| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080236726 | Process for Manufacturing Elastomeric Tire Components - A process for manufacturing an elastomeric tire component includes the steps of a) preparing an elongated element including a cross-linkable elastomeric material by feeding it to an extruding device having a plurality of units, each having a respective thermal inertia, and b) delivering the elongated element onto a building support, and further includes at least one non-productive step of c) submitting at least one of the units of the extruding device to a thermal transition selected from heating or cooling, substantially reducing the risk of scorching during the thermal transition from and to the non-productive step ranking the units according to their thermal inertia and heating the units starting with the top-ranked unit sequentially to the bottom-ranked unit to reach the respective working temperature or cooling the units starting from the maximum working temperature unit sequentially to the minimum working temperature unit to reach the respective non-working temperature. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20090008024 | Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing Pneumatic Tyres - A green tyre disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould. The mould is closed through axial approaching of a pair of half shells acting against the sidewalls and the tread band of the tyre. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tyre tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tyre against the toroidal support. Subsequently the sectors are centripetally approached to cause penetration of forming ridges movable in through slits into the tread band, concurrently with a step of full moulding and vulcanisation of the tyre carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tyre itself. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090008835 | Method and apparatus for manufacturing pneumatic tyres - A green tyre disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould. The mould is closed through axial approaching of a pair of sidewall plates acting against the sidewalls of the tyre. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tyre tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tyre against the toroidal support. Subsequently, the sectors are centripetally approached for penetration into the tread band concurrently with a step of full moulding and vulcanisation of the tyre carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tyre itself. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090009310 | Wheel Having a Controlled Pressure and a Pressure Reservoir - A wheel having a controlled pressure includes a rim associated with a tank adapted to be filled with a fluid to a first pressure; a tyre mounted on the rim and having an inner volume inflated to an operating pressure at a reference temperature, the operating pressure being lower than the first pressure; and at least one valve assembly adapted to establish a communication between the tank, the inner volume of the tyre and the external environment. The valve assembly includes a command valve, an exhaust valve and a compensation valve operatively associated with each other. The command valve controls communication between the tank and the inner volume of the tyre. The exhaust valve is connected to the external environment, to the inner volume, to the command valve and to the compensation valve. The compensation valve is connected to the exhaust valve and the command valve. The command valve includes an inner chamber connected with the exhaust valve and the compensation valve in such a manner that the command valve is operated by the exhaust valve and the compensation valve through a pressure variation of the inner chamber in response to a variation of the inner pressure of the tyre. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090101270 | Method and apparatus for the vulcanisation of tyres for vehicle wheels - 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. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090121395 | Method and appartus for the vulcanisation of tyres for vehicle wheels - A vulcanisation apparatus and method for vehicle wheel tyres, includes at least one prevulcanisation work station to conduct a prevulcanisation of a radially internal portion of the tyre and at least two vulcanisation work stations wherein the remaining part of the vulcanisation of the whole tyre is carried out. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090165929 | Process and apparatus for manufacturing a pneumatic tyre - A process and an apparatus for building a pneumatic tyre for vehicle wheels, in which the tyre includes a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply, at least one annular reinforcing structure associated with the carcass structure, a tread band at a position radially external to the carcass structure, and a pair of sidewalls at axially opposite positions on the carcass structure. The apparatus has a toroidal support and at least one turning-up device provided with an annularly continuous presser element axially translatable along the axis of the toroidal support and radially expandable and contractible relative to the axis of the toroidal support to contact the axially internal surfaces of the strip-like elements and turn them up around at least one reinforcing element. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090211695 | Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing Tyres - A green tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to an inner conformation of the tyre. The built tyre is removed from the rigid toroidal support and engaged on an expandable toroidal support which includes a bladder. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090236029 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A REINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR TYRES OF VEHICLES - In tyre manufacture, a belt structure is made by means of strip-like segments each including parallel cords incorporated into an elastomeric layer, which strip-like segments are sequentially laid down in mutual circumferential side by side relationship on a toroidal support. The apparatus for manufacturing such a reinforcing structure for vehicle tyres includes: a feeding unit to supply strip-like elements, each including threadlike elements disposed parallel to each other and at least partly coated with at least one layer of elastomeric material; a laying unit including at least one laying assembly to apply each of said strip-like elements onto a toroidal support according to a predetermined laying angle relative to a circumferential extension direction of the toroidal support itself, the laying unit including at least one presser element movable in contrast relationship against the outer surface of the toroidal support and at least one guide element to keep the strip-like element centered and guide it during laying of same, wherein the guide element includes at least one cavity in which the presser element is at least partly housed during laying of said strip-like element. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090277569 | Process and Apparatus for Manufacturing a Pneumatic Tyre - A process and apparatus for turning up the carcass plies in a tyre, the tyre including a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply provided with at least one reinforcing element coated with at least one layer of elastomeric material, and at least one annular reinforcing structure. The apparatus is equipped with a support drum conveniently shaped for supporting at least one ply and with at least one turning up device provided with an annular continuous presser element. The latter is axially translatable along an axis of the support drum and radially expandable or contractible relative to the axis of the support drum between a contracted position and an expanded position to turn up the carcass ply around an annular reinforcing structure. The device is further provided with means of adjusting the contracted position of the annular element depending on the size of the tyre to be manufactured. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090283203 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING PNEUMATIC TYRES - During building of a tyre, at least one component of elastomeric material is manufactured through application of an elongated element in the form of coils disposed side by side and/or superposed onto a forming support driven in rotation and transversely moved in front of an applicator device. The elongated element is formed by feeding a continuous thread element coming from an extruder between two shaping rollers. During formation, a detector operating close to the shaping rollers cyclically detects the width of the elongated element and the cross-section area of the continuous thread element to monitor the volumetric flow rate of the continuous thread element close to the shaping rollers. The feeding speed of the continuous thread element toward the shaping rollers is adjusted through feedback on the extruder or on a driving device operating downstream of the extruder itself, to keep the volumetric flow rate value within a predetermined range. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090301638 | Method for manufacturing a tyre and apparatus for laying a reinforcing element on a forming support - A method for manufacturing a tyre for vehicle wheels includes the steps of building a carcass structure, including at least one carcass ply associated with annular anchoring structures, on a forming support, building a belt structure in a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and building a tread band in a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure, wherein the at least one carcass ply, the annular anchoring structures and the belt structure each include at least one reinforcing element deposited in a radially outer position with respect to the forming support. The deposition of the at least one reinforcing element includes the steps of setting a first deposition path of the at least one reinforcing element on the forming support based upon a theoretical deposition profile; detecting the deviations between an actual deposition profile and the theoretical profile along the first deposition path, defining, based upon the deviations, an actual deposition path of the at least one reinforcing element on the forming support; and depositing the at least one reinforcing element on the forming support along the actual deposition path. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100018632 | PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process for the production of tyres for vehicle wheels includes the steps of: a) building the tyres on respective toroidal supports assembling a plurality of structural components of each of them according to a predetermined sequence at respective workstations; b) transferring the tyres built on the toroidal supports to a vulcanisation plant; c) molding and partially vulcanising the tyres on the toroidal supports in respective vulcanisation molds associated with the vulcanisation plant; d) removing the partially vulcanised tyres with the respective toroidal supports from the respective vulcanisation molds; and completing the vulcanisation of the tyres outside the vulcanisation molds by means of the heat given to the tyres by the toroidal supports. | 01-28-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20100032079 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES - 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. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100032864 | Process for Manufacturing a Pneumatic Tyre, Related Manufacturing Line and Assembling Apparatus - 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. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100032873 | Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing Pneumatic Tyres - A green pneumatic tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to the inner shape of a tyre. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle. During vulcanisation, axial moving apart of side portions of the toroidal support is caused so as to press the beads and sidewalls of the tyre against the vulcanisation mould. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100043950 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process and apparatus for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, includes building, on a toroidal support, a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, with annular anchoring structures, the building step of the carcass structure includes forming at least one reinforcing structure, operatively associated with the annular anchoring structures through deposition on the toroidal support of at least one reinforcing element along a predetermined curvilinear deposition path. The deposition of the at least one reinforcing element includes the steps of: cutting to size a piece of at least one reinforcing continuous band-like element fed by a feeding device along a predetermined feeding direction, deforming the piece obtained according to the curvature of a deposition part of the deposition path intended to receive the piece, and depositing the deformed piece at the deposition part. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100072670 | 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 tyre on a toroidal support in a building line of a production plant; b) moulding and vulcanizing the assembled tyre in a vulcanization line of the production plant; c) transferring by means of a first transfer device the toroidal support and the relevant moulded and vulcanized tyre to a working station including a removing unit for removing the tyre from the respective toroidal support and a cooling unit for cooling the toroidal support; d) removing the moulded and vulcanized tyre from the relevant toroidal support in the removing unit; e) transferring the toroidal support from the removing unit to the cooling unit by means of a second transfer device different from the first transfer device; and f) cooling the toroidal support in the cooling unit. | 03-25-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20100193109 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A REINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE TYRES - During tyre manufacture, a belt structure is made according to the following steps: preparing strip-like elements, each including longitudinal thread elements disposed parallel to each other and at least partly coated with at least one layer of elastomeric material; applying the strip-like elements in mutually approached relationship along the circumferential extension of a toroidal support, following a predetermined laying trajectory identified on the toroidal support itself so as to form at least one reinforcing layer having a continuous circumferential extension around a geometric rotation axis. During application of each of the strip-like elements, the toroidal support is moved following a predetermined three-dimensional path in order to make the strip-like elements adhere to the outer surface of the toroidal support according to a longitudinal extension line of the strip-like element coincident with the predetermined laying trajectory. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100200151 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING PNEUMATIC TYRES - An apparatus for building pneumatic tyres includes a forming support and an assembling device to assemble components of elastomeric material on the forming support. The assembling device includes a feeding unit to deliver a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material, a conveyor having a moving surface along a predetermined direction and toward a proximal end thereof close to the forming support, and an application device positioned at the proximal end. The continuous elongated element is moved forward on the moving surface as far as the proximal end and the forming support is rotated to enable application of the continuous elongated element in the form of coils wound up on the forming support itself. A retaining device co-operates with the conveyor to brake the continuous elongated element at the end of the application, while the forming support goes on rotating, until it causes stretching and severing of the continuous elongated element. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100200152 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A REINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR TYRES OF VEHICLES - In tyre manufacture, a belt structure is made by means of strip-like segments, each including parallel cords incorporated into an elastomeric layer. The strip-like segments are sequentially laid down in mutual circumferential side by side relationship on a toroidal support. The apparatus for manufacturing such a reinforcing structure for vehicle tyres includes: a laying unit including at least one laying assembly designed to apply each of the strip-like elements onto a toroidal support according to a predetermined laying angle relative to a circumferential extension direction of the toroidal support itself; the laying assembly including at least a first presser element movable in contrast relationship against the outer surface of the toroidal support; the first presser element includes at least one tapered end adapted to perform the contrast relationship and forming a tilted side according to a tilt angle correspondent with the predetermined laying angle of the strip-like elements. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100258230 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLES WHEELS - A method of manufacturing a tyre for vehicle wheels, includes the following steps: a) building a carcass structure; b) building a belt structure; c) building a tread band; wherein at least one of the carcass structure, belt structure and tread band includes a tubular structure of elastomeric material; and d) shaping the carcass structure into a toroidal conformation to associate it with at least said belt structure by exerting a radial deformation force directed from the inside to the outside of the carcass structure. The method includes the following step, during execution of at least one of steps a), b) and c): e) building the tubular structure in such a manner that the profile thereof, along its circumferential extension, has such a starting thickness that the deformed tubular structure following step d) has a substantially uniform thickness. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100269976 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - 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. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100276067 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes the steps of: i) building a carcass structure of a green tyre in at least one carcass structure building line, the carcass structure including at least one carcass ply and a pair of annular anchoring structures; ii) building a crown structure of a green tyre in at least one crown structure building line, the crown structure including a belt structure and a tread band; wherein step ii) of building the crown structure includes at least one step iii) of building the belt structure which in turn includes the steps of: a) building on at least one first building drum, an annular assembly including a first radially inner belt layer and at least a second belt layer radially external to the first belt layer; b) transferring the annular assembly on at least one auxiliary drum; c) turning up axially opposite end portions of the fast radially inner belt layer so as to obtain at least a partial overlapping of the end portions of the first belt layer on the at least one second radially outer belt layer; and d) transferring said annular assembly from the at least one auxiliary drum on at least one second building drum. | 11-04-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20100282396 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A carcass ply includes a plurality of mutually parallel reinforcing cords incorporated into an elastomeric material having a length, a width and a design angle. A continuous strip element of a width, including at least one reinforcing cord incorporated into the elastomeric material, is spirally wound on a forming support adapted to be radially configured. A width of an overlapped part of a coil is set on an adjacent coil, and the whole number of coils, a circumferential extension of the forming support and a true advancing pitch of the coils is calculated. After radially configuring the forming support in order to obtain the calculated circumferential extension, the continuous strip element is laid on the forming support so as to make a semifinished product which is cut along a cutting line passing through a starting end and a final end of the continuous strip element and unrolled from the forming support. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100288423 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - In a process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, including building, on a toroidal support, a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, with annular anchoring structures, the step of building the carcass structure includes forming at least one reinforcing structure, operatively associated with the annular anchoring structures through deposition on the toroidal support of at least one reinforcing element at a deposition region defined on the toroidal support. The deposition of the at least one reinforcing element includes the steps of providing at least one reinforcing element having a length determined as a function of the length of the deposition region; deforming the at least one reinforcing element to form an annular reinforcing element having a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the deposition region; and depositing the annular reinforcing element at the deposition region. An apparatus for carrying out such a process is also described. | 11-18-2010 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 20110189330 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PNEUMATIC TYRES - A green tyre disposed on a toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould. The mould is closed through axial approaching of a pair of sidewall plates acting against the sidewalls of the tyre. Circumferential sectors set to operate against the tyre tread band are maintained spaced apart from the tread band itself during admission of a working fluid designed to press the tyre against the toroidal support. Subsequently, the sectors are centripetally approached for penetration into the tread band concurrently with a step of full moulding and vulcanisation of the tyre carried out through admission of steam under pressure into the tyre itself. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110198017 | PROCESS FOR BUILDING TYRES - A process for building tyres, includes forming at least one component of the tyre being processed directly on a forming support. The tyre component consists of elastomeric material including reinforcing thread elements. The continuous ribbon-like element of elastomeric material including reinforcing thread elements is produced by feeding the reinforcing thread elements through openings defined by circumferential grooves formed in at least one of two guide rollers consisting of idler rollers facing each other, and by laying at least one layer of elastomeric material on the reinforcing thread elements. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110232831 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - An apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes a building drum having at least one first outer circumferential surface, and at least one pair of auxiliary support members removably in engagement with the building drum, each in axial side by side relationship with a respective end of the building drum and having second outer circumferential surfaces extending in the continuation of the first outer circumferential surface so as to support at least one component of the tyre. Each of the second outer circumferential surfaces has at least one non-stick circumferential portion and at least one sticking circumferential portion. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110240208 | PROCESS AND APPARTUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - Building a carcass structure in the manufacturing of a tyre for vehicle wheels includes associating, at each end edge of a carcass ply laying on a forming support, at least one respective annular reinforcing structure obtained by depositing at least one respective reinforcing element. The deposition of the at least one respective reinforcing element includes feeding a continuous reinforced band-like element at a cutting unit, cutting to size at least one first reinforcing element from the continuous reinforced band-like element, moving the first reinforcing element from the cutting unit toward a first end edge of the carcass ply, positioning the first reinforcing element on the first end edge, cutting to size at least one second reinforcing element from the continuous reinforced band-like element, moving the second reinforcing element from the cutting unit toward a second end edge of the carcass ply opposite said first end edge, and positioning the second reinforcing element on the other end edge. | 10-06-2011 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 20120222820 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process and apparatus for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels, includes building, on a toroidal support, a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, with annular anchoring structures, the building step of the carcass structure includes forming at least one reinforcing structure, operatively associated with the annular anchoring structures through deposition on the toroidal support of at least one reinforcing element along a predetermined curvilinear deposition path. The deposition of the at least one reinforcing element includes the steps of: cutting to size a piece of at least one reinforcing continuous band-like element fed by a feeding device along a predetermined feeding direction, deforming the piece obtained according to the curvature of a deposition part of the deposition path intended to receive the piece, and depositing the deformed piece at the deposition part. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120255667 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process and an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes assembling at least one tyre component through laying of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially close to each other on a deposition surface radially external to the forming drum, wherein laying of each strip-like element includes: radially moving the strip-like element close to the deposition surface; locking a central portion of the strip-like element against the deposition surface; and pulling the strip-like element in opposite directions starting from the central portion toward the opposite ends thereof, while the central portion is maintained in a locked condition against the deposition surface, so as to progressively lay down the strip-like element against the deposition surface. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120269915 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VULCANISATION OF TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A vulcanisation apparatus and method for vehicle wheel tyres, includes at least one prevulcanisation work station to conduct a prevulcanisation of a radially internal portion of the tyre and at least two vulcanisation work stations wherein the remaining part of the vulcanisation of the whole tyre is carried out. | 10-25-2012 |
| 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 |
| 20120298305 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A TYRE AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING A REINFORCING ELEMENT ON A FORMING SUPPORT - An apparatus for the deposition of at least one reinforcing element on a forming including at least one feeding unit of at least one reinforcing element at a forming support, at least one deposition unit of the at least one reinforcing element on the forming support, the at least one deposition unit including at least one presser member, a control unit of the at least one deposition unit, at least one detection device of the deviations between an actual deposition profile and a theoretical deposition profile along a first deposition path defined based upon the theoretical profile, and a processing unit to define, based upon said deviations, an actual deposition path of the at least one reinforcing element on the forming support. | 11-29-2012 |
| 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 |
| 20130037203 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING DEPOSITION OF A CONTINUOUS ELONGATED ELEMENT IN BUILDING A TYRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS, PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING A TYRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A method of controlling deposition of a continuous elongated element in building a tire for vehicle wheels, includes; feeding an initial end of a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material through a slit bounded by a first roller and a second roller of a calender; retaining the continuous elongated element against a peripheral surface of the first roller; laying the initial end of the continuous elongated element against a deposition surface; rotating the calender around an oscillation axis that is substantially coincident with a contact generatrix between the first roller and the second roller; and dragging along the continuous elongated element together with the deposition surface. | 02-14-2013 |
| 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 |
| 20130180646 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES - A green tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to the inner conformation of the tyre. The built tyre is removed from the rigid toroidal support and engaged on an expandable toroidal support comprising a bladder. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanization mould and submitted to a vulcanization cycle. | 07-18-2013 |
| 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 |
| 20130214444 | METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING A SEQUENCE OF TYRES DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER - A method of building a sequence of tyres different from each other, includes generating a first deposition surface by a first series of consecutive circumferential sectors. The first deposition surface is selected as a function of the type of a first tyre to be built. Each circumferential sector of the first series is removably coupled to a central body of a forming drum. The method further includes manufacturing at least one component of the at least one first tyre by deposition of the at least one component at a radially external position to the first deposition surface of the forming drum, removing the at least one component from the forming drum and replacing each circumferential sector of the first series with a circumferential sector of a second series for generating a second deposition surface selected as a function of the type of a second tyre to be built which is different from the first tyre. The replacement includes uncoupling each circumferential sector of the first series from the central body and removably coupling each circumferential sector of the second series to the same central body. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130220520 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels includes associating at least one reinforcing structure with at least one surface portion of at least one tyre component laid on a forming support, wherein associating the at least one reinforcing structure includes bringing, through a handling and deposition member, at least one reinforcing element to the forming support and depositing, through said handling and deposition member, the reinforcing element on a respective deposition part defined on a surface portion of the component. The depositing includes gradually laying the reinforcing element on the deposition part following the profile of the deposition part in a circumferential direction. | 08-29-2013 |
| 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 |
| 20130270381 | METHOD FOR STORING AN ELEMENTARY SEMI-FINISHED ELEMENT IN A PLANT FOR PRODUCING TYRES AND DEVICE THEREFOR - A method and device for the storing of an elementary semifinished element in a plant for the differentiated production of tyres, wherein the elementary semifinished element is deposited, associated with a service film, on a collection support, into coils substantially disposed in side by side relationship forming adjacent layers deposited in opposite spiralling directions, at a predetermined winding angle, and wherein winding portions are present that are obtained by depositing the elementary semifinished element at a winding angle substantially equal to 0, for a circumferential angle less than 360°, in the transition between different spiraling directions. The winding angle is determined as a function of the dimensional parameters of the collection support and the elementary semifinished element. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130319617 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - Building a carcass structure of a tyre for vehicle wheels includes associating, at each end edge of a carcass ply laying on a forming support, at least one respective annular reinforcing structure obtained by depositing at least one respective reinforcing element. The deposition process includes feeding a continuous reinforced band-like element at a cutting unit, cutting to size at least one first reinforcing element from the continuous reinforced band-like element, moving the first reinforcing element from the cutting unit toward a first end edge of the carcass ply, positioning the first reinforcing element on the first end edge, cutting to size at least one second reinforcing element from the continuous reinforced band-like element, moving the second reinforcing element from the cutting unit toward a second end edge of the carcass ply opposite said first end edge, and positioning the second reinforcing element on the other end edge. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20140004216 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PNEUMATIC TYRES | 01-02-2014 |
| 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 |
| 20140150956 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A REINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR TYRES OF VEHICLES - In tyre manufacture, a belt structure is made by means of strip-like segments each including parallel cords incorporated into an elastomeric layer, which strip-like segments are sequentially laid down in mutual circumferential side by side relationship on a toroidal support. The apparatus for manufacturing such a reinforcing structure for vehicle tyres includes: a feeding unit to supply strip-like elements, each including threadlike elements disposed parallel to each other and at least partly coated with at least one layer of elastomeric material; a laying unit including at least one laying assembly to apply each of said strip-like elements onto a toroidal support according to a predetermined laying angle relative to a circumferential extension direction of the toroidal support itself, the laying unit including at least one presser element movable in contrast relationship against the outer surface of the toroidal support and at least one guide element to keep the strip-like element centered and guide it during laying of same, wherein the guide element includes at least one cavity in which the presser element is at least partly housed during laying of said strip-like element. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140311655 | PROCESS AND PLANT FOR MANUFACTURING MUTUALLY DIFFERENT TYRES - Production of carcass structures and/or production of crown structures includes: positioning a first continuous elongated element so that its end stretch is aligned with a cutting position; positioning a second continuous elongated element so that its end stretch is in side by side relationship with the end stretch of the first continuous elongated element; forming first strip-like elements from the first continuous elongated element; depositing the first strip-like elements on at least one forming drum; translating the end stretches of the first and second continuous elongated element in a transverse direction relative to their longitudinal extension to align the end stretch of the second continuous elongated element to said cutting position; forming second strip-like elements from the second continuous elongated element; and depositing the second strip-like elements on said at least one forming drum. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140345783 | METHOD FOR MANAGING THE PRODUCTION CYCLE OF A PLANT IN A PROCESS FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS - A method and a plant for managing the production cycle of a plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, wherein the plant provides for a storage region for anchoring annular structures and a plurality of processing stations at least one of which is associated with a forming drum, includes feeding a plurality of anchoring annular structures to the storage region, picking up the anchoring annular structures from the storage region at a predetermined picking-up position that does not change on changing of the types of the anchoring annular structures, and feeding the picked-up anchoring annular structures to the processing station associated with the forming drum. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140374008 | Process and Apparatus for Manufacturing Tyres for Vehicle Wheels - Building the carcass structure of tyres for vehicle wheels includes associating, at each end edge of a carcass ply, at least one respective annular reinforcement structure formed by depositing along a circumferential direction a plurality of reinforcement elements having a first length. Such elements are cut to size from a reinforced continuous band-like element fed to a cutting group arranged at a first operative position adapted to allow a barycentric grip of the reinforcement elements. The cutting group can translate along a feeding direction of the band-like element to a second operative position for cutting to size a plurality of second reinforcement elements having a second length different from the first length. The second operative position is defined on the basis of the second length, so as to have a barycentric grip of the second reinforcement elements too. | 12-25-2014 |
