A method for stacking a ply (50) which is transferred from a rubber mixing system to a stacking system (100) comprises the steps of transferring the ply (50) to a stacking head (120) of the stacking system (100); passing the ply (50) to a motorized belt (110) of the stacking system (100), the motorized belt (110) being able to turn in both directions and being able to move in translation, and the motorized belt (110) being situated between the stacking head and a pallet (P) chosen from a pallet (P) with edges and a pallet (Q) without edges; and setting the motorized belt (110) into movement in translation so as to move along a path such that the motorized belt (110) receives the ply (50) from the stacking head (120) and makes a downstream end (50b) of the ply (50) to be stacked accessible in order to connect it to an upstream end (52a) of a ply (52) of a successive pallet and form a butt joint between the plies (50, 52).

Disclosed is a transfer device and a method for transferring a plurality of first tire components from a first container and a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a servicer, wherein the transfer device includes a first station and a second station for receiving the first container and the second container, respectively, wherein the first station and the second station are arranged side-by-side in a lateral direction, wherein the transfer device further includes a base and a take-out member that is mounted to said base and that is movable with respect to the base towards the first station and the second station for picking-up and taking-out one of the first tire components from the first container at the first station and for picking-up and taking-out one of the second tire components from the second container at the second station, respectively.

A method and apparatus for feeding a plurality of tread bands in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels. Each tread band initially includes, on a side thereof, a service fabric. The tread bands are initially arranged at different heights. The method includes positioning a first auxiliary conveyor belt of an auxiliary collection device including a plurality of juxtaposed auxiliary conveyor belts at a first height corresponding to the height of a first tread band, then, proceeding with the removal of the service fabric from the first tread band while the first tread band is transferred onto the first auxiliary conveyor belt. The method also includes positioning at least one second auxiliary conveyor belt of the auxiliary collection device at at least one second height corresponding to that of at least one second tread band.

A process and an apparatus for automatically applying a noise reducing element to a tyre for vehicle wheels. The process includes: a) providing a noise reducing element; b) providing an adhesive material; c) guiding the noise reducing element according to a predetermined direction; d) during the guiding, applying the adhesive material onto a first surface of the noise reducing element; e) manipulating the noise reducing element by interacting with at least one second surface of the noise reducing element different from the first surface on which the adhesive material has been applied; and f) positioning the noise reducing element in a predetermined position on a radially inner surface of the tyre, bringing the first surface into contact with the radially inner surface.

A method forms a butt joint between ends of first and second plies and splices the first and second plies together. The method includes the steps of: positioning a first splice edge of a first ply at a first location; positioning a second splice edge of a second ply at a second location, the second splice edge being left bare; wrapping a gum strip around the first splice edge such that the first gum strip forms a U-shaped structure in section that allows the first gum strip to extend from a first planar side of the first ply over the first splice edge to a second opposite planar side of the first ply; not wrapping a gum strip around the second splice edge; placing the first splice edge in abutting relationship to the second splice edge; and stitching the first splice edge to the second splice edge such that stitches each extend from the first planar side of the first ply, through the gum strip, to the first planar side of the second ply.

Disclosed is a conveying apparatus and method for conveying a tire layer, wherein the conveying apparatus includes a swivel conveyor with at least one endless belt or wire, a first pulley, a second pulley and a third pulley that define a minimal loop (L) for guiding the endless belt or wire along a conveying run and a return run, wherein the third pulley is arranged between the conveying run and the return run, and is swivable about a swivel axis (X) between a first swivel position and a second swivel position. The pivot position is chosen such that the length of the minimal loop when the third pulley is in the first swivel position is the same within a tolerance of less than 1 percent with respect to the length of the minimal loop when the third pulley is in the second swivel position.

The installation comprises a preparation station for preparing strips by cutting a straight wire band, a jointing station arranged to butt-joint the strips obtained from the preparation station so as to form a reinforcing ply, and a station for turning over strips, which is interposed between the preparation station and the jointing station. The installation also comprises a first receiving surface, arranged to receive a strip, a second receiving surface associated with a reversing device which is arranged to transfer a strip from said first receiving surface to said second receiving surface, by thus turning over the strip. A gripping member is arranged to take a strip from the first or second receiving surface in order to allow the jointing station to selectively construct a reinforcing ply with a left-hand ply handle or with a right-hand ply angle.

The invention discloses a tire building device and a tire building method. The tire building device includes a lateral-longitudinal-orthogonal 1 rail unit, a transferring ring, a carcass application unit, a bead placement unit, a belt application unit, a building unit, a shaping unit, and a tire unloading mechanism; the lateral and longitudinal orthogonal rail unit divides the tire building device into four areas, and also establishes the connection between the units through the transferring ring. The tire building method, including: 1) adhere the bead and tire carcass compound and then sent to the building unit; 2) send the belt compound to the building unit, 3) compound the carcass compound and belt compound into a carcass and sent to the shaping unit; 4) wind the carcass around the tread to form a green tire and sends it to the tire unloading mechanism for disassembly.

In one embodiment, a transfer system is configured to move a portion of a strip within a belt forming system. The transfer system may comprise a first segment comprising a main body adapted to engage a strip. A plurality of slots may be disposed in a surface of the main body. Fluid communication may be provided from a fluid supply to the plurality of slots, such that the fluid communication with the plurality of slots enables holding the strip against the main body or blowing the strip off the main body. The plurality of slots may be arranged in a series of rows, wherein a first slot in a first row is positioned directly adjacent to a second slot in the first row. First and second strips of different dimensions may be transferred without any mechanical adjustments being made to the main body.

A tyre building plant (1; 100) comprises a forming drum (4) and a supply device (10) for supplying an elongated element (3) towards the forming drum. The supply device comprises at least one conveyor belt (11; 101) which extends in a supply direction (X) between a loading region (12), in which the elongated element is loaded on the conveyor belt and an unloading region (13), a control unit (19) for controlling the loading of the elongated element (3) on the conveyor belt (11; 101), at least a first detection element which is fixed with a first portion (20) of the conveyor belt, a sensor (22) which is fixed and independent with respect to the conveyor belt and which detects the position of the first portion (20) with respect to the supply device. The loading of the elongated element on the conveyor belt is performed when the first portion is at a predefined reference distance from the loading region (12).