A tire mold having moveable elements displaceable to bring the tire mold into an open or into a closed position. The mold comprises upper and lower side members; a plurality of mold segments defining a mold cavity; a vacuum device for removing gas from the mold cavity; and sealing means with closing seal members configured to cooperate with associated cooperating surfaces for sealing the mold cavity by contact with each other. The one or more closing seal members and the associated cooperating surfaces are moveable relative to each other upon displacement of the one or more moveable elements. Said one or more closing seal members are placed in a position in which they are facing their associated cooperating surfaces without contacting them both in a partial closure position of the tire mold and in the closed position of the tire mold when the vacuum device is not activated.

A gas flow can be provided together with a liquid jet guided laser beam to remove accumulated liquid on the processing surface. The gas flow can be configured to have minimum interference with the liquid jet guided laser beam, while functions to blow away liquid generated by the liquid jet. Keeping the surface free from accumulated liquid can improve the efficiency of the liquid jet guided laser processing.

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.

A bead ring for a tire mold includes a plurality of concentric rings, wherein at least two adjacent concentric rings form an interface having a circumferential seam. The circumferential seam is configured to receive airflow from an interior of the tire mold, and the circumferential seam is in fluid communication with an air chamber located radially exterior of the circumferential seam.

A tire (20) comprises a sidewall (21) and an attachment bead (23) extending the said sidewall (21) and designed to be attached to a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle. A mould (10) for vulcanizing a tire comprises a lateral part (12) designed to mould the sidewall (21) of the tire and a lower part 13 designed to mould the attachment bead (23). The lateral part 12 and the lower part 13 at least partially delimit a tire receiving space (E) designed to receive the tire that is to be vulcanized in the mould (10). The mould comprises a slot (16) extending the tire receiving space (E) and the slot (16) is at least partially moulded by the lower part 13 of the mould (10).

A bead ring for a tire mold includes a plurality of concentric rings, wherein at least two adjacent concentric rings form an interface having a circumferential seam. The circumferential seam is configured to receive airflow from an interior of the tire mold, and the circumferential seam is in fluid communication with an air chamber located radially exterior of the circumferential seam.

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 a plurality of recesses 30 provided at intervals in a tire circumferential direction; a plurality of side pieces 26 fitted into the recesses 30 and forming an annular side molding surface 20 together with the side mold body 24; and a plurality of vent gaps 28 provided between side surfaces 26A on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the side pieces 26 and wall surfaces 30A of the recesses 30. An inner end 26E in a tire radial direction of the side piece 26 is positioned inwardly in the tire radial direction from an inner end 20E in the tire radial direction of the side molding surface 20.

A tire (20) comprises a sidewall (21) and an attachment bead (23) extending the said sidewall (21) and designed to be attached to a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle. A mould (10) for vulcanizing a tire comprises a lateral part (12) designed to mould the sidewall (21) of the tire and a lower part 13 designed to mould the attachment bead (23). The lateral part 12 and the lower part 13 at least partially delimit a tire receiving space (E) designed to receive the tire that is to be vulcanized in the mould (10). The mould comprises a slot (16) extending the tire receiving space (E) and the slot (16) is at least partially moulded by the lower part 13 of the mould (10).

A gas flow can be provided together with a liquid jet guided laser beam to remove accumulated liquid on the processing surface. The gas flow can be configured to have minimum interference with the liquid jet guided laser beam, while functions to blow away liquid generated by the liquid jet. Keeping the surface free from accumulated liquid can improve the efficiency of the liquid jet guided laser processing.

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 a plurality of recesses 30 provided at intervals in a tire circumferential direction; a plurality of side pieces 26 fitted into the recesses 30 and forming an annular side molding surface 20 together with the side mold body 24; and a plurality of vent gaps 28 provided between side surfaces 26A on both sides in the tire circumferential direction of the side pieces 26 and wall surfaces 30A of the recesses 30. An inner end 26E in a tire radial direction of the side piece 26 is positioned inwardly in the tire radial direction from an inner end 20E in the tire radial direction of the side molding surface 20.