A topping sheet forming method includes: a feeding and division step of feeding a textile original fabric, obtained by weaving longitudinally aligned tire cords into a cord fabric by use of weft yarns, and cutting off the weft yarns in predetermined widthwise positions to divide the textile original fabric into a plurality of narrow textile original fabrics; a calender step of topping, with unvulcanized rubber, at least one surface of one narrow textile original fabric out of the divided narrow textile original fabrics; and a wind-up step of winding up the other narrow textile original fabrics out of the divided narrow textile original fabrics.

A method for arranging elongated elements in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, including: simultaneously winding a first elongated element and a second elongated element respectively on a first winding support in a first axial position and on a second winding support in a first axial position; simultaneously winding a third elongated element and a fourth elongated element respectively on the first winding support in a second axial position different from the first axial position and on the second winding support in a second axial position different from the first axial position, in which the elongated elements of the second type are the same as each other and different from the elongated elements of the first type.

Disclosed is a festooner and a method for buffering a strip, the festooner having a first set of buffer rollers and a second set of buffer rollers, wherein the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers define a meandering first buffer path between them, wherein the festooner further includes a first endless drive element for driving the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers. The festooner further includes a third set of buffer rollers and a fourth set of buffer rollers coaxial to the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers, respectively, defining a meandering second buffer path between them. The festooner further includes a second endless drive element for driving the third set of buffer rollers and the fourth set of buffer rollers.

Disclosed is a festooner and a method for buffering a strip, wherein the festooner includes a first holder and a second holder which are oppositely movable towards and away from each other in a buffer direction to vary a buffer capacity of the festooner, and a first set of buffer rollers and a second set of buffer rollers held by the first holder and the second holder, respectively, wherein the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers define a meandering buffer path between them. The festooner further includes an endless drive element for driving each buffer roller, wherein the festooner further includes an overlength collector for collecting and paying out an overlength of the endless drive element.

A method for arranging elongated elements to be used in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, including: winding in parallel a first elongated element and a second elongated element of a first type respectively on a first winding support and a second winding support coupled and rotatable about a first rotation axis; winding in parallel a third elongated element and a fourth elongated element of a second type respectively on a third winding support and a fourth winding support coupled and rotatable about a second rotation axis, where the elongated elements of the second type are different from the elongated elements of the first type; decoupling the second winding support from the first winding support and the fourth winding support from the third winding support; and coupling the second winding support with the third winding support and the fourth winding support with the first winding support.

A method for arranging elongated elements in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, including: arranging a first winding support with a first elongated element of a first type wound on the first winding support; arranging a second winding support with a second elongated element of a second type different from the elongated element of the first type wound on the second winding support; arranging a coupling device including a first coupling body and a second coupling body rotatable with respect to one another about a rotation axis; and arranging the first winding support on the first coupling body and the second winding support on the second coupling body.

A system (100) for drawing and transferring wires arranged in one or more racks (110) of the system includes: a mobile structure (114) including a frame (114a), a base (114b) and one or more mobile means, one or more roller panels (116) made up of horizontal and vertical rollers that allow the wires to be organized; and a fixed structure (120) disposed at the end of the rack (110) and including a frame (120a) and a base (120b), allowing the transfer of the roller panels (116) from the mobile structure towards the fixed structure without loss of alignment of the wires, wherein the mobile structure is positioned next to the fixed structure. A method for drawing and transferring wires selected for incorporation in a reinforced ply is performed by the disclosed system.

A transfer device includes first and second transfer members which are movable into a first transfer state on opposite sides of a first transfer plane (P1). The first transfer member includes first magnetic field sources that form a first magnetic field array for retaining the tire component with a first magnetic attraction force (F1), while the second transfer member includes second magnetic field sources that form a second magnetic field array for retaining the tire component with a second magnetic attraction force (F2) that is larger than the first magnetic attraction force (F1) at the first transfer plane (P1), wherein in the first transfer state the second magnetic field array is offset with respect to the first magnetic field array.

A tyre building plant includes a forming drum and a supply device for supplying an elongated element toward the forming drum. The supply device includes at least one conveyor belt which extends in a supply direction between a loading region, in which the elongated element is loaded on the conveyor belt and an unloading region, a control unit for controlling the loading of the elongated element on the conveyor belt, at least a first detection element which is fixed with a first portion of the conveyor belt, a sensor which is fixed and independent with respect to the conveyor belt and which detects the position of the first portion 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.

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.