Abstract: An automated flow management system manages a flow of raw materials and a flow of semi-finished products in order to carry out one or more processes of rubber compounding. An automated flow management process is carried out by the disclosed management system in a compounding facility for manufacturing rubber compounds.

Abstract: Methods for controlling curing apparatuses for tyre production, wherein the curing apparatuses are adapted to work on green tyres to obtain corresponding finished tyres by acquiring, through a processing unit, initial parameters describing at least one of the shape and dimensions of the finished tyres. The processing unit computes first parameters describing the green tyres, the first parameters having at least one parameter representative of an axial height of the green tyres; second parameters describing the curing apparatuses, the second parameters having one or more parameters representative of dimensions of the curing apparatuses; and third parameters as a function of the first parameters and the second parameters, the third parameters having one or more parameters representative of positions taken by movable members included in the curing apparatuses. The processing unit generates signals for controlling the movable members of the curing apparatuses.

Abstract: The present invention is relative to a method for building tyres for vehicle wheels and to a transfer device (16) of an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels. The centring device (16) comprises: an annular support structure (18); gripping elements (19) arranged as a ring on the annular support structure (18) and having gripping surfaces (20) directed radially towards a longitudinal axis (Z-Z) of the transfer device (16); a measurement device (30) mounted on the annular support structure (18). The measurement device (30) is configured for detecting the centring between the transfer device (16) and a drum (12, 13) situated within the transfer device (16). The transfer device (16) is configured for picking up the tyre being processed (14, 15) from the drum (12, 13) on which the tyre being processed is arranged or for depositing a tyre being processed (14, 15) on the drum (12, 13).

Abstract: A tire (1) in which at least one of the said tread pattern blocks (51) comprises a circumferential reinforcing element (52) positioned axially on the inside relative to the said at least one groove (71) when working from the outside towards the inside and axially close to the said circumferential groove, the circumferential reinforcing element (52) is made of a rubber compound having a dynamic shear modulus G* at least twice as high as the dynamic shear modulus G* of the rubber compound of the rest of the blocks of the tread, the circumferential reinforcing element (52) extends radially from the radially exterior surface of the said crown reinforcement (6) towards the surface of the said tread with an axial width which decreases progressively with increasing radial proximity to the outside, and in which the said circumferential reinforcing element (52) partially forms the axially internal lateral face (7i) of the said at least one of the said tread pattern blocks (51).

Abstract: A tire has a tread 5 which includes grooves 7, the side faces 72 of which are undercut, and includes at least one circumferential reinforcing element 8-1 arranged axially relative to said undercut side face 72 at a distance “d” of between 0 and 15% of the axial width L51 of the tread block 51, at least extending radially from the inside towards the outside from a radial level situated above the wear limit level and to a radial height equal to 5% of the thickness “p” of the tread.

Abstract: The invention discloses a tire building device and a tire building method. The tire building device includes a lateral-longitudinal-orthogonal 1 rail unit, a transferring ring, a carcass application unit, a bead placement unit, a belt application unit, a building unit, a shaping unit, and a tire unloading mechanism; the lateral and longitudinal orthogonal rail unit divides the tire building device into four areas, and also establishes the connection between the units through the transferring ring. The tire building method, including: 1) adhere the bead and tire carcass compound and then sent to the building unit; 2) send the belt compound to the building unit, 3) compound the carcass compound and belt compound into a carcass and sent to the shaping unit; 4) wind the carcass around the tread to form a green tire and sends it to the tire unloading mechanism for disassembly.

Abstract: The present invention is relative to a method for building tyres for vehicle wheels and to a transfer device (16) of an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels. The centring device (16) comprises: an annular support structure (18); gripping elements (19) arranged as a ring on the annular support structure (18) and having gripping surfaces (20) directed radially towards a longitudinal axis (Z-Z) of the transfer device (16); a measurement device (30) mounted on the annular support structure (18). The measurement device (30) is configured for detecting the centring between the transfer device (16) and a drum (12, 13) situated within the transfer device (16). The transfer device (16) is configured for picking up the tyre being processed (14, 15) from the drum (12, 13) on which the tyre being processed is arranged or for depositing a tyre being processed (14, 15) on the drum (12, 13).

Abstract: An electric oil pump includes a motor part having a shaft; a pump part that is positioned on one side of the motor part and is driven by the motor part via the shaft and discharges oil; and a control part configured to control an operation of the motor part, wherein the motor part includes a rotor, a stator disposed to face the rotor, and a motor housing, wherein the pump part includes a pump rotor and a pump housing having a housing part, wherein the control part includes a plurality of electronic components and a board, the plurality of electronic components include a heat generating component, wherein the motor housing has a cylindrical part and a plurality of heat dissipating fins that extend from the cylindrical part, wherein the board has a first surface and a second surface, and the heat generating component is mounted on the second surface.

Abstract: A transfer ring for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires, the transfer ring including a radially expandable and collapsible segmented cylindrical gripping surface defined by a plurality of inwardly facing arcuate surfaces mounted for radial movement toward and away from a central axis of the cylindrical gripping surface, wherein each arcuate surface is mounted to a corresponding set of driven linkages comprising first, second, and third members, each set of driven linkages further including a block-and-rail cam follower secured to at least one of the first, second, and third members and configured to cooperate with the first, second, and third members to limit movement of the arcuate surface to linear movement radially toward and away from the central axis of the cylindrical gripping surface.

Abstract: A plant for building a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a device for building carcass sleeves on building drums, a bead-forming machine, a first storage region, a second storage region, a first transport device movable between a picking-up position of pairs of annular anchoring structures in the first storage region and a release position of the pairs of annular anchoring structures in the bead-forming machine, and a second transport device movable between a first engagement position in the first storage region and a second engagement position in the second storage region, to move a plurality of annular anchoring structures between the first storage region and the second storage region.

Abstract: A process for building different models of green tyres for vehicle wheels, by using elementary semi-finished products, in a building plant including a plurality of workstations is described. The process includes building a first carcass structure of a first model of tyre on a first forming support, in a first workstation, the first carcass structure including at least one first carcass ply obtained from a first elementary semi-finished product, and at least one first pair of annular reinforcing inserts. The process includes the delivery of the first forming support to a bypass device to go beyond at least one second workstation without transiting through it. A plant suitable for allowing the aforementioned process to be carried out is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cutting device and a method for cutting a continuous strip into tire components. The cutting device includes a knife for cutting the continuous strip along a cutting line in a working plane and a feeding assembly with a feeding member for feeding the continuous strip in the working plane to the knife in a feeding direction that intersects with the cutting line at a cutting angle. The feeding member, and the knife are rotatable with respect to each other about a rotation axis perpendicular to the working plane for adjusting the cutting angle. The feeding assembly further includes an input member for receiving the continuous strip in an input direction into the cutting device and one or more guide members for guiding the continuous strip from the input member to the feeding member, wherein the input member is placed in line with or substantially in line with the rotation axis.

Abstract: A plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, includes a sleeve building area in which devices for obtaining carcass sleeves operate, a crown building area in which devices for obtaining crown structures operate and a shaping station for shaping each carcass sleeve according to a toroidal configuration. Transfer devices for transferring the carcass sleeves from the sleeve building area to the shaping station, by a first translator configured for picking up each carcass sleeve from an outlet station of the sleeve building area, a second translator configured for releasing each carcass sleeve in the shaping station, and a storage device operatively interposed between said first translator and second translator.

Abstract: A plant for building tyres, includes: a shaping work station configured for receiving a carcass sleeve; at least one radially expandable/contractible toroidal forming drum engageable in the shaping work station; at least one work station configured for building at least one component of a crown structure on a radially external surface of a tyre being processed, defined starting from the carcass sleeve that is shaped and coupled to the forming drum; transfer devices configured for moving said forming drum along a closed-loop completion path and arranging it in proximity to the work station in order to obtain a green tyre, the closed-loop completion path being extended from an initial work station to a final work station coinciding with the shaping work station; and a pick-up device configured for picking up said green tyre decoupled from the respective forming drum.

Abstract: A method of controlling the management of annular anchoring structures in a process and a plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes a) feeding pairs of first annular anchoring structures from a first storage region to a bead-forming machine; b) loading a plurality of second annular anchoring structures into a second storage region; c) carrying the second annular anchoring structures from the second storage region to the first storage region; d) feeding pairs of second annular anchoring structures from the first storage region to the bead-forming machine; e) loading a plurality of first annular anchoring structures into said second storage region; and f) carrying the first annular anchoring structures from the second storage region to the first storage region.

Abstract: A method for coupling a number of utilities between a first system and a second system is provided. A first interface that couples the number of utilities between the first system and the second system is created between the first system and a utilities unit. The first interface is activated. A second interface between the second system and the utilities unit is deactivated, while the first interface remains activated.

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: Method, process and plant for building tires for vehicle wheels wherein: in a service position of a carcass structure building line, a forming drum is associated with a pair of support elements including a first support element and a second support element; the forming drum is moved, associated with the pair of support elements, in a deposition line in the carcass structure building line; and the forming drum is transferred from the deposition line to a subsequent work station of the carcass structure building line.

Abstract: In an assembly station a carcass sleeve and an outer sleeve manufactured along respective building ones are mutually coupled. Integrated into the assembly station are engagement devices that can be alternatively coupled to an auxiliary drum carrying an outer sleeve and to a building drum carrying a carcass sleeve. A grip unit picks up the outer sleeve from the auxiliary drum associated with the engagement devices in order to position it to a location radially external to the carcass sleeve carried by the building drum associated with the engagement devices in place of the auxiliary drum. Shaping devices that can be operatively coupled to the building drum cause radial expansion of the carcass sleeve so as to enable the latter to be coupled to the outer sleeve retained by the grip unit.

Abstract: A dual tire buffing apparatus includes a turntable having a first end and an opposite second end. The turntable is rotatable about a central axis between first and second positions. A first expandable hub is rotatably coupled to the turntable proximate the first end. The first expandable hub is configured to receive a first tire casing. A second expandable hub is rotatably coupled to the turntable proximate the second end. The second expandable hub is configured to receive a second tire casing. A rasp head is positioned to operatively engage the first tire casing on the first expandable hub when the turntable is in the first position to perform a buffing operation on the first tire casing, and to operatively engage the second tire casing on the second expandable hub when the turntable is in the second position to perform a buffing operation on the second tire casing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving tire uniformity include identifying at least one candidate process harmonic and corresponding period. A set of uniformity waveforms is then collected for each test tire in a set of one or more test tires. To provide better data for analysis, the collection of waveforms may include multiple waveforms including measurements obtained before and/or after cure, in clockwise and/or counterclockwise rotational directions, and while the tire is loaded and/or unloaded. The uniformity waveforms may be re-indexed to the physical order of the at least one candidate process harmonic, and selected data points within the waveforms may optionally be deleted around a joint effect or other non-sinusoidal effect. The re-indexed, optionally partial, waveforms may then be analyzed to determine magnitude and azimuth estimates for the candidate process harmonics. Aspects of tire manufacture may then be modified in a variety of different ways to account for the estimated process harmonics.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a device for manufacturing a breaker ply package for a green tire, wherein a rubber band is supplied by a supply device (35) that can be moved between a first position and a second position, wherein the supply device can be moved between a first position in which the supply device is set for supplying the continuous rubber band at a supply direction which with the conveyance direction includes a first angle that equals the first cord angle, and a second position in which the supply device is set for supplying the continuous rubber band at a supply direction which with the conveyance direction includes a second angle that equals the second cord angle, wherein the second angle is not equal to the first angle.

Abstract: A plant for building tires for vehicle wheels, includes at least one forming drum having a supporting shaft axially projecting from opposite sides relative to a central body. A handling device is adapted to engage the forming drum and transfer it between at least one loading/unloading location and a work location provided for carrying out at least one process working on the forming drum. The handling device includes a grip assembly carrying at least two grip members each engaging the supporting shaft in the vicinity of each of the end portions thereof, and at least one motor associated with at least one of said grip members for driving the forming drum in rotation while the at least one process working is being carried out in the work location.

Abstract: In an assembly station a carcass sleeve and an outer sleeve manufactured along respective building lines are mutually coupled. Integrated into the assembly station are engagement devices that can be alternatively coupled to an auxiliary drum carrying an outer sleeve and to a building drum carrying a carcass sleeve. A grip unit picks up the outer sleeve from the auxiliary drum associated with the engagement devices in order to position it to a location radially external to the carcass sleeve carried by the building drum associated with the engagement devices in place of the auxiliary drum. Shaping devices that can be operatively coupled to the building drum cause radial expansion of the carcass sleeve so as to enable the latter to be coupled to the outer sleeve retained by the grip unit.

Abstract: A method and a plant for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels wherein the method includes the steps of: a) building in a building station a substantially cylindrical carcass structure; b) manufacturing in a finishing station a substantially cylindrical sleeve including a tread band applied at a radially outer position with respect to a belt structure including at least one belt layer. Step b) includes the steps of assembling a first belt structure at a first working position on a first auxiliary drum of the finishing station; applying a tread band at a second working position at a radially outer position with respect to a second belt structure previously assembled on a second auxiliary drum of the finishing station, positioning the first auxiliary drum supporting the first belt structure at the second working position; and positioning the second auxiliary drum supporting the substantially cylindrical sleeve thus obtained at a picking position of the finishing station.

Abstract: A bead ring and a belt-tread component are prepared in advance, and a forming drum capable of axially moving carries a tire body component to enter a forming pressing workstation. The forming machine comprises a main machine and a servicer, wherein a belt drum laminating workstation at one side of a belt drum, a main servicer laminating workstation at one side of the forming drum, and a forming pressing workstation at one side of a combined roller are arranged along the center line of a main shaft of the main machine; the prepared belt-cap ply-tread component and sidewall-inner liner-carcass ply component are conveyed to the workstations and combined with the bead ring, so as to carry out turn-up forming and pressing operation technologies of a tire blank; the forming pressing workstation is arranged between the belt drum laminating workstation and the forming pressing workstation.

Abstract: Method, process and plant for building tires for vehicle wheels wherein: in a service position of a carcass structure building line, a forming drum is associated with a pair of support elements including a first support element and a second support element; the forming drum is moved, associated with the pair of support elements, in a deposition line in the carcass structure building line; and the forming drum is transferred from the deposition line to a subsequent work station of the carcass structure building line.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing tires includes making a plurality of structural components for tires, assembling the components following a pre-established sequence at respective work stations disposed along a manufacturing line, transferring the tires to a curing line, and curing the tires in respective vulcanization molds. The tires are sequentially transferred along the manufacturing line from a first work station to successive work stations. At least one series of tires is simultaneously processed on the manufacturing line and the curing line, and the at least one series of tires includes at least one first tire model and at least one second tire model different from the at least one first tire model. The tires are transferred from the manufacturing line to the curing line at a same rate as the tires are sequentially transferred along the manufacturing line from the first work station to the successive work stations.

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: In the field of tire building, underbelt inserts are applied to an expandable support associated with an auxiliary drum on which the belt structure is made, simultaneously with manufacture of a carcass structure on a primary drum. Following expansion of the expandable support, the underbelt inserts are applied to the belt structure that can be directly made on the support itself in an expanded condition. The belt structure together with the underbelt inserts and a tread band are then transferred onto the carcass structure formed on the primary drum to complete building of the tire following shaping of the carcass into a toroidal conformation.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an elastomeric tire component includes the steps of a) preparing an elongated element including a cross-linkable elastomeric material by feeding it to an extruding device having a plurality of units, each having a respective thermal inertia, and b) delivering the elongated element onto a building support, and further includes at least one non-productive step of c) submitting at least one of the units of the extruding device to a thermal transition selected from heating or cooling, substantially reducing the risk of scorching during the thermal transition from and to the non-productive step ranking the units according to their thermal inertia and heating the units starting with the top-ranked unit sequentially to the bottom-ranked unit to reach the respective working temperature or cooling the units starting from the maximum working temperature unit sequentially to the minimum working temperature unit to reach the respective non-working temperature.

Abstract: A tire building system includes a first loop of travel track, a plurality of first carriage housings movably mounted on the first loop, a second loop of travel track, a plurality of second carriage housings movably mounted on the second loop, and a first transfer station of the first loop and a second transfer station of the second loop for interrelating the first loop and the second loop.

Abstract: On a building drum, anchoring structures to beads, carcass plies, a belt structure and/or other annular composite components are sequentially assembled with a liner, sidewalls, sidewall inserts, under-belt inserts or other annular elastomer components. Each of the sidewall inserts, sidewalls, or under-belt inserts is made as a one piece construction in a service station operating far away from the building drum for storage on a movable storing device. Actuating members operating on the movable storing device carry the annular elastomer components from the service station to the building drum. A transfer member picks up the annular elastomer components from the movable storing device to transfer them to the building drum.

Abstract: A method for making a vehicle tire includes winding a carcass ply onto a carcass drum, wherein the carcass drum includes a device for setting tire cores and a mechanism for folding the carcass ply over a tire core; finishing the tire carcass; removing the tire carcass from the carcass drum; moving the tire carcass over a cambering drum; carrying out a core clamping with segments of the cambering drum with the tire sidewalls clamped with the tire carcass in the region of the tire bead at the cambering drum via core clamping; moving the carcass transfer unit away from the cambering unit; cambering the tire carcass with the tire sidewalls which are on both sides, wherein the tire sidewalls are turned up laterally on the tire carcass by a turning-up device and the tire carcass is combined with the coaxially arranged belt-tread packet; and, finishing the green tire.

Abstract: A method of controlling the management of annular anchoring structures in a process and a plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, includes: a) feeding pairs of first annular anchoring structures from a first storage region to a bead-forming machine; b) loading a plurality of second annular anchoring structures into a second storage region; c) carrying the second annular anchoring structures from the second storage region to the first storage region; and d) feeding pairs of second annular anchoring structures from the first storage region to the bead-forming machine. The method includes the sequential cyclic repetition of the above actions.

Abstract: A tire building method and a tire building facility according to the invention attains reduction of an installation space of the tire building facility and substantially equal building cycles for respective building stages to increase building efficiency and facilitate arrangement switching. For attaining these, a step for building a cylindrical carcass band, a subsequent step for building a cylindrical green case, a step for building a cylindrical belt and tread band, a step for combining the green case and the belt and tread band to build the final shape are divided as first through fourth building stages (S1) through (S4) having individual building drums (D1) through (D4) corresponding to the respective steps.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire manufacturing method capable of improving the productivity of pneumatic tires each having surface fasteners in its tire inner surface, and of avoiding manufacturing a pneumatic tire having a deteriorated uniformity, as well as of preventing engagement elements of each surface fastener from being crushed. Also, provided is a pneumatic tire manufactured by the pneumatic tire manufacturing method.

Abstract: A tire unloading apparatus for separating a cured tire from a toroidally shaped segmented core body configured to carry the cured tire includes a plurality of tire engaging paddle mechanisms positioned in a spaced apart circular array defining a cured tire receiving central opening, the cured tire mounted to a core body. The paddle mechanisms operatively move between a radially outward tire release position and a radially inward tire gripping position. The tire unloading apparatus further includes a core segment manipulating apparatus operative to move individual core segments from a radially outward tire supporting core body position to a radially inward segment removal position. A plurality of segment support arms forming a circular array below the tire receiving opening are in an operative location to support respective core body segments.

Abstract: A plant and a process for building different types of green tyres for vehicle wheels for each tyre size, through the use of elementary semi-finished products, includes: a) building a carcass structure of a green tyre, the carcass structure including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures; and b) building a crown structure of a green tyre, the crown structure including at least one belt structure and a tread band; wherein at least one between the building of the carcass structure and the building of the crown structure includes: c) providing at least one first feeding unit of a first elementary semi-finished product and one second feeding unit of a second elementary semi-finished product, the at least one first and one second elementary semi-finished products being different from one another; and d) building at least one portion of a structural component of the tyre being processed, starting from at least one of the first and second elementary semi-finished products, in one work st

Abstract: A method and a plant for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels wherein the method includes the steps of: a) building in a building station a substantially cylindrical carcass structure; b) manufacturing in a finishing station a substantially cylindrical sleeve including a tread band applied at a radially outer position with respect to a belt structure including at least one belt layer. Step b) includes the steps of assembling a first belt structure at a first working position on a first auxiliary drum of the finishing station; applying a tread band at a second working position at a radially outer position with respect to a second belt structure previously assembled on a second auxiliary drum of the finishing station, positioning the first auxiliary drum supporting the first belt structure at the second working position; and positioning the second auxiliary drum supporting the substantially cylindrical sleeve thus obtained at a picking position of the finishing station.

Abstract: Provided is a device for forming a special giant all-steel radial OTR tire in a continuous process, the device comprising a first base guide rail, a second base guide rail, a headstock, a main building drum, a belt housing, a belt drum and an overhead rail. The first base guide rail and the second base guide rail are parallel to each other. The overhead rail comprising a first traveling unit and a second traveling unit are disposed above the first base guide rail and the second base guide rail. A method for forming a special giant all-steel radial OTR tire in a continuous process is also provided.

Abstract: The invention can perform building in a process for building a carcass band or a belt/tread band of a tire, in which two drum transfer support bases (10) supporting building drums (D1) are alternately shifted to first and second transfer sections (11), (12), in which predetermined building positions are set, a rotational transfer device (A) for rotational transfer of the drum transfer support bases (10) is mounted between the first transfer section (11) and the second transfer section (12), which are arranged to get out of position relative to and in parallel to each other, and two pairs of rotational transfer rails (27a), (28a) are juxtaposed on a rotating table (20), which has an axis (O) intermediate between the both transfer sections, to be positioned corresponding to extensions of travel rails (11a), (12a) arranged on the first and second transfer sections (11), (12) to receive two drum transfer support bases (10), (10), which enter from portions of the rails (11a), (12a) of the both transfer sections (1

Abstract: A plant and a process for building green tyres for vehicle wheels.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus (10) for forming a tire component upon an axially tapered building surface (100). In particular embodiments, such methods include the step of providing a mechanical system, the system including a plurality of cutting members (42) and an application surface (64) for transferring material to the axially tapered building surface, the axially tapered surface comprising a surface of revolution that varies radially along a rotational axis of the surface. Particular embodiments may also include translating a sheet of material along a translation path through the mechanical system, and cutting a strip of material from the sheet with one or more of the plurality of cutting members during the step of translating.

Abstract: A dryer rack for use with an apparatus for drying an object inside a drum is disclosed, wherein the dryer rack includes a platform for having an upper surface for supporting the object. The platform may include at least one grip for loading and unloading the dryer rack into an interior space of the drum. The at least one grip is flush with the upper surface of the platform. The at least one grip is formed in a forward portion of the platform, to be near an access point of the drum.

Abstract: A plant for building tyres of at least two different models for vehicle wheels, includes at least a tyre building line, which in turn, includes: a plurality of work stations arranged according to a sequential series, each work station being adapted for building at least one structural component of each tyre and assembling at least one elementary component; at least one handling device for the tyres being processed on the respective forming supports associated to each work station; and at least one transfer device adapted for transferring the tyre being processed on its forming support from any first work station of the sequential series to any other second work station not adjacent thereto of the sequential series, so that the tyre being processed on its forming support only passes in the first and second work stations.

Abstract: On a building drum, anchoring structures to beads, carcass plies, a belt structure and/or other annular composite components are sequentially assembled with a liner, sidewalls, sidewall inserts, under-belt inserts or other annular elastomer components. Each of the sidewall inserts, sidewalls, or under-belt inserts is made as a one piece construction in a service station operating far away from the building drum for storage on a movable storing device. Actuating members operating on the movable storing device carry the annular elastomer components from the service station to the building drum. A transfer member picks up the annular elastomer components from the movable storing device to transfer them to the building drum.

Abstract: The method of building and transferring a tread belt structure on a portable and collapsible building drum 10 mounted coaxially on a building machine 100 with a rotatable shaft 120 is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming the annular tread belt 4 on the building drum 10, transferring the building drum 10 with the tread belt 4 from the rotatable shaft 120 onto a pivoting transfer device 200, pivoting the transfer device 200 about 90° rendering the tread belt 4 and axis of the building drum 10 perpendicular to a horizontal plane, collapsing the building drum 10, separating the annular tread belt 4 from the building drum 10, removing the tread belt 4, expanding the tire building drum 10, pivoting the building drum 10 into coaxial alignment with the rotatable shaft 120, moving the building drum 10 onto the shaft 120. The tread belt 4 has one or more elastomeric components applied while hot and the equipment provides means for weighing the tread belt 4.

Abstract: A tire manufacturing method includes the steps of, when a green tire is molded, moving a toroidally expandable toroidal molding drum through a distance between a plurality of working stations at a specified tact time, disposing a carcass band and both bead cores on the drum in any working station and locking the bead cores, increasing the diameter of the molding drum, toroidally extending the carcass band between both bead cores, and rolling up the side portion of the carcass band around the bead cores in the outer radial direction, assembling tire component members with the bead cores locked to the toroidal molding drum and molding the green tire, and reducing the diameter of the molding drum, unlocking the bead cores, and removing the green tire from the molding drum, whereby the tires of a plurality of sizes can be sequentially molded, a conventional tire structure must not be largely changed, and an energy and time can be prevented from being wastefully consumed.

Abstract: A plant and a process for producing tyres for vehicle wheels, includes the steps of: a) building a carcass structure of a green tyre on a first forming drum in at least one carcass structure building line, the carcass structure including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures; b) building a crown structure of a green tyre on at least one second forming drum in at least one crown structure building line, the crown structure including at least one belt structure and a tread band; c) toroidally shaping the carcass structure assembling it to the crown structure in at least one assembling and shaping work station for the tyre being processed, the assembling and shaping work station being synchronised with the carcass structure building line and with the crown structure building line; wherein each carcass structure is associated with the respective first forming drum whereon it is built up to the end of step c) of shaping and assembling the tyre being processed; and d) moulding and vulc