US-12623421-B2 - Method for arranging elongated elements to be used in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels and plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels

Abstract

A method for arranging elongated elements to be used in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, including: winding in parallel a first elongated element and a second elongated element of a first type respectively on a first winding support and a second winding support coupled and rotatable about a first rotation axis; winding in parallel a third elongated element and a fourth elongated element of a second type respectively on a third winding support and a fourth winding support coupled and rotatable about a second rotation axis, where the elongated elements of the second type are different from the elongated elements of the first type; decoupling the second winding support from the first winding support and the fourth winding support from the third winding support; and coupling the second winding support with the third winding support and the fourth winding support with the first winding support.

Inventors

• Christian De Col
• ANDREA ANFOSSI
• GIANNI ENRICO PORTINARI

Assignees

• PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20211228

Priority Date

20201229

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method for arranging elongated elements to be used in a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising: winding in parallel a first elongated element and a second elongated element of a first type, respectively on a first winding support and on a second winding support coupled and rotatable about a first rotation axis, wherein the first elongated element and the second elongated element are the same as each other; winding in parallel a third elongated element and a fourth elongated element of a second type, respectively on a third winding support and a fourth winding support coupled and rotatable about a second rotation axis, wherein the third elongated element and the fourth elongated element are the same as each other and are different from the first elongated element and the second elongated element; decoupling the second winding support from the first winding support and the fourth winding support from the third winding support; and coupling the second winding support with the third winding support and the fourth winding support with the first winding support.
2. 2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein winding in parallel the first elongated element and the second elongated element, respectively on the first winding support and on the second winding support, is preceded by mounting the first winding support and the second winding support on a first coupling device.
3. 3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein winding in parallel the third elongated element and the fourth elongated element, respectively on the third winding support and on the fourth winding support, is preceded by mounting the third winding support and the fourth winding support on a second coupling device.
4. 4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein decoupling the second winding support from the first winding support comprises dismounting the second winding support from the first coupling device and leaving the first winding support mounted on the first coupling device.
5. 5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein dismounting the second winding support from the first coupling device comprises associating the second winding support with a first movable carriage and moving the first movable carriage, with the associated second winding support, away from the first coupling device.
6. 6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein decoupling the fourth winding support from the third winding support comprises dismounting the fourth winding support from the second coupling device and leaving the third winding support mounted on the second coupling device.
7. 7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein dismounting the fourth winding support from the second coupling device comprises associating the fourth winding support with a second movable carriage and moving the second movable carriage, with the associated fourth winding support, away from the second coupling device.
8. 8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein coupling the fourth winding support with the first winding support comprises mounting the fourth winding support on the first coupling device.
9. 9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein mounting the fourth winding support on the first coupling device comprises moving the second movable carriage with the associated fourth winding support towards the first coupling device.
10. 10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein coupling the second winding support with the third winding support comprises mounting the second winding support on the second coupling device.
11. 11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein mounting the second winding support on the second coupling device comprises moving the first movable carriage with the associated second winding support towards the second coupling device.
12. 12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein winding in parallel the first elongated element on the first winding support and the second elongated element on the second winding support comprises winding the first elongated element on a first storage bobbin and winding the second elongated element on a second storage bobbin.
13. 13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein winding in parallel the third elongated element on the third winding support and the fourth elongated element on the fourth winding support comprises winding the third elongated element on a third storage bobbin and winding the fourth elongated element on a fourth storage bobbin.
14. 14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein winding in parallel the first elongated element and the second elongated element comprises associating a first service fabric with the first elongated element and a second service fabric with the second elongated element.
15. 15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein winding in parallel the third elongated element and the fourth elongated element comprises associating a third service fabric with the third elongated element and a fourth service fabric with the fourth elongated element.
16. 16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein said first service fabric and said second service fabric comprise respective resting surfaces and respective two axial end shoulders, wherein associating the first service fabric with the first elongated element and the second service fabric with the second elongated element comprises associating the first elongated element with the resting surface of the first service fabric between said two axial end shoulders and the second elongated element with the resting surface of the second service fabric between said two axial end shoulders, and wherein the two axial end shoulders of the first service fabric and the two axial end shoulders of the second service fabric have equal extension in a radial direction and have greater extension in the radial direction than the extension in the radial direction of the first elongated element and of the second elongated element.
17. 17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein said third service fabric and said fourth service fabric comprise respective resting surfaces and respective two axial end shoulders, wherein associating the third service fabric with the third elongated element and the fourth service fabric with the fourth elongated element comprises associating the third elongated element with the resting surface of the third service fabric between said due axial end shoulders and associating the fourth elongated element with the resting surface of the fourth service fabric between said two axial end shoulders, and wherein the two axial end shoulders of the third service fabric and the two axial end shoulders of the fourth service fabric have equal extension in the radial direction and have greater extension in the radial direction than the extension in the radial direction of the third elongated element and of the fourth elongated element.
18. 18 . A process for building tyres for vehicle wheels comprising: a) performing the method according to claim 17 , wherein coupling the fourth winding support with the first winding support comprises mounting the first winding support and the fourth winding support on the first coupling device and wherein coupling the second winding support with the third winding support comprises mounting the second winding support and the third winding support on the second coupling device; b) arranging the first coupling device with the first winding support and the fourth winding support mounted on the first winding support, or arranging the second coupling device with the second winding support and the third winding support mounted on the second winding support, in a building line close to a forming drum; c1) simultaneously unwinding an elongated element of the first type from the first winding support and an elongated element of the second type from the fourth winding support, or c2) simultaneously unwinding an elongated element of the first type from the second winding support and an elongated element of the second type from the third winding support; and d) simultaneously winding the elongated element of the first type and the elongated element of the second type on the forming drum.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is the US National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2021/062387, filed on Dec. 28, 2021, which in turn, claims priority to Italian Application No. IT 102020000032561, filed on Dec. 29, 2020. The present invention relates to a process and a plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels and method for arranging elongated elements to be used in said process. A tyre for vehicle wheels generally comprises a carcass structure, a crown structure arranged in radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and a pair of sidewalls that represent the axially outer surfaces of the tyre, with respect to a mid-plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of said tyre. The carcass structure comprises at least one carcass ply formed from reinforcing cords incorporated in a matrix of elastomeric material. The carcass ply has opposite end flaps respectively engaged with annular anchoring structures. The latter are arranged in the areas of the tyre usually identified with the name “beads” and are normally each formed by a substantially circumferential annular insert called “bead core” on which at least one filling insert is applied, in radially outer position, tapering radially going away from the rotation axis. At the beads it is possible to provide specific reinforcing structures having the function of improving the transmission of torque to the tyre. In the case of “tubeless” tyres, i.e. without an air chamber, a layer of elastomeric material, generally known as “liner”, may also be provided in radially inner position with respect to the carcass structure to provide the necessary impermeability to the inflation air of the tyre. Generally, the liner extends from one bead to the other. The crown structure comprises a belt structure and, in radially outer position with respect to the belt structure, a tread band made of elastomeric material. The belt structure comprises one or more belt layers arranged radially juxtaposed over one another, having textile or metal reinforcing cords having orientation substantially parallel to the direction of circumferential extension of the tyre (zero degrees layer) and/or having crossed orientation. Between the carcass structure and the belt structure it is possible to provide a layer of elastomeric material, called “under-belt”, having the function of making the radially outer surface of the carcass structure as uniform as possible for the subsequent application of the belt structure. Longitudinal and transverse grooves are typically shaped on the tread band, arranged to define a desired tread pattern. A so-called ‘under-layer’ made of elastomeric material of suitable properties to obtain a stable union between the belt structure and the tread band can be arranged between the tread band and the belt structure. The sidewalls are made of elastomeric material and represent the axially outer surfaces with respect to the annular anchoring structures, to the carcass ply(-ies), to the belt layer(s) and possibly to at least one portion of tread band. For example, the sidewalls each extend from one of the side edges of the tread band up to the respective annular anchoring structure to the beads. The sidewalls are intended to protect the carcass structure from atmospheric agents and lateral impacts (for example against curbs). In self-supporting tyres, suitable sidewall inserts are suitable for giving the tyre sufficient strength to adequately withstand the load of the vehicle when the tyre is used in a deflated state and for giving favourable properties of comfort when, on the other hand, the tyre is in normally-inflated operating conditions. A sidewall insert made of elastomeric material is preferably arranged in axially outer position with respect to the liner and in axially inner position with respect to each sidewall to define a structure suitable for adequately supporting the tyre in the deflated state, stopping the sidewall from yielding or bulging on itself, without compromising the normal travel conditions. The term “elastomeric material” is meant to indicate a composition comprising at least one elastomeric polymer and at least one reinforcing filler. Preferably, such a composition also comprises additives like, for example, a cross-linking agent and/or a plasticizer. Thanks to the presence of the cross-linking agent, such a material can be cross-linked through heating, so as to form the end product. The term “elongated element” is meant to indicate an element made of elastomeric material having predominant extension along a longitudinal direction thereof. Such an elongated element preferably consists of only elastomeric material. The term “base surface” of the elongated element is meant to indicate the radially inner surface of each coil of elongated element when it is wound on a storage bobbin. Such a base surface corresponds to the lower surface of the elongated element once unwound from the storag