Abstract: A method for transferring unwinders (36) using a transfer facility (38) comprising a control unit (39) for controlling the unwinders, and at least one autonomous mobile platform (40) is disclosed. The facility comprises measurement means for measuring the quantity of product wound on reels (22) supported by the unwinders and communication means. The method comprises the following successive operations: measuring the quantity of product wound on the reels and communicating the measured data to the control unit; on the basis of the measured data, determining the moment at which to transmit a removal or supply mission instruction to a mobile platform; transmitting to a mobile platform at the previously-determined moment, a mission instruction to remove or to supply a unwinder; and moving the mobile platform in such a way that it becomes positioned under a unwinder.

Abstract: A method for supplying green tire manufacturing machines (14) with elastomeric products (12) by means of a supply facility (10) comprising a loading member (30) and at least one transfer member (34) comprising an unwinder (36) is disclosed. The supply facility comprises a preparation station (32), said preparation station comprising a manipulator arm (70), and at least one motor (53), the preparation station and the unwinder being distinct from the green tire manufacturing machine. The method comprises the following successive operations: loading the reel onto the unwinder; positioning the end of the product wound on the réel; arranging the end of the product in such a way that it is laid on a dispenser of the unwinder; and transferring the reel from the preparation station to the green tire manufacturing machine.

Abstract: A method for transferring unwinders (36) using a transfer facility (38) comprising a control unit (39) for controlling the unwinders, and at least one autonomous mobile platform (40) is disclosed. The facility comprises measurement means for measuring the quantity of product wound on reels (22) supported by the unwinders and communication means. The method comprises the following successive operations: measuring the quantity of product wound on the reels and communicating the measured data to the control unit; on the basis of the measured data, determining the moment at which to transmit a removal or supply mission instruction to a mobile platform; transmitting to a mobile platform at the previously-determined moment, a mission instruction to remove or to supply a unwinder; and moving the mobile platform in such a way that it becomes positioned under a unwinder.

Abstract: A method for supplying green tire manufacturing machines (14) with elastomeric products (12) by means of a supply facility (10) comprising a loading member (30) and at least one transfer member (34) comprising an unwinder (36) is disclosed. The supply facility comprises a preparation station (32), said preparation station comprising a manipulator arm (70), and at least one motor (53), the preparation station and the unwinder being distinct from the green tire manufacturing machine. The method comprises the following successive operations: loading the reel onto the unwinder; positioning the end of the product wound on the réel; arranging the end of the product in such a way that it is laid on a dispenser of the unwinder; and transferring the reel from the preparation station to the green tire manufacturing machine.

Abstract: The method includes the step of running a cutting means between two threads of the reinforcing ply. The method proceeds with the steps of measuring; a discrepancy between an actual cutting line (A?B?C?) and a theoretical cutting line (ABC) is measured and determining a point of intersection of the actual cutting line (B?) with a reference longitudinal line (XX?) placed on the strip. The actual cutting line (B?C?) of that part of the rubber profiled elements that are not superposed with the reinforcing ply is longitudinally offset (Z) with respect to the theoretical cutting line (BC) so that the actual cutting line (B?C?) meets the reference longitudinal line (XX?) at the point of intersection (B?) of the reinforcing ply (A?B?) with the reference longitudinal line (XX?). The rubber profiled elements that are not superposed with the reinforcing ply are cut along the said actual cutting line.

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: Variable-diameter tire-building drum intended for the manufacture of a green tire having a generally cylindrical receiving surface formed of radially mobile sectors and bearing elements the radially external part of which constitutes the receiving surface, the receiving surface comprising at least one circular groove containing an elastic circumferential sleeve which is held radially away from the bottom of the groove by pushers able to move radially with respect to the mobile sectors so as to align the radially external surface of the sleeve with the receiving surface when the drum is brought to a first laying diameter, and which is pressed against the bottom of the groove under the effect of circumferential elastic tensions when the drum is placed at a laying diameter greater than the said first laying diameter.

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: Method for cutting to length a strip formed of preassembled products comprising one or more rubber profiled elements superposed in part on a reinforcing ply made up of threads coated in rubber and making an angle (a) with the longitudinal direction of the strip, during which method the following steps are performed: a cutting means is run between two threads of the reinforcing ply, the discrepancy between the actual cutting line (A?B?C?) and a theoretical cutting line (ABC) is measured, and the point of intersection of the actual cutting line (B?) with a reference longitudinal line (XX?) placed on the strip is determined, the actual cutting line (B?C?) of that part of the rubber profiled elements that are not superposed with the reinforcing ply is longitudinally offset (Z) with respect to the theoretical cutting line (BC) so that the said actual cutting line (B?C?) meets the reference longitudinal line (XX?) at the point of intersection (B?) of the actual cutting line of the reinforcing ply (A?B?) with the

Abstract: Device for transferring a reinforcing ply having the overall shape of a parallelogram and containing reinforcing threads with ferromagnetic properties and making a given angle b, smaller than 90°, with the longitudinal direction of the said reinforcing ply, comprising at least two transfer belts which overlap over a given length 1 and are separated by a given and small-sized distance, each of the belts comprising a magnetized region of trapezoidal shape, the bases of which are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belts and are intended to hold the reinforcing ply firmly against the moving surface of the said transfer belts, characterized in that, in the region of overlap of the belts, the side of the trapezium connecting the two bases of the magnetized region of the first belt forms an angle a1 with the longitudinal direction which is smaller than the angle of the threads b, and the side of the trapezium connecting the two bases of the magnetized region of the second belt forms an angle a2 with the l

Abstract: Device for transferring a reinforcing ply having the overall shape of a parallelogram and containing reinforcing threads with ferromagnetic properties and making a given angle b, smaller than 90°, with the longitudinal direction of the said reinforcing ply, comprising at least two transfer belts which overlap over a given length l and are separated by a given and small-sized distance, each of the belts comprising a magnetized region of trapezoidal shape, the bases of which are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belts and are intended to hold the reinforcing ply firmly against the moving surface of the said transfer belts, characterized in that, in the region of overlap of the belts, the side of the trapezium connecting the two bases of the magnetized region of the first belt forms an angle a1 with the longitudinal direction which is smaller than the angle of the threads b, and the side of the trapezium connecting the two bases of the magnetized region of the second belt forms an angle a2 with the l

Abstract: A shaping drum for a tire blank comprising bottom zones formed of a circular reinforcement ring which is moved in rotation about an axis XX?, comprising bead-holding means (2a, 2b) mounted opposite one another on a central spindle. Each of the bead-holding means comprises a support (5a, 5b) mounted to be axially movably relative to the spindle. An assembly of return segments (9a, 9b) is distributed circumferentially around the axis XX?, which circulate radially between two circular rings (6a, 7a, 6b, 7b) fixed on the support (5a, 5b), and comprises a bead-receiving seat (10a, 10b). A turn-up membrane (12a, 12b) can slide over the bead-receiving seat, anchored in an airtight manner by its two ends (121a, 122a, 121b, 122b) on the radially outer circumference of the circular rings (6a, 7a, 6b, 7b) and anchored mechanically by appropriate means (14a, 14b) on the return segments (9a, 9b) along a circumferential anchoring line (90a).

Abstract: Device (D) for winding a cylindrical sleeve (C) of axis XX? around a toric ring (R) so that the end (E) of the said cylindrical sleeve is engaged between the toric ring (R) and the cylindrical sleeve (C) itself in order to make at least one complete turn around the substantially circular radial section of the said toric ring (R). The device comprises a winding fabric (T) also formed by a sleeve sliding freely in the axial direction on the external surface of a concentric set of winding heads (10, 10?) having an external profile comprising a back (104) constituting a substantially cylindrical surface, a convex front annular surface (102) connected to the previous surface and a concave annular surface (103) connected to the latter so that the winding fabric (2) produces S-shaped loops when the said winding fabric (T) substantially follows the radial profile of the convex annular surface (102) and of the concave annular surface (103) of the winding heads (10, 10?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a radially expandable assembly drum (1) for the manufacture of tires, said drum having a body mounted on a central shaft (2) having a generally cylindrical central surface for receiving the products to be assembled and ends of different diameters, the drum comprising a lifting device (20, 21) located at each end of the body of the drum having a cylindrical outer receiving surface (221, 231) for products to be assembled, characterized in that the lifting device (21) arranged close to the end of lesser diameter is radially displaceable relative to the body (10) of the drum (1) between a position wherein its surface (231) has substantially the same diameter as that of the central surface of the body (10) and a position wherein its surface (231) has a diameter less than that of the central surface of the body (10), the radial displacement of this lifting device (21) being synchronized with the radial expansion of the drum (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a radially expandable assembly drum (1) for the manufacture of tires, said drum having a body mounted on a central shaft (2) having a generally cylindrical central surface for receiving the products to be assembled and ends of different diameters, the drum comprising a lifting device (20, 21) located at each end of the body of the drum having a cylindrical outer receiving surface (221, 231) for products to be assembled, characterized in that the lifting device (21) arranged close to the end of lesser diameter is radially displaceable relative to the body (10) of the drum (1) between a position wherein its surface (231) has substantially the same diameter as that of the central surface of the body (10) and a position wherein its surface (231) has a diameter less than that of the central surface of the body (10), the radial displacement of this lifting device (21) being synchronized with the radial expansion of the drum (1).