Abstract: A machine for manufacturing tyre components, which machine includes a first part or combination of parts for guiding and carrying a tyre material to be arranged round itself, which part can change form in controlled manner between a first form and a second form. The machine may also comprises means for folding the tyre material arranged round the first part or combination of parts, which includes a number of folding members movable relative to each other, which folding members can engage on the tyre material for folding and can therein move inside recesses provided for this purpose in the first part or combination of parts. The invention also relates to methods for manufacturing tyre components.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels wherein each tyre includes a carcass structure formed starting from at least one carcass ply laid on a forming support extended along a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes at least one device for positioning at least one annular anchoring structure on at least one end edge of the carcass ply, the positioning device being circumferentially extended around the longitudinal axis of the forming support and axially movable with respect to the forming support between an operating position distal from the forming support and at least one operating position close to the forming support. The apparatus further includes a device for turning up the end edge of the carcass ply around the annular anchoring structure, the turning up device being circumferentially extended about the longitudinal axis of the forming support and axially movable for approaching/moving away to/from the forming support.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels includes building on a forming support a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply, and, at at least one end edge of the carcass ply, at least one annular anchoring structure including at least one substantially circumferential annular insert and at least one filling insert associated with the at least one substantially circumferential annular insert. Building the carcass structure includes positioning the annular anchoring structure on the carcass ply by moving the substantially circumferential annular insert into contact with an end edge of the carcass ply by means of a special positioning member, pulling down the filling insert on the end edge of the carcass ply and turning up a free end portion of the end edge of the carcass ply so as to form a turned up end portion of the carcass ply including the annular anchoring structure.

Abstract: A process for building tyres for vehicle wheels wherein each tyre includes a carcass structure and a crown structure, the crown structure including a belt structure including a first radially inner belt layer and at least one second belt layer radially external to the first belt layer, the process including the steps of: a) placing an annular assembly including a first radially inner belt layer and at least one second radially outer belt layer on at least one auxiliary turning up drum; b) defining at least one pair of folding lines in axially opposite positions of the annular assembly by respective abutment devices radially external to the auxiliary turning up drum; c) adjusting the axial position of the folding lines relative to a centre line plane of the auxiliary turning up drum; and d) turning up, at the folding lines, at least a part of end portions of the first belt layer axially protruding relative to the at least one second belt layer on the at least one second belt layer of the annular assembly.

Abstract: A tire molding apparatus folds the periphery of bead portions at a low speed with an increased pressing force. The tire molding apparatus has folding mechanisms including fingers to fold the tire component to the periphery of bead cores. Folding fingers (101) are integrally provided with cams (120), which rotate in accordance with the swing of the fingers. The fingers (101) receive a driving force of a driver (130) through cam followers (122) energized by springs and the cams (120), and open. The cams (120) are rotated in accordance with the opening of the finger, compressing the springs energizing the cam followers (122). The compression of the springs reduces the opening speed of the fingers (101), and increases the pressing force of finger rolls (104) applied to the tire component (K).

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a tire the beads of which are without anchoring bead wires and are reinforced by complexes of layers of reinforcement elements of low angle, around which complexes the radial carcass reinforcement is anchored by winding, said process being characterized in that each complex is produced independently of the carcass reinforcement blank, the manufacture of said complex including using at least one raw blank of reinforcement elements which are oriented at a higher angle than the angle to be obtained in the vulcanized state, subjecting said ply to pre-extension before formation of a two-layer sleeve, the pitch, angle and width characteristics of which are obtained by pantograph effect upon a second extension.

Abstract: Circumferentially spaced folding modules of a tire building drum have axially movable belt lifting and conveying nose pieces which carry wide breaker ply edges over narrow breaker ply edges laid on the drum.

Abstract: Circumferentially spaced folding modules of a tire building drum have axially movable belt lifting and conveying nose pieces which carry wide breaker ply edges over narrow breaker ply edges laid on the drum.