The method is related to automatically and successively laying elastomeric elements using a facility for manufacturing tire blanks. The facility includes a drum for manufacturing tire blanks and at least one collaborative robotized arm equipped with at least one effector. A stage of laying an elastomeric element includes a predetermined sequence of step. The sequence comprises the steps of grasping and drawing the elastomeric element towards the drum using said arm. The automatic and successive laying of elastomeric elements includes instructions which can be executed by the processor of a control unit in order to implement. The sequence includes a stage of automatic performance of a step according to said sequence. The sequence also includes a stage of interruption of said sequence. The sequence further includes a stage of manual performance of the interrupted step or the next step according to said sequence.

An apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels are described. A substantially cylindrical carcass sleeve, having at least one carcass ply, includes consecutively adjacent strip-like elements laid one after the other around the circumferential extension of a substantially cylindrical deposition surface. Circumferentially consecutive strip-like elements laid one after the other form overlap zones along respective longitudinal edges superimposed on each other. Each overlap zone has, along a longitudinal extension thereof, terminal sections that are laterally opposite with respect to an intermediate section. The intermediate section of each overlap zone has greater width than the width of the terminal sections.

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 process and an apparatus for building tyres and a tyre for vehicle wheels are described. A substantially cylindrical carcass sleeve, having at least one carcass ply, is formed by laying consecutively adjacent strip-like elements one after the other around the circumferential extension of a substantially cylindrical deposition surface. Circumferentially consecutive strip-like elements are laid one after the other to form overlap zones along respective longitudinal edges superimposed on each other. Each overlap zone has, along a longitudinal extension thereof, terminal sections that are laterally opposite with respect to an intermediate section. The intermediate section of each overlap zone has greater width than the width of the terminal sections.

A process for building tyres provides for building a carcass sleeve around a forming drum having an application diameter and two lateral half-portions axially moveable relative to each other. The carcass sleeve comprises at least one carcass ply coaxially engaged around each of the axially opposite end flaps thereof to an annular anchoring structure defining a fitting diameter smaller than the application diameter. The building of the carcass sleeve comprises: applying and stopping a leading end of a semi-finished product in form of continuous strip cut to size against a continuous surface of the forming drum; winding the semi-finished product in form of continuous strip cut to size circumferentially around the forming drum; joining a trailing end of the semi-finished product to the leading end at said continuous surface. The continuous surface is extended only partly around the forming drum. The semi-finished product, except for the leading end and the trailing end, is laid against a discontinuous circumferential surface of the forming drum adjacent to the continuous surface and belonging to the two lateral half-portions.

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.

An apparatus builds an uncured tire. The apparatus includes a cylindrical tire building drum for receiving a ply structure, an applicator for applying a first wedge strip and a second wedge strip to each of two shoulder portions of the ply structure, an extruder for dispensing a strip of material, and a cutting device for splitting the strip of material into the first wedge strip and the second wedge strip.

An apparatus for depositing a piece of band-like elastomeric element on a forming support in a process for building a tyre for vehicle wheels. The apparatus operates by feeding a piece of band-like elastomeric element having a predetermined nominal length towards the forming support along a predetermined feeding direction and measuring the actual length of the piece along the feeding direction. If the actual length is lower than or equal to a circumferential length of a deposition surface defined on the forming support, the piece is deposited on the deposition surface while the forming support rotates about a rotation axis thereof. During such deposition the piece is pressed on the deposition surface with a pressing force selected as a function of the actual length.

The manipulator device includes a pedestal and a carrying mechanism which carries a platform and which forms an articulated triangle comprising: a first arm borne by a first carriage with a first pivot link whose axis forms a first vertex of the triangle, a second arm borne by a second carriage with a second pivot link whose axis forms a second vertex of the triangle, a seat situated at the intersection of the first arm and of the second arm, which forms a third pivot link whose axis is parallel to the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis and forms a third vertex of the triangle. A module is provided for servocontrolling the translational movements of the first carriage and the second carriage with respect to the pedestal. A yaw orientation interface comprises a fourth pivot link, by which the platform is articulated on the seat, both relative to the first arm and relative to the second arm, about a fourth pivot axis which is coaxial to the third pivot axis.

Production of carcass structures and/or production of crown structures includes: positioning a first continuous elongated element so that its end stretch is aligned with a cutting position; positioning a second continuous elongated element so that its end stretch is in side by side relationship with the end stretch of the first continuous elongated element; forming first strip-like elements from the first continuous elongated element; depositing the first strip-like elements on at least one forming drum; translating the end stretches of the first and second continuous elongated element in a transverse direction relative to their longitudinal extension to align the end stretch of the second continuous elongated element to said cutting position; forming second strip-like elements from the second continuous elongated element; and depositing the second strip-like elements on said at least one forming drum.