Process and apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcing structure for tyres of vehicles

A process for producing tyres on a toroidal support having an outer surface, the tyres comprising a reinforcing structure made up of at least one layer having a continuous circumferential extension around an axis of rotational symmetry of the toroidal support and comprising a plurality of strip-like elements distributed in mutual side by side relationship along a circumferential extension of said toroidal support, the process comprising:

• a) bringing two first presser elements in coupling relationship with two respective guide elements to form two laying assemblies so as to retain a first strip-like element of the plurality of strip-like elements;
• b) translating the laying assemblies toward the toroidal support so that the first strip-like element is radially moved toward the toroidal support until said first strip-like element comes into contact with the outer surface of said toroidal support enabling said first strip-like element to be pressed at its central portion;
• c) moving said laying assemblies away from each other, to simultaneously translate said first presser elements along the first strip-like element away from an equatorial plane of the toroidal support, to cause application of the first strip-like element in such a manner that the first strip-like element is retained and guided by said laying assemblies along a longitudinal extension of said first strip-like element;
• d) angularly rotating said toroidal support around the axis of rotational symmetry thereof according to a predetermined angular pitch, to make said toroidal support ready for application of a new strip-like element;
• and
• e) sequentially repeating steps a) to d) for different strip-like elements of the plurality of strip like elements to obtain the reinforcing structure;
• wherein each guide element comprises two prongs pivotally mounted independently with respect to one another to a main body so that during step c) an end of each of the prongs is urged against the toroidal support so that it slides against the toroidal support as the laying assemblies move away from each other.