Patent ID: 7896632
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An assembly and disassembly apparatus within a tire curing line for a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a cured tire, the core including a plurality of core segments extending generally radially from a central axis within a core central axial passage, the apparatus comprising: a core segment locking spindle for holding the core segments in a radially outward position in an assembled core for transportation by means of the locking spindle of the assembled core and a cured tire from station to station within a tire curing line; core delivering means for transporting by means of the locking spindle an assembled core bearing a cured tire; a base configured to receive and support the assembled core and cured tire from the core delivering means; a plurality of segment positioning devices positioned within a circumferential array in the base and spaced for operative alignment with a respective core segment of the assembled core received by the base, each segment positioning device having at least one upwardly directed pin member engaging and supporting the respective core segment, the segment positioning devices being moveably connected to the base for radial movement relative to the base, the segment positioning devices operative to sequentially move the respective core segments by the one pin members of the segment positioning devices from the assembled core position around the central axis to a radially inward position; a segment removal device operatively connecting to the core segments at the radially inward position and removing the segments one-by-one axially from within the tire to a remote position external to the cured tire.