Band Drum Pop-Up Hinge

Abstract

A tire building apparatus includes a tire building drum having a radially expanded position for building a tire carcass, and having a radially contracted position for releasing the tire carcass. A carcass release member is mounted on the drum such that the carcass release member moves from a retracted position when the drum is in its expanded position, to an extended position when the drum is in its contracted position, so that the carcass release member aids in releasing the tire carcass from the drum when the drum moves from its expanded position to its contracted position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a tire carcass, comprising:
 (a) placing an inner layer of a tire carcass about a band drum when the band drum is in a radially expanded position, the band drum including at least one carcass release member retracted into an outer surface of the band drum when the band drum is in its expanded position;   (b) radially contracting the band drum to release the tire carcass from the band drum; and   (c) during step (b), moving the carcass release member outward relative to the outer surface of the band drum to aid in removing the tire carcass from the band drum.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to step (b), splicing two ends of the inner layer to form a splice overlying the carcass release member.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 prior to step (b), compressing the splice against the band drum with a jam pad.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in step (a), the carcass release member is located closer to an axially outboard end of the band drum than to an axially inboard end of the band drum.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after step (c), radially expanding the band drum to return the band drum to its radially expanded position for receiving another inner layer; and   during the expanding step, biasing the carcass release member back to its retracted position with a return spring.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 step (c) further comprises engaging an underside of the carcass release member in sliding engagement with a wear plate mounted on a drum segment adjacent to a drum segment on which the carcass release member is pivotally mounted.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in step (a), the at least one carcass release member comprises a plurality of fingers.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 in step (a), each of the fingers is pivotally connected to the band drum; and   in step (c), the fingers pivot outward above the surface of the band drum.