Patent ID: 6564845
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B29D

Abstract:
A tire forming machine for forming at least a carcass from tire-forming materials, the machine comprising:a forming drum including a central drum portion arranged at an axially central location of the forming drum, and right and left drum portions which are respectively arranged on right and left sides of the central drum portion, wherein the right and left drum portions are movable in an axial direction of the forming drum for: contacting the central drum portion so as to cooperatively form a continuous surface while the tire-forming materials are wound around the forming drum to assemble a carcass, and opening the forming drum by moving to respective bead setting positions after the assembly of the carcass; at least one bead setter including a frame mounted for moving in the axial direction of the forming drum; a plurality of gripping mechanisms mounted to the frame of the bead setter for being arranged around the central drum portion, with each of the gripping mechanisms including a gripping member mounted for moving radially toward and away from a center of the central drum portion while the gripping mechanisms are arranged around the central drum portion, wherein the gripping members are circumferentially arranged at intervals, each of the gripping members has an end that is operative for gripping an axially central portion of the carcass while the carcass is upon the central drum portion, and each of the ends is shaped like a circular are at least generally conforming to a peripheral surface of the central drum portion, wherein for each of the gripping members, the end is mounted for pivoting about a pivot axis that extends transversely to the axial direction of the forming drum, so that the end can be pivoted about the pivot axis between inner and outer positions, with the end being closer to the central drum portion in the inner position than in the outer position; and an actuator operative for driving at least one of the gripping members radially toward the center of the central drum portion while the carcass is upon the central drum portion so that the carcass is pinched between the central drum portion and the end of the driven gripping member in a manner which restricts deformation of a central portion of the carcass during the opening of the forming drum.