Apparatus for feeding and setting beads onto the assembly drum of a machine for assembling pneumatic tires

An apparatus for feeding and setting beads onto an assembly drum of a machine for assembling pneumatic tires, comprising:

• at least one first group of rods which extend substantially parallel to one another and are arranged in a single circle for supporting thereon a supply of the beads;
• at least one first group of vanes mounted on said first group of rods, uniformly spaced longitudinally of said rods, for separating said beads from one another;
• at least one first drive to effect the rotation of each individual rod about its own longitudinal axis, between a first position whereat said first vanes are projected beyond said circle to separate the beads from one another, and a second position whereat said first vanes are retracted into said circle, providing for forwarding of the beads longitudinally of said first group of rods;
• and a bead separating mechanism effecting incremental advancement of the bead rings along said first group of rods from the latter to the assembly drum.