Abstract: A charging device for a vulcanizing press has a cylinder disposed concentrically with a vulcanizing mold, a movable piston vertically movable through the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston, and a gas-tight cylindrical bladder of a flexible material held between the upper end of the piston rod and the top of the cylinder.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to retread molds adapted for manual, semi-automatic, or full automatic operation particularly in bag or bladder retreading operations, and includes the following novel features:A. bead aligner wheels with circular continuous uninterrupted sealing ribs for forming annular chambers in conjunction with an associated bladder which upon pressurization of the latter results in a partial vacuum in the chambers such that the bladder will be maintained as desired during opening and closing of the matrices as well as relative movement between the bead aligner wheels;B. bladder locating means on the bead aligner wheels for centering the bladder and projections on the bead aligner wheels for preventing bladder pinching;C. cooperative means on the exterior surface of the bladder and the bead aligner wheels for venting air from between the bladder and an associated tire to atmosphere;D.

Abstract: Discloses method of forming a belted radial tire from a cylindrical radial green tire band having biased corded belts which are adapted to pantograph and expand circumferentially as the tire band is shaped to be molded into a finished tire without "S-ing" of the radial cords of the carcass plies under the belts of the finished tire as may be caused by the pantograph action of the belts while the tire band is being expanded into finished shape. Involves lowering a belted radial green tire band of generally cylindrical shape to seat into a conventional tire molding press over the inflatable curing bladder, then applying inflation pressure into the curing bladder to a first pressure level while partially closing the press. The inflation pressure is continued to a second pressure level while continuing to close the press. The belts pantograph and circumferentially expand substantially completely through application of the second pressure until the tire band has reached a generally circular U-shape.

Abstract: The apparatus is so constructed that the manipulator thereof, successively positionable over a series of tire vulcanizing presses, has mounted directly thereon a plunger that can be lowered vertically to push the bladder into the well in the bottom mold section of the press and to spread radially the segments clamping the bead of a cured tire. The same manipulator supports the rod of a mechanism for removing cured tires, movable vertically upward in opposition to the plunger.Each bladder is provided at the center thereof with a ball valve closing off the hole for the plunger after the exit of the plunger therefrom, the latter being actuated by a rack-and-pinion transmission preventing rotation of the plunger.

Abstract: A center mechanism for a press for shaping and curing tires having a center post carrying an upper bladder clamp, a distensible bladder is secured to the upper bladder clamp and a lower bladder clamp such that a chamber for circulating curing medium is formed within the bladder, the center post moves relative to a lower bead ring for supporting the lower bead of an uncured tire, the lower bead ring being attached to the lower bladder clamp, and a cylinder mechanism positions the post such that the upper bladder clamp is opposite the upper bead of an uncured tire band when supported by a loading mechanism and when the press is closed about the uncured tire.

Abstract: This press comprises a frame structure, an unloading station on one side of said frame structure, a mold, a cross member extending over said frame structure and movable in relation thereto between a molding position in which the upper portion of the mold is vertically aligned with the lower portion of the mold, and an unloading position in which said upper mold portion is vertically aligned with said unloading station. The cross member is mounted in cantilever fashion at one end to a support having a vertical axis and is adapted to pivot about this vertical axis and slide along said support. The press is intended notably for vulcanizing tires and affords a considerable reduction in the mold loading and unloading time while being more reliable in operation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1.