In a winding method of a sheet member for winding a sheet member having an inclined side portion 7a inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction at least on one side in the longitudinal direction around a winding cylinder 50 in more than one turn from a tip end of the inclined side portion 7a as a winding start tip, winding of the sheet member is started in a small-diameter portion 51a of the winding cylinder 50 to which a radial difference is given by providing a step 54 to make a diameter smaller on one side in an axial direction and larger on the other side in the axial direction.

A machine for retreading tires includes a rotatable hub that includes a moveable conical element, and an expandable rim disposed around the rotatable hub. The expandable rim includes a plurality of shoes. Each shoe of the plurality of shoes may have a base portion and a rim portion. The base portion may have a two-piece construction that allows for replacement of a worn interface that may include a channel and a ramp. A method for assembling an expandable rim for use in a tire retreading machine, and a method for servicing a machine having an expandable rim are also disclosed.

A machine for retreading tires includes a rotatable hub that includes a moveable conical element, and an expandable rim disposed around the rotatable hub. The expandable rim includes a plurality of shoes. Each shoe of the plurality of shoes may have a base portion and a rim portion. The base portion may have a two-piece construction that allows for replacement of a worn interface that may include a channel and a ramp. A method for assembling an expandable rim for use in a tire retreading machine, and a method for servicing a machine having an expandable rim are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method and a building drum (1) for manufacturing a package of a belt layer (6) and a tread layer (7) into a substantially cylindrical tire component, wherein the drum is rotatable about a drum centre line (2) and comprises a rigid support surface (3) for the tire component situated at the outward facing circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the drum comprises two support members (4, 5) which are arranged spaced apart in a substantial longitudinal direction of said drum, wherein the support members (4, 5) each comprises a tread support surface (41, 51) which faces away from the drum centre line and which tread support surfaces are radially movable between a retracted position wherein the tread support surface is arranged at or near the rigid support surface, and a raised position wherein the tread support surface is arranged in a radially outward position with respect to the rigid support surface.

In a method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire, a placement unit is moved relative to a forming drum in a drum circumferential direction to repeatedly perform a one-side step of delivering a reinforcing wire in a folded back state in a length from a central portion toward one side in the width direction of the forming drum and compression bonding the reinforcing wire to an innerliner of an outer surface of the forming drum, and after delivering the reinforcing wire in the length toward the one side in the width direction as described above, perform an other-side step of delivering the reinforcing wire in a folded back state in a length from the central portion toward an other side in the width direction of the forming drum and compression bonding the reinforcing wire to an outer surface of the innerliner.

A process for building tyres for vehicle wheels are disclosed, wherein said building process comprises the following steps carried out in a carcass structure building line: a) associating a pair of support rings with a forming drum in a work station for associating support rings; b) building at least one structural component of the tyre being processed on the forming drum provided with said pair of support rings in at least one work station of the carcass structure building line; c) removing the pair of support rings from the forming drum in a work station for removing support rings; d) transferring the pair of support rings dissociated from the forming drum in a temporary storage for support rings; e) building at least one further structural component of the tyre being processed on the forming drum without the pair of support rings in a work station of the carcass structure building line.

A toroidal forming drum and a process for building tyres. The toroidal forming drum (23) is expanded within a shaped carcass sleeve (12), for supporting the carcass sleeve (12) against an abutment surface (“S”) externally provided by the forming drum (23). An elementary semi-finished product (54a, 54b) is applied around the shaped carcass sleeve (12), by pressing the elementary semi-finished product (54a, 54b) towards the abutment surface (“S”). The abutment surface (“S”) has circumferential rows of solid portions (40) alternated with hollow portions (41). The solid portions (40), arranged along axially opposite circumferential edges of the abutment surface (“S”), have a transverse size comprised between 10% and 60% of a transverse size presented by the solid portions (40) arranged in proximity to an axial centreline plane of the abutment surface (“S”).

A turn-up section for a tire building drum, includes a plurality of turn-up arms distributed circumferentially about a central axis and an arm support for supporting the turn-up arms with respect to a base, wherein the turn-up arms are rotatable with respect to the arm support from an arms-down position towards an arms-up position in response to the movement of the arm support in an arm drive direction. Each turn-up arm comprises a hinge pin for rotatably coupling the respective turn-up arm to the arm support. The arm support includes a hinge seat for removably receiving the hinge pin of the respective turn-up arm. The hinge pin is retained in the hinge seat by one or more biasing members. The hinge pin of the turn-up arm is removable from the hinge seat in a radial direction with respect to the central axis by counteracting the bias of the one or more biasing members.

The invention is related to a process and an apparatus for building tyres. In the process a carcass sleeve (11) comprising at least one carcass ply (3) and a pair of annular anchoring structures (5) is transferred to a shaping drum (14) comprising flange elements (16a, 16h) that are each engageable to one of said annular anchoring structures (5). The carcass sleeve (11) is shaped according to a toroidal configuration by means of mutual axial approaching of the flange elements (16a, 16b). Before shaping, annular grip elements (36) respectively carried by the flange elements (16a, 16b) are radially expanded each inside one of the annular anchoring structures (5) in order to engage the carcass sleeve (11). The annular anchoring structures (5) are moved axially apart from each other before engaging the carcass sleeve (11) by means of the annular grip elements (36).

A method for manufacturing a tyre is provided, in particular a run-flat tyre. The method includes providing a drum with a first shrink section and a second shrink section. Each shrink section is provided with a shrink surface that is radially movable. The method includes moving the shrink surfaces radially inwards with respect to the central axis from a level position to a shrink position in which the drum, at the shrink surfaces, has a circumference with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, while creating a partial vacuum between the shrink surfaces and a first tyre layer at the first shrink section and the second shrink section. The method further includes shrinking the first tyre layer onto the shrink surfaces in the shrink position under the influence of the partial vacuum. A drum for use in the aforementioned method is also disclosed.