Method and device for molding a support

Abstract

A method and a device for molding a support around a prefabricated circumferential reinforcing belt. The prefabricated belt, intended to be integrated with a support on a given molding cycle, is inserted in the mold before the support molded during the preceding molding cycle has been removed. These two operations can be carried out with a single handling tool which is synchronized with the opening and closing operations of the mold to introduce the reinforcing belt and to remove the molded support.

1 - 5 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         6 . A device for manufacturing a support designed to be mounted on a vehicle tire rim, said support having an axis A, a base limited by a cylindrical radially inner face intended to be mounted around said rim, a crown intended to bear the load and a body joining said base to said crown, said base comprising a substantially inextensible circumferential reinforcement, the body containing a plurality of axial recesses in at least one side of said support, said device comprising a mold of axis matching said axis A and the said mold comprising: 
 an inner core for molding said radially inner face;    a crown molding ring comprising at least two component parts radially mobile relative to each other, the said component parts molding a radially outer face of said crown;    at least one shell bearing a plurality of axial fingers for laterally molding said body and said recesses; said core, said ring and said shell cooperating in order to define, at least in part, a closed cavity for molding said support, the said core comprising at least two component parts and being capable of taking a molding configuration in which said component parts form a circumferentially continuous molding surface for molding said radially inner face, the molding surface being defined by a reference diameter φ corresponding to the inner diameter of said support, the said core also being capable of taking a mold stripping configuration, defined by an overall length E around said molding surface-less than the product of the number π and the reference diameter φ, the said device being characterized in that each of the elements of an assembly comprising said ring, said shell and said core is axially mobile relative to the other elements of said assembly.    
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the said axis of said mold is substantially vertical.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that, at least a part of said mold is stationary, other parts of said mold being movable along the axis of the mold, said device make possible a movement of said moving parts directed downward in order to open the mold.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said mold comprises two shells capable of laterally molding the respectively opposite axial faces of said body, both shells bear fingers capable of molding recesses and the said fingers of a shell capable of molding a face of said body are circumferentially interposed between the said fingers of a shell capable of molding the opposite face.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that it comprises a handling tool capable of being displaced in a generally horizontal plane, said handling tool being capable of introducing said belt and of removing said molded support.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that, the handling tool having a plurality of vertical and radially mobile contact surfaces, the said handling tool maintains said belt in a cylindrical configuration, positions said belt in the axis of the mold and receives said molded support.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that, the handling tool comprising radially mobile carriages, said carriages comprise rollers having their axis parallel to the axis of the mold and capable of bearing against the belt to hold said belt.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that, the handling tool containing means of radial retention of said belt against said contact surfaces, said means are sources of low pressure placed within said contact surfaces.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 10 , characterized in that, said handling tool containing a generally horizontal upper face capable of bearing said molded support, said molded support is, on its removal, maintained relative to said handling tool by force of gravity.