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: An apparatus and a method for stitching are provided. The apparatus includes a separator for separating in a separation position the leading end and the trailing end from a working surface to form a separation space, a stitcher unit with a stitcher foot to support the leading end and the trailing end from the separation space and a stitcher head for stitching the leading end and the trailing end on the stitcher foot from outside the separation space, a stitcher drive for driving the stitcher unit, a separator drive for retracting the separator, and a control unit to control the separator drive and the stitcher drive simultaneously such that, during the stitching, the separator is retracted in the stitching direction ahead of the stitcher unit.

Abstract: A carcass ply is applied around an outer surface of a building drum according to an application diameter larger than the fitting diameter of a tire. Coaxially engaged around each of the end flaps is an annular anchoring structure defining the fitting diameter. A pair of sidewalls is manufactured by laying of a continuous elongated element in the form of approached coils on the carcass sleeve. An outer sleeve, including at least one belt structure possibly associated with a tread band, is coaxially centered around the carcass sleeve. Through axial approaching of two halves forming the building drum, the carcass sleeve is shaped into a toroidal configuration to determine application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels wherein each tire includes a carcass structure formed starting from at least one carcass ply laid on a forming support extended along a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes at least one device for positioning at least one annular anchoring structure on at least one end edge of the carcass ply, the positioning device being circumferentially extended around the longitudinal axis of the forming support and axially movable with respect to the forming support between an operating position distal from the forming support and at least one operating position close to the forming support. The apparatus further includes a device for turning up the end edge of the carcass ply around the annular anchoring structure, the turning up device being circumferentially extended about the longitudinal axis of the forming support and axially movable for approaching/moving away to/from the forming support.

Abstract: Two auxiliary support members are operatively engaged with a building drum, in axially approached relationship with respective halves of the drum itself, each auxiliary member having a circumferential rest surface extending in the continuation of an outer circumferential surface of the building drum itself. Applied around the outer circumferential surface of the building drum is at least one carcass ply having axially opposite end flaps each lying on the circumferential rest surface of the respective auxiliary support member. A pair of auxiliary shaping members engaged with the building drum in place of the auxiliary support members, each act against a circumferential abutment edge carried by the building drum, to enable the carcass ply to be shaped into a toroidal configuration concurrently with mutual approaching of the halves of the building drum.

Abstract: Building a carcass structure of a tire for vehicle wheels includes associating, at each end edge of a carcass ply laying on a forming support, at least one respective annular reinforcing structure obtained by depositing at least one respective reinforcing element. The deposition process includes feeding a continuous reinforced band-like element at a cutting unit, cutting to size at least one first reinforcing element from the continuous reinforced band-like element, moving the first reinforcing element from the cutting unit toward a first end edge of the carcass ply, positioning the first reinforcing element on the first end edge, cutting to size at least one second reinforcing element from the continuous reinforced band-like element, moving the second reinforcing element from the cutting unit toward a second end edge of the carcass ply opposite said first end edge, and positioning the second reinforcing element on the other end edge.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus includes a tire building drum having a radially expanded position for building a tire carcass, and having a radially contracted position for releasing the tire carcass. A carcass release member is mounted on the drum such that the carcass release member moves from a retracted position when the drum is in its expanded position, to an extended position when the drum is in its contracted position, so that the carcass release member aids in releasing the tire carcass from the drum when the drum moves from its expanded position to its contracted position.

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 between them, a collection unit for empty spacers, a tire building machine for receiving the beads thereon, a bead retaining 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. The spacer retaining means acts in a radial direction and is provided with at least two spacer engagement jaws that are arranged circumferentially at equal angular.

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: A tire molding machine includes a pair of bead core supporting devices for holding respective bead cores, which are arranged on radially outer side of a carcass band, so that the bead core has a center axis with a controllable inclination angle. The bead core supporting device (4), which controls the inclination angle of the bead core center axis, includes an annular upright plate 32), a bead holder ring (13) secured to the annular upright plate, for holding the bead core (B) in parallel manner, and bead holder ring posture control means (14) for controlling the inclination angle of the center axis of the bead holder ring relative to the center axis of the annular upright plate, within an angular range including zero degree.

Abstract: A tire manufacturing method includes the steps of, when a green tire is molded, moving a toroidally expandable toroidal molding drum through a distance between a plurality of working stations at a specified tact time, disposing a carcass band and both bead cores on the drum in any working station and locking the bead cores, increasing the diameter of the molding drum, toroidally extending the carcass band between both bead cores, and rolling up the side portion of the carcass band around the bead cores in the outer radial direction, assembling tire component members with the bead cores locked to the toroidal molding drum and molding the green tire, and reducing the diameter of the molding drum, unlocking the bead cores, and removing the green tire from the molding drum, whereby the tires of a plurality of sizes can be sequentially molded, a conventional tire structure must not be largely changed, and an energy and time can be prevented from being wastefully consumed.

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: 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: Method and apparatus for positioning bead cores during a building of a radial tire carcass in a tire-building machine. The method includes positioning first and second bead cores on respective first and second core-centering devices, on a first side of a carcass drum and centering the first and second bead cores. Further, the method includes grasping, with a second core-setting device, the second bead core and transporting the second core-setting device and the second bead core to a second side of the carcass drum. Additionally, the method includes grasping, with a first core-setting device, the first bead core; and setting the first and second bead cores onto the tire carcass by the first and second core-setting devices.

Abstract: A method, a bladder and an apparatus for shaping and curing a tire, wherein the bladder has two weakened regions corresponding to the shoulder regions of the tire when the bladder is expanded in the cavity of the tire. Upon inflation of the bladder and its expansion in the tire, the bladder contacts first the inner surface of the cavity at the bead regions and progressively the sidewalls, the shoulders and then the center of the tire. The weakened regions are designed to stretch more under a given tension than the remaining regions in order to allow a progressive contact movement of the lateral regions of the bladder with the sidewalls with very little tension and relative movement between the lateral regions of the bladder and the sidewalls of the tire.

Abstract: When a bead member formed of a bead core and a bead filler is transferred, the occurrence of deformation in the bead filler is restricted, and the shape accuracy thereof is improved. A plurality of supporting pawls provided on a transfer apparatus are brought into contact with an inside diameter portion of a bead core of a bead member to support it at a plurality of points in the circumferential direction, from the inner circumferential side. At the same time, an end of a bead filler is sucked and supported by suction pads joined to the supporting pawls via joint members. The bead member, while being held at the respective parts, is removed from a forming apparatus, is moved to a cartridge for storage, and is placed on a placing surface of the cartridge. Thereafter, the suction holding of the bead filler is released and the supporting pawls are moved away from the inside diameter portion of the bead core, thus transferring the bead member onto the cartridge.

Abstract: A combination of a plurality of equal spaced permanent magnets that are each fitted into a magnet cup formed into a cavity mold side outer surface that is immediately opposite to a slot formed around an outer edge of the inner surface of the cavity mold side, leaving a thin section of the cavity mold side material that separates the respective bottoms of the magnet cups from the bottom of the slot. The slot receives a tire bead whereover a tire plies is folded and is held in that slot by the attractive force provided by the permanent magnets, and pins are fitted at spaced intervals into, to extend outwardly from, the slot bottom surface to engage and center the tire bead in the slot.

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: A bead wire loader device includes a shaft including two bearer elements. Each bearer elements includes a groove including a V-profile. A device for positioning tire bead wires on the building drum includes two support plates, a plurality of gripper units, and actuating devices for synchronous and uniform movement of the gripper units. The gripper units are arranged circumferentially around openings in the support plates and include at least one bead wire grasping element including a throat forming part of a single circumferential gripping profile common to the grasping elements. A tire building apparatus for a vehicle wheel includes a building drum and a bead wire placing system for fitting bead wires onto the building drum. The bead wire placing system includes the bead wire loader device and the device for positioning the bead wires. A related method of manufacturing a tire for a vehicle wheel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tire forming system includes a band forming machine, a shaping forming machine, a belt/tread forming machine, means for supplying a band member and means for supplying a belt/tread member. The means for supplying the band member include an inner liner supply means, carcass supply means, band rubber parts supply means and bead supply means. The means for supplying the belt/tread member include belt supply means and tread rubber parts supply means. The means for supplying the band member and the means for supplying the belt/tread member are operative to cooperate with one another to continuously in series form a plurality of tires having different tire sizes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for stabilizing a tire building drum wherein the tire building drum has two ends, is permanently supported at a single cantilever support end, and the remaining end is a free end. The method comprises providing a free end support engaged with the free end to stabilize the tire building drum by restricting lateral movement of the free end; and freeing the free end by temporarily retracting the free end support when desired, e.g., to enable application of annular tire components on the tire building drum, or to enable removal of a built tire from the tire building drum. Preferably, the free end support allows rotation of the tire building drum while the free end support is engaged with the free end. A preferred embodiment uses overtravel of actuator linkages stopped against an extension stop to lock the free end support in place, engaged with the free end, to stabilize the tire building drum without requiring continued power input.

Abstract: A method for mounting beads on a tire carcass which is being laid up on tire building drum, particularly applicable to cases wherein the drum has a free end and an opposite end which is supported by a drum support (or comparable impediment to installing a bead from the opposite end of the drum). The method comprises disposing a first of two beads on the drum in an area which is between a carcass layup area and the drum support. The bead is moved into this position from the free end of the drum, and this is done before the process of laying up the carcass has resulted in there being an impediment to installing the bead from the free end of the drum, such as bumps resulting from tire insert components. This may be prior to any carcass components have been laid up, or after an inner liner has been laid up, or after an inner liner and inserts and a ply have been laid up on a drum having pockets (recesses) to alleviate bump formation.

Abstract: A tire bead holder assembly for centering and gripping a circular tire bead before placement on a bead setter has circumferentially spaced radially moveable fingers actuated by a chain drive for simultaneous controlled movement of the fingers and application of centering pressure without distortion of the bead.

Abstract: A tire forming machine is provided which includes a forming drum having a central drum portion arranged at an axially central location of the forming drum, and right and left drum portions which are arranged on either of the right and left sides of the central drum portion and which are movable in an axial direction of the forming drum. At the time of winding tire-forming materials on the forming drum to assemble a carcass, the right and left drum portions are brought into contact with the central drum portion and stuck with the same to cooperatively form a continuous surface. After the assembly of the carcass, the right and left drum portions are moved to respective bead setting positions to open the forming drum. The thus-constructed tire forming machine is comprised of a plurality of gripping mechanisms arranged around the central drum portion of the forming drum for gripping an axially central portion of the carcass.

Abstract: A band forming drum includes a plurality of radially expandable/contractible segments, defining an outer circumferential surface of the drum for winding carcass materials thereon and thereby forming a generally cylindrical carcass band, a pair of tapered cones concentrically arranged inside said segments, each having a tapered face and capable of axially moving over about a half length of the segments, and a driving means for displacing the tapered cones toward and away from each other or synchronously in the same direction over their entire movable ranges, and also for positioning and stopping the cones at required positions. Each of the segment has an inclined surface which contacts the tapered face of each the tapered cone for converting an axial displacement of the tapered cone into a radial displacement thereof.

Abstract: A method for temporarily storing a plurality of endless, intermediate articles of manufacture being characterized by: (i) placing an endless, intermediate article of manufacture in a load/unload position on the storage device 10; (ii) indexing the article out of the load/unload position and into a storage position; and (iii) repeating these steps with additional articles. In the preferred method, the step of indexing the article into a storage position being further characterized by the steps of: (i) detecting the presence of the article in the load/unload position; (ii) moving the article away from the load/unload position; and (iii) stopping the article when the presence of the article in the load/unload position is no longer detected.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacture of tires and a tire assembly drum having a body with a receiving surface for the products to be assembled, the body being mounted on a center shaft, and at least one lifting device situated at one of the ends of the receiving surface, the lifting device including a plurality of lifting fingers distributed circularly around the center shaft, the fingers extending appreciably radially and presenting a bearing surface for the products to be assembled, the fingers being controlled to be deployed essentially radially toward the outside of the drum.

Abstract: A structure and a method for supplying a bead-with-filler automatically to a tire molding machine are provided. The structure comprises a bead-with-filler preset apparatus for presetting a filler to an annular bead; a bead supply apparatus positioned at an upper stream side of the bead-with-filler preset apparatus for supplying the annular bead to the bead-with-filler preset apparatus; a bead-with-filler supplying apparatus positioned at a down stream side of the bead-with-filler preset apparatus for supplying the bead-with-filler to a tire molding machine; and a transfer apparatus for transferring the bead and the bead-with-filler having a catching section. The transfer apparatus turns for positioning the catching section at each delivery position of the bead supply apparatus, the bead-with-filler preset apparatus and the bead-with-filler supply apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic feeder for beads with bead fillers is provided which enables automatic feeding of beads with bead fillers to a bead setter within a tire forming machine and which enables reduction of an operator's burden and improvement of productivity. A plurality of beads with bead fillers are disposed on each of chain conveyors and in a bead stock device. The beads are delivered to a pair of bead holding portions of a bead chuck by a bead removal plate. The bead chuck is fixed to an arm portion of a conveyance robot. The bead chuck is raised, slid, and lowered due to the rotation of drive motors. A pair of beads with bead fillers is thereby supplied to a bead setter within a tire forming machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a tire in which the sidewalls overlap the ends of the tread band. The method comprises the steps of inserting an extensible tubular releasing element around the carcass plies at each end of an assembly drum, wrapping the sidewalls on these elements, applying another tubular element on the sidewalls, and overturning the tubular elements to spread apart the sidewalls in an open position aside of the assembly drum. The carcass, in the form of a first-step cylindrical sleeve comprising open sidewalls, is transferable to a (second-step) forming drum to be torically formed against a separately prepared assembly comprising the belt pack and the tread band. Next, the band ends are turned down onto the toric carcass and the sidewalls are folded back against the carcass and over the ends of the tread band.

Abstract: A tire manufacturing method enabling a tire to maintain a high quality and a tire manufacturing machine of a simple construction and low cost by which improvement of productivity, saving of energy and reduction of maintenance man-hour are possible is provided.

Abstract: The mechanism comprising: a ring body; a plurality of extending/retracting means which are separately provided at the ring body at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the ring body; an arc-shaped retaining body which is provided at each of the plurality of the extending/retracting means and which can retain a bead with a filler; and driving means which applies driving force to the extending/retracting means and synchronously operates the extending/retracting means so as to move and extend/retract the retaining body in the radial direction of the ring body, the extending/retracting means further including: a pair of swing links which are separately disposed in the radial direction of the ring body, and the base end portions of the swing links being rotatably connected to the ring body; and a connecting link which is rotatably connected to each of the distal end portions of the pair of swing links, and the retaining body being provided at the inner end portion of the connecting link wherein, whe

Abstract: A tire building machine includes a single-stage type forming drum (13) for initially forming a carcass band (29) and subsequently forming a green tire (34), and a belt-tread drum (14) for forming a belt-tread band (31). These drums (13, 14) are carried by a horizontal coaxial shaft (12) on a base member (10) of the machine. An integrated transfer unit (16) is movable in a predetermined transfer direction on the base member (10). The transfer unit (16) includes a bead setter (17) for setting beads (23) onto an outer circumference of a carcass band (29) formed on the forming drum (13), and a transfer ring (18) for transferring a belt-tread band (31) formed on the belt-tread drum (14) and a green tire (34) formed on the forming drum (13). The bead setter (17) and the transfer ring (18) are connected to each other as an integrated unit, and driven by a single drive means in the transfer direction.

Abstract: A radially expandable and contractible rim used to secure an annular elastomeric sealing ring to a tire bead during retreading of a tire.

Abstract: A ring-like band with both ends in which beads are wrapped is formed in the following procedure: A forming drum 11 mounted with a band 1 is expanded up to an intermediate diameter, and right and left bead lock segments 65 are positioned with specified intervals. Then, right and left fingers 54 are positioned outside edge portions 1a in the expanding state. Thus, right and left beads 2 are located at specified positions, and the fingers 54 are contracted to reduce the diameters of the edge portions 1a. Subsequently, the bead lock segments are expanded for supporting the beads 2 together with the edge portions 1a from the inner side. Finally, the bead lock segments 65 are brought close to the forming drum side while the forming drum 11 is expanded to the maximum diameter, and the edge portions 1a are folded by the swelling of folding bladders, to thus wrap the beads 2.

Abstract: Method of transferring and setting bead part assemblies for tires, which comprises providing a bead part assembly stocking part in which a number of bead part assemblies is stacked one on top of the other in tiers through separators, an emptied separator collecting part disposed in the proximity of the bead part assembly stocking part, a tire building machine for thereon receiving bead part assemblies and building tires, bead part assembly holding means for picking up bead part assemblies one at a time and a separator holding means for picking up the separators one at a time; the step of causing the bead part assembly holding means to pick up a bead part assembly from the bead part assembly stocking part and carry the picked-up bead part assembly to the tire building machine and the step of causing the separator holding means to pick up a separator from the bead part assembly stocking part and carry the picked-up separator to the emptied separator collecting part.

Abstract: A tire building drum has a pair of drum sections axially movable along a center shaft which form an internal tire inflation chamber for inflating the carcass of a green tire when mounted between the drum sections. Each of the drum sections has a plurality of bead lock segments controlled by a plurality of straight links moved by an annular piston. The piston is mounted in an annular cylinder surrounded by an annular manifold ring, an annular sealing ring and an annular bladder ring. The annular manifold provides for the distribution of pressurized air to various components of the drum and functions as an air seal for the tire inflation chamber. A plurality of air passages are formed in the manifold ring and connect to a source of pressurized air for supplying the control air from a remote source to an inflation turn-up bladder mounted on each of the drum sections and to a control assembly mounted within each of the drum sections for actuating the bead lock segments.

Abstract: A green tire forming apparatus including a belt forming mechanism, a transferring mechanism, a green tire forming mechanism, and bead setting mechanisms. The bead setting mechanisms function to carry beads to their designated positions on the green tire forming apparatus and to push ply turn-up bladders as the green tire is formed. The transferring mechanism transfers one of the beads and a belt assembly on the green tire forming apparatus thereby simplifying the device's structure. As a result, the number of elements required for forming a tire can be minimized.

Abstract: An improved bead setter for mounting on a retractable bead setter carrier ring of a tire building drum for carrying a steel tire bead from a load position to a pickup position on the drum where the bead is coaxial and radially aligned with radially expanding bead locks. The bead setter has a holder which is secured to the ring and has a finger which is slidably pivotally mounted in a cutout formed in the holder. A spring biases the finger to an at-rest outwardly extending bead gripping position. One or more permanent magnets are mounted on an extended end of the finger for gripping a bead. The finger is displaced radially as the bead lock extends radially outwardly to engage the bead and then pivots in a generally axial outward direction as the bead carrier ring axially withdraws to a retracted position, enabling the finger to pass freely over tire plies previously applied on the drum.

Abstract: A bead lock apparatus incorporating in a tire building apparatus and a method of locking a bead ring by using the bead lock apparatus for transferring a bead ring from a bead setter engaging the inner circumferential surface of the bead ring to the tire building apparatus at a predetermined position thereon. The bead lock apparatus includes a plurality of first bead lock segments positioned corresponding to pawl members forming the bead setter and circumferentially spaced from each other with predetermined distances, and a plurality of second bead lock segments positioned between the first bead lock segments in the same plane and circumferentially spaced from each other with predetermined distances. The bead lock apparatus further includes driving devices for displacing the first and second bead lock segments, respectively, to expand and contract independently from each other.

Abstract: The front end and rear end of a belt-shaped member having a predetermined length are grasped by front end grasping pawls and rear end grasping pawls, respectively, movable in synchronism with and independently from each other when required. The front and rear end grasping pawls are moved in synchronism with each other until the front end of the belt-shaped member arrives at the forming drum. After the front end of the belt-shaped member has been pressure-joined with the forming drum, only the rear end grasping pawls grasping the rear end of the belt-shaped member are moved to attach the belt-shaped member to the circumference of the forming drum. The length of the belt-shaped member is modified to a predetermined length or the circumferential length of the forming drum while the front and rear ends are grasped by the front and rear end grasping pawls, respectively, or the belt-shaped member is being attached to the forming drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for building green tires includes a carcass band forming drum for forming a carcass band, a first forming drum arranged rearward of and coaxially to the carcass band forming drum for forming green cases, a first transfer unit movable between the carcass band and first forming drums for transferring and pressing beads to the carcass band and for transferring the united beads and the carcass band to the first forming drum and folding axial edges of the carcass band about the beads upon itself in cooperation with the first forming drum, a second forming drum arranged rearward of the first forming drum for toroidally deforming the green case, second transfer unit movable between the first and second forming drums for transferring and delivering the green case from the first forming drum and second forming drum, a band forming drum arranged rearward of the first forming drum for forming a band, and a third transfer unit movable between the band forming drum and the second forming drum for transferring

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing automotive tire beads wherein a pair of bead winding and transfer units for forming respective beads each present an inner ring which defines part of a bead winding unit for winding a continuous metal wire constituting the respective bead, and consists of two coaxial rotatable annular bodies designed to move between a detached and mated position; and an outer grip ring consisting of a number of segments designed to move back and forth in relation to the inner ring; which segments are carried on an annular support designed to move both transversely, between a position coaxial with the respective inner ring and a position coaxial with a tire building drum, and axially along the tire building drum.

Abstract: An improved machine for fabricating tire carcasses.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus includes a forming drum rotatably supported with its one end and having an outer circumference around which a tire constituting member is wound, and bead setters for setting beads in position on the tire constituting member. The apparatus further includes bead supply device having a holder fixed to a forward end of a main shaft of the forming drum and a plurality of grasping pawls supported by the holder and radially movable toward and away from an axis of the main shaft in synchronism with each other to be able to grasp the beads on inside thereof. With this arrangement, beads are brought into exact alignment with the forming drum to eliminate contact of the beads with the tire constituting member in setting the beads. As a result, damaging of the tire constituting member can be prevented to improve yield rate of tire building.

Abstract: The elements described refer to an apparatus for the manufacture of a tire einforcement from a single cord. Each lever 2 of the apparatus is provided at its end with a groove 3 which describes a partial oval. The cord is hooked therein. A recess 28 serves as a template for the installation of a bead wire.

Abstract: A bead setter applier assembly (10) for positioning a tire bead (50) around a tire casing on a tire building drum wherein the assembly (10) has an annular frame member (12), a plurality of clamp segments (16) and a plurality of magnetic segments (34) pivotally mounted on the frame member (12). The bead ring (50) is placed on the magnetic segments (34) which have been rotated radially inward. The clamp segments (16) are rotated radially inward into engagement with the bead ring (50) to position the bead ring (50) in a location concentric with the central axis (A--A) of the assembly (10) and hold the bead ring (50). The magnetic segments (34) are then rotated radially outward out of engagement with the bead ring (50). After the tire casing is expanded into contact with the bead ring (50), the clamp segments (16) are retracted so that the assembly (10) can be moved away from the drum.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus includes a forming drum to which tire constituting members are attached, annular bead setting rings movable in axial directions of the forming drum for grasping beads on their inner circumferential sides and driving the tire beads into predetermined positions on a tire constituting member, and annular turning-up holders movable in the axial directions of the forming drum for turning up parts of the tire constituting member on axially outer sides of bead driven positions about the tire beads with the aid of bladders. The bead setting rings and the turning-up holders are divided into a plurality of arcuate segments circumferentially spaced.

Abstract: A tire building machine having opposed support shafts for engagement with opposed ends of a tire building drum and opposed ply turn down and bead setting mechanisms movable axially along the support shafts toward and away from the drum. The machine includes parallel bearing rails extending substantially the length of the machine. The ply turn down and bead setting mechanisms are carried by opposed housings which are supported by bearings which ride on the bearing rails. The ply turn down and bead setting mechanisms also carry bearings which ride along the shafts during axial advancement thereof. Finally, the turn down mechanism is supported on the housing at multiple points about its periphery to insure correct alignment thereof.

Abstract: A rack (28) which supports the beads (12) in a separated condition is transported to the storing and feeding apparatus (10) where the rack (28) is used to place the beads (12) around a plurality of continuous conveyors (20) which are expanded to grip the beads (12). After the rack (28) is removed from the feeding and storing apparatus (10), the conveyors (20) are actuated to simultaneously and intermittently feed the beads (12) to a bead transfer member. The apparatus (10) includes means (64,66,89) to adjust and level the conveyors (20) to accommodate a range of bead sizes and means (118) to insure feeding of one bead (12) at a time.