A manufacturing method includes feeding a master roll 8a from a master roll table 10 to a belt table 14, and cutting the master roll 8a between the master roll table 10 and the belt table 14. In the step of feeding the master roll 8a from the master roll table 10 to the belt table 14, the master roll 8a is fed by holding a front part of the master roll 8a by a first hand 30 and a rear part of the master roll 8a by a second hand 40, and the front part of the master roll 8a is continuously held by the first hand 30 from start to end of the feeding.

A manufacturing method for manufacturing a sheet-like belt 8b from a master roll first and then forming a cylindrical belt by winding the sheet-like belt 8b around a molding drum includes measuring a length of the sheet-like belt 8b, and making a pass of fail determination as to the length of the sheet-like belt 8b. The sheet-like belt 8b is wound around a winding cylinder 50 and transported to a place for lamination to the molding drum only when a pass determination is made in the step of making a pass or fail determination as to the length of the sheet-like belt 8b.

A manufacturing method includes: cutting out a sheet-like belt 8b by cutting a master roll 8a between a master roll table 10 and a belt table 14; moving the belt table 14 carrying the cut-out sheet-like belt 8b to a winding position of the sheet-like belt 8b; and winding the sheet-like belt 8b around a winding cylinder 50 at the winding position. The master roll 8a is fixed onto the belt table 14 by attraction when the master roll 8a is cut between the master roll table 10 and the belt table 14 and the belt table 14 is moved to the winding position of the sheet-like belt 8b while keeping the cut-out sheet-like belt 8b fixed onto the belt table 14 by attraction.

An apparatus for counting textile cords in a tire reinforcement belt by cutting the reinforcement belt into a plurality of belt units and successively measuring the number of textile cords in each belt unit is provided. The apparatus includes a feed roller having wound therearound a reinforcement belt on which textile cords are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the reinforcement belt; one or more take-up rollers configured to collect the reinforcement belt from the feed roller; a plurality of guide rollers interposed between the take-up rollers and configured to support a top surface or a bottom surface of the reinforcement belt; one or more light sources, each configured to emit a line of light onto a surface of the reinforcement belt that is passing around the guide rollers; and one or more image sensors configured to capture images reflected off the surface of the reinforcement belt.

The present invention provides a thin layer capply and a low-weight tire to which the thin layer capply is applied. The thin layer capply of the present invention has effects of reducing a rolling resistance of the tire through a weight reduction and improving fuel efficiency of a vehicle in which the tires are mounted while maintaining stiffness required for the tire, by forming the cord spinning layer in a thin tape form by spinning and depositing a plurality of cord strands, rather than twisting a plurality of cord strands to form the capply cord.

A grooved roller having a multiplicity of guide grooves running parallel to one another and in encircling fashion over the circumference of said grooved roller and serve for guiding strength members of flattened cross section before they enter a roller calender, which strength members have, in cross section, a first diameter and, perpendicular thereto, a second diameter, the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter, and the two diameters are each determined at the points with the greatest widths. The guide grooves each have a U-shaped cross section with a groove base extending parallel to the roller axis and with two groove walls extending perpendicularly to the roller axis. The groove base has a width which at least corresponds to, and is up to 5% greater than, the first diameter of the strength member, and the groove walls have a height which is 50% to 90% of the second diameter of the strength member.

The invention relates to an extruder tooling for placement in an extruder head and for forming an elastomeric strip with reinforcement cords, wherein the extruder tooling includes a die for applying elastomeric material to the reinforcement cords and a cord guide for guiding the reinforcement cords in a guide plane towards the die, wherein the cord guide includes cord guide members, wherein the extruder head is provided with flow channels which are arranged to debouch, via slits in the cord guide members, into the die, wherein the lower cord guide member and the upper cord member are each provided with an inner body extending on the inside of the lower slit and the upper slit, respectively, and an outer body extending on the outside of the lower slit and the upper slit, respectively, wherein the inner bodies are integrally connected to the respective outer bodies.

The invention is directed to a vehicle pneumatic tire wherein strengthening plies are provided with steel cords running parallel to one another. The belt plies can be used, as isolated electrically conductive plates, for supplying electricity to electrical consumers such as sensors and actuators installed in the tire. Adjacent belt plies can be connected by puncture sensors to be able to identify damage to the belt caused by metallic parts penetrating from the outside, such as nails, on the basis of a change in the electrical resistance.

In accordance with the invention a wire coat rubber composition for a tire comprises from 70 phr to 100 phr of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber, from 0 phr to 30 phr of solution styrene butadiene rubber, from 65 phr to 95 phr pre-silanized precipitated silica, from 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, up to 15 phr carbon black, up to 10 phr of a resin, and up to 10 phr oil. Further the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a wire coat composition.

Calendering installation for the production of a reinforcing ply (600) for a tire, which has a frame (100), two extruders (200, 300) for feeding elastomer material, a reinforcing-thread feeding device (400), a calender (500) having a first pair of counter-rotating rollers, with a first working roller (52) and a first shaping roller (51), and a second pair of counter-rotating rollers, with a second working roller (53) and a second shaping roller (54), wherein a calendering nip (59) is formed between the working rolls (52, 53) in order to receive a first calendered rubber ply (57) delivered by the first pair of rollers (51, 52), a second calendered rubber ply (58) delivered by the second pair of rollers (53, 54), and the reinforcing threads (45) in order to supply the calendered reinforcing ply (600), which is conveyed to the outlet of the installation via guide rollers (62, 63).

According to the invention, the two extruders (200, 300) are superposed and arranged on either side of a horizontal plane P extending at the level of the guide rollers (62, 63).