| 摘要 |
A method of utilizing an adjustable height bladder securement mechanism to effect advantageous bladder movement during a loading and shaping process is disclosed. A tire press comprises a lower mold, an upper mold, and a center mechanism. The center mechanism has an upper clamping mechanism for securing the upper periphery of a bladder and a lower clamping mechanism for securing the lower periphery of the bladder. A center mechanism tube has a center rod positioned therein. A piston is disposed within the center mechanism tube. The piston provides reciprocating motion to the center rod. A position sensor mechanism is operatively associated with the center mechanism. The method comprises the steps of establishing a first baseline height by first applying a set force to the center rod of the bladder securement mechanism to determine the stretch of the bladder; repeatedly curing tires with said bladder up to a certain number of cures; establishing a successive baseline height; and, comparing the first and successive baseline heights and if the difference is less than a predetermined stretch height tolerance, continuing curing tires. If the difference between the first and successive baseline heights is outside of an acceptable stretch tolerance, the bladder must be corrected, either through replacement or by adjusting the height that the center rod reaches during the loading process.
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