Abstract: A method, a computer program product and a dispensing device for dispensing discrete medicaments, wherein the dispensing device comprises a dispensing section, a collection section and a packaging section, wherein the dispensing section defines an array of feeder positions for holding a plurality of feeder units, wherein the collection section comprises a first collection unit that is movable in a collection direction, wherein the method comprises the steps of: positioning a first feeder unit at a first feeder position; and prior to removing the first feeder unit from the first feeder position, positioning a second feeder unit at a second feeder position, downstream from the first feeder position in the collection direction, wherein the first feeder unit and the second feeder unit hold medicaments of the same first composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt and tread drum for manufacturing a package of a belt layer and a tread layer into a cylindrical tire component, wherein the belt and tread drum comprises two support surfaces which are arranged spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of said belt and tread drum and which face away from the drum centre line and are radially movable with respect to the rigid support surface from a retracted position in which the tread support surface is arranged at or near the rigid support surface, to a raised position wherein the tread support surface is arranged in a radially outward position with respect to the rigid support surface, and vice versa, and wherein the tread support surfaces are movable in the substantial longitudinal direction of said drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a building drum (1) for manufacturing a package of a belt layer (6) and a tread layer (7) into a substantially cylindrical tire component, wherein the drum is rotatable about a drum centre line (2) and comprises a rigid support surface (3) for the tire component situated at the outward facing circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the drum comprises two support members (4, 5) which are arranged spaced apart in a substantial longitudinal direction of said drum, wherein the support members (4, 5) each comprises a tread support surface (41, 51) which faces away from the drum centre line and which tread support surfaces are radially movable between a retracted position wherein the tread support surface is arranged at or near the rigid support surface, and a raised position wherein the tread support surface is arranged in a radially outward position with respect to the rigid support surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tyre is provided, in particular a run-flat tyre. The method includes providing a drum with a first shrink section and a second shrink section. Each shrink section is provided with a shrink surface that is radially movable. The method includes moving the shrink surfaces radially inwards with respect to the central axis from a level position to a shrink position in which the drum, at the shrink surfaces, has a circumference with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, while creating a partial vacuum between the shrink surfaces and a first tyre layer at the first shrink section and the second shrink section. The method further includes shrinking the first tyre layer onto the shrink surfaces in the shrink position under the influence of the partial vacuum. A drum for use in the aforementioned method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is an extruder and a method for extruding cord reinforced tire components, wherein the extruder has an extruder head with a die and a cord guide. The die is provided with a cross sectional profile that defines a first cross section of the extrusion material in the die, wherein the cross sectional profile has a profile height. The cord guide is arranged for guiding the cords into the die at a cord entry height. The extruder head is provided with first heating elements. The extruder has a control unit that is operationally connected to the first heating elements for generating an adjustable height temperature gradient in the extrusion material across the profile height to control swelling of the extrusion material relative to the cord entry height from the first cross section to a second cross section after the extrusion material leaves the die.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extruder system and a method for extruding cord reinforced extrudate, wherein the extruder system comprises an extruder head with a die for receiving extrusion material and a cord guide for guiding cords in a common cord plane in a cord direction into the die, wherein the extruder system comprises a first extruder and a second extruder, wherein the extruder head comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, wherein the extruder system further comprises a first pump and a second pump for receiving the extrusion material from the first extruder and the second extruder and for directing said extrusion material into the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

Abstract: Provided is a validation tool and a method for validating optical equipment that is used for measuring a plurality of characteristics of one or more tyre components during winding application of said tyre components around a tyre building drum, wherein a first tyre component of the one or more tyre components includes a first characteristic of the plurality of characteristics which, after measuring, is overlapped by the same or another tyre component of the one or more tyre components including a second characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, wherein the validation tool is provided with a first reference element that is arranged to represent the first characteristic and a second reference element that is arranged to represent the second characteristic, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element to at least partially expose the first reference element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cutting device and a method for cutting-off a length of a continuous strip to form a tire component, wherein the cutting device includes a cutting member for cutting the continuous strip at a cutting position and a feeding member that is movable in a feeding direction for feeding the length of the continuous strip in the feeding direction past said cutting position, wherein the feeding member is retractable in a retraction direction. The cutting device further includes a manipulator for retaining the length as the feeding member is retracted in the retraction direction, wherein the cutting position is located on the manipulator and wherein the cutting member and the manipulator are movable together in the feeding direction to cut-off of the length of the continuous strip at the cutting position on the manipulator while moving the length of the continuous strip in the feeding direction.

Abstract: A transfer device includes first and second transfer members which are movable into a first transfer state on opposite sides of a first transfer plane (P1). The first transfer member includes first magnetic field sources that form a first magnetic field array for retaining the tire component with a first magnetic attraction force (F1), while the second transfer member includes second magnetic field sources that form a second magnetic field array for retaining the tire component with a second magnetic attraction force (F2) that is larger than the first magnetic attraction force (F1) at the first transfer plane (P1), wherein in the first transfer state the second magnetic field array is offset with respect to the first magnetic field array.

Abstract: Provided is a stretching device for stretching an apex filler strip prior to application to a bead for a tire. The stretching device includes a stretching roller and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the apex filler strip in a loop around the stretching roller. The plurality of guide rollers is arranged for receiving the apex filler strip in an entry orientation and for discharging the apex filler strip in an exit orientation. The plurality of guide rollers is arranged for guiding the one side of the apex filler strip in the entry orientation and the exit orientation under angles different from the support angle (H) with respect to rotation axis (R) of the stretching roller such that the apex filler strip is twisted over a twisting angle of at least forty-five degrees.

Abstract: A cutting station for a tire building machine includes a cutting device and a feeding device for feeding a strip of rubber material into the cutting device. The cutting device includes a cutting table for supporting the strip of rubber material in a support plane (P) and a cutting element for cutting the strip of rubber material along a cutting line (C) that extends parallel to the support plane (P), wherein the support plane (P) extends at a support angle (B) with respect to a first vertical plane in a range of five to thirty degrees and wherein the feeding device (5) is arranged for feeding the strip of rubber material onto the cutting table in a downward feeding direction parallel to the support plane. Also provided is a tire building machine incorporating the cutting station and a cutting method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tire building drum having tire components thereon, wherein the tire building drum is provided with a turn-up mechanism for turning-up parts of the tire components, wherein the turn-up mechanism includes a group of arms, wherein each group of arms includes primary arms and secondary arms interposed between the primary arms, wherein, the primary arms and the secondary arms are provided with primary pressing elements and secondary pressing elements, respectively, for exerting a pressing force onto the tire components during the turning-up, wherein the primary pressing elements are in a leading position, wherein the secondary arms are provided with actuators which are arranged for displacing the secondary pressing elements from an axially trailing position with respect to the axial position of the primary pressing elements in the leading position towards the same axial position as the primary pressing elements in the leading position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for dispensing solid substances, wherein the apparatus comprises a feeder section with a plurality of feeder units, a collection section with a plurality of hoppers and a dispensing section, wherein the plurality of hoppers are rotatable with respect to the feeder units and a first packing position for dispensing the solid substances to the dispensing section, wherein the apparatus comprises a cleaning device for removing pollutants from the hoppers, wherein the cleaning device comprises a hub and a plurality of ducts forming air connections between the plurality of hoppers and the hub, wherein the cleaning device comprises a first blocking member that is arranged for blocking the air connection between one of the hoppers and the hub when said one hopper is positioned in the first packing position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and centering assembly (1) for centering a tire component (9), wherein the method comprises the steps of placing the tire component on and conveying it from a first conveyor (2) towards a second conveyor (3), determining the position of a first longitudinal edge (91), transversely moving the first conveyor (2) and thereby aligning the first longitudinal edge (91) along a first reference on the second conveyor (3), conveying the tire component from the first conveyor (2) onto the second conveyor (3) while determining the position of a second longitudinal edge (92), wherein the tire component has a center between the first longitudinal edge (91) and the second longitudinal edge (92), conveying the tire component from the second conveyor (3) towards a drum (4), laterally moving the drum (4) to align the center of the tire component with a center of a desired application position of the tire component on the drum, and conveying the tire component from the second conveyor (3) onto

Abstract: A tire building drum has a drum shaft and a circumferential surface for receiving a tire component, wherein the circumferential surface is defined by segments which are radially movable between a contracted position in which the circumferential surface has a first radius and an expanded position in which the circumferential surface has a second, greater radius. The tire building drum includes cover plates, wherein each segment is provided with a first section having a first support surface for supporting the tire component and a second section with a second support surface for supporting the cover plate. Each second section is movable relative to its respective first section from a recessed position in which the second support surface is recessed with respect to first radius and an extended position in which the second support surface is raised towards the second radius.

Abstract: Provided is a conveyor for conveying a tire component, in particular a tread for retreading, wherein the conveyor includes a support surface that extends in a direction of conveyance to support the tire component during conveyance in the direction of conveyance, wherein the support surface is provided with a surface structure that is arranged to contact seventy-five percent or less than seventy-five percent of the downwardly facing surface area of the tire component, wherein the support surface is arranged to be held stationary during conveyance of the tire component and wherein the conveyor is provided with one or more manipulators to manipulate the position of the tire component on the stationary support surface by sliding the tire component over the stationary support surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for stitching are provided. The apparatus includes a separator for separating in a separation position the leading end and the trailing end from a working surface to form a separation space, a stitcher unit with a stitcher foot to support the leading end and the trailing end from the separation space and a stitcher head for stitching the leading end and the trailing end on the stitcher foot from outside the separation space, a stitcher drive for driving the stitcher unit, a separator drive for retracting the separator, and a control unit to control the separator drive and the stitcher drive simultaneously such that, during the stitching, the separator is retracted in the stitching direction ahead of the stitcher unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for dispensing solid substances, wherein the apparatus comprises a feeder section with a plurality of feeder units, a collection section with a plurality of hoppers and a dispensing section, wherein the plurality of hoppers are rotatable with respect to the feeder units and a first packing position for dispensing the solid substances to the dispensing section, wherein the apparatus comprises a cleaning device for removing pollutants from the hoppers, wherein the cleaning device comprises a hub and a plurality of ducts forming air connections between the plurality of hoppers and the hub, wherein the cleaning device comprises a first blocking member that is arranged for blocking the air connection between one of the hoppers and the hub when said one hopper is positioned in the first packing position.

Abstract: A gripper assembly has a gripper having a gripping element with a gripping face to engage and retain a tire component through suction. The gripping face has a plurality of sections; each section has a vacuum channel and a valve placed between the vacuum channel of the respective section and a vacuum source. Each valve is individually operable to an open position and a closed position, wherein the gripping face in use has a suction area formed by the sections of which the respective valves are in the open position, wherein the suction area is adjustable by selectively operating the plurality of valves to open positions and closed positions wherein the gripper assembly further has a configuration tool which is arranged to control the respective valves to their open and closed positions.

Abstract: A deflection roller for guiding and/or deflecting a rubber tire component, has a shaft that defines an axis of rotation of the deflection roller and a plurality of bristles distributed circumferentially around the shaft and extending radially outwards and orthogonally with respect to the axis of rotation to form a circumferential brush surface that is concentric to the axis of rotation. The deflection roller further has a first boundary element and a second boundary element extending adjacent to the plurality of bristles in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and protruding radially outside the circumferential brush surface at a first end and a second end of the circumferential brush surface, respectively, for binding the circumferential brush surface in the axial direction.