Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a tire bead core (40) by winding a length of wire into a coil with at least one radially outermost layer (30) having a side-by-side relationship where each successive winding of the wire is placed adjacent to the previous winding except for the final two windings (18,19) where the wire of the next to last winding (18) is wound with a uniform gap (43) relative to the previous winding (17) and where the final winding (19) of the wire and its cut end (20) cross over the top of the next to last winding (18) and are pressed into the gap (43) and constrained by the wire of the two previous windings (17, 18).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a tire bead (16) with a tape (10) composed of two parallel wires (12a, 12b) having a coating (28) of resilient elastomeric material and connected by a web (14). The tire bead (16) can be built by winding the tape (10) in side by side relation and in successive superposed layers of predetermined widths and with convolutions spanning superposed layers to provide the tire bead (16) of predetermined cross-sectional area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved bead wire letoff assembly and method of operation that controls the tension of wire being pulled from a wire spool mounted to the bead wire letoff assembly. The improved wire letoff assembly can accurately control the rotational speed of the wire spool and incorporates a cam plate and tension arm linkage to control the braking force applied to the wire spool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bundling layered material comprises an anvil for receiving multiple units of bundled material, and a plurality of blades for compressing a tying material onto the bundled material. An apparatus of the invention is illustrated for use in a specific method of simultaneously stapling the end wire of a plurality of tire beads.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bundling layered material comprises an anvil for receiving multiple units of bundled material, and a plurality of blades for compressing a tying material onto the bundled material. An apparatus of the invention is illustrated for use in a specific method of simultaneously stapling the end wire of a plurality of tire beads.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for automatically spraying a mist of mold release into the confined space between a tire and an inflatable bladder in a tire molding machine so that the mold release covers the outer surface of the inflatable bladder and/or the interior surface of the tire and does not get onto the walls of the mold. In addition, bladder release is pre-sprayed onto the interior surface of the green tire prior to posititoning the green tire within the tire mold.