A heating press (1) for vulcanizing a vehicle tire under a vacuum, having a heating press upper part (3) and a heating press lower part (6), wherein a circular-ring-shaped hood upper part (4) with a container (2) having the mold parts (14, 16, 17, 18, 21) of a vulcanizing mold is arranged on the heating press upper part (3), and wherein the heating press upper part (3) can be moved in an axial direction (P1) in such a way that the hood upper part (3) can be moved onto the heating press lower part (6) to form a closed hood interior space (12), wherein a press plate (23) is arranged above the container (2) in the hood upper part (4) such that this press plate (23) and thus the container (2) can be moved in the axial direction (P1), wherein at least one vacuum-tight seal (5) is arranged at least in the end face (24) of a hood part (4), wherein, in the course of a first stroke (H1), the hood upper part (3) can be moved in such a way that it rests on the heating press lower part (6) and the interior space of the hood (12) can be closed in a vacuum-tight manner by the seal(s) (5, 9) although the vulcanizing mold is still open in an air-permeable manner and wherein a pump (10) and a vacuum tank (11), by means of which a vacuum can be generated in the interior space of the hood (12) after the first stroke (H1), are provided, wherein, in the course of a second stroke (H2), the press plate can be moved in such a way that the vulcanizing mold can be completely closed under vacuum conditions in the interior space of the hood (12).

Methods for controlling curing apparatuses for tyre production, wherein the curing apparatuses are adapted to work on green tyres to obtain corresponding finished tyres, by acquiring, through a processing unit, initial parameters describing at least one of the shape and dimensions of the finished tyres; computing, through the processing unit, as a function of the initial parameters, first parameters describing the green tyres, the first parameters having at least one parameter representative of an axial height of the green tyres; acquiring, through the processing unit, second parameters describing the curing apparatuses, said second parameters having one or more parameters representative of dimensions of the curing apparatuses; computing, through the processing unit, third parameters as a function of the first parameters and the second parameters, the third parameters having one or more parameters representative of positions taken by movable members included in the curing apparatuses; generating, through the processing unit, as a function of the third parameters, control signals for controlling the movable members of said curing apparatuses and for obtaining said finished tyres starting from the green tyres; sending the control signals from the processing unit to the curing apparatuses. Also disclosed are a curing line operating in accordance with the methods, a processing unit programmed for implementing the methods, and an electronic unit included in the processing unit.

The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid which can increase trans rubber production. The present invention is directed to a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid in vitro, which involves the use of a gene coding for a trans-prenyltransferase (tPT) family protein and further involves the use of rubber particles bound to a protein encoded by the gene, or a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid, which includes introducing into a plant a vector including a promoter having a promoter activity that drives laticifer-specific gene expression and a gene coding for a tPT family protein linked to the promoter to express a protein encoded by the gene specifically in laticifers.

A process and a system are provided for controlling an addition of water to a rubber mixture during a mixing cycle in which the mixture is transported as a continuous sheet. The process includes obtaining data for the mixture, including a predetermined water flow rate, a predetermined air flow rate, and a target temperature and a target water content for the mixture; adding water to the continuous sheet during the mixing cycle; detecting an amount of water added at an elapsed time during the mixing cycle; determining, using a detection result, a predicted temperature and a predicted water content for the mixture at an end of the mixing cycle; comparing the target temperature with the predicted temperature, and the target water content with the predicted water content; and, before a next mixing cycle, adjusting an actual water flow rate when a comparison result indicates non-equivalence.

A process for the preparation of a shaped rubber composition comprising combining a rubber compound with an extender compound to produce a mixture; drying the mixture to produce a dried mixture; and shaping the mixture wherein the extender compound comprises a natural or hydrocarbon resin, which possesses a glass transition temperature of at equal to or greater than about 70 C. and an acid value of 50 mg KOH/g or less and wherein the mixture is shaped into particles or bales.

A pneumatic tire includes an annular tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction, a pair of sidewall portions disposed on both sides of the tread portion, and a pair of bead portions disposed inward of the sidewall portions in a tire radial direction, and the sidewall portions have an average thickness set to range from 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm at a deflection region of each sidewall portion including a tire maximum width position. The bead portions have a bead base width set to range from 115% to 130% of a tread development width of the tread portion.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a tire using a steel cord which can be manufactured without reducing productivity and can prevent propagation of moisture inside. The method for manufacturing a tire includes a vulcanization step of vulcanizing a green tire provided with a belt having at least one belt layer, in which the belt layer includes a steel cord 10 formed by twisting a steel filament 2 together with a resin filament 1 having a softening point of 125 C. or lower, and the resin filament 1 includes at least an ionomer.

The invention relates in particular to a nut 1 for a clamping mechanism 10, a clamping mechanism 10 comprising a tie bolt 11 and two nuts 1, a vulcanizing press 20 comprising clamping mechanisms 10 and a support device 23.

A method for controlling the symmetry of the footprint area of a tire running on a straight trajectory with camber angle different from zero, includes the steps: reducing the contact pressure of the tire on the footprint area at an inner shoulder (in case of negative camber) or at an outer shoulder (in case of positive camber); and disposing any medium line of the tread band placed in correspondence with the footprint area substantially parallel to the ground. A tire and a wheel for motor-vehicles, wherein the medium line of the tread band and the rotation axis of the tire form an angle substantially equal in absolute value to the camber angle. A process for manufacturing such tires, wherein a green tire with symmetric outer profile is deformed during the vulcanizing and moulding step until a predetermined angle different from zero is formed between any medium line of the tread band and the rotation axis of the vulcanized tire.

Provided is a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which can increase natural rubber production by enhancing the rubber synthesis activity of rubber particles. The present invention provides methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using a gene coding for a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) family protein, a gene coding for a Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) family protein and a gene coding for a rubber elongation factor (REF) family protein, specifically a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro using rubber particles bound to proteins coded for by these genes, and a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vivo using a recombinant organism (plant) having these genes introduced therein.