A pair of annular inserts of elastomeric material is circumferentially applied by spiraling around a laying surface of an auxiliary drum. Then a plurality of strip-like elements disposed in parallel side by side relationship with each other in the circumferential extension of the laying surface is applied onto the auxiliary drum, so as to form at least one first belt layer. Respectively opposite end portions of each strip-like element are radially superposed, each against one of the annular inserts, so that each of the annular inserts projects from a respective end edge of the strip-like element. The cap structure formed on the auxiliary drum is coupled to a carcass structure through toroidal conformation of the latter, in such a manner that the radially external ends of sidewall portions previously manufactured on the carcass plies are associated with the axially external ends of the annular inserts.

A first ply and then a second ply, which is superposed on the first ply, are produced on a hoop-type first support. The hoop-type first support has a first receiving surface, to form a laminate. The first and second plies forming the laminate are transferred onto an annular second receiving surface of a core so that the laminate is wrapped on the core until each ply is closed on itself and the laminate is thus closed on itself in a ring about the central axis of the core.

Provided is a validation tool and a method for validating optical equipment that is used for measuring a plurality of characteristics of one or more tyre components during winding application of said tyre components around a tyre building drum, wherein a first tyre component of the one or more tyre components includes a first characteristic of the plurality of characteristics which, after measuring, is overlapped by the same or another tyre component of the one or more tyre components including a second characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, wherein the validation tool is provided with a first reference element that is arranged to represent the first characteristic and a second reference element that is arranged to represent the second characteristic, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element to at least partially expose the first reference element.

In a process for building tires, a carcass structure which includes at least one carcass ply and a belt structure, is formed. Manufacture of the belt structure includes: forming a first portion of at least one cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element; forming at least one first belt layer in a radially external position to the first portion in such a manner that the first portion axially projects from one of the axially opposite side edges of the first belt layer, forming a second portion of the cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element in a radially external position to the side edge of the first belt layer and to a stretch of the first portion projecting from the side edge itself, so as to enclose the side edge between the first and second portions of the cushion insert.

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.

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 belt cover layer is formed by spirally winding belt cover materials including a first cover material and a second cover material. When one side in a tire width direction with respect to a tire equatorial plane is defined as a first side and another side is defined as a second side, the first cover material is disposed from a position between a shoulder region on the second side and the tire equatorial plane to a shoulder region on the first side. The second cover material is disposed from a position between the shoulder region (Ash) on the first side and the tire equatorial plane to the shoulder region on the second side. The first cover material and the second cover material have an overlapping portion at a position where positions in the tire width direction become positions identical to one another.

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.

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.