Machine and method of forming a bead-apex assembly for tires.

Tyre building machine for applying apex strips to beads to form a bead-apex assembly for a green tyre, comprising a bead holder for holding the beads, wherein the tyre building machine comprises a first gripper and a second gripper for engaging and moving the apex strips in a direction of conveyance towards the bead, wherein the first gripper is moveable between a first start position and a first end position and the second gripper is moveable between a second start position and a second end position, wherein the tyre building machine is provided with a first wedge, a second wedge, a third wedge and a fourth wedge, wherein the first gripper and the second gripper are biased to a closed state in which the grippers are arranged to engage the apex strips, and wherein the wedges are arranged for countering the bias of the grippers when the grippers are at one of the start positions or the end positions.

Pressure pin for use in a cylindrical bore of a pressing element of a gripper for gripping an apex strip for a green tyre, wherein the pressure pin has a shaft which is arranged to be slidably placed in the cylindrical bore, wherein the shaft has a partly circular circumference which is arranged to be in sliding contact with the cylindrical bore and a partly non-circular, multi-planar or flattened circumference which, in combination with the bore, is arranged for creating a clearance between the shaft and the cylindrical bore, which clearance is in open communication with the outside environment at the side of the pressing element that faces the apex strip during use.

Method for applying apex strips to beads to form a bead-apex assembly for a green tyre, wherein the method comprises the steps of engaging the apex strips with a first gripper and a second gripper and moving the engaged apex strips in a direction of conveyance towards the bead, wherein the first gripper is moveable between a first start position and a first end position and the second gripper is moveable between a second start position and a second end position, wherein the method further comprises the steps of biasing the grippers to a closed state in which they engage the apex strips, moving the grippers back and forth between their respective start positions and their respective end positions, and countering the bias of the grippers with wedges when the grippers are at one of the start positions or the end positions.