Abstract: In building tyres, an intermediate portion of a carcass structure is built at a time on a respective forming drum within an intermediate forming line. The forming drum with the intermediate portion of the carcass structure is made available at a first transfer location. The intermediate portion of the carcass structure is completed through n completion locations with n?1 and then transferred for the subsequent assembling with a crown structure to a second transfer location. At an operating moment in which the first transfer location is occupied by a forming drum coming from the intermediate forming line or intended for the intermediate forming line, from one to n locations selected from the n completion locations and the second transfer location are occupied by respective forming drums.

Abstract: A method for controlling the laying down of components of tyres on forming drums, includes: sending a first electromagnetic radiation on a first laying down structure including a forming drum and a first component of a tyre laid down on the forming drum; detecting at least a first corresponding reflected radiation, determining as a function of the first reflected radiation a first parameter representative of a first main length of the first component; comparing the first parameter with one or more pre-stored reference values; generating a first correction signal as a function of the comparison; and sending the first correction signal to at least one preparation station adapted to prepare the first component to regulate the preparation of further components. An apparatus for controlling the laying down of components of tyres on forming drums is also described.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising the step of building on a forming support a carcass structure comprising at least one carcass ply and, at at least one end edge of the carcass ply, at least one annular anchoring structure comprising at least one substantially circumferential annular insert and at least one filling insert associated to said at least one substantially circumferential annular insert. The step of building the carcass structure comprises the steps of positioning the annular anchoring structure on the carcass ply by moving the annular substantially circumferential insert into contact with an end edge of the carcass ply by means of a special positioning member, pulling down the filling insert on the end edge of the carcass ply and turning up a free end portion of the end edge of the carcass ply so as to form a turned up end portion of the carcass ply including said annular anchoring structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adducts between sp2 hybridized carbon allotropes and pyrrole derivatives comprising at least one sulphur atom, and crosslinkable elastomer compositions comprising such adducts. The present invention further relates to tyres for vehicle wheels comprising at least one structural element comprising a crosslinked elastomer material obtained by crosslinking of such crosslinkable elastomer compositions.

Abstract: In a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, at least one tread band (9) or other elastomeric component of a tyre (2) is made by applying at least one continuous elongated element (14) according to a plurality of turns (C) around a forming drum (15) rotating around a geometric rotation axis (X) thereof. The continuous elongated element (14) is made by the action of extruding a first material through an extrusion nozzle (16), to form an inner core (33) of said continuous elongated element (14) exiting from an outlet opening (18) of the extrusion nozzle (16). During the extrusion, a second material different from the first material is conveyed around the first material, at the extrusion nozzle (16) and upstream of the outlet opening (18), to form a coating layer (32) which entirely surrounds the inner core (33).

Abstract: A station for checking the formation of beads of tyres, including: a forming drum for arranging a carcass sleeve with formed beads with the carcass sleeve in rotation, an image acquisition system for acquiring at least an image of a circumferential portion of external surface including the respective edges of the end flaps turned up; a processing unit for processing the image in order to determine a circumferential trend of the axial distance of each edge from an axial reference plane and for detecting possible defects of the beads as a function of such trend.

Abstract: A vulcanised bicycle tyre (2) is retained by exerting a thrust action on the radially inner surface of the tyre directed radially away from the geometric axis of rotation thereof (X). An unloading device (12) provided with at least one frame (18) and at least one support member (19) of the tyre (2) is positioned with respect to the tyre (2) by aligning it with the geometric axis of rotation (X) of the tyre. The support member (19) is handled with respect to the frame (18) towards an operating position in which it is close to the radially outer surface (2b) of the tyre (2). Finally, the radial thrust action on the radially inner surface (2a) of the tyre (2) is interrupted for releasing said tyre (2) with the radially outer surface (2b) thereof on a contact surface (20) of the support member (19).

Abstract: Microbeads are described, comprising silica fibres with needle-shaped morphology of nanometric size, characterised by reduced dustiness and good dispersibility in elastomeric materials, a process for the preparation thereof and the use thereof in the production of vehicle tyres.

Abstract: A motorcycle tyre has a tread band including a central portion and two shoulder portions arranged at axially opposite sides of the central portion. The central portion includes a first plurality of grooves extended according to a substantially longitudinal direction and alternatively arranged at opposite sides of the equatorial plane of the tyre. Each groove of the first plurality of grooves has a substantially curvilinear course such as to form a concavity. The central portion further includes a sub-portion substantially free of grooves placed astride the equatorial plane of the tyre. Each of the shoulder portions includes a second plurality of grooves arranged obliquely relative to the equatorial plane of the tyre.

Abstract: A method for checking a tyre in a tyre production line. A portion of outer surface of the tyre is deformed to form an elastically deformed portion of inner surface and an elastically deformed portion of outer surface while illuminating the elastically deformed portion of outer surface with a first diffused light radiation emitted by a first light source and illuminating the elastically deformed portion of inner surface with a second grazing light radiation emitted by a second light source. Images of the deformed and illuminated portions of outer and inner surfaces are acquired through cameras, and the tyre is set in relative rotation around its rotation axis with respect to the first and second light sources during deformation and illumination.

Abstract: A tyre for vehicle wheels comprises a support structure and a tread band arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the support structure. The support structure comprises a plurality of hybrid reinforcing cords (10) each having a plurality of monofilament textile wires (20) twisted to at least one multifilament textile yarn (30). In any cross section of the hybrid reinforcing cord (10), at least one portion of at least one monofilament textile wire (20) of said plurality of monofilament textile wires (20) defines a first radially outer surface portion of the hybrid reinforcing cord (10) and at least one portion of said at least one multifilament textile yarn (30) defines a second radially outer surface portion of the hybrid reinforcing cord (10).

Abstract: A method and plant for producing tyres for vehicle wheels in which: each vulcanizer of a plurality of vulcanizers is associated with a respective pick-up logic of green tyres from at least one storage area of green tyres; upon each request to vulcanize a green tyre in a vulcanizer of the plurality of vulcanizers, the pick-up logic associated with the vulcanizer is applied to select and pick up a green tyre from the storage area; and the respective pick-up logic associated with each vulcanizer includes a first pick-up rule of green tyres from the storage area and, for at least one of the plurality of vulcanizers, the first pick-up rule is changed into at least one second pick-up rule at least once during the production in the plant of at least one lot of tyres.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking tyres has at least one check unit at least two consecutively placed check stations defining a check path such that each check station is traversed in one cycle time and by pitches by each tyre to be checked. Each check station includes: a support device for one tyre at a time housed in the respective check station, high-definition image acquisition systems of a surface of the tyre, and movement devices. The high-definition image acquisition systems have systems for acquiring high-definition two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. Only one of the at least two check stations has all the high-definition three-dimensional image acquisition systems of the check unit.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising the step of building on a forming support a carcass structure comprising at least one carcass ply and, at least one end edge of the carcass ply, at least one annular anchoring structure comprising at least one substantially circumferential annular insert and at least one filling insert associated to said at least one substantially circumferential annular insert. The step of building the carcass structure comprises the steps of positioning the annular anchoring structure on the carcass ply by moving the annular substantially circumferential insert into contact with an end edge of the carcass ply by means of a special positioning member, pulling down the filling insert on the end edge of the carcass ply and turning up a free end portion of the end edge of the carcass ply so as to form a turned up end portion of the carcass ply including said annular anchoring structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying noise reducing elements to tyres for vehicle wheels. The apparatus includes a loading station of stacks of noise reducing elements, an extraction station of noise reducing elements from each stack placed downstream of the loading station, and a conveyor placed downstream of the extraction station and extending along a predefined path. The conveyor is configured for supporting and advancing in a row the noise reducing elements extracted from the stacks which are then applied to a radially inner surface of the tyres. The extraction of each of the noise reducing elements contemplates: retaining a first noise reducing element placed at the base of a stack; raising the remaining noise reducing elements of the stack from the first noise reducing element; moving away the first noise reducing element according to a set path; and lowering the remaining noise reducing elements of the stack.

Abstract: A carcass sleeve including a carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures is fitted around a toroidal forming drum arranged in a first radially contracted operational condition. The carcass sleeve is toroidally shaped against a radially inner surface of an annular contrast element. The forming drum is positioned inside the carcass sleeve and is concurrently expanded towards a second operational condition. Upon reaching the second operational condition, the toroidally shaped carcass sleeve is coupled to the forming drum. The forming drum, coupled to the carcass sleeve, is adapted to be transferred in proximity of an application device of additional components externally to the carcass sleeve.

Abstract: A method for controlling the discharge of fluids during a process for vulcanization and moulding of a green tire includes the steps of: building at least one portion of a radially internal surface of a green tire by winding of a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material into a plurality of coils confining circumferential grooves along the rolling direction of the tire; disposing the circumferential grooves into fluid communication with discharge channels present in the radially external surface of a pressing bladder disposed in a radially internal cavity bounded by the green tire.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a tyre comprising a tread band having one or more reliefs with circumferential development, and a noise-reducing element applied on an inner surface of the tyre and extending along at least half of a circumferential development of the inner surface, wherein the noise-reducing element comprises a series of radially through openings, wherein the series of openings extends along the circumferential development of the inner surface and wherein the series of openings is placed so that at least half of an overall plant area of the openings of the series of openings is placed at one relief of the one or more reliefs.