Abstract: A hole center detecting apparatus for positioning the hole of a spool and a cord accurately by determining the coordinates of two points of intersection between the inner circumference of the spool hole and a virtual straight line to compute the coordinates of the center of the hole and by moving the cord according to the computed coordinates of the hole center. A straightness measuring apparatus for measuring the curvature of a cord automatically by detecting the coordinates of three longitudinal points of the cord. A measurement apparatus for measuring a residual torsion automatically by measuring the rotation angle of the end portion of the cord before and after clamped, electrically.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle-tire belt structure includes preparing half-strips; splicing respective half-strips to form belt strips; moving the belt strips toward at least one assembly drum; and superposing portions of the belt strips to form a belt structure. Related methods for manufacturing vehicle-tire belt packages and crown structures are also disclosed. A plant for manufacturing a vehicle-tire belt structure includes an extrusion apparatus to form a fabric sheet; means to transport the sheet; a device for cutting the sheet to form multiple strips; a device for preparing first and second half-strips; means for transporting the half-strips; a device for splicing the first half-strips and the second half-strips to form belt strips; a device for cutting the belt strips into portions; and at least one assembly drum adapted to support the portions. Related plants for manufacturing vehicle-tire belt packages and crown structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A strip builder for winding a material strip about a rotating core includes a traveling applicator head assembly for receipt of the material strip from an upstream extruder station and transport of the strip to a downstream rotating core. The assembly includes a central support arm in longitudinal travel along the rotating core. Attached to the central support arm is a belt roller, an applicator roller spaced therefrom and a belt drive coupled therebetween. A conveyor belt is wound about the belt roller. Upon rotation of the core, the rotation of the applicator roller rotates the belt roller coupled thereto. Rotation of the belt roller drives the conveyor belt towards the core with the material strip thereon. Upon the belt passing between the belt roller and displaced applicator roller, the strip is stretched and deposited onto the applicator roller for subsequent deposit onto the rotating core. A traveling stitching roller subsequently smoothes the material strip deposited on the rotating core.

Abstract: A tire forming system includes a band forming machine, a shaping forming machine, a belt/tread forming machine, means for supplying a band member and means for supplying a belt/tread member. The means for supplying the band member include an inner liner supply means, carcass supply means, band rubber parts supply means and bead supply means. The means for supplying the belt/tread member include belt supply means and tread rubber parts supply means. The means for supplying the band member and the means for supplying the belt/tread member are operative to cooperate with one another to continuously in series form a plurality of tires having different tire sizes.

Abstract: A cord is supplied continuously and on demand by a suitable distributor. The apparatus is used with a revolving form (1) on which the reinforcement is progressively built up by depositing sections of the cord along a desired trajectory for the cord on the surface of the form. The apparatus comprises an element for depositing the cord on the surface of the form (1), describing an alternating path between two turning points, pressers close to the turning points in order to apply the cord to the form at the ends of the trajectory, acting synchronously with the depositing element, a mobile guide (5) disposed opposite the form, in the space between the form and the path described by the depositing element, a fixed guide (6) substantially parallel to the mobile guide (5), control means for moving the mobile guide (5) in a circumferential direction, and motorization means for synchronously piloting the depositing element, the pressers, and the control means of the mobile guide (5).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a belt material for tire, comprising the steps of spirally winding a ribbon, having a plurality of linear cords disposed longitudinally and coated with rubber, on the outer peripheral surface of a drum at specified pitches while the drum is rotated, sticking the side edges of the wound ribbon to each other so as to form a cylindrical wound body, and a linearly moving rotating blade in the axial direction of the drum in contact with a spiral blade groove formed in the drum at specified pitches while the drum is rotated so as to cut the wound body spirally so as to form a belt material having a specified width and a cord inclination angle.

Abstract: A cutting device and method in which a reinforcement is guided to a cutoff point where it is cut by a knife driven by a rotary shaft and carried along a closed path which brings the knife into cutting relationship with the reinforcement during predetermined cycles.

Abstract: A shaped rubber body with improved uniformity in terms of weight and/or physical properties is produced by extruding a rubber strip by a positive displacement extruding system that includes, as seen from an upstream side of the rubber strip, a screw extruder unit, a gear pump unit and an extrusion head unit with an extrusion nozzle, which are connected in series with each other. The rubber strip is fed to a rotating support along a substantially straight passage extending from the screw extruder unit to the extrusion nozzle of the extrusion head unit, passed through a gap defined between a pair of pressure roll, and applied onto an outer surface of the support by one of the pressure rolls.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a pneumatic tire, in which carcass plies are formed by applying carcass cords over an outer surface of a toroidal core along cord paths extending in a meridian direction of the core are disclosed. A zigzag shaped carcass cord arrangement is formed by applying a carcass cord on an outer surface of an imaginary column axially of the imaginary column and sequentially engaging the carcass cord around hook pins arranged at opposite axial end portions of the outer surface of the imaginary column. The core is moved toward the carcass cord arrangement so that a center axis and an equatorial plane of the core are matched with a center axis and an axial center plane of the imaginary column, respectively.

Abstract: A carcass structure for a vehicle wheel tyre includes at least one carcass ply comprising thread elements substantially disposed transversely of a circumferential extension of the carcass structure, and at least one pair of annular reinforcing structures disposed close to respective inner circumferential edges of the at least one carcass ply. Each of the annular reinforcing structures includes at least one first circumferentially-inextensible annular insert formed of at least one first elongated element extending in concentric coils, and at least one second circumferentially-inextensible annular insert formed of at least one second elongated element extending in concentric coils. The at least one carcass ply has end flaps each turned back around an inner circumferential edge of a respective first annular insert and each axially interposed between respective first and second annular inserts. A method of manufacturing the carcass structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a tire, especially a pneumatic tire for a motor vehicles. The method includes a stepwise build up of the tire with a layer which is as airtight as possible, at least one casing ply (3), horn profiles, bead cores, side walls as well as a belt assembly including a belt web, if required, a belt layer (13) in one or more parts and a tread (15). The rubber of the tire side walls is applied as an extruded rubber strip (8) in the form of a spiral with several adjacent or partially overlapping turns (28a) on the side walls of the carcass which is at least previously shaped and, if required, provided with at least parts of the belt assembly.

Abstract: A ply station 12, a band station 13, a shaping station 14, and a belt-tread station 15 are disposed along one side of a conveyor line 11 which extends linearly. A first feeding apparatus 16 disposed between the stations 12, 13, a second feeding apparatus 17 between the stations 13, 14, and a third feeding apparatus 18 between the stations 15, 14 are movably supported on the conveyor line 11. A vulcanizing station 19 comprising a plurality of vulcanizers 20 is disposed on a second side of the conveyor line 11. A delivery apparatus 22 is disposed between the vulcanizing station 19 and the shaping station 14.

Abstract: The peripheral length (M) dimension of the outer peripheral surface of drums (35, 36) is set equal to the width (W) dimension of body ply materials (46A, 46B) used for tires or integral multiples thereof. The wrapping length (L) of the wrapper (40) in the direction of the length of the drum is set equal to the length dimension (L1) of the body ply materials (46A, 46B) used for tires. A ribbon (39) of predetermined width dimension in the form of a cord having a rubber covering applied thereto is produced. The ribbon (39) is spirally wound on the outer peripheral surface of the drums (35, 36) and the lateral edges of the ribbon are bonded together, thus producing the wrapper (40). The wrapper (40) is cut along a gentle curve which is substantially orthogonal to the direction of the length of the ribbon, thus providing the body ply materials (46A, 46B).

Abstract: The thread 4, intended to form a carcass reinforcement, is laid in continguous hoops on a rigid core 1 by a system with at least two oscillating arms transporting an orifice 6 so as to enable it to pass over a core 1 and thus lay adjacent hoops.

Abstract: A carcass ply producing apparatus for producing a carcass ply constituting a carcass layer of a tire comprises a supply head for supplying one or a plurality of ply cords, a head driving mechanism for reciprocating the supply head along a widthwise direction of the carcass ply, a sticking body having a sticking surface to which the ply cord supplied by the supply head is stuck, a sticking body driving mechanism for moving the sticking surface of the sticking body along a longitudinal direction of the carcass ply, and a moving amount controlling mechanism capable of controlling a moving amount of the sticking surface with respect to a moving amount of the supply head, wherein when the ply cord is supplied along the widthwise direction of the carcass ply, a disposition angle of the ply cord with respect to the longitudinal direction can be changed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire comprises making a rubber-coated cord-member by coating one or more cords with rubber, and making the tread reinforcement by putting together a plurality of the cord-members around a drum into a cylindrical network of the cords, so that the cords make a first array of cords inclining in one direction with respect to the tire equator and a second array of cords inclining in one direction which is opposite to the cords of the first array with respect to the tire equator. It is possible that the cord-members are woven. It is also possible that the cord-members are not woven and, in the crossings of the cords, one of the two cross cords is curved along the other cord.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the application (1) of at least one cable onto a rotating receiving surface (2) revolving at a speed V2, comprising means (10) for feeding the cable that comprise at least one capstan (11) revolving at a speed V1, means (20, 30) to displace the cable transversely relative to the receiving surface (2) and means (40) to position the cable on said receiving surface, characterized in that the means (20, 30) to displace the cable transversely effect said displacement by the combination of a rotary movement about an axis perpendicular to the cable travel direction with a pivoting movement in a plane containing the axis of said rotation, the extent of pivoting being determined by the ratio between the speeds V1 and V2.

Abstract: A method of building a tire carcass onto a toroidially expanded building drum core is disclosed which comprises the steps of applying the carcass components onto a cover of the toroidially expanded building drum core at a first diameter D1 while rigidly supporting the sides of the cover with a pair of internal side support mechanisms to form a toroidially shaped uncured carcass. The method of building a tire carcass onto a toroidially expanded building drum core further may employ the steps of: expanding the cover radially by an amount less than 5% greater than the diameter D1 and applying a belt reinforcing structure or a tread and belt reinforcing structure onto the expanded cover to form an uncured tire assembly and may further include the step of curing the uncured tire assembly in a tire curing mold and removing the cured tire assembly from the mold; collapsing the toroidially expanded building drum core; and removing the tire from the collapsed core.

Abstract: The subject matter herein is directed to a polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material that has a shrinkage component, wherein the reinforcement material is treated such that the shrinkage component increases at least about 10% over a reference shrinkage component of a reference polymer-based reinforcement material. The subject matter herein is further directed to a method of producing a product comprising a polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material, wherein the method includes: a) providing a reference polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material having a reference shrinkage component; b) providing a polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material having a shrinkage component; c) treating the polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material such that the shrinkage component increases at least about 10% over the reference shrinkage component of the reference polymer-based cap ply reinforcement material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tire includes the steps of preparing strip sections, laying down a first series of the strip sections on a toroidal support, applying at least primary portions of annular reinforcing structures against end flaps of the strip sections of the first series at axially-opposite positions relative to an equatorial plane of the toroidal support, and laying down on the toroidal support at least one second series of the strip sections. Each strip section extends in a substantially U-shaped configuration around a cross-sectional outline of the toroidal support. First series strip sections are circumferentially distributed according to a pitch corresponding to a multiple of their width. Second series strip sections extend between consecutive first series strip sections and include end flaps overlapping respective primary portions of the annular reinforcing structures at an axially-opposite position relative to end flaps of the first series strip sections.

Abstract: A method of making a pneumatic tire with a breaker and a band, comprises: applying a raw breaker material to a cylindrical drum; spirally winding a plurality of parallel band cords around the raw breaker material on the cylindrical drum so that angles of the windings are not more than 5 degrees with respect to the tire equator; and gradually increasing one of (1) an average density of the band cords in the tire axial direction and (2) an average tension of the band cords in the tire axial direction, from a center portion of the band towards each axial edge of the band during winding the band cords.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular toroidially-shaped cord reinforced ply for a tire is described. The method involves applying an elastomeric layer on a toroidal surface and placing and stitching one or more cords in continuous lengths onto the elastomeric layer in predetermined cord paths. The method further includes dispensing the one or more cords from spools and guiding the cord in a predetermined path as the cord is being dispensed. Preferably, each cord is held against the elastomeric layer after the cord is placed and stitched and then indexing the cord path to a next circumferential location forming a loop end by reversing the direction of the cord and releasing the held cord after the loop end is formed and the cord path direction is reversed. This method allows the step of forming loop ends to occur at more than one diameter on the toroidal surface.

Abstract: A carcass structure for a two-wheeled vehicle tire includes at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular reinforcing structures. The at least one carcass ply includes a first series and at least one second series of strip sections circumferentially distributed in a mutually-alternated sequence around a geometric rotation axis of the tire. Each strip section includes longitudinal and parallel thread elements at least partly coated with at least one layer of elastomer material and extends in a substantially U-shaped configuration to define two side portions and a crown portion. The annular reinforcing structures are applied against end flaps of the first series of strip sections and are overlapped by end flaps of the at least one second series of strip sections. Each of the annular reinforcing structures includes an annular anchoring insert, including one or more elongated elements extending in radially-concentric coils, and at least one filling body.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a spiral belt formed by spirally winding a cord(s) along a circumferential direction of a torus tread, wherein the spiral belt is comprised of at least one layer constructed with a combination of two different cords each having an initial tension of not less than 50 cN/cord.

Abstract: Device for fabricating a tire reinforcement by laying a cord 4 on a core 1. An arm 131 is mounted on a carriage 130, which is itself mounted on a rail 132 in such manner that it can slide parallel relative to the rotation axis of the core 1.

Abstract: The invention is a method or a device for wrapping the rubber strip around the forming drum while extruding an unvulcanized rubber strip from an injection device, wherein the rubber strip is pressed by a guide roll against the forming drum under tension, as well as a space for absorbing variations in an amount of extrusion of the rubber strip is formed between the guide roll and an extrusion outlet of the injection device, the forming drum is rotated in synchronism with extrusion of the rubber strip so that the guide roll is driven, and the rubber strip guided by the guide roll is wrapped around the forming drum.

Abstract: A tread rubber G has a short-fiber-mixed rubber portion 10 forming a grounding surface. In a region Y1 between an outer grounding end Eo and a tire equator C located outside of a vehicle when a tire is mounted to the vehicle, the short fibers f are inclined and oriented at an angle &agr; outward of the vehicle radially outward of the tire, and an angle &agr;1 of the short fibers f in the outer grounding end Eo is greater than an angle &agr;2 of the short fibers f in the tire equator C.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a reinforcing structure for tyres of vehicles includes the steps of preparing a plurality of strip segments having substantially parallel, longitudinal filiform elements at least partially coated by at least one layer of elastomeric material, and applying the plurality of strip segments along a circumference of a toroidal support, to form at least one continuous reinforcing layer about a geometric axis of rotation of the toroidal support. During the applying step, a relative angular rotation, between at least one of the plurality of strip segments and the toroidal support, occurs about an axis of correction substantially radial to the geometric axis of rotation. A related apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcing structure for tyres of vehicles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a vehicular pneumatic tire, in which, in order to produce and apply a preferably unvulcanized tread strip to a partial tire, which already has a cambered carcass and a ply packet radially outward therefrom, at least two strips of material, each consisting of a mixture of rubber and/or plastic, are applied to the partial tire. At least one strip of material is wound in numerous essentially adjoining windings running in the circumferential direction of the tire. In the case of two strips of material, these consist of different mixtures and, depending upon the desired characteristics of the tire, are arranged simultaneously or sequentially on different areas in the inner or the radially outer zone of the space occupied by the finished tread strip.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high transverse-curvature motor-bike tire includes the steps of providing a carcass structure on a main assembly drum, providing at least one strip made of an elastomeric material incorporating a plurality of reinforcing cords on a comb-like drum, radially expanding radially-mobile sectors associated with the drum, circumferentially winding at least one inextensible cord on the at least one strip to form circumferential coils and to define a belt structure, circumferentially associating a tread around the belt structure, and associating the belt structure, together with the tread, around the carcass structure. The at least one cord is wound on the at least one strip at a substantially-null angle with respect to the equatorial plane of the drum according to a winding direction adapted to compression-stress, at least during initial winding, elastomeric material portions interposed between consecutive reinforcing cords incorporated in the at least one strip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a pneumatic radial tire comprising the steps of feeding a strip material comprising a plurality of reinforcing cords and having a predetermined width from a standard measure feeding device which is adjustable in its feeding angle to a carrier conveyor, cutting the strip material to a predetermined size in sequence to form strip pieces while alternately moving the strip material and the carrier conveyor intermittently in synchronization with each other, transferring the strip pieces onto the carrier conveyor, forming a belt member having a length equal to a length L of a belt layer for one tire by butting the strip pieces against each other along their longitudinal edges, and using the belt member as the belt layer, wherein if a width of the strip material is A and the number of the strip pieces for forming the belt layer is N, an angle &thgr; for cutting the strip material to the predetermined size relative to a moving direction of the standard measure feeding device is

Abstract: A process and apparatus for laying a strip for the manufacture of a tire by extruding uncured rubber through a die to form a rubber tube on a rotary support and flattening the tubular form to form a band which is adhered to a receiving surface on the rotary support.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a tire reinforcement from a cord, cooperating with a substantially toroidal form on which arches of the cord are deposited according to a desired trajectory for the cord on the surface of the form, the apparatus having depositing members arranged on a support, the depositing members including a guide member in which the cord may slide freely, a mechanism for actuating the guide member in a cyclical, to-and-fro, movement, to bring the guide member in successive oscillations into the vicinity of each of the desired ends for the cord in the trajectory. The apparatus further includes a first motor imparting the desired movements to the actuating mechanism and a second motor for imparting to the depositing member support a cyclical movement synchronized with the actuating mechanism, allowing deflection of the final trajectory of the cord on the form.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing components for a tire for vehicle wheels includes the steps of picking up a toroidal support using a robotized arm, feeding at least one elongated element from a delivery member disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the toroidal support, giving the toroidal support a rotatory motion around a geometric axis of rotation of the toroidal support so that the at least one elongated element is circumferentially distributed onto the toroidal support, and carrying out controlled relative displacements, for transverse distribution, between the toroidal support and the delivery member to form with the at least one elongated element a plurality of coils disposed mutually in side-by-side relationship in order to define a tire component. A method of manufacturing a tire, an apparatus for manufacturing components for a tire, a plant for making tires, and a tire including the manufactured components are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tread band applicator device is provided for building a tread band on a tire carcass and includes a press applicator head for applying a tread band raw material mass onto the tire carcass as the tire carcass is rotated. The press applicator head is movable along the direction of the axis of rotation of the tire carcass in correspondence with the curvature of the outer surface of the tire carcass and is operable to apply the tread band raw material in a width which is less than the width of the tire carcass. The press applicator head is a component of an extruder which is mounted for movement about a plurality of axes.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a tire carcass having bead portions which are substantially free from cut surfaces of carcass cords. The apparatus includes a substantially toroidal carrier for supporting a rubber member of a tire. An indexing mechanism causes an indexing movement of the carrier by a predetermined angle about a rotational axis of the carrier. A feed mechanism continuously feed a carcass cord toward an outer surface of the carrier, wherein the feed mechanism are reciprocable in the axial direction of the carrier within a surface region thereof, that extends axially of the carrier at least between positions of the carrier corresponding to a bead portion and a tread end portion of a tire, respectively. Pressure mechanisms forming at least a pair are arranged adjacent to opposite ends of the surface region of the carrier, respectively, so that the carcass cord fed from the feed mechanism is wound about the respective pressure mechanisms and urged thereby toward the outer surface of the carrier.

Abstract: A tire carcass is produced by a method in which a narrow carcass ply member including a plurality of cords coated by, and embedded in a rubber material is extruded from an extruder, and an inner liner member is simultaneously extruded from the extruder integrally with the carcass ply member. A narrow band-shaped laminated body is thereby efficiently formed, in which the inner liner member is integral with the carcass ply member.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a carcass made from at least one cord array comprised of many arch portions of a cord extending between a pair of bead portions in a meridional direction and arranged over a full circumference of the tire at an equal interval P in a circumferential direction of the tire and many circumferential portions of the cord alternately arranged in the bead portions, each connecting ends of adjacent arch portions to each other in the bead portion and extending substantially in the circumferential direction. In this case, the cord array is arranged at n layers (n is an integer of 2 or more) while offsetting these layers by a distance L obtained by dividing the interval P by n in the circumferential direction. Further, the bead wire reinforcing layer is arranged outward from the overlap region of the circumferential portions in the radial direction so as to sandwich the cord array from both sides thereof.

Abstract: A method of assembling a tire carcass comprising applying a cord reinforced rubber ply to a toroidal-shaped former such that the edges of the ply are located on radially inner portions of the former, placing a circular bead component adjacent to each edge and stitching each ply edge to its said circular bead component to secure the ply edge in the region of the tire bead.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a pneumatic tire, in which carcass plies are formed by applying carcass cords over an outer surface of a toroidal core along cord paths extending in a meridian direction of the core are disclosed. A zigzag shaped carcass cord arrangement is formed by applying a carcass cord on an outer surface of an imaginary column axially of the imaginary column and sequentially engaging the carcass cord around hook pins arranged at opposite axial end portions of the outer surface of the imaginary column. The core is moved toward the carcass cord arrangement so that a center axis and an equatorial plane of the core are matched with a center axis and an axial center plane of the imaginary column, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the helical winding of an essentially band or strip-shaped reinforcing element onto at least one ply of a pneumatic tire blank. The apparatus includes a rotating tire or belt build-up drum, a winding wheel disposed upstream of the drum and connected with devices for applying tension to the reinforcing element, and sensors that detect the position of the reinforcing element on the winding wheel, and the tension applied to the reinforcing element, and convey these values to a control device. The winding wheel is connected with a motor for driving or slowing the winding wheel, whereby at least two tensioning and guide rollers are radially spaced relative to the winding wheel such that the reinforcing element, which is guided over the winding wheel, forms a defined looping angle.

Abstract: A rubber tape for making up a rubber component of a tire has a specific shape wherein a fin is provided on each side of a central part, the central part has a thickness of 0.3 to 1.5 mm, the fin has a thickness less than the thickness and a width of from 0.5 to 5.0 mm. A method of manufacturing a tire comprises a step of making at least one of rubber components by winding the rubber tape. An apparatus for making the rubber tape comprises an extruder and a pair of calendar rollers, wherein the extruder includes a die having an extruding hole from which compounded rubber is extruded into a rectangular cross sectional shape, the extruding hole has an opening width WA1 of from 0.6 to 0.9 times the whole width W0 of the rubber tape and an opening thickness HA1 of from 1.5 to 7.

Abstract: Reinforced ply material having a plurality of reinforcement elements (e.g., steel monofilaments) embedded in an elastomeric (e.g., rubber) sheet. The reinforcement elements are grouped in untwisted sets and each set includes a plurality of reinforcement elements. In an apparatus and/or method for making the reinforced ply material, the reinforcement elements are guided by a guide insert having passages corresponding to the desired grouped arrangement of the reinforcement elements. The reinforced ply material can be used to make steel belts for pneumatic tires.

Abstract: A method and equipment for mixing hard granules into tire tread bodies and into sundry rubber strips and tread stock. Rubber stock is extruded into tread bands of a suitable shape which are rolled under control, in a suitable thickness and number of layers, in a circular process over a pre-treated tire, or other object. The tire is subsequently patterned and vulcanized. The hard granules are distributed according to a predetermined configuration onto at least part of the surface of the extruded rubber tread band before the next layer is rolled in a circular process onto the pre-treated tire, using dedicated equipment so that the granules will be mixed into the patterned wearing surface of the tire after profiling and vulcanization.

Abstract: A cord is supplied continuously and on demand by a suitable distributor. The apparatus is used with a revolving form (1) on which the reinforcement is progressively built up by depositing sections of the cord along a desired trajectory for the cord on the surface of the form. The apparatus comprises an element for depositing the cord on the surface of the form (1), describing an alternating path between two turning points, pressers close to the turning points in order to apply the cord to the form at the ends of the trajectory, acting synchronously with the depositing element, a mobile guide (5) disposed opposite the form, in the space between the form and the path described by the depositing element, a fixed guide (6) substantially parallel to the mobile guide (5), control means for moving the mobile guide (5) in a circumferential direction, and motorization means for synchronously piloting the depositing element, the pressers, and the control means of the mobile guide (5).

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having a tread formed from a rubber strip-stacked body by stacking rubber strip layers composed of a rubber strip wound spirally while continuously joining side surfaces thereof to each other in a tire circumferential direction on the outside of a carcass layer via a belt layer, in which boundary surfaces of the rubber strip of the rubber strip-stacked body forming at least an outermost layers of both shoulder portions of the tread are leaned respectively toward the outside of a tire diameter direction relative to a tire outside direction in a tire width direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unitary run flat tire (RFT) reinforcement using filament material that is formed into a relatively rigid shape. The reinforcement is insertable into a mold for an RFT support and can maintain the needed structural rigidity for such insertion. Further, the invention provides an RFT support that is molded and includes the RFT reinforcement. The invention also provides a wheel assembly including a tire, a rim, and an RFT support between the rim and the tire, where the support includes the RFT reinforcement. The RFT support can have a colored indicator formed or subsequently applied thereto to indicate one or more attributes of the support.

Abstract: A cylindrical body ply is mounted around a cylindrical bladder, and annular beads are set on both axial end portions of the body ply. In this state, while the spacing between both axial ends of the body ply is narrowed, an axial intermediate portion of the body ply is increased in diameter by the bladder. Subsequently, bending members formed of rigid bodies are radially moved from the inside to the outside of the body ply to bend both axial end portions of the body ply by the bending members. The bent portions of the body ply wrap around corresponding beads. With the use of the body ply manufactured in this way in a tire, the resulting tire can be reduced in the manufacturing cost and weight.

Abstract: Formation of a carcass ply takes place by laying down onto a toroidal support (11), a first and a second series of strip-like sections (13, 14) cut to size from a continuous strip-like element (2a) and each comprising longitudinal thread-like elements (15) incorporated into a layer of elastomer material (18). The sections (13) of the first series are sequentially disposed at some circumferential distance from each other, to form side portions (19) to the end flaps (19a) of which primary portions (4a) of respective bead-reinforcing structures (4) are applied. The sections (14) of the second series are each interposed in the space defined between two sections of the first series (13), with the respective end flaps (20a) overlapping the primary portions (4a) of the annular structures (4). Additional portions (24) of the annular structures are applied to the end flaps (20a) of the sections (14) belonging to the second series.

Abstract: A high transverse-curvature tire for two-wheeled vehicles comprises a belt structure (10) provided in a radially inner layer (10a) with a strip (11) made of an elastomeric material incorporating a plurality of reinforcing cords inclined with respect to the equatorial plane of tire (1) and provided in a radially outer layer (10b) with a plurality of circumferential coils (14a), axially arranged side by side, of a cord (14) wound at a substantially null angle with respect to the equatorial plane (x-x) of the tire along a winding direction adapted to compression-stress portions made of an elastomeric material interposed between consecutive reinforcing cords (12) incorporated in the strip (11) of the radially inner layer (10a). Such tire (1) advantageously associates optimum performances of wear regularity, road behavior both in straight stretches and in curve, good kilometric yield and low weight.