Patent ID: 8505605

Claim:
In a transfer ring for supporting a belt and tread package in position about a tire carcass during a tire construction process as the tire carcass is inflated within the interior of the belt and tread package wherein the transfer ring includes a plurality of shoes positionable about the belt and tread package and which are movable radially inwardly and outwardly relative to the belt and tread package for purposes of grasping and releasing the outer circumference of the belt and tread package, the improvement comprising: means for moving the shoes radially inwardly to a radial position about the outer circumference of a belt and tread package positioned within the transfer ring so that when in the radial position, the outer circumference of the belt and tread package is biased radially inwardly through by the shoes so that in the event that the belt and tread package contracts in diameter following the movement of the shoes into the radial position, the shoes are moved radially inwardly of the belt and tread package to maintain a substantially uniform grasping force about the belt and tread package; and means for preventing the shoes from moving radially outwardly of the radial position when a tire carcass is inflated within the interior of the belt and tread package grasped by the shoes to thereby prevent the diameter of the belt and tread package from enlarging beyond a desired diameter; wherein the means for preventing includes means defining a braking surface and a body associated with the means for moving which is movable relative to the braking surface between a scotched condition at which the body is in engagement with the braking surface for preventing the movement of the shoes radially outwardly of the radial position yet permitting the movement of the shoes radially inwardly of the radial position and a condition of release at which the body is out of engagement with the braking surface so that the shoes are permitted to move radially inwardly or outwardly and the movement of the body between the scotched condition and the condition of release is coordinated with the movement of the shoes so that when the shoes are in the radial position, the body is in the scotched condition and when the shoes are disposed inwardly of the radial position, the body is in the condition of release; and wherein each of the body and the braking surface defines a series of teeth which are movable into and out of meshed relationship with the series of teeth of the other of the braking surface and the body as the body is moved into and out of its scotched condition.