| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080196817 | Method and Plant for Manufacturing Tyres for Vehicle Wheels - A method and a plant for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels wherein the method includes the steps of: a) building in a building station a substantially cylindrical carcass structure; b) manufacturing in a finishing station a substantially cylindrical sleeve including a tread band applied at a radially outer position with respect to a belt structure including at least one belt layer. Step b) includes the steps of assembling a first belt structure at a first working position on a first auxiliary drum of the finishing station; applying a tread band at a second working position at a radially outer position with respect to a second belt structure previously assembled on a second auxiliary drum of the finishing station, positioning the first auxiliary drum supporting the first belt structure at the second working position; and positioning the second auxiliary drum supporting the substantially cylindrical sleeve thus obtained at a picking position of the finishing station. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080202667 | Method and Plant For Manufacturing Tyres For Vehicle Wheels - A method for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels includes: a) building in a building station a substantially cylindrical carcass structure including at least one carcass ply operatively associated with annular anchoring structures axially spaced apart from each other; b) manufacturing in a finishing station a substantially cylindrical sleeve including a tread band applied at a radially outer position with respect to a belt structure including at least one belt layer including reinforcing cords; b1) assembling a first belt structure at a first working position on a first auxiliary drum of the finishing station; b2) applying a tread band at at least one second working position with respect to a second belt structure on at least one second auxiliary drum by laying down green elastomeric material; b3) positioning the first auxiliary drum supporting the first belt structure at the second working position; b4) positioning the second auxiliary drum supporting the substantially cylindrical sleeve at a picking position; and c) transferring the substantially cylindrical sleeve from the picking position a radially outer position with respect to a carcass structure built in the meantime in the building station. Steps b1) to b4) are repeated cyclically. Steps b1) and b2) and steps b3) and b4) are carried out at least in part simultaneously. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080314504 | Method and Plant for Manufacturing Tyres for Vehicle Wheels - A method and a plant for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels. The method includes the steps of: a) building in a building station a substantially cylindrical carcass structure; b) manufacturing in a finishing station a substantially cylindrical sleeve including a tread band applied at a radially outer position with respect to a belt structure including at least one belt layer, step b) including the steps of: b1) assembling a first belt structure at a first working position on a first auxiliary drum of the finishing station; b2) applying at a second working position at least one first portion of the tread band at a radially outer position with respect to a second belt structure previously assembled on a second auxiliary drum of the finishing station; applying at at least one third working position at least one second portion of the tread band at a radially outer position with respect to a third belt structure assembled on at least one third auxiliary drum of the finishing station. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090174122 | Process and Apparatus for Producing Pneumatic Tyres - A green tyre is built on a forming drum and then transferred to a bead moulding and pre-vulcanisation station where each bead of the tyre is moulded by tightening it between two axially opposite clamping surfaces respectively carried by an axially external annular locating element and an axially internal annular locating element consisting of radially expandable circumferential sectors. The tightened beads can be pre-vulcanised through heat supply by means of electric resistors integrated into the axially external annular locating elements. The tyre with the tightened and possibly pre-vulcanised beads is transferred to a moulding cavity having an inner wall substantially conforming to the shape of an outer surface of the moulded tyre to carry out moulding and complete vulcanisation of the tyre. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090242103 | Method and a plant for manufacturing tyres - 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. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20100024949 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES BY APPLICATION OF STRIPS HAVING DIFFERENT WIDTHS - A process for manufacturing a tyre includes: providing a first plurality of strip-like elements, each substantially having a first effective width; providing at least a second plurality of strip-like elements, each substantially having a second effective width; arranging the strip-like elements of the first plurality and of the second plurality on a support by approaching side edge portions thereof to one another, so as to form at least one reinforcing component of the tyre on the support; wherein the first effective width is different from the second effective width. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100024959 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES - 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. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100038016 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PNEUMATIC TYRES - 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. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100096070 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TYRES - Two auxiliary support members are operatively engaged with a building drum, in axially approached relationship with respective halves of the drum itself, each auxiliary member having a circumferential rest surface extending in the continuation of an outer circumferential surface of the building drum itself. Applied around the outer circumferential surface of the building drum is at least one carcass ply having axially opposite end flaps each lying on the circumferential rest surface of the respective auxiliary support member. A pair of auxiliary shaping members engaged with the building drum in place of the auxiliary support members, each act against a circumferential abutment edge carried by the building drum, to enable the carcass ply to be shaped into a toroidal configuration concurrently with mutual approaching of the halves of the building drum. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100101704 | PROCESS AND APPARATRUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process and an apparatus for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, includes the step of building on a substantially cylindrical forming support a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, with respective annular anchoring structures. The step of building the carcass structure further includes the step of associating, at at least one end edge of said at least one carcass ply, at least one reinforcing structure including a predetermined number of reinforcing elements having a predetermined width and same length. The reinforcing elements are preferably obtained by cutting to size, with a predetermined cutting angle, a continuous band-like reinforcing element having a predetermined width. The reinforcing elements are arranged on the end edge of the carcass ply along a deposition path at a distance from one another having a value between 0 and a predetermined value. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100116414 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES - A plurality of strip-like elements is applied onto a forming drum externally having a substantially cylindrical laying surface. The strip-like elements are disposed in mutually approached relationship to form at least one first annular reinforcing layer on the forming drum itself set to a first work diameter at which each of the applied strip-like elements on the laying surface subtends an arc of a circumference of a width as large as a submultiple integer of the overall circumferential extension of the laying surface itself. Adjustment devices operating on the forming drum subsequently carry out expansion of the latter to a second work diameter larger than the first work diameter, while maintaining its laying surface substantially cylindrical. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100218873 | PROCESS FOR BUILDING TYRES AND TYRE OBTAINED THEREBY - A pair of annular inserts of elastomeric material is circumferentially applied by spiraling around a laying surface of an auxiliary drum. Then a plurality of strip-like elements disposed in parallel side by side relationship with each other in the circumferential extension of the laying surface is applied onto the auxiliary drum, so as to form at least one first belt layer. Respectively opposite end portions of each strip-like element are radially superposed, each against one of the annular inserts, so that each of the annular inserts projects from a respective end edge of the strip-like element. The cap structure formed on the auxiliary drum is coupled to a carcass structure through toroidal conformation of the latter, in such a manner that the radially external ends of sidewall portions previously manufactured on the carcass plies are associated with the axially external ends of the annular inserts. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100258226 | PROCESS FOR BUILDING TYRES AND TYRE OBTAINABLE BY SAID PROCESS - In a process for building tyres, a carcass structure which includes at least one carcass ply and a belt structure, is formed. Manufacture of the belt structure includes: forming a first portion of at least one cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element; forming at least one first belt layer in a radially external position to the first portion in such a manner that the first portion axially projects from one of the axially opposite side edges of the first belt layer, forming a second portion of the cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element in a radially external position to the side edge of the first belt layer and to a stretch of the first portion projecting from the side edge itself, so as to enclose the side edge between the first and second portions of the cushion insert. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100276068 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING A CARCASS STRUCTURE OF A TYRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - 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. The pulling down of the filling insert on the end edge of the carcass ply is carried out by a special pulling down member while the substantially circumferential annular insert is retained in a contact position with the end edge of the carcass ply by the positioning member. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100300603 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A carcass ply is built on a forming drum by application of a plurality of strip-like elements by the steps of: setting a width of these strip-like elements, setting a width of the overlapped part between two adjacent strip-like elements, setting a fitting diameter of the forming drum by calculating a corresponding extension of a radially external laying surface, and calculating a whole number of strip-like elements to be applied. The whole number of strip-like elements is applied by rotating the forming drum around a geometric rotation axis thereof, and applying pairs of strip-like elements by means of a first laying unit and a second laying unit located close to opposite portions of the forming drum relative to the geometric rotation axis. When the calculated whole number of strip-like elements is an odd number, before at least one application step, the first laying unit is shifted along an adjustment path orthogonal to the geometric rotation axis and substantially tangent to the radially external laying surface of the forming drum. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100307662 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR PRODUCING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A plant and a process for producing tyres for vehicle wheels, includes the steps of: a) building a carcass structure of a green tyre on a first forming drum in at least one carcass structure building line, the carcass structure including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures; b) building a crown structure of a green tyre on at least one second forming drum in at least one crown structure building line, the crown structure including at least one belt structure and a tread band; c) toroidally shaping the carcass structure assembling it to the crown structure in at least one assembling and shaping work station for the tyre being processed, the assembling and shaping work station being synchronised with the carcass structure building line and with the crown structure building line; wherein each carcass structure is associated with the respective first forming drum whereon it is built up to the end of step c) of shaping and assembling the tyre being processed; and d) moulding and vulcanizing the green shaped tyre in at least one tyre moulding and vulcanizing line separate from said assembling and shaping work station. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110067800 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR PRODUCING AN ELASTOMERIC COMPOUND - A process for producing an elastomeric compound, includes: feeding at least one elastomeric polymer and at least one reinforcing filler to a mixing apparatus including at least one batch mixing device; mixing and dispersing, in the at least one mixing apparatus, the at least one reinforcing filler into the at least one elastomeric polymer, so as to obtain a first elastomeric compound; discharging the first elastomeric compound from the at least one mixing apparatus; feeding the first elastomeric compound to at least one continuous mixing device, said continuous mixing device including at least two rotating screws; mixing the first elastomeric compound in the at least one continuous mixing device, so as to obtain a second elastomeric compound; and discharging said second elastomeric compound from said at least one continuous mixing device. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110072664 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TYRES - A carcass ply is applied around an outer surface of a building drum according to an application diameter larger than the fitting diameter of a tyre. Coaxially engaged around each of the end flaps is an annular anchoring structure defining the fitting diameter. A pair of sidewalls is manufactured by laying of a continuous elongated element in the form of approached coils on the carcass sleeve. An outer sleeve, including at least one belt structure possibly associated with a tread band, is coaxially centered around the carcass sleeve. 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. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110088832 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TYRES - Auxiliary support members are brought into engagement with a building drum provided with a first outer circumferential surface. These auxiliary support members each have a second outer circumferential surface which extends in the continuation of the first outer circumferential surface. A separation element having a circumferential support surface is provided at a radially external position on each of the auxiliary support members. A component of the tyre is applied around each of the circumferential support surfaces and the auxiliary support members are subsequently axially moved away from the building drum, so as to radially contract the circumferential support surfaces to decouple them from the respective components of the tyre. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110120625 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process for manufacturing a tyre for vehicle wheels, comprises the step of building, on a forming support ( | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110126962 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING TYRES - In an assembly station a carcass sleeve and an outer sleeve manufactured along respective building lines are mutually coupled. Integrated into the assembly station are engagement devices that can be alternatively coupled to an auxiliary drum carrying an outer sleeve and to a building drum carrying a carcass sleeve. A grip unit picks up the outer sleeve from the auxiliary drum associated with the engagement devices in order to position it to a location radially external to the carcass sleeve carried by the building drum associated with the engagement devices in place of the auxiliary drum. Shaping devices that can be operatively coupled to the building drum cause radial expansion of the carcass sleeve so as to enable the latter to be coupled to the outer sleeve retained by the grip unit. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110126963 | Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing Pneumatic Tyres - On a building drum, anchoring structures to beads, carcass plies, a belt structure and/or other annular composite components are sequentially assembled with a liner, sidewalls, sidewall inserts, under-belt inserts or other annular elastomer components. Each of the sidewall inserts, sidewalls, or under-belt inserts is made as a one piece construction in a service station operating far away from the building drum for storage on a movable storing device. Actuating members operating on the movable storing device carry the annular elastomer components from the service station to the building drum. A transfer member picks up the annular elastomer components from the movable storing device to transfer them to the building drum. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110132515 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A PHASE OF MOULDING AN ANNULAR FIXING STRUCTURE AND A TYRE INCLUDING AN ANNULAR FIXING STRUCTURE - A method for controlling a phase of moulding an annular fixing structure of a green tyre includes: introducing the green tyre into a curing mould including an inflatable bladder; delimiting at least one portion of the annular fixing structure by using a first and a second surface opposed to each other; bringing the first surface and the second surface so as to bring a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface into contact with a corresponding radially inner and axially inner surface portion and a corresponding radially inner and axially outer surface portion, respectively, the annular fixing structure generating a first squeezing pressure; inflating the inflatable bladder of the curing mould so as to bring the first and the second surfaces closer together, thus generating a second squeezing pressure in such a way as to shape the radially inner and axially inner surface portions and the radially inner and axially outer surface portions of the annular fixing structure. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110133363 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MOULDING AND CURING TYRES - A process for moulding and curing tyres, includes introducing a green tyre into a curing mould, the mould including a first sidewall plate and a second sidewall plate, a ring of circumferential sectors circumscribing a mould cavity, an expandable bladder delimited by a membrane, and at least one bead moulding ring which is movable between a first contracted operating position and a second extended operating position; and moulding and curing the green tyre in the curing mould; and between introducing the green tyre and moulding and curing it, the process includes extending the at least one bead moulding ring from the first contracted operating position to the second extended operating position; forming a circumferential bearing surface which bears against a first axially inner surface portion of a first annular fixing structure of the green tyre; pressing a second axially inner surface portion of the first annular fixing structure by expanding the membrane at a pre-moulding pressure which is lower than a moulding pressure, so as to bring the first annular fixing structure into contact with the first sidewall plate thus shaping an axially outer surface portion of the first annular fixing structure by means of the first sidewall plate and shaping the first axially inner surface portion of the first annular fixing structure by means of the circumferential surface of the at least one bead moulding ring. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110186207 | APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - 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. The positioning device and the turning up device are radially expandable/contractible in a synchronous manner with respect to the longitudinal axis of the forming support and are settable in a plurality of different operating radial positions, each operating radial position being selected based on a respective radial dimension of the tyre to be manufactured. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110290403 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING GREEN TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A plant and a process for building green tyres for vehicle wheels. The process includes: a) building a carcass structure on a first forming drum in at least one carcass structure building line including a plurality of work stations arranged according to a sequential series, the carcass structure including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures; b) building a crown structure on at least one second forming drum in at least one crown structure building line including a plurality of work stations arranged according to a sequential series, the crown structure including at least one belt structure; c) toroidally shaping the carcass structure assembling it to the crown structure in at least one shaping and assembling work station, wherein the transfers of each of the first forming drum and the second forming drum, with the respective carcass structure and crown structure being processed, from one work station to the other of the respective building lines includes at least one transfer from a first work station to a second work station not adjacent to the first one in the sequential series, and wherein each step d) of transfer takes place in such a way that the first forming drum and the second forming drum only pass in the first and second work station. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110297298 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process for depositing an annular reinforcing element on an annular anchoring structure of a tyre for vehicle wheels. The annular anchoring structure includes at least one substantially circumferential annular insert with which at least one filling insert is associated. The process includes the steps of: loading the annular anchoring structure onto a service platform; associating the annular reinforcing element with an annular portion of a side surface of the filling insert in a radially outer position with respect to the substantially circumferential annular insert, so as to form a reinforced annular anchoring structure; and unloading the reinforced annular anchoring structure from the service platform. The reinforced anchoring structure thus obtained can be used in building a carcass structure in the manufacturing of tyres for vehicles. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120024464 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - In the building of a carcass structure for tyres of vehicle wheels, the step of reinforcing with a loop at least one annular anchoring structure associated at the axially opposite end edges of a carcass ply is carried out on at least one radially expandable/contractable service drum and includes the steps of: setting the service drum to a predetermined radial dimension selected according to the fitting diameter of the tyre to be manufactured, depositing the loop on the service drum, loading the annular anchoring structure onto the service drum in a radially outer position with respect to the loop, radially expanding the service drum up to lock in position the annular anchoring structure, rotating the service drum about a longitudinal axis thereof and, during the rotation, turning the loop up about the annular anchoring structure. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120067496 | WHEEL FOR VEHICLES - A wheel including a tyre and a rim wherein the tyre includes: a pair of beads, each of the beads being provided with a base, wherein the rim includes a pair of axially outer flanges defining respective bead housing seats, each of the bead housing seats including a base portion, and wherein the base of at least one of the beads and the base portion of the respective bead housing seat are mutually coupled by means of at least one mechanical coupling element, wherein the mechanical coupling element is provided with parts and has a length greater than its width, the length being lower than the circumference of the tyre measured at the base of the bead and the width being lower than the axial width of the base of the bead and of the base portion of the respective bead housing seat. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120073725 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE DISCHARGE OF FLUIDS DURING A PROCESS FOR VULCANIZATION AND MOLDING OF A GREEN TIRE AND TIRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A method for controlling the discharge of fluids during a process for vulcanization and moulding of a green tire includes the steps of: building at least one portion of a radially internal surface of a green tire by winding of a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material into a plurality of coils confining circumferential grooves along the rolling direction of the tire; disposing the circumferential grooves into fluid communication with discharge channels present in the radially external surface of a pressing bladder disposed in a radially internal cavity bounded by the green tire. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120111461 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process and an apparatus for building tires for vehicle wheels wherein the process includes the step of assembling components of elastomeric material on a forming support, in which at least one of the components of elastomeric material is manufactured by the steps of: i) dispensing a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material; ii) applying the continuous elongated element in the form of coils disposed in side by side relationship or at least partly superposed, wound up on the forming support, so as to form the at least one component of elastomeric material of the tire; iii) exerting a first pressure on a central region of a portion of the continuous elongated element applied onto the forming support; and iv) exerting a second pressure on side regions of the portion of the continuous elongated element applied onto the forming support. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120138213 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A plant, a method and a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels in a carcass structure building line includes: a) associating a pair of support rings with a forming drum in a work station for associating support rings; b) building at least one structural component of the tyre being processed on the forming drum provided with the pair of support rings in at least one work station of the carcass structure building line; c) removing the pair of support rings from the forming drum in a work station for removing support rings; d) transferring the pair of support rings dissociated from the forming drum to a temporary storage for support rings; and e) building at least one further structural component of the tyre being processed on the forming drum without the pair of support rings in a work station of the carcass structure building line. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120241065 | PROCESS FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS AND TYRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, includes forming a plurality of strip-like elements in such a manner that the opposite end edges of each strip-like element are cut according to at least one cutting angle; and forming at least one first reinforcing layer and one second reinforcing layer which radially overlap each other on a laying surface radially external to a forming drum. Each reinforcing layer includes a succession of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially in a mutually approached relationship, wherein the opposite end edges of each strip-like element form, in succession with each other, axially opposite respective edges of the first reinforcing layer and second reinforcing layer, wherein at least one of the axially opposite edges of at least one of the first reinforcing layer and the second reinforcing layer is at least partly indented. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120241067 | METHOD OF SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE SELF-SEALING ABILITY OF A TYRE AND SELF-SEALING TYRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A method of selectively controlling the self-sealing ability of a tyre obtained by application of a sealing assembly on a drum and subsequent formation thereon of a precursor of a green tyre inclusive of liner and carcass, followed by shaping, curing and molding. The sealing assembly includes: a self-supporting thermoplastic film of polyamide or polyester and a layer of sealing material possessing viscoelasticity and stickiness features, which is associated with and supported by the self-supporting thermoplastic film. The sealing assembly is easily puncturable by a sharp-pointed element while it maintains such a deformability and stickiness that it helps in the transfer of the sealing material during ejection of the sharp-pointed element and limits the transferred material amount to such an extent that holes bigger than a predetermined value are not sealed. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120255666 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING GREEN TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A plant and a process for building different types of green tyres for vehicle wheels for each tyre size, through the use of elementary semi-finished products, includes: a) building a carcass structure of a green tyre, the carcass structure including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures; and b) building a crown structure of a green tyre, the crown structure including at least one belt structure and a tread band; wherein at least one between the building of the carcass structure and the building of the crown structure includes: c) providing at least one first feeding unit of a first elementary semi-finished product and one second feeding unit of a second elementary semi-finished product, the at least one first and one second elementary semi-finished products being different from one another; and d) building at least one portion of a structural component of the tyre being processed, starting from at least one of the first and second elementary semi-finished products, in one work station fed by the first and second feeding units of the first and second elementary semi-finished products. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120275887 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING TYRES - A plant for building tyres includes a plurality of working locations, at least one first working location being associated with at least two loading/unloading locations, a proximal one and a distal one, each of said working locations and loading/unloading locations being associable with a forming drum. The production cycle is controlled by the method of: (i) loading a first forming drum into the at least one first working location; (ii) loading a second forming drum into the loading/unloading location; (iii) at the end of the working provided in the at least one first working location, unloading the first forming drum into the proximal loading/unloading location. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120279661 | METHOD AND PLANT FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A method and a plant for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels wherein the method includes the steps of: a) building in a building station a substantially cylindrical carcass structure; b) manufacturing in a finishing station a substantially cylindrical sleeve including a tread band applied at a radially outer position with respect to a belt structure including at least one belt layer. Step b) includes the steps of assembling a first belt structure at a first working position on a first auxiliary drum of the finishing station; applying a tread band at a second working position at a radially outer position with respect to a second belt structure previously assembled on a second auxiliary drum of the finishing station, positioning the first auxiliary drum supporting the first belt structure at the second working position; and positioning the second auxiliary drum supporting the substantially cylindrical sleeve thus obtained at a picking position of the finishing station. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20130000823 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING TYRES - A plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, includes at least one forming drum having a supporting shaft axially projecting from opposite sides relative to a central body. A handling device is adapted to engage the forming drum and transfer it between at least one loading/unloading location and a work location provided for carrying out at least one process working on the forming drum. The handling device includes a grip assembly carrying at least two grip members each engaging the supporting shaft in the vicinity of each of the end portions thereof, and at least one motor associated with at least one of said grip members for driving the forming drum in rotation while the at least one process working is being carried out in the work location. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130078058 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE MANAGEMENT OF FORMING DRUMS IN BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS AND PLANT FOR PRODUCTION OF TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A method of controlling the management of forming drums in building tyres for vehicle wheels and a plant for production of tyres for vehicle wheels, wherein the plant includes at least one building line including at least one assembly of “m” work stations, each adapted to form at least one portion of a component of the tyre; devices for feeding and picking up “n” forming drums, one at a time, to and from the building line at each time interval equal to a cycle time; transfer devices for respectively bringing and moving apart “m” distinct forming drums to and from “m” distinct work stations of the assembly, wherein each of the “m” work stations respectively receives and releases a forming drum at each time interval equal to a multiple of “m” of said cycle time, wherein “m” is greater than or equal to 2 and “n” is greater than or equal to “m”. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130087259 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR PRODUCING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A tread band of raw elastomeric material is circumferentially applied around a bearing structure incorporating reinforcing cords, for forming a green tyre subsequently submitted to a curing treatment. The tread band is formed by: making an underlayer of raw elastomeric material; making blocks of raw elastomeric material; and applying the blocks mutually spaced apart according to a predetermined tread pattern, onto the underlayer. During introduction of the tyre into a curing mould, the blocks are put in alignment with respective forming recesses before closing the mould, so that each block is engaged in the respective forming recess, following closure of the mould. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130180647 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A TYRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process for manufacturing a tyre for vehicle wheels includes: laying at least one carcass ply on a forming support having a rotation axis; bringing an annular anchoring structure in contact position with an end edge of the carcass ply; holding through a positioning device, the annular anchoring structure in contact position with the end edge while an air chamber is partially inflated to carry out a first part of turning up the end edge around the annular anchoring structure; moving the positioning device away from the annular anchoring structure; and completing the inflation of the air chamber to carry out the remaining part of turning up the end edge around the annular anchoring structure, so as to form a turned up end portion of the carcass ply including the annular anchoring structure. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130213558 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE MANAGEMENT OF ANNULAR ANCHORING STRUCTURES IN A PROCESS AND A PLANT FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A method of controlling the management of annular anchoring structures in a process and a plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, includes: a) feeding pairs of first annular anchoring structures from a first storage region to a bead-forming machine; b) loading a plurality of second annular anchoring structures into a second storage region; c) carrying the second annular anchoring structures from the second storage region to the first storage region; and d) feeding pairs of second annular anchoring structures from the first storage region to the bead-forming machine. The method includes the sequential cyclic repetition of the above actions. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130264003 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - During building of tyres, at least one first forming drum is employed which has a deposition surface and includes sectors radially movable relative to a geometric rotation axis, and circumferentially distributed one after the other. A plurality of strip-like elements is deposited in circumferential side by side relationship on the deposition surface set in the first deposition configuration, to form at least one component of at least one first crown structure. Setting of the deposition surface includes the actions of radially moving the sectors to give the deposition surface a predetermined diameter and carry out a relative movement between a central portion and axially external end portions of each sector to shape the deposition surface according to a predetermined curvature outline. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130306243 | APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PNEUMATIC TYRES - An apparatus for producing a pneumatic tyre has a building unit designed to form a green tyre having a pair of beads. Each of the pair of beads is defined along a respective inner circumferential edge of the green tyre. The apparatus further includes bead moulding devices to tighten each bead between two axially opposite clamping surfaces. A moulding unit of the green tyre has a moulding cavity with an inner wall substantially conforming in shape to an outer surface of a moulded tyre. The apparatus further includes devices for vulcanising the green tyre, and actuating devices for transferring the green tyre together with the bead moulding devices into the moulding cavity. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20140014251 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A carcass ply is built on a forming drum by application of a plurality of strip-like elements, through the steps of: setting a width of these strip-like elements, setting a width of the overlapped part between two adjacent strip-like elements, setting a fitting diameter of the forming drum, calculating a whole number of strip-like elements to be applied. The whole number of strip-like elements is applied by rotating the forming drum around a geometric rotation axis thereof, and applying pairs of strip-like elements by means of a first and second laying unit located close to opposite portions of the forming drum. When the calculated whole number of strip-like elements is an odd number, the first laying unit is shifted along an adjustment path orthogonal to the geometric rotation axis and substantially tangent to the radially external laying surface of the forming drum. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140034220 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - During tyre building, a crown structure is built through the actions of: forming at least one belt layer on an auxiliary drum for manufacturing a belt structure at least partly; turning up axially opposite side flaps of said at least one belt layer formed on the auxiliary drum; transferring the belt structure from the auxiliary drum to at least one service drum; and forming a tread band by winding of at least one continuous elongated element of elastomeric material into coils disposed mutually adjacent around the belt structure carried by the service drum. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140174665 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PNEUMATIC TYRES - 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. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140251544 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PNEUMATIC TYRES - On a building drum, anchoring structures to beads, carcass plies, a belt structure and/or other annular composite components are sequentially assembled with a liner, sidewalls, sidewall inserts, under-belt inserts or other annular elastomer components. Each of the sidewall inserts, sidewalls, or under-belt inserts is made as a one piece construction in a service station operating far away from the building drum for storage on a movable storing device. Actuating members operating on the movable storing device carry the annular elastomer components from the service station to the building drum. A transfer member picks up the annular elastomer components from the movable storing device to transfer them to the building drum. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140288689 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF BUILDING MEMBERS OF A TYRE IN A PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - Method and apparatus for controlling the movement of building members of a tyre in a process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels includes: providing a first device of a first electromagnetic radiation on a first tyre building member; detecting, during a movement of the first building member, a first image in which the first electromagnetic radiation defines a trajectory followed, in the movement, by the first emitter device; carrying out a first comparison between the first image and one or more first reference data; and generating a first notification signal as a function of the first comparison. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140342026 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A PHASE OF MOULDING AN ANNULAR FIXING STRUCTURE AND A TYRE INCLUDING AN ANNULAR FIXING STRUCTURE - Equipment for moulding and curing a green tyre includes a curing mould including a first bead moulding ring including a first surface for contacting a radially inner and axially inner surface portion of an annular fixing structure of the green tyre and a first sidewall plate including a second surface for contacting a radially inner and axially outer surface portion of the annular fixing structure. The first bead moulding ring is radially extendable from a contracted operating position to an expanded operating position so as to delimit a portion of the annular fixing structure between the first sidewall plate and the first bead moulding ring, and the first bead moulding ring is translatable towards the first sidewall plate for generating a first squeezing pressure on the annular fixing structure. The equipment further includes an inflatable bladder associated for operation with the curing mould. | 11-20-2014 |
