Bridgestone Bandag, LLC

Deere & Company

Troy Allen Kost

Jason Len Gridley

Michael Wayne Mossman

Timothy Franklin Christensen

Matthew David Arnold

Jim L Jones

Joseph Albert Teijido

Eric M Henriksen

Steven Timothy Rieck

Robert G Otting

Christopher J A Ferrell

Eric Hans Stone

Logan M Koepke

Michael Bennet Downey

Lee Everett Guldenpfennig

Quentin Lee Wagner

John Stewart Lindsay

Seth Raymond Hanson

Timothy F Christensen

Lee E Guldenpfennig

Matthew Steven Engebretson

A sipe forming system is provided. The sipe forming system includes a cutting base including a pivot plate having an aperture, a cutting drum extending at least partially through the aperture, a blade coupled to the surface of the cutting drum, and a mechanical power source operably coupled to the cutting base and configured to rotate the cutting drum. The sipe forming system further includes a positioning assembly pivotally coupled to the cutting base and configured to receive a tire tread. The positioning assembly includes a housing, the housing being selectively positionable relative to the pivot plate, and at least one positioning device configured to position the tire tread received by the positioning assembly with respect to the cutting drum.

Miter sipe machine having angle control, blade sharpening, and tread support

A sipe forming assembly is provided. The sipe forming assembly includes a plunge cutting assembly, a leading roller assembly positioned upstream of the plunge cutting assembly, and a trailing roller assembly positioned downstream of the plunge cutting assembly. The plunge cutting assembly includes a blade and a linear actuator configured to actuate the blade to cut a sipe in a tire tread. The leading roller assembly includes a first leading roller and a second leading roller positionable relative to the first leading roller. The second leading roller and the first leading roller are configured to cooperate to clamp the tire tread between the first leading roller and the second leading roller. The trailing roller assembly includes a first trailing roller and a second trailing roller configured to cooperate to clamp the tire tread between the first trailing roller and the second trailing roller.

Versatile sipe machine

A tire tread extractor used in the manufacture of treads includes a frame, a first nip roller rotatably associated with the frame, and a second nip roller rotatably associated with the frame. The first and second nip rollers are adapted to engage a tire tread at least partially resident in a mold. A driving mechanism associated with the first and/or second nip rollers operates to impart rotational motion thereto. The frame is configured for longitudinal movement along a substantial portion of a longitudinal length of the mold while maintaining the first and second nip rollers in a spaced relation to the mold.

Molded article extractor and method

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a buffer brush. When rotating, the buffer brush acts as a centrifugal pump. The buffer brush contains a core having a first side and a second side and the brush extends racially from the surface of the core. The first and second sides have at least one opening configured to allow air to flow laterally through the core. Vents on the surface of the cure are configured to allow air flowing laterally through the core to also flow radially through the vents into the brush.

Passive buffer brush air cooling

A tire inspecting apparatus for a tire is provided. The apparatus includes a test stand for supporting and rotating a tire. The test stand is configured such that a tire supported thereon defines a center axis. The apparatus includes a testing probe configured as a high voltage electrode for generating an electric field and a grounding element. A positioning assembly includes a support bracket and a positioning arm supporting the testing probe. The positioning arm is operable to move the testing probe into a working position between the sidewalls of a tire supported on the test stand and in proximity to the grounding element. The positioning arm is connected to the support bracket for pivoting movement relative to the support bracket about a pivot axis. The pivot axis extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the center axis of a tire supported on the test stand.

Tire inspection apparatus

A tire buffing apparatus for a tire casing having a plurality of steel belts arranged therein is provided. The tire buffing apparatus including a hub assembly for supporting and rotating a tire casing and a rasp assembly including a rotatable rasp for buffing a tire casing. A tire belt detection system is provided that includes an induction coil element and a sensor. The induction coil element is configured and arranged in relation to the hub assembly such that when the induction coil element is connected to an AC power source, the induction coil element induces a current in the steel belts of a tire casing supported on the hub assembly. The sensor is configured to produce a signal when the rotating rasp is subject to a voltage. A control unit is configured to direct the rasp assembly to stop buffing a tire casing when the sensor produces the signal.

Tire buffing apparatus with belt detection system

Embodiments of the invention are used to provide ways of tire tread molding and retreading with a double tread rubber body having a unitary structure that comprises two treads in order to remove the need for buffing an oxide layer typically associated with tread molding and curing. Embodiments of the double tread molding and retreading methods also remove the need for cementing the cured tread to prevent future oxidation buildup. Once the double tread is cured and cooled, it is cut along the centerline with a double tread separation apparatus to expose a soft non-oxidized inner rubber. The cutting is much less energy intensive when compared to buffing with an expendable wire brush. There is no risk of spots of oxidized rubber being missed as is the case with buffing. There is little or no dust created.

Double tread mold

Double tread separation apparatus

Double tread

Growing community of inventors

LeClaire, IA, United States of America

Troy Allen Kost