Abstract: A bead core for a tire, which is substantially rotationally symmetrical about an axis, comprises a plurality of windings of at least one metallic wire with diameter d arranged next to one another in a direction P forming an angle ? with the axial direction in a radial sectional half-plane R, on N layers superposed on one another in the radial direction, wherein: ? ranges from 0° to 10°; in the sectional half-plane R, the windings form a structure consisting of a base structure and a cap structure, wherein the radially inner base structure in the shape of a parallelogram is directly in contact in the radial direction with the radially outer cap structure in the shape of a trapezium. The product of the diameter d times the number of windings L ranges from 13.0 mm to 25.0 mm, and N is less than or equal to 16.

Abstract: The installation for manufacturing a bead wire intended to reinforce a pneumatic tire, said installation comprising a receiving table which is adapted to receive a braided torus which comprises a braid wire which extends longitudinally from a first end section to a second end section, a cutting tool, a crimping tool adapted to crimp a sleeve around said first and second end sections, and a configuration unit which is adapted automatically to switch the installation from a cutting configuration in which the receiving table cooperates with the cutting tool so as to position the braided torus and the first and second end sections so that said first and second end sections are sectioned by the cutting tool to a crimping configuration in which the receiving table cooperates with the crimping tool.

Abstract: The method includes procuring an annular core 3 of main axis Z3. The core is closed on itself by a core join 6 which occupies, in azimuth about said main axis Z3, a first angular sector S6. Then, a braiding is performed by helically winding, about the core 3, a braid wire 4 that is held closed by a braid join 8, of sleeve 9 type, which occupies a second angular sector S8. A method during which a registration element 16, with respect to which the position of the first angular sector S6 is known, is sought and detected on the core 3, and the azimuthal orientation of the core 3 is adapted during the braiding, with reference to said registration element 16, so that the second angular sector S8 occupied by the braid join 8 does not overlap the first angular sector S6 occupied by the core join 6.

Abstract: A drum for producing a tire casing blank comprises a support and sectors forming a circumferential face of the drum. Each sector has a circumferential outer face having a contour of general trapezoidal form and is mounted so as to be movable relative to the support in a non-radial predetermined direction relative to an axis of rotation of the drum and intercepting this axis.

Abstract: An annular bead core forming former is for manufacturing a bead core including a wire array in which a bead wire is helically wound in a width direction of the bead core. The bead core forming former comprises a main body portion having an outer circumferential surface with a circumferential groove extending in a circumferential direction for winding the bead wire and at least one width adjusting portion which moves relatively to the main body portion to changes a width of the circumferential groove.

Abstract: A rubber strip is transported to a molding drum. At this stage, a cutter cuts the rubber strip into a predetermined length. If a sensor detects the finishing end of the rubber strip when the rubber strip is transported, a sucker, which transports the rubber strip while drawing the rubber strip, is temporarily stopped or the movement speed of the sucker is decreased. As a result, a top portion of the rubber strip is extended in the longitudinal direction of the rubber strip. This compensates for the amount of shrinkage of the rubber strip after extrusion, thus restraining shrinkage of the rubber strip.

Abstract: A bead forming apparatus including: a rotatable drum having a plurality of divided bodies dividedly arranged along a circumference and being adapted to be wrapped therearound with a belt-shaped bead filler having a short base and two other long sides in an annular shape; a plurality of erection arms provided along the circumference and swingably supported by the divided bodies of the rotatable drum so as to erect the bead filler by swinging the erection arms; and a swing device for swinging the erection arms; and a plurality of slide members provided as contact portions of the erection arms that come into contact with the bead filler so that the bead filler can be radially slidable relative to the erection arms.

Abstract: A rotary body is divided into four to form multiple partitioned members. A chuck mechanism includes an expanding and contracting mechanism that expands and contracts each partitioned member in a radial direction of the rotary body. The chuck mechanism mounts and dismounts the beginning of a wire in an interlocked relationship with expansion and contraction of each partitioned member. The expanding and contracting mechanism includes a guide member that moves each partitioned member back and forth in the radial direction, and a cam member that moves each partitioned member between a large-diameter position and a small-diameter position. The chuck mechanism includes a chuck arm, a coil spring that biases the chuck arm in a direction in which the chuck arm is closed, an arm member that opens and closes the chuck arm, and a cam actuator that makes the arm member pivot.

Abstract: A winding device is provided that includes a base plate that is rotated by a rotary shaft and segments. With rotation of the base plate, a wire is wound on the outer circumference of the segments, which rotate integrally with the base plate, to form a bead ring. The winding device includes an manipulation shaft that is rotated by a handle, and conversion mechanisms that are provided between the manipulation shaft and each of the segments The conversion mechanisms transmit and convert rotation of the manipulation shaft to movement of each segment in the radial direction of the base plate.

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

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

Abstract: A conveying device which receives a curved rubber member supplied from a supply device and delivers the rubber member to a supply target device, the conveying device including a rotary table having an annular mounting surface on which the curved rubber member is placed, and a moving mechanism capable of moving the rotary table between a receiving position and a delivery position, wherein the rotary table is rotated at the receiving position to roll up the rubber member, is moved from the receiving position to the delivery position, and is reversely rotated at the delivery position to roll back the rubber member.

Abstract: A tire component that has no defect caused by air insertion in an uneven portion and gives no defective external appearance caused by the uneven portions through laminate molding a belt-shaped rubber. A molding device has a rubber extruder having a mouthpiece with a rhombic cross-section, and upper and lower rollers, rolling a belt-shaped rubber with the rhombic cross-section extruded through the mouthpiece into a hexagonal cross-section.

Abstract: A method of forming a tire apex and bead assembly is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes mounting a bead in a rotatable bead holder, rotating the bead and bead holder and extruding one or more passes of a continuous strip of elastomeric material onto the outer surface of the bead, and shaping the one or more passes of elastomeric material between two opposed rotating rollers.

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

Abstract: A tire building apparatus 1 forms a preset bead by winding and laminating a ribbon-shaped bead filler rubber Fr on the radially outer side of a bead core B for two or more laps. The apparatus includes: a bead core-supporting ring 2 extending along a circumferential direction and supporting the bead core B on a radially outer surface of the ring 2; a lamination plate 3 raised from one axial end of the ring 2 and having a side surface on which the bead filler rubber Fr is laminated; a winding device 4 for winding the bead filler rubber Fr on the side face of the lamination plate 3; and a bead core-positioning device 5 for axially positioning the bead core B on the ring 2. The device 5 has a swing plate 10 swinging around an axis Z parallel to a tangential direction of the ring 2.

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

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular concentric stranded bead cord, wherein, while rotating an annular core at a fixed position in a peripheral direction, a reel, upon which a lateral wire is wound, repeatedly performs a pendulum swinging movement and a perpendicular movement with respect to the annular core, thereby spirally winding the lateral wire upon the annular core to form a sheath layer. When forming the sheath layer, a fulcrum of the pendulum swinging movement of the reel is determined so that, with reference to a tangential line of a circle of the annular core passing through a winding point where the lateral wire is wound upon the annular core, the lateral wire is wound upon the winding point of the annular core within 15 degrees at a position above the tangential line and within a range of 55 degrees at a position below the tangential line.

Abstract: A method for winding up and splicing a tire building component, comprising placing the tire building component on a winding drum having a winding drum main axis and an inclinationally-adjustable surface, which is adjustable in inclination relative to the winding drum main axis, rotating the winding drum to rotationally symmetrically wind up the tire building component, and splicing together free ends of the tire building component to form a closed ring.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming bead members (D), capable of improving the working efficiency by allowing switching to the bead members with different widths in short a time. The apparatus includes sector segments (24) having first sidewalls (61-64) of bead member forming grooves (72, 73), and arcuate members (51) arranged on the outer side of the sector segments (24), and having second sidewalls (68-71) of the bead member forming grooves (72, 73). The arcuate members (51) are axially moved by a changing means, to change the distance between the first sidewalls (61-64) and the second sidewalls (68-71) of the bead member forming grooves (72, 73). Thus, when bead members (D) of a different width (winding turns of bead element S) are to be formed, the width of the of the bead members bead member forming grooves (72, 73) can be changed easily, without requiring replacement of the sector segments (24).

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

Abstract: In a forming method for forming an assembly of a bead core and an apex rubber, there is used a rotating body which comprises a rotating base substance having an assembly forming surface, and a core receiving portion projecting from the rotating base substance in the axially outward direction of the rotating base substance. The core receiving portion projecting has a receiving surface supporting the radially inner peripheral surface of the bead core. The apex rubber is formed by winding an unvulcanized rubber strip along the assembly forming surface from a starting position constituted by the radially outer peripheral surface of the bead core supported on the receiving surface so as to laminate in a tapered cross sectional shape.

Abstract: A device for turning a carcass band is used for a method of producing a green tire which enable to securely wrap and hold end portions of a carcass band, which is to be wrapped around a bead ring, as desired without a need for restraining the end portions on the bead ring by means of an auxiliary restraining member or the like. In this device, anvil rings having diameters smaller than that of the rigid core are arranged adjacent to respective side portion of a rigid core having an outer contour corresponding to an inner contour of a product tire. The anvil rings are fixed on a rotational driving shaft of the rigid core, and are provided with two annular grooves on their circumferences. Rotation disks for pressing a carcass band into the annular grooves of the anvil rings are arranged so as to approach to and recede from the anvil ring.

Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing tire's annular member having a stretch mainly in radial direction by use of simple devices and simple way of pressing with high precision and easiness, as to produce tire product in high quality with no fluctuation of mass and/or uniformity, comprising: a first mold including a profile mold having an annular recess; a second mold which faces the first mold; and an extruder that continuously extrudes a rubber body into the recess of the profile mold. Concurrent with such extruding, the profile mold is rotated by one turn so as to charge the rubber body into the annular recess in a manner as annularly continuous. Then, the first and the second molds are brought abut each other so as to press the rubber body between the profile and second molds; thus shaping the rubber body into a shape defined by the profile mold.

Abstract: A filler rubber being triangular-shaped in cross section can be held in an upright posture to be stuck to an outer peripheral surface of a bead core and a leading end and a trailing end can be butted against each other to be joined without the generation of crack. A filler rubber (F) is held in an upright posture to be wound around an outer peripheral surface of a bead core (C) supported by a rotary support body (10), and in joining a leading end (F1) and a trailing end (F2) of the filler rubber cut to a predetermined length, the neighborhood of the leading end and the neighborhood of the trailing end, respectively, are interposed by first and second interposing means (50), (70), and one (50) of the interposing means is displaced toward the other from a state, in which the leading end (F1) and the trailing end (F2) are opposed to each other whereby end surfaces of the leading end (F1) and the trailing end (F2) are butted against each other.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular concentric stranded bead cord, wherein, while rotating an annular core at a fixed position in a peripheral direction, a reel, upon which a lateral wire is wound, repeatedly performs a pendulum swinging movement and a perpendicular movement with respect to the annular core, thereby spirally winding the lateral wire upon the annular core to form a sheath layer. When forming the sheath layer, a fulcrum of the pendulum swinging movement of the reel is determined so that, with reference to a tangential line of a circle of the annular core passing through a winding point where the lateral wire is wound upon the annular core, the lateral wire is wound upon the winding point of the annular core within 15 degrees at a position above the tangential line and within a range of 55 degrees at a position below the tangential line.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing tire bead cores, in which a bead wire extending tangentially relative to a bead core winding drum is guided by a guide means that extends radially relative to the winding drum, and the guide means is moved toward clamp jaws of a chuck to cause a translation movement of the bead wire to a position between the clamp jaws, for clamping a leading end of the bead wire by the chuck. The winding drum is rotated together with the chuck so that the bead wire with its leading end clamped by the chuck is helically wound in a circumferential groove of the winding drum as a plurality of layers, thereby forming a bead core having a predetermined cross-section. The segments are then synchronously moved radially inwards, so as to reduce an outer diameter of the winding drum to a value smaller than the inner diameter of the bead core.

Abstract: A tire bundle is molded in a mold cavity formed by closing a mold having upper and lower mold halves with intermeshing fingers (20, 24) for enclosing bead wires and providing a molded bead ring for placing in a bead apex mold.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing tire bead cores, in which a bead wire extending tangentially relative to a bead core winding drum is guided by a guide means that extends radially relative to the winding drum, and the guide means is moved toward clamp jaws of a chuck to cause a translation movement of the bead wire to a position between the clamp jaws, for clamping a leading end of the bead wire by the chuck. The winding drum is rotated together with the chuck so that the bead wire with its leading end clamped by the chuck is helically wound in a circumferential groove of the winding drum as a plurality of layers, thereby forming a bead core having a predetermined cross-section. The segments are then synchronously moved radially inwards, so as to reduce an outer diameter of the winding drum to a value smaller than the inner diameter of the bead core.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a tire bead (16) with a tape (10) composed of two parallel wires (12a, 12b) having a coating (28) of resilient elastomeric material and connected by a web (14). The tire bead (16) can be built by winding the tape (10) in side by side relation and in successive superposed layers of predetermined widths and with convolutions spanning superposed layers to provide the tire bead (16) of predetermined cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a sub forming an elastomeric extrusion into a bead apex filler and for applying the same to an annular bead (120) to form a bead/apex subassembly for use in the construction of a pneumatic tire. The apex filler (100) is formed from a triangular shaped extrusion (8) that is initially wrapped around a rotating mandrel (40) having a diameter of between about 50% to about 75% of the outer diameter of the annular bead to which the filler is attached. A helical former (50, 60) disposed around the mandrel causes the extrusion to move in a helical path as it traverses the mandrel. As the extrusion is removed from the mandrel, the extrusion is sufficiently uncoiled to relieve and compressive or tensile stresses. Then, the partially uncoiled extrusion is wrapped around the outer periphery of the bead to form a bead/apex filler subassembly (118) which is substantially without compressive or tensile stresses when mounted onto the tire being constructed.

Abstract: A former (1) on which elongate material, such as tyre bead wire, can be wound, comprising a plurality of grooved segments (20-23), each movable radially between inner and outer positions and which, when in their outer positions, together define the entire periphery of the former and provide at least one groove (30,31) in which the elongate material can be wound in a plurality of convolutions, the segments (20-23) being movable into their inner positions to facilitate the removal of the wound elongate material from the former, and moving means (5-13) for moving the movable segments between their inner and outer positions. The segments (20-23), when in their inner positions, overlap one another and, when in their outer positions, have little or no gaps therebetween so that the or each circumferential groove is continuous. The invention also relates to a former (1) having a gripping device and to a guide assembly (80) for guiding elongate material.

Abstract: The method of forming a bead 10 having a trailing end 12 of at least one bead wire 14 being anchored in the bead 10. The method including the steps of (i) securing a leading end of the bead wire 14; (ii) winding the bead wire 14 about a former 42 a plurality of revolutions to form the bead 10 into a desired cross-sectional shape; and (iii) cutting the bead wire 14 after a last revolution 28 about the former 42. The method being characterized by (iv) anchoring the trailing end 12 of the bead wire 14 by driving it into the bead 10. The driving of the trailing end 12 forces the trailing end 12 between at least two previously wound, abutting revolutions of the bead wire 14, at least temporarily separating the respective revolutions.

Abstract: Device for transporting material strips made of rubber or a rubber-like synthetic material and for depositing such material strips on an installation drum for pneumatic tires or its parts, in particular, for depositing narrow apex strips on a bellows drum, wherein the advancing material strips are cut to length from an endless material and positioned on a pattern table within the region of the device.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for single-wire bead provided with a winding device winding a wire onto a drum to form a formed bead, a thread winding device winding a thread to both ends of the wire on approximately same position in a circumferencial direction of the formed bead to form an intermediate bead, an apex fitting device fitting an apex to the intermediate bead to form a finished bead, and having a transfering device reciprocating between a first position and a second position. On the first position, the formed bead is taken out of the winding device and the intermediate bead is taken out of the thread winding device. And, on the second position, the formed bead is transferred to the thread winding device and the intermediate bead is transferred to the apex fitting device.

Abstract: A bead wire winding device is provided with a winding guide(s) (3) which is rotated with a molding support body (1), and which approachingly and retreatingly displaces with respect to each side portion of the molding support body (1). A bead wire (W) is supplied to a wire seating portion (11) of the winding guide (3) within a space defined by each winding guide (3) which is in an approached state with respect to a respective side surface of the molding support body (1), and in an enlarged diameter state. The winding guide (3) is constituted by a plurality of radially displacing members (9), which can be enlargingly and reducingly displaced in a radial direction, connected to a boss portion (7) through link members (8). Each of the radially displacing members (9) has a protrusion that forms a wire seating portion (11). A clamping claw (13) is provided on at least one of the radially displacing members (9), and is urged constantly in a closing direction and pinches a tip portion of the bead wire (W).

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: A method of producing at least two single wire tyre bead cores comprising drawing off at least two bead wires from separate coils (20) of wires, passing the wires through wire processing means (23) to coat the drawn-off wires with rubber material, passing the rubber-coated wires through first festooner apparatus (24) and subsequently winding the rubber-coated wires on a former (36) to create at least two single wire tyre bead cores on the former. Before the wires are passed through the first festooner apparatus (24) they are joined together in the wire processing means (23). The joined together rubber coated wires are split (at 30) after passing through the first festooner apparatus (24) and, after being split, are passed through second festooner apparatus (31) before being wound on the former (36). The invention also relates to apparatus for producing at least two single wire tyre bead cores.

Abstract: The assembly applies an apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of an annular bead ring. The apex filler applying assembly incorporates an apex filler applicator that is preferably operable in conjunction with a plurality of server mechanisms. One server mechanism is a conveyor that receives a bead ring. A locator operates in conjunction with the conveyor to position the annular bead ring precisely on the conveyor so that it may be engaged by a transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism removes the bead ring from the conveyor and mounts it on a chuck turret assembly. A chuck head in the chuck turret assembly engages the bead ring and accurately positions the bead ring relative to applying rollers in the apex filler applicator, in which position the apex filler--which has been directed from an extruder through an orienting mechanism, into an in-feed mechanism and severed to length by an in-flight guillotine cutter--is applied to the annular bead ring.

Abstract: Th leading end of a tire bead wire is gripped in the usual manner radially inwardly of the inside diameter of the bead as a forming drum is rotated to form a hoop-like bead of multiple convolutions of the wire. Upon release by the gripper members, the leading, initially gripped end of the wire moves into a void provided therefor on the inner diameter of the bead. A member is then rotated to bring the outer surface of an arm into physical engagement with the end of the wire at the inner diameter of the bead, urging it into tight engagement with the tacky surfaces of adjacent wire convolutions, thereby ensuring that the inner wire end does not become disengaged. Certain elements may be mounted in either of two positions to effectively double their useful life. The stitching operation may be performed while the forming drum is still rotating, i.e., as the bead is being formed, whereby operation of the invention does not add to the time required to fabricate the beads.

Abstract: To form a metal bead for a tire, two integral portions of a single length of wire are wound in opposite directions about an axis to form a bundle; and the free ends of the two portions are positioned substantially coaxially and adjacent to each other along the outer periphery of the bundle, and are connected integrally to each other to form a bead with a substantially constant section along its whole length.

Abstract: The assembly applies an apex filler to the outer circumferential surface of an annular bead ring. The apex filler applying assembly incorporates an apex filler applicator that is preferably operable in conjunction with a plurality of server mechanisms. One server mechanism is a conveyor that receives a bead ring. A locator operates in conjunction with the conveyor to position the annular bead ring precisely on the conveyor so that it may be engaged by a transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism removes the bead ring from the conveyor and mounts it on a chuck turret assembly. A chuck head in the chuck turret assembly engages the bead ring and accurately positions the bead ring relative to applying rollers in the apex filler applicator, in which position the apex filler--which has been directed from an extruder through an orienting mechanism, into an in-feed mechanism and severed to length by an in-flight guillotine cutter--is applied to the annular bead ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an assembly of an annular bead wire core and a surrounding ring of filler material attached thereto comprising at least one former, typically mounted on a turntable, and a number of stations. At a first station, rubber-coated bead wire is wound around the former to produce the annular bead wire core. At a second station, the ring of filler material is arranged over the previously wound rubber-coated wire core to form the bead core assembly and at a third station the bead core assembly is unloaded from the former. Conveniently the former(s) is(are) moved from station to station by indexing movement of the turntable.The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a tire bead core assembly.

Abstract: An insert is located in the forming groove of the tire bead former so that the first convolutions of the wire, which form the tire bead, are wound on the insert as the tire bead former is rotated, the insert having an upstanding side portion which defines a space in the inner surface of the formed tire bead which receives the gripped inner terminal end of the wire when the formed tire bead is remove from the tire bead former.

Abstract: A plurality of helically wound tire beads are made by winding them on a forming wheel at two predetermined tension levels. The tension levels are generated by a braking pulley and metallic particle brake in conjunction with a programmable logic controller. The first few turns of wires are made at a relatively low tension level. Subsequent turns are made at a higher tension level. The lower tension level contributes to longer life of the forming wheel assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to prevent the residual stress from remaining in an apex. An apparatus for automatically assembling a bead apex according to the present invention comprises: a means for joining both the longitudinal ends of a strip apex having a triangular section with one short side and two long sides and a specified length to each other, and for forming the strip apex in a cylindrical body such that the long sides become the inner and outer peripheral surfaces; a means for forming the cylindrical body into a disk-like shape such that the short side becomes the inner peripheral surface and the long sides become the axial end surfaces; and a means for joining the inner peripheral surface of the disk-like apex to the outer peripheral surface of a bead ring.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to prevent the residual stress from remaining in an apex. An apparatus for automatically assembling a bead apex according to the present invention comprises: a means for joining both the longitudinal ends of a strip apex having a triangular section with one short side and two long sides and a specified length to each other, and for forming the strip apex in a cylindrical body such that the long sides become the inner and outer peripheral surfaces; a means for forming the cylindrical body into a disk-like shape such that the short side becomes the inner peripheral surface and the long sides become the axial end surfaces; and a means for joining the inner peripheral surface of the disk-like apex to the outer peripheral surface of a bead ring.

Abstract: A plurality of helically wound tire beads are made by winding them on a forming wheel at two predetermined tension levels. The tension levels are generated by a braking pulley and magnetic particle brake in conjunction with a programmable logic controller. The first few turns of wires are made at a relatively low tension level. Subsequent turns are made at a higher tension level. The lower tension level contributes to longer life of the forming wheel assembly.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a bead assembly consisting of a combination of a ring shaped bead core, a bead filler and a flipper is manufactured by continuous automated steps, whereby productivity is greatly improved. The present invention is characterized by the steps of providing bead locking drums on the free end portions of a plurality of rotary arms arranged radially around the center of rotation thereof, and turning and stopping these rotary arms sequentially so as to set a bead core on a bead locking drum stopped in a first stopping position A, wind a bead filler around the bead core set on the bead locking drum stopped in a second stopping position B to form a bead assembly, and then take out the bead assembly formed on the bead locking drum stopped in a final stopping position D. A third stopping position C is set between the second and final stopping positions, and a flipper is pasted on the bead assembly stopped in this stopping position C.

Abstract: A winding device is provided that includes a base plate that is rotated by a rotary shaft and segments. With rotation of the base plate, a wire is wound on the outer circumference of the segments, which rotate integrally with the base plate, to form a bead ring. The winding device includes an manipulation shaft that is rotated by a handle, and conversion mechanisms that are provided between the manipulation shaft and each of the segments The conversion mechanisms transmit and convert rotation of the manipulation shaft to movement of each segment in the radial direction of the base plate.