Abstract: A tire building drum is described that includes an inboard section, a center section and an outboard section. The inboard section has a rotating spindle and a sliding shaft, and the sliding shaft is slidable within the spindle. The inboard section further includes a radially expandable bead lock device mounted on the spindle. The center section has an internal hub mounted on the sliding shaft and further comprises a plurality of tiles that are radially expandable. The outboard section of the drum is mounted on a distal end of the sliding shaft, and further includes a radially expandable bead lock device. The center section and the outboard section are each axially movable by sliding of the sliding shaft.

Abstract: A method for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body is described. The sheet of material may be ply or a tire building component such as a liner. The method includes the steps of receiving the sheet of flexible material onto a conveyor belt of a conveyor table, wherein the conveyor belt can translate in the X direction, wherein the conveyor belt has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the conveyor belt so they can rotate about an axis aligned with the X direction. The method further includes aligning a lateral edge of the sheet with an edge guide of the conveyor table by tilting the conveyor table and then tilting the conveyor table back to a level position. The method further includes moving a front edge of the conveyor table adjacent the cylindrical body; and applying the sheet onto the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A method for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body is described. The sheet of material may be ply or a tire building component such as a liner. The method includes the steps of receiving the sheet of flexible material onto a conveyor belt of a conveyor table, wherein the conveyor belt can translate in the X direction, wherein the conveyor belt has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the conveyor belt so they can rotate about an axis aligned with the X direction. The method further includes aligning a lateral edge of the sheet with an edge guide of the conveyor table by tilting the conveyor table and then tilting the conveyor table back to a level position. The method further includes moving a front edge of the conveyor table adjacent the cylindrical body; and applying the sheet onto the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A tire building drum is described that includes an inboard section, a center section and an outboard section. The inboard section has a rotating spindle and a sliding shaft, and the sliding shaft is slidable within the spindle. The inboard section further includes a radially expandable bead lock device mounted on the spindle. The center section has an internal hub mounted on the sliding shaft and further comprises a plurality of tiles that are radially expandable. The outboard section of the drum is mounted on a distal end of the sliding shaft, and further includes a radially expandable bead lock device. The center section and the outboard section are each axially movable by sliding of the sliding shaft.

Abstract: A method of building a tire onto a tire building drum is described. The method includes the steps of: applying one or more tire building components onto the drum to form a tire carcass having carcass ends; wherein the drum has an inboard section, a center section and an outboard section. The inboard section has a rotating spindle and a sliding shaft, wherein the sliding shaft is slidable within the spindle. The inboard section has a radially expandable bead lock mounted on the spindle, said center section mounted to a hub, wherein the hub is mounted on the sliding shaft. The center section has a plurality of tiles mounted thereon that are radially expandable, wherein the outboard section of the drum is mounted on a distal end of the sliding shaft, wherein the outboard section further has a radially expandable bead lock; wherein the center section and the outboard section are axially movable by sliding of the sliding shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides in a first aspect an applier apparatus for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body such as a tire building drum. The apparatus includes a support frame; a conveyor table having one or more conveyor belts mounted thereon; said conveyor table further comprising a plurality of support legs, each support leg having an outer leg portion and an inner leg portion, wherein each inner leg portion is mounted to the support frame, said conveyor table being connected to each of the outer leg portion of the support legs; the outer leg portion of each support leg having a first end slidably received over the inner leg portion and a second end connected to a nut; and wherein the nut is mounted onto a linear screw which is rotatably mounted onto a second end of the inner leg portion; said linear screw being driven by a motor wherein the nut is raised and lowered by operation of the screw.

Abstract: A tire support device for supporting the bead area of a tire is described. The tire support device includes an inner support member having a plurality of support vanes mounted to the support member, the support vanes radially extend from the inner support member. The tire support device further comprises a plurality of cover plates forming an outer cylindrical surface for supporting the bead area of a tire. The cover plates having an inner rib which extends radially inward, said rib having one or more guide members, each slide member slidably mounted on the support vane, wherein the guide members are slidably from a radially inward position to close the cover plates, and to a radially outward position to radially expand the tires.

Abstract: The invention provides in a first aspect an applier apparatus for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body such as a tire building drum. The apparatus includes a support frame; a conveyor table having one or more conveyor belts mounted thereon; said conveyor table further comprising a plurality of support legs, each support leg having an outer leg portion and an inner leg portion, wherein each inner leg portion is mounted to the support frame, said conveyor table being connected to each of the outer leg portion of the support legs; the outer leg portion of each support leg having a first end slidably received over the inner leg portion and a second end connected to a nut; and wherein the nut is mounted onto a linear screw which is rotatably mounted onto a second end of the inner leg portion; said linear screw being driven by a motor wherein the nut is raised and lowered by operation of the screw.

Abstract: A method for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body is described. The sheet of material may be ply or a tire building component such as a liner. The method includes the steps of receiving the sheet of flexible material onto a conveyor belt of a conveyor table, wherein the conveyor belt can translate in the X direction, wherein the conveyor belt has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the conveyor belt so they can rotate about an axis aligned with the X direction. The method further includes aligning a lateral edge of the sheet with an edge guide of the conveyor table by tilting the conveyor table and then tilting the conveyor table back to a level position. The method further includes moving a front edge of the conveyor table adjacent the cylindrical body; and applying the sheet onto the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A tire support device is disclosed having an annular support member having an inner surface and an outer surface. A support flange is mounted to the annular support member, the support flange has an inflatable bladder mounted into its inside surface. The inflatable bladder has an inflated position for supporting the tire and an uninflated position for releasing the tire.

Abstract: A tire support device for supporting the bead area of a tire is described. The tire support device includes an inner support member having a plurality of support vanes mounted to the support member, the support vanes radially extend from the inner support member. The tire support device further comprises a plurality of cover plates forming an outer cylindrical surface for supporting the bead area of a tire. The cover plates having an inner rib which extends radially inward, said rib having one or more guide members, each slide member slidably mounted on the support vane, wherein the guide members are slidably from a radially inward position to close the cover plates, and to a radially outward position to radially expand the tires.