A method and a device for vulcanizing tires. An expandable bellows is used for pressing the tire being vulcanized against segments of a mold. The bellows is arranged on a carrier which has an annular shape.

An apparatus and method for forming a reinforced rubber component is described. The apparatus includes a support frame; a rotatable drum mounted upon the support frame; a rubber strip forming apparatus mounted in close proximity to the rotatable drum for applying a rubber strip onto the rotatable drum; and a reinforcement applier apparatus for applying a reinforcement onto the rotatable drum. The method includes the steps of: providing a rotatable drum; applying a rubber strip onto the rotatable drum to form a first rubber layer in a first direction; applying a reinforcement over the first rubber layer in a second direction opposite the first direction to form a first reinforcement layer; applying a rubber strip over the first reinforcement layer.

A tire comprises a toroidal carcass, which has a central cavity and at least one body ply, which is partially folded onto itself and, hence, laterally has two turn-ups, each having an edge of the body ply resting against an intermediate portion of the body ply. Two annular beads are each surrounded by the body ply and having a bead core and a bead filler. An identification label is fixed in a removable manner, for example by gluing, and arranged in the area of an annular bead and supports a temporary RFID device, which can be read from a distance.

A loader device includes a support pedestal movable over a range of longitudinal travel along a longitudinal axis, a support carriage movably mounted to the support pedestal, a loader actuator, and a dismount actuator. The support carriage is movable over a range of vertical travel along a normal axis, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The support carriage has a support arm adapted to support a tire casing. The loader actuator and dismount actuator are respectively adapted to selectively move: (1) at least a portion of a tire casing supported upon the support carriage in a loading direction along the longitudinal axis off of the support arm onto the expandable rim hub and (2) at least a portion of a tire casing supported upon the expandable rim hub in an opposing unloading direction off of the expandable rim hub and onto the support arm of the loader device.

A method of applying an air barrier to an inner surface of a tire includes placing the tire in a tire trimming machine, rotating the tire in the tire trimming machine as a part of a tire trimming operation, and while performing the tire trimming operation spraying the air barrier material onto the inner surface of the tire.

A post-cure tire inflator includes a rigidly mounted bottom frame, and moveable middle and top frames. The middle and bottom frames form a bottom cavity, and the top and middle frames form a top cavity. A bottom cavity holder assembly includes a bottom cavity upper rim plate mounted to the middle frame and capable of moving together with the middle frame. A bottom cavity lower rim plate is mounted to the bottom frame and is capable of moving radially IN and OUT with respect to the bottom frame. A top cavity holder assembly includes a top cavity upper rim plate mounted to the top frame and capable of moving together with the top frame. A top cavity lower rim plate is mounted to the middle frame and is capable of moving together with the middle frame and further capable of moving radially IN and OUT with respect to the middle frame.

Methods are provided for applying a sealant layer to an inner surface of a tire. A first tire may be picked up with a tire handling robot and placed on a first sealant application stand. A sealant bead may be applied to the inner surface of the first tire by a dispense robot. A second tire may be picked up by the tire handling robot and placed on a second sealant application stand. A sealant bead may be applied to the inner surface of the second tire by the dispense robot. The first and second sealant application stands may be arranged adjacent to each other. The tire handling robot and the dispense robot may be located on opposite sides of the sealant application stands.

A tire holding device includes a guide which is provided between a pair of conveyors in a plan view and is provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of any one of an upper rim and a lower rim in a tire transport direction, and the guide guides a tire so that the center of the tire is coincident with the center of any one of the upper rim and the lower rim in the tire transport direction as the tire approaches any one of the upper rim and the lower rim by means of a lifting device.

A method for controlling the manufacturing of tires for wheels of vehicles includes: extracting a cured tire from a curing station, in which the cured tire has accumulated heat during a curing process; and verifying the presence of possible defects or imperfections in that cured tire. The verification includes detecting first electromagnetic radiations representative of a heat emission from different portions of the cured tire while the cured tire frees the accumulated heat; providing at least one output signal representative of the first electromagnetic radiations detected to allow an analysis of the cured tire and to verify the presence of the possible defects or imperfections. A plant for the manufacturing of tires for wheels of vehicles is also described.

A device for cooling and stabilizing the cured tyre includes a beam which with a non-movable element; a movable element; a guide. An actuator moves the movable element relative to the beam. The non-movable element or the movable element has a shaft has a spline, and a first disc. The other one of the non-movable element or the movable element has a closing mechanism with a second disc with a threaded axial opening, a main electric motor and a securing socket. The closing mechanism cooperates with the shaft via the securing socket. The main electric motor is coupled with the securing socket. The second disc is mounted so that rotation of the securing socket causes sliding of the second disc along the axis of the securing socket. The closing mechanism is configured so that adjustment of the second disc in parallel to the axis of the beam is possible.