US 11,806,958 B2
Method and plant for handling a green tyre for bicycle
Davide Lupo Conti, Milan (IT); Bruno Lodi, Santo Andre (BR); and Gian Luigi Bosio, Settimo Torinese (IT)
Assigned to PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A., Milan (IT)
Filed by Pirelli Tyre S.p.A., Milan (IT)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/817,882.
Application 17/817,882 is a continuation of application No. 16/472,755, granted, now 11,623,421, previously published as PCT/IB2017/057478, filed on Nov. 29, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 102016000131404 (IT), filed on Dec. 28, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0124516 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29D 30/00 (2006.01); B29D 30/06 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/0016 (2013.01) [B29D 30/0603 (2013.01); B29D 2030/0022 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plant for handling a green tyre for a bicycle, comprising:
a profiling unit for receiving the green tyre and profiling the green tyre according to a circular extension around a geometric axis of rotation (X) of the green tyre by a thrust action on a radially inner surface of the green tyre and according to a convex cross-section profile in a radially outer direction, arranging the green tyre with the geometric axis of rotation (X) in a predefined position with respect to the profiling unit;
a gripping device defining a gripping sector distributed around a gripping axis (Z), wherein the gripping sector comprises at least one gripping area for activation on the green tyre, and the gripping device retains the green tyre from an exterior at a radially outer surface against the at least one gripping area when activated, wherein the at least one gripping area is activated against the radially outer surface of the green tyre arranged in an expanded configuration by an attraction action acting on the radially outer surface of the green tyre moving away from the geometric axis of rotation (X);
a transfer member comprising the gripping device and for handling the gripping device towards at least one subsequent working station; and
a centring group for aligning the gripping axis (Z) with the geometric axis of rotation (X) of the green tyre arranged in the profiling unit.