Disclosed is a cutting device and a method for cutting-off a length of a continuous strip to form a tire component, wherein the cutting device includes a cutting member for cutting the continuous strip at a cutting position and a feeding member that is movable in a feeding direction for feeding the length of the continuous strip in the feeding direction past said cutting position, wherein the feeding member is retractable in a retraction direction. The cutting device further includes a manipulator for retaining the length as the feeding member is retracted in the retraction direction, wherein the cutting position is located on the manipulator and wherein the cutting member and the manipulator are movable together in the feeding direction to cut-off of the length of the continuous strip at the cutting position on the manipulator while moving the length of the continuous strip in the feeding direction.

Within tyre manufacturing, a reinforcing structure of the tyre, such as the zero-degree layer of the belt structure, is made by an apparatus having devices for guiding a continuous elongated element towards a forming drum, devices for applying the elongated element against a laying surface of the drum, and a cutting unit to cut off the continuous elongated element when application has been completed. Once the cutting operation has been carried out, the free end of the continuous elongated element is set to a grip position downstream of the cutting unit, through a reciprocating slider and a threading element blocking the continuous elongated element with respect to the slider when the latter moves towards the forming drum.

Within tyre manufacturing, a reinforcing structure of the tyre, such as the zero-degree layer of the belt structure, is made by an apparatus having devices for guiding a continuous elongated element towards a forming drum, devices for applying the elongated element against a laying surface of the drum, and a cutting unit to cut off the continuous elongated element when application has been completed. Once the cutting operation has been carried out, the free end of the continuous elongated element is set to a grip position downstream of the cutting unit, through a reciprocating slider and a threading element blocking the continuous elongated element with respect to the slider when the latter moves towards the forming drum.

A method for manufacturing (S) a subassembly (3) for a tire (4) comprising the following substeps: providing an assembly comprising a supporting structure (14) comprising supporting filamentary elements linking a first structure (10) of filamentary elements and a second structure (12) of filamentary elements, aligning (S1) the first structure (10) and the second structure (12), securely fixing (S4) the first structure (10) onto the second structure (12) using a securing element (18), and cutting (S5) the assembly (1) along the securing element (18) so as to separate said securing element (18) from the rest of the assembly (1) and to obtain at least one subassembly (3) without securing element (18).

A device for cutting the profile of a tyre tread (B) in a profiled element made of a raw rubber mixture comprises a frame (1) supporting a cutting assembly (2) and travel means (3) which make it possible for said profiled element (B) to be cut to travel in front of said cutting assembly (2), said cutting assembly (2) comprising at least one cutter (4) for cutting a longitudinal groove (S) in the outer face of said profiled element (B) and means (5) for inducing vibration in said cutter (4) in a transverse direction perpendicular to the direction of travel (X-X) of said profiled element.

A device for cutting the profile of a tyre tread (B) in a profiled element made of a raw rubber mixture comprises a frame (1) supporting a cutting assembly (2) and travel means (3) which make it possible for said profiled element (B) to be cut to travel in front of said cutting assembly (2), said cutting assembly (2) comprising at least one cutter (4) for cutting a longitudinal groove (S) in the outer face of said profiled element (B) and means (5) for inducing vibration in said cutter (4) in a transverse direction perpendicular to the direction of travel (X-X) of said profiled element.

A tyre building plant (1; 100) comprises a forming drum (4) and a supply device (10) for supplying an elongated element (3) towards the forming drum. The supply device comprises at least one conveyor belt (11; 101) which extends in a supply direction (X) between a loading region (12), in which the elongated element is loaded on the conveyor belt and an unloading region (13), a control unit (19) for controlling the loading of the elongated element (3) on the conveyor belt (11; 101), at least a first detection element which is fixed with a first portion (20) of the conveyor belt, a sensor (22) which is fixed and independent with respect to the conveyor belt and which detects the position of the first portion (20) with respect to the supply device. The loading of the elongated element on the conveyor belt is performed when the first portion is at a predefined reference distance from the loading region (12).

A tyre building plant (1; 100) comprises a forming drum (4) and a supply device (10) for supplying an elongated element (3) towards the forming drum. The supply device comprises at least one conveyor belt (11; 101) which extends in a supply direction (X) between a loading region (12), in which the elongated element is loaded on the conveyor belt and an unloading region (13), a control unit (19) for controlling the loading of the elongated element (3) on the conveyor belt (11; 101), at least a first detection element which is fixed with a first portion (20) of the conveyor belt, a sensor (22) which is fixed and independent with respect to the conveyor belt and which detects the position of the first portion (20) with respect to the supply device. The loading of the elongated element on the conveyor belt is performed when the first portion is at a predefined reference distance from the loading region (12).

A topping sheet forming method includes: a feeding and division step of feeding a textile original fabric, obtained by weaving longitudinally aligned tire cords into a cord fabric by use of weft yarns, and cutting off the weft yarns in predetermined widthwise positions to divide the textile original fabric into a plurality of narrow textile original fabrics; a calender step of topping, with unvulcanized rubber, at least one surface of one narrow textile original fabric out of the divided narrow textile original fabrics; and a wind-up step of winding up the other narrow textile original fabrics out of the divided narrow textile original fabrics.

A topping sheet forming method includes: a feeding and division step of feeding a textile original fabric, obtained by weaving longitudinally aligned tire cords into a cord fabric by use of weft yarns, and cutting off the weft yarns in predetermined widthwise positions to divide the textile original fabric into a plurality of narrow textile original fabrics; a calender step of topping, with unvulcanized rubber, at least one surface of one narrow textile original fabric out of the divided narrow textile original fabrics; and a wind-up step of winding up the other narrow textile original fabrics out of the divided narrow textile original fabrics.