A method for building tyres is described. An elementary semifinished product is deposited on a building drum rotated by an output end effector of a robotized arm in form of coils forming a component of a tyre. A processor determines a target rotation speed of the building drum and a target value for a speed parameter associated with the rotation. If the target value is not an integer number, the processor: i) determines a drive interval shorter than the effector settling time; ii) calculates first and second values corresponding to integer numbers immediately preceding and immediately following the target value; iii) calculates a speed parameter PWM profile with minimum and maximum values corresponding to the first and second values; and iv) controls the effector according to the PWM profile.

Disclosed is a transport device, an applicator and a method for transporting a tire component in a transport direction. The transport device includes at least three conveyors extending mutually parallel in the transport direction and side-by-side in a lateral direction perpendicular to the transport direction to form a combined conveying surface for conveying the tire component in the transport direction, wherein the at least three conveyors include an intermediate conveyor, a first side conveyor on a first side of the intermediate conveyor in the lateral direction and a second side conveyor on a second side of the intermediate conveyor in the lateral direction, opposite to the first side, wherein the intermediate conveyor, the first side conveyor and the second side conveyor are movable at different speeds with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the transport direction.

The invention relates to a method and centering assembly (1) for centering a tire component (9), wherein the method comprises the steps of placing the tire component on and conveying it from a first conveyor (2) towards a second conveyor (3), determining the position of a first longitudinal edge (91), transversely moving the first conveyor (2) and thereby aligning the first longitudinal edge (91) along a first reference on the second conveyor (3), conveying the tire component from the first conveyor (2) onto the second conveyor (3) while determining the position of a second longitudinal edge (92), wherein the tire component has a center between the first longitudinal edge (91) and the second longitudinal edge (92), conveying the tire component from the second conveyor (3) towards a drum (4), laterally moving the drum (4) to align the center of the tire component with a center of a desired application position of the tire component on the drum, and conveying the tire component from the second conveyor (3) onto the drum (4).

A skid assembly including a skid having a stacking surface and four gum rolls is provided. The gum rolls include a first gum roll positioned on the stacking surface and a second gum roll positioned on the stacking surface and abutting the first gum roll. The first and second gum rolls cooperate to define a first skid layer. The gum rolls further include third and fourth gum rolls each positioned on one of the first or second gum rolls. The fourth gum roll abuts the third gum roll, and the third and fourth gum rolls both cooperate to form a second skid layer. The gum rolls are formed of a strip stock wound onto a core fixture. The strip stock is coated to prevent the strip stock from adhering to itself while being wound into the gum roll.

A method of using a corrugated zero-degree belt to manufacture a tire. A belt ply structure includes a No. 1 belt ply, No. 2 belt ply, No. 3 belt ply, corrugated zero-degree belt, and shoulder wedge. In a belt ply structure of an all-steel radial tire, a zero-degree belt has a halved density and is wound in two turns, thus a strength problem of a joint portion is solved. The upper and lower ply are arranged in a staggered manner, thereby forming a single belt. The belt ply structure realizes restraining and fastening functions of a zero-degree belt ply while reducing costs and weight of a tire. The entire belt ply is flat and smooth and has consistent thickness. The belt ply structure can improve high-speed performance and abrasion resistance of a tire. Circumferential distribution of framework material is more uniform, thereby enhancing uniformity of the tire and driving comfort.

A method for verifying the correct formation of the beads in a process and a plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, includes: loading a plurality of annular anchoring structures in a storage, disposing them in two groups separated by an opening; positioning a building drum provided with a carcass sleeve in a tyre bead-forming machine; picking up two of the annular anchoring structures from the storage and loading them on the tyre bead-forming machine. In a work area of the tyre bead-forming machine, on each of two axially opposite zones of the carcass sleeve, a respective annular anchoring structure is fit and each of the abovementioned zones is turned up around the respective annular anchoring structure to form the beads. The aforesaid opening allows an operator to conduct a visual inspection of the work area and/or access the work area during the entire work cycle of the machine.

Disclosed is a buffer system for buffering a length of a strip, wherein the buffer system includes a buffer member, a buffer drive and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured for receiving control data having information indicative of an input amount of the strip at the input side and information indicative of an output amount of the strip at the output side, and for generating, based on said control data, a computed value indicative of a theoretical length of the strip in the buffer system between the input side and the output side, wherein the control unit is further configured for positioning the buffer member at a buffer position based on the computed value. The disclosure also provides a method for buffering a length of a strip, and a computer program product.

A working station for deposition of elementary semifinished products for building tyres is described. The working station includes an anthropomorphic robotized arm for moving an output end effector, a building drum, a feeding apparatus and a control apparatus. The control apparatus is configured to calculate, in a drive interval, a pulse with modulation (PWM) profile for a speed parameter and controlling the output end effector as a function of the PWM.

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 system for handling a bead apex includes a first jaw having open and closed states, which is configured to engage a first surface of a bead apex in the closed state. The system further includes a second jaw having open and closed states, and a plurality of grippers coupled to the second jaw, wherein each of the plurality of grippers comprises a body. At least one of the plurality of grippers includes a pivot shoe rotatably attached to the body of the at least one of the plurality of grippers, wherein the pivot shoe is rotatable with respect to the body of the at least one of the plurality of grippers. The pivot shoe is configured to engage a second surface of the bead apex in the closed state of the second jaw.