Abstract: A tire shaping drum has a central axle, a drum part which is capable of expansion and contraction, and a expanding/contracting means for changing the drum part. In the drum part, first segments having first end faces at both ends in the circumferential direction, and second segments having second end faces at both ends in the circumferential direction, are alternately seriated. There is provided with a backlash prevention means for preventing backlash between the contacting first end faces and second end faces when the drum part is in a diameter expanded state. Consequently, the first end faces and the second end faces closely contact with each other, and changes in the circularity of the drum part and the outer diameter of the drum part can be prevented.

Abstract: Variable-diameter building drum intended for the manufacture of a green tire having a generally cylindrical receiving surface formed of radially mobile sectors and bearing elements the radially external part of which constitutes the receiving surface, the receiving surface comprising at least one circular groove containing an elastic circumferential sleeve which is held radially away from the bottom of the groove by pushers able to move radially with respect to the mobile sectors so as to align the radially external surface of the sleeve with the receiving surface when the drum is brought to a first laying diameter, and which is pressed against the bottom of the groove under the effect of circumferential elastic tensions when the drum is placed at a laying diameter greater than the said first laying diameter.

Abstract: A tire-building drum having a hollow main shaft and a swing arm rotatably positioned about the main shaft for moving the circumferential surface-defining segments of the drum between collapsed positions and fully-expanded positions as the swing arm is rotatably moved about the swing arm from a first angular position thereabout to a second angular position thereabout includes a mechanical assembly for acting between the swing arm and the main shaft so that upon rotation of the swing arm about the main shaft to its second position thereabout, the mechanical assembly biases the swing arm about the main shaft to continually urge the circumferential segments into the fully-expanded positions.

Abstract: A layup mandrel includes a shell having a tool surface on which plies may be laid up. The shape of the shell is changed by an actuator.

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 belt and tread drum for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires and having a plurality of circumference-defining segments whose radial position is determined by a camming means. The extent of movement of the camming means is selectable by stop means associated with a central shaft which serves to mount the camming means and the stop means. Visual indication of the selected circumference of the drum is provided.

Abstract: A tire former for use in a tire building apparatus, the tire former includes a center ring provided coaxially around a drum shaft and a pair of side rings provided coaxially around the drum shaft and on opposite sides of the center ring. The center ring consists of a plurality of circumferentially separatable ring segments. The side rings are movable closer to and away from each other along the shaft to selectively provide an axially expanded state where the side rings are positioned on opposite sides of the center ring and an outer circumferential surface of the side rings is flush with an outer circumferential of the center ring; and an axially contracted state where the side rings are positioned radially inside of the center ring.

Abstract: A drum for assembling tire components comprising a sliding body externally mounted on and engaged with a shaft so that it may move in an axial direction, and a cylindrical aggregate of circumferentially spaced apart segments externally mounted on the sliding body by an expander means so that the outer diameter of said cylindrical aggregate of segments is expandable and reducible by means of the backward and forward movement in the axial direction of the sliding body by a cylinder mechanism provided outside the sliding body. The expander means comprises tapered surfaces on the outside of the sliding body and the inside of each segment and an axially displaced annular piston and cylinder tube is operatively connected to the sliding body by means of connecting members.

Abstract: A radial tire forming apparatus wherein a first stage forming arrangement comprising a carcass band forming drum, green case forming drum and band transfer, and a second stage forming arrangement comprising a belt-tread structure forming drum, raw tire forming drum and belt-tread transfer, are so arranged that the above mentioned respective forming drums may be positioned on the same axis. A green case transfer is set above the first and second stage forming arrangements and improvements in the green case transfer and further a novel formation of a gripping device for forming the green case transfer are provided.

Abstract: A radial tire building drum for forming a radial tire green case having bead portions into a toroidal shape, includes a drive shaft rotatable about a center axis of rotation and movable in a fore-and-aft direction thereof, a pair of drum units carried on the drive shaft and having a common center axis of rotation which is in axially alignment with the center axis of the drive shaft, the drum units being axially movable toward and away from each other along the center axis of the drive shaft by driving at least one of the drum units to move along the common center axis of rotation, a plurality of arcuate drum segments each retained to the pair of drum units and formed with an annular groove circumferentially extending therethrough, each of the arcuate drum segments being radially movable toward and away from the common center axis.

Abstract: An axially and radially adjustable construction drum for pneumatic tires in which the drum has a variable width and is radially extensible and comprises two basic members, the relative distance between which is adjustable on an internal tube through a spindle and a screwthreaded sleeve with screw thread portions in opposite directions, in which the basic members support ring segments whose external surfaces form approximately cylindrical working surfaces and which are radially adjustable through bellows and on which is situated a resilient bandage with inflatable members disposed therebelow for holding over the edges of plies and between which is retained a middle portion which is radially extensible in the longitudinal direction of the drum.

Abstract: A building drum for building first-stage, steel-reinforced, radial monoply, pneumatic tire carcasses, is disclosed. The drum comprises a circumferential array of drum-forming segments which are supported for radial displacement to and from contracted and expanded dispositions, and apparatus for displacing the segments radially between the contracted and expanded dispositions. Each of the segments has the same axial extent and terminates at each end in a respective flange projecting radially inwardly. Each of the flanges has a respective recess exposed radially outwardly, corresponding ones of the recesses which are at the same segment end defining co-operatively with one another at each such segment end a radially outwardly exposed annular bead-seat. The segments, when in a fully contracted disposition, present a substantially cylindrical outer carcass-ply support-surface having a diameter which is less than the inner diameter of any annular metallic bead-core to be thereby operated upon.

Abstract: A tire building drum is adapted to be expansible and collapsible at three different diameter states and includes a main tire building drum, a pair of auxiliary tire building drums partially engageable with the radially inner surfaces of the opposite end portions of the main tire building drum to axially be slidable toward and away from the equatorial plane of the main tire building drum, a rotary shaft carrying thereon the main and auxiliary tire building drums for rotation thereof, and a pair of slide means for axially sliding the auxiliary tire building drums toward and away from the equatorial plane of the main tire building drum.