Abstract: A plurality of strip-like elements is applied onto a forming drum externally having a substantially cylindrical laying surface. The strip-like elements are disposed in mutually approached relationship to form at least one first annular reinforcing layer on the forming drum itself set to a first work diameter at which each of the applied strip-like elements on the laying surface subtends an arc of a circumference of a width as large as a submultiple integer of the overall circumferential extension of the laying surface itself. Adjustment devices operating on the forming drum subsequently carry out expansion of the latter to a second work diameter larger than the first work diameter, while maintaining its laying surface substantially cylindrical.

Abstract: Tire building drum and tire building method, capable of assembling tire component members with high accuracy. A tire building drum is used, which includes at least one core body, which is disposed at an axial inside of a pair of bead lock means, and which comprises a plurality of sheets of rigid support members disposed in a toroidal shape and adapted to be displaced and thereby expanded or contracted. Bead cores are locked by the bead lock means, respectively, and a center portion of a carcass band is bulged while displacing the bead lock means close to each other. Back side portions of the carcass band are folded to radial outsides around the bead cores, respectively. The core body is then radially expanded to the maximum diameter while locking the bead cores, and tire component members are assembled onto the radially expanded core body.

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: 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: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a green tire capable of preventing the variation of carcass-cord paths between bead cores and disturbances of the carcass cord arrangement are disclosed. An assembly of a bead core and a bead apex rubber is set on the radially outside of a cylindrical carcass assembly, and they are locked with a bead lock ring expanded, while maintain the cylindrical shape. Then, applying tension to the carcass cords between the expanded bead lock rings, the bead apex rubber is folded down towards the tire equator. Further, the edges portions of the carcass are turned up around the bead cores locked.

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: 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: A tyre building drum, wherein a spindle has an axis, and a first and second flange coaxial with the axis and movable axially with respect to each other to support and shape a tyre carcass, and is fitted to and projects from a drive unit for rotating the first and second flange about the axis, and for varying a distance between the first and second flange; the first flange being fixed to the free end of an end portion of a drive shaft of the drive unit to rotate about the axis with the drive shaft; and the second flange being fitted in axially sliding, angularly fixed manner to the end portion of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Tyre building drum for building an unvulcanised tyre using tyre components of rubber. The tyre building drum comprises two folding arm units arranged at least substantially symmetrically with respect to the middle of the tyre building drum, which folding arm units are each connected to a folding arm bearing body so as to swivel. Both folding arm bearing bodies can be moved in axial direction of the tyre building drum. Via a first spindle both folding arm bearing bodies can be moved synchronously with respect to each other in axial direction. The tyre building drum further comprises two bead ring core units arranged at least substantially symmetrically with respect to the middle of the tyre building drum, each of the bead ring core units being intended for supporting a bead ring core. Each bead ring core unit comprises a bead ring core bearing body, wherein via a second spindle both bead ring core bearing bodies can be moved synchronously with respect to each other in axial direction.

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: A tyre building drum is disclosed having first and second sets of deck segments, the segments (11, 12) of the sets alternating in a circumferential direction in the expanded deck, such that a pair of segments of said first set lie immediately circumferentially adjacent, and on opposite circumferential sides respectively of each segment of the second set and vice-versa, the axially extending edges (12a) of the segments (12) of said second set each including a circumferentially extending protrusion which underlies the deck surface of the adjacent segment of the first set, whereby the expanded segments interlock to resist radial loading on the deck in a direction to collapse the deck. The drum construction provides a high degree of lateral and radial deck stability and accuracy.

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: To effectively restrict occurrence of radially extending grooves in tire sidewall portions, turn-up portions (N) of a tire structure member (K) are turned up around the beads (B) by synchronously moving turn-up arms (66) axially inward by a moving means (75), with turn-up rollers (70) maintained in contact with the turn-up portion (N), and simultaneously, by synchronously swinging the turn-up arms (66) radially outward by a swinging means (76). The contact pressure of the turn-up rollers (70) applied to the turn-up portion (N) can thus be easily adjusted to an optimum value, with the result that impressions (grooves) produced in the outer surface of the turn-up portion (N) (which becomes part of the tire sidewall portion after being turned up) can be kept as shallow as possible.

Abstract: An apparatus for building tire comprises an outer shaft 3, an intermediate shaft 2, and a center shaft 1 which are disposed coaxially with each other, a building drum 14 supported on the outer shaft 3 and having a uniform outer diameter over the entire length, and means for rotating these shafts disposed on one side of the building drum 14. The building drum 14 consists of axially divided two drum portions 15, 16 which are displaced in mutually approaching and separating directions and are radially expanded and contracted. The intermediate shaft 2 is reciprocably connected to one drum portion 15. The one drum portion 15 is drivably connected to the other drum portion 16 to be able to reciprocably move in mutually opposite directions. Cam members 28, 29 bringing the drum portions into radial expansive/contractive transformations are reciprocably connected to the center shaft 1.

Abstract: There are provided a method and a drum for building a tire in which residual air can be effectively removed by enhancing a pressing force of a carcass band to a bead filler in the turning of the carcass band around a bead core, wherein a cylindrical green case is arranged on an outer peripheral side of a building drum, and a central portion of the green case is expansion-deformed in a radial direction while approaching both the bead cores to each other under a restraint of the bead core through the building drum, and the green case is pressed onto an inner peripheral face of a belt-tread band, and thereafter both the end portions of the carcass band are turned around the bead cores so that the carcass band is pushed onto rigid support members disposed at an inner peripheral side of the carcass band together with the bead cores and bead fillers.

Abstract: A tyre drum has a central shaft, two ring segments around the shaft and spaced apart for supporting bead cores and, on either side outside of the ring segments, sets of axially extending arms having free ends with first turn-up means, particularly a turn-up roller, opposite second ends hinged to an axially shiftable arm support and, near the free end, a tyre component support roller rotatable on the arm. A shifter shifts the arm supports to move the second ends axially towards each other and tilt the arms in radial planes from the initial position to a tilting position for the first ends to press tyre components outside of the ring segments against an expanded part of the tyre components within the ring segments.

Abstract: A tire building drum and a method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The tire building drum has a center section comprised of a plurality of segments that are radially and axially movable. The building drum further comprises shoulder sections that are axially movable. The shoulder sections include radially expandable bead locks. The method employs the steps of applying one or more carcass layers, locking the bead locks and moving the center section radially outwardly while moving the bead locks axially inwardly.

Abstract: A tire building drum and a method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The tire building drum has a center section comprised of a plurality of segments that are radially and axially movable. The building drum further comprises shoulder sections that are axially movable. The shoulder sections include radially expandable bead locks. The method employs the steps of applying one or more carcass layers, locking the bead locks and moving the center section radially outwardly while moving the bead locks axially inwardly.

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 turning up sidewalls of a tire. The device includes a first lever supporting body arranged on a first side of a drum center and being movable in an axial direction. A first lever system pivotally connected to the first lever supporting body. A second lever supporting body arranged on a second side of the drum center and being movable in an axial direction. A second lever system pivotally connected to the second lever supporting body. The first and second sides are arranged on opposite sides of the drum center. A base spindle is adapted to move the first and second lever supporting bodies in an axial synchronous manner relative to each another.

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: A shaping drum for tire carcasses includes a barrel (5), comprising two systems for holding the beads (7, 8) of a carcass (2) to be shaped carried by the barrel, and a receiving surface (30) for the tire carcass which is formed by the outer surfaces (310) of a plurality plates (31) which are mounted on the barrel (5) and arranged circumferentially around the central axis of the barrel (5). The plates (31) are radially displaceable between a retracted position and an expanded position of the drum (1). Guide structure (43) on the inner side of each plate (31) bears on an adjacent plate, permitting the positioning of each plate at the same radial level in the expanded position of the drum and permitting the tilting of each plate about an axis parallel to the central axis such that the plates are circumferentially superimposed in the retracted position of the drum (1).

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: A tire building drum includes a hollow main shaft, a pair of bead lock sections arranged concentric with the main shaft and respectively holding a bead core of a tire, and a radially expansible/contractible carcass-supporting body defining an inner shape of a carcass member extending between the bead cores. The carcass-supporting body is composed of a pair of core bodies which are concentric with the main shaft and have a plurality of expansible/contractible rigid segments circumferentially abutting on and engaging with each other. The tire building drum is provided with a pair of sliders on which the core body and the bead lock section are mounted on a single side in the axial direction, slider-moving means for moving these sliders to any required radial position and segment-expanding/contracting means for expanding/contacting the segments of each core body to any required radial position.

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: 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: This invention relates to an improved radially expansible tire assembly drum (10) and a method forming tires (2) from an assemblage of tire components utilizing the assembly drum (10).

Abstract: A method of building a tire carcass onto a toroidially expanded building drum core is disclosed which comprises the steps of applying the carcass components onto a cover of the toroidially expanded building drum core at a first diameter D1 while rigidly supporting the sides of the cover with a pair of internal side support mechanisms to form a toroidially shaped uncured carcass. The method of building a tire carcass onto a toroidially expanded building drum core further may employ the steps of: expanding the cover radially by an amount less than 5% greater than the diameter D1 and applying a belt reinforcing structure or a tread and belt reinforcing structure onto the expanded cover to form an uncured tire assembly and may further include the step of curing the uncured tire assembly in a tire curing mold and removing the cured tire assembly from the mold; collapsing the toroidially expanded building drum core; and removing the tire from the collapsed core.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided improved means for centering of a green vehicle tire carcass on a shaping drum. “Centering” as used herein and unless otherwise stated or obvious from the context of its use, includes positioning of the bead ring-containing. opposite ends of a carcass substantially equidistantly from the centerplane of the drum and substantially radially equidistant from, and substantially concentric about, the rotational axis of the drum.

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: A drum (1) for building tires (2), the drum (1) having two half-drums (12), each of which has an expandable bead clamping device (20), and at least one shaping bladder (27) and a turn-up bladder (33) fixed to an outer tubular body (16) of the half-drum (12) on opposite sides of the respective bead clamping device (20); each turn-up bladder (33) having an outer annular lip (34) extending, at rest, along the respective half-drum (12) and covering the respective bead clamping device (20) and substantially the whole respective shaping bladder (27).

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for minimization of the separation of a plurality of radially collapsible, generally circular, mandrels which are mounted for axial movement along the longitudinal axis of a central shaft. The method and apparatus is useful for shaping of a green vehicle tire carcass employing a shaping drum which includes dual mandrels which are axially displace able along the longitudinal axis of the drum and adapted to engage respective ones of first and second beads of the carcass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for shaping a tire wherein an outboard pocket assembly (26) and an inboard pocket assembly (24) are radially movable outwardly into engagement with preshaped bead/apex assemblies (60, 76) of a tire band (74) and are movable axially to a cured tire width of the bead/apex assemblies for shaping other tire components to a cured tire shape and for positioning the ply edges at predetermined cured tire positions.

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 tire building drum includes a hollow main shaft, a pair of bead lock sections arranged concentric with the main shaft and respectively holding a bead core of a tire, and a radially expansible/contractible carcass-supporting body defining an inner shape of a carcass member extending between the bead cores. The carcass-supporting body is composed of a pair of core bodies which are concentric with the main shaft and have a plurality of expansible/contractible rigid segments circumferentially abutting on and engaging with each other. The tire building drum is provided with a pair of sliders on which the core body and the bead lock section are mounted on a single side in the axial direction, slider-moving means for moving these sliders to any required radial position and segment-expanding/contracting means for expanding/contacting the segments of each core body to any required radial position.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a radial tire is disclosed, wherein a tread ring is formed separately from a tier main body by the sue of a tread ring forming apparatus. The radial tire comprises a belt having a camber and a band wound thereon. The tread ring is an annular assembly of a raw belt, a raw band wound thereon and a raw tread rubber. The tread ring forming apparatus comprising a belt drum made up of segments defining the drum circumference. In a cross section including the belt drum axis, the radially outer surface of each segment is a straight line parallel to the axis. In a cross section normal to the belt drum axis, the radiallly outer surface is an arc having one radius substantially equal to one half of the drum diameter, but the drum circumference is decreased in the belt edge portion than the central portion by increasing gaps between the segments.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for manufacturing pneumatic tires, wherein a green case comprised of at least one inner liner rubber member and a carcass ply member is formed on a first drum and transferred to a position around a second drum. The green case is the fixedly secured to the second drum by axially moving a pair of centering elements in opposite directions into pressure contact with opposite inner sides at the bead portions of the green case, and urging the inner peripheries of the bead portions by a pair of lock elements. The second drum is then caused to expand and undergo a width reduction, thereby expanding the green case into a toroidal shape. Sidewall rubber members, which have been previously wound on a pair of side bladders on the outer side of the lock elements, are expanded and reversed by inflating the side bladders and joined to the toroidal green case to thereby form a green tire.

Abstract: A drum for the formation of a vehicle tire carcass including bead positioning features, the drum including multiple subsystems which are operatively and cooperatively interconnected to enhance the definition of embryonic sidewalls of the tire.

Abstract: A rotatable drum useful in the manufacture of vehicle tires. A plurality of segments collectively define the outer circumferential surface of the drum. These segments are divided into two sets, one set being disposed on each of the opposite sides of a transverse center plane of the drum, the center plane being oriented normal to the rotational axis of the drum. The two sets of segments are mounted for selective positioning thereof axially of the drum from a location external of the drum to adjust the overall working width of the drum. Further, the segments are selectively positionable between expanded positions radially of the rotational axis of the drum to provide a relatively continuous circumferential outer surface of the drum for the layup of a tire carcass thereon, and collapsed positions radially of the drum to permit the removal of a formed toroidal carcass from the drum.

Abstract: Circumferentially spaced folding modules of a tire building drum have axially movable belt lifting and conveying nose pieces which carry wide breaker ply edges over narrow breaker ply edges laid on the drum.

Abstract: A unistage drum (1) for building tires (2) , the drum (1) having two half-drums (13), each of which has a ring of sectors (43a) movable by a first actuator (37, 46) to and from an expanded position to clamp a respective bead (7); each sector (43a) being defined by a first and a second block (49, 50) defined externally by respective cylindrical surfaces (55a, 55) and having respective mutually-contacting inclined surfaces (52, 53); and the second block (50) sliding on the first (49), by virtue of a second actuator (33, 37), to and from an outer position in which the second block (50) defines a relative portion of an annular shoulder (56) located, in use, between the two beads (7) and in a position adjacent to one of the beads (7).

Abstract: Circumferentially spaced folding modules of a tire building drum have axially movable belt lifting and conveying nose pieces which carry wide breaker ply edges over narrow breaker ply edges laid on the drum.

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 oscillating arm apparatus for manufacturing a tire reinforcement from a single cord in which the cord is deposited in contiguous arches on a rigid core by a system of arms arranged in series conveying an eyelet in such a way as to allow it to traverse a core and thus deposit adjacent arches.

Abstract: A device for the substantially vertical suspension of tire carcasses which includes a plurality of supports arranged about a lifting axis (XX′), which supports bear on the inside of a tire carcass, the supports being mobile radially relative to the lifting axis, the device further including a system having at least one spring which exerts a radial expansion force on the supports, this expansion being limited by a stop. The invention also relates to a process for building a tire in using this device.

Abstract: A shaping drum for a tire having two bead holding systems mounted facing one another on a central shaft. Each of the bead holding systems includes a support mounted to be movable axially relative to the shaft. On each support there is mounted an assembly which includes a plurality of rigid segments and an elastic membrane which surrounds them. The rigid segments are each mounted on the support and swing about an articulation, the axis of which is perpendicular to a radial plane. A seat is formed on each assembly, the seat being arranged axially on the inside of the articulations, the articulations forming a crown on the support. The elastic membrane is fixed to the support axially on the inside and on the outside of the crown of articulations.

Abstract: A method and unit for producing a road vehicle radial tire, whereby an impermeable innerliner (10) is applied to the inner surface of a toroidal tire carcass (3) by placing the innerliner (10) on a substantially cylindrical inner support (13), which is radially deformable to gradually assume a deformed configuration capable of mating with an inner surface of the carcass (3); the inner support (13) being fitted through the toroidal carcass (3) and through a toroidal outer support (14) housing the carcass (3), and being moved into the deformed configuration to lift the innerliner (10) towards the carcass (3) and compress the innerliner (10) against the inner surface of the carcass (3), (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Abstract: A rotatable drum (10) for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires, the drum including a plurality of segments which collectively define an outer circumference (32) of the drum. The segments are divided into first and second end portions (15,17) which are individually mounted for axial and radial movement between expanded and retracted positions relative to the rotational axis (16) of the drum.

Abstract: Device and process for constructing a carcass and for preshaping an unvulcanized rubber tire includes a preshaping device. An axially adjustable hollow, cylindrical body associated with the preshaping device has a radially outermost surface. An adjustment device capable of adjusting an axial position of the cylindrical body between an operating position and a rest position is provided. A second body having a radially outermost surface is adapted to form a substantially cylindrical, sealed construction surface with the radially outermost surface of the cylindrical body in the operating position. The preshaping device, in the operating position, is positioned axially inside the cylindrical body in a same axial position as the cylindrical body to enable positioning the carcass without the carcass being affected by the preshaping device.

Abstract: A bladderless former sleeve (100) is disclosed for a bladderless second stage tire building machine (102) having at least one bead lock assembly (116), the bead lock assembly (116) having an annular clamp (114) with an annular groove (112). The sleeve (100) includes an annular main body (104) having first (106) and second (108) ends, the main body (104) having a thickness. A bead (110) is attached to the annular main body (104) at the first end (106). The bead (110) has a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the main body (104) at the second end (108). The bead (110) is sized to fit snugly within the groove (112) of the clamp (114). The main body (104) of the sleeve (100) is sized to substantially cover the bead lock assembly (116) or at least the bead lock shoes (120) of the machine (102) during operation of the machine when the bead lock shoes (120) are in a fully expanded position.