GB1286327A - Tire curing presses - Google Patents

Abstract

1286327 Moulding tyres NRM CORP 13 Got 1969 50254/69 Heading B5A A tyre curing press with upper and lower mould sections 15, 12 has bull gear means to move the upper section vertically and laterally of the lower one, in which position a cured tyre T is discharged from the upper section and an uncured tyre carcass C is loaded by a loader 98, Fig. 3, on to a bladder assembly B upstanding from the lower section. The open end of the closed bladder is secured by a split ring to a spray ring 57 by means of which a curing medium, cooling water or vacuum may be introduced into the bladder; this ring is secured to a cylinder 65 supported on a vertically adjustable post 66. With the press closed and the ring 57 in its lowermost position the bladder rim is clamped between the ring and a bottom toe ring 56. The closed end of the bladder incorporates a moulded-in socket portion 71 supported by and connected to a correspondingly shaped member 70 at the top of a post 68 attached to a piston 67 operated pneumatically within the cylinder. A tyre ejection mechanism includes a pilot hose 51 which fits within the socket portion and is attached to a rod 50 extending through a cylinder 45 and depending from a piston and cylinder assembly 49 on the cylinder. The ejector mechanism is driven vertically by an ejector cylinder 42 to eject the cured tyre from the upper mould section following which the assembly 49 moves the nose 51 relative the cylinder to move chuck plate segments 54 radially inwardly relative an upper toe ring 47 whereby the cured tyre falls on to a discharge conveyer 122. The pilot hose is grooved to operate pivoted bell cranks 53 connected to the chuck segments. In the modification of Fig. 2 a guide tube 92 carrying the socket member 70 slides within a sleeve 84 and is urged upwardly by a spring 94 to extend the bladder, the upward stroke of the tube 92 being controlled by an adjustable stop nut 91 on a post 89. With the press in the open position of Fig. 3 the loader 98, mounted on a bracket 99 depending from the upper part of the press locates a fresh carcass C on the lower mould section. The loader includes a carriage 102 vertically movable between guides 100 on the opposite sides of the press, and includes a drive cylinder 105 on a support 104 which actuates tyre gripping fingers 108. A bladder restraining plate 114 is urged downwardly by a spring 116, and a pilot nose 115 engages within the socket portion of the bladder. Before retracting the carriage the bladder is inflated to grip the carcass. In a modified chuck arrangement for engaging the upper beads of tyres in the press, a number of chuck sector plates 126, Fig. 6, are pivoted to a housing 131 by pins 133 and are connected to a pilot nose 127 by links 137 whereby rotation of the nose in opposite directions produces radially inward and outward swinging movements about their pivots. Rotation of the nose is effected by a pair of pneumatic cylinders whose drive rods are connected to an arm extending diametrically from a rod carrying the nose.