Abstract: Making a tire mold having a plurality of complete tire mold segments (20) of epoxy resin mold material formed in the chambers (18) of segmental shoes (10) and having reinforced stand alone ribs (56) formed in recesses in the tread models mounted in the shoes. The shoes (10) and models (50) are reusable and have standard shoe split diameters and chord lengths to reduce the time necessary to make the molds. The models (50) are of resilient material and are also reusable.

Abstract: Changing the contour of a recess (12) in a body of solid material to a revised contour wherein a pattern (24) is made having the revised contour and this pattern is placed in the recess with a curable plastic material (31). After the curable plastic material is hardened, the pattern is removed providing the revised contour (30) of the recess. The body of solid material can be a flow channel block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and applying a strip component (11) such as a tire tread is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing the strip component on a belt conveyer (16), determining a guideline (52) of the strip component (11) at an exit end (20) of the belt conveyor (16), and laterally adjusting the exist end (20) of the belt conveyor (16) to align the guideline (52) of the strip component (11) with a predetermined guideline such as the guideline of a tire building drum (12). The apparatus includes a belt support transverse housing (76) which is laterally moveable by a motion controller (64) in response to a sensor (58) which detects the guideline (52) of the strip component (11). Guides on the transverse housing (76) move the belts of the conveyor (16) on slider plates without physically touching the conveyed strip component (11), thereby preventing damage to the component material.

Abstract: A multiple insert tire mold (10) has inserts (26) with radially extending ribs (28) for sliding engagement in a slot (22) in the outer ring back (12) of the mold and abutting surfaces (48) for venting exhaust gases from the mold (10).

Abstract: Tread guides (24, 26, 28) supported on a frame (16) over a conveyor (10) have rollers (28) for engaging edges of the tread (14) an the conveyor and a constant centering force is provided by ball nuts (50, 52) in engagement with a ball screw (44) connected to a pneumatic torque applying actuator (56). Conicity adjustment (62, 66) is provided by lateral adjustment of the ball screw (44), ball nuts (50, 52) and tread guide assembly as a unit relative to the conveyor (10).