A process and apparatus for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels includes the step of building, on a forming support, a belt structure including at least one reinforcing structure of the so-called zero-degree type. The reinforcing structure is formed by depositing a continuous elongated reinforcing element on a deposition surface arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the forming support. The aforementioned deposition includes the step of exerting, through at least one element made from magnetic material, a magnetic attraction on a portion of the continuous elongated reinforcing element arranged at at least one pressing member and moving said at least one pressing member toward the forming support until the continuous elongated reinforcing element is brought into contact with the deposition surface.

A process and apparatus for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels includes the step of building, on a forming support, a belt structure including at least one reinforcing structure of the so-called zero-degree type. The reinforcing structure is formed by depositing a continuous elongated reinforcing element on a deposition surface arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the forming support. The aforementioned deposition includes the step of exerting, through at least one element made from magnetic material, a magnetic attraction on a portion of the continuous elongated reinforcing element arranged at at least one pressing member and moving said at least one pressing member toward the forming support until the continuous elongated reinforcing element is brought into contact with the deposition surface.

A reinforcement annular structure of a tyre being processed is formed by arranging a forming drum externally carrying a deposition surface; arranging an application member supported in thrust relation toward the deposition surface; longitudinally guiding a continuous elongated element toward a point of application between the deposition surface and a work surface presented by the application member; and winding the continuous elongated element circumferentially around the deposition surface in order to form coils that are axially side-by-side each other. During winding, the work surface of the application member operates in abutment relation against at least one of the cons previously formed by the continuous elongated element.

A reinforcement annular structure of a tyre being processed is formed by arranging a forming drum externally carrying a deposition surface; arranging an application member supported in thrust relation toward the deposition surface; longitudinally guiding a continuous elongated element toward a point of application between the deposition surface and a work surface presented by the application member; and winding the continuous elongated element circumferentially around the deposition surface in order to form coils that are axially side-by-side each other. During winding, the work surface of the application member operates in abutment relation against at least one of the cons previously formed by the continuous elongated element.

A bidirectional stitching wheel may be able to conform to peaks and valleys of green rubber while building a tire. The bidirectional stitching wheel may include an inner ring including a stitcher rotation axis. The inner ring may be rotatable in a first stitcher rotational direction about the stitcher rotation axis. The inner ring may also be rotatable in a second stitcher rotational direction about the stitcher rotation axis. A flexible outer ring may be radially spaced from the inner ring. A flexible intermediate layer may be disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The flexible intermediate layer may be substantially equally deformable during rotation of the inner ring in both the first stitcher rotational direction and the second stitcher rotational direction.

A bidirectional stitching wheel may be able to conform to peaks and valleys of green rubber while building a tire. The bidirectional stitching wheel may include an inner ring including a stitcher rotation axis. The inner ring may be rotatable in a first stitcher rotational direction about the stitcher rotation axis. The inner ring may also be rotatable in a second stitcher rotational direction about the stitcher rotation axis. A flexible outer ring may be radially spaced from the inner ring. A flexible intermediate layer may be disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The flexible intermediate layer may be substantially equally deformable during rotation of the inner ring in both the first stitcher rotational direction and the second stitcher rotational direction.

Disclosed is a pressure roll and a method for pressing a tire layer on a tire building drum in a pressing direction, wherein the pressure roll includes a shaft and a plurality of discs, wherein each disc has an interior part and an exterior part, wherein each interior part is provided with a recess for receiving the shaft, wherein the recess is larger than the shaft in the pressing direction for allowing movement of the disc with respect to said shaft in the pressing direction, wherein the pressure roll includes for each disc one or more actuators for individually moving the disc, wherein one actuator is arranged for moving the respective disc with respect to the shaft in the pressing direction and the same or another actuator is arranged for moving the respective disc with respect to the shaft in a retraction direction opposite to the pressing direction.

Disclosed is a pressure roll and a method for pressing a tire layer on a tire building drum in a pressing direction, wherein the pressure roll includes a shaft and a plurality of discs, wherein each disc has an interior part and an exterior part, wherein each interior part is provided with a recess for receiving the shaft, wherein the recess is larger than the shaft in the pressing direction for allowing movement of the disc with respect to said shaft in the pressing direction, wherein the pressure roll includes for each disc one or more actuators for individually moving the disc, wherein one actuator is arranged for moving the respective disc with respect to the shaft in the pressing direction and the same or another actuator is arranged for moving the respective disc with respect to the shaft in a retraction direction opposite to the pressing direction.

A process and an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes assembling at least one tyre component through laying of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially close to each other on a deposition surface radially external to the forming drum, wherein laying of each strip-like element includes: radially moving the strip-like element close to the deposition surface; locking a central portion of the strip-like element against the deposition surface; and pulling the strip-like element in opposite directions starting from the central portion toward the opposite ends thereof, while the central portion is maintained in a locked condition against the deposition surface, so as to progressively lay down the strip-like element against the deposition surface.

A tire production device is provided for pressure bonding products that are presented in a product profile (120) on a forming drum surface. The device includes a multidisc roller system (100) having a frame (102) relative to which a plurality of disc assemblies (104, 104) are disposed along a common axis. Each disc assembly includes an actuatable arm 106 that is linearly displaceable relative to the frame, a pair of removably attached demi-discs (110, 110) and a bearing (112) that accommodates rotation of the demi-discs (110). An actuator is associated with each disc assembly (104, 104) for bringing the disc assemblies (104, 104) into and out of contact with the product profile (120). A method is also provided for assembling tire components for the manufacture of tires.