A system and a method for conveying a tire component includes a conveyor and a measuring unit, wherein the measuring unit has a field of view, wherein the measuring unit is positioned relative to the conveyor such that the field of view overlaps with a measuring slot in the conveyor for measuring height values in said field of view. The system further includes a control unit that is configured for: monitoring the height values measured by the measuring unit in the field of view; and detecting a step in the height values at the measuring slot from a first height level below the plane of conveyance to a second height level above the plane of conveyance.

Provided is a conveyance device allowing simple management of a replacement component while an increase in the number of set-up change steps due to a tire size change is suppressed. The conveyance device includes an annular frame capable of surrounding the outer peripheries of a first drum and a second drum, and a sucker provided for the annular frame. The sucker includes a plurality of suction pads that sucks a tire forming member and a plurality of movement mechanisms that moves the suction pads in the radial direction of the annular frame. The plurality of suction pads is provided side by side in the circumferential direction of the annular frame, and adjacent ones of the suction pads in the circumferential direction are moved in the radial direction by different ones of the movement mechanisms.

Provided is a conveyance device allowing reduction in occurrence of a defect such as air entering or uniformity degradation. The conveyance device of the present invention includes an annular frame capable of surrounding the outer peripheries of a first drum and a second drum, and a sucker provided for the annular frame. The sucker includes a plurality of center suction pads provided side by side in the circumferential direction of the annular frame to suck a center portion of a tire forming member in an axial direction, a plurality of end suction pads provided side by side in the circumferential direction to suck end portions of the tire forming member in the axial direction, a gap provided along the circumferential direction between the center suction pads and the end suction pads, and an adjustment device that adjusts the length of the gap in the axial direction.

An apparatus is provided that has a frame, and a first cup segment that has a first contact surface that is both curved and inclined relative to a vertical direction. The first cup segment is movable relative to the frame. The first contact surface is configured for engaging a warm, cured tire for holding. The tire has a sidewall, and a tread with a tread edge and a tread contact surface. The first contact surface is configured for engaging the tread and is not configured for engaging the sidewall for holding.

A tire transport apparatus includes at least three arms each having an arm main body and a protrusion disposed to protrude outward at a lower part of the arm main body to lift the tire, an arm extension/retraction mechanism configured to move the at least three arms in a horizontal extension/retraction direction, a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the at least three arms, at least three optical reflection sensors disposed on an outer side of a circle including distal ends of the protrusions when the at least three arms are above the tire and in a retracted state to detect an object below, and a controller configured to determine that one or more arms among the at least three arms are in an inappropriate position, if one or more optical reflection sensors among the at least three optical reflection sensors detect the tire.