The invention relates to a matrix for a tire mold for vulcanizing tire blanks, the matrix forming a negative mold of a profiled tread of a tire, the matrix having a mold shell and at least one fin plate disposed thereon, the mold shell forming a mold inside and the fin plate forming a web of the negative mold, a slit being formed in the mold shell, the fin plate being inserted into the slit and attached to the mold shell. The slit penetrates a mold wall of the mold shell and extends from the mold inside to a mold back side of the mold shell, the fin plate being bonded to the mold shell from the mold back side.

A removably attached coupling assembly can be used to be attached to a laser focus optic assembly of a liquid jet guided laser system. The coupling assembly can include a coupling body, a window assembly, and a nozzle assembly. The coupling assembly thus can allow the independent and separate servicing of the window and the nozzle. For example, to service the window, the coupling assembly can be first detached from the laser focus optic assembly, exposing the top portion of the coupling assembly. The window assembly then can be detached from the coupling assembly. The window can be removed from the window assembly for servicing, such as being repaired or replaced.

Provided is a tire vulcanization mold which includes a sector mold configured to mold a tread portion; and a pair of upper and lower side plates positioned on an inner diameter side of the sector mold and configured to mold side wall portions, the sector mold and the pair of upper and lower side plates being configured to engage with each other by fitting engagement by way of fitting portions which opposedly face each other in a radial direction. At least either one of the sector mold and the side plate has: a recessed portion extending from each fitting surface in a tire radial direction and indented outward in a tire width direction; and a saw cut groove having a groove shape extending in a tire radial direction along at least one of an edge portion and a corner portion of the recessed portion and communicating with the fitting surface.

A tire 22 includes a pair of bead portions 66 to be fitted to a rim R. Each bead portion 66 includes a bead 30 having a core 52 and an apex 54. An outer surface 68 of the bead portion 66 includes a seat face 70 and a flange face 72 disposed radially inward and axially outward, respectively, of the bead 30, a heel face 74 disposed between the seat face 70 and the flange face 72, and a plurality of vent lines 78 projecting from the heel face 74 and extending in the circumferential direction. A contour of the heel face 74 is represented by an arc on a cross-section, of the tire 22, taken along a plane including a rotation axis of the tire 22, and a radius Rh of the arc is not less than 8 mm and not greater than 15 mm.

An advanced tire mold has been developed which offers the advantages of reducing the level of whiskers on the surface of the tire, reduces sticking to the mold, and which facilitates enhanced gas removal. This tire mold includes a mold segment having an inner side for contacting the uncured tire, an outer side opposite to the inner side, and a plurality of vent passages which allow gas to pass from the inner side of the mold segment to the outer side of the mold segment, the vent passages comprising vent slots, wherein each vent slots have an inlet at the inner side of the mold segment, and wherein the vent slots taper from the inlets to the outer side of the mold segment. This tire mold can be comprised of multiple mold segments which can be utilized in a tire curing press.

A vent plug is mounted in a vent hole open in a molding face of a tire cure mold. The vent plug has a cylindrical housing having a vent path in itself, a stem that is inserted into the housing and serves as a valve element for opening and closing the vent path, and a coil-shaped spring that biases the stem toward a cavity so as to open the vent path. The vent path includes an outer inlet portion open in an annular shape between a valve seat provided to the housing and a head portion of the stem that comes in contact with the valve seat, and an inner inlet portion open in an annular shape on an inner side of the outer inlet portion.

A tire mold comprising a tread mold portion divided into mold segments having transverse edges which are movable between (i) an opened position, wherein the mold segments are spaced apart, and (ii) a closed position, wherein neighboring mold segments are in contact with each other, each of the mold segments comprising blades; wherein at least a first one of the mold segments has laterally extending blades located at a first transverse edge, wherein at least a second neighboring one of the mold segments has laterally extending blades located at a second transverse edge adjacent to the first transverse edge of the first one of said the mold segments, and when in the closed position said the laterally extending blades of the first one of the mold segments interlock between the laterally extending blades of the second one of said the mold segments.

A vent plug is mounted in a vent hole open in a molding face of a tire cure mold. The vent plug has a cylindrical housing having a vent path in itself, a stem that is inserted into the housing and serves as a valve element for opening and closing the vent path, and a coil-shaped spring that biases the stem toward a cavity so as to open the vent path. The stem includes a columnar trunk portion and a head portion that comes in contact with a valve seat at an opening portion of the housing to thereby close the vent path. The stem turns as the stem moves along an axial direction.

The vent valve (10) for venting bores of vulcanization molds, which includes the sleeve (1), with the inner cylindrical hollow (1.1), ended with the valve conical hole (1.2) and the cylindrical hole (1.4) along the sides, whereas the sleeve (1) may be inserted into the vulcanization mold hole, the pin (2), movably located on the spring (3) in the inner cylindrical hollow (1.1), whereas the pin (2) contains the lower cylindrical part (2.4), ended in its lower part with the lower conical part (2.4.1), and the upper conical part in the upper part (2.4.2), the upper conical part (2.4.2) is followed by the central cylindrical part (2.5), followed by the connecting cylindrical part (2.6), whereas the diameter of the central cylindrical part (2.5) is smaller than the connecting cylindrical part (2.6) as well as the lower cylindrical part (2.4). The lower cylindrical part (2.4) and the central cylindrical part (2.5) are divided into four flexible legs (2.7) to (2.10), forming the flexible collet. Four flexible legs (2.7 to 2.10) are shaped identically and partially reach the connecting cylindrical part (2.6).

A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes a side mold 14 having a side molding surface 20 for molding a side wall portion. The side mold 14 includes: a side mold body 24 having recesses 30 provided in the side molding surface 20; a side piece 26 fitted into the recess 30 to form a vent gap 28 with a wall surface of the recess; and a replacement piece 44 for displaying information closely fitted into a mounting hole 42 provided in the side molding surface 20 without a gap therebetween. The replacement piece 44 is provided in the side piece 26 or in the side mold body 24 so as not to span the side piece 26 and the side mold body 24.