A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire includes placing a bladder device including a vulcanization bladder at a holding position outside a mold; inserting the vulcanization bladder in a green tire with a tire axis central position of the green tire and a shaft central position of the vulcanization bladder aligned; aligning a central position in a tire width direction of the green tire and a central position in a shaft direction of the vulcanization bladder; supporting the green tire with the vulcanization bladder by inflating the vulcanization bladder to a predetermined green tire supportable internal pressure; bringing the vulcanization bladder in contact with an inner surface of the green tire; transporting the green tire together with the bladder device to the vulcanization device; setting the green tire with the bladder device in the mold; inflating the vulcanization bladder to a predetermined vulcanization internal pressure; and vulcanizing the green tire.

A tire holding device of a tire mounting machine grasps the bead section of a green tire by chucking paddles and places the green tire around an upright cylindrical vulcanization bladder. A bladder device of the tire mounting machine expands the vulcanization bladder to press same against the inner surface of the green tire, and sets the green tire in a vulcanization-mold. On a lower portion of each chucking paddle, guide extensions are formed to extend in the two circumferential directions. Between adjacent chucking paddles, the guide extensions extend toward each other and constantly overlap each other to prevent the expanding vulcanization bladder from contacting the radially inner surface of the bead section and from stripping the non-vulcanized rubber of the green tire.

A green tyre (2) for bicycles is built, comprising at least one carcass ply (4) having axially opposite end flaps (4a) engaged with respective bead cores (5) and a tread band (6) applied in a radially outer position around said at least one carcass ply (4). The built tyre (2) removed from the building drum, is profiled so as to translate the tread band (6) in a radially outer direction with respect to the bead cores (5), so as to impart a cross-sectional convex profile to the tyre (2) in a radially outer direction. The profiled tire is engaged by means of a transfer member (31) comprising a gripping device (30) which holds it hanging and loads it into a vulcanisation mould (101) by axially positioning an axial centreline plane (M) of the green tyre at an axial reference (51) arranged at a predetermined height along a reference axis (K) of a central body (103) of the vulcanisation mould (101).

A green tyre (2) for bicycles is built, comprising at least one carcass ply (4) having axially opposite end flaps (4a) engaged with respective bead cores (5) and a tread band (6) applied in a radially outer position around said at least one carcass ply (4). The built tyre (2) removed from the building drum, is profiled so as to translate the tread band (6) in a radially outer direction with respect to the bead cores (5), so as to impart a cross-sectional convex profile to the tyre (2) in a radially outer direction. The profiled tire is engaged by means of a transfer member (31) comprising a gripping device (30) which holds it hanging and loads it into a vulcanisation mould (101) by axially positioning an axial centreline plane (M) of the green tyre at an axial reference (51) arranged at a predetermined height along a reference axis (K) of a central body (103) of the vulcanisation mould (101).

A method of molding a green tire having a first and second bead area is described herein, wherein the method includes the steps of: inserting a tire clamping device inside a tire bladder and then inserting the tire clamping device and the bladder into the green tire, aligning the outer surfaces of the tire clamping device into engagement with a respective bead area of the tire so that each tire bead area is clamped between a respective upper and a lower mold ring and the tire clamping device during cure. A tire clamping device includes an inner portion, and a plurality of segments connected to the inner portion, wherein the tire clamping device has a closed position wherein the plurality of segments together forms a first and second ring for engagement with the bead areas of the tire so clamp the bead areas between the clamping device and the mold rings during cure.

A method of molding a green tire having a first and second bead area is described herein, wherein the method includes the steps of: inserting a tire clamping device inside a tire bladder and then inserting the tire clamping device and the bladder into the green tire, aligning the outer surfaces of the tire clamping device into engagement with a respective bead area of the tire so that each tire bead area is clamped between a respective upper and a lower mold ring and the tire clamping device during cure. A tire clamping device includes an inner portion, and a plurality of segments connected to the inner portion, wherein the tire clamping device has a closed position wherein the plurality of segments together forms a first and second ring for engagement with the bead areas of the tire so clamp the bead areas between the clamping device and the mold rings during cure.

A method of building a tire having no ply turnup is described. The method includes the steps of applying an inner liner and chafer onto a tire building drum; radially expanding the center portion of the drum and applying a first column bead, applying a layer of ply followed by a second column bead, turning up the chafer and then inflating the carcass under low pressure below 150 mbars, applying the tread, applying the sidewall. A method of molding a green tire having a first and second bead area is described herein, wherein the method includes the steps of: inserting a tire clamping device inside a tire bladder and then inserting the tire clamping device and the bladder into the green tire, aligning the outer surfaces of the tire clamping device are in engagement with a respective bead area of the tire so that each tire bead area is clamped between a respective upper and lower mold ring and the tire clamping device during cure.

A method and a device for vulcanizing tires. An expandable bellows is used for pressing the tire being vulcanized against segments of a mold. The bellows is arranged on a carrier which has an annular shape.

A tire mold has a cavity with a flexible bladder disposed in a central portion of the cavity. The tire mold further includes a first ring connected to a first end of the flexible bladder, and a second ring connected to a second end of the flexible bladder. At least one of the first and second rings is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The flexible bladder is stretched to a maximum axial length when the first and second rings are in a first position. When the first and second rings are in the first position the sum of the first axial length and second axial length is greater than a space between the first ring and the second ring.

A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire includes placing a bladder device including a vulcanization bladder at a holding position outside a mold; inserting the vulcanization bladder in a green tire with a tire axis central position of the green tire and a shaft central position of the vulcanization bladder aligned; aligning a central position in a tire width direction of the green tire and a central position in a shaft direction of the vulcanization bladder; supporting the green tire with the vulcanization bladder by inflating the vulcanization bladder to a predetermined green tire supportable internal pressure; bringing the vulcanization bladder in contact with an inner surface of the green tire; transporting the green tire together with the bladder device to the vulcanization device; setting the green tire with the bladder device in the mold; inflating the vulcanization bladder to a predetermined vulcanization internal pressure; and vulcanizing the green tire.