherein said cylindrical former (2) comprises a hollow rotary shaft (21) and a plurality of rigid, circumferentially spaced apart fingers (22). The fingers (22) are movably connected to support members (24) for flipping the apex filler when wound on the cylindrical former. The support members (24) are movable connected to substantially radially extending guiding members (25). The guiding members (25) are connected to a hollow rotary shaft (21). The fingers (22) are connected via linkages (27) to a driving member (281) which is connected to a push/pull shaft (28) which extends at least partially through the hollow rotary shaft (21).

Abstract: A tyre building machine for applying an apex to a bead to form a bead-apex assembly for a green tyre, including a bead holder for holding the bead, wherein the tyre building machine includes a first gripper and a second gripper for engaging and moving the apex in a direction of conveyance towards the bead, wherein the first gripper is moveable between a first start position and a first end position and the second gripper is moveable between a second start position and a second end position, wherein the tyre building machine is provided with wedges, wherein the grippers are biased to a closed state in which the grippers are arranged to engage the apex, and wherein the wedges are arranged for countering the bias of the grippers when the grippers are at one of the start positions or the end positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for providing a bead to a number of workstations, the device includes a frame and a turret rotatable relative to the frame around an indexing axis between one or more predetermined positions relative to the frame, the turret including arms extending substantially radially relative to the indexing axis and being provided with bead-holding members for holding a substantially circular bead, wherein each of the bead-holding members is adapted to rotate around an associated axis of rotation for rotating a bead around its center.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning device for use in a tire building system and a method for positioning a bead. The device includes a holding unit including a substantially planar holding surface having a first side, a transport unit movable parallel to the holding surface and including a gripper for gripping the bead and moving the gripped bead substantially along the holding surface, and a bead retainer arranged for at least temporarily retaining the bead in abutment against the holding surface at the first side thereof. The gripper is moveable between a first position in which the gripper projects at least partially out of the holding surface at the first side thereof for gripping the bead, and a second position, in which the gripper is completely arranged behind the holding surface, as viewed from the first side.