In an apparatus for building tires for vehicle wheels, a forming drum is loaded on a shuttle movable on a guide along a deposition line. The shuttle is moved on the guide in the two running directions to bring it to dispensing stations of semifinished products disposed in at least some deposition locations positioned in space succession along the deposition line. At each of the dispensing stations, at least one semifinished product is laid on a radially external surface to the forming drum carried by the shuttle for forming at least one component of a tire. The shuttle is moved on the guide in a different sequence from the space succession of the deposition locations along the deposition line.

In an apparatus for building tires for vehicle wheels, a forming drum is loaded on a shuttle movable on a guide along a deposition line. The shuttle is moved on the guide in the two running directions to bring it to dispensing stations of semifinished products disposed in at least some deposition locations positioned in space succession along the deposition line. At each of the dispensing stations, at least one semifinished product is laid on a radially external surface to the forming drum carried by the shuttle for forming at least one component of a tire. The shuttle is moved on the guide in a different sequence from the space succession of the deposition locations along the deposition line.

The invention is directed to a center deck assembly for a tire building drum. The tire building drum is rotatably mounted on a central drive shaft and includes a center section. The center deck assembly is disposed in the center section of the drum and includes a hub that seats on and is secured to the central drive shaft. At least one piston extends circumferentially in the tire building drum about the hub and a plurality of segment bars are disposed about the circumference of the center deck assembly. The at least one piston is operably connected to the segment bars by a plurality of linkages, in which each of the linkages includes a scissor-lever mechanism.

The invention is directed to a center deck assembly for a tire building drum. The tire building drum is rotatably mounted on a central drive shaft and includes a center section. The center deck assembly is disposed in the center section of the drum and includes a hub that seats on and is secured to the central drive shaft. At least one piston extends circumferentially in the tire building drum about the hub and a plurality of segment bars are disposed about the circumference of the center deck assembly. The at least one piston is operably connected to the segment bars by a plurality of linkages, in which each of the linkages includes a scissor-lever mechanism.

A space required for forming a cylindrical carcass band is reduced and productivity of carcass band forming is improved. A first forming drum (21) forms a cylindrical carcass ply (3). A second forming drum (22) forms a cylindrical member (7) by forming a cylindrical inner liner (4) and combining the inner liner (4) with the carcass ply (3). A third forming drum (23) forms a cylindrical side member (5) a carcass band (8) by forming a cylindrical side member (5) and combining the side member (5) with the cylindrical member (7). A conveying device (30) conveys the carcass ply (3) from the first forming drum (21) to the second forming drum (22) and conveys the cylindrical member (7) from the second forming drum (22) to the third forming drum (23). The third forming drum (23) is arranged below an arrangement space for the first forming drum (21) and the second forming drum (22).

A space required for forming a cylindrical carcass band is reduced and productivity of carcass band forming is improved. A first forming drum (21) forms a cylindrical carcass ply (3). A second forming drum (22) forms a cylindrical member (7) by forming a cylindrical inner liner (4) and combining the inner liner (4) with the carcass ply (3). A third forming drum (23) forms a cylindrical side member (5) a carcass band (8) by forming a cylindrical side member (5) and combining the side member (5) with the cylindrical member (7). A conveying device (30) conveys the carcass ply (3) from the first forming drum (21) to the second forming drum (22) and conveys the cylindrical member (7) from the second forming drum (22) to the third forming drum (23). The third forming drum (23) is arranged below an arrangement space for the first forming drum (21) and the second forming drum (22).

A plant for building tires for vehicle wheels, includes at least one forming drum having a supporting shaft axially projecting from opposite sides relative to a central body. A handling device is adapted to engage the forming drum and transfer it between at least one loading/unloading location and a work location provided for carrying out at least one process working on the forming drum. The handling device includes a grip assembly carrying at least two grip members each engaging the supporting shaft in the vicinity of each of the end portions thereof, and at least one motor associated with at least one of said grip members for driving the forming drum in rotation while the at least one process working is being carried out in the work location.

A first ply and then a second ply, which is superposed on the first ply, are produced on a hoop-type first support. The hoop-type first support has a first receiving surface, to form a laminate. The first and second plies forming the laminate are transferred onto an annular second receiving surface of a core so that the laminate is wrapped on the core until each ply is closed on itself and the laminate is thus closed on itself in a ring about the central axis of the core.

A plurality of strip-like elements is applied onto a forming drum externally having a substantially cylindrical laying surface. The strip-like elements are disposed in mutually approached relationship to form at least one first annular reinforcing layer on the forming drum itself set to a first work diameter at which each of the applied strip-like elements on the laying surface subtends an arc of a circumference of a width as large as a submultiple integer of the overall circumferential extension of the laying surface itself. Adjustment devices operating on the forming drum subsequently carry out expansion of the latter to a second work diameter larger than the first work diameter, while maintaining its laying surface substantially cylindrical.

A plurality of strip-like elements is applied onto a forming drum externally having a substantially cylindrical laying surface. The strip-like elements are disposed in mutually approached relationship to form at least one first annular reinforcing layer on the forming drum itself set to a first work diameter at which each of the applied strip-like elements on the laying surface subtends an arc of a circumference of a width as large as a submultiple integer of the overall circumferential extension of the laying surface itself. Adjustment devices operating on the forming drum subsequently carry out expansion of the latter to a second work diameter larger than the first work diameter, while maintaining its laying surface substantially cylindrical.