Apparatus for moulding and vulcanising a green tyre for bicycle

An apparatus for moulding and vulcanising a green tyre for a bicycle, comprising:

• a gripping device defining a gripping sector distributed around a gripping axis (Z), wherein the gripping sector comprises at least one gripping area which can be activated against a radially outer surface of the green tyre by exerting an attraction force (A) on the radially outer surface of the green tyre moving away from a geometric axis of rotation (X) to retain the green tyre from an exterior of the gripping device;
• at least one vulcanisation mould comprising a central body defining a reference axis (K) and configured for exerting a thrust action directed radially towards the exterior on a radially inner surface of the green tyre to keep the green tyre in position on the central body by the thrust action;
• a transfer member configured to move the gripping device towards the vulcanisation mould;
• and
• a centring group configured for centring the green tyre held by the gripping device with the central body by aligning the geometric axis of rotation (X) of the green tyre with the reference axis (K) of the central body;
• wherein the transfer member and the central body are configured to:
• arrange the green tyre held by the gripping device in a radially outer position with respect to the central body;
• and
• axially position the green tyre held by the gripping device with respect to the central body so that an axial centreline plane (M) of the green tyre is arranged at a predetermined height along the reference axis (K) of the central body.