Tire building machine with extendable drums

A method for operating a tire building machine comprising the steps of:

• operatively attaching a support frame to a support housing such that the support housing rotates the support frame about a vertical axis;
• securing a first drum and a first motor being to the support frame;
• rotating the first drum about a first horizontal axis by the first motor;
• horizontally retracting the first drum along the first horizontal axis from an extended position to a retracted position by a first cylinder;
• securing a second drum and a second motor being to the support frame;
• rotating the second drum about a second horizontal axis by the second motor;
• and
• horizontally retracting the second drum along the second horizontal axis from an extended position to a retracted position by a second cylinder.

A system for rotating a tire building machine comprising:

• a support housing for rotating the machine about a vertical axis;
• a support frame operatively attached to the support housing such that the support housing rotates the support frame about the vertical axis;
• a first drum rotatable about a first horizontal axis, the first drum being secured to the support frame;
• a first cylinder for horizontally retracting the first drum along the first horizontal axis from an extended position to a retracted position;
• a second drum rotatable about a second horizontal axis, the second horizontal axis being parallel to the first horizontal axis, the second drum being secured to the support frame;
• and
• a second cylinder for horizontally retracting, simultaneously with the first drum, the second drum along the second horizontal axis from an extended position to a retracted position.