A gripper, a gripper station and a method for gripping an annular tire component, wherein the gripper has a plurality of gripper members distributed in a circumferential direction about a gripper axis and movable with at least a vector component in a radial direction perpendicular to the gripper axis over a main range with a radially inner endpoint and a radially outer endpoint. The gripper further has a limiter for limiting the movement of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction to a subrange within the main range, wherein the subrange has an adjustable subrange position relative to the main range. The gripper has a synchronization member for synchronizing movements of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction, wherein the synchronization member defines the main range, and wherein the limiter is arranged for limiting the synchronization member to define the subrange.

Disclosed is a bead separator, a bead supply station and a method for separating a single bead from a bead supply unit holding a plurality of beads, wherein the bead separator has a first gripper for separating the single bead and a first gripper base for supporting the first gripper, wherein the first gripper has jaw members which are movable towards each other from opposite sides of a first gripper plane defined by the first gripper into a closed state for gripping the single bead in the first gripper plane, wherein the first gripper is movable relative to the first gripper base between an inner first gripping position in which the first gripper plane intersects with a first bead diameter position and an outer first gripping position in which the first gripper plane intersects with a second bead diameter position different from the first bead diameter position.

Disclosed is a spacer gripper, a bead-apex storage system and a method for lifting one or more of the spacers from a stack of bead-apexes, wherein each spacer has a central aperture, wherein the central apertures of the spacers in the stack of bead-apexes are aligned in a stacking direction to form a central space, wherein the spacer gripper has a gripper head and a plurality of spacer engagement members protruding from said gripper head for reaching into the central space of the respective stack at least up to a second spacer of the respective stack from the top of the respective stack, wherein the plurality of spacer engagement members are movable into an engagement position for engaging said second spacer to lift said second spacer from the respective stack simultaneously with a first spacer at the top of the respective stack.

Disclosed is a bead separator, a bead supply station and a method for separating a single bead from a bead supply unit holding a plurality of beads, wherein the bead separator has a first gripper for separating the single bead and a first gripper base for supporting the first gripper, wherein the first gripper has jaw members which are movable towards each other from opposite sides of a first gripper plane defined by the first gripper into a closed state for gripping the single bead in the first gripper plane, wherein the first gripper is movable relative to the first gripper base between an inner first gripping position in which the first gripper plane intersects with a first bead diameter position and an outer first gripping position in which the first gripper plane intersects with a second bead diameter position different from the first bead diameter position.

Disclosed a gripper for gripping a tire bead ring to be transferred from a pick-up position to a placement position. The gripper includes two or more engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the gripper, wherein each of the two or more engagement jaws is provided with an engaging finger for engaging the tire bead ring to be gripped, wherein the engagement jaws are configured to radially move between a remote position, in which the engaging fingers are remote from the tire bead ring to be gripped, and an engaging position, in which the engaging fingers engage the tire bead ring to be gripped, wherein the gripper is provided with an ejecting finger configured for ejecting a tire bead ring gripped by the gripper from the gripper.

Disclosed a gripper for gripping a tire bead ring to be transferred from a pick-up position to a placement position. The gripper includes two or more engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the gripper, wherein each of the two or more engagement jaws is provided with an engaging finger for engaging the tire bead ring to be gripped, wherein the engagement jaws are configured to radially move between a remote position, in which the engaging fingers are remote from the tire bead ring to be gripped, and an engaging position, in which the engaging fingers engage the tire bead ring to be gripped, wherein the gripper is provided with an ejecting finger configured for ejecting a tire bead ring gripped by the gripper from the gripper.