Method for building belt assemblies for tyres for vehicle wheels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12384126-B2
Application number	US-202017781369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2020
Priority date	Dec 19, 2019
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

A method for building belt assemblies for tyres for vehicle wheels is described. The method includes building a crossed belt structure on a forming drum. Depending on the type of tyre to be produced, the method selects whether to build a belt assembly having a cylindrical shaping or a belt assembly having a toroidal shaping. In order to build a belt assembly having a cylindrical shaping, a zero degrees belt layer is deposited on the forming drum in a radially outer position with respect to the crossed belt structure. In order to build a belt assembly having a toroidal shaping, the crossed belt structure is picked up from the forming drum. The crossed belt structure is then toroidally shaped and transferred onto another forming drum. A zero degrees belt layer is then deposited on the other forming drum in a radially outer position with respect to the toroidally shaped crossed belt structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for building belt assemblies for tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising:
building a crossed belt structure on a substantially cylindrical first forming drum in a first working area;
selecting, according to a type of tyre to be produced, whether to build a belt assembly having a cylindrical shaping or a belt assembly having a toroidal shaping;
wherein, in order to build a belt assembly having a cylindrical shaping, said method comprises:
depositing at least one zero degrees belt layer on said first forming drum in a radially outer position with respect to said crossed belt structure, and in a second working area arranged downstream of said first working area with reference to a first movement direction;
and wherein, in order to build a belt assembly having a toroidal shaping, said method comprises:
picking up said crossed belt structure from said first forming drum;
toroidally shaping said crossed belt structure in a first service area arranged downstream of said second working area with reference to said first movement direction;
transferring said toroidally shaped crossed belt structure onto a second forming drum; and
depositing at least one zero degrees belt layer on said second forming drum in a radially outer position with respect to said toroidally shaped crossed belt structure, and in the second working area arranged downstream of said first working area with reference to said first movement direction.

2. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in order to build the belt assembly having the cylindrical shaping, said first forming drum is moved along said first movement direction from said first working area to said second working area and from said second working area to a second service area arranged downstream of said first service area with reference to said first movement direction, and
wherein during the movement from said second working area to said second service area the first forming drum passes through said first service area without stopping at said first service area.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in order to build the belt assembly having the toroidal shaping, said first forming drum is moved along said first movement direction from said first working area to said first service area passing through said second working area without stopping at said second working area.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein, in order to build the belt assembly having the toroidal shaping, said second forming drum is moved from said first service area to said second working area along a second movement direction opposite to said first movement direction.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein, in order to build the belt assembly having the toroidal shaping, after having moved said second forming drum from said first service area to said second working area, said second forming drum is moved from said second working area along said first movement direction passing through said first service area without stopping at said first service area.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein, in order to build the belt assembly having the toroidal shaping, before moving said second forming drum from said first service area to said second working area, said second forming drum is moved from a second service area to said first service area along said second movement direction, wherein said second service area is arranged downstream of said first service area with reference to said first movement direction.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein toroidally shaping said crossed belt structure comprises:
transferring said crossed belt structure from said first forming drum to an annular holding member.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said annular holding member is arranged in said first service area.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein toroidally shaping said crossed belt structure comprises:
arranging said second forming drum in a radially inner position with respect to said annular holding member.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein toroidally shaping said crossed belt structure comprises, after having arranged said second forming drum in the radially inner position with respect to said annular holding member:
radially expanding said second forming drum until said second forming drum reaches an expanded condition in which said second forming drum is in contact with said crossed belt structure and deforms said crossed belt structure until said crossed belt structure assumes a toroidal shape.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein transferring said crossed belt structure from said first forming drum to said annular holding member comprises:
arranging said first forming drum in a radially inner position with respect to said annular holding member.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein transferring said crossed belt structure from said first forming drum to said annular holding member comprises:
radially contracting said annular holding member until said annular holding member is brought into contact with said crossed belt structure.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein transferring said crossed belt structure from said first forming drum to said annular holding member comprises, after having radially contracted said annular holding member:
radially contracting said first forming drum leaving said crossed belt structure-associated with said annular holding member.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said second forming drum is substantially toroidal.

Assignees

• Pirelli

Inventors

• Conti Davide
• De Col Christian
• Portinari Gianni Enrico

Classifications

• B29D2030/209

  the drum supporting device being rotatable around an inclined axis · CPC title

• B29D2030/204

  the fixtures supporting the cylindrical drums, e.g. turrets, being displaceable, e.g. movable along a path, rail or the like · CPC title

• B29D30/70

  Annular breakers · CPC title

• B29D30/2607

  Devices for transferring annular tyre components during the building-up stage, e.g. from the first stage to the second stage building drum · CPC title

• B29D30/242

  for manufacturing substantially cylindrical tyre components without cores or beads, e.g. treads or belts · CPC title