Device for assembling the spokes of a tire for a wheel by means of thrust members actuated by ramped punches

An assembly device for manufacturing a tire that comprises a hub having a central axis, a peripheral annular band coaxial with the hub, and a plurality of spokes that connect the hub to the peripheral annular band, each spoke comprising a first end fastened on a radially outer face of the hub forming a first receiving face and a second end fastened on a radially inner face of the peripheral annular band forming a second receiving face, the assembly device comprising:

• a plurality of pressing sub-assemblies that are each assigned to fastening a separate spoke and that each comprise at least one pusher arranged to press one of the first and second ends of a given spoke against the receiving face of the hub or of the peripheral annular band, respectively, that corresponds to the one of the first and second ends of the spoke,
• wherein each of the pressing sub-assemblies comprises a punch that is mounted movably in an axial direction parallel to the central axis, under control of a drive system, and that has at least one ramp which, in a radial plane containing the central axis, diverges progressively from the axial direction and collaborates with a bearing member secured to the pusher so that when the drive system moves the punch axially against the bearing member, the ramp causes the bearing member and, therefore, the pusher to move radially and thus, via the bearing member, generates a clamping force that presses the pusher and, therefore, the one of the first and second ends of the spoke radially against the receiving face, and
• wherein a suspension spring is interposed axially between each punch and the drive system so as to give the punch a predetermined resilience to resistance offered by the pusher to the punch in reaction to the clamping force.