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.

A method of forming a belt structure for a tire includes providing a drum having a center section. A first drum edge is near a first edge of the center section and a second drum edge is near a second edge of the center section. A first end surface extends from the center section first edge to the drum first edge and a second end surface extends from the center section second edge to the drum second edge, and a radius of each end surface is smaller than the center section radius. A rubber strip reinforced by a plurality of cords includes an outer edge and an inner edge. The strip is wound about the drum, turning from a first winding angle to a second winding angle on an end surface to reduce the tension and length differential between cords at the outer edge and inner edge of the strip.

A method of building a tire carcass is disclosed. The method of building the tire carcass includes the steps of applying one or more tire building components onto a drum forming a cylindrically shaped tire carcass. A first and second bead is placed onto a respective bead pocket. Then the carcass is inflated under low pressure into engagement with a belt and tread package while the bead pockets are moved axially inward. The beads are continued to move axially inward to the axial width of the widest breaker position. Then the outer lateral ends of the cylindrically shaped tire carcass are turned up about a respective first and second bead.

Various embodiments relate to a pivoted dual roller tire sidewall and body ply stitching apparatus for stitching tire components, the apparatus including a first roller having a toroidal shape and connected to a first supporting arm, a second roller having a toroidal shape and connected to a second supporting arm and a supporting member connected to the first roller, the second roller and a third supporting arm wherein the second supporting arm is longer than the first supporting arm and the first roller and the second roller are configured to pivot on the supporting member.

The tire building drum includes a rotatable drum having a center section and a first and second shoulder section. The center section is radially expandable, and the center section has a first and second shoulder, wherein the first and second shoulders are sloped. The method of building a tire includes the steps of applying an inner liner and a layer of ply to the drum and then a bead, locking the bead into position, applying an apex to each of the sloped shoulders, turning up the ply over the bead and the apex, and then applying a down ply over the ply ending.

A forming device forms a green tire including a discontinuous carcass ply composed of a pair of ply pieces. The forming device includes one servicer that sends out a strip-shaped first sheet for forming a plurality of the ply pieces, a drum around which the first sheet from the servicer is wound, a first cutting portion that cuts the first sheet to separate one of the ply pieces, a moving mechanism that relatively moves the servicer and the drum in the axial direction of the drum, and a control unit that controls the moving mechanism.

A manufacturing device for a pneumatic tire in which a carcass ply includes a pair of ply pieces includes a molding drum, a drum drive device, a first supply device for supplying one of the ply pieces to the molding drum, a second supply device for supplying the other one of the ply pieces to the molding drum, and a control device that controls operation of the drum drive device and the first and second supply devices so that the one and the other one of the ply pieces are simultaneously supplied to the molding drum while the molding drum is rotationally driven, and two joint portions of the one and the other ply pieces are provided at different positions in the tire circumferential direction.

A manufacturing device for a pneumatic tire in which a carcass ply includes a pair of ply pieces includes a molding drum, a drum drive device, a first supply device for supplying one of the ply pieces to the molding drum, a second supply device for supplying the other one of the ply pieces to the molding drum, and a control device that controls operation of the drum drive device and the first and second supply devices so that the one and the other one of the ply pieces are simultaneously supplied to the molding drum while the molding drum is rotationally driven, and two joint portions of the one and the other ply pieces are provided at different positions in the tire circumferential direction.

A method for manufacturing a motorcycle tire comprises: building a raw tire main body, building a breaker, sticking the breaker, and building a band. The building of the breaker comprises: moving two cylindrical support rings to operating positions, swelling the raw tire main body to have its crown portion protruding from the support rings through a gap therebetween, and winding a breaker ply material on the support rings to form a cylindrical breaker ply whose inner surface is adhered to the raw tire main body. The sticking of the breaker comprises: expanding a profiled deck to swell the raw tire main body into a second swollen state, and turning down both edge portions of the breaker while being supported by the profiled deck. The building of the band comprises: spirally winding a tape on the curved breaker ply while being supported by the profiled deck.

Disclosed is a tire building drum and method for operating the tire building drum, which tire building drum include a left section, a right section, a center section, and a support member for supporting the center section in the radially outward direction. The support member is movable together with the center section in the radially outward direction. The tire building drum further includes a blocking device for blocking the support member against movement in a radially inward direction when the center section is in the expanded position.