Tread edge grinding method and apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus (10) for grinding the edge of a precured tread (100) is described. The method for removing material from and shaping an edge of a precured tread comprises the steps of: a) placing the edge of the tread in a V-shaped groove of a grinding wheel; b) rotating the grinding wheel while it is in contact with the tread edge; and c) moving the tread and grinding wheel relative to one another, the movement being in a direction causing the edge of the tread to be ground to move through the groove in the grinding wheel. The preferred method comprises mounting a winged tread on an apparatus (10) capable of grinding the wing tip of the tread, the apparatus (10) buffing the tread wing (108) such that the wing tip (110) is ground along axially inner and outer surfaces (112,114) a radial distance of at least 5 mm about the circumferential extent of the wing, wherein the inner and outer surfaces (112,114) of the wing tip are ground to form two surfaces that intersect.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.