Method and an apparatus for assembling tyres for vehicle wheels

A method of assembling tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising:

• disposing a carcass structure on a primary drum;
• disposing a belt structure on an auxiliary drum;
• picking up the belt structure from the auxiliary drum to transfer the belt structure to a position coaxially centered with respect to the carcass structure;
• shaping the carcass structure into a toroidal configuration;
• applying a tread band onto the belt structure;
• and
• applying a pair of sidewalls to the carcass structure on opposite sides of the carcass structure;
• wherein the carcass structure comprises at least one carcass ply in engagement with annular anchoring structures axially spaced apart from each other,
• wherein the belt structure comprises at least one belt layer, and
• wherein at least one of applying the tread band and applying the pair of sidewalls is carried out by winding up at least one continuous strip element of elastomer material in contiguous circumferential coils around the carcass structure.

An apparatus for assembling tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising:

• at least one primary drum;
• an auxiliary drum;
• a transfer member;
• at least one unit for applying a tread band onto a belt structure;
• and
• at least one unit for applying a pair of sidewalls against opposite lateral walls of a carcass structure;
• wherein the at least one primary drum is arranged to support the carcass structure,
• wherein the carcass structure comprises at least one carcass ply in engagement with annular anchoring structures axially spaced apart from each other,
• wherein the auxiliary drum is set to carry the belt structure,
• wherein the transfer member moves the belt structure from the auxiliary drum to the carcass structure,
• wherein at least one of the units for applying the tread band, at least one of the units for applying the pair of sidewalls, or at least one of the units for applying the tread band and at least one of the units for applying the pair of sidewalls comprises at least one delivery member, and
• wherein the at least one delivery member lays down at least one continuous strip element of elastomer material in contiguous circumferential coils on the carcass structure.