Pull-out tab ejector
AssigneeBridgestone Bandag, LLC
InventorTroy A. Kost
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tire tread forming system is provided. The system includes a tire tread mold configured to receive uncured rubber, and a tab system coupled to the tire tread mold. The tab system includes a tab mold contiguous with the tire tread mold and including a tab recess therein, an actuator, and a tab ejector operably coupled to the actuator, the actuator being configured to cause the tab ejector to move so as to eject a pull-out tab from the tab recess of the tab mold.
Claims19
A tire tread forming system, the system comprising:
- a tire tread mold configured to receive uncured rubber;
- and
- a tab system coupled to the tire tread mold, the tab system comprising:
- a tab mold contiguous with the tire tread mold and including a tab recess therein;
- an actuator;
- and
- a tab ejector operably coupled to the actuator, the actuator being configured to cause the tab ejector to move so as to eject a pull-out tab from the tab recess of the tab mold.
A method for forming a tire tread, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a tire tread mold, uncured rubber;
- forming, by the tire tread mold, a tire tread, the tire tread including a pull-out tab;
- curing the tire tread to form a cured tire tread;
- automatically controlling a pull-out tab ejector in communication with a tab mold to eject, by the pull-out tab ejector, the pull-out tab from the tab mold;
- and
- removing the cured tire tread via the pull-out tab.
A system for forming and ejecting a pull-out tab, the system comprising:
- a tab mold configured to receive uncured rubber;
- a controller;
- and
- a tab ejector communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to move in response to a signal from the controller,
- the tab ejector being configured to facilitate ejection of the pull-out tab from the tab mold responsive to the signal from the controller, wherein the tab ejector is movably disposed beneath the pull-out tab when the pull-out tab is in the tab mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.