Transfer wheel and method for transferring a strip to a tire building drum

A transfer wheel for transferring a strip to a tire building drum, wherein the strip has a leading end, a trailing end and a strip body extending from the leading end to the trailing end, wherein the transfer wheel is rotatable about a wheel axis and defines a retaining area extending in a circumferential direction about said wheel axis for retaining the strip to the transfer wheel, wherein the retaining area is divided into a first end section for retaining one of the leading end and the trailing end, a second end section for retaining the other of the leading end and the trailing end, and a main section in the circumferential direction between the first end section and the second end section for supporting the strip body, wherein the transfer wheel comprises a first group of retaining segments, a first mounting member that defines a plurality of first mounting positions for receiving the first group of retaining segments at the first end section, wherein the first group of retaining segments comprises at least one first body retaining segment with at least one body retaining element for retaining the strip body to the respective first body retaining segment and a first end retaining segment with at least one end retaining element different in operation from the at least one body retaining element for retaining said one of the leading end and the trailing end to the first end retaining segment, wherein the first mounting member is arranged for interchangeably receiving one first body retaining segment of the at least one first body retaining segment or the first end retaining segment in each first mounting position of the plurality of first mounting positions, wherein the transfer wheel comprises at least one first control member for controlling the at least one body retaining element and at least one second control member for controlling the at least one end retaining element, wherein the transfer wheel at each first mounting position comprises a first connector for operationally connecting said at least one first control member to the at least one body retaining element of the first body retaining segment and a second connector for operationally connecting said at least one second control member to the at least one end retaining element of the first end retaining segment, wherein the operational connections are made depending on which one of the first body retaining segment and the first end retaining segment is mounted to the respective first mounting position.