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: Disclosed is a method and an assembly for applying a tire component onto a receiving member. The method includes the steps of: receiving the tire component on the apply member; detecting a plurality of leading endpoints at the leading edge and detecting a plurality of trailing endpoints at the trailing edge in-line with the leading endpoints in the longitudinal direction; determining the distance in the longitudinal direction between the leading endpoint and the trailing endpoint for each pair of endpoints; driving the apply member at an apply speed in a transfer direction to transfer the tire component onto the receiving member while driving the receiving member at a receiving speed; and adjusting the ratio between the apply speed and the receiving speed during the transfer of the tire component in the order in which the pairs of endpoints are spliced to improve the relative positioning of each pair of endpoints for splicing.

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: Disclosed is a transfer device and a method for transferring a plurality of first tire components from a first container and a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a servicer, wherein the transfer device includes a first station and a second station for receiving the first container and the second container, respectively, wherein the first station and the second station are arranged side-by-side in a lateral direction, wherein the transfer device further includes a base and a take-out member that is mounted to said base and that is movable with respect to the base towards the first station and the second station for picking-up and taking-out one of the first tire components from the first container at the first station and for picking-up and taking-out one of the second tire components from the second container at the second station, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer device and a method for transferring a plurality of first tire components from a first container and a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a servicer, wherein the transfer device includes a first station and a second station for receiving the first container and the second container, respectively, wherein the first station and the second station are arranged side-by-side in a lateral direction, wherein the transfer device further includes a base and a take-out member that is mounted to said base and that is movable with respect to the base towards the first station and the second station for picking-up and taking-out one of the first tire components from the first container at the first station and for picking-up and taking-out one of the second tire components from the second container at the second station, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an assembly for applying a tire component onto a receiving member. The method includes the steps of: receiving the tire component on the apply member; detecting a plurality of leading endpoints at the leading edge and detecting a plurality of trailing endpoints at the trailing edge in-line with the leading endpoints in the longitudinal direction; determining the distance in the longitudinal direction between the leading endpoint and the trailing endpoint for each pair of endpoints; driving the apply member at an apply speed in a transfer direction to transfer the tire component onto the receiving member while driving the receiving member at a receiving speed; and adjusting the ratio between the apply speed and the receiving speed during the transfer of the tire component in the order in which the pairs of endpoints are spliced to improve the relative positioning of each pair of endpoints for splicing.

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: 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 a method for picking up and placing a tire components, wherein the method includes the steps of picking up a supplied first tire component with a transfer drum, rotating the transfer drum in a first direction for winding a predetermined length of the continuous length of the first tire component, rotating the transfer drum in the opposite second direction, while at the same time moving the transfer drum downstream into a cutting position, wherein a part of the predetermined length of the first tire component is unwound from the transfer drum, cutting the unwound part, thereby obtaining a cut-to-length first tire component, and rotating the transfer drum again in the first direction for winding up the unwound part of the cut-to-length first tire component up to the trailing end.

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: Provided is an unloading system and a method for unloading a tire tread carrier, wherein the tire tread carrier includes a plurality of plates, wherein each plate is arranged for supporting at least one tread for a tire, wherein the unloading system includes an arm with a retaining device for picking up and retaining treads, wherein the arm is provided with a lifting device that is arranged to move together with the arm for lifting one of the plates, wherein a control system is arranged for controlling a drive system to position the arm in a starting position in which the lifting device extends at least partially underneath said one plate and to subsequently move the arm upwards such that the lifting device is moved towards a lifting position, thereby lifting said one plate; from the closed position towards the open position.

Abstract: Provided is an unloading system and a method for unloading a tire tread carrier, wherein the tire tread carrier includes a plurality of plates, wherein each plate is arranged for supporting at least one tread for a tire, wherein the unloading system includes an arm with a retaining device for picking up and retaining treads, wherein the arm is provided with a lifting device that is arranged to move together with the arm for lifting one of the plates, wherein a control system is arranged for controlling a drive system to position the arm in a starting position in which the lifting device extends at least partially underneath said one plate and to subsequently move the arm upwards such that the lifting device is moved towards a lifting position, thereby lifting said one plate; from the closed position towards the open position.

Abstract: A transfer assembly and a method for transferring tire components to a building drum, wherein the transfer assembly is provided with a first transfer drum including a circumferential surface and a cylindrical transfer drum volume, wherein the first transfer device further includes a first stitcher unit for stitching the first tire component when the first tire component has been transferred by the first transfer drum onto the building drum, wherein the first stitcher unit includes a stitching element for applying pressure to the first tire component and a stitcher deployment actuator for moving the stitching element with respect to the first transfer drum between a retracted position in which the stitching element is located within the transfer drum volume of the first transfer drum and an extended position in which the stitching element is located outside of the transfer drum volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for picking up and placing a tire components, wherein the method includes the steps of picking up a supplied first tire component with a transfer drum, rotating the transfer drum in a first direction for winding a predetermined length of the continuous length of the first tire component, rotating the transfer drum in the opposite second direction, while at the same time moving the transfer drum downstream into a cutting position, wherein a part of the predetermined length of the first tire component is unwound from the transfer drum, cutting the unwound part, thereby obtaining a cut-to-length first tire component, and rotating the transfer drum again in the first direction for winding up the unwound part of the cut-to-length first tire component up to the trailing end.

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: Disclosed is a tyre building drum having tyre components thereon, wherein the tyre building drum is provided with a turn-up mechanism for turning-up parts of the tyre 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 tyre 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: Assembly and method for manufacturing a green radial pneumatic tyre. The assembly is provided with a rotatable carcass drum for carrying a carcass with a belt/tread package for the radial pneumatic tyre and with a stitching roller unit having at least one rotatable stitching roller having a stitching tread that can be placed against the carcass and a displacement device for moving the roller radially from or towards the carcass with the belt/tread package. The stitching roller unit is provided with an individual drive mechanism for rotatingly driving the stitching tread of the stitching roller, at least without the stitching roller contacting the belt/tread package.

Abstract: Assembly of units for building a vehicle tyre. The assembly has a first unit (1) having a breaker building drum (2), a second unit (5) having a carcass building drum (6), a third unit (9) having a shaping drum (10), a breaker ply supply unit (14) for supplying breaker plies to the breaker building drum (2), a carcass material supply unit (15) for supplying carcass material to the carcass drum (6), a first transportation rail (16) which, considered in vertical direction, is placed below the shaping drum (10) and the carcass building drum (6), a unit (17) for retaining and positioning beads, a first breaker transfer ring (21) and a second carcass transfer ring (22) movably placed on the transportation rail (16).

Abstract: Tyre building drum for building an unvulcanised tyre using tyre components of rubber. The tyre building drum comprises two folding arm units arranged at least substantially symmetrically with respect to the middle of the tyre building drum, which folding arm units are each connected to a folding arm bearing body so as to swivel. Both folding arm bearing bodies can be moved in axial direction of the tyre building drum. Via a first spindle both folding arm bearing bodies can be moved synchronously with respect to each other in axial direction. The tyre building drum further comprises two bead ring core units arranged at least substantially symmetrically with respect to the middle of the tyre building drum, each of the bead ring core units being intended for supporting a bead ring core. Each bead ring core unit comprises a bead ring core bearing body, wherein via a second spindle both bead ring core bearing bodies can be moved synchronously with respect to each other in axial direction.