Method, shaping drum, and plant for manufacturing a tire for a vehicle wheel

A shaping drum for making a tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising:

• a rotation shaft;
• and
• two coaxial half-drums;
• wherein the rotation shaft is connected for operation to the half-drums,
• wherein the half-drums are integral with each other with respect to rotation,
• wherein at least one of the half-drums is axially movable in both directions with respect to the other half-drum,
• wherein each half-drum comprises:
• a support device;
• a gripping device;
• an elastic ring associated with the gripping device;
• and
• a centering device;
• wherein the support device positions and applies a sidewall on a casing sleeve,
• wherein the gripping device secures one axially opposed bead of the casing sleeve on the half-drum,
• wherein the centering device positions one of the axially opposed beads on the half-drum,
• wherein a first equatorial plane defined by the centering devices is axially movable with respect to a second equatorial plane defined by the gripping devices, and
• wherein the elastic ring is configured to provide a fluid-tight seal, such that the casing sleeve is shaped into a toroidal configuration via an operating fluid.

A plant for building a tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising:

• a first-step building drum;
• a device for transferring a first-step sleeve;
• at least one shaping drum;
• an auxiliary drum for building an outer sleeve;
• a device for transferring the outer sleeve;
• and
• a feed device provided next to the at least one shaping drum;
• wherein the at least one shaping drum is supported by a motor unit,
• wherein the at least one shaping drum projects from one side of the motor unit,
• wherein the outer sleeve comprises:
• a belt structure;
• and
• a tread;
• wherein the at least one shaping drum is coaxially aligned with the first-step building drum,
• wherein the at least one shaping drum comprises:
• a rotation shaft;
• and
• two coaxial half-drums;
• wherein the rotation shaft is connected for operation to the half-drums,
• wherein the half-drums are integral with each other with respect to rotation,
• wherein at least one of the half-drums is axially movable in both directions with respect to the other half-drum,
• wherein each half-drum comprises:
• a support device;
• a gripping device;
• an elastic ring associated with the gripping device;
• and
• a centering device;
• wherein the support device positions and applies a sidewall on the first-step sleeve,
• wherein the gripping device secures one axially opposed bead of the first-step sleeve on the half-drum,
• wherein the centering device positions one of the axially opposed beads on the half-drum,
• wherein a first equatorial plane defined by the centering devices is axially movable with respect to a second equatorial plane defined by the gripping devices, and
• wherein the elastic ring is configured to provide a fluid-tight seal, such that the outer sleeve is shaped into a toroidal configuration via an operating fluid.