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.

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.

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 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 includes 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 includes: applying and stopping a leading end of a semi-finished product in the form of a continuous strip cut to size against a continuous surface of the forming drum; winding the semi-finished product in the form of a continuous strip cut to size circumferentially around the forming drum; and 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.

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.

The cutting system is configured to cut a continuous strip which extends lengthwise in a longitudinal direction and widthwise between a first edge and a second edge into strips. The cutting system includes a drive device which imparts to the continuous strip a feed speed, a first cutting roller and a contrarotating second cutting roller that cooperate to cut the continuous strip across its full width. The first cutting roller is provided with a first helical blade and is driven in rotation A variable synchronizer makes it possible to select and to modify the synchronization ratio between the rotational speed of the first cutting roller and the non-zero forward speed of the continuous strip in such a way as to be able to adjust the cutting angle according to which the cross-section of the continuous strip is oriented with respect to the longitudinal direction of the continuous strip.

A tyre for vehicle wheels includes a carcass structure with at least one carcass ply formed by strip-like elements consecutively adjacent one after the other along a circumferential extension and having 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 an intermediate overlap width greater than a terminal overlap width of the terminal sections.

A method for depositing a piece of band-like elastomeric element on a forming support in a process for building a tyre for vehicle wheels. The method includes 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.

A forming device forms a green tire including a discontinuous carcass ply composed of a pair of ply pieces. The forming device includes one servicer that sends out a strip-shaped first sheet for forming a plurality of the ply pieces, a drum around which the first sheet from the servicer is wound, a first cutting portion that cuts the first sheet to separate one of the ply pieces, a moving mechanism that relatively moves the servicer and the drum in the axial direction of the drum, and a control unit that controls the moving mechanism.