Tire press, loader and method

Abstract

A tire press, loader and method employs a stationary bottom mold section and a vertically movable top mold section which moves upwardly to open the press clearing the area therebetween for discharge of the cured tire and loading of the green or uncured tire. The press loads the green tire initially into the top mold section centering and holding the top bead of the green tire on the bead ring of the top mold section. To position the uncured tire for such top loading there is provided a loader which engages the uncured tire at the lower shoulder of the tread area. The loader includes pivotally movable chuck sector assemblies, each mounted on a ring. The ring can readily be centered with respect to the axis of the mold sections and each assembly can be moved concurrently uniformly radially of the ring to accommodate tires of different sizes. The loader elevates the uncured tire from in front of the press and then positions it within the open press at the proper elevation with respect to the top mold section after the cured tire has cleared the press. The top mold section includes a mechanical chuck the segments of which then extend to flower from cylindrical form to a conical form of increasing apex angle and then to a horizontal plate form in which they are locked. With the tire held with respect to the upper bead ring, the press then closes until the bottom bead of the uncured tire is in contact with the bottom bead ring, which is mounted on top of a vertically movable bladder well or bead lift can. The beads may be seated by fluid pressure or subsequent action of the bladder. During opening of the press the bladder after at least partial deflation and the bringing of the bladder clamp rings together overlies the bottom bead of the cured tire. This ensures that the tire properly remains on the bottom bead ring during stripping from the upper mold half and then the lower mold half, and as the bladder is drawn into the bladder well or bead lift can.