Apparatus and method for assembly and disassembly of a tire curing mold

A method of disassembling a toroidally shaped mold for curing a green tire into a finished tire having a tread and a sidewall pattern, the mold formed by a plurality of segments including first and second mold sidewall segments which together define a sidewall pattern to be formed on opposite sides of the green tire and a plurality of mold tread segments each having an inner surface portion which together define a tread pattern to be formed on the green tire;

• the mold in an assembled configuration enclosing a green tire mounted on a toroidal tire building core and having an axial core spindle in which first and second spindle ends project from the first and second sidewall mold segments, respectively, the method comprising:
• a. engaging the first sidewall segment of the mold by mold gripping apparatus;
• b. actuating the mold gripping apparatus to unlock the first sidewall segment of the mold;
• c. axially moving the first sidewall segment of the mold;
• d. engaging the second sidewall segment of the mold by mold loading apparatus;
• e. actuating the mold loading apparatus to unlock the second sidewall segment of the mold;
• f. engaging the tread segments of the mold by respective actuator mechanisms;
• and
• g. moving the tread segments radially outward.