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 forming 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.

Disclosed is a transfer wheel, a transfer device and a method for transferring a strip, in particular a run-flat reinforcement strip or a sidewall strip, to a tire building drum, wherein the transfer wheel defines a retaining area that is divided into a first end section for retaining the leading end, a second end section for retaining the trailing end and a main section for supporting the strip body. The transfer wheel has a first mounting member that defines first mounting positions for receiving a first group of retaining segments at the first end section, wherein the first group of retaining segments includes first body retaining segments for retaining the strip body and a first end retaining segment for retaining the leading end, wherein the first mounting member is arranged for interchangeably receiving one first body retaining segment or the first end retaining segment in each first mounting position.

Disclosed is a transfer wheel, a transfer device and a method for transferring a strip, in particular a run-flat reinforcement strip or a sidewall strip, to a tire building drum, wherein the transfer wheel defines a retaining area that is divided into a first end section for retaining the leading end, a second end section for retaining the trailing end and a main section for supporting the strip body. The transfer wheel has a first mounting member that defines first mounting positions for receiving a first group of retaining segments at the first end section, wherein the first group of retaining segments includes first body retaining segments for retaining the strip body and a first end retaining segment for retaining the leading end, wherein the first mounting member is arranged for interchangeably receiving one first body retaining segment or the first end retaining segment in each first mounting position.

Disclosed is a transfer device and a method for transferring a strip to a tire building drum, wherein the transfer device includes a transfer wheel that is rotatable about a wheel axis, a base for supporting the transfer wheel and a drive for moving the transfer wheel relative to the base in an application direction perpendicular to the wheel axis, wherein the transfer device further includes an overload protection mechanism that enables the transfer wheel to move with respect to the base in a retraction direction opposite to the application direction irrespective of the drive.

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.

A transporter and a method are provided for retrieving at least one reinforcing ply and conforming the at least one reinforcing ply to a forming surface of a rotatable forming drum having one or more tire components disposed thereon.

There is provided an apparatus configured to adhere a belt-shaped tire member onto a mold drum including: a feeding device including the belt-shaped tire member arranged so as to be capable of being fed and a transferring and adhering device configured to transfer the belt-shaped tire member from the feeding device side to the mold drum side and adhere the belt-shaped tire member onto the mold drum, wherein the transferring and adhering device includes: a transferring device configured to circulate between the feeding device side and the mold drum side and transfer the belt-shaped tire member sucked on the feeding device side to the mold drum side; and a separating unit configured to separate the transferred belt-shaped tire member on the mold drum side from the transferring device and adhere the belt-shaped tire member onto the mold drum.

There is provided an apparatus configured to adhere a belt-shaped tire member onto a mold drum including: a feeding device including the belt-shaped tire member arranged so as to be capable of being fed and a transferring and adhering device configured to transfer the belt-shaped tire member from the feeding device side to the mold drum side and adhere the belt-shaped tire member onto the mold drum, wherein the transferring and adhering device includes: a transferring device configured to circulate between the feeding device side and the mold drum side and transfer the belt-shaped tire member sucked on the feeding device side to the mold drum side; and a separating unit configured to separate the transferred belt-shaped tire member on the mold drum side from the transferring device and adhere the belt-shaped tire member onto the mold drum.

A transporter and a method are provided for retrieving at least one reinforcing ply and conforming the at least one reinforcing ply to a forming surface of a rotatable forming drum having one or more tire components disposed thereon.

Method for manufacturing a green tire by winding a carcass reinforcement ply onto a tire-building drum on which a number of profiled elements are axially spaced apart one from one another and have a given thickness of which the meridian line has a curved profile are laid, wherein: the front edge of the carcass reinforcement ply is grasped with the aid of a transport device having a chassis that supports a transverse row of ply gripping pads, the carcass reinforcement ply is transferred between a supply station and drum, the front edge of said ply is laid on the tire-building drum, said transport device is withdrawn, an applicator roller having a deformable profile is applied to the front edge of said ply and pressure is exerted in the radial direction across the width of said ply, and said drum is made to rotate. At least one of the gripping pads mounted in a movable manner with respect to the adjacent pads between a position in which all of the pads are located in a single plane and a second position in which at least said pad is vertically offset with respect to the adjacent pads to adapt the profile of said transverse row of pads to the curved profile of the meridian line of said second laying surface.