Method and apparatus for accurately positioning a bead bundle

摘要

A bead bundle positioning mechanism is provided to accurately locate one axial surface of each bead bundle prior to radial expansion of the tire carcass. Each bundle (62) is held by a plurality of circumferentially spaced clamping mechanisms (10) each of which has a pair of clamping elements (40,48) respectively engaging the axially inner (68) and axially outer (72) surfaces of the bead bundle (62). The axially inner surface (68) of each bead bundle (62) is located by respective clamp members (40,48) which are adapted to cooperate with a tire building machine to provide a predetermined axial distance between the bead bundles during tire assembly while also maintaining the inner axial surfaces in parallel planes which are normal to the longitudinal axis (15) of the tire building drum (74). The inner and outer clamping elements (40,48) are actuated by independent fluid motors (34,36). The clamping force exerted by the axially inner clamping element (40) is greater than the clamping force exerted by the axially outer clamping element (48), to insure that the axially inner surface (68) of the bead bundle (62) is the referenced positioning surface. The inner clamping element (40) interacts with a stop member (42) to establish a predetermined position for the axially inner surface (68) of the bead bundle (62).