Abstract:
During tyre manufacture, a belt structure is made according to the following steps: preparing strip-like elements, each including longitudinal thread elements disposed parallel to each other and at least partly coated with at least one layer of elastomeric material; applying the strip-like elements in mutually approached relationship along the circumferential extension of a toroidal support, following a predetermined laying trajectory identified on the toroidal support itself so as to form at least one reinforcing layer having a continuous circumferential extension around a geometric rotation axis. During application of each of the strip-like elements, the toroidal support is moved following a predetermined three-dimensional path in order to make the strip-like elements adhere to the outer surface of the toroidal support according to a longitudinal extension line of the strip-like element coincident with the predetermined laying trajectory.
Abstract:
A method of molding and curing a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes building an unvulcanized tyre on a toroidal support; heating the support; pressing an inner surface of the tyre against an outer surface of the support; and pressing an outer surface of the tyre against walls of a molding cavity defined in a vulcanization mold. The inner surface of the tyre is pressed against the outer surface by at least one secondary working fluid. The outer surface of the tyre is pressed against the walls by at least one primary working fluid. The at least one primary working fluid is heated, causing vulcanization of the tyre. An apparatus for molding and curing a tyre for a vehicle wheel includes the vulcanization mold, at least one passage device, a feeding device, and first and second heating devices. It may also include an airtight device arranged to receive the support.
Abstract:
An apparatus for producing tyres of different types simultaneously includes a central processing unit, work stations, and local processing units. The central processing unit causes sequential execution of a plurality of operating steps at the work stations according to one or more predetermined sequences of types of tyres. Each work station includes at least one operating unit. A local processing unit is associated with each work station. The local processing units associated with the work stations identify types of tyres corresponding to supporting members for the tyres. The local processing units associated with the work stations also select, from a predetermined group of operating procedures for each operating unit, a specific procedure for a type of tyre corresponding to a respective supporting member at a respective operating unit. A related method for producing tyres of different types simultaneously is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A process for manufacturing a reinforcing structure of a tire for vehicle wheels, is carried out on a toroidal support including an outer surface, by means of at least one laying element, which can be oriented in space in a controlled way; the laying element including a laying surface adapted to act on a portion of a rubberized strip-like element for laying the same on the outer surface of the toroidal support. The reinforcing structure includes at least a first and a second radially superimposed reinforcing layers, each including a plurality of strip-like elements; each reinforcing layer having a circumferential extension about a rotation axis of the tire and comprising thread-like reinforcing elements, arranged parallel to one another. The layers are arranged so that the reinforcing thread-like elements of the first reinforcing layer are oriented obliquely with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire, and that the reinforcing thread-like elements of the second reinforcing layer also have an oblique orientation, crossed with respect to the thread-like elements of the first layer.
Abstract:
A method for controlling a manufacturing process of components of a tire for vehicle wheels, wherein at least one elongated element fed by a dispensing member is distributed onto a forming support by means of at least one pressing member acting on the at least one elongated element along a pressing direction. The method includes the steps of substantially continuously detecting the value of a characteristic quantity indicative of the displacement of the at least one pressing member along the pressing direction, comparing the detected value of the characteristic quantity with a threshold value and generating a warning signal when the detected value of the characteristic quantity exceeds the threshold value. Such a control method allows the presence of possible deposition anomalies to be identified right from the deposition step of the elongated elements on the forming support so as to ensure ever higher quality levels in tires manufactured through continuous processes.
Abstract:
A green pneumatic tyre is built on a rigid toroidal support externally having a forming surface of a conformation corresponding to the inner shape of a tyre. The green tyre engaged on the expandable toroidal support is introduced into a vulcanisation mould and submitted to a vulcanisation cycle. During vulcanisation, axial moving apart of side portions of the toroidal support is caused so as to press the beads and sidewalls of the tyre against the vulcanisation mould.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a tire for vehicle wheels includes the steps of building a carcass structure, including at least one carcass ply associated with annular anchoring structures, on a forming support, building a belt structure in a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and building a tread band in a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure, wherein the at least one carcass ply, the annular anchoring structures and the belt structure each include at least one reinforcing element deposited in a radially outer position with respect to the forming support. The deposition of the at least one reinforcing element includes the steps of setting a first deposition path of the at least one reinforcing element on the forming support based upon a theoretical deposition profile; detecting the deviations between an actual deposition profile and the theoretical profile along the first deposition path, defining, based upon the deviations, an actual deposition path of the at least one reinforcing element on the forming support; and depositing the at least one reinforcing element on the forming support along the actual deposition path.
Abstract:
A process for manufacturing a tyre includes: providing a first plurality of strip-like elements, each substantially having a first effective width; providing at least a second plurality of strip-like elements, each substantially having a second effective width; arranging the strip-like elements of the first plurality and of the second plurality on a support by approaching side edge portions thereof to one another, so as to form at least one reinforcing component of the tyre on the support; wherein the first effective width is different from the second effective width.
Abstract:
A method of molding and curing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes building an unvulcanized tire on a toroidal support; heating the support; pressing an inner surface of the tire against an outer surface of the support; and pressing an outer surface of the tire against walls of a molding cavity defined in a vulcanization mold. The inner surface of the tire is pressed against the outer surface by at least one secondary working fluid. The outer surface of the tire is pressed against the walls by at least one primary working fluid. The at least one primary working fluid is heated, causing vulcanization of the tire. An apparatus for molding and curing a tire for a vehicle wheel includes the vulcanization mold, at least one passage device, a feeding device, and first and second heating devices. It may also include an airtight device arranged to receive the support.
Abstract:
In the manufacture of a tyre, a belt structure is made by means of strip-like segments or elements, each comprising parallel cords embedded in an elastomeric layer, sequentially laid along the circumferential extension of a toroidal support, in such a manner that: each strip-like element is laid in a laying trajectory defining, at each point, a laying angle; at each point of the laying trajectory a laying gap is formed between adjacent strip-like elements, the laying trajectory being formed starting from preselected laying angles on the shoulder and on the crown of the tyre, the laying gap between adjacent strip-like elements varying along at least one section of the laying trajectory between crown and shoulder so as to cause variation of the laying angle and to obtain the preselected angles on the shoulder and on the crown.