A carcass sleeve is situated in a radially external position with respect to a toroidal forming drum, arranged in a first radially contracted operative condition. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration while the forming drum is positioned inside the carcass sleeve. During shaping of the carcass sleeve, the forming drum is radially expanded up to a second radially expanded operative condition. Upon completed shaping, the carcass sleeve is coupled to the forming drum in the second operative condition. The forming drum, coupled to the shaped carcass sleeve, is arranged in proximity to at least one device for building at least one belt layer at a radially external position relative to the shaped carcass sleeve.

A toroidal forming drum and a process for budding tyres. The toroidal forming drum is expanded within a shaped carcass sleeve for supporting the carcass sleeve against an abutment surface externally provided by the forming drum. An elementary semi-finished product is applied around the shaped carcass sleeve by pressing the elementary semi-finished product toward the abutment surface. The abutment surface has circumferential rows of solid portions alternated with hollow portions. The solid portions, arranged along axially opposite circumferential edges of the abutment surface, have a transverse size between 10% and 60% of a transverse size presented by the solid portions arranged in proximity to an axial centreline plane of the abutment surface.

A toroidal forming drum and a process for budding tyres. The toroidal forming drum is expanded within a shaped carcass sleeve for supporting the carcass sleeve against an abutment surface externally provided by the forming drum. An elementary semi-finished product is applied around the shaped carcass sleeve by pressing the elementary semi-finished product toward the abutment surface. The abutment surface has circumferential rows of solid portions alternated with hollow portions. The solid portions, arranged along axially opposite circumferential edges of the abutment surface, have a transverse size between 10% and 60% of a transverse size presented by the solid portions arranged in proximity to an axial centreline plane of the abutment surface.

A method for checking a continuous elongated element during the building of a tyre for vehicle wheels. A beam of an electromagnetic radiation is projected on a section of the continuous elongated element dispensed by a dispensing head and interposed between the dispensing head and a first contact area of the continuous elongated element with a radially outer surface of a tyre being processed. An image of a radiation reflected by the section is acquired. A first parameter related to the image is detected, and the first parameter is compared with a second reference parameter.

A method for checking a continuous elongated element during the building of a tyre for vehicle wheels. A beam of an electromagnetic radiation is projected on a section of the continuous elongated element dispensed by a dispensing head and interposed between the dispensing head and a first contact area of the continuous elongated element with a radially outer surface of a tyre being processed. An image of a radiation reflected by the section is acquired. A first parameter related to the image is detected, and the first parameter is compared with a second reference parameter.

In a device for winding a strip-shaped rubber member, a measured width and a measured thickness of a strip-shaped rubber member immediately before winding are measured by a measuring section at measurement point P. On the other hand, from a target width and a target thickness of the strip-shaped rubber member that are derived from a target sectional shape of a tread, an estimated width and an estimated thickness of the strip-shaped rubber member at the measurement point P are determined while taking deformation of the strip-shaped rubber member into consideration. Differences between the measured width and the estimated width, and between the measured thickness and the estimated thickness at each corresponding length direction position are determined.

The method includes a step (a) of geometric characterization of the profile, during which a first set of geometric remarkable points prepresenting the shape of the profile is provided. In a step (b) of functional characterization of the profile, a second set of functional remarkable points linked to the laying laws which specify the conditions for laying the tire component is provided. The remarkable points are stored in a path chart. At step (c) a series of equidistant virtual points, referred to as potential guide points, is defined on the profile, from the first functional remarkable point to the last functional remarkable point. Then, at step (d), the size of the path chart is reduced by applying to the path chart one or more selection criteria in order to select some of the potential guide points and remarkable points.

A continuous elongated element of elastomeric material is produced through an extruder at a linear delivery speed and directly fed onto a moving surface of a conveyor without interposition of other devices. The continuous elongated element is advanced on the moving surface along a predetermined direction and at a linear advancing speed different from the linear delivery speed until a proximal end of the conveyor. Subsequently, the continuous elongated element is applied onto a forming support which rotates relative to the proximal end of the conveyor at a peripheral speed different from the linear delivery speed, so as to deform the continuous elongated element and apply it in the form of wound coils onto the forming support in order to form a component of elastomeric material of a tyre.

A continuous elongated element of elastomeric material is produced through an extruder at a linear delivery speed and directly fed onto a moving surface of a conveyor without interposition of other devices. The continuous elongated element is advanced on the moving surface along a predetermined direction and at a linear advancing speed different from the linear delivery speed until a proximal end of the conveyor. Subsequently, the continuous elongated element is applied onto a forming support which rotates relative to the proximal end of the conveyor at a peripheral speed different from the linear delivery speed, so as to deform the continuous elongated element and apply it in the form of wound coils onto the forming support in order to form a component of elastomeric material of a tyre.

Disclosed is a festooner and a method for buffering a strip, wherein the festooner includes a first holder and a second holder which are oppositely movable towards and away from each other in a buffer direction to vary a buffer capacity of the festooner, and a first set of buffer rollers and a second set of buffer rollers held by the first holder and the second holder, respectively, wherein the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers define a meandering buffer path between them. The festooner further includes an endless drive element for driving each buffer roller, wherein the festooner further includes an overlength collector for collecting and paying out an overlength of the endless drive element.