Tire manufacturing apparatus and tire manufacturing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9427925-B2
Application number	US-201013702452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2010
Priority date	Jun 10, 2010
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A tire manufacturing apparatus and a tire manufacturing method capable of efficiently manufacturing quality tire by uniformly expanding the diameter of an annular tread and mounting the tread on a base tire without axial deviation. The tire manufacturing apparatus for mounting an annular tread on the outer periphery of a base tire includes a drum for securing a base tire, a plurality of holding means each having a holding surface for holding the outer periphery of the annular tread, a moving means for moving the holding means along the central axis of the base tire, a sealing means for sealing the opening on one side of the annular tread, and an air supplying means for supplying air into a space surrounded by the annular tread and the sealing means.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tire manufacturing apparatus for mounting an annular tread on the outer periphery of a base tire, the apparatus comprising:
a drum onto which the base tire is held;
a holder comprising holding surfaces configured to contact the outer periphery of the annular tread;
a mover configured to move the holder along a central axis of the base tire;
a sealer comprising an annular sealing member configured to contact an outer peripheral surface of the annular tread and seal a first opening on one side of the annular tread, wherein a pointed edge of the sealing member is configured to contact the outer peripheral surface of the annular tread on a sealer side thereof; and
an air supplier configured to supply air into a space surrounded by the annular tread and the sealer, thereby expanding a diameter of a second opening on a side opposite the one side of the annular tread, wherein a gap is formed between the base tire and the annular tread through which air flows out.

2. A tire manufacturing method for mounting an annular tread on the outer periphery of a base tire, comprising:
placing the outer periphery of the annular tread on a plurality of holders;
sealing a first opening on one side of the annular tread with a sealer, the sealer comprising an annular sealing member contacting an outer peripheral surface of the annular tread and sealing the first opening on the one side of the annular tread, wherein a pointed edge of the sealing member contacts the outer peripheral surface of the annular tread on a sealer side thereof;
bringing a second opening edge of the annular tread in contact with the base tire, the second opening opposite the one side;
supplying air into a space bounded by the base tire, the annular tread, and the sealer, such that a diameter of the second opening is expanded by pushing of air; and
placing the annular tread, with air having been supplied into the space, on a predetermined position of the outer periphery of the base tire.

Assignees

• Araki Yusuke
• Bridgestone Corp

Inventors

• Araki Yusuke

Classifications

• B29D30/2607 Primary

  Devices for transferring annular tyre components during the building-up stage, e.g. from the first stage to the second stage building drum · CPC title

• B29D2030/585

  Radially expanding annular treads to fit it over carcasses · CPC title

• B29D30/58

  Applying bands of rubber treads, i.e. applying camel backs · CPC title

• B29D2030/523

  Ring-shaped treads · CPC title

• B29D30/08 Primary

  Building tyres · CPC title