A robot arm having seven axes of actuation imparts to a toroidal support a circumferential distribution motion about its own geometric axis simultaneously with controlled transverse distribution displacements in front of a dispensing organ of a strip of elastomeric material. The strip thus forms a plurality of turns, the orientation and mutual superposition whereof are controlled in such a way as to control the thickness variations to be conferred to a component of a tire being manufactured, based on a pre-determined laying scheme pre-set on an electronic computer. The rotation of the toroidal support is controlled in such a way as to obtain a peripheral speed of application exceeding the theoretical feeding rate of the strip, able to be increased or decreased as needed to form turns with reduced or, respectively, enlarged cross section.

A method for building tyres is described. An elementary semifinished product is deposited on a building drum rotated by an output end effector of a robotized arm in form of coils forming a component of a tyre. A processor determines a target rotation speed of the building drum and a target value for a speed parameter associated with the rotation. If the target value is not an integer number, the processor: i) determines a drive interval shorter than the effector settling time; ii) calculates first and second values corresponding to integer numbers immediately preceding and immediately following the target value; iii) calculates a speed parameter PWM profile with minimum and maximum values corresponding to the first and second values; and iv) controls the effector according to the PWM profile.

A tire building method, in particular for strip-winding, includes the step of: providing a choice between a production mode for building a tire component and a test mode for obtaining test measurements, wherein the choice is provided prior to executing the test mode;
wherein at least one or more building parameters is set prior to the building of the tire component based on test measurements performed on a test strip during the test mode.

Also disclosed is a tyre building system and a measurement tool.

The present invention provides a method for improving the construction process of a wide-base radial truck tire, and the improvement of the tire construction process is realized by the design of carcass ply, the tire belt drum and the tire semi-finished components. The invention solves the problem of carcass bending, and provides theoretical guidance and technical support for improving the performance of wide-angle radial tires. The design method of the belt drum of the tire molding machine effectively controls the cords elongation of the belt. In addition, the problem of uneven force in the cords of the belt is eliminated, which dispels the abnormal flow of the wide-base tire shoulder rubber to the center of the crown during the shaping process, thus improving the durability and operability of the tire. The proposed semi-finished components design method in this invention can accurately design the tire semi-finished parts material distribution map, significantly improve the finished tire and the theoretical design of tire material distribution consistency, thus reducing tire development cycle and development costs.

The method includes a step (a) of geometric characterization of the profile, during which a first set of geometric remarkable points prepresenting the shape of the profile is provided. In a step (b) of functional characterization of the profile, a second set of functional remarkable points linked to the laying laws which specify the conditions for laying the tire component is provided. The remarkable points are stored in a path chart. At step (c) a series of equidistant virtual points, referred to as potential guide points, is defined on the profile, from the first functional remarkable point to the last functional remarkable point. Then, at step (d), the size of the path chart is reduced by applying to the path chart one or more selection criteria in order to select some of the potential guide points and remarkable points.

A method for building tyres is described. An elementary semifinished product is deposited on a building drum rotated by an output end effector of a robotized arm in form of coils forming a component of a tyre. A processor determines a target rotation speed of the building drum and a target value for a speed parameter associated with the rotation. If the target value is not an integer number, the processor: i) determines a drive interval shorter than the effector settling time; ii) calculates first and second values corresponding to integer numbers immediately preceding and immediately following the target value; iii) calculates a speed parameter PWM profile with minimum and maximum values corresponding to the first and second values; and iv) controls the effector according to the PWM profile.

A working station for deposition of elementary semifinished products for building tyres is described. The working station includes an anthropomorphic robotized arm for moving an output end effector, a building drum, a feeding apparatus and a control apparatus. The control apparatus is configured to calculate, in a drive interval, a pulse with modulation (PWM) profile for a speed parameter and controlling the output end effector as a function of the PWM.

A plurality of strip-like elements is applied onto a forming drum externally having a substantially cylindrical laying surface. The strip-like elements are disposed in mutually approached relationship to form at least one first annular reinforcing layer on the forming drum itself set to a first work diameter at which each of the applied strip-like elements on the laying surface subtends an arc of a circumference of a width as large as a submultiple integer of the overall circumferential extension of the laying surface itself. Adjustment devices operating on the forming drum subsequently carry out expansion of the latter to a second work diameter larger than the first work diameter, while maintaining its laying surface substantially cylindrical.

Building the carcass structure of tyres for vehicle wheels includes associating, at each end edge of a carcass ply, at least one respective annular reinforcement structure formed by depositing along a circumferential direction a plurality of reinforcement elements having a first length. Such elements are cut to size from a reinforced continuous band-like element fed to a cutting group arranged at a first operative position adapted to allow a barycentric grip of the reinforcement elements. The cutting group can translate along a feeding direction of the band-like element to a second operative position for cutting to size a plurality of second reinforcement elements having a second length different from the first length. The second operative position is defined on the basis of the second length, so as to have a barycentric grip of the second reinforcement elements too.

A tire building method, in particular for strip-winding, includes the step of: providing a choice between a production mode for building a tire component and a test mode for obtaining test measurements, wherein the choice is provided prior to executing the test mode; wherein at least one or more building parameters is set prior to the building of the tire component based on test measurements performed on a test strip during the test mode. Also disclosed is a tyre building system and a measurement tool.