METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A CORE OF PLIES, BELTS AND BEADS

摘要

A method and apparatus for forming a core of plies, belts and beads and for positioning the core in a mold for forming an elastomeric tire. The core is built up on a mandrel of the inner mold (30) that is formed from hard foam core segments positioned between top and bottom hub plates, around a center hub that includes flow passages formed therethrough and through the hub plates. Plies for building the core are formed as a woven sleeve (54) for passage along an expander cone (53) and over the mandrel whereon a separator (52) has been positioned, and a bead is passed over each sleeve end that receives a bead centering plate (57) fitted through the sleeve (54), capturing the bead and positioning it on the mandrel side and provides for folding the<SUP>,</SUP> plies end over the bead and up each mandrel side.