Abstract: Provided are a method and a device for attaching a sound absorbing member to an inner face of a tire. In a state that an adhesive is interposed between a first face of a sound absorbing member and an inner face of the tire, the sound absorbing member is placed, and an expandable and contractible bag placed inside the tire is expanded, and the expanded bag presses a second face of the sound absorbing member to bond the first face to the inner face of the tire with the adhesive therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure roll and a method for pressing a tire layer on a tire building drum in a pressing direction, wherein the pressure roll includes a shaft and a plurality of discs, wherein each disc has an interior part and an exterior part, wherein each interior part is provided with a recess for receiving the shaft, wherein the recess is larger than the shaft in the pressing direction for allowing movement of the disc with respect to said shaft in the pressing direction, wherein the pressure roll includes for each disc one or more actuators for individually moving the disc, wherein one actuator is arranged for moving the respective disc with respect to the shaft in the pressing direction and the same or another actuator is arranged for moving the respective disc with respect to the shaft in a retraction direction opposite to the pressing direction.

Abstract: To solve problems of complication and malfunction of the device's structure, an increase in the process time, and malfunction caused by catching of a front end portion of a bead apex rubber. A bead apex rubber forming method comprises a forming step P1, a connecting space opening step P2, a connecting space closing step P3, and a connecting step P4. In a rear closed state R of a molding chamber 11, the forming step P1 injects unvulcanized rubber G while a bead core A is being rotated, and forms a bead apex rubber B having a front end portion Bf. when the front end portion Bf approaches a rear shutter part 9, the connecting space opening step P2 removes a second lateral surface S2 together with the rear shutter part 9, and forms, between the front end portion Bf and a rear end portion Br, a connecting space J whose second side surface S2 side is opened.

Abstract: A reinforcement annular structure of a tyre being processed is formed by arranging a forming drum externally carrying a deposition surface; arranging an application member supported in thrust relation toward the deposition surface; longitudinally guiding a continuous elongated element toward a point of application between the deposition surface and a work surface presented by the application member; and winding the continuous elongated element circumferentially around the deposition surface in order to form coils that are axially side-by-side each other. During winding, the work surface of the application member operates in abutment relation against at least one of the cons previously formed by the continuous elongated element.

Abstract: A pressing device for tire-building machines, having a pressing device axis, a plurality of disk elements, and at least one force application device for applying force to at least one of the disk elements. The pressing device is divided into at least two zones and the zones are equipped with force application devices of different types such that a surface pressure made uniform or a surface pressure gradient can be applied to a tire semifinished-product web in some regions by the plurality of disk elements.

Abstract: Provided is a stretching device for stretching an apex filler strip prior to application to a bead for a tire. The stretching device includes a stretching roller and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the apex filler strip in a loop around the stretching roller. The plurality of guide rollers is arranged for receiving the apex filler strip in an entry orientation and for discharging the apex filler strip in an exit orientation. The plurality of guide rollers is arranged for guiding the one side of the apex filler strip in the entry orientation and the exit orientation under angles different from the support angle (H) with respect to rotation axis (R) of the stretching roller such that the apex filler strip is twisted over a twisting angle of at least forty-five degrees.

Abstract: A clamping device includes a first clamp for clamping the distal end of a steel wire at a position corresponding to a first winding groove and a second clamp for clamping the distal end of a steel wire at a position corresponding to a second winding groove.

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: An apparatus for producing a pneumatic tyre has a building unit designed to form a green tyre having a pair of beads. Each of the pair of beads is defined along a respective inner circumferential edge of the green tyre. The apparatus further includes bead moulding devices to tighten each bead between two axially opposite clamping surfaces. A moulding unit of the green tyre has a moulding cavity with an inner wall substantially conforming in shape to an outer surface of a moulded tyre. The apparatus further includes devices for vulcanising the green tyre, and actuating devices for transferring the green tyre together with the bead moulding devices into the moulding cavity.

Abstract: A triangular-shaped can be held in an upright posture to be stuck to an outer peripheral surface of a bead core and a leading end and a trailing end can be butted against each other a crack. A filler rubber is held uprightly to be wound around an outer peripheral surface of a bead core supported by a rotary support body, and in joining a leading end and a trailing end of the filler rubber cut to a predetermined length, the neighborhood of the leading end and the neighborhood of the trailing end, respectively, are interposed by first and second interposing means and one of the interposing means is displaced toward the other from a state, in which the leading end and the trailing end are opposed to each other whereby end surfaces of the leading end and the trailing end are butted against each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for rotation of the bead area of a green tire so that the bead areas are parallel and concentric in order to remove potential anomalies that can occur to a green tire bead portion during pre-cure handling, storing or during shaping in the tire press. The tire apparatus orients the beads of the green tire parallel and square to one another and also rotates the bead area of the tire into the proper configuration prior to cure. The bead portions of the tire maintain the parallel position as the tire is loaded into a tire mold. Also disclosed is a tire loader that has a bead support ring and paddles to grip the outer crown portion of the tire.

Abstract: Method for transferring and placing beads for tires, providing: a bead storage unit in which a number of beads are vertically stacked placing spacers in between them, a collection unit for empty spacers, placed in the vicinity of the bead storage unit, a tire building machine for receiving the beads thereon, a bead retaining means for picking up and retaining a bead, wherein the bead retaining means is provided with engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the bead retaining means, wherein the engagement jaws are driven or withdrawn in radial direction, a spacer retaining means for picking up and retaining a spacer, and arranging the bead retaining means and the spacer retaining means on a common transfer means.

Abstract: Along a building line, a green tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support having an outer surface substantially conforming in shape to an inner surface of the green tyre. The green tyre is then transferred to a bead moulding and prevulcanisation station where each bead of the tyre is moulded by tightening it between a surface portion of the toroidal support and an annular clamping surface carried by a removable tightening flange. The tightened beads are prevulcanised through a heat supply by means of electric resistors integrated into the tightening flanges. The tyre with the prevulcanised and tightened beads is transferred into a moulding cavity having an inner wall of a shape substantially conforming to that of the outer surface of the moulded tyre, to carry out moulding of the tyre and complete vulcanisation of same.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels, includes building, on a toroidal support, a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, with annular anchoring structures, the building step of the carcass structure includes forming at least one reinforcing structure, operatively associated with the annular anchoring structures through deposition on the toroidal support of at least one reinforcing element along a predetermined curvilinear deposition path. The deposition of the at least one reinforcing element includes the steps of: cutting to size a piece of at least one reinforcing continuous band-like element fed by a feeding device along a predetermined feeding direction, deforming the piece obtained according to the curvature of a deposition part of the deposition path intended to receive the piece, and depositing the deformed piece at the deposition part.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bead lock arrangement for use in tire building equipment, and to tire building equipment utilizing such a bead lock arrangement. A bead lock assembly is disclosed comprising first and second parallel, coaxial, axially spaced bead lock arrangements (13, 14), each bead lock arrangement including an annular, extensible, bead seating ring (38) encircling the radially movable segments (33) of the bead lock arrangement and having, at its radially outermost face, a circumferentially extending bead seating surface (39), and an annular sealing ring (42) positioned coaxial with the respective bead seating ring (38) and disposed adjacent a side face of the respective bead seating ring (38) presented generally towards the bead seating ring (38) of the opposing bead lock arrangement. The use of a bead seating ring (38) and a separately formed sealing ring (42) has considerable advantages over the use of a conventional bead seating ring.

Abstract: The invention is for enabling one piece of rotation driving means 17 to drive to rotate both of an outer side shaft portion 3 of a drum shaft 1 and a screw shaft 4 on an inner side as a driving apparatus 10 of a tire building drum D, including an outer shaft 13 connected to the outer side shaft portion 3, a middle shaft 14 connected to the screw shaft 4, one piece of the rotation driving means 17 connected to the middle shaft 14 by way of a rotation transmitting member 18, and a clutch 26 interposed between the rotation transmitting member 18 connected to the middle shaft 14 and the outer shaft 13, and constituted to transmit rotation of the rotation driving means 17 to both of the middle shaft 14 and the outer shaft 13 in connecting the clutch 26 and transmit the rotation of the rotation driving means 17 only to the middle shaft 14 in cutting the clutch 26.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a pneumatic tyre has a building unit designed to form a green tyre having a pair of beads. Each of the pair of beads is defined along a respective inner circumferential edge of the green tyre. The apparatus further includes bead moulding devices to tighten each bead between two axially opposite clamping surfaces. A moulding unit of the green tyre has a moulding cavity with an inner wall substantially conforming in shape to an outer surface of a moulded tyre. The apparatus further includes devices for vulcanising the green tyre, and actuating devices for transferring the green tyre together with the bead moulding devices into the moulding cavity.

Abstract: A multi-piece sealing sleeve is disclosed. The multi-piece sealing sleeve includes annular first and second layers of a substantially air-impermeable material. The first layer has an inner edge sized to surround a base portion of the tire shaping drum. An outer edge of the first layer extends radially outwardly to overlie at least a portion of a radially expandable and collapsible structure defined by the tire shaping drum. The second layer is sized to overlie and establish sealing engagement with at least a portion of the first layer and a bead seat defined by the radially expandable and collapsible structure of the tire shaping drum. The first and second layers cooperate to establish a substantially airtight seal between the tire shaping drum base portion and the bead seat.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the delivery rate of a linear element. The device forms a delivery path for the linear element between an inlet to the device at a delivery rate that is substantially constant and an outlet from the device at a delivery rate that is variable and substantially periodic and varies the length of the path of the linear element in application of a predetermined periodic relationship. The device includes a plurality of pulleys movable in rectilinear translation periodically in sinusoidal manner.

Abstract: In a bead manufacturing method and bead manufacturing device, a former rotatably supported on a support base and pivotably holds opposite end portions of a plurality of elastically deformable spring members arranged on an outer circumference thereof with gaps in a circumferential direction for annularly winding a bead filler around the spring members, an actuation mechanism is provided for curving the spring members in the radial directions of the former, and a bead core holding portion is arranged at one end side of the former for holding a bead core. When the spring members are elastically deformed outward in the radial directions of the former to a semicircular shape, the bead filler annularly wound around the spring members are raised up to fixedly fit a short bottom side thereof on the outer circumference of the bead core held at one end side of the former.

Abstract: A rotary radial expand collapse tire building drum comprises segments defining an outer circumference of said drum, said segments being divided into two sets, one set being located to each opposite side of a transverse central plane of the drum, said central plane being disposed normal to a rotational axis of the drum, said two sets being adapted to be driven by a rotatable hub assembly between a collapsed position in which a formed tire carcass may be removed from the drum and an expanded position in which a tire carcass may be formed on said drum wherein each set of segments are mounted for selective relative axial using positioning means, and adjustment means is located outside of the rotational axis of the drum, which is arranged to adjust an overall working width of said drum. The invention allows for an axial positioning mechanism of a REC building drum.

Abstract: The invention provides a driving apparatus for a tire building drum which can reduce load when the drum is rotating, which enables stable expanding and contracting operations and in which a center shaft portion (2) of the building drum (D) is made up of a cylindrical outer shaft (3) and an inner threaded shaft (4), the driving apparatus including a cylindrical outer shaft (13) which is coupled to the outer shaft (3), an inner shaft (14) coupled to the threaded shaft (4), a first motor (15) which is a rotational driving means coupled to the outer shaft (13) for rotating the drum, and a second motor (20) which is a rotational driving means coupled to the inner shaft (14) via a clutch (21) in such a manner as to be engaged with and disengaged from the inner shaft for expanding or contracting the drum, wherein by switching the clutch (21), when the drum is rotating, the second motor (20) is held out of engagement with the inner shaft (14), while when the drum is expanded or contracted, the second motor (20) is he

Abstract: A chuck and a chuck system, and a method for processing a toroidal structure such as a tire carcass. The carcass includes an internal circumference and tapered ends. The chuck system comprises a plurality of chucks wherein each chuck includes a circumferential or substantially circumferential external surface and a plurality of friction reducing members positioned on the external surface. The friction reducing members are positioned to engage the internal circumference of the toroidal structure such as a tire. The method of processing a tire carcass includes positioning the tire carcass on fixed diameter chucks having friction reducing members on the external surface.

Abstract: In a tire molding process, a mutual positional deviation or angular deviation between the axis of a carcass member and the axis of a bead core takes place in a produced tire when the bead core is set on the outer periphery of cylindrical carcass member. By the use of an estimation formula for estimating the primary harmonic component in the waveform of a radial force, an inverse waveform with the primary harmonic component inversed is found with respect to the measurement waveform of the produced tire or with respect to the treatment waveform with a numerical value treatment applied thereto. Thereafter, in producing a tire of the same size by the mold used for producing the preceding tire, the mutual positional deviation or angular deviation between the axis of the carcass member and the axis of the bead core found by a backward calculation from the estimation formula is changed to set the bead core on the carcass member.

Abstract: In forming a green tire by arranging a plurality of carcass cords on a support member and disposing bead cores, the carcass cords are precisely and accurately disposed at predetermined positions. A plurality of carcass cords (C) are arranged over the entire circumference of a core (21), and the ends thereof are attached to the end holding means (30) so that the ends are held at positions distant from each other axially outward of the core (21) in a stretched state between the core (21) and themselves. Bead cores (60) are moved from the outside of the carcass cords (C) toward bead molding portions (24) of the core (21), are brought into contact with the carcass cords (C) held at the ends, and are pressed against the core (21).

Abstract: Method for transferring and placing beads for tyres, providing: a bead storage unit in which a number of beads are vertically stacked placing spacers in between them, a collection unit for empty spacers, placed in the vicinity of the bead storage unit, a tyre building machine for receiving the beads thereon, a bead retaining means for picking up and retaining a bead, wherein the bead retaining means is provided with engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the bead retaining means, wherein the engagement jaws are driven or withdrawn in radial direction, a spacer retaining means for picking up and retaining a spacer, and arranging the bead retaining means and the spacer retaining means on a common transfer means.

Abstract: The invention provides a bead supply system which stocks annular beads without bringing the beads into contact with each other and supplies the beads to a building machine in steps where bead setting and turning up are carried out in tire building and includes a bead stocking unit (10) having a transfer means (20) for holding a plurality of beads in such a manner as to be spaced apart from each other at constant intervals and transferring the beads towards a distal end portion, a bead transfer unit (40) for receiving the beads one by one from the bead stocking unit (10) to transfer them to a loading waiting position (P1) on to a building machine (100), and a loading and setting unit (60) for receiving the beads from the bead transfer unit (40) in the loading waiting position (P1) to supply them to a loading and setting position (P2) which confronts two supporting elements of the building machine, wherein the respective units are made to operate in an associated fashion in accordance with a tire building cycle

Abstract: A chipper and apex subassembly 100 as an intermediate article of manufacture in a pneumatic tire has an apex strip 30 formed as a continuous elastomeric strip of unvulcanized material having a bottom base portion 31 and two opposing sides 33, 34 extending towards the narrow outer tip 32 and a chipper ply strip 40 reinforced with parallel cords oriented on a bias angle relative to the length of the strip cojoined to the apex 30 along the length of the strips and attached to one side of the unvulcanized apex strips on an outer surface. The chipper 40 is spaced from the bottom base portion 31 of the apex 30 and extends widthwise towards the narrow outer tip 32 to form a subassembly 100 of a chipper 40 and apex 30 as an intermediate article of manufacture. Additionally the subassembly 100 can be attached to bead core 12 to make a subassembly 200 as a further intermediate article of manufacture.

Abstract: Assembly comprising a tyre drum (1) including a turn-up mechanism (5) for use in building an unvulcanized tyre, wherein the tyre drum is provided with a central shaft (2), two bead clamps (11) and bead inner supports (13) placed around the shaft and axially spaced apart on either side of a centre plane of the tyre drum, means for radially expanding a part of the tyre components that is situated within the bead clamps, wherein the tyre drum on either side outside of the bead clamps is provided with a first and a second set of turn-up arms (5), respectively, wherein the arms at a first free end oriented towards the bead clamps are provided with a turn-up means, particularly a turn-up roller (7) or turn-up band, wherein the shaft (2) is designed hollow having a circumferential wall having an outer diameter, wherein each set of arms (5) with accompanying bead clamps (11) and bead inner supports (13) is disposed on a casing (10), of which the inner diameter corresponds with the outer diameter of the circumferentia

Abstract: A method for building a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes positioning a casing sleeve on a shaping drum and securing the sleeve on the drum. During at least one of positioning and securing the sleeve, the sleeve is kept in an essentially centered position on the drum by radial forces directed against a radially inner surface of the sleeve. A shaping drum for making a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a rotation shaft and two coaxial half-drums integral with each other with respect to rotation. At least one of the half-drums is axially movable in both directions with respect to the other half-drum. Each half-drum includes a support device, a gripping device, and a centering device. A first equatorial plane defined the centering devices is axially movable with respect to a second equatorial plane defined by the gripping devices. A plant for building a tyre is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bead lock arrangement for use in tyre building equipment, and to tyre building equipment utilising such a bead lock arrangement. A bead lock assembly is disclosed comprising first and second parallel, coaxial, axially spaced bead lock arrangements (13, 14), each bead lock arrangement including an annular, extensible, bead seating ring (38) encircling the radially movable segments (33) of the bead lock arrangement and having, at its radially outermost face, a circumferentially extending bead seating surface (39), and an annular sealing ring (42) positioned coaxial with the respective bead seating ring (38) and disposed adjacent a side face of the respective bead seating ring (38) presented generally towards the bead seating ring (38) of the opposing bead lock arrangement. The use of a bead seating ring (38) and a separately formed sealing ring (42) has considerable advantages over the use of a conventional bead seating ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a green tire carcass is provided having a bladder mounted to a first and second support, a retractable support shaft mounted inside the bladder, and upper and lower bead ring for mounting the beads of the tire carcass thereon, wherein one of said bead rings has a channel in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid, wherein said channel has an outlet located between said bladder and said carcass for injecting pressurized fluid between the carcass and the bladder.

Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcement for a tire comprises an eyelet 60 through which the cord 4 can slip; the eyelet 60 is carried by a drive mechanism 3. A guide ring 5 is positioned relative to a main arm 31 in such a manner that this passes through the ring during its cyclical movement. The ring comprises a slot 54 through which the cord passes. The ring 5 comprises a base 50, two lateral walls 51 which are rigidly connected to the base and which are disposed on either side thereof, two deflectors 52 each rigidly connected to one of the lateral partition walls disposed at the end thereof opposite the base, the two deflectors being oriented towards one another and each ending with a lip 53, the lips being of similar and opposite shapes, the slot 54 being defined by the lips of the deflectors.

Abstract: The thread 4, intended to form a carcass reinforcement, is laid in continguous hoops on a rigid core 1 by a system with at least two oscillating arms transporting an orifice 6 so as to enable it to pass over a core 1 and thus lay adjacent hoops.

Abstract: A tire-assembling apparatus includes an assembling drum, radial-movement devices, and at least one axial-movement actuator. The assembling drum includes first and second halves axially opposed along a geometric axis of the drum. Each of the halves includes a plurality of circumferentially-distributed radial sectors. The radial-movement devices associated with each of the halves selectively translate corresponding radial sectors between a contracted condition and an expanded condition. The at least one axial-movement actuator translates the halves relative to each other between an approaching condition and a spaced-apart condition. Each of the radial sectors includes a holding member and a supporting member. The holding member defines an engagement seat of an annular anchoring structure to a bead-part of a carcass sleeve fitted on the drum.

Abstract: Device for fabricating a tire reinforcement by laying a cord 4 on a core 1. An arm 131 is mounted on a carriage 130, which is itself mounted on a rail 132 in such manner that it can slide parallel relative to the rotation axis of the core 1.

Abstract: A tire building drum with a turn-up device for production of unvulcanized tires, consisting of a horizontally disposed central bearing hollow shaft (1) with a driving spindle extending through the centre of the bearing hollow shaft, around which there are arranged two sets of lever arms (26) with rollers (27), between which a mechanism for supporting bead wires from both sides is located at both sides of a vertical symmetry plane, the mechanism consisting of: an axially movably arranged first guiding disc (21) with radially movably arranged clamping bead segments (33), adapted to cooperate with a mechanism for controlling radial lift of clamping bead segments (33), and an axially movably arranged second guiding disc (34) with radially movably arranged supporting bead segments (32), adapted to cooperate with a mechanism for controlling radial lift of the supporting bead segments (32), wherein the clamping bead segment (33) is provided with a space (3) for receiving supporting arms (9, 9a) with a bridge (11) of

Abstract: Device for fabricating a tire reinforcement by laying a cord 4 on a core 1. An actuation mechanism 3 is provided for transporting the cord laying element in a cyclic, back and forth movement, bringing it in successive cycles close to each of the ends desired for the cord in the said trajectory. The actuation mechanism comprises at least a main arm 31, a front auxiliary arm 32 and a rear auxiliary arm 33, the main arm 31 being articulated on the front auxiliary arm 32 and being mounted on the rear auxiliary arm 33 by a cam follower that cooperates with a slot 312.

Abstract: A cord is supplied continuously and on demand by a suitable distributor. The apparatus is used with a revolving form (1) on which the reinforcement is progressively built up by depositing sections of the cord along a desired trajectory for the cord on the surface of the form. The apparatus comprises an element for depositing the cord on the surface of the form (1), describing an alternating path between two turning points, pressers close to the turning points in order to apply the cord to the form at the ends of the trajectory, acting synchronously with the depositing element, a mobile guide (5) disposed opposite the form, in the space between the form and the path described by the depositing element, a fixed guide (6) substantially parallel to the mobile guide (5), control means for moving the mobile guide (5) in a circumferential direction, and motorization means for synchronously piloting the depositing element, the pressers, and the control means of the mobile guide (5).

Abstract: A thread 4, intended to form a carcass reinforcement for a tire, is laid in contiguous hoops on a rigid core 1 by a system with a single oscillating arm transporting an orifice 6 so as to enable the orifice 6 to pass over a core 1 and come as near as possible to each bead of the tire, in order to lay adjacent hoops.

Abstract: The thread 4, intended to form a carcass reinforcement, is laid in continguous hoops on a rigid core 1 by a system with at least two oscillating arms transporting an orifice 6 so as to enable it to pass over a core 1 and thus lay adjacent hoops.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacture of a tire, the apparatus including a drum with shoulder having a generally cylindrical main receiving surface to receive the products to be assembled, the main receiving surface being radially retractable. The drum has a shoulder axially to the side edges of said main receiving surface. The drum is mounted on a shaft. At least one associated axially movable side crown is mounted coaxially with the drum. The drum has a lateral protuberance coaxially juxtaposed to at least one of its shoulders. The side crown is axially slidable at least partly under the lateral protuberance, the lateral protuberance forming a quasi-cylindrical support surface whose outside diameter is smaller than the diameter of the main receiving surface. The side crown has a substantially cylindrical outer surface capable of passing axially outside of the lateral protuberance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radial tire forming apparatus capable of being applied to the formation of a carcass band having a large folding length. On a housing for a rollover device of the tire forming apparatus, a plurality of sets of straight rail bearers are fixed at appropriate places, so that a frame provided with rails is advanced toward or retreated from a second forming point on the carcass forming former side by a cylinder fixed to the housing. The diameter of a first rollover ring is slightly smaller than the diameter of a second rollover ring. When the rollover rings are brought closest to each other, the cylindrical portions of the rings enter and lap on each other.

Abstract: A tire building drum has a center section (720) and two end sections (722,724). Each end section is provided with an expandable bead lock assembly (726). The center section is preferably expandable. The expandable bead lock assembly comprises a carrier ring (CR) and a plurality of elongate links (K) extending between the carrier ring (CR) and a plurality of radially-expandable segments (S). When the carrier ring moves inward (towards the center section), the radially-expandable segments (S) move radially outward, urging a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart finger segments (F) outward from a collapsed position to an expanded position, and at least one position therebetween. In an embodiment of the invention, the bead lock assembly comprises a cylinder and two pistons (P1, P2) disposed within the cylinder. The pistons are free to move axially within the cylinder, in response to pneumatic pressure.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus comprises a group of many segments enlarging to pushingly lock a bead portion of a green tire, a ring-shaped inner piston engaging with each segment of such a group, a ring-shaped outer piston contacting and engaging with a back face of the inner piston, a cylinder slidably housing the inner piston and the outer piston therein, a pair of gas pressure acting means moving each of the inner piston and outer piston inward or outward in the direction of the axial line, and a stopper formed in the cylinder.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass comprised of at least one carcass ply containing a steel cord(s) arranged at a cord angle of 70-90° with respect to an equatorial plane of the tire and toroidally extending between a pair of bead cores and turned up around the bead core inward or outward in a radial direction to form a turnup portion, wherein a wrap part wrapping on a peripheral face of the bead core therealong is formed in the turnup portion of the carcass ply.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radially expandable assembly drum (1) for the manufacture of tires, said drum having a body mounted on a central shaft (2) having a generally cylindrical central surface for receiving the products to be assembled and ends of different diameters, the drum comprising a lifting device (20, 21) located at each end of the body of the drum having a cylindrical outer receiving surface (221, 231) for products to be assembled, characterized in that the lifting device (21) arranged close to the end of lesser diameter is radially displaceable relative to the body (10) of the drum (1) between a position wherein its surface (231) has substantially the same diameter as that of the central surface of the body (10) and a position wherein its surface (231) has a diameter less than that of the central surface of the body (10), the radial displacement of this lifting device (21) being synchronized with the radial expansion of the drum (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing components for a tyre being worked is provided. The apparatus includes a toroidal support for carrying the components of a tyre being worked. The toroidal support has an outer surface substantially matching an inner shape of the tyre. The apparatus also includes means for feeding at least one elongated element through at least one delivery member disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the toroidal support. The apparatus also includes means for circumferential distribution arranged to drive the toroidal support in rotation around a geometric axis of rotation of the toroidal support so that the at least one elongated element is circumferentially distributed on the toroidal support.

Abstract: A tire building drum comprises a main drum shaft, a pair of movable bodies, approaching-separating means for moving these movable bodies in opposite directions, plural bead lock segments movably supported by each of the movable bodies in a radial direction, enlarging-contracting means for synchronously moving these bead lock segments in the radial direction, a seal member, a hollow cylindrical body and plural turnup fingers, wherein the seal member comprises an inner elongated portion extending inward from its base end part airtightly fixed to the movable body in the axial direction and an outer elongated portion extending outward from an inner end of the inner elongated portion in the axial direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a tire carcass having bead portions which are substantially free from cut surfaces of carcass cords. The apparatus includes a substantially toroidal carrier for supporting a rubber member of a tire. An indexing mechanism causes an indexing movement of the carrier by a predetermined angle about a rotational axis of the carrier. A feed mechanism continuously feed a carcass cord toward an outer surface of the carrier, wherein the feed mechanism are reciprocable in the axial direction of the carrier within a surface region thereof, that extends axially of the carrier at least between positions of the carrier corresponding to a bead portion and a tread end portion of a tire, respectively. Pressure mechanisms forming at least a pair are arranged adjacent to opposite ends of the surface region of the carrier, respectively, so that the carcass cord fed from the feed mechanism is wound about the respective pressure mechanisms and urged thereby toward the outer surface of the carrier.