TIRE BUILDING DRUM AND METHOD OF BUILDING A TIRE

A second stage tire building drum is disclosed. The drum (100) comprises a first and second hub (120, 120'). Each hub is mounted on a central shaft (110) of the second stage tire building drum (100) and each hub (120, 120') is mounted on an inner sleeve (139). The inner sleeve (139) has an inner surface that is threadedly engaged with an internal screw (114) positioned within the inner sleeve (139) for axial translation; or the inner sleeve (139) is freely axially slidable on the central shaft (110). Each hub (120, 120') has a bead receiving mechanism, wherein said bead receiving mechanism includes one or more bead segments (210), and wherein each bead segment has a pocket (212). Also, a method of forming a tire having a first and second bead on a tire building drum (100) is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of: applying a green tire carcass (610) onto the tire building drum (100), said tire building drum (100) having a left and right hub (120, 120'), said first or left hub (120) having a first bead pocket (212), and said second or right hub (120') having a second bead pocket (212); placing the first and second bead onto a first and second respective bead pocket (212) of the tire building drum (100); and inflating the carcass (610) into engagement with a belt and tread package (650) while (i) moving at least one of the left and right hubs (120, 120') in the axial direction at a controlled velocity towards the other respective hub or (ii) allowing at least one of the first and second bead pockets (212) to freely move in the axial direction.