Retreading mold with nonplowing matrices closing

Claim 1

A retreading mold comprising first and second relatively movable platens, means for imparting relative motion to said platens between first and second respective adjacent and remote relative positions, first and second matrices carried respectively by said first and second platens, first and second biasing means associated with said first and second platens and said first and second matrices for biasing said first and second matrices respectively away from said first and second platens, first and second bead aligner wheels carried respectively by said first and second platens, first and second means for respectively moving said first and second bead aligner wheels between first and second respective adjacent and remote positions, said matrices defining in the first position of said platens an annular chamber adapted to receive therein a tire to be retreaded, said matrices in the first position of said platens being in abutment with each other in a plane generally normal to the axis of said annular chamber, each bead aligner wheel having means for aligning a tire relative to said annular chamber by contacting beads of a tire, clamping means for internally bearing against each tire bead and clampingly urging each tire bead to an associated bead aligner wheel whereby the diameter of the tire is reduced when said bead aligner wheels and matrices are in the second positions thereof, and control means for operating said motion imparting means to move said platens from their second position to their first position thereby forming said annular chamber prior to the movement of said bead aligner wheels from their second position to their first position whereby the tire returns to its normal diameter only after said matrices are closed.