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: In a process of manufacturing pneumatic tyres, a carcass sleeve is made which includes at least one carcass ply provided with axially opposite flaps turned up around annular anchoring structures, so as to form respective loops. An outer sleeve is positioned around the carcass sleeve and the latter is radially expanded in order to cause application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve. After each of the end flaps has been turned up and before radial expansion, only a portion belonging to each of the loops and extending substantially parallel to the respective annular anchoring structure is submitted to a step of carrying out heating under pressure, to make each loop integral with the annular anchoring structure and prevent the turned-up ply/plies from even partly slipping off, during the subsequent radial-expansion step of the carcass sleeve and vulcanisation step of the tyre.

Abstract: A core handling apparatus is provided for a tire building core. The handling apparatus includes a base plate; a latching mechanism mounted to the base plate and operably inserting into an axial opening at a remote end of a first spindle mechanism connected to a tire building core assembly. The latching mechanism has a latching member operably engaging the first spindle mechanism from within the axial opening. A handle mechanism mounts to the base plate and extends outward. The handle mechanism rotates under manual power to rotate the core assembly through the latching mechanism into alternate angular orientations. The core handling apparatus latching mechanism moves between a radially retracted position that facilitates a close insertion into the spindle mechanism axial opening and a radially extended second position from within the spindle mechanism axial opening to engage the spindle mechanism.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing tires (P) using at least one core (N) used as a reference surface of the manufacture of the tires (P) by moving consecutively from one manufacturing station to another from the start of assembly through to vulcanisation, comprising a first line of stations, oriented in a horizontal direction XX?, capable of receiving the core whose axis of rotation rr? is oriented horizontally, and a second line of stations (200, 300, 300?), oriented in a horizontal direction YY?, perpendicular to the direction XX?, in which the stations are capable of receiving a core (N) whose axis rr? is oriented vertically. The first line of stations comprises a first (120) and a second (130) station for assembling the tire including member (121, 131) for grasping and driving the core (N) in rotation about a horizontal axis rr?, merged with the axis XX?, such members being placed opposite one another.

Abstract: Assembly (1) for making at least a part of a tyre. The assembly (1) comprises a first building unit (3) having a first building drum (4) for a first tyre component and a second building unit (1) having a second building drum (2) for a second tyre component differing from the first tyre component. The assembly further comprises transfer means (5) for transferring tyre components between the first (4) and second (2) building drum. At least one of the building drums can be placed in an operative position in which the axis of rotation of the one building drum is out of line, but parallel, with the axis of rotation of the other building drum placed in an operative position.

Abstract: A plant and a process for producing tyres for vehicle wheels.

Abstract: Along a building line, a green tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support having an outer surface substantially conforming in shape to an inner surface of the green tyre. The green tyre is then transferred to a bead moulding and prevulcanisation station where each bead of the tyre is moulded by tightening it between a surface portion of the toroidal support and an annular clamping surface carried by a removable tightening flange. The tightened beads are prevulcanised through a heat supply by means of electric resistors integrated into the tightening flanges. The tyre with the prevulcanised and tightened beads is transferred into a moulding cavity having an inner wall of a shape substantially conforming to that of the outer surface of the moulded tyre, to carry out moulding of the tyre and complete vulcanisation of same.

Abstract: A green tyre is either directly formed or, when building is over, engaged on an expandable toroidal support to be then introduced into a vulcanisation mould. The expandable toroidal support includes an expandable bladder and a pair of pressure rings, each including fast and second pressure sectors circumferentially distributed and operating at axially opposite positions on the expandable bladder. Driving devices act on the pressure rings to selectively translate them between a work condition at which the pressure sectors of each pressure ring, circumferentially aligned with each other, extend radially away from the geometric axis, and a rest condition at which the pressure sectors are disposed close to the geometric axis. Kinematic synchronisation members operatively associated with the driving devices mechanically mutually constrain the pressure rings, so as to impose a simultaneous and mutually symmetric movement on them.

Abstract: A process and a tyre manufacturing line for producing tyres, wherein the process includes the steps of: i) transferring a first toroidal support to a first assembling apparatus; ii) in the first assembling apparatus, sequentially building on the first toroidal support a first toroidal carcass ply and a first pair of annular reinforcing inserts so as to associate each annular reinforcing insert with a respective radially internal edge of the first toroidal carcass ply; iii) transferring the first toroidal support to a second assembling apparatus; iv) in the second assembling apparatus, sequentially building on the first toroidal support, carrying the first toroidal carcass ply associated with the first pair of annular reinforcing inserts, a second toroidal carcass ply and a second pair of annular reinforcing inserts so as to associate each annular reinforcing insert with a respective radially internal edge of the second toroidal carcass ply.

Abstract: A former used for shaping a green tire into a toroidal shape and a green tire building system including two formers are disclosed. The former comprises: a pair of bead-lock devices supported by a rotatable tubular shaft in which a central shaft is disposed; a rotational-to-linear motion converter converting rotational motion of the central shaft relative to the tubular shaft to linear motion for causing the bead-lock devices to come close to each other or to get away from each other; a single electric motor; and a clutch for switching the transmission of the rotational motion of the motor to (A) only the central shaft to change the distance between the bead-lock devices or (B) both of the tubular shaft and central shaft to rotate the bead-lock devices. The building system comprises a turntable on which the two formers are disposed towards different directions so that by turning the turntable, each of the formers positions towards a first drum and a second drum in turn.

Abstract: A carcass ply is applied around an outer surface of a building drum, according to an application diameter greater than the fitting diameter of the tyre. An annular anchoring structure defining the fitting diameter is coaxially engaged around each of the end flaps. A n outer sleeve including at least one belt structure possibly associated with a tread band is disposed at a coaxiaily centred position around the carcass sleeve applied onto the building drum. Through axial approaching of two halves forming the building drum, the carcass sleeve is shaped into a toroidal configuration to determine application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tire and a tire curing mold, capable of preventing a failure that the turned-up portion is moved apart from the main portion of the carcass of a green tire on a rigid core, are provided. Each bead-holding ring to hold the bead portion 11 of a green tire 10 from the lateral outside, is assembled onto the rigid core prior to preheating the green tire 10.

Abstract: Within tyre manufacturing, a reinforcing structure of the tyre, such as a zero-degree layer of the belt structure, is made by an apparatus including devices for guiding a continuous elongated element toward a forming drum; devices for applying the elongated element against a laying surface of the drum; and a cutting unit to cut off the continuous elongated element when application has been completed. Once the cutting operation has been carried out, the free end of the continuous elongated element is set to a grip position downstream of the cutting unit through a reciprocating slider and a threading element blocking the continuous elongated element with respect to the slider when the latter moves toward the forming drum.

Abstract: A plant includes a carcass-assembling line in which carcass structures are formed through assembling of semifinished products, and a carcass building line in which carcass structures are built through laying of elementary components onto a carcass-building support including an inflatable bladder set in an inflated condition. Belt structures possibly provided with a tread band and produced separately are each coaxially disposed around a built carcass structure on the building support and applied thereto following a radial expansion of the inflatable bladder. In a vulcanisation mould, the building support is submitted to an over-inflation step to press the tyre against the inner walls of the mould.

Abstract: Provided is a device for forming a special giant all-steel radial OTR tire in a continuous process, the device comprising a first base guide rail, a second base guide rail, a headstock, a main building drum, a belt housing, a belt drum and an overhead rail. The first base guide rail and the second base guide rail are parallel to each other. The overhead rail comprising a first traveling unit and a second traveling unit are disposed above the first base guide rail and the second base guide rail. A method for forming a special giant all-steel radial OTR tire in a continuous process is also provided.

Abstract: A tire building core manipulating apparatus for a segmented tire building core is provided, the core including a plurality of core segments extending generally radially from a central axis. The manipulating apparatus includes a support frame; a core latching mechanism mounted to the support frame for operatively engaging a mating mechanism on the core whereby suspending the tire building core in a preferred axial orientation and raises and lowers the core to engage one or more stations in a tire curing line.

Abstract: A station apparatus method within a tire curing line is provided for assembling and disassembling a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a cured tire. The core includes a plurality of core segments assembling to form a core body and extending generally radially from a central core axis within a core central axial passage. The core further includes first and second locking spindle sections connecting to opposite sides of the core body.

Abstract: A core segment manipulating apparatus and method is provided for relocating core segments forming a toroidally shaped core body configured to carry a cured tire. The apparatus includes multiple core key segment engaging mechanisms and core second segment engagement mechanisms arranged in a spaced apart circular array adjacent to respective key segments and second segments of the core body. The key segment and second segment engaging mechanisms operate to individually move respective key segments and second segments from a radially outward core body position to a radially inward segment removal position. The key segment and second segment engaging mechanisms transfer a respective segment to a segment removal device at the segment removal position and return radially outward to a segment-receiving location.

Abstract: A tire building method and a tire building facility according to the invention attains reduction of an installation space of the tire building facility and substantially equal building cycles for respective building stages to increase building efficiency and facilitate arrangement switching. For attaining these, a step for building a cylindrical carcass band, a subsequent step for building a cylindrical green case, a step for building a cylindrical belt and tread band, a step for combining the green case and the belt and tread band to build the final shape are divided as first through fourth building stages (S1) through (S4) having individual building drums (D1) through (D4) corresponding to the respective steps.

Abstract: A vulcanisation apparatus and method for tyres for vehicle wheels includes the steps of: placing a green tyre, arranged on a toroidal support, inside a vulcanisation mold; connecting a supply device of at least one pressurised primary working fluid and a supply device of at least one pressurised secondary working fluid to the vulcanisation mold in a prevulcanisation and molding station; at least partially vulcanising a radially internal portion of the green tyre on the toroidal support; transferring the mold to a vulcanisation station and completing the vulcanisation of the prevulcanised tyre by supplying the at least one pressurised primary working fluid inside the toroidal support.

Abstract: In producing a side-reinforced type runflat tire in which side reinforcing rubbers with generally crescent-shaped sections are interposed between a carcass and an inner liner, the first drums 11a, 11b on which the side-reinforcing rubbers are to be attached are so configured that their diameter do not substantially fluctuate along the axial direction. The expanding operation of the first drum, the mutually approaching operation of the first drums 11a, 11b and the approaching operation of the bead gripping rings 30A are synchronized. As a result, there is provided a tire and a method of its production capable of being produced by a multi-size mixed flow production system consisting of minimum equipments and of preventing air inclusions and wrinkles between the carcass member 4A and the side-reinforcing rubber 2A.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, a green tyre, once formed, is transferred into a vulcanisation mould and pressed against the holding walls of a moulding cavity. Concurrently with the pressing step, a fluid present between the green tyre and the holdling walls is evacuated through vent valves. The tyre is brought into contact with the closing head of each valve so as to push it toward a closed position at which the closing head forms a contact seat spaced apart from the inner surface of the moulding cavity in order to define an embedding recess between the inner surface of the moulding cavity and the closing head.

Abstract: The invention can perform building in a process for building a carcass band or a belt/tread band of a tire, in which two drum transfer support bases (10) supporting building drums (D1) are alternately shifted to first and second transfer sections (11), (12), in which predetermined building positions are set, a rotational transfer device (A) for rotational transfer of the drum transfer support bases (10) is mounted between the first transfer section (11) and the second transfer section (12), which are arranged to get out of position relative to and in parallel to each other, and two pairs of rotational transfer rails (27a), (28a) are juxtaposed on a rotating table (20), which has an axis (O) intermediate between the both transfer sections, to be positioned corresponding to extensions of travel rails (11a), (12a) arranged on the first and second transfer sections (11), (12) to receive two drum transfer support bases (10), (10), which enter from portions of the rails (11a), (12a) of the both transfer sections (1

Abstract: An automatic plant for producing tyres includes a plurality of work stations and a plurality of devices for transferring the tyres from one work station to another work station and for moving the tyres within a same work station. Each work station is designed to assemble one or more corresponding structural components of the tyres. At least one of the structural components is supplied from a machine for producing the at least one structural component, through a dynamic storage unit, and to at least one of the work stations. A method for producing tyres includes making at least one structural component of the tyres, supplying the at least one structural component to a toroidal support, assembling the at least one structural component on the toroidal support, transferring the tyres from one work station to another, moving the tyres within a same work station, and vulcanizing the tyres.

Abstract: A method for building a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes positioning a casing sleeve on a shaping drum and securing the sleeve on the drum. During at least one of positioning and securing the sleeve, the sleeve is kept in an essentially centered position on the drum by radial forces directed against a radially inner surface of the sleeve. A shaping drum for making a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a rotation shaft and two coaxial half-drums integral with each other with respect to rotation. At least one of the half-drums is axially movable in both directions with respect to the other half-drum. Each half-drum includes a support device, a gripping device, and a centering device. A first equatorial plane defined the centering devices is axially movable with respect to a second equatorial plane defined by the gripping devices. A plant for building a tyre is also disclosed.

Abstract: A transportation and production system is used in building tire blanks having at least one carcass ply, an inner layer, sidewalls, two bead cores with core profiles, a belt assembly with at least two belt plies and a tread. Drums can be positioned on transportation devices and moved along at least one continuous transportation path, having stations to be delivered to for building tire components. Selected building stations have at least two respective stations that can be traveled to alternately.

Abstract: In the field of tyre building, underbelt inserts are applied to an expandable support associated with an auxiliary drum on which the belt structure is made, simultaneously with manufacture of a carcass structure on a primary drum. Following expansion of the expandable support, the underbelt inserts are applied to the belt structure that can be directly made on the support itself in an expanded condition. The belt structure together with the underbelt inserts and a tread band are then transferred onto the carcass structure formed on the primary drum to complete building of the tyre following shaping of the carcass into a toroidal conformation.

Abstract: A module for manufacturing a cured tire from a plurality of tire components is disclosed. The module has a plurality of component appliers located at spaced locations along a predetermined path, and a mobile tire building trolley for movement along the predetermined path and two detachable tire building drums for mounting on the movable trolley. A tire curing station has one tire mold for curing the assembled tire components while mounted on one of the detachable tire building drums. The tire is cured as the other detachable tire building drum on the mobile tire building trolley is having tire components applied. One or more of the plurality of component appliers includes a means for forming the tire component at the location of the applier. The applied components include a liner, a pair of bead cores, a ply, a pair of sidewalls, a pair of chafers, and one or more belt layers and a tread.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling multiple tire components onto one or more tire building drums at a work station of a tire building system is disclosed. A first inner set of measuring drums is located at a first loading position between a second outer set of measuring drums at a second loading position. Tire components are loaded onto the first and second sets of measuring drums at the first and second loading positions. The first and second sets of measuring drums are alternatively moved from the first and second loading positions into first and second ready positions, respectively. Then the first and second sets of measuring drums are alternatively moved from the first and second ready positions into first and second transfer positions, respectively, where the tire components are transferred to the one or more tire building drums. Then the first and second sets of measuring drums are retracted away from the first and second transfer positions, respectively, to the first and second ready positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a vehicle tire includes means for preparing and toroidally shaping a carcass structure, preparing and arranging a belt structure as a crown around the carcass structure, and wrapping a tread around the belt structure. The means for preparing the belt structure includes an extrusion apparatus for forming a sheet of rubber-coated fabric including a plurality of reinforcing cords substantially parallel to one another, means for conveying the sheet, a first cutting device for cutting the sheet to obtain a plurality of strips, a device for transferring the strips, a device for splicing the strips to form a substantially continuous belt assembly, means for conveying the strips and the belt assembly, second and third cutting devices, means for conveying the belt strips and portions of the belt strips, and at least one assembly drum adapted to support the portions of the belt strips.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing components for a tire being worked is provided. The apparatus includes a toroidal support for carrying the components of a tire being worked. The toroidal support has an outer surface substantially matching an inner shape of the tire. The apparatus also includes means for feeding at least one elongated element through at least one delivery member disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the toroidal support. The apparatus also includes means for circumferential distribution arranged to drive the toroidal support in rotation around a geometric axis of rotation of the toroidal support so that the at least one elongated element is circumferentially distributed on the toroidal support.

Abstract: The assembly of devices for production of green tyres, consisting of a belt building drum, tread building drum, band drum for preparing a carcass and a forming drum and further includes devices for transferring particular components or assemblies of the components from one device to another, an apparatus for placing and holding a bead and the carcass assembly, stiching unit, and particular servisers for supplying materials to particular devices. The assembly of devices is arranged into two parallel transfer tracks 20 and 50 and includes the band drum 30 for preparing carcass assembly, the tyre building drum 130, the apparatus 150 for placing and holding the head and the carcass assembly on the first transfer track 20, the apparatus 150 is disposed between the said band drum 30 for preparing the carcass assembly, and the tyre-building drum 130.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for stabilizing a fire building drum wherein the fire building drum has two ends, is permanently supported at a single cantilever support end, and the remaining end is a free end. The method comprises providing a free end support engaged with the free end to stabilize the tire building drum by restricting lateral movement of the free end; and freeing the free end by temporarily retracting the free end support when desired, e.g., to enable application of annular fire components on the tire building drum, or to enable removal of a built tire from the fire building drum. Preferably, the free end support allows rotation of the fire building drum while the free end support is engaged with the free end. A preferred embodiment uses overtravel of actuator linkages stopped against an extension stop to lock the free end support in place, engaged with the free end, to stabilize the tire building drum without requiring continued power input.

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 method of manufacturing tires includes the steps of making structural components for tires, assembling the structural components of each tire following a pre-established sequence at respective work stations disposed along a manufacturing line, transferring the tires to a curing line, and curing the tires in respective vulcanization molds. The tires are sequentially transferred along the manufacturing line from a first work station to successive work stations. At least one series of tires is simultaneously processed on the manufacturing line and the curing line. The at least one series of tires comprises at least one first tire model and at least one second tire model different from the at least one first tire model. The tires are transferred from the manufacturing line to the curing line at a same rate as the tires are sequentially transferred along the manufacturing line from the first work station to the successive work stations.

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: Method and apparatus for precision alignment of a moving tire building drum to an automated tire building system working axis, wherein the automated tire building system comprises one or more work stations with application drums aligned to the working axis, and the tire building drum is moved into and out of each work station, comprising: supporting the tire building drum on a rigid, two-sided drum support frame having flat skates with flat bearing rollers under one side, and V-skates with V-mounted bearing rollers under the other side; providing a rail system comprising first and second approximately parallel rails passing through the one or more work stations, wherein the first rail is substantially flat-topped, and the second rail is substantially inverted V-shaped on top; causing the one or more flat skates to ride on the first rail, and causing the one or more V-skates to ride on the second rail; and positioning the drum support frame, the flat skates, and the V-skates relative to the tire building drum

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: A method for producing types of tires different from each other includes the steps of making a plurality of structural components for the tires, manufacturing the tires by assembling the structural components in proximity to corresponding work stations, moving the tires being manufactured to and from the corresponding work stations arranged in a manufacturing unit, transferring the manufactured tires to a vulcanizing unit, and vulcanizing the tires in corresponding vulcanizing moulds. The step of manufacturing the tires includes providing at least one series of tires to be produced, wherein the at least one series of tires includes a sequence of at least a first type of tire and a second type of tire arranged in a predetermined order, and modifying the predetermined order in proximity to at least one of the corresponding work stations. An associated plant for producing types of tires different from each other is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for stabilizing a tire building drum wherein the tire building drum has two ends, is permanently supported at a single cantilever support end, and the remaining end is a free end. The method comprises providing a free end support engaged with the free end to stabilize the tire building drum by restricting lateral movement of the free end; and freeing the free end by temporarily retracting the free end support when desired, e.g., to enable application of annular tire components on the tire building drum, or to enable removal of a built tire from the tire building drum. Preferably, the free end support allows rotation of the tire building drum while the free end support is engaged with the free end. A preferred embodiment uses overtravel of actuator linkages stopped against an extension stop to lock the free end support in place, engaged with the free end, to stabilize the tire building drum without requiring continued power input.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously producing production runs of tires 200 on a multi-station sequential tire manufacturing system 10, the tires 200 being from a group of tire types of different build specifications in lot sizes of one or more tires is disclosed. The steps include: scheduling the production run by imputing tire build software, wherein the software program performs the steps of: selecting the tire building equipment and materials required for the respective tire types; calculating the corresponding number of cycles each piece of building equipment must perform to build a given lot; and automatically changing to a second build specification at a lot change by switching to the second build specification after the last tire 200 of the first build specification passes; repeating the automated changing to the next build specification at each station 11-16 and 71-74) as each last tire 200 of each prior lot passes until a final lot is produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radial tire forming apparatus capable of being applied to the formation of a carcass band having a large folding length. On a housing for a rollover device of the tire forming apparatus, a plurality of sets of straight rail bearers are fixed at appropriate places, so that a frame provided with rails is advanced toward or retreated from a second forming point on the carcass forming former side by a cylinder fixed to the housing. The diameter of a first rollover ring is slightly smaller than the diameter of a second rollover ring. When the rollover rings are brought closest to each other, the cylindrical portions of the rings enter and lap on each other.

Abstract: System for producing models of tyres which are different from each other, comprising:—a building unit (2) comprising a plurality of operating stations (5, 6, 7, 8, 9), each designed to assemble at least one corresponding structural component on at least one model of tyre being produced;—a vulcanizing unit (3), having vulcanizing moulds (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29) for the built tyres;—a unit for producing a plurality of mixtures, comprising at least one extruder unit, which continuously supplies at least one of the said operating stations with at least one mixture suitable for making the said at least one structural component.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for precision longitudinal registration of a movable tire building drum (120, 620) to an automated tire building system (100) work station (110, 610), wherein the automated tire building system comprises one or more work stations with application drums (112), and the tire building drum is moved longitudinally forward (105) into and out of each work station, comprising: providing a work station longitudinal reference point (115, 615) upon a forward-facing surface (115, 615) of a laterally extendible portion (114, 614) of the work station; providing a drum reference point (125, 625) upon a rearward-facing surface (125, 625) of the tire building drum; and after the tire building drum has been moved into a work station, halting the tire building drum movement, laterally extending the work station longitudinal reference point rearward of the tire building drum, and then moving the tire building drum longitudinally rearward to abut the drum reference point against the work station longitudinal

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes forming a carcass sleeve, transferring the carcass sleeve onto a shaping drum, shaping the carcass sleeve to apply a belt structure and a tread band, and applying a pair of sidewalls against side surfaces of the carcass sleeve. Each of the sidewalls extends between an annular reinforcing structure and a side edge of the tread band. Before transferring the carcass sleeve onto the shaping drum, the sidewalls are positioned on an intermediate drum, the carcass sleeve is transferred onto the intermediate drum, and inner end flaps of each sidewall are engaged against the carcass sleeve at the annular reinforcing structures. A related apparatus for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels includes a building drum, a shaping drum, one or more transfer devices for moving the carcass sleeve from the building drum to the shaping drum, an intermediate drum, and an auxiliary unit.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously building a plurality of tire carcasses includes the tire building steps of establishing a sequence of work stations, each at a predefined location along a working axis extending through the work stations. Disconnected tire building drums are advanced along the working axis extending through the work stations. The tire building drums are coupled to an intake server at each of the work stations for operating the tire building drums. One or more tire components are applied to the tire building drums at each of the work stations.

Abstract: A method and system for building, in at least two stages, an unvulcanized tire carcass (30). The system (20) incorporates a first stage tire building drum (22) on which predetermined, unvulcanized tire building components are layered to form a cylindrically shaped, unvulcanized tire carcass (30), a second stage shaping drum (24) on which the carcass (30) is shaped into a shape suitable for subsequent molding and vulcanization, and a bead tube transfer device (28) that positions tire beads (32a, 32b) on the carcass (30) that is built up on the first stage drum (22) and then transfer the tire carcass (30) and its tire beads between the first and second stage drums while precisely maintaining the axial separation distance between the beads.

Abstract: A method for mounting beads on a tire carcass which is being laid up on tire building drum, particularly applicable to cases wherein the drum has a free end and an opposite end which is supported by a drum support (or comparable impediment to installing a bead from the opposite end of the drum). The method comprises disposing a first of two beads on the drum in an area which is between a carcass layup area and the drum support. The bead is moved into this position from the free end of the drum, and this is done before the process of laying up the carcass has resulted in there being an impediment to installing the bead from the free end of the drum, such as bumps resulting from tire insert components. This may be prior to any carcass components have been laid up, or after an inner liner has been laid up, or after an inner liner and inserts and a ply have been laid up on a drum having pockets (recesses) to alleviate bump formation.

Abstract: A retreading method wherein a base composition and a cap composition are applied to a carcass (10) as two ribbons (14) and (16) extruded from separate extruders (18) and (20). The ribbons (14) and (16) can be layered and applied to a ready-to-retread carcass (10) simultaneously or, alternatively, the base ribbon (14) can be applied to the ready-to-retread carcass (10) first and the cap ribbon (16) applied thereafter. The carcass (10), with ribbons (14/16) applied thereto, is then inserted into an enclosed heated mold (22) and cured to complete the retread.

Abstract: A green tire holding device (50) including a horizontal turning spindle (52) which supports and turns a green tire (T) so that no set portion of the tire is constantly subjected to the downward pull of the rest of the tire carcass. The spindle (52) can be programmed to automatically continuously turn the green tire (T) or to automatically turn the green tire (T) at spaced intervals corresponding to desired angular movements. In a tire manufacturing method, the holding device (50) is used to turn the green tire (T) during a pre-curing wait cycle to thereby minimize distortion of the green tire (T).