Method and apparatus for joining together the opposite ends of a belt-shaped member

A method for joining together opposite ends of a tread member for a tire wherein each of said ends comprises an end center portion interposed between two side portions, the method including the steps of:

• feeding said tread member cut into a predetermined length to a tire forming drum which is rotatable about an axis, the drum having a cylindrical peripheral surface;
• winding said tread member on said cylindrical peripheral surface of said tire forming drum;
• pushing both end center portions of said opposite ends toward each other to join them together, whereby a pair of opposite substantially V-shaped side gaps between the side portions of the opposite ends of the tread member are formed, said V-shaped side gaps each having a respective vertex adjacent to the joined end center portions;
• holding both side portions of at least one of said opposite ends of the tread member by respective holding devices arranged in proximity of said V-shaped side gaps;
• swinging said holding devices each along an arcuate path along respective axes of said holding devices which extend radially with respect to the axis of the drum, so that the respective axes of the holding devices pass through respective points located substantially between the side portions of the opposite ends of the tread member, the center of said arcuate path being located substantially in correspondence with a location between the side portions of opposite ends of the tread member, to move the side portions of both the opposite ends of said tread member until they abut against each other.