Device and process for vulcanizing tires

A process for vulcanizing at least one of tires and partial tires, in an automatically actuatable curing press, which has a vulcanization mold comprised of two or more parts that can be opened and closed and has one upper bead ring and one lower bead ring for positioning and shaping tire beads, which bead rings can be moved via actuation mechanisms in an axial direction with regard to a tire position in the curing press, wherein the curing press and the tire to be vulcanized form a press/tire system which is sealed inside of the bead rings by the curing press and is sealed outside of the bead rings by the tire to be vulcanized, the process comprising:

• positioning a tire to be vulcanized on the lower bead ring of the curing press through use of a loading device;
• closing the curing press in a first phase such that the lower bead ring and the upper bead ring of the curing press approach each other until inherent rigidity of the tire to be vulcanized exerts a recoiling force on the bead rings, such that the tire beads seal the inner chamber formed by the press/tire system;
• introducing tensing vapor during a stop-position of the upper and lower bead rings into the sealed inner chamber formed by the press/tire system, which vapor presses tire beads of the tire to be vulcanized in a vapor-tight manner against the two bead rings;
• and
• positioning the bead rings in an end position by completing closing of the curing press.