In one embodiment, a transfer system is configured to move a portion of a strip within a belt forming system. The transfer system may comprise a first segment comprising a main body adapted to engage a strip. A plurality of slots may be disposed in a surface of the main body. Fluid communication may be provided from a fluid supply to the plurality of slots, such that the fluid communication with the plurality of slots enables holding the strip against the main body or blowing the strip off the main body. The plurality of slots may be arranged in a series of rows, wherein a first slot in a first row is positioned directly adjacent to a second slot in the first row. First and second strips of different dimensions may be transferred without any mechanical adjustments being made to the main body.

A manufacturing device for an unvulcanized band-shaped rubber member is provided. A position sensor detects, across a width direction of the band-shaped rubber member, leading and trailing ends of the band-shaped rubber member placed in a flat state on a conveyor, holding portions arranged side by side in the width direction hold at least one of the leading or trailing ends, with movement portions allowing the holding portions to move individually in a front-rear direction, the leading and the trailing ends are held by the leading and trailing end holding mechanisms, respectively, and a control unit controls a displacement of the movement portions in the front-rear direction based on data from the position sensor and a target length to adjust elongation in the front-rear direction at or near a held portion held by each of the holding portions to achieve the target length of the band-shaped rubber member.

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.

Disclosed is an extruder and a method for extruding cord reinforced tire components, wherein the extruder includes an extruder head with a die and a cord guide, wherein the die is provided with a cross sectional profile that defines a first cross section of the extrusion material in the die, wherein the cross sectional profile has a profile height, wherein the cord guide is arranged for guiding the cords into the die at a cord entry height, wherein the extruder head is provided with first heating elements, wherein the extruder comprises a control unit that is operationally connected to the first heating elements for generating an adjustable height temperature gradient in the extrusion material across the profile height to control swelling of the extrusion material relative to the cord entry height from the first cross section to a second cross section after the extrusion material leaves the die.

A method for forming a composite apex, the method comprising the steps of: forming a coextruded strip of a first compound and a second compound, wherein the second compound is a compound different than the first compound, wherein the apex is formed from winding the coextruded strip while varying the ratio of the first compound to the second compound.

A tire building machine for assembling tire plies to build a tire carcass may include a drum for receiving the tire plies. The tire building machine may also include a retractable backing strip. The retractable backing strip may be configured to extend over the drum. The tire building machine may further include a stitcher. The stitcher may be configured to stitch ends of the tire plies when the ends are between the stitcher and the retractable backing strip.

The method comprises steps during which, by making the cylindrical form rotate in a first circumferential direction, the ply is deposited until the front edge and performs a complete rotation. A point of penetration is marked on the ply on a cutting line, and a cutting blade that is driven in translation is made to penetrate between two wires placed on the cutting line at the point of penetration. The cylindrical form is made to rotate in an opposite second circumferential direction while displacing the cutting blade in a first transverse direction until the cutting blade is disposed at a predetermined and non-zero distance from a first selvedge. Without retracting the cutting blade from the wire gap, the cylindrical form is made to rotate in the first circumferential direction while displacing the cutting blade in an opposite second transverse direction until the cutting blade emerges at a second selvedge.

Provided is an extruder and a method for extruding cord reinforced tire components, wherein the extruder has an extruder head with a die and a cord guide. The die is provided with a cross sectional profile that defines a first cross section of the extrusion material in the die, wherein the cross sectional profile has a profile height. The cord guide is arranged for guiding the cords into the die at a cord entry height. The extruder head is provided with first heating elements. The extruder has a control unit that is operationally connected to the first heating elements for generating an adjustable height temperature gradient in the extrusion material across the profile height to control swelling of the extrusion material relative to the cord entry height from the first cross section to a second cross section after the extrusion material leaves the die.

This disclosure provides an inner liner of a pneumatic tire having high adhesiveness to an adjacent rubber member, which is an inner liner (100) of a pneumatic tire including a film layer (10) having at least a gas barrier layer (11) and an adhesion layer (20) disposed on at least one side of the film layer (10), where the gas barrier layer (11) contains at least a thermoplastic resin, the adhesion layer (20) contains at least a polystyrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, and the polystyrene-based thermoplastic elastomer has a styrene content of 40 mass % to 55 mass %.

The invention is directed to a posing assembly (30) that effects transfer and posing of a semifinished product (100) that is destined for inclusion in a tire. The invention is also directed to a tire production system (10) for transferring and posing a semi-finished product (100) that is destined for inclusion in a tire, which system includes the disclosed posing assembly. A method is provided for transferring and posing a semi-finished product (100) upon a rotating foaming drum (40) having a circumferential forming surface (40a) during a product posing cycle, which method includes a step of providing a tire production system as disclosed.