Mold clamping mechanism for tire curing machines

A mold clamping mechanism for a tire curing press, comprising:

• a press base;
• a platen support fixed to said press base;
• a lower mold cavity positioned above said press base and surrounding said platen support;
• a lower mold positioned on said platen support;
• an upper mold cavity having an upper mold positioned therein and opposingly mounted to said lower mold cavity and vertically movable toward and away from said lower mold cavity;
• a center mechanism provided at the center of said upper and lower mold cavities, respectively;
• lock means for releasably locking said upper and lower mold cavities to each other;
• mold pressing means located beneath and connected to said lower mold cavity and connected to said upper mold cavity via said lock means for simultaneously pressing said lower and upper mold cavity downwardly;
• and
• means for resiliently supporting said lower mold cavity on said press base.