Cutting device and method for cutting a tire component

A cutting device for cutting a tire component having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite to said first lateral edge, the cutting device comprising:

• a support surface for supporting the tire component in a support plane;
• a cutter which is movable in a cutting direction along a cutting line for cutting through the tire component on the support surface from the first lateral edge to the second lateral edge;
• and
• a pressing device which is movable in the cutting direction along the cutting line for pressing the tire component onto the support surface,
• wherein the cutting device is arranged to actively move the pressing device towards the support plane in a pressing direction transverse or perpendicular to the support plane from a clearance position at a clearance height from said support plane.

A method for cutting a tire component along a cutting line, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• a) providing the tire component at the cutting line on a support surface extending in a support plane;
• b) pressing a first lateral edge of the tire component onto the support surface at the cutting line by moving a pressing device in a pressing direction transverse to the support plane;
• c) moving the pressing device along the cutting line from the first lateral edge to a second lateral edge of the tire component opposite to the first lateral edge while applying a pressing force onto said pressing device in the pressing direction;
• and
• d) cutting through the tire component along the cutting line.