To solve problems of complication and malfunction of the device's structure, an increase in the process time, and malfunction caused by catching of a front end portion of a bead apex rubber.

A bead apex rubber forming method comprises a forming step P1, a connecting space opening step P2, a connecting space closing step P3, and a connecting step P4. In a rear closed state R of a molding chamber 11, the forming step P1 injects unvulcanized rubber G while a bead core A is being rotated, and forms a bead apex rubber B having a front end portion Bf. when the front end portion Bf approaches a rear shutter part 9, the connecting space opening step P2 removes a second lateral surface S2 together with the rear shutter part 9, and forms, between the front end portion Bf and a rear end portion Br, a connecting space J whose second side surface S2 side is opened. The connecting space closing step P3 closes the connecting space 3 by disposing a third lateral surface S3 extending between the rear end portion Br and the front end portion Bf. The connecting step P4 injects the unvulcanized rubber into the connecting space J closed, and connects between the rear end portion Br and the front end portion Bf integrally.

A system for stitching a bead apex includes an upper assembly including an upper elongated member, an upper arm coupled to the upper elongated member, and an upper stitching wheel coupled to the upper arm. The system also includes a lower assembly including a lower elongated member, a lower arm coupled to the lower elongated member, and a lower stitching wheel coupled to the lower arm. The upper assembly further includes a non-locking actuator coupled to the upper arm, wherein the non-locking actuator is configured to move the upper arm about the first pivot point to move the upper stitching wheel to an operative configuration, wherein the non-locking actuator is configured to permit movement of the upper stitching wheel in a Y-direction between at least a first position and a second position while in the operative configuration

A method for annularly mounting a band-like filler to the outer periphery of a bead core comprises a step for attaching the filler to the outer periphery of the bead core, a step for grasping the opposite ends of the filler and separating the opposite ends of the filler from the outer periphery of the bead core, a step for sequentially attaching the opposite end surfaces of the filler to each other from the inner peripheral sections of the opposite end surfaces toward the outer peripheral sections thereof, and a step for pressing the portion of the filler, which has been separated from the outer periphery of the bead core, against the outer periphery of the bead core.

A bead-apex stitching device, a bead-apex station and a method for stitching an apex to a bead are disclosed, wherein the bead-apex stitching device includes a first set of first stitching members distributed in a circumferential direction about a central axis for stitching the apex to the bead and a second set of second stitching members for stitching the apex to the bead in a manner different from the first stitching members of the first set, wherein the second stitching members of the second set are distributed in an alternating pattern with the first stitching members of the first set in the circumferential direction.

A tire (1) has two annular beads, a toroidal body ply (2) which is wound about the two beads (3) to form two turn-ups, and two bead fillers (8). Each bead filler (8) contacts a bead (3) and is at least partly enclosed in a turn-up (4) of the body ply (2), and comprises an elastomer filler strip (9) which is wound about the bead (3) and is interposed between the bead (3) and the body ply (2) and has two opposite ends (10, 11) located on opposite sides of the bead (3) and contacting each other. An outer end (11) of the filler strip (9) of each bead filler (8) is folded into a U about the corresponding end of the body ply (2) so as to enclose the end of the body ply (2).

A device for manufacturing a multiple layer rubber strip including a first rubber strip and a second rubber strip, the device includes a first rubber extruder for extruding the first rubber strip, a second rubber extruder for extruding the second rubber strip, a first conveyor for conveying the first rubber strip extruded from the first extruder to a downstream side in a convey direction, and a second conveyor for conveying the second rubber strip extruded from the second extruder to a downstream side in the convey direction. The second conveyor is located upwardly of the first conveyor and has a downstream conveyor end which positions above a conveying surface of the first conveyor such that the second rubber strip delivered from the downstream conveyor end meets and overlaps the first rubber strip on the first conveyor at a joining location to form the single multiple layer rubber strip.

A system for handling a bead apex includes a first jaw having open and closed states, which is configured to engage a first surface of a bead apex in the closed state. The system further includes a second jaw having open and closed states, and a plurality of grippers coupled to the second jaw, wherein each of the plurality of grippers comprises a body. At least one of the plurality of grippers includes a pivot shoe rotatably attached to the body of the at least one of the plurality of grippers, wherein the pivot shoe is rotatable with respect to the body of the at least one of the plurality of grippers. The pivot shoe is configured to engage a second surface of the bead apex in the closed state of the second jaw.

A bead core coating method for coating an annular bead core with a belt-shaped rubber sheet including the steps of: winding the rubber sheet extruded on an outer circumferential surface of a rotary drum; sticking a part of the rubber sheet to an outer surface of the bead core which is in rotation; and winding a remaining part of the rubber sheet stuck on the outer surface of the bead core while sequentially sticking the remaining part along the outer surface of the bead core, wherein air is blown to a sheet portion including the end that is not stuck to the outer surface of the bead core in the currently-winding rubber sheet in a first direction toward the end along a sheet surface or a second direction inclined toward an outer surface side of the bead core as compared with the first direction.

A bead core coating method for coating an annular bead core with a belt-shaped rubber sheet, including the steps of: winding the rubber sheet around an outer circumferential surface of a rotary drum; sticking a central portion of the rubber sheet to an outer surface of the bead core; and winding both ends in the width direction of the rubber sheet stuck on the outer surface of the bead core while sequentially sticking both ends in the width direction along the outer surface of the bead core from the central portion in the width direction toward each end in the width direction, wherein in the step of sticking, air is blown to a gap generated between the central portion in the width direction of the rubber sheet and the outer circumferential surface of the rotary drum at a place where the rubber sheet is peeled from the rotary drum.

A bead forming apparatus including: a rotatable drum having a plurality of divided bodies dividedly arranged along a circumference and being adapted to be wrapped therearound with a belt-shaped bead filler having a short base and two other long sides in an annular shape; a plurality of erection arms provided along the circumference and swingably supported by the divided bodies of the rotatable drum so as to erect the bead filler by swinging the erection arms; and a swing device for swinging the erection arms; and a plurality of slide members provided as contact portions of the erection arms that come into contact with the bead filler so that the bead filler can be radially slidable relative to the erection arms.