Method and apparatus for manufacturing a pneumatic tyre for vehicle wheels

A method of manufacturing a tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising:

• making a carcass structure on a first-stage drum;
• transferring the carcass structure to a second-stage drum;
• applying a belt structure to the carcass structure at a radially external position of the carcass structure;
• applying a tread band to the belt structure at a radially external position of the belt structure;
• and
• shaping the tyre into a toroidal conformation;
• wherein the tyre comprises the carcass structure, comprising:
• at least one carcass ply;
• and
• a pair of annular reinforcing structures;
• wherein the at least one carcass ply is operatively associated with the annular reinforcing structures,
• wherein the annular reinforcing structures are suitable for mounting the tyre on a corresponding rim,
• wherein each annular reinforcing structure comprises:
• at least one bead core;
• and
• an annular element;
• and
• wherein making the carcass structure comprises:
• feeding at least one semi-finished product onto the first-stage drum;
• disposing at least one separating element radially external to the at least one semi-finished product;
• feeding the at least one carcass ply onto the first-stage drum at a radially external
• position with respect to the at least one separating element;
• disposing the annular elements radially external to the at least one carcass ply;
• turning up the at least one carcass ply around at least one of the annular elements;
• removing the at least one separating element;
• and
• applying the bead cores.

A drum for manufacturing a tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising:

• a central portion;
• two side portions;
• at least one transport device for bead cores;
• at least one pressure device;
• at least one turning-up device for at least one carcass ply;
• and
• a device adapted to radially modify a surface of the drum;
• wherein the central portion is operatively associated with the side portions,
• wherein the at least one pressure device is adapted to consolidate different semi-finished products with each other,
• wherein the at least one turning-up device comprises at least one tubular separating element,
• wherein the at least one separating element is open at least at one end,
• wherein the at least one separating element is externally associated with the first-stage drum,
• wherein the tyre comprises a carcass structure, comprising:
• at least one carcass ply;
• and
• a pair of annular reinforcing structures;
• wherein the at least one carcass ply is operatively associated with the annular reinforcing structures,
• wherein the annular reinforcing structures are suitable for mounting the tyre on a corresponding rim,
• wherein each annular reinforcing structure comprises:
• at least one bead core;
• and
• an annular element;
• and
• wherein the at least one carcass ply is turned up on at least one of the annular elements.