Abstract: The apparatus is so constructed that the manipulator thereof, successively positionable over a series of tire vulcanizing presses, has mounted directly thereon a plunger that can be lowered vertically to push the bladder into the well in the bottom mold section of the press and to spread radially the segments clamping the bead of a cured tire. The same manipulator supports the rod of a mechanism for removing cured tires, movable vertically upward in opposition to the plunger.Each bladder is provided at the center thereof with a ball valve closing off the hole for the plunger after the exit of the plunger therefrom, the latter being actuated by a rack-and-pinion transmission preventing rotation of the plunger.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and setting beads onto an assembly drum of a pneumatic tire assembling machine, comprising a bead servicing mechanism to support thereon a supply of beads, and a bead separating mechanism to effect successive transfer of the beads from the servicing mechanism to the assembly drum. The servicing mechanism comprises a plurality of parallel rods arranged in a single circle, the rods being provided with vanes uniformly spaced longitudinally of the rods. The latter are associated with a drive effecting rotation of the rods about; their axes between a position whereat the vanes are projected beyond the circle to separate the beads from one another, and a position whereat the vanes are retracted into said circle, providing for forwarding of the beads longitudinally of the rods.