Apparatus for manufacturing a vehicle tire and a belt structure, belt package and crown structure of the tire

An apparatus for manufacturing a belt package of a vehicle tire, comprising:

• an extrusion apparatus for forming, in a substantially continuous manner, a sheet of rubber-coated fabric comprising a plurality of reinforcing cords substantially parallel to one another;
• means for conveying the sheet along a first conveying direction;
• a first cutting device for cutting the sheet in a cutting position along a cutting direction forming a first predetermined angle with respect to the first conveying direction to obtain a plurality of strips of predetermined length;
• a device for transferring the strips from the cutting position to a releasing position where the strips are arranged parallel to one another along edges of prevailing length of the strips;
• a device for splicing the strips at the edges of prevailing length of the strips to form a substantially continuous belt assembly comprising reinforcing cords parallel to one another and inclined at a second predetermined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the belt assembly;
• means for conveying the strips and the belt assembly along a second conveying direction;
• a second cutting device for cutting the belt assembly along the longitudinal axis into first and second belt strips, the first belt strip including first cord pieces of the reinforcing cords, and the second belt strip including second cord pieces of the reinforcing cords;
• a third cutting device for cutting each of the first and second belt strips into portions of predetermined length;
• means for conveying the first and second belt strips and the portions of the first and second belt strips along respective conveying directions;
• at least one assembly drum, adapted to support the portions of the first and second belt strips, to form a belt structure comprising radially-superposed parts of the first and second belt strips by superposing the first and second belt strips, and
• wherein in the radially-superposed parts of the first and second belt strips, the first cord pieces of the reinforcing cords in the first belt strip are inclined in an opposite direction with respect to the second cord pieces of the reinforcing cords in the second belt strip;
• an extrusion apparatus for forming, in a substantially continuous manner, a ribbon or tape of rubber mixture comprising a plurality of reinforcing cords substantially parallel to one another;
• means for cutting the ribbon or tape of rubber mixture into portions of predetermined length;
• a belt package assembly drum;
• and
• a device for transferring the belt structure towards the belt package assembly drum.

An apparatus for manufacturing a crown structure of a vehicle tire, comprising:

• an extrusion apparatus for forming, in a substantially continuous manner, a sheet of rubber-coated fabric comprising a plurality of reinforcing cords substantially parallel to one another;
• means for conveying the sheet along a first conveying direction;
• a first cuffing device for cutting the sheet in a cutting position along a cutting direction forming a first predetermined angle with respect to the first conveying direction to obtain a plurality of strips of predetermined length;
• a device for transferring the strips from the cutting position to a releasing position where the strips are arranged parallel to one another along edges of prevailing length of the strips;
• a device for splicing the strips at the edges of prevailing length of the strips to form a substantially continuous belt assembly comprising reinforcing cords parallel to one another and inclined at a second predetermined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the belt assembly;
• means for conveying the strips and the belt assembly along a second conveying direction;
• a second cuffing device for cuffing the belt assembly along the longitudinal axis into first and second belt strips, the first belt strip including first cord pieces of the reinforcing cords, and the second belt strip including second cord pieces of the reinforcing cords;
• a third cuffing device for cutting each of the first and second belt strips into portions of predetermined length;
• means for conveying the first and second belt strips and the portions of the first and second belt strips along respective conveying directions;
• at least one assembly drums adapted to support the portions of the first and second belt strips, to form a belt structure comprising radially-superposed parts of the first and second belt strips by superposing the first and second belt strips, and
• wherein in the radially-superposed parts of the first and second belt strips, the first cord pieces of the reinforcing cords in the first belt strip are inclined in an opposite direction with respect to the second cord pieces of the reinforcing cords in the second belt strip;
• an extrusion apparatus for forming, in a substantially continuous manner, a ribbon or tape of rubber mixture comprising a plurality of reinforcing cords substantially parallel to one another;
• means for cutting the ribbon or tape of rubber mixture into portions of predetermined length;
• a belt package assembly drum;
• a device for transferring the belt structure towards the belt package assembly drum;
• an extrusion apparatus for forming, in a substantially continuous manner, a continuous tread sheet of rubber mixture;
• means for conveying the continuous tread sheet of rubber mixture towards the belt package assembly drum;
• and
• means for cutting the continuous tread sheet of rubber mixture in portions of predetermined length to obtain respective treads.

An apparatus for manufacturing a vehicle tire, comprising:

• means for preparing a carcass structure;
• means for toroidally shaping the carcass structure;
• means for preparing a belt structure;
• means for arranging the belt structure as a crown around the toroidally shaped carcass structure;
• means for wrapping a tread around the belt structure;
• wherein the means for preparing the belt structure comprises:
• an extrusion apparatus for forming, in a substantially continuous manner, a sheet of rubber-coated fabric comprising a plurality of reinforcing cords substantially parallel to one another;
• means for conveying the sheet along a first conveying direction;
• a first cutting device for cutting the sheet in a cutting position along a cutting direction forming a first predetermined angle with respect to the first conveying direction to obtain a plurality of strips of predetermined length;
• a device for transferring the strips from the cutting position to a releasing position where the strips are arranged parallel to one another along edges of prevailing length of the strips;
• a device for splicing the strips at the edges of prevailing length of the strips to form a substantially continuous belt assembly comprising reinforcing cords parallel to one another and inclined at a second predetermined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the belt assembly;
• means for conveying the strips and the belt assembly along a second conveying direction;
• a second cutting device for cutting the belt assembly along the longitudinal axis into two belt strips;
• a third cutting device for cutting each of the belt strips into portions of predetermined length;
• means for conveying the belt strips and the portions of the belt strips along respective conveying directions;
• and
• at least one assembly drum adapted to support the portions of the belt strips.