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: A method for applying a plurality of reinforcement belts upon a toroidal tire carcass (50). First and second reinforcement belts (56, 60) are first wrapped around the tire carcass. Then a first belt assembly (68) of a third reinforced belt (69) with elastomeric wedges (72a, 72b) embedded into side edges (70a, 70b) of the third belt is wrapped around the second belt (60) so that the side edges (62a, 62b) of the second belt are spaced from the side edges (70a, 70b) of the third belt. An outer belt (74) and a tread (80) are applied about the third belt, and the tire carcass is ready to be cured in a tire mold.

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: A laminate contains a composite, comprising a high melting point thermoplastic such as polyphenylene or epoxy and high modulus fibers such as carbon or graphite, which is encapsulated with a resin. A primer adheres the encapsulated composite to a rubber material such as a tire tread. Alternatively, an undertread layer adheres the tire tread to the primed encapsulated composite. The laminate can be used as a run flat belt in a tire.

Abstract: In a method of making a pneumatic tire which comprises a tire main body and a tread rubber with axial edges, the inside diameter of the tread rubber being smaller at the axial edges than in the intermediate portion, the tire main body including an underlying component on which the axial edge of the tread rubber is stuck, the green tire is made by: making a raw tire main body including an underlying component; placing an annular raw tread rubber around the raw tire main body; swelling the raw tire main body by pressurizing the inside thereof; pushing the entire width of the raw tread rubber onto the swollen tire main body partially with respect to the tire circumferential direction; and conducting the circumferentially-partial pushing through the enter circumference of the raw tread rubber, whereby the axial edge of the raw tread rubber is stuck on the underlying component without being wrinkled.

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: Method and apparatus for making a tread-belt assembly for a pneumatic tire using a supply ramp to supply green rubber tread stock for application on a substantially cylindrical green rubber belt package; advancing the tread stock along the supply ramp toward the belt package; positioning at least a final portion of the supply ramp substantially along a plane tangent to an outer circumference of the belt package; and applying the tread stock to the outer circumference by moving a leading cut end of the tread stock from the supply ramp to the belt package along the plane tangent to the outer circumference. The green rubber tread stock is held from above for moving by inserting a plurality of transfer pins downward into both edges of the green rubber tread stock such that each transfer pin is angled toward a closest laterally outside edge.

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 low rolling resistance tire (1) for vehicles is described which comprises at least one belt layer (7) coaxially extending around at least one carcass ply (3), a composite tread (10) coaxially extending around the belt layer (7) and comprising a radially outer layer (12) and a radially inner layer (11), wherein the ratio between the modulus of elasticity E' at 70° C. of the radially inner layer (11) and the modulus of elasticity E' at 70° C. of the radially outer layer (12) is comprised between 1.1 and 3, and the ratio between the value of tang&dgr; at 70° C of the radially inner layer (11) and the value of tang&dgr; at 70° C. of the radially outer layer (12) is lower than 0.8. Advantageously, the tire (1) achieves a better compromise between the characteristics of rolling resistance, handling and comfort with respect to what is obtainable from known tires for the same type of use.

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: The present invention relates to preparation an article of manufacture, such as of a tire, via application of at least one partially pre-cured component. Tires are often prepared with pre-cured, pre-shaped components such as for example, application of pre-cured tread strips to a cured carcass as in the case of re-treaded tires. Thus precured tread and cured carcass are joined together using a cushion gum followed by heating the resulting assembly at an elevated temperature to cure the cushion gum. Such pre-cured component may also be, for example, a sidewall apex. In such cases, the pre-cured component is subjected to more heat than is necessary which may be detrimental for the component. This invention is directed to the use of a partially pre-cured component to prepare a tire assembly prior to the curing of the entire components of the tire assembly.

Abstract: An improved method for applying an annular tread (10) to a pneumatic tire casing (20) which has the steps of mounting the tread (10) on a tread expander assembly (200) wherein the tread (10) pass over a mount wheel (300) prior to the casing (20) being mounted onto the mount wheel. The improved apparatus (100) has all the mechanisms for supporting the casing (20) and the tread (10) extended from one end (405) allowing the operator to work entirely in front of the apparatus.

Abstract: A retreaded tire assembly and method for making the same is disclosed. The method and assembly provide for the application of new tread to a buffed tire casing with only a layer of cushion gum disposed therebetween. The cushion gum is applied directly to the buffed circumference of a tire casing without the use of conventional spray cement normally applied to the buffed surface of the entire casing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method of building a tire having at least one cord reinforced belt ply. The method is comprised of layering various tire components on a tire building drum. Prior to placing the belt ply on the building drum, at least one belt ply is longitudinally cut, forming a plurality of belt ply segments. The belt ply segments are placed onto the building drum and the cords in each belt ply segment are oriented in the same direction. Also disclosed is a longitudinal cutter for dividing belt ply material into the plurality of belt ply segments. The cutter has at least a pair of shear cutters and a cutting surface against which the shear cutters rotate to cut the continuous belt ply. The shear cutters are mounted on a rail and are moveable along the length of the rail.

Abstract: A band element for mounting in the crown portion of a pneumatic tire to provide run flat ability to the tire in the event of loss of air pressure and to provide increased puncture resistance. The band is formed of flat strips of tape having fibers embedded in a resin matrix which are twisted and then pultrated to provide a rectangular cross sectional configuration. The twisted tape is wrapped about a mandrel and forms either the only layer, or the intermediate layer of a composite band in combination with inner and outer layers of flat tape or wound filament fibers, whereby the fibers in the tape extend across the central axis of the band to reduce interlaminar sheer. In another embodiment, a plurality of dimples or depressions are formed in the individual tape layers to extend a plurality of the fibers across the layer boundaries to reduce interlaminar sheer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire wherein the crown has a ply comprised of substantially circumferentially oriented cords which are spirally wound. The winding pitch p of said cords is greater than 2.5 times the cord diameter &PHgr;. The tread compound is applied directly on said cords. This arrangement facilitates tire fabrication and assures good adherence between the tread compound and the rest of the crown of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for an automobile having a tread portion in a two-layered structure of a cap tread layer and an under tread layer, in which the under tread layer is constituted by a center region defined by a range of 30 through 70% of a width of a first belt layer and up to 0.5 through 2.0 mm in a tire diameter direction from a second belt layer and a shoulder region extended from both end portions of the first belt layer continuously from the center region to an outer side by 30 mm at maximum on one side and having a thickness of 1.0 through 5.

Abstract: Process for producing a pneumatic tire that includes an inner liner of a layer that is as air-impermeable as possible, at least one carcass ply provided with strength supports, horn profiles, bead cores, sidewalls, a belt assembly, and a tread. The process includes building-up a partial tire in a production part A, where the partial tire includes at least a carcass body that includes the at least one carcass ply provided with the strength supports, bead reinforcements and cores, core fillers and horn profiles, and an undertread, and shaping and at least partially vulcanizing the partial tire under an internal pressure in a vulcanization mold in a first vulcanization procedure. The process also includes determining a cross-sectional contour for a completed tire and an amount of surface and strength supports to be added to the partial tire prior to a production part B, and building-up the partial tire in the production part B by adding remaining tire components to produce a complete tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an excellent tire uniformity without air leakage is manufactured by laying a central innerliner, belt layers and tread rubber on an outer circumference of a shaping drum with an outer surface form being approximately the same as an inner surface form of a tire product, and laying an approximately ring-shaped sidewall assembly comprising a bead core provided with a bead filler, a side carcass layer, an outside innerliner and the like on each side face of the shaping drum without a step of expanding and deforming a green case into an approximately semi-circular form.

Abstract: A method and a plant for manufacturing a belt structure of a green tire are described, wherein the portions (49a, 49b) of the belt strips (19a, 19b) constituting the belt structure are produced in a substantially continuous manner immediately upstream of at least one assembly drum (50, 51).

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 rubber material for tire-constitutional member is laid on a rotating support at a high efficiency and a high accuracy by arranging a pair of rollers rotating in opposite directions in the vicinity of a radially outer surface portion of the support and utilizing a gap defined between the rollers as a roller die.

Abstract: A retreaded tire assembly and method for making the same is disclosed. The method and assembly provide for the application of new tread to a buffed tire casing with only a layer of cushion gum disposed therebetween. The cushion gum is applied directly to the buffed circumference of a tire casing without the use of conventional spray cement normally applied to the buffed surface of the entire casing.

Abstract: Rubber composites, for example pneumatic tipes, can be made using seamless, tubular reinforcement (14). By pulling socks of seamless tubular reinforcement over, for example, a tire building drum (10), spliceless carcass reinforcement (18) and spliceless belts (64) can be incorporated into tires. Methods of treating the spliceless tubular material, by drawing and by adhesive coating, enhance its strength and adhesion to rubber.

Abstract: Within the scope of the manufacturing of a tire, a belt structure (2) is manufactured by means of strip-like segments (5) each comprising parallel strips incorporated in an elastomeric layer, sequentially laid in mutual circumferential approach relationship onto a toroidal support (3). During the laying of each segment (5), an angular rotation of the toroidal support (3) is caused about an axis of correction (Y-Y) radial to the axis of rotation (X-X) of the toroidal support itself, situated in substantially barycentric position relative to the segment (5) which is about to be laid. A perfect match is thereby assured of each strip-like segment (5) with the adjacent strip-like segments, even when the toroidal support (3) presents a crown area with curvilinear cross section profile.

Abstract: A vehicle tire is made by inflating a vulcanized air tube to a slight pressure. Then, at least one thread element is wound around the transverse profile of the air tube to form a first carcass ply consisting of turns disposed consecutively in side-by-side relationship. A pair of annular anchoring elements is applied to the first carcass ply. Then, a second carcass ply is formed by winding at least one thread element so as to form turns disposed consecutively in side-by-side relationship along the circumferential extension of the air tube. Associated with the carcass structure is an annular element made up of a belt structure and a tread band. The carcass structure and annular element can be vulcanized separately from each other to make a tire having a tread band susceptible of replacement together with the belt structure.

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: At least one carcass ply is formed by depositing a strip element, comprising longitudinal thread elements incorporated into a layer of elastomer material, onto a toroidal support. Deposition of the strip element takes place in alternated deposition sections, each comprising two radially-extending side portions and a crown portion extending at a radially external position. The side portions of each deposition section are at least partly overlapped with side portions belonging to an adjacent deposition section. Associated with the carcass ply are an anchoring element. A belt structure, a tread band, and sidewalls are combined with the thus-formed carcass structure to define a tire to be submitted to a vulcanization step.

Abstract: In a tire for motor-vehicles, an auxiliary support element (9) is interposed between a carcass ply (3) and a belt structure (6). The support element is employed during the manufacturing step of the belt structure (6) in order to stably retain, on the sectors of a comb drum (10), coils (7a) consecutively formed by winding of an inextensible cord (7) therearound. The auxiliary support element (9) is made in the form of an elastomeric sheet containing short aramid fibers in an amount included between 1 and 10 parts by weight per 100 parts of elastomeric material, to increase the stretchability of said element without impairing its adhesiveness. The introduction of the short aramid fibers in the blend enables the thickness of the auxiliary support element (9) to be reduced to about 0.075 mm.

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: An improved tire 200 having precured tire tread 10 for mounting to an unvulcanized or a vulcanized tire casing 100 is disclosed. The improved precured tread 10 has a pair of circumferentially continuous projections 60. One projection 60 extends axially outwardly from each of the lateral surfaces 40,50 of the tread. The rejection 60 provides a means for air tightly sealing the tread casing assembly at the lateral surfaces 40, 50 during the vulcanization of the tread 10 to the casing 100. The method of assembly includes placing the tread 10 and casing 100 in a smooth mold, closing the mold inflating a bladder expanding the casing 100 into the tread 10, the tread 10 correspondingly expands effecting an air tight sealing of the tread 10 and the mold at the annular projections 60 of the tread 10, applying heat and pressure causing a uniform flow of unvulcanized material radially outwardly along the tread edges. This invention provides uniform pressure distribution on the tire casing during curing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a radial tire is disclosed, wherein a tread ring is formed separately from a tire main body by the use of a tread ring forming apparatus. The radial tire comprises a belt having a camber and a band wound thereon. The tread ring is an annular assembly of a raw belt, a raw band wound thereon and a raw tread rubber. The tread ring forming apparatus comprising a belt drum made up of segments defining the drum circumference. In a cross section including the belt drum axis, the radially outer surface of each segment is a straight line parallel to the axis. In a cross section normal to the belt drum axis, the radially outer surface is an arc having one radius substantially equal to one half of the drum diameter, but the drum circumference is decreased in the belt edge portion than the central portion by increasing gaps between the segments.

Abstract: A method for building a run flat pneumatic tire by precoating a thin high strength annular band of material with a layer of rubber to form a rubber/band composite. The rubber coated band composite is at least partially cured and then assembled between a body ply carcass and a tread package in a usual second stage tire building machine. The band can be encased completely with the rubber or the rubber can be applied only to the outside surface, the inside surface or the end edges of the band or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus includes a tire building drum for pulling and holding a tire component on the outer circumference thereof. The tire building drum is formed with a plurality of suction portions for pulling the tire component to the tire building drum, and a pitch of a pair of adjacent suction portions in the circumferential direction is set different from a pitch of another pair of adjacent suction portions in the circumferential direction of the tire building drum.

Abstract: A method of forming a green tire according to the present invention comprises winding a rubber strip on an adjusting drum while extruding an unvulcanized rubber from an extruder in a form of the rubber strip in a length corresponding to the rubber quantity of a tire constituent portion, and forming the tire constituent portion by winding said rubber strip continuously a plurality of times on the outer circumference of a rotary support member, unwinding it from the adjusting drum.

Abstract: A belt-shaped member cut into a predetermined length is fed from a feeding devices to a tire forming drum and is wound on its cylindrical peripheral surface. Center portions of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are pushed to be joined to each other and the side portions of at least one of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are held by upper and lower holding pawls. Such holding pawls are swung along an arcuate path so that both side portions of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are drawn near each other to abut against each other. The abutting end portions are pushed toward the peripheral surface of the drum by pushing devices for joining them together.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a radial tire is disclosed, wherein a tread ring is formed separately from a tire main body by the use of a tread ring forming apparatus. The radial tire comprises a belt having a camber and a band wound thereon. The tread ring is an annular assembly of a raw belt, a raw band wound thereon and a raw tread rubber. The tread ring forming apparatus comprising a belt drum made up of segments defining the drum circumference. In a cross section including the belt drum axis, the radially outer surface of each segment is a straight line parallel to the axis. In a cross section normal to the belt drum axis, the radially outer surface is an arc having one radius substantially equal to one half of the drum diameter, but the drum circumference is decreased in the belt edge portion than the central portion by increasing gaps between the segments.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a coating device utilize a measurement system to determine whether a body supplied to the coating device is acceptable for coating and/or to establish template data in preparation for a coating operation. The measurement system also obtains measurements of a body while the body is being coated, and these measurements are used to control the coating operation.

Abstract: The invention eliminates the drawbacks that strip-like members develop curling sets during storage and that the amounts of shrink of strip-like members vary, and minimizes the amounts of remnants of strip-like members after formation of one lot and the number of length measuring and cutting devices for strip-like members. A strip-like member 12 is formed in long size and cut into predetermined lengths during transfer on conveyers 13 an 14. The resulting strip-like members 12 of predetermined length are placed one by one on smooth-surfaced pallets 20, the latter being transferred to a tire building machine. One end of such strip-like member 12 on the pallet is brought into contact with the lower surface of the building drum 30. The building drum is rotated while the pallet is moved in the direction of the length.

Abstract: Tire building apparatus and method wherein the cut to length tread is transported to a drum on a conveyor having laterally movable driving rollers and inverted guide rollers engaging the inner surfaces of raised shoulders of the tread. Control of the tread length is provided by measuring the length of the tread before and while it is being wrapped on the drum and then varying the stretching and rate of tread application to the drum to provide a precise splice of the ends of the tread. The position of the tread ends are controlled by a pricker bar to insure placement of the leading end on the drum and then placement of the trailing end on the drum over the leading end to provide the desired splice.

Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire comprises a single ply or multi-ply radial carcass anchored to beads, a tread, and a breaker arrangement provided between the carcass and the tread. The breaker arrangement is preferably built up of at least two cut breaker plies with the threads or cords of the cut breaker plies, which serve as strength carriers and extend parallel to one another in the respective ply, crossing at a predetermined angle to the central mid-circumferential plane. The tire also comprises at least one cover ply of cords or threads extending substantially in the circumferential direction of the tire, at least one cover ply surrounding the breaker arrangement at least in the breaker arrangement's edge regions. In the preferred embodiment the breaker arrangement (4) has threads or cords (9) of non-metallic material and a material with a low thermal shrinkage or no thermal shrinkage is used as the material for the treads or cords (8) of the at least one cover ply (5).

Abstract: A belt-shaped member cut into a predetermined length is fed from a feeding devices to a tire forming drum and is wound on its cylindrical peripheral surface. Center portions of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are pushed to be joined to each other and the side portions of at least one of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are held by upper and lower holding pawls. Such holding pawls are swung along an arcuate path so that both side portions of the opposite ends of the belt-shaped member are drawn near each other to abut against each other. The abutting end portions are pushed toward the peripheral surface of the drum by pushing devices for joining them together.

Abstract: In a method for placing the required length of a tread strip onto a belt building drum tread strip portions are prepared by cutting from a continuous tread strip supply. The tread strip portions are collected in a storage device. The tread strip portions are sequentially fed to a belt building drum such that in a direction of feeding to the rear edge of a leading strip the leading edge of the next tread strip portion is spliced and a quasi-continuous tread strip band is formed. The circumference of the belt building drum is determined in order to determine the required tread strip length. The quasi-continuous tread strip band is cut to the required length of the tread strip so as to match the circumference of the belt building drum.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of supplying sheet-like materials in which a plurality of sheet-like materials comprising tire constituent materials and cut into a predetermined size are conveyed by an applying conveyor means and applied onto a building drum. A sheet-like material to be assembled is supplied onto a conveyor belt of the applying conveyor means. Another sheet-like material to assemble, which is held on a transfer drum, is laminated onto the material on the conveyor belt sequentially from one of the end sides thereof to the other with press by rotating and moving the transfer drum. Then a laminate body comprising the sheet-like materials is wound on the building drum.

Abstract: In a method for automatically applying cut strips of material with varying lengths onto a tire building drum for manufacturing green tires a cut strip of material, comprising a forward portion with a leading edge, a middle section, and an end portion, is fed with a conveyor belt to a tire building drum. The leading edge of the forward portion is placed onto the tire building drum, being rotated at a first circumferential speed, that is substantially identical to a first feeding speed of the conveyor belt, during application of the forward portion. The first circumferential speed of the tire building drum is increased to a second constant circumferential speed for applying the middle section. Simultaneously, the first feeding speed of the end less conveyor belt is increased to a second feeding speed which is controlled as a function of the actual length of the cut strip of material.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of tire for high speed two-wheeled vehicles comprising making a cylindrical sleeve, attaching annular bead wires to the axial ends of said sleeve and shaping the sleeve into a toroidal configuration. A belt structure made of coils of cords is applied to the crown of said toroidal configuration. The belt is reinforced with HE cords which can be deformed to enable the tire carcass to be so largely expanded into the mold to achieve completely molding of a tread band.

Abstract: A two-stage building method and apparatus for making an uncured tire including winding on shoulder wedge and sidewall components from strip material on a first stage building drum, winding on gum cushion on a band building drum and making up sequential breaker packages for second stage application to the tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of applying a tire tread to a tire carcass including the steps of conveying a tread on conveyor between two self-centering guides which are slidably mounted on a frame over the conveyor, the guides having parallel rows of rollers for engaging opposite edges of the treads; adhering one end of the tread to the tire carcass on a tire building drum; rotating the tire building drum to pull the tread over the tire carcass; and applying a predetermined uniform pressure against the opposite edges of the tire tread through the rollers to uniformly resist movement of the tread toward the tire building drum and thereby uniformly stretch the tread. The apparatus includes the use of a pneumatic piston cylinder which urges the rollers against the edges of the tread, applying uniform force perpendicular to the tread's axis regardless of the width or width variations of the tread.

Abstract: The laying of pieces 40 of cord 4 is assured by a laying tube 30 which receives the cord by placing its inlet facing the outlet of a cord distributor, the knife 85 of which cuts the cord just upstream of the laying tube 30. At the end of the laying tube 30 there is disposed a laying head 32 which is displaced transversely along the support 1 on which the reinforcement is built. The angle of laying of the cord is adjusted by judiciously coordinating the transverse speed of displacement of the head 32 and the speed of rotation of the support 1.