Exemplary embodiments of the subject invention comprise methods and apparatus for mounting a tread ring onto a tire carcass. Such methods may include the step of providing a tire tread ring having opposing side edges; arranging the tread ring in an initial ring arrangement in communication with a pressure source, the pressure source being in communication with an outer side of the tread ring; expanding the tread ring radially outward from the initial ring arrangement to an expanded arrangement, the tread ring being expanded by applying vacuum pressure along the outer side of the tread ring supplied by the pressure source; inserting a tire carcass within a central opening of the tread ring while in the expanded arrangement; contracting the tread ring into an installed arrangement about an outer surface of the tire carcass; and, releasing the vacuum along the outer side of the tread ring.

A working system includes at least one movable apparatus movable and at least one stationary apparatus. The movable apparatus includes a working unit performing a predetermined work. The stationary apparatus includes a control unit performing drive control of the working unit. A control method of the system includes: instructing, when the movable apparatus has reached a working position, the control unit of the stationary apparatus to establish communication with the working unit of the movable apparatus; updating status information indicating a communication establishment status, after the communication instruction; instructing the control unit to transmit an operation signal to the working unit in the working position; instructing the control unit to disconnect the communication, after the signal transmission instruction step; and updating the status information after the disconnection instruction.

A working system includes at least one movable apparatus movable and at least one stationary apparatus. The movable apparatus includes a working unit performing a predetermined work. The stationary apparatus includes a control unit performing drive control of the working unit. A control method of the system includes: instructing, when the movable apparatus has reached a working position, the control unit of the stationary apparatus to establish communication with the working unit of the movable apparatus; updating status information indicating a communication establishment status, after the communication instruction; instructing the control unit to transmit an operation signal to the working unit in the working position; instructing the control unit to disconnect the communication, after the signal transmission instruction step; and updating the status information after the disconnection instruction.

A plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, comprises a sleeve building area (A) in which devices for obtaining carcass sleeves (12) operate, a crown building area (B) in which devices for obtaining crown structures (7) operate and a shaping station (14) tor shaping each carcass sleeve (12) according to a toroidal configuration. Transfer devices (19) for transferring the carcass sleeves (12) from the sleeve building area (A) to the shaping station (14), by means of a first translator (20) configured for picking up each carcass sleeve (12) from an outlet station (D) of the sleeve building area (A), a second translator (21) configured for releasing each carcass sleeve (12) in the shaping station (14), and a storage device (22) operatively interposed between said first translator (20) and second translator (21)″ has been replaced with --A plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, comprises a sleeve building area (A) in which devices for obtaining carcass sleeves (12) operate, a crown building area (B) in which devices for obtaining crown structures (7) operate and a shaping station (14) tor shaping each carcass sleeve (12) according to a toroidal configuration. Transfer devices (19) for transferring the carcass sleeves (12) from the sleeve building area (A) to the shaping station (14), by a first translator (20) configured for picking up each carcass sleeve (12) from an outlet station (D) of the sleeve building area (A), a second translator (21) configured for releasing each carcass sleeve (12) in the shaping station (14), and a storage device (22) operatively interposed between the first translator (20) and second translator (21).

A plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, comprises a sleeve building area (A) in which devices for obtaining carcass sleeves (12) operate, a crown building area (B) in which devices for obtaining crown structures (7) operate and a shaping station (14) tor shaping each carcass sleeve (12) according to a toroidal configuration. Transfer devices (19) for transferring the carcass sleeves (12) from the sleeve building area (A) to the shaping station (14), by means of a first translator (20) configured for picking up each carcass sleeve (12) from an outlet station (D) of the sleeve building area (A), a second translator (21) configured for releasing each carcass sleeve (12) in the shaping station (14), and a storage device (22) operatively interposed between said first translator (20) and second translator (21)″ has been replaced with --A plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, comprises a sleeve building area (A) in which devices for obtaining carcass sleeves (12) operate, a crown building area (B) in which devices for obtaining crown structures (7) operate and a shaping station (14) tor shaping each carcass sleeve (12) according to a toroidal configuration. Transfer devices (19) for transferring the carcass sleeves (12) from the sleeve building area (A) to the shaping station (14), by a first translator (20) configured for picking up each carcass sleeve (12) from an outlet station (D) of the sleeve building area (A), a second translator (21) configured for releasing each carcass sleeve (12) in the shaping station (14), and a storage device (22) operatively interposed between the first translator (20) and second translator (21).

Disclosed are a transfer apparatus and a method for transferring plies onto a carcass package on a tire building drum. The transfer apparatus includes a transfer ring with first ring segments and a frame that extends in a circumferential direction about a central axis for holding the first ring segments in first angular positions distributed in the circumferential direction along the frame, wherein the first ring segments are movable relative to the frame in a radial direction from a first radial distance to a second radial distance from the central axis that is smaller than the first radial distance. The transfer apparatus further includes a first rolling device that is positionable in a second angular position interposed between the first angular positions, and a second ring segment that is positionable in the second angular position at the second radial distance from the central axis.

A transfer ring for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires comprises a radially expandable and collapsible segmented gripping surface defined by a plurality of transfer ring shoes, each shoe having an inwardly-facing surface mounted for movement toward and away from a central axis of the cylindrical gripping surface. Each inwardly-facing surface has first and second side edges. Each side edge has a central portion configured to be substantially parallel to a central portion of the other side edge and forms a mid-portion therebetween. Each side edge has first and second tapered portions on opposite respective ends of the central portion. Each tapered portion extends outward from the corresponding central portion and toward a tapered portion of the other side edge. The tapered portions of corresponding ends of the shoe cooperate to form a end portions, with each end portion decreasing in width away from the mid-portion.

A transfer ring for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires comprises a radially expandable and collapsible segmented gripping surface defined by a plurality of transfer ring shoes, each shoe having an inwardly-facing surface mounted for movement toward and away from a central axis of the cylindrical gripping surface. Each inwardly-facing surface has first and second side edges. Each side edge has a central portion configured to be substantially parallel to a central portion of the other side edge and forms a mid-portion therebetween. Each side edge has first and second tapered portions on opposite respective ends of the central portion. Each tapered portion extends outward from the corresponding central portion and toward a tapered portion of the other side edge. The tapered portions of corresponding ends of the shoe cooperate to form a end portions, with each end portion decreasing in width away from the mid-portion.

In a method for producing an unvulcanized ring-shaped rubber member a front edge portion of a band-like rubber member conveyed by a conveyor is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of a forming drum, and the forming drum is rotated to wind a length of the band-like rubber member on the outer circumferential surface and a rear edge portion is held by rear edge holding portions arranged side by side in a width direction. Using distribution data on a length of the band-like rubber member in the width direction, an amount of movement of movement portions in a front-rear direction is controlled to adjust the degree of elongation around the held portion of the rear edge portion in the front-rear direction that is held by each of the rear edge holding portions, and the front and rear edge portions are bonded to produce a ring-shaped rubber member.

In a method for producing an unvulcanized ring-shaped rubber member a front edge portion of a band-like rubber member conveyed by a conveyor is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of a forming drum, and the forming drum is rotated to wind a length of the band-like rubber member on the outer circumferential surface and a rear edge portion is held by rear edge holding portions arranged side by side in a width direction. Using distribution data on a length of the band-like rubber member in the width direction, an amount of movement of movement portions in a front-rear direction is controlled to adjust the degree of elongation around the held portion of the rear edge portion in the front-rear direction that is held by each of the rear edge holding portions, and the front and rear edge portions are bonded to produce a ring-shaped rubber member.