Claims
- 1. A method for mounting two beads on a tire carcass which is being laid up on tire building drum, wherein:
the drum has a free end and an opposite end which is supported by a drum support; and the drum has a first area on its surface where the tire carcass will be laid up; the method comprising:
disposing a first bead on the drum in a second area which is between the first area and the drum support.
- 2. Method, according to claim 1, further comprising:
disposing the first bead in the second area before the carcass is laid up on the drum.
- 3. Method, according to claim 1, further comprising:
disposing the first bead in the second area at any point in the steps of laying up the carcass which precedes there being bumps in the outer surface of the tire carcass.
- 4. Method, according to claim 1, further comprising:
disposing the first bead in the second area after an inner liner of the carcass has been applied on the area of the drum.
- 5. Method, according to claim 1, further comprising:
disposing the first bead in the second area after an inner liner, inserts, and first ply of the carcass have been applied on the area of the drum.
- 6. Method, according to claim 1, further comprising:
after disposing the first bead in the second area, laying up the carcass on the drum.
- 7. Method, according to claim 6, further comprising:
after laying up the carcass, moving the first bead from the area onto the carcass.
- 8. Method, according to claim 6, further comprising:
after laying up the carcass, moving a second bead from beyond the free end of the drum onto the carcass.
- 9. Method, according to claim 1, further comprising:
holding the first bead with a first bead holder; and after the carcass is laid up on the drum and the first bead has been moved into position onto the carcass, removing the first bead holder.
- 10. Method, according to claim 9, further comprising:
after removing the first bead holder, laying up additional tire components on the tire carcass.
- 11. Method, according to claim 9, further comprising:
after removing the bead holders, performing additional steps in the formation of the carcass.
- 12. Method, according to claim 1, wherein:
at least one bead is moved into position on the drum before the laying up of the carcass substantially prevents installation of the at least one bead.
- 13. Method, according to claim 1, further comprising:
installing both beads from the free end of the drum.
- 14. Method, according to claim 1, further comprising:
holding the first bead with a first bead holder for moving it into position in the second area; releasing the first bead; after the carcass is substantially completely laid up, picking up the bead with the bead holder and installing it on the carcass.
- 15. Method, according to claim 1, wherein:
the first bead is deposited immediately after a completed carcass is removed from the drum.
- 16. In an automatic tire building system comprising a sequence of work stations and drums advancing from station-to-station for laying up a carcass, a method of loading beads on the carcass, comprising:
once a completed carcass is removed from a drum, a first bead for a subsequent carcass to be laid up on the drum is deposited on the drum and remains with the drum as the drum cycles back to a first station in the sequence of work stations to commence laying up the subsequent carcass on the drum.
- 17. Method, according to claim 16, further comprising:
at a subsequent work station in the sequence of work stations, the first bead is picked up by a bead holder and set on the carcass, and a second bead is also set on the carcass.
- 18. Method, according to claim 17, wherein:
the first and second beads are set on the carcass by two bead loaders which are suspended from an overhead rail.
- 19. Method, according to claim 17, further comprising:
suspending a carcass transfer device from the overhead rail.
- 20. Method, according to claim 16, wherein the drum has a first area on its surface where the tire carcass will be laid up, further comprising:
disposing the first bead on the drum in a second area which is between the first area and a drum support.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application relates to U.S. Patent application entitled PRECISION LONGITUDINAL REGISTRATION OF TIRE BUILD DRUM TO FMS WORK STATION, Attorney's Docket No. DN2001164USA, and filed on an even date herewith.
[0002] This application relates to U.S. Patent application entitled METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING TIRES ON A FLEXIBLE MANUFACURING SYSTEM, Attorney's Docket No. DN2001166USA, and filed on an even date herewith.
[0003] This application relates to U.S. Patent application entitled PRECISION ALIGNMENT OF TIRE BUILDING DRUM TO AUTOMATED TIRE BUILDING SYSTEM WORKING AXIS, Attorney's Docket No. DN200165USA, and filed on an even date herewith.
[0004] This application relates to U.S. Patent application entitled EXPANDABLE TIRE BUILDING DRUM WITH ALTERNATING FIXED AND EXPANDABLE SEGMENTS, AND CONTOURS FOR SIDEWALL INSERTS, Attorney's Docket No. DN2001168USA, and filed on an even date herewith.