Including Means Placing Preform In Mold Or Removing Product From Mold Patents (Class 425/38)
  • Patent number: 12168988
    Abstract: A movement apparatus for industrial automation, in particular for handling a workpiece, including: a fluidic actuator to which a pressurised fluid can be applied, with a actuator element, and a pressurised fluid provision device which is designed to apply the pressurised fluid to the fluidic actuator according to a control signal, in order to move the actuator element into a predefined position. The pressurised fluid provision device is designed to, whilst the actuator element is in movement to the predefined position, successively change a pressure of the pressurised fluid and/or a throttle opening which is used for providing the pressurised fluid, according to a predefined value course, in order to adapt the movement of the actuator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Festo SE &Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Lang, Hannes Weber
  • Patent number: 12128643
    Abstract: A method having the following steps is proposed: a) placing a green tire (20) to be vulcanized in a vulcanization mold, b) evaluating the temperature progression from the temperature sensor disposed in the cavity of the inner heater, wherein the energy input is adjusted both via the duration of the idle time and via the starting temperature, c) calculating an adjustment in the duration for the steam phase (24) of the inner heater when the idle time varies from a defined threshold, d) introducing steam into the inner heater of the vulcanization press and performing the steam phase (24, 25) for the calculated duration, wherein the adjustment of the duration for the steam phase (24, 25) is intended to ensure an optimal input of thermal energy for the vulcanization of the green tire (20), e) measuring the actual temperature progression with the temperature sensor (16) in the inner heater, f) comparing the actual temperature progression (27) with a target temperature progression (26) for a particular vehicle tire
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Fricke, Heiko Hesse, Lars Kielhorn, Milos Kovac
  • Patent number: 11987953
    Abstract: Described is an access ladder for a vehicle, comprising two or more steps (1, 2, 3, 4), vertically superposed on each other, each of which comprises a main surface (10, 20, 30, 40). The projection on a horizontal plane of the main surface of each step (1, 2, 3, 4) protrudes at least partly from the projection on a horizontal plane of the main surface of a step above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: MANITOU ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Marco Iotti
  • Patent number: 11904563
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for control of pressure in a tire curing press bladder. The present invention learns from a previous duty cycle by saving the data from those duty cycles. The data is analyzed, and program outputs are optimized for execution of the subsequent cycle. The pressure in the tire bladder is more accurately controlled to achieve desired set point values and significantly reduce overshoot and undershoot conditions. The system may be implemented with an appropriately programmed programmable logic controller (PLC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventors: Teddy Lee Gore, Edgar Pearson Brazelton
  • Patent number: 11370188
    Abstract: A vulcanised bicycle tyre (2) is retained by exerting a thrust action on the radially inner surface of the tyre directed radially away from the geometric axis of rotation thereof (X). An unloading device (12) provided with at least one frame (18) and at least one support member (19) of the tyre (2) is positioned with respect to the tyre (2) by aligning it with the geometric axis of rotation (X) of the tyre. The support member (19) is handled with respect to the frame (18) towards an operating position in which it is close to the radially outer surface (2b) of the tyre (2). Finally, the radial thrust action on the radially inner surface (2a) of the tyre (2) is interrupted for releasing said tyre (2) with the radially outer surface (2b) thereof on a contact surface (20) of the support member (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Lupo Conti, Bruno Lodi, Gian Luigi Bosio
  • Patent number: 11279175
    Abstract: A post-cure inflation machine for processing a tire may include a tire holder shaft. The tire holder shaft may include a chuck to secure the tire to the tire holder shaft. A hollow passage may be defined in the tire holder shaft. A spray nozzle may be connected to a spray shaft that is telescopically disposed in the hollow passage of the tire holder shaft. The spray nozzle may extend to spray an air barrier material onto the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph D. Deering
  • Patent number: 11007734
    Abstract: Methods for controlling curing apparatuses for tyre production, wherein the curing apparatuses are adapted to work on green tyres to obtain corresponding finished tyres, by acquiring, through a processing unit, initial parameters describing at least one of the shape and dimensions of the finished tyres; computing, through the processing unit, as a function of the initial parameters, first parameters describing the green tyres, the first parameters having at least one parameter representative of an axial height of the green tyres; acquiring, through the processing unit, second parameters describing the curing apparatuses, said second parameters having one or more parameters representative of dimensions of the curing apparatuses; computing, through the processing unit, third parameters as a function of the first parameters and the second parameters, the third parameters having one or more parameters representative of positions taken by movable members included in the curing apparatuses; generating, through the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ivan Gildo Boscaino, Marco Cantu', Stefano Sangiovanni, Giuseppe Morrone
  • Patent number: 9757913
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for correcting the shape of a green tire configured so that, even if a side wall portion (S) is subjected to local crushing deformation during its temporary storage, such deformation is effectively corrected to easily improve the tire uniformity. A pressurized fluid is applied to an inner chamber of a green tire (G) having bead portions (B) held coaxially by upper and lower holders (56, 89), for setting the tread portion (T) of the green tire (G) coaxially to the bead portions (B). The side wall portions (S) is deformed outward and applied with an internal tension in the meridian direction, for correcting the shape of the green tire (G). Crushing deformation on the side wall portion (S) is thereby effectively recovered and corrected before vulcanization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Ichinose
  • Patent number: 9233583
    Abstract: A tire support apparatus includes a support plate for receiving a tire includes an optional inflatable inner tube for insertion into the tire cavity, and an upper plate having a hole for receiving a support member, the upper plate further includes a ring having an inner lip that seats against the bead region of the tire and a radially outer surface that seats against the lower sidewall region of the tire T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsiung Lin, Michael Joseph Durr, Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala, Dale Roy Norton
  • Patent number: 9156219
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizer and tire vulcanizing system improving production efficiency by shortening time for loading and unloading of tires are provided. They include: a lower mold supporting part; an upper mold supporting part; a moving device moving the upper mold supporting part horizontally; an elevator device moving the upper mold vertically; a lift device pushing up a vulcanized tire held in the lower mold; and a tire supporting part supported by the upper mold supporting part. The tire supporting part moves between a supporting position and a retreated position. The bottom side of the vulcanized tire is supported by the tire supporting part at a peripheral side closer to the outside than a pushed-up position in the supporting position. The retreated position is positioned at a peripheral side closer to the outside than the vulcanized tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Fukuda, Joji Yusa
  • Patent number: 8936286
    Abstract: Device for handling (102) a green tire (24), comprises a supporting structure and at least one hook (106) mounted to rotate with respect to the supporting structure between a gripping position and a disengaged position, about a horizontal axis (18) running outside of the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche Techniques S.A.
    Inventor: Christophe Masclaux
  • Patent number: 8876508
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a pneumatic tyre has a building unit designed to form a green tyre having a pair of beads. Each of the pair of beads is defined along a respective inner circumferential edge of the green tyre. The apparatus further includes bead moulding devices to tighten each bead between two axially opposite clamping surfaces. A moulding unit of the green tyre has a moulding cavity with an inner wall substantially conforming in shape to an outer surface of a moulded tyre. The apparatus further includes devices for vulcanising the green tyre, and actuating devices for transferring the green tyre together with the bead moulding devices into the moulding cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianni Mancini
  • Patent number: 8821782
    Abstract: A rim 58, 83 of a post cure inflator 60 can be changed in an easy and safety manner, while the amount of energy consumption is reduced. A inflator body 61 having the lower rim 58 can be located at a lower position, and the upper rim 83 can be moved downward to a lower position. Thus, the lower rim 58 and the upper rim 83 can be changed at the lower position in response to the change of the type of the tire to be manufactured, whereby the changing operation is made easy and safety. Further, the upper rim 83 moves upward. With this configuration, a vulcanized tire T having a heavy weight only moves in a front and rear direction while being supported by the inflator 61(lower rim 58), whereby the amount of energy consumption can be reduced easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Ichinose
  • Patent number: 8807976
    Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for rotation of the bead area of a green tire so that the bead areas are parallel and concentric in order to remove potential anomalies that can occur to a green tire bead portion during pre-cure handling, storing or during shaping in the tire press. The tire apparatus orients the beads of the green tire parallel and square to one another and also rotates the bead area of the tire into the proper configuration prior to cure. The bead portions of the tire maintain the parallel position as the tire is loaded into a tire mold. Also disclosed is a tire loader that has a bead support ring and paddles to grip the outer crown portion of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Andres Ignacio Delgado, Eugene Andrew Bator
  • Patent number: 8696970
    Abstract: Along a building line, a green tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support having an outer surface substantially conforming in shape to an inner surface of the green tyre. The green tyre is then transferred to a bead moulding and prevulcanisation station where each bead of the tyre is moulded by tightening it between a surface portion of the toroidal support and an annular clamping surface carried by a removable tightening flange. The tightened beads are prevulcanised through a heat supply by means of electric resistors integrated into the tightening flanges. The tyre with the prevulcanised and tightened beads is transferred into a moulding cavity having an inner wall of a shape substantially conforming to that of the outer surface of the moulded tyre, to carry out moulding of the tyre and complete vulcanisation of same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianni Mancini
  • Patent number: 8518317
    Abstract: A green tire is built on a forming drum and then transferred to a bead molding and pre-vulcanization station where each bead of the tire is molded by tightening it between two axially opposite clamping surfaces respectively carried by an axially external annular locating element and an axially internal annular locating element consisting of radially expandable circumferential sectors. The tightened beads can be pre-vulcanized through heat supply by means of electric resistors integrated into the axially external annular locating elements. The tire with the tightened and possibly pre-vulcanized beads is transferred to a molding cavity having an inner wall substantially conforming to the shape of an outer surface of the molded tire to carry out molding and complete vulcanization of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianni Mancini
  • Patent number: 8431062
    Abstract: A tire unloading apparatus for separating a cured tire from a toroidally shaped segmented core body configured to carry the cured tire includes a plurality of tire engaging paddle mechanisms positioned in a spaced apart circular array defining a cured tire receiving central opening, the cured tire mounted to a core body. The paddle mechanisms operatively move between a radially outward tire release position and a radially inward tire gripping position. The tire unloading apparatus further includes a core segment manipulating apparatus operative to move individual core segments from a radially outward tire supporting core body position to a radially inward segment removal position. A plurality of segment support arms forming a circular array below the tire receiving opening are in an operative location to support respective core body segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne, Mary Beth Dombrosky
  • Patent number: 8366426
    Abstract: A combination loader and post cure tire inflator for use with a tire press is provided. A post cure inflator for inflating and curing vulcanized tires includes a plurality of inflator stations with each inflator station including a pair of axially aligned, vertically separable tire inflating chuck rings. A loading apparatus includes a loading arm movable along a linear track relative to the plurality of inflator stations to load and unload each vulcanized tire in a selected one of the plurality of inflator stations without rotating the vulcanized tires in a turnover operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: McNeil & NRM, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Pal Singh, Daniel Zaklanovich, William Forte Franchim
  • Patent number: 8337187
    Abstract: A tire holding mechanism includes a first support body, a second support body and a moving device. The first support body is provided with a substantially annular first flange which supports a first bead at one side of the tire, a lock shaft having a lock mechanism and which protrudes in an axial direction of the first flange to allow the first flange to move in the axial direction, and a stopper which restrains the first flange at the proximal end of the lock shaft. The second support body is provided with a substantially annular second flange which supports a second bead of the tire, and an engagement portion with which the lock mechanism is removably engaged. The moving device moves the first support body between a tire holding position and a tire transferring position. The lock mechanism is engaged with the engagement portion at the tire holding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Hineno, Toshifumi Murakami
  • Patent number: 8029256
    Abstract: A laterally independently operated column-equipped vulcanizer comprises two (right and left) die opening and closing devices (12A, 12B) disposed to be operable independently of each other, the die opening and closing devices having upper die mounting members (17a, 17b) corresponding to lower die mounting members (13a, 13b) installed on a base plate (11), the upper die mounting members being supported in an ascendable and descendable manner on right and left paired columns (18a, 18b) erected on the base plate. The right and left paired columns throughout the two die opening and closing devices are arranged in V-configuration as viewed in plan. Loaders (22a, 22b) capable of carrying green tires GT into the die opening and closing devices are disposed on the side of the columns narrowly spaced from each other in the lateral direction among the columns arranged in V-configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
    Inventors: Katsuhide Aikawa, Hideki Fukuda, Hideaki Katayama
  • Patent number: 8025494
    Abstract: A tire vulcanization apparatus includes an upper container moving in a tire vulcanization position and a lower container moving between the tire vulcanization position and a shaping position, the lower container is provided with a bladder expanded/shrunk by supplying/discharging pressurized fluid from a fluid supplying apparatus, in the shaping position, a green tire is mounted on the lower container, and shaped by supplying pressurized fluid, and in the tire vulcanization position, the shaped green tire is held between the upper and lower containers and is vulcanized by supplying pressurized fluid to the bladder, a flow channel for supplying/discharging pressurized fluid from the fluid supplying apparatus to the bladder is comprised of a downstream side movable tube connected to the bladder and moving accompanied with the lower container, an upstream side fixed tube connected to the fluid supplying apparatus, and a tube for shaping made of a flexible tube to which the fluid supplying apparatus and the bladde
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ichimaru-Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironobu Ichimaru
  • Patent number: 7959424
    Abstract: A curing mold for a tire. The curing mold is in the form of a hollow cylinder, and has two parallel opposite sidewalls defining the base walls of the curing mold and having respective inner retaining surfaces; and a number of lateral sectors arranged successively to define the cylindrical lateral wall of the curing mold. Each sidewall has at least one seat formed through the inner retaining surface, at the outer edge of the inner retaining surface; a movable member housed inside the seat and movable between an extracted position, in which the movable member projects at least partly from the seat, and a withdrawn position, in which the movable member is housed completely inside the seat; and at least one elastic push member for pushing the movable member out of the seat into the extracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Roberto Dipilato
  • Publication number: 20110117229
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing the upper and lower portions of two-part tire molds with an expansible opening to provide clearance for the insertion of green tires, in particular large green tires of the sort used on industrial or off-road vehicles. The tire mold according to the present invention provides a segmented tire mold wherein a plurality of circumferentially arranged segments that contribute to the shaping of the circumferential tread portion of a tire being molded are able to move in such a way as to include a radial and axial component of motion that provides a larger diameter for each of the two mold portions during the green tire loading operation. Thus the internal circumferential region of the top portion and of the bottom portion is able to expand in diametrical dimension when the two part tire mold is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Todd Andrew Bachochin
  • Patent number: 7910043
    Abstract: A tire building and cure station coupling apparatus and method for molding a green tire into a finished tire having a tread pattern. The green tire is constructed on a toroidally shaped core formed by a plurality of core segments each having an outer surface portion which together define a toroidal outer surface surrounding a central axis. The core is adapted to hold a green tire on said toroidal outer surface. A first spindle section is configured to be placed on a first side of the core along the central axis and a second spindle section is configured to be placed on a second side of the core along the central axis and opposite to the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne
  • Patent number: 7896632
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for disassembling a toroidally shaped core is provided. The core is configured to carry a cured tire and includes multiple core segments extending generally radially from a central axis. The apparatus includes a base; one or more segment positioning devices connected for movement relative to the base and operative to move one or more core segments from an assembled core position next to an adjacent core segment around the central axis to a radially inward position; and one or more segment removal devices operatively connected for engaging the one core segment at the radially inward position and removing the one segment from the radially inward position to a remote position external to the core. The segment removal device operatively moves in three axes of motion to relocate the one segment from the remote position to a storage position and deposit the core segment at the storage station in a retrieval-ready orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne, Mary Beth Dombrosky
  • Patent number: 7891962
    Abstract: A tire building core manipulating apparatus for a segmented tire building core is provided, the core including a plurality of core segments extending generally radially from a central axis. The manipulating apparatus includes a support frame; a core latching mechanism mounted to the support frame for operatively engaging a mating mechanism on the core whereby suspending the tire building core in a preferred axial orientation and raises and lowers the core to engage one or more stations in a tire curing line. A transport mechanism relocates the support frame with the tire building core in the preferred axial orientation between a plurality of stations in the tire curing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne, Mary Beth Dombrosky
  • Patent number: 7874822
    Abstract: A core segment manipulating apparatus and method is provided for relocating core segments forming a toroidally shaped core body configured to carry a cured tire. The apparatus includes multiple core key segment engaging mechanisms and core second segment engagement mechanisms arranged in a spaced apart circular array adjacent to respective key segments and second segments of the core body. The key segment and second segment engaging mechanisms operate to individually move respective key segments and second segments from a radially outward core body position to a radially inward segment removal position. The key segment and second segment engaging mechanisms transfer a respective segment to a segment removal device at the segment removal position and return radially outward to a segment-receiving location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne, Mary Beth Dombrosky
  • Patent number: 7854603
    Abstract: A station apparatus method within a tire curing line is provided for assembling and disassembling a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a cured tire. The core includes a plurality of core segments assembling to form a core body and extending generally radially from a central core axis within a core central axial passage. The core further includes first and second locking spindle sections connecting to opposite sides of the core body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne, Mary Beth Dombrosky
  • Patent number: 7841634
    Abstract: A loader basket for gripping, transporting, and releasing tires, including a fixed ring, a rotating ring operatively interrelated with the fixed ring, a plurality of shoe arms pivotally attached to the fixed ring, shoe assemblies pivotally mounted on each of the shoe arms, alignment links pivotally mounted on the fixed ring and pivotally attached to each of the shoe assemblies, shoe arm actuating rods pivotally attached to each of the shoe arms and the rotating ring for pivoting the shoe arms about the fixed rings while maintaining the shoe assemblies in concentric relation during movement between collapsed and expanded positions, and an actuator for selectively moving the rotating ring relative to the fixed ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: McNeil & NRM, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Pal Singh, Sivaram Addanki Krishnayya, William Forte Franchim
  • Publication number: 20100278950
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizer which can make a bladder supply pressurized fluid at a tire vulcanization position and a shaping position, disconnects the channel during movement of a lower container, while keeping the internal pressure of the bladder. Under a state where the lower container (2) moved to the shaping position N, a downstream side moving tube (5) is connected to a second fixed tube (62) through a second joint (72), and pressurized fluid is supplied from a fluid supply unit (42) to the bladder (3) so that a green tire can be shaped. Under a state where the lower container is moved to the tire vulcanization position M, the downstream side moving tube (5) is connected to a first fixed tube (61) through a first joint (71), and high temperature, high pressure pressurized fluid is supplied from the fluid supply unit to the bladder so that a green tire can be vulcanized and formed. The first joint and the second joint are in a joint separated state, and the channel is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Hironobu Ichimaru
  • Patent number: 7819647
    Abstract: A bead ring locking mechanism restricts the relative turning of a tubular lifter moved upward or downward on the outside of a central mechanism outer casing with respect to an annular bead ring attached to the outer circumference of the lifter to form a part of a die. The locking mechanism includes a stopper member installed at the bead ring and attached so as to move back and forth with respect to the lifter, and an actuating member which moves the stopper member from the bead ring to the lifter. A recessed portion is formed at the lifter, a raised portion is formed at the stopper member, and the raised portion is fitted into the recessed portion by pressing the stopper member to the lifter using the actuating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tomoto
  • Patent number: 7802975
    Abstract: Loading apparatus and method for positioning a green tire and core assembly into a toroidally shaped mold includes a stand assembly having a support surface operatively receiving a first mold sidewall forming segment thereon, the surface having a central opening. A spindle engagement assembly projects upwardly through the support surface central opening and includes a coupling mechanism at a forward end operatively mating with a first spindle end of a tire building core. The coupling mechanism operatively suspends a sidewall of a green tire on the tire building core a distance above a first mold sidewall forming segment positioned on the stand support surface. The spindle engagement assembly moves axially between a raised position and a lowered position and, in the lowered position operatively places the sidewall surface of the green tire on the first mold sidewall forming segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: William Dudley Currie, Dennis Alan Lundell, David Alan Henthorne
  • Patent number: 7744359
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus 1 has a carrying-in position P1 into which a green tire TA is carried in from an original position P0, a vulcanizing position P2 at which the green tire TA is vulcanized, and a pressure cooling position P3 at which the vulcanized tire TA is pressure-cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Himeno, Youjirou Miki, Tadayoshi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20100159048
    Abstract: A loader basket for gripping, transporting, and releasing tires, including a fixed ring, a rotating ring operatively interrelated with the fixed ring, a plurality of shoe arms pivotally attached to the fixed ring, shoe assemblies pivotally mounted on each of the shoe arms, alignment links pivotally mounted on the fixed ring and pivotally attached to each of the shoe assemblies, shoe arm actuating rods pivotally attached to each of the shoe arms and the rotating ring for pivoting the shoe arms about the fixed rings while maintaining the shoe assemblies in concentric relation during movement between collapsed and expanded positions, and an actuator for selectively moving the rotating ring relative to the fixed ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Anand Pal Singh, Sivaram Addanki Krishnayya, William Forte Franchim
  • Patent number: 7740788
    Abstract: The shapes of the upper tire bead Bu and the lower tire bead Bl of a green tire G and the axial distance between the tire beads Bu and Bl are corrected in a short work time. The green tire G is placed in horizontal attitude on a green tire support table 3 provided with a lower tire bead correcting unit 10. Radially movable pressing members 13 included in the lower tire bead correcting unit 10 are engaged with the inner side of the lower tire bead Bl of the green tire G and stoppers 29 of the upper tire bead correcting unit 20 are engaged with the inner side of the upper tire bead Bu of the green tire G placed on the green tire support table 3. The pressing members 13 of the lower tire bead correcting unit 10 are moved radially outward to shape the lower tire bead Bl into a completely round shape of a predetermined diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 7740462
    Abstract: The invention provides a tire vulcanizer having a vulcanizer body and a shaping unit and configured to be able to accurately mount a green tire in the shaping unit and shape it accurately when shaping the green tire in the shaping unit. As a result, the green tire can be placed and set accurately in a lower container of the vulcanizer body when the shaping unit is placed in a container of the vulcanizer body. In order to mount the green tire in the shaping unit (B) outside the vulcanizer body, the tire vulcanizer includes outside the vulcanizer body (A) a tire mounting device (D) which mounts the green tire in the shaping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Ichimaru Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironobu Ichimaru
  • Publication number: 20090263524
    Abstract: The invention provides a tire vulcanizer having a vulcanizer body and a shaping unit and configured to be able to accurately mount a green tire in the shaping unit and shape it accurately when shaping the green tire in the shaping unit. As a result, the green tire can be placed and set accurately in a lower container of the vulcanizer body when the shaping unit is placed in a container of the vulcanizer body. In order to mount the green tire in the shaping unit (B) outside the vulcanizer body, the tire vulcanizer includes outside the vulcanizer body (A) a tire mounting device (D) which mounts the green tire in the shaping unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: ICHIMARU GIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironobu Ichimaru
  • Publication number: 20090211695
    Abstract: A green tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to an inner conformation of the tyre. The built tyre is removed from the rigid toroidal support and engaged on an expandable toroidal support which includes a bladder. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Fiorenzo Mariani, Pierangelo Misani, Marco Cantu
  • Patent number: 7578897
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Shoju Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090162462
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizer is provided in which upper and lower clamp rings can be positioned at a shaping position easily and smoothly with a simple engagement structure. The tier vulcanizer with a vulcanizer body (A) and a shaping unit (B) is configured that the upper and lower clamp rings (5, 6) are connected by an extendable shaft (5a) having an inner shaft (51) and an outer tubular shaft (61) so that the inner shaft is slidably fitted into an inside of the outer tubular shaft. A latch member (53) on the inner shaft is engaged with a step portion (63) on an inner surface of the outer tubular shaft, thereby positioning the upper and lower clamp rings at the shaping position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Hironobu Ichimaru
  • Publication number: 20090123585
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus 1 has a carrying-in position P1 into which a green tire TA is carried in from an original position P0, a vulcanizing position P2 at which the green tire TA is vulcanized, and a pressure cooling position P3 at which the vulcanized tire TA is pressure-cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Shinya Himeno, Youjirou Miki, Tadayoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7481638
    Abstract: A method may include the steps of: (a) providing a tire mold; (b) providing an extruder operatively connected to a head with a die assembly; (c) inserting at least a first compound into the first extruder; (d) forming an extrudate from the die assembly; (e) applying the extrudate directly from the die assembly into the tire mold to form a tire tread component; and, (f) controlling movement of the tire mold to correspond to the extrudate delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Gary Robert Burg
  • Publication number: 20090008024
    Abstract: A green tyre disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould. The mould is closed through axial approaching of a pair of half shells acting against the sidewalls and the tread band of the tyre. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tyre tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tyre against the toroidal support. Subsequently the sectors are centripetally approached to cause penetration of forming ridges movable in through slits into the tread band, concurrently with a step of full moulding and vulcanisation of the tyre carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tyre itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Maurizio Marchini, Fiorenzo Mariani, Pierangelo Misani
  • Publication number: 20080305195
    Abstract: A die rib for a tire mold defines the inlets to vent passages of the mold through the sides of the die ribs so that the vent passages do not open through the contour surface of the mold. In one exemplary configuration, the invention provides a die rib having a vent inlet disposed along at least one side of the die rib. The vent inlet may be disposed along up to 80 percent of the length of the die rib with at least one foot disposed against the contour surface of the tire mold section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Richard E. Coleman
  • Patent number: 7442335
    Abstract: A tire press has an upper mold fixedly attached to a top plate. A bottom mold is fixedly attached to a bottom plate. The tire press has a plurality of guide posts adapted to maintain proper alignment of the upper mold and the lower mold as the tire press opens and closes. A plurality of lock rods, which are independent of the guide posts, are positioned about the tire press. Each of the lock rods has a first end and a second end. The lock rods may have an adjustment mechanism positioned on the first end of the lock rods to adjust the various mold heights. Locking means are a part of the tire press, which are adapted to selectively engage the second end of the lock rods. Further, each of the lock rods has cylinder mechanism operatively connected to the locking means. The cylinder mechanism is adapted to force the locking means to the surface of the lock rods. The cylinder mechanism is a hydraulic cylinder having the piston disposed within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Inventor: John R. Cole
  • Patent number: 7435068
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire production system comprises production lines each including a green tire building station for assembling unvulcanized members of pneumatic tires into green tires. The green tires are vulcanized at a vulcanizing station which includes at least one vulcanizing unit equipped with a plurality of vulcanizing molds. The number of the vulcanizing mold is determined so as to satisfy the vulcanizing capacity which is substantially equivalent to the number of green tires formed at the building station within a predetermined unit time. The system serves to minimize the intermediate stock amount of green tires due to minimized changeover between different types of tires to be alternately produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Oku, Keishi Mineo, Shigeru Kaneko, Shigeru Miyazaki, Taizo Ito, Akio Obayashi
  • Patent number: 7281916
    Abstract: A vulcanizing system including a tire transferring apparatus or a mold opening/closing station arranged equidistantly to a plurality of vulcanizing stations, thereby achieving a reduced equipment cost and a reduced installation space with a higher manufacturing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Taizo Ito, Akio Obayashi, Masayuki Ichinose, Toshiyuki Horie
  • Patent number: 7217111
    Abstract: The invention provides a tire vulcanizing apparatus which can reduce time loss and efficiently vulcanize and mold employing a tire loading apparatus for positively loading the green tire, and forming a moving unit in which the tire loading apparatus and the lower mold are integrally connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Ichimaru Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironobu Ichimaru
  • Patent number: 7195047
    Abstract: A module for manufacturing a cured tire from a plurality of tire components is disclosed. The module has a plurality of component appliers located at spaced locations along a predetermined path, and a mobile tire building trolley for movement along the predetermined path and two detachable tire building drums for mounting on the movable trolley. A tire curing station has one tire mold for curing the assembled tire components while mounted on one of the detachable tire building drums. The tire is cured as the other detachable tire building drum on the mobile tire building trolley is having tire components applied. One or more of the plurality of component appliers includes a means for forming the tire component at the location of the applier. The applied components include a liner, a pair of bead cores, a ply, a pair of sidewalls, a pair of chafers, and one or more belt layers and a tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Sieverding, Jean-Claude Girard, William Dudley Currie, David Alan Henthorne, Dennis Alan Lundell
  • Patent number: 7172396
    Abstract: Two opposed coaxial discoidal elements (35, 37) are diametrically dilatable and are able to move independently of each other axially and pass axially into the tire (P) when the tire is positioned in the mold, in such a way as to dilate each of said discoidal elements (35, 37), for engaging a corresponding annular bead (P1, P2) of the tire and positioning it exactly against the edge of the respective pan (13, 15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Cima Impianti S.p.A.
    Inventors: Tiziano Galigani, Daniele Brogi, Massimo Capecchi