A device for loading at least one carcass drum with tire components for green tires, a tire-building machine and a method for producing green tires. The device for loading the at least one carcass drum with tire components includes a placing device, which can move linearly in the horizontal direction, for delivering material components to a carcass drum, wherein the at least one placing device can be moved vertically so that a vertical movement in addition to or alternatively to the horizontal movement is facilitated and, in this way, the ply server is designed to be self-opening.

A device for loading at least one carcass drum with tire components for green tires, a tire-building machine and a method for producing green tires. The device for loading the at least one carcass drum with tire components includes a placing device, which can move linearly in the horizontal direction, for delivering material components to a carcass drum, wherein the at least one placing device can be moved vertically so that a vertical movement in addition to or alternatively to the horizontal movement is facilitated and, in this way, the ply server is designed to be self-opening.

A pneumatic tire manufacturing method is provided in which raw cover molding is suitably performed with no, or a minimal amount of, down-stitching in the manufacture of SOT-structure pneumatic tires; also provided is a pneumatic tire. This pneumatic tire manufacturing method involves: a step in which a sidewall, an inner liner, and a ply are bonded on a first molding drum, a pair of beads is set, and the tread side part is formed on the side wall, forming a first cover; a step in which a breaker and band are bonded on a second molding drum and the tread center part is formed on the band, shaping the tread ring; a step in which the first cover is inserted inside of the tread ring and the first cover is inflated, bonding the tread ring and the first cover with pressure; and a step in which the sidewall is folded back towards the lateral surface of the inflated first cover and bonded to the lateral surface of the first cover, and the tread side part and the tread center part are bonded together.

A pneumatic tire manufacturing method is provided in which winding collapse is prevented, there is no possibility of adverse effects on the FV, a current-carrying layer can be formed easily, and down-stitching can be dispensed with or minimized in the manufacture of SOT-structure pneumatic tires having a base-pen structure in the tread. This pneumatic tire manufacturing method involves: a step in which a sidewall, an inner liner, and a ply are bonded on a first molding drum, beads are set, and the tread side part that will form the current-carrying layer is formed on the side wall, forming a first cover; a step in which a breaker and band are bonded on a second molding drum and the tread center part is formed on the band, shaping the tread ring; a step in which the first cover is inserted inside of the tread ring and inflated to bond to the tread ring with pressure; and a step in which the sidewall is bonded to the lateral surface of the first cover, and the tread side part and the tread center part are bonded together.

A pneumatic tire manufacturing method is provided in which winding collapse is prevented, there is no possibility of adverse effects on the FV, a current-carrying layer can be formed easily, and down-stitching can be dispensed with or minimized in the manufacture of SOT-structure pneumatic tires having a base-pen structure in the tread. This pneumatic tire manufacturing method involves: a step in which a sidewall, an inner liner, and a ply are bonded on a first molding drum, beads are set, and the tread side part that will form the current-carrying layer is formed on the side wall, forming a first cover; a step in which a breaker and band are bonded on a second molding drum and the tread center part is formed on the band, shaping the tread ring; a step in which the first cover is inserted inside of the tread ring and inflated to bond to the tread ring with pressure; and a step in which the sidewall is bonded to the lateral surface of the first cover, and the tread side part and the tread center part are bonded together.

In a process for building tires, a carcass structure which includes at least one carcass ply and a belt structure, is formed. Manufacture of the belt structure includes: forming a first portion of at least one cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element; forming at least one first belt layer in a radially external position to the first portion in such a manner that the first portion axially projects from one of the axially opposite side edges of the first belt layer, forming a second portion of the cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element in a radially external position to the side edge of the first belt layer and to a stretch of the first portion projecting from the side edge itself, so as to enclose the side edge between the first and second portions of the cushion insert.

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.

Provided are a method and device for forming a cylindrical member for accurately forming belt-like members into a cylindrical shape without meandering. A pre-winding position sensor detects a position of a member reference line extending in a longitudinal direction of a belt-like member along the entire length of the belt-like member in the longitudinal direction thereof before the belt-like member is placed on a transport conveyor belt, transported to a forming drum, and wound around the forming drum. The belt-like member is wound around the forming drum and formed in a cylindrical shape while the forming drum is relatively moved in the drum width direction with respect to the transport conveyor belt by a controller and the member reference line, based on the detected data and a position data of the drum reference line orthogonal to the drum axial center of the forming drum.

Provided are a method and device for forming a cylindrical member for accurately forming belt-like members into a cylindrical shape without meandering. A pre-winding position sensor detects a position of a member reference line extending in a longitudinal direction of a belt-like member along the entire length of the belt-like member in the longitudinal direction thereof before the belt-like member is placed on a transport conveyor belt, transported to a forming drum, and wound around the forming drum. The belt-like member is wound around the forming drum and formed in a cylindrical shape while the forming drum is relatively moved in the drum width direction with respect to the transport conveyor belt by a controller and the member reference line, based on the detected data and a position data of the drum reference line orthogonal to the drum axial center of the forming drum.

A pneumatic tire excellent in high speed stability and turning ability is provided. In a band of a tire, a center portion located in an axial center has a helically wound structure in which a first band body including a first cord is wound. A shoulder portion located on an axial outside of the center portion has a meshed structure formed by a second band body including a second cord. The shoulder portion includes a plurality of first portions, a plurality of second portions and a plurality of third portions. Each first portion is inclined and extends from an axially inner end of the shoulder portion to an axially outer end of the shoulder portion. Each second portion is inclined in an opposite direction from the first portion and extends from the axially inner end of the shoulder portion to the axially outer end of the shoulder portion.