MANUFACTURE OF A TUBULAR ARTICLE

摘要

A method for the manufacture of a tubular article such as a component for deformation into the shape of a pneumatic tyre utilises a flexible carrier (15) for transfer and deformation of sheet material (9) to extend in a tubular form between the carrier and a former (25). The carrier (15) may extend around the former and support the sheet material between the former (25) and carrier (15) particularly if the former is of a type expansible to press the sheet material outward against the carrier. The axial ends (35) of the carrier (15) when in a tubular form around the former may be used axially to space and support a pair of tyre beads (36). The sheet material (9) may have an axial length sufficient for it to extend beyond each axial end of the carrier whereby it may be turned radially outward around the respective tyre beads.