Method for Verifying the Correct Formation of the Beads in a Process and a Plant for Buiilding Tyres for Vehicle Wheels

Abstract

A method for verifying the correct formation of the beads in a process and a plant for building tyres for vehicle wheels, includes: loading a plurality of annular anchoring structures in a storage, disposing them in two groups separated by an opening; positioning a building drum provided with a carcass sleeve in a tyre bead-forming machine; picking up two of the annular anchoring structures from the storage and loading them on the tyre bead-forming machine. In a work area of the tyre bead-forming machine, on each of two axially opposite zones of the carcass sleeve, a respective annular anchoring structure is fit and each of the abovementioned zones is turned up around the respective annular anchoring structure to form the beads. The aforesaid opening allows an operator to conduct a visual inspection of the work area and/or access the work area during the entire work cycle of the machine.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A plant for building a tyre for vehicle wheels, comprising:
 a line for building carcass structures on a building drum comprising a plurality of building stations and devices for transferring the building drum from one building station to another; and   a line for building crown structures on a forming drum comprising a plurality of work stations and devices for transferring the forming drum from one work station to another,   
       wherein one of the building stations is a station for integration of annular anchoring structures in the carcass sleeve and comprises:
 a storage for the annular anchoring structures having a first free side for loading the annular anchoring structures in the storage and a second side opposite the first side; and 
 a tyre bead-forming machine arranged adjacent to the second side of the storage, 
 
       wherein the storage has at least one opening adapted to place the first side in communication with the tyre bead-forming machine, for visual inspection of the tyre bead-forming machine and for access to said tyre bead-forming machine. 
     
     
         42 . The plant as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the station for the integration of annular anchoring structures comprises a handling device arranged between the second side and the tyre bead-forming machine and moveable between a position for picking up the annular anchoring structures from the storage and a position for releasing the annular anchoring structures to the tyre bead-forming machine. 
     
     
         43 . The plant as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the handling device is sized to carry a maximum load of about 12 Kg. 
     
     
         44 . The plant as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the station for the integration of annular anchoring structures comprises a conveyor device operatively active between the tyre bead-forming machine, a building station downstream of said tyre bead-forming machine and a building station upstream of said tyre bead-forming machine, for conveying the building drums between the building station upstream and the tyre bead-forming machine and between the tyre bead-forming machine and the building station downstream. 
     
     
         45 . The plant as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the conveyor device is arranged adjacent to the tyre bead-forming machine and on an opposite side with respect to the storage. 
     
     
         46 . The plant as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the conveyor device is an anthropomorphic arm having a base rested adjacent to the tyre bead-forming machine and on the opposite side with respect to the storage. 
     
     
         47 . The plant as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the conveyor device is sized to carry a maximum load of about 350 Kg. 
     
     
         48 . The plant as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the tyre bead-forming machine comprises:
 tyre bead-forming devices arranged in a lower area of said tyre bead-forming machine;   receiving devices for receiving the annular anchoring structures arranged in an upper area of said tyre bead-forming machine; and   devices for conveying the annular anchoring structures from the upper area to the lower area.   
     
     
         49 . The plant as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the upper area is arranged at a height equivalent to or greater than a height of the opening. 
     
     
         50 . The plant as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein in a release position, the handling device transfers the annular anchoring structures to the receiving devices arranged in the upper area. 
     
     
         51 . An apparatus for controlling the management of annular anchoring structures in a process and a plant for building a tyre for vehicle wheels, comprising:
 a storage for the annular anchoring structures having a first free side for loading the annular anchoring structures in the storage and a second side, opposite the first side, arranged adjacent to a tyre bead-forming machine; and   a handling device arranged between the second side and the tyre bead-forming machine and moveable between a position for picking up the annular anchoring structures from the storage and a position for releasing the annular anchoring structures in the tyre bead-forming machine,   
       wherein the storage has at least one opening adapted to place the first side in communication with the second side and with the tyre bead-forming machine, for the visual inspection of the tyre bead-forming machine and for access to said tyre bead-forming machine. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the at least one opening is faced on the tyre bead-forming machine. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the storage comprises a plurality of seats, each capable of housing an annular anchoring structure, organised in at least two groups separated by said at least one opening. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the handling device is moveable between said at least two groups along a path not interfering with said at least one opening. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein said at least two groups are spaced horizontally and the handling device is moveable above said at least one opening. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein said opening has a width between about 1500 mm and about 2500 mm. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein said opening has a height between about 2200 mm and about 2500 mm. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the storage comprises a plurality of baskets, each capable of housing a plurality of annular anchoring structures. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein each basket has a single area for picking up annular anchoring structures thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein said single area for picking up is arranged at a final end of a respective basket. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein said single area for picking up is arranged at an upper portion of the final end. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein the final end of each basket is faced on the second side of the storage. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein said single area for picking up is unvarying upon variation of characteristics of the annular anchoring structures. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein each basket comprises devices for moving the annular anchoring structures toward said single area for picking up. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein each basket has a main axis and houses the annular anchoring structures mutually arranged adjacent and coaxial to said main axis, the baskets of each group being adjacent to each other with the main axes thereof parallel. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein each basket is extractable on the first side in a position for loading the annular anchoring structures. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the storage comprises two groups of baskets separated by said opening, and each of the two groups comprises at least one pair of baskets formed by a lower basket and by an upper basket. 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein the lower basket projects on a second side with respect to the upper basket. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein the lower basket is rested on a lower portion of a framework of said apparatus. 
     
     
         70 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein the upper basket is hung at an upper portion of a framework of said apparatus. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the storage comprises a guide disposed above the baskets, the handling device being moveable on said guide. 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein the guide is disposed above said at least one opening. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the handling device comprises a gripper which can be moved along three axes. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the handling device is sized to carry a maximum load of about 12 Kg. 
     
     
         75 . A method for verifying correct formation of beads in a process and a plant for building a tyre for vehicle wheels, comprising:
 loading a plurality of annular anchoring structures in a storage disposing said annular anchoring structure in at least two groups separated by at least one opening;   positioning a building drum provided with a carcass sleeve in a tyre bead-forming machine;   picking up two of said annular anchoring structures from the storage and loading said two annular anchoring structures on the tyre bead-forming machine; and   in a work area of the tyre bead-forming machine, fitting on each of two axially opposite zones of the carcass sleeve a respective annular anchoring structure and turning up each of said zones around a respective annular anchoring structure to form the beads,   
       wherein said at least one opening allows the visual inspection of the work area and access to said work area. 
     
     
         76 . The method as claimed in  claim 75 , comprising: visually inspecting the work area and/or accessing said work area during the formation of the beads. 
     
     
         77 . The method as claimed in  claim 75 , comprising: visually inspecting the work area and/or accessing said work area during the picking up of the two annular anchoring structures from the storage. 
     
     
         78 . The method as claimed in  claim 75 , comprising: visually inspecting the work area and/or accessing said work area when loading the two annular anchoring structures on the tyre bead-forming machine. 
     
     
         79 . The method as claimed in  claim 75 , comprising: visually inspecting the work area and/or accessing said work area during the positioning of the building drum in the tyre bead-forming machine. 
     
     
         80 . The method as claimed in  claim 75 , comprising: visually inspecting the work area and/or accessing said work area when extracting the building drum with a carcass sleeve provided with the beads formed by the tyre bead-forming machine.