Tread pattern duplicating machine

Claim 2

A machine for cutting a tread design in a tire, comprising: a. means for mounting a pattern with a preformed tread design, for rotation through a predetermined arc; b. means for mounting a tire with a blank tread, for corresponding, unitary rotation with the pattern; c. a sensor for contact, gliding relation over the tread design of the pattern; d. a cutter for engaging and cutting a tread design in the blank tread; and e. means for moving the cutter in cutting relation with the blank tread in corresponding relation to contacting movement of the sensor over the tread design of the pattern.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1, which includes: f. a pair of arcuate trackways along which the sensor and cutter move; and g. means for mounting the trackways for unitary movement towards and away from a pattern and tire mounted on the machine.

Claim 4

The machine of claim 2, wherein the pattern and tire are mounted for rotation in parallel planes.

Claim 5

The machine of claim 2, which includes: h. means for moving the sensor and cutter in unison along the trackways to laterally position the sensor and cutter relative to a plane passing through the midcircumferential centerline of the tread design of the pattern and blank tread of the tire.

Claim 6

The machine of claim 1, which includes: i. means for biasing the sensor against the tread design of the pattern.

Claim 7

The machine of claim 5, which includes: j. means for retracting the sensor from the pattern when a force exerted against the sensor exceeds a predetermined force for which the sensor is set to retract.

Claim 8

The machine of claim 1, which includes: k. a mechanism for sensing corresponding movement of the cutter relative to the sensor; and m. means for adjusting movement of the cutter to bring said movement into corresponding relation with movement of the sensor, when movement of the cutter lags behind corresponding movement of the sensor.

Claim 9

The machine of claim 1, wherein the center point of the arcuate trackway of the cutter is generally coincidental with the center point of the radius of the tire carcass before the machine is operated.

Claim 10

A machine for cutting a tread design in a tire, comprising: a. a machine base; b. a pair of arcuate trackways horizontally disposed in side-by-side spaced relation on the machine base; c. means for mounting a pattern with a preformed tread design, for rotation in a vertical plane and through a predetermined arc; d. means for mounting a tire with a blank tread, for rotation in unison with the pattern and in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the pattern; e. means for moving the trackways in unison to positions where they partially surround the pattern and tire; f. a sensor for contact, gliding relation over the tread design of the pattern; g. a cutter for engaging and cutting a tread design in the blank tread; h. means for mounting the sensor for movement along the trackway adjacent the pattern; i. means for mounting the cutter for movement along the trackway adjacent the tire; j. means for coupling the sensor and cutter together for unitary movement along the trackways; k. means for biasing the sensor against the tread design of the pattern; m. means for retracting the sensor from the pattern when a force exerted against the sensor exceeds a predetermined force for which the sensor is set to retract; and n. means for moving the cutter in cutting relation with the blank tread of the tire in corresponding relation to movement of the sensor in contacting relation over the tread design of the pattern.

Claim 11

A machine for cutting a tread design in a tire, comprising: a. a machine base; b. a pair of arcuate trackways horizontally disposed in side-by-side spaced relation on the machine base; c. means for mounting a pattern with a preformed tread design, for rotation in a vertical plane and through a predetermined arc; d. means for mounting a tire with a blank tread, for rotation in unison with the pattern and in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the pattern; e. means for moving the trackways in unison to positions where they partially surround the pattern and tire; f. a sensor for contact, gliding relation over the tread design of the pattern; g. a cutter for engaging and cutting a tread design in the blank tread; h. means for mounting the sensor for movement along the trackway adjacent the pattern; i. means for mounting the cutter for movement along the trackway adjacent the tire; j. means for coupling the sensor and cutter together for unitary movement along the trackways; k. means for biasing the sensor against the tread design of the pattern; m. means for retracting the sensor from the pattern when a force exerted against the sensor exceeds a predetermined force for which the sensor is set to retract; and n. means for moving the cutter in cutting relation with the blank tread of the tire in corresponding relation to movement of the sensor in contacting relation over the tread design of the pattern.

Claim 12

The machine of claim 9, which includes: o. a mechanism for sensing corresponding movement of the cutter relative to the sensor; and p. means for adjusting movement of the cutter to bring said movement into corresponding relation with corresponding previous movement of the sensor, if movement of the cutter is lagging behind movement of the sensor.

Claim 13

The machine of claim 10, wherein the center point of the arcuate trackway of the cutter is generally coincidental with the center point of the radius of the tire carcass adjacent the blank tread before the machine is operated.

Claim 14

The machine of claim 11, wherein the sensor and cutter extend in a transverse radial direction relative to the circular centerline of their respective trackways.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13, which includes: b. retracting the cutter from the tiRe tread in response to a predetermined force on the sensor.