Versatile sipe machine
AssigneeBridgestone Bandag, LLC
InventorsTroy A. Kost, Jim L. Jones, Robert G. Otting, Logan M. Koepke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sipe forming assembly includes a roller assembly configured to receive and translate a tire tread along a tread plane and a plunge cutting assembly positioned along the tread plane. The plunge cutting assembly includes a linear actuator defining an actuator axis and a blade operably coupled to the linear actuator and configured to be actuated along the actuator axis to cut a sipe in the tire tread, wherein the blade is rotatable relative to the tread plane about the actuator axis or an axis parallel to the actuator axis to adjust an angle of the blade relative to the tire tread.
Claims20
A sipe forming assembly comprising:
- a roller assembly configured to receive and translate a tire tread along a tread plane;
- and
- a plunge cutting assembly positioned along the tread plane, the plunge cutting assembly comprising:
- a linear actuator defining an actuator axis;
- and
- a blade operably coupled to the linear actuator and configured to be actuated along the actuator axis to cut a sipe in the tire tread, wherein the blade is rotatable relative to the tread plane about the actuator axis or an axis parallel to the actuator axis to adjust an angle of the blade relative to the tire tread.
A plunge cutting assembly comprising:
- a chassis;
- a leading roller assembly and a trailing roller assembly each coupled to the chassis and configured to translate a tire tread along a tread plane;
- a plunge fixture rotatably coupled to the chassis between the leading roller assembly and the trailing roller assembly, the plunge fixture comprising a blade;
- a blade actuator coupled to the blade and configured to drive the blade to cut a sipe in the tire tread;
- a controller operably coupled to and configured to control operation of the blade actuator;
- and
- a rotation assembly configured to rotate the plunge fixture relative to the chassis about a rotation axis perpendicular to the tread plane to adjust an angle of the blade relative to the tire tread.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.