Tire vulcanization device and method

A tire vulcanization method, comprising:

• attaching segments respectively to an outer circumferential surface of each of a plurality of sector molds disposed in an annular shape;
• attaching an upper plate to an upper surface of an upper side mold;
• attaching a lower plate to a lower surface of a lower side mold;
• disposing a container ring on an outer circumferential side of the segments;
• disposing, above the upper plate, a bolster plate to which the container ring is connected;
• mounting a green tire onto the lower side mold in a sideways state;
• assembling the sector molds in an annular shape between the upper plate and the lower plate by moving downward, by a pressurizing mechanism, the bolster plate in a standby position to a mold closed position, and closing the sector molds with the sector molds vertically sandwiched between the upper side mold and the lower side mold to enclose the green tire inside, wherein a first portion of downward movement of the bolster plate moves the sector molds downward, and a second portion of the downward movement of the bolster plate does not move the sector molds downward, the second portion of the downward movement of the bolster plate causing lateral movement of the sector molds toward the green tire;
• and
• vulcanizing the green tire by applying pressure and heat to the green tire,
• in a state where the bolster plate is moved downward from the standby position and held in the mold closed position by connecting the bolster plate and the container ring with a connecting body interposed between the bolster plate and the container ring and allowing the container ring to be held slidably, by the connecting body, in a vertical direction with respect to the bolster plate, by moving the container ring downward with respect to the bolster plate by pressurizing fluid supplied from a fluid supply line, the sector molds being assembled in an annular shape to be closed with the upper side mold pressed against upper surfaces of the sector molds;
• wherein the upper plate and the upper side mold move up and down together with movement of the bolster plate up and down.

A tire vulcanization device, comprising:

• segments respectively attached to an outer circumferential surface of each of a plurality of sector molds disposed in an annular shape;
• an upper plate attached to an upper surface of an upper side mold;
• a lower plate attached to a lower surface of a lower side mold;
• a container ring disposed on an outer circumferential side of the segments;
• a bolster plate disposed above the upper plate and connected to the container ring;
• a pressurizing mechanism configured to move the bolster plate up and down, wherein by moving the bolster plate downward, the sector molds being assembled in an annular shape between the upper plate and the lower plate, and the sector molds being closed while being vertically sandwiched between the upper side mold and the lower side mold, wherein a first portion of downward movement of the bolster plate moves the sector molds downward, and a second portion of the downward movement of the bolster plate does not move the sector molds downward, the second portion of the downward movement of the bolster plate causing lateral movement of the sector molds;
• a connecting body interposed between the bolster plate and the container ring to connect the bolster plate and the container ring;
• a fluid supply line configured to supply a pressurizing fluid, and
• a detachable portion attached to a tip end of the fluid supply line, the detachable portion being detachably attached to the connecting body,
• in a state where the container ring is held slidably in a vertical direction with respect to the bolster plate by the connecting body and a vertical position of the bolster plate is maintained in a mold closed position, by moving the container ring downward with respect to the bolster plate by the pressurizing fluid supplied by the fluid supply line, the sector molds being assembled in an annular shape to be closed with the upper side mold pressed against upper surfaces of the sector molds.

A tire vulcanization method, comprising:

• attaching segments respectively to an outer circumferential surface of each of a plurality of sector molds disposed in an annular shape;
• attaching an upper plate to an upper surface of an upper side mold;
• attaching a lower plate to a lower surface of a lower side mold;
• disposing a container ring on an outer circumferential side of the segments;
• disposing, above the upper plate, a bolster plate to which the container ring is connected;
• mounting a green tire onto the lower side mold in a sideways state;
• assembling the sector molds in an annular shape between the upper plate and the lower plate by moving downward, by a pressurizing mechanism, the bolster plate in a standby position to a mold closed position, and closing the sector molds with the sector molds vertically sandwiched between the upper side mold and the lower side mold to enclose the green tire inside, wherein a first portion of downward movement of the bolster plate moves the sector molds downward, and a second portion of the downward movement of the bolster plate does not move the sector molds downward, the second portion of the downward movement of the bolster plate causing lateral movement of the sector molds toward the green tire;
• and
• vulcanizing the green tire by applying pressure and heat to the green tire,
• in a state where the bolster plate is moved downward from the standby position and held in the mold closed position by connecting the bolster plate and the container ring with a connecting body interposed between the bolster plate and the container ring and allowing the container ring to be held slidably, by the connecting body, in a vertical direction with respect to the bolster plate, by moving the container ring downward with respect to the bolster plate by pressurizing fluid supplied from a fluid supply line, the sector molds being assembled in an annular shape to be closed with the upper side mold pressed against upper surfaces of the sector molds, and
• by attaching a detachable portion to a tip end of the fluid supply line, the detachable portion being detachable attached to the connecting body.