Method of folding tire breaker ply edges

A method for folding edges of a wide breaker ply over edges of a narrow breaker ply, said narrow breaker ply wrapped around said wide breaker ply on a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially movable drum segments, wherein each of said drum segments has a center module, said center module having ends and a folding module mounted on each end, each of said folding modules has a nose piece movable axially of said drum from an axially outer position to an axially inner position overlapping said center module with a folding belt, each said folding belt being wrapped around each said nose piece and having an axially outer end connected to a spring means on said nose piece for maintaining tension in said belt, the method comprising the steps of:

• wrapping said wide breaker ply over said center module and said folding belt on each said nose piece of each end of said center module;
• folding edges of said wide breaker ply over edges of said narrow breaker ply by moving each said nose piece axially inward over said center module with said folding belt sliding over said nose piece upon said axially inward movement of said nose piece;
• moving each of said nose pieces axially outward for peeling said belt from said folded edges of said wide breaker ply;
• moving said drum segments radially inward;
• and
• removing said wide breaker ply and said narrow breaker ply from said drum segments.