A method forms a butt joint between ends of first and second plies and splices the first and second plies together. The method includes the steps of: positioning a first splice edge of a first ply at a first location; positioning a second splice edge of a second ply at a second location, the second splice edge being left bare; wrapping a gum strip around the first splice edge such that the first gum strip forms a U-shaped structure in section that allows the first gum strip to extend from a first planar side of the first ply over the first splice edge to a second opposite planar side of the first ply; not wrapping a gum strip around the second splice edge; placing the first splice edge in abutting relationship to the second splice edge; and stitching the first splice edge to the second splice edge such that stitches each extend from the first planar side of the first ply, through the gum strip, to the first planar side of the second ply.

A pneumatic tire 1 comprises a carcass 6 comprising at least one carcass ply 6A extending between bead portions 4 via sidewall portions 3 and a tread portion 2. The carcass ply 6A comprises strip-shaped ply pieces 11 longer in a tire radial direction than in a tire circumferential direction arranged circumferentially. Each of the ply pieces 11 comprises a plurality of carcass cords 12 arranged in parallel in the tire radial direction and at least partly overlapping each other with the ply pieces 11 circumferentially adjacent. At least one of the carcass cords 12 arranged in at least one of side edge portions 11e in the tire circumferential direction of each of the ply pieces 11 having a diameter (Ce) smaller than a diameter (Cc) of at least one of the carcass cords 12 arranged in a center portion 11c of each of the ply pieces 11.

A method forms a butt joint between ends of first and second plies and splices the first and second plies together. The method includes the steps of: positioning a first splice edge of a first ply at a first location; positioning a second splice edge of a second ply at a second location, the second splice edge being left bare; wrapping a gum strip around the first splice edge such that the first gum strip forms a U-shaped structure in section that allows the first gum strip to extend from a first planar side of the first ply over the first splice edge to a second opposite planar side of the first ply; not wrapping a gum strip around the second splice edge; placing the first splice edge in abutting relationship to the second splice edge; and stitching the first splice edge to the second splice edge such that stitches each extend from the first planar side of the first ply, through the gum strip, to the first planar side of the second ply.

A method forms a butt joint between ends of first and second plies and splices the first and second plies together. The method includes the steps of: positioning a first splice edge of a first ply at a first location; positioning a second splice edge of a second ply at a second location, the second splice edge being left bare; wrapping a gum strip around the first splice edge such that the first gum strip forms a U-shaped structure in section that allows the first gum strip to extend from a first planar side of the first ply over the first splice edge to a second opposite planar side of the first ply; not wrapping a gum strip around the second splice edge; placing the first splice edge in abutting relationship to the second splice edge; and stitching the first splice edge to the second splice edge such that stitches each extend from the first planar side of the first ply, through the gum strip, to the first planar side of the second ply.

The installation comprises a preparation station for preparing strips by cutting a straight wire band, a jointing station arranged to butt-joint the strips obtained from the preparation station so as to form a reinforcing ply, and a station for turning over strips, which is interposed between the preparation station and the jointing station. The installation also comprises a first receiving surface, arranged to receive a strip, a second receiving surface associated with a reversing device which is arranged to transfer a strip from said first receiving surface to said second receiving surface, by thus turning over the strip. A gripping member is arranged to take a strip from the first or second receiving surface in order to allow the jointing station to selectively construct a reinforcing ply with a left-hand ply handle or with a right-hand ply angle.

The installation comprises a preparation station for preparing strips by cutting a straight wire band, a jointing station arranged to butt-joint the strips obtained from the preparation station so as to form a reinforcing ply, and a station for turning over strips, which is interposed between the preparation station and the jointing station. The installation also comprises a first receiving surface, arranged to receive a strip, a second receiving surface associated with a reversing device which is arranged to transfer a strip from said first receiving surface to said second receiving surface, by thus turning over the strip. A gripping member is arranged to take a strip from the first or second receiving surface in order to allow the jointing station to selectively construct a reinforcing ply with a left-hand ply handle or with a right-hand ply angle.

Disclosed is a tire building apparatus and a method for joining or cutting tire components. The tire building apparatus includes a rocking member that is movable in a rocking plane in a rocking motion along a rocking line, a translation guide extending parallel to the rocking line and a carriage that is displaceable along the translation guide, wherein the rocking member has a convex edge that defines a minor arc of a circle and extends up to a rotation center, wherein the rocking member is supported by the carriage at the rotation center and is angularly displaceable with respect to the carriage about a rotation axis extending through the rotation center.

A device for manufacturing a multiple layer rubber strip including a first rubber strip and a second rubber strip, the device includes a first rubber extruder for extruding the first rubber strip, a second rubber extruder for extruding the second rubber strip, a first conveyor for conveying the first rubber strip extruded from the first extruder to a downstream side in a convey direction, and a second conveyor for conveying the second rubber strip extruded from the second extruder to a downstream side in the convey direction. The second conveyor is located upwardly of the first conveyor and has a downstream conveyor end which positions above a conveying surface of the first conveyor such that the second rubber strip delivered from the downstream conveyor end meets and overlaps the first rubber strip on the first conveyor at a joining location to form the single multiple layer rubber strip.

A device for manufacturing a multiple layer rubber strip including a first rubber strip and a second rubber strip, the device includes a first rubber extruder for extruding the first rubber strip, a second rubber extruder for extruding the second rubber strip, a first conveyor for conveying the first rubber strip extruded from the first extruder to a downstream side in a convey direction, and a second conveyor for conveying the second rubber strip extruded from the second extruder to a downstream side in the convey direction. The second conveyor is located upwardly of the first conveyor and has a downstream conveyor end which positions above a conveying surface of the first conveyor such that the second rubber strip delivered from the downstream conveyor end meets and overlaps the first rubber strip on the first conveyor at a joining location to form the single multiple layer rubber strip.

Disclosed is joining device for joining a trailing end of a first strip to a leading end of a second strip to form a tire component. The joining device includes a support member with a support surface and a retaining member with a retaining surface for retaining the second strip. The joining device is arranged for positioning the leading end of the second strip in a joining orientation in which said leading end is closer to the support plane than the rest. The joining device also includes a control unit for controlling a relative movement between the support member and the retaining member with a first component in a placement direction to place the leading end of the second strip and a second component in a joining direction to bring the leading end of the second strip into contact with the trailing end of the first strip.