Abstract: A tire manufacturing method to obtain a base tire superior in uniformity when the base tire has a cushion gum applied thereon. In this process of tire manufacture, the thickness from a belt, which is located in the outermost layer of the base tire having an application surface for the cushion gum, to the application surface is measured along the circumference of the base tire so as to detect a maximum thickness position. Then the circumferential winding of the cushion gum extruded from an extrusion molding unit is started from the maximum thickness position.

Abstract: Device for cutting and transferring a length of strip let off a continuous strip, comprising a first face and a second face to be laid on a rotary receiving surface and containing a cutting means to separate the said length from the continuous strip along a cutting line, a telescopic conveyor belt, arranged in a longitudinal direction between the cutting means and the receiving surface, to receive the length of strip via the first face, a first half-anvil, upstream of the cutting line, and comprising holding means to grasp the strip via the first face, a transporter, having holding means to grasp the front edge or rear edge of the length of strip via the second face, the transporter able to move in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A strip rubber adhering method includes: extruding strip rubber of a shape having an apex portion in cross section from an extruder and moving the same forward toward a drum; pressing a surface of the strip rubber on the apex portion side by a pressure bonding roller, adhering the strip rubber to the drum, moving relatively the drum and the extruder with respect to each other in an axial direction of the drum, and winding the strip rubber around the drum in a spiral manner; and exposing the surface of the strip rubber on the apex portion side to wind from a blowing apparatus in the vicinity of a position of adhesion of the strip rubber to the drum and cooling the surface of the strip rubber on the apex portion side.

Abstract: A tire building drum is disclosed. A thrust plate is mounted at a tapered end of a central shaft. An actuator is slidable along the shaft between first and second positions. Arcuate segments are arranged in a circumferential relationship about the shaft to define a working surface. First guide rails are slidably secured to the thrust plate, with a first end of each first rail mounted near a first end of one of the segments and a second end extending radially inwardly along the thrust plate. Second guide rails are slidably secured to the actuator, with a first end of each second rail mounted near a second end of one of the segments and a second end extending radially and axially inwardly along the actuator. Each of the guide rail second ends extends radially inward toward the inwardly tapered shaft portion when the actuator is in the first position.

Abstract: A tire shaping drum has a central axle, a drum part which is capable of expansion and contraction, and a expanding/contracting means for changing the drum part. In the drum part, first segments having first end faces at both ends in the circumferential direction, and second segments having second end faces at both ends in the circumferential direction, are alternately seriated. There is provided with a backlash prevention means for preventing backlash between the contacting first end faces and second end faces when the drum part is in a diameter expanded state. Consequently, the first end faces and the second end faces closely contact with each other, and changes in the circularity of the drum part and the outer diameter of the drum part can be prevented.

Abstract: The tool which contains: a support, and an arm bearing a strip extrusion member and a strip applicator roller, wherein the arm is articulated with respect to the support about a first axis parallel to a geometric axis of the roller and about a second axis tangential to a circumference of the roller, of the first and second axes at least one passing through a centre of gravity of the arm.

Abstract: The curing press for a tire blank comprises: a mold and inductors capable of heating the press by electromagnetic induction, each inductor comprising a core (36) comprising two feet (40) having respective undersides (60) which are flat and inclined in relation to one another.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the subject invention comprise methods and apparatus for mounting a tread ring onto a tire carcass. Such methods may include the step of providing a tire tread ring having opposing side edges; arranging the tread ring in an initial ring arrangement in communication with a pressure source, the pressure source being in communication with an outer side of the tread ring; expanding the tread ring radially outward from the initial ring arrangement to an expanded arrangement, the tread ring being expanded by applying vacuum pressure along the outer side of the tread ring supplied by the pressure source; inserting a tire carcass within a central opening of the tread ring while in the expanded arrangement; contracting the tread ring into an installed arrangement about an outer surface of the tire carcass; and, releasing the vacuum along the outer side of the tread ring.

Abstract: A process for building tyres provides for building a carcass sleeve around a forming drum having an application diameter and two lateral half-portions axially moveable relative to each other. The carcass sleeve includes at least one carcass ply coaxially engaged around each of the axially opposite end flaps thereof to an annular anchoring structure defining a fitting diameter smaller than the application diameter. The building of the carcass sleeve includes: applying and stopping a leading end of a semi-finished product in the form of a continuous strip cut to size against a continuous surface of the forming drum; winding the semi-finished product in the form of a continuous strip cut to size circumferentially around the forming drum; and joining a trailing end of the semi-finished product to the leading end at said continuous surface. The continuous surface is extended only partly around the forming drum.

Abstract: In a process for building tires for vehicle wheels, a carcass sleeve is arranged on a shaping drum including two half-drums and two supports. Each support is operatively associated with one of the half-drums and carries a plurality of turning-up levers having free ends positioned close to the respective half-drum. Two annular anchoring structures are disposed around the carcass sleeve and each of the two supports is locked to the respective half-drum by interposing only stiff mechanical elements in mutual contact between the support and the half-drum. The carcass sleeve is shaped in a toroidal conformation, by setting a threaded shaft in rotation and moving the half-drums dose to each other.

Abstract: In the method for producing a tire carcass ply for a vehicle, the ply is wound onto a drum and contains reinforcements running in planes that are radial to an axis of the drum, of which: at least one assembly member (51, 52) mounted such that it can move in relation to the drum brings the ends of the ply together and assembles them by travelling over the ply in a direction (X) parallel to the ends; and prior to assembly, a blade independent of the one or of each assembly member extends between the drum and the ends without extending between the drum and the rest of the ply.

Abstract: A method of forming a tread comprising two or more layers of rubber is described. The method includes the steps of: extruding a rubber compound through an extruder and a gear pump and mixing with an accelerant and then applying a continuous strip of rubber directly onto a tire building machine to form a first layer of rubber having a first cure rate; adjusting the amount of accelerant to obtain a second cure rate different than said first cure rate, and then applying a strip of rubber having a second cure rate onto the tire building machine, wherein one of the cure rates is faster than the other cure rate.

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: An apparatus for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels wherein each tire includes a carcass structure formed starting from at least one carcass ply laid on a forming support extended along a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes at least one device for positioning at least one annular anchoring structure on at least one end edge of the carcass ply, the positioning device being circumferentially extended around the longitudinal axis of the forming support and axially movable with respect to the forming support between an operating position distal from the forming support and at least one operating position close to the forming support. The apparatus further includes a device for turning up the end edge of the carcass ply around the annular anchoring structure, the turning up device being circumferentially extended about the longitudinal axis of the forming support and axially movable for approaching/moving away to/from the forming support.

Abstract: The present technology provides a method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire. The method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire uses a laminated sheet having a predetermined length and an inner liner layer formed from the laminated sheet through a step of cure-molding the tire with end portions of the laminated sheet lap-spliced. In the method, when at least the sheet made of thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic resin composition obtained by blending the thermoplastic resin and the elastomer is cut into the predetermined length, the cutting is performed by using an edge tool having a non-sharp edge under a temperature condition not lower than 60° C. and not higher than a melting point of the thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a reinforcing structure of a tire for vehicle wheels, is carried out on a toroidal support including an outer surface, by means of at least one laying element, which can be oriented in space in a controlled way; the laying element including a laying surface adapted to act on a portion of a rubberized strip-like element for laying the same on the outer surface of the toroidal support. The reinforcing structure includes at least a first and a second radially superimposed reinforcing layers, each including a plurality of strip-like elements; each reinforcing layer having a circumferential extension about a rotation axis of the tire and comprising thread-like reinforcing elements, arranged parallel to one another.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for building tires for vehicle wheels includes assembling at least one tire component through laying of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially close to each other on a deposition surface radially external to the forming drum, wherein laying of each strip-like element includes: radially moving the strip-like element close to the deposition surface; locking a central portion of the strip-like element against the deposition surface; and pulling the strip-like element in opposite directions starting from the central portion toward the opposite ends thereof, while the central portion is maintained in a locked condition against the deposition surface, so as to progressively lay down the strip-like element against the deposition surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly and a method for manufacturing a green tire and/or a green air spring. The device comprises a template having a shaping surface (2) for placing a tire component thereon comprising a layer of unvulcanized rubber for the green tire and/or green air spring. The shaping surface (2) is provided with an attachment surface (9) for at least temporarily retaining at least a leading section of the tire component. The attachment surface (9) comprises a number of adhering surface sections (3) with non-adhering surface sections (4) placed in between them, wherein the non-adhering surface sections (4) are at least partially receded with respect to the adhering surface sections (3). In one embodiment the attachment surface (9) comprises a substantially saw-tooth-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for building tires for vehicle wheels includes assembling at least one tire component through laying of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially close to each other on a deposition surface radially external to the forming drum, wherein laying of each strip-like element includes: radially moving the strip-like element close to the deposition surface; locking a central portion of the strip-like element against the deposition surface; and pulling the strip-like element in opposite directions starting from the central portion toward the opposite ends thereof, while the central portion is maintained in a locked condition against the deposition surface, so as to progressively lay down the strip-like element against the deposition surface.

Abstract: A mounting structure (200, 1200) is provided with a base (210) which has a base lower surface (211) adhered to the inner surface of a tire (100) and which also has a base upper surface (212) provided on the reverse side of the base lower surface (211). The base lower surface (211) has, before the base (210) is adhered to the inner surface of the tire (100), a shape recessed toward the center of the base (210).