Abstract: Assembly drum of variable diameter D, intended for the manufacture of a tire blank, the drum having a generally cylindrical laying surface (2) provided with circular grooves (3) arranged axially in a zone intended to receive profiled elements of great thickness, said groove (3) containing elastic circumferential bodies (4). When the drum D is moved to a first laying diameter, a mechanical means moves the elastic body (4) radially apart from the bottom of the groove, so as to align the radially outer surface of the elastic body (4) with the laying surface of the drum (2).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire with a noise damper on the inside of the tread portion, comprises the steps of: building a raw tire on an annular tire building core; placing the raw tire within a vulcanizing mold together with the core; and heating the raw tire in the mold. The tire building core has a molding face for molding an inner surface of the tread portion. The molding face is provided with a groove extending in the tire circumferential direction. In the step of building the raw tire, an expandable damper material is placed in the groove. During heating the raw tire to be vulcanized, the damper material expands in the groove, whereby the expanded material forms the noise damper integrated into the radially inside of the tread portion.

Abstract: A tyre building drum having a central shaft; two cylindrical half-drums mounted to slide along the central shaft; and a telescopic central body coaxial with the two half-drums, connecting the two half-drums, and having a tubular central member integral with the central shaft, two tubular end members integral with the respective half-drums, and an intermediate segment interposed between the tubular central member and each tubular end member; each end member is defined by the union of two semicircular end half-members connected rigidly to the half-drum by a number of first releasable fastening devices; and each intermediate segment is defined by the union of two semicircular intermediate half-segments connected rigidly to the central member by a number of second releasable fastening devices.

Abstract: Provided are a method and a device for efficiently separating and automatically removing a tire-building rigid core from the inside of the tire. After a core holding mechanism and upper and lower support plates are removed from a rigid core body that is disposed in the tire and composed of two types of segment groups, the tire is transferred onto a predetermined position on a support table, and positioned and fixed. Then, a first core separation/removal mechanism having been on standby below the center of the tire on the support table is raised to support the center of the inner wall surface of one type of the segment groups and horizontally pull the one type of the segment groups to the center side of the tire until it is separated from the inner surface of the tire. The separated segment group is lowered to the standby position below the center of the support table and is left on standby.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reorienting a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a green tire. The core includes a central axis defined through first and second oppositely facing tapered recesses respectively including first and second locking mechanisms. The apparatus includes a core support structure including a base and a reorientation member connected for movement relative to said base and a core coupling member. The core coupling member connects for movement with the reorientation member and includes a core locking mechanism that couples with the core coupling member and locks the core coupling member to the core. A drive system couples with the reorientation member and operatively moves the reorientation member so as to change the orientation of the central axis from a first orientation to a second, different orientation transverse to the first orientation.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for assisting in the installation of a tubular film onto a drum for use in the manufacture of tires. In one embodiment, a sleeve is provided having a body including a first tapered portion with an end surface, a central portion, and a plurality of openings through the body. In another embodiment, a tire building apparatus is provided including a sleeve device and a drum in contact with the sleeve device. A method of making tires is provided including forcing fluid through openings of a sleeve device, placing a tubular film about the sleeve device, and transporting the tubular film onto a drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining a carcass ply, which butt-joins a wind start end and a wind finish end of a carcass ply wound around a cylindrical drum, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a joining section for joining the ends of the carcass ply; and aligning sections for aligning the ends of the carcass ply during joining by the joining section, the joining section and the aligning sections being disposed below the cylindrical drum supported in a horizontal state.

Abstract: Belt drum, particularly for shaping a belt layer and/or a tread layer or another tire component provided with metal parts and the like into a circumferential whole, wherein the drum is rotatable about a center line, comprising a number of support members having a rigid support surface for the tire component and situated at the circumference of the drum, wherein considered in a cross-sectional plane containing the center line, the support members comprise middle support sections and side support sections movably connected thereto, wherein the middle sections of the support members are moveable by first movement means between a first position, in which the respective support member forms a support surface that is parallel to the center line, and at least one second position, in which a substantially convex support surface is formed by the respective support member, wherein the first movement means are connected to the middle support sections in order to at least keep them parallel to the center line in at least

Abstract: In a process of manufacturing pneumatic tyres, a carcass sleeve is made which includes at least one carcass ply provided with axially opposite flaps turned up around annular anchoring structures, so as to form respective loops. An outer sleeve is positioned around the carcass sleeve and the latter is radially expanded in order to cause application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve. After each of the end flaps has been turned up and before radial expansion, only a portion belonging to each of the loops and extending substantially parallel to the respective annular anchoring structure is submitted to a step of carrying out heating under pressure, to make each loop integral with the annular anchoring structure and prevent the turned-up ply/plies from even partly slipping off, during the subsequent radial-expansion step of the carcass sleeve and vulcanisation step of the tyre.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for pre-cure application of an antenna assembly to a tire comprises the method steps: forming within a rigid core defining an interior surface of the tire a core recess complementarily configured to the antenna assembly; positioning the antenna assembly within the core recess; building an uncured carcass of the tire around the rigid core entrapping the antenna assembly within the core recess; cross-bonding the antenna assembly to the inner surface of the tire during a cure cycle; and removing the cured tire and assembly from the rigid core.

Abstract: A core handling apparatus is provided for a tire building core. The handling apparatus includes a base plate; a latching mechanism mounted to the base plate and operably inserting into an axial opening at a remote end of a first spindle mechanism connected to a tire building core assembly. The latching mechanism has a latching member operably engaging the first spindle mechanism from within the axial opening. A handle mechanism mounts to the base plate and extends outward. The handle mechanism rotates under manual power to rotate the core assembly through the latching mechanism into alternate angular orientations. The core handling apparatus latching mechanism moves between a radially retracted position that facilitates a close insertion into the spindle mechanism axial opening and a radially extended second position from within the spindle mechanism axial opening to engage the spindle mechanism.

Abstract: A tire building core assembly is provided including a segmented toroidal core formed by a plurality of core segments configured in a closely adjacent array defining an outer tire-building toroidal surface. The tire building surface is configured having tire tread and sidewall build locations. Adjacent core segments provide adjacent and opposed annularly directed peripheral edge surfaces, opposed edge surfaces having interlocking elements that selectively engage to operatively deter relative radial movement between the adjacent core segments. The interlocking elements selectively disengage to operatively facilitate a disassembly of the segmented toroidal core.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for establishing a range of diameters of the cylindrical working surface of a drum and like devices for grasping, handling, shaping, or other like function, of round or tubular objects, such as tire carcasses and belt and tread packages as employed in the manufacture of vehicle tires. The device includes a plurality of segmented modules adapted to be quickly and releasably manually affixed to a drum or like device in a manner which establishes the range of obtainable diameters of the cylindrical working surface of the existing device. No material structural and/or operational modifications in the basic elements and/or operation of the drum are required. Rather, the existing structural and operational aspects of the existing drum are employed in combination with the present invention.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, includes the step of building on a substantially cylindrical forming support a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, with respective annular anchoring structures. The step of building the carcass structure further includes the step of associating, at at least one end edge of said at least one carcass ply, at least one reinforcing structure including a predetermined number of reinforcing elements having a predetermined width and same length. The reinforcing elements are preferably obtained by cutting to size, with a predetermined cutting angle, a continuous band-like reinforcing element having a predetermined width. The reinforcing elements are arranged on the end edge of the carcass ply along a deposition path at a distance from one another having a value between 0 and a predetermined value.

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: A process for manufacturing a tire includes providing an elastomeric layer on an outer surface of a toroidal support, manufacturing the tire on the toroidal support provided with the elastomeric layer, introducing the tire supported on the toroidal support into a moulding cavity, introducing a fluid under pressure into a space defined between the toroidal support and an inner surface of the tire in order to press an outer surface of the tire against walls of the moulding cavity, and curing the tire. The elastomeric layer forms an inner circumferential surface of the tire. The process further includes causing an electrical current to flow in at least one heating element provided to the outer surface of the toroidal support so as to obtain at least partial precuring of the elastomeric layer. A toroidal support for carrying out the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A carcass ply is applied around an outer surface of a building drum, according to an application diameter greater than the fitting diameter of the tyre. An annular anchoring structure defining the fitting diameter is coaxially engaged around each of the end flaps. A n outer sleeve including at least one belt structure possibly associated with a tread band is disposed at a coaxiaily centred position around the carcass sleeve applied onto the building drum. 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: A former used for shaping a green tire into a toroidal shape and a green tire building system including two formers are disclosed. The former comprises: a pair of bead-lock devices supported by a rotatable tubular shaft in which a central shaft is disposed; a rotational-to-linear motion converter converting rotational motion of the central shaft relative to the tubular shaft to linear motion for causing the bead-lock devices to come close to each other or to get away from each other; a single electric motor; and a clutch for switching the transmission of the rotational motion of the motor to (A) only the central shaft to change the distance between the bead-lock devices or (B) both of the tubular shaft and central shaft to rotate the bead-lock devices. The building system comprises a turntable on which the two formers are disposed towards different directions so that by turning the turntable, each of the formers positions towards a first drum and a second drum in turn.

Abstract: A method and system (1) for retreading a tyre (2), whereby the worn tread is removed from the tyre (2); a green-rubber cushion (8) is wound about a carcass (6) of the tyre (2); a tread strip (9) is wound about the carcass (6) and on top of the green-rubber cushion (8); and the carcass (6), complete with the green-rubber cushion (8) and the tread strip (9), is cured; prior to winding the green-rubber cushion (8) about the carcass (6), the lateral surface (7) of the carcass (6) is heated.

Abstract: A tire building core assembly includes a shell assembly is formed by a plurality of shell segments and includes a central spindle-receiving throughbore. Two spindle units meet in axial alignment within the shell assembly throughbore and retain the shell segments in an expanded configuration forming a toroidal tire building surface. An open socket may be formed in a protruding end of one or both spindle units, the socket configured to couple with an end of an external arm mechanism. A latching mechanism moves between engaged and disengaged positions for releasably couple the one spindle unit to the second spindle unit within the shell assembly throughbore.

Abstract: Device and method for building a radial tire. The device includes a first drum device for building a belt package and a transfer device for transferring the belt package from the first drum device to a second drum device having arranged thereon a carcass tube from at least one airtight inner layer, a carcass play and two bead cores with core profiles. The second drum device is arranged between core clamping devices and is structured and arranged to join the carcass tube and the belt package during expansion of the second drum device. The belt package is contoured or shaped by deformation via the second drum device. This abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A scroll shaping drum useful in the construction of tires and including an internal air cylinder having an inner sleeve member and a roller member positioned about the inner sleeve member includes a plurality of cam follower assemblies anchored within the inner sleeve member. Each cam follower assembly includes a hub and a cam follower member positioned about the hub, and the cam follower member of each assembly is accepted by an appropriately-shaped slot defined in the roller member. The inner sleeve member defines an internally-threaded opening for accepting the hub of each assembly, and each hub includes a mounting portion positioned within a corresponding internally-threaded opening of the inner sleeve member.

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 enables a built band (B) in a cylindrical shape to be easily and surely detached by peeling off the band (B) from being brought into close contact with a drum peripheral face in an expandable and contractable band building drum (D) constituted by two kinds of pluralities of segments (1a)(1b) arranged alternately in a peripheral direction, a diameter of one segment (1a) of two kinds of segments (1a)(1b) is contracted, thereafter, the segment (1a) is temporarily returned to a diameter expanding state, a diameter of other segment (1b) is contracted, thereby, the band (B) is peeled off from being brought into close contact with the drum outer peripheral face, thereafter, the band (B) is detached by bringing both of the segments (1a)(1b) into a diameter contracting state.

Abstract: Provided is a rubber member sticking device which prevents a sheet material held from becoming deformed and stretching during a separation operation, thus suppressing loss of energy and eliminating traces of vacuum holes. When an unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is stuck, the unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is supported by a separating surface 14A of a flat plate 14 and fitting surfaces 19A of a lifting member 16 without a difference in level being created therebetween. In this state, the unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is in close contact with the fitting surfaces 19A of the lifting member 16. When the unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is separated, a hydraulic jack 20 lowers the lifting member 16 to create a difference in level between the separating surface 14A of the flat plate 14 and the fitting surfaces 19A of the lifting member 16 so that the unvulcanized rubber sheet 12 is supported only by the separating surface 14A of the flat plate 14.

Abstract: The invention provides in a first aspect a method of converting a tire building drum into a sleeveless tire building drum. The method comprising the steps of providing a tire building drum having a center sleeve, removing the center sleeve, providing a plurality of cover plates and a plurality of segments located underneath the coverplates, the segments connected to radially oriented pistons for radial movement of the center section; Providing a plurality of holes on said coverplates, connected the holes to a fluid manifold, and connecting the manifold to a vacuum source. The invention provides in a second aspect, a sleeveless tire building drum which includes a rotatable drum comprising a left and right section and a center section. The center section is radially expandable, and the left and right sections are axially movable.

Abstract: A tyre building drum, wherein two coaxial half-drums move in opposite directions along a common axis, and each half-drum has an expandible bead clamping device defined by a ring of sectors, each having a radial rod; the sectors are movable to and from an expanded position, clamping a respective bead bundle, by an actuating device having a powered body movable back and forth along the axis and supporting a number of individual guide members, each of which is connected positively to the radial rod of a respective sector to move the relative sector to and from the expanded position in response to axial displacements of the powered body.

Abstract: When building an unvulcanised tyre from tyre components using a tyre building drum, the mutual distances considered in axial direction between a bead ring segment, a first end and a steering element of a folding arm in question are chosen such that at movement of a steering element towards the bead ring segment a steering surface comes to abut the steering element so that the roller element can be moved from a first position, after which the roller element presses an outer part of the tyre components against a bead ring core to be placed on the bead ring segment while simultaneously the roller element moves away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the steering element moves along the steering surface until the stop of the annular steering segment abuts an annular folding arm segment, after which the folding arm swivels about a swivel axle and the steering element comes to lie apart from the steering surface.

Abstract: In producing a side-reinforced type runflat tire in which side reinforcing rubbers with generally crescent-shaped sections are interposed between a carcass and an inner liner, the first drums 11a, 11b on which the side-reinforcing rubbers are to be attached are so configured that their diameter do not substantially fluctuate along the axial direction. The expanding operation of the first drum, the mutually approaching operation of the first drums 11a, 11b and the approaching operation of the bead gripping rings 30A are synchronized. As a result, there is provided a tire and a method of its production capable of being produced by a multi-size mixed flow production system consisting of minimum equipments and of preventing air inclusions and wrinkles between the carcass member 4A and the side-reinforcing rubber 2A.

Abstract: Belt and tread drum (1), particularly for shaping a belt layer and/or tread layer or another tire component provided with metal parts into a circumferential whole, comprising one or more support members (4) arranged at the circumference of the drum, which are provided with a support surface for the tire component, wherein the support members comprise magnet sets having magnets (7a, 7b) for by magnetically attracting the metal parts retaining the tire component on the support surface, wherein the magnet sets comprise holders (8a, 8b) for the magnets and are placed from the radial inside in the support members, wherein the drum at the circumferential side comprises first portions that engage over the holders in tangential and/or axial direction of the drum, wherein the drum at the circumferential side comprises second portions that engage over the magnets in tangential and/or axial direction of the drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for manufacturing an object closed onto itself, which machine comprises first means for guiding and carrying a tyre material to be arranged round the first means, characterized in that the first means can change form in controlled manner between a first form and a second form. The invention also relates to a machine for manufacturing an object closed onto itself, which machine comprises first means for guiding and supporting a tyre material to be arranged round the first means, characterized in that the machine also comprises sixth means for folding the tyre material arranged round the first means, for which purpose the sixth means comprise a number of folding members movable relative to each other, which folding members can engage on the tyre material for folding and can therein move inside recesses provided for this purpose in the first means.

Abstract: The invention provides tire bead alignment clips for mounting onto each of a pair of tire beads have a U shape to fit over and clamp onto the tire bead that has received a plies sleeve end folded thereover and each tire clip is for magnetic attachment to each of a like number of spaced permanent magnets that are individually secured, at equal spaced locations, to points along radial arcs taken from a center of each of the sides of a cavity mold that are secured to opposite sides of a tire core build mandrel, and the permanent magnets are like horseshoe magnets having a pair of legs that each have north and south pole ends, and each bead clip side is magnetically attractive to couple to which permanent magnet ends, providing for attaching the plies sleeve ends and tire beads to optimum locations on opposite side of the cavity mold side inner surface and spaced apart from the tire core build mandrel that is for use in building a tire core to receive an elastomeric material directed therearound in a tire formati

Abstract: A belt package for a pneumatic vehicle tire has at least two belt plies. The belt plies are built up in at least two sub-packages, which are automatically placed on a belt drum and automatically spliced independently of one another. The sub-packages are then joined together to form the complete belt package.

Abstract: A method of building and transferring a tread 12 or a tread belt reinforcing assembly 14 on a building drum 10 is disclosed. The steps include applying at least one uncured tread component 12, 14 onto a radially collapsible building drum 10, inserting the at least one uncured tread component 12 and the radially collapsible building drum 10 into an open segmented mold 2 wherein a plurality of mold tread forming segments 4 are radially expanded; contracting the plurality of mold tread forming segments 4 pressing into the at least one uncured tread component 12, 14; collapsing the building drum 10; and removing the building drum 10 thereby transferring the at least one uncured tread component 12, 14 into the mold.

Abstract: Using a core manufacturing method, a green tire is obtained in which edge portions of a carcass ply are turned up at bead cores. An inner liner 40 is set on an external surface of a hard core 12, and a carcass 46 is formed thereon. A bladder 36 disposed inside the core is inflated, whereby edge portions of the carcass 46 can be turned up. Thereafter, conventionally known tire structural members such as a belt, a side tread and a top tread are set on, and a green tire is completed on the external surface of the hard core 12.

Abstract: An expandable tire building drum, having alternating fixed (226, 326, 426) and expanding (228, 328, 428) segments (e.g., 24 of each) in a center section (220, 320, 420) of the drum. The expanding segments are axially-extending and circumferentially spaced from one another, and are contoured (have recesses, or grooves) to accommodate tire components such as sidewall inserts. Two different mechanisms for expanding the center section are described. A first mechanism includes two wedge elements (358) which are axially moveable away from one another to expand the center section. Ramp elements (348) associated with the expanding segments (328) may thus be moved radially outward. Rubber bands (358) provide a restoring force for collapsing the center section. A second mechanism includes two guide rings (458) which are axially moveable towards one another for expanding the center section, and away from one another to collapse the center section.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for stabilizing a fire building drum wherein the fire 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 fire components on the tire building drum, or to enable removal of a built tire from the fire building drum. Preferably, the free end support allows rotation of the fire 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 false drum servers used in the manufacture of tires having a hollow cylindrical drum with a perforated surface on the drum through which air is drawn. The drawn air creating a suction surface for holding flat or sheet materials that are to be cut before transferring onto a tire building drum. When smaller pieces of flat materials are being held on the drum, the perforations that are not covered allow air to flow freely into the drum, thereby reducing the suction adhering effect of the perforated surface. The present invention provides methods and apparatus for varying the amount of perforated area through which air can be drawn into the drum, thereby changing the amount of suction adhering surface area of the perforated drum.

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: 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: Tire drum (1) including a turn-up mechanism for use in building an unvulcanized tire having tire components of rubber or provided with reinforcement cords and two bead cores which either may or may not be provided with a bead filling strip, which tire drum is provided with a central axis (5), two ring segments (6) placed around the axis and spaced apart each for supporting a bead core (3), means for radially expanding the part of the tire components that is situated within the ring segments, in which the tire building drum on either side outside of the ring segments is provided with a set of radially extending hinging arms (11), in which each arm is provided with an end oriented towards the ring segment which end has a first turn-up means, such as a first roller (12), means (20) for axially and radially moving each set of arms from a first position in which the first rollers of the set of arms form a virtually closed ring into an expanded second position for pressing the part of the tire components situated o

Abstract: A flange for a tire building drum having a transverse central plane and including a central shaft having a longitudinal axis which defines a rotational axis of the drum including first and second sets of outer-circumference defining shoes which are expandable from radially retracted positions internally of the drum to radially extended positions to define first and second mirror image circumferential radial flanges which are disposed on respective ones of the opposite sides of, and parallel to, the transverse central plane of the drum, each set of shoes including a plurality of individual shoes, each of which is a generally triangular geometry when viewed in a plan view thereof and having respective apices, bases and opposite sides.

Abstract: An expandable tire building drum, having alternating fixed (226, 326, 426) and expanding (228, 328, 428) segments (e.g., 24 of each) in a center section (220, 320, 420) of the drum. The expanding segments are axially-extending and circumferentially spaced from one another, and are contoured (have recesses, or grooves) to accommodate tire components such as sidewall inserts. Two different mechanisms for expanding the center section are described. A first mechanism includes two wedge elements (358) which are axially moveable away from one another to expand the center section. Ramp elements (348) associated with the expanding segments (328) may thus be moved radially outward. Rubber bands (358) provide a restoring force for collapsing the center section. A second mechanism includes two guide rings (458) which are axially moveable towards one another for expanding the center section, and away from one another to collapse the center section.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a universal spacer, connected to a traveling rod of a tread breaker tire building machine, incrementally adjusts the travel distance of the traveling rod and thereby controls the diameter of the building drum.

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 method and system for building, in at least two stages, an unvulcanized tire carcass (30). The system (20) incorporates a first stage tire building drum (22) on which predetermined, unvulcanized tire building components are layered to form a cylindrically shaped, unvulcanized tire carcass (30), a second stage shaping drum (24) on which the carcass (30) is shaped into a shape suitable for subsequent molding and vulcanization, and a bead tube transfer device (28) that positions tire beads (32a, 32b) on the carcass (30) that is built up on the first stage drum (22) and then transfer the tire carcass (30) and its tire beads between the first and second stage drums while precisely maintaining the axial separation distance between the beads.

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 cutting segment for a False Drum (100,200,300) having a cylindrical outer surface (202,306) comprises a slot (204,224,330) extending generally axially from end-to-end of the cylindrical surface, a door panel (322) having substantially the same size and shape as the slot; and a mechanism (320) for opening and closing the door panel. The mechanism for selectively opening and closing the door panel includes an elongate lever (324), one end of which supports the door panel, the other end of which is pivotally attached to a stationary portion (point) of the drum, a spring (326) extending between an inner surface of the door panel and another stationary portion of the drum; and an inflatable pneumatic tube (328) disposed between the lever and yet another stationary portion of the drum. There is thereby provided a method of supporting material overlying the cutting slot of the False Drum, by opening the slot when cutting the material, and closing the slot when not cutting the material.

Abstract: A sell assembly for winding cord strip which is used in manufacturing industrial belts. The shell assembly includes a core body including a reinforcing portion configured in such a manner that each of flanges is attached to either end of a square pipe made of metal by means of welding, corner reinforcing members (la) formed at four corners of the square pipe to which the flanges are attached, and reinforcing fins attached between the corner reinforcing members, wherein each of the outer ends of the reinforcing fins is attached to the inner sides of the flanges by means of welding.

Abstract: This invention relates to a segmental tire building drum (10) for laminating tire components (103, 106) having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially movable base segments (30) each having a secondary segment (50) radially movable relative to the base segment for providing a cylindrical flat surface to support each of the tire components as it is applied and spliced on the building drum and to compensate for thickened edges of the tire components applied to the tire building drum.