Method and apparatus for inserting a green tire in a vulcanizing machine

In a vulcanizing machine having an upper mold portion including an upper bead ring and a lower mold portion including a lower bead ring, apparatus for inserting a green tire in the machine, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of radially extendable land retractable and vertically movable chucks each having a sector mounted thereto, said chucks being positionable in the apparatus at first locations at which the sectors mounted thereto are disposed radially inwardly of an upper bead portion of a green tire supported in the machine, and said chucks also being positionable at second locations at which the sectors mounted thereto are disposed radially inwardly of a lower bead portion of a green tire supported in the machine;
• extending/retracting means connected to said chucks for selectively radially extending or retracting said chucks, said sectors being extendable radially outwardly from said first or said second locations by said extending/retracting means such that the sectors mounted thereto are moved into engagement with a respective bead portion of the green tire and to positions at which the sectors center the respective bead portion relative to a respective one of the bead rings;
• and
• cylinder means connected to said chucks for vertically moving said chucks in the apparatus between said first and said second locations,
• said cylinder means being operable to selectively position said chucks in engagement with either of the bead portions of the green tire, to move said chucks toward the upper bead ring while the upper bead portion of the green tire is centered relative to the upper bead ring by said sectors and until the chucks push the upper bead portion into the upper bead ring, and to move said chucks toward the lower bead ring while the lower bead portion is centered relative to the lower bead ring by said sectors and until the chucks push the lower bead portion into the lower bead ring.