BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a blade holder, a cutting device comprising said blade holder and a method for adj usting an orientation of a cutting blade held .

Figure 5 shows a known cutting device 200 for cutting an elastomeric profile to form a tire component . The cutting device 200 comprises a cutting blade 9 and a blade holder 201 for moving the cutting blade 9 along a cutting line L in a cutting direction C parallel to a support plane V. The cutting blade 9 is provided with a straight cutting edge 91 for cutting through the elastomeric profile at said support plane V . The known blade holder 201 allows for adj ustment of the orientation and the relative position of the cutting blade 9 with respect to the support plane V. In particular, the cutting blade 9 is rotatable about a horizontal axis A201 to adj ust a skive angle of the cutting blade 9, about a vertical axis A202 to adj ust an angle of attack of the straight cutting edge 91 , and about a tilt axis A203 at the center line S of the cutting blade 9 to adj ust an inclination angle of the cutting edge 91 . Moreover, the cutting blade 9 can be displaced linearly along a combination of two of the axes F, G to adj ust the height and depth of the cutting edge 91 with respect to the support plane V .

Prior to cutting, the orientation and the relative position of the cutting blade 9 with respect to the support plane V is carefully adj usted such that the cutting edge 91 of the cutting blade 9, at a leading tip 92 thereof , intersects with the cutting line L at the desired skive angle , angle of attack and inclination angle .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disadvantage of the known blade holder 201 in figure 5 is that the aforementioned axes for adj ustment of the skive angle, the angle of attack and the cutting edge inclination angle do not have a common point of intersection . Moreover, each of the axes A201 , A202 , A203 is spaced apart from the leading tip 92 of the cutting edge 91 . Assuming that the leading tip 92 of the cutting edge 91 is aligned perfectly with the cutting line L prior to adj ustment, each subsequent angular adj ustment of the cutting blade 9 about any of the axes A201 , A202 , A203 causes a displacement of the leading tip 92 away from its initial alignment with the cutting line L . Consequently, once the desired skive angle , angle of attack and inclination angle have been set , further corrective adj ustment of both the height position and the horizontal position of the cutting edge 91 is required to correct for the displacements caused by the angular adj ustments . The further corrective adj ustment may also have an effect on the accuracy of the angles that have already been set, resulting in inaccurate cutting and requiring additional verifications or corrective adj ustments .

As a result , the process of adj usting the orientation and relative position of the cutting blade 9 with respect to the support plane V can be very complex and time consuming .

It is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a blade holder, a cutting device comprising said blade holder and a method for adj usting an orientation of a cutting blade , wherein the process of adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade can be simpli fied . According to a first aspect , the invention provides a blade holder for holding a cutting blade relative to a cutting line, wherein the blade holder is configured for holding the cutting blade such that a cutting edge of said cutting blade obliquely intersects with the cutting line at an incision point, wherein the blade holder mechanically defines a first adj ustment axis for angular adj ustment of an orientation of the cutting blade about said first adj ustment axis , wherein the first adj ustment axis intersects with the incision point .

By aligning the first adj ustment axis with the incision point, the intersection between the cutting edge and the cutting line at the incision point can be continuously maintained while angularly adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade about said first adj ustment axis . Hence , no corrective adj ustments in any other degrees of freedom of the cutting blade are required after the angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about said first adj ustment axis . The process of adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade can therefore be simpli fied significantly, is less time consuming and less prone to inaccuracies .

In one embodiment the blade holder mechanically defines a second adj ustment axis for angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about said second adj ustment axis , wherein the second adj ustment axis intersects with the incision point . By aligning both the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis with the incision point, the intersection between the cutting edge and the cutting line at the incision point can be continuously maintained while angularly adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade about both said first adj ustment axis and said second adj ustment axis . This has all the technical advantages as mentioned before and the additional technical advantage that angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about one of the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis does not influence a previously set orientation of the cutting blade about the other of the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis . In other words , the orientation of the cutting blade can be set about each adj ustment axis individually, without af fecting the accuracy of the orientation of the cutting blade about the other adj ustment axis . Hence, once the orientation of the cutting blade about one of the adj ustment axes has been set and fixed, it does not need to be checked again for accuracy or corrective actions .

Preferably, the blade holder mechanically defines a third adj ustment axis for angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about said third adj ustment axis , wherein the third adj ustment axis intersects with the incision point . By aligning all three adj ustment axes with the incision point, the intersection between the cutting edge and the cutting line at the incision point can be continuously maintained while angularly adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade about any of the three adj ustment axes . This has all the technical advantages as mentioned before and the additional technical advantage that angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about any of the three adj ustment axes does not influence a previously set orientations of the cutting blade about the other two adj ustment axes .

In another embodiment the first adj ustment axis extends in one of a hori zontal direction, a vertical direction or an oblique direction . An angular adj ustment about the first adj ustment axis extending in a horizontal direction may be used to set a first angle corresponding or related to a skive angle . An angular adj ustment about the first adj ustment axis extending in a vertical direction may be used to set a second angle corresponding or related to an angle of attack . An angular adj ustment about the first adj ustment axis extending in an oblique direction may be used to set a third angle corresponding or related to an edge inclination angle .

In another embodiment, dependent on the embodiment that introduced the second adj ustment axis , the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis extend in respective ones of a horizontal direction, a vertical direction and an oblique direction . It will be understood that any combination of the aforementioned directions for the respective adj ustment axes may be used to set any combination of the angles described in the previous embodiment .

In another embodiment, dependent on the embodiment that introduced the third adj ustment axis , the first adj ustment axis extends in a horizontal direction, the second adj ustment axis extends in a vertical direction and the third adj ustment axis extends in an oblique direction . It will be understood that any combination of the aforementioned directions for the respective adj ustment axes may be used to set any combination of the angles described in the previous two embodiments .

In another embodiment the cutting edge defines a straight edge profile , wherein the cutting blade has a blade body with a center line perpendicular to the edge profile, wherein the first adj ustment axis extends in one of : a hori zontal direction in an edge plane coincident with the edge profile and perpendicular to the center line ; a vertical direction; and a direction parallel to the center line .

In another embodiment, dependent on the embodiment that introduced the second adj ustment axis , the cutting edge defines a straight edge profile, wherein the cutting blade has a blade body with a center line perpendicular to the edge profile, wherein the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis extend in respective ones of : a hori zontal direction in an edge plane coincident with the edge profile and perpendicular to the center line ; a vertical direction; and a direction parallel to the center line .

In another embodiment, dependent on the embodiment that introduced the third adj ustment axis , the cutting edge defines a straight edge profile, wherein the cutting blade has a blade body with a center line perpendicular to the edge profile, wherein : the first adj ustment axis extends in a horizontal direction in an edge plane coincident with the edge profile and perpendicular to the center line ; the second adj ustment axis extends a vertical direction; and the third adj ustment axis extends in a direction parallel to the center line .

The three embodiments above describe , for an increasing number of adj ustment axes , more specifically the directions in which the respective adj ustment axes extend, corresponding to the angles ( the skive angle , the angle of attack and the edge inclination angle ) previously mentioned in relation to said directions .

In another embodiment the adj ustment of the orientation of cutting blade about the first adj ustment axis determines one of a skive angle , an angle of attack and an edge inclination angle .

In another embodiment, dependent on the embodiment that introduced the second adj ustment axis , the adj ustment of the orientation of cutting blade about the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis determine respective ones of a skive angle, an angle of attack and an edge inclination angle .

In another embodiment, dependent on the embodiment that introduced the third adj ustment axis , the adj ustment of the orientation of cutting blade about the first adj ustment axis , the second adj ustment axis and the third adj ustment axis determine a skive angle, an angle of attack and an edge inclination angle, respectively.

The three embodiments above describe, for an increasing number of adjustment axes, more specifically the angles of the orientation of the cutting blade which can be adjusted using the blade holder according to the present invention .

In another embodiment the blade holder comprises one or more angular adjustment guides for guiding the angular adjustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about at least the first adjustment axis. The one or more adjustment guides can be used to mechanically guide the angular adjustment about the respective adjustment axes. The one or more adjustment guides may for example be formed by slots, pins, rails, shafts, linkages, guide shoes, gears and the like.

In one embodiment thereof the one or more angular adjustment guides extend physically at least at the first adjustment axis. This can be done when presence of the one or more angular adjustment guides at the first adjustment axis does not interfere with the cutting process.

Alternatively, the one or more angular adjustment guides are spaced apart from at least the first adjustment axis. Hence, the rotation about the first adjustment axis can be obtained in a virtual manner. This may be convenient when there is no way of providing the one or more angular adjustment guides at the first adjustment axis because of interference with the cutting process. This is particularly true when the first adjustment axis extends in a support plane that includes the cutting line.

In a further embodiment the blade holder comprises one or more holder members which are interconnected using the one or more angular adjustment guides so as to be movable with respect to each other about at least the first adjustment axis, wherein one holder member of the one or more holder members is configured for carrying the cutting blade. Hence, the holder members can form a chain of articulating segments to provide the cutting blade with a degree of freedom to rotate about at least the first adj ustment axis .

In another embodiment the blade holder comprises a height adj ustment section for linearly adj usting a height of the cutting blade relative to the cutting line in a height direction . Depending on the configuration and/or dimensions of the cutting blade, the height of the cutting blade can be linearly adj usted to make sure that the incision point is coincident with and/or located in a support plane that includes the cutting line .

In another embodiment the blade holder comprises one or more instruments for reading one or more angles adj usted by the angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade . Preferably, the one or more instruments comprises at least one protractor . Hence , the relevant angles of the orientation of the cutting blade can be checked, adj usted and/or set visually .

According to a second aspect , the invention provides a blade holder for holding a cutting blade relative to a cutting line , wherein the blade holder mechanically defines a first adj ustment axis and a second adj ustment axis for angular adj ustment of an orientation of the cutting blade about said first adj ustment axis and said second adj ustment axis , respectively, wherein the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis intersect with an incision point , common to both the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis , at the cutting line .

By aligning both the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis with the same incision point, a leading tip of the cutting blade can be continuously maintained at said incision point while angularly adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade about both said first adj ustment axis and said second adj ustment axis . This has all the technical advantages as mentioned before in relation to the first aspect of the invention and the additional technical advantage that angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about one of the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis does not influence a previously set orientation of the cutting blade about the other of the first adj ustment axis and the second adj ustment axis . In other words , the orientation of the cutting blade can be set about each adj ustment axis individually, without af fecting the accuracy of the orientation of the cutting blade about the other adj ustment axis . Hence, once the orientation of the cutting blade about one of the adj ustment axes has been set and fixed, it does not need to be checked again for accuracy or corrective actions .

In an embodiment thereof , the blade holder mechanically defines a third adj ustment axis for angular adj ustment of an orientation of the cutting blade about said third adj ustment axis , wherein the third adj ustment axis intersects with the incision point, common to the first adj ustment axis , the second adj ustment axis and the third adj ustment axis , at the cutting line . By aligning all three adj ustment axes with the same incision point at the cutting line, the orientation of the cutting blade about any of the three adj ustment axes does not influence a previously set orientations of the cutting blade about the other two adj ustment axes .

It will be understood that the blade holder according to the second aspect of the invention may be combined with any of the features described in the embodiments of the blade holder according to the first aspect of the invention, applied individually where possible .

According to a third aspect , the invention provides a cutting device comprising the blade holder according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention and a cutting blade held by said blade holder, wherein the cutting blade has a cutting edge that define an edge profile that intersects with the cutting line at the incision point .

The cutting device according to the third aspect of the invention includes the blade holder according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention and thus has the same technical advantages , which will not be repeated hereafter .

In one embodiment of the cutting device the cutting edge terminates with a leading tip at the incision point .

In another embodiment of the cutting device the cutting blade is configured for ultrasonic cutting .

According to a fourth aspect , the invention provides a method for adj usting an orientation of a cutting blade using the blade holder according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention, wherein the method comprises the step of : angularly adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade about the first adj ustment axis .

The method according to the fourth aspect of the invention relates to the practical implementation of the blade holder according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention and thus has the same technical advantages , which will not be repeated hereafter .

In one embodiment the blade holder mechanically defines a second adj ustment axis for angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about said second adj ustment axis , wherein the second adj ustment axis intersects with the incision point , wherein the method further comprises the step of : angularly adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade about the second adj ustment axis .

In another embodiment the blade holder mechanically defines a third adj ustment axis for angular adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade about said third adj ustment axis , wherein the third adj ustment axis intersects with the incision point, wherein the method further comprises the step of : angularly adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade about the third adj ustment axis . In another embodiment the method further comprises the step of : linearly adj usting a height of the cutting blade relative to the cutting line in a height direction .

In another embodiment the cutting blade is configured for ultrasonic cutting . An ultrasonic cutting blade, also known as a ' sonotrode ' , is configured for slicing through a material , such as a tire component , while moving in a fixed orientation in a linear manner along a cutting line . Hence , the movement of the cutting blade is cross-cutting movement, in contrast to a guillotine movement used in other known, non-ultrasonic cutting processes .

In another embodiment the method comprises the step of : cutting one or more tire components to length using the cutting blade . When cutting tire components , the orientation of the cutting blade has to be changed regularly, for example, in response to a changeover to a dif ferent tire configuration . Hence , applying the blade holder according to the present invention in the field of tire building has the technical advantage that the adj ustment of the orientation of the cutting blade is considerably less complex, less time consuming, more accurate and less prone to errors .

The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible . These individual aspects , in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims , can be made subj ect of divisional patent applications .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached schematic drawings , in which : figure 1 shows a side view of a cutting device with a blade holder and a cutting blade for cutting a tire component according to the invention; figure 2 shows a view of the cutting blade according to figure 1 perpendicular to a first adj ustment axis ; figure 3 shows a view of the cutting blade according to figure 1 perpendicular to a second adj ustment axis ; figure 4 shows a view of the cutting blade according to figure 1 perpendicular to a third adj ustment axis ; and figure 5 shows a side view of a known cutting device according to the prior art .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a cutting device 100 for cutting a tire component (not shown) . The tire component may for example be a liner, a sidewall , a body ply or a combination thereof , the latter also known as a 'pre-assembly' . The cutting device 100 is used to cut the tire component to a suitable length for application around a tire building drum downstream of the cutting device 100 .

The cutting device 100 comprises a shearing blade or a cutting blade 9 . The cutting blade 9 has a blade body 90 with a shearing edge or cutting edge 91 . The cutting edge 91 extends along, is coincident with and/or defines an edge line or edge profile E . In this example, the cutting edge 91 and/or the edge profile E is flat or straight . Alternatively, the cutting edge and/or the edge profile may be curved, non-linear or a combination thereof . The cutting blade 9 is configured for slicing through the tire component while moving in a fixed or stationary orientation in a linear manner along a cutting line L . Hence, the movement of the cutting blade 9 is cross-cutting movement , in contrast to a guillotine movement used in other known cutting processes . The cutting blade 9 is arranged to be held with its cutting edge 91 extending in an oblique orientation to the cutting line L . As such, the cutting edge 91 , at one of its ends - hereafter referred to as the ' leading tip' 92 - cuts first into the tire component with the rest of the cutting edge 91 progressively slicing into the tire component as the cutting blade 9 is moved along the cutting line L .

In this example , the cutting blade 9 is arranged for ultrasonic cutting, and may therefore be considered a ' sonotrode' or an 'ultrasonic blade ' . The blade body 90 has a center line S extending perpendicular to the cutting edge 91 and/or the edge profile E . In this example, the blade body 90 is symmetrical or substantially symmetrical about the center line S in at least one direction perpendicular to said center line S . More in particular, the blade body 90 has a wedge shaped cross section symmetrical to the center line S .

The cutting device 100 further comprises a transducer or converter 81 for converting alternating current into a vibration that is transmitted onto the cutting blade 9. The cutting device 100 is provided with a mounting member 82 , known as a 'booster' , that connects the blade body 90 to the converter 81 and that increases or 'boosts ' the amplitude of the vibrations .

The cutting device 100 further comprises a blade holder 1 for holding the cutting blade 9 relative to the cutting line L . In this example, the cutting device 100 also comprises a cutting guide 101 , such as a rail or a beam, for supporting the blade holder 1 . In particular, the cutting guide 101 extends parallel to the cutting line L and the blade holder 1 is movable in a cutting direction C along the cutting guide 101 parallel to said cutting line L .

The cutting device 100 is further provided with a cutting a cutting bar or an anvil 102 opposite to the cutting blade 9 for supporting the tire component in a support plane V along the cutting line L. The anvil 102 and the cutting blade 9 cooperate to cut the tire component along the cutting line L.

The blade holder 1 is configured such that, when the cutting blade 9 is fitted to and/or held by said blade holder 1, the cutting edge 91 of the cutting blade 9 obliquely intersects with the cutting line L at an incision point P. In particular, the incision point P is located at the intersection between the cutting edge 91 and the cutting line L. More in particular, the incision point P is located at the leading tip 92 of the cutting edge 91, i.e. at the position where the cutting edge 91 first cuts or makes its first incision in the tire component when moving in the cutting direction C along the cutting line L.

As further shown in figure 1, the blade holder 1 defines three adjustment axes Al, A2, A3 for angular adjustment of the orientation of the cutting blade 9 relative to the support plane V and/or the cutting line L.

In the description hereafter, the three adjustment axes Al, A2, A3 are specifically defined as the 'first adjustment axis' with reference to numeral Al, the 'second adjustment axis' with reference to numeral A2 and the 'third adjustment axis' with reference to numeral A3. However, it is noted that, in the context of the claims, the ordinal numbers 'first' , 'second' and 'third' are used interchangeably for each of the adjustment axes Al, A2, A3. Hence, in the claims, unless specified otherwise, the 'first' adjustment axis may relate to each of the adjustment axes Al, A2, A3 and the 'first' and 'second' adjustment axes may relate to any combination of two of the three adjustment axes Al, A2, A3.

To clearly define the adjustment axes Al, A2, A3, figure 1 schematically shows a coordinate system of a first orthogonal axis X, a second orthogonal axis Y and a third orthogonal axis Z that together defining a three dimensional space . The support plane V extends in a plane defined by the first orthogonal axis X and the second orthogonal axis Y . In this example , the first orthogonal axis X and the second orthogonal axis Y are both horizontal or substantially horizontal . Likewise, the support plane V extends horizontally or substantially hori zontally . The first orthogonal axis X extends parallel to the cutting direction C and the second orthogonal axis Y extends perpendicular to the cutting direction C . The third orthogonal axis Z extends perpendicular to the first orthogonal axis X and the second orthogonal axis Y, and therefore perpendicular to the support plane V . In this example, the third orthogonal axis Z extends vertically or substantially vertically .

As shown in figures 1 and 2 , the first adj ustment axis Al extends in or parallel to the support plane V. In particular, the first adj ustment axis Al extends at an intersection between the support plane V and an edge plane W coincident with the edge profile L and perpendicular to the center line S of the cutting body 90 . In this example, the first adj ustment axis Al extends hori zontally or substantially horizontally . The cutting blade 9 is held by the blade holder 1 such that the center line S of the blade body 90 extends at a first angle Hl to the support plane V about said first adj ustment axis Al . The first angle Hl may also be referred to as or related to a ' skive angle' . In the example as shown, the first angle Hl is non-right or oblique .

As shown in figures 1 and 3 , the second adj ustment axis A2 extends perpendicular to the support plane V and/or parallel to the third orthogonal axis Z . In this example, the second adj ustment axis A2 extends vertically or substantially vertically . The cutting blade 9 is held by the blade holder 1 such that the cutting edge 91 and/or the edge profile E extends at a second angle H2 to the cutting line L about said second adj ustment axis A2 . The second angle H2 may also be referred to as or related to an 'angle of attack' . In the example as shown, the second angle H2 is non-right or oblique.

As shown in figures 1 and 4, the third adjustment axis A3 extends parallel to the center axis S of the blade body 90 and/or perpendicular to the edge plane W. The cutting blade 9 is held by the blade holder 1 such that the cutting edge 91 and/or the edge profile E extends at a third angle H3 to the support plane V about the third adjustment axis A3. The third angle H3 may also be referred to as or related to an 'edge inclination angle' . In the example as shown, the third angle Hl is non-right or oblique .

The aforementioned adjustment axes Al, A2, A3 are each defined mechanically by the blade holder 1, meaning that the blade holder 1, for each adjustment axis Al, A2, A3, has one or more structural components that mechanically predefine or predetermine the movement of the cutting blade 9 about the respective adjustment axis Al, A2, A3. In other words, the movement of the cutting blade 9 about each of the adjustment axes Al, A3, A3 is a mechanically restricted to said movement rather a mechanically unrestricted, numerically controlled and/or complex movement about multiple degrees of freedom.

Moreover, note that, as best seen in figure 1, the blade holder 1 is mechanically configured such that at least one of the three adjustment axes Al, A2, A3 intersects with the incision point P. In this example, all three adjustment axes Al, A2, A3, intersect with the incision point P. In other words, all three adjustment axes Al, A2, A3 pass through the same incision point P. As mentioned before, the incision point P corresponds to the location of the leading tip 92 of the cutting edge 91 when the cutting blade 9 is fitted to the blade holder 1.

As such, the orientation of the cutting blade 9 can be adjusted about any one of the three adjustment axes Al, A2, A3 individually without said individual adjustment affecting orientation of the cutting blade 9 about the other of the three adj ustment axes Al , A2 , A3 . In other words , when adj usting one of the aforementioned angles Hl ,

H2 , H3 , the other angles Hl , H2 , H3 can remain the same .

Hence, each angle Hl , H2 , H3 can be adj usted individually and in a reliable manner without requiring correction to any of the other angles Hl , H2 , H3 as a result of said individual adj ustment .

The structural components of the blade holder 1 responsible for mechanically defining the aforementioned adj ustment axes Al , A2 , A3 will be discussed hereafter in more detail with reference to figure 1 .

As shown in figure 1 , the blade holder 1 comprises a base 10 that is connected to, carried by and/or movable along the cutting guide 101 . The blade holder 1 further comprises a first holder member 2 that is rotatable relative to the base 10 about the second adj ustment axis A2 . In particular, the first holder member 2 comprises a first holder body 20 and a first angular adj ustment guide, in this example in the form of a physical angular adj ustment shaft 21 , extending at the second adj ustment axis A2 for rotatably connecting the first holder body 20 to the base 10 about said second adj ustment axis A2 . The base 10 is provided with a rotary bearing for receiving the angular adj ustment shaft 21 and facilitating said rotation . Alternatively, the angular adj ustment shaft 21 may be provided at the base 10 and the rotary bearing may be provided at the first holder member 2 . A suitable fastener, clamp or fixation member (not shown) may be provided at or between the first holder member 2 and the base 10 to releasably fixate the angular orientation of the first holder member 2 about the second adj ustment axis A2 .

In this exemplary embodiment, the first holder body 20 also comprises a height adj ustment section 22 with two height adj ustment slots 23 , 24 extending in a height direction F . In this example, the height direction F is vertical and/or parallel to the third orthogonal axis Z .

The blade holder 1 further comprises a second holder member 3 that is movable relative to the first holder member 2 in the height direction F to adj ust the height of the cutting blade 9 relative to the anvil 102 , the support plane V and/or the cutting line L . In particular, the second holder member 3 comprises a second holder body 30 and two height adj ustment bolts 33 , 34 connected to said second holder body 30 and slidably engaged with the respective height adj ustment slots 23 , 24 at the height adj ustment section 22 of the first holder body 20 for facilitating the aforementioned height adj ustment in the height direction F . The height adj ustment bolts 33 , 34 are fastened and/or tightened to releasably fixate the second holder body 30 relative to the first holder body 20 in the height direction F at a desired height position .

As further shown in figure 1 , the second holder member 3 is provided with a second angular adj ustment guide, in this example comprising two angular adj ustment slots 31 , 32 . In this example, the angular adj ustment slots 31 , 32 extend arcuately, coinciding with an arc G that is concentric to the first adj ustment axis Al .

The blade holder 1 further comprises a third holder member 4 that is rotatable relative to the second holder member 3 about the first adj ustment axis Al . In particular, the third holder member 4 comprises a third holder body 40 and two angular adj ustment bolts 41 , 42 connected to said third holder body 40 and slidably engaged with the respective angular adj ustment slots 31 , 32 at the second holder body 30 for facilitating the aforementioned angular adj ustment about the first adj ustment axis Al . The angular adj ustment bolts 41 , 42 are fastened and/or tightened to releasably fixate the third holder body 40 relative to the second holder body 30 about the first adj ustment axis Al at the desired value or magnitude of the first angle Hl .

The third holder member 4 is further provided with a third angular adj ustment guide, in this example in the form of a physical angular adj ustment shaft 43 , extending at the third adj ustment axis A3 .

The blade holder 1 further comprises a fourth holder member 5 that is rotatable relative to the third holder member 4 about the third adj ustment axis A3 . In particular, the fourth holder member 5 is provided with a clamping section 51 for receiving and for rotatably connecting to the angular adj ustment shaft 43 of the third holder member 4 .

In this example, the clamping section 51 comprises a slit 52 that divides the fourth holder body 50 into two clamping j aws 53 , 54 which can be moved towards each other to clampingly fixate the fourth holder body 50 on the angular adj ustment shaft 43 at the desired value or magnitude of the third angle H3 . More specifically, fixation bolts 55 are provided that can be fastened or tightened to move the two clamping j aws 53 , 54 towards each other to fixate the third angle H3 and loosened to release the fixation and adj ust the third angle H3 .

The fourth holder member 5 holds , carries or supports the cutting blade 9. In particular, the converter 81 is fitted to, received or mounted at or in the fourth holder body 50 . The cutting blade 9 and the fourth holder member 5 are thus configured to rotate about the third adj ustment axis A3 as one or in unison . In other words , the orientation of the cutting blade 9 with respect to the fourth holder member 5 about the third adj ustment axis A3 remains the same .

In this example, the mounting member 82 connects to the cutting blade 9 at the center line S of the blade body 90 . Hence , in order to have the third adj ustment axis A3 intersecting with the incision point P at the leading tip 92 of the cutting blade 9 , the mounting member 82 is positioned relative to the fourth holder member 5 such that the center line S is parallel to, yet of fset from the third adj ustment axis A3 over an offset distance D that is equal to half of the width of the blade body 90 and/or hal f of the length of the cutting edge 91 . The mounting member 82 is fixed against rotation relative to the fourth holder member 5 about the center line S and thus rotates together with said fourth holder member 5 about the third adj ustment axis A3 .

The blade holder 1 may optionally be provided with an angular scale or a protractor 61 displaying a range of degrees and an indicator 62 for indicating the angular orientation of one of the holder members 2 , 4 , 5 relative to said protractor 61 . In this example , the protractor 61 is provided on the fourth holder body 50 and the indicator 62 is provided on the angular adj ustment shaft 51 for reading the third angle H3 .

In summary, the holder members 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 as described above together form a chain of interconnected, articulating segments that provide the cutting blade 9 , supported by the fourth holder member 5, with the degree of freedom to rotate about the respective adj ustment axes Al , A2 , A3 , relative to the base 10 .

Note that in this exemplary embodiment, the angular adj ustment guides of the first holder member 2 and the fourth holder member 5 are formed by shafts 21 , 51 physically extending at or coinciding with the respective adj ustment axes A2 , A3 . In contrast , the third holder member 4 does not rotate about a physical shaft . Instead, the rotation of the third holder member 4 about the first adj ustment axis Al is obtained virtually, by providing the third angular adj ustment guide at a position spaced apart from said first adj ustment axis Al .

It will however be appreciated that the rotation of the first holder member 2 and the fourth holder member 5 about their respective adj ustment axes A2 , A3 may alternatively be obtained virtually in a way similar to the third holder member 4 . Similarly, the third holder member 4 may alternatively be rotated about a shaft extending physically at or coinciding with the first adj ustment axis Al , provided that said physical shaft does not interfere with the cutting process of the cutting device 100 .

It will further be understood that many alternative mechanical solutions may be provided to the angular adj ustment guides as shown, including but not limited to : slots , pins , rails , shafts , linkages , guide shoes , gears , and the like .

A method for adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade 9 using the aforementioned blade holder 1 and/or cutting device 100 will now be briefly elucidated with reference to figures 1-4 .

To prepare for cutting, the cutting blade 9 is fitted, mounted or provided at the blade holder 1 . The cutting blade 9 is positioned relative to and/or held by said blade holder 1 in such a way that the leading tip 92 of the cutting edge 91 is coincident with or located at the incision point P . Depending on the configuration and/or dimensions of the cutting blade 9, the position of the first holder member 2 relative to the base 10 may be linearly adj usted in the height direction F to make sure that the incision point P is coincident with and/or located in the support plane V, in particular at the cutting line L within said support plane V .

When the cutting blade 9 is fitted, the method comprises the step of angularly adj usting the orientation of the cutting blade 9 about one or more of the adj ustment axes Al , A2 , A3 , depending on the desired orientation of the cutting blade 9 in the cutting process for which the cutting device 1 is being prepared or configured .

When the cutting blade 9 is in the desired orientation, the cutting process may be initiated . As mentioned earlier, in this example, the cutting blade 9 is configured for ultrasonic cutting . During the cutting process , the cutting blade 9 cuts one or more tire components to length using the cutting blade 9 .

It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention . From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention .

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 blade holder

10 base

11 rotary bearing

2 first holder member

20 first holder body

21 angular adj ustment shaft

22 height adj ustment section

23 first height adj ustment slot

24 second height adj ustment slot

3 second holder member

30 second holder body

31 first angular adj ustment slot

32 second angular adj ustment slot

33 first height adj ustment bolt

34 second height adj ustment bolt

4 third holder member

40 third holder body

41 first angular adj ustment bolt

42 second angular adj ustment bolt

43 angular adj ustment shaft

5 fourth holder member

50 fourth holder body

51 clamping section

52 slit

53 first clamping j aw

54 second clamping j aw

55 fixation bolt

61 protractor

62 angle indicator

81 converter 82 mounting member

9 cutting blade

90 blade body

91 cutting edge

92 leading tip

100 cutting device

101 cutting guide

102 anvil

200 known cutting device

201 known blade holder

Al first adj ustment axis

A2 second adj ustment axis

A3 third adj ustment axis

A201 known first adj ustment axis

A202 known second adj ustment axis

A203 known second adj ustment axis

C cutting direction

D offset distance

E edge profile

F height direction

G depth direction

Hl first angle

H2 second angle

H3 third angle

K arc

L cutting line

P incision point

S center line

V support plane

W edge plane

X first orthogonal axis

Y second orthogonal axis

Z third orthogonal axis