Tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tire building drum. The drum has a central axis and is configured for turning up a turn-up portion of a tire component about a bead core. The drum includes a first support member, which is disposed radially about the central axis and is configured to operably support a portion of the tire component and the bead core. A set of arms is disposed about the central axis. The arms have a first end operably associated with the first support member and a second end spaced apart from the first support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum. Each arm is movable from a resting position to a working position. A set of bead support members is disposed about the central axis. The bead support members have a support portion. When the arms are in the working position and the bead support portions are in the support position, the support portions cooperate with the ends of the arms to support the turn-up portion of the tire-component therebetween.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tire building drum, the drum having a central axis and configured for turning up a turn-up portion of a tire component about a bead core, comprising: 
 a first support member, the support member disposed radially about the central axis and configured to operably support a portion of the tire component and the bead core;    a set of arms disposed about the central axis, the arms having a first end operably associated with the first support member and a second end spaced apart from the first support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum, each arm being movable from a resting position to a working position; and    a set of bead support members disposed about the central axis, the bead support members having a support portion, each bead support member having a support position, wherein, when the arms are in the working position and the bead support portions are in the support position, the support portions cooperate with the ends of the arms to support the turn-up portion of the tire-component therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The tire building drum of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second support member, the second support member disposed radially about the central axis and configured to operably support a second portion of the tire component and a second bead core;    a second set of arms disposed about the central axis, the second arms having a first end operably associated with the second support member and a second end spaced apart from the second support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum, the second arms being movable between a resting position and a working position; and    a set of second bead support members disposed about the central axis, the second bead support members having a support portion, each beach support member having a support position, wherein, when the second arms are in the working position and the second bead support portions are in the support position, the support portions cooperate with the ends of the second arms to support a second turned up portion of the tire component therebetween.    
     
     
         3 . The tire building drum of  claim 2 , further comprising expansion means to radially expand a portion of the tire component disposed between the first and second support members.  
     
     
         4 . The tire building drum of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sets of bead support members are disposed between the first and second support members.  
     
     
         5 . The tire building drum of  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the arms of the first and second sets comprises a roller.  
     
     
         6 . The tire building drum of  claim 2 , wherein the bead support members of the first and second sets are each movable between a resting position and the support position.  
     
     
         7 . The tire building drum of  claim 6 , wherein the bead support members of the first and second sets of bead support members each have a pivot portion pivotably associated with the tire building drum.  
     
     
         8 . The tire building drum of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second support members are movable between a resting position and a working position, and wherein the bead support members of the first and second sets of bead support members are configured to move in unison with the first and second support members, respectively.  
     
     
         9 . The tire building drum of  claim 1 , wherein the first ends of different arms are disposed at different radial distances from the central axis of the tire building drum.  
     
     
         10 . A tire building drum, the drum having a central axis and configured for turning up a turn-up portion of a tire component about a bead core, comprising: 
 a first support member, the support member disposed radially about the central axis and configured to operably support a portion of the tire component and the bead core;    expansion means to radially expand a portion of the tire component disposed between the first and second support members;    a set of arms disposed about the central axis, the arms having a first end operably associated with the first support member and a second end spaced apart from the first support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum, each arm being movable from a resting position to a working position; and    a set of bead support members disposed about the central axis, the bead support members having a support end operably associated with the support member and a second end pivotably associated with the tire building drum, wherein, as the expansion means radially expands the portion of the tire component, the support members and the arms pivot to support the tire component therebetween.    
     
     
         11 . The tire building drum of  claim 10 , wherein the arms and the support members pivot about opposite sides of the first support member.  
     
     
         12 . The tire building drum of  claim 10 , wherein the first ends of different arms are disposed at different radial distances from the central axis of the tire building drum.  
     
     
         13 . A tire building drum, the drum having a central axis and configured for turning up a turn-up portion of a tire component about a bead core, comprising: 
 a first support member, the support member disposed radially about the central axis and configured to operably support a portion of the tire component and the bead core;    a set of arms disposed about the central axis, the arms having a first end operably associated with the first support member and a second end spaced apart from the first support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum, each arm being movable from a resting position to a working position; and    a set of bead support members disposed about the central axis, the bead support members having a support end operably associated with the support member and a second end pivotably associated with the tire building drum, each support member being movable from a resting position to a support position, wherein, when the arms are in the working position and the bead support members are in the support position, the support ends of the support members cooperate with the ends of the arms to support the turn-up portion of the tire-component therebetween.    
     
     
         14 . The tire building drum of  claim 13 , wherein the arms and the support members pivot about opposite sides of the first support member.  
     
     
         15 . The tire building drum of  claim 13 , wherein the first ends of different arms are disposed at different radial distances from the central axis of the tire building drum.