Patent ID: 7442335
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: B29C,B29D

Abstract:
1. A method comprising the steps of: providing a tire press comprising a top plate; a bottom plate; an upper tire mold operatively attached to the top plate; a bottom tire mold operatively attached to the bottom plate; a bladder mechanism; and opening/closing means for selectively opening and closing the tire press by moving the top plate substantially in a vertically aligned orientation with respect to the bottom plate; providing a green tire holder comprising a base member; a holder arm having a first end rotatably and liftably connected to the base member; and a tire tray operatively connected to the second end of the holder arm; providing a tire loader assembly comprising green tire chucks; attaching the tire loader assembly to the top plate of the tire press; placing a green tire onto the green tire chucks by rotating the holder arm to place the tire tray into a first position, placing the green tire onto the tire tray, rotating the holder arm to place the tire tray into a second position where the green tire is placed into vertical alignment with the tire loader, lifting the tire tray so that the green tire can be received by the green tire chucks, lowering the tire tray to release the green tire to the tire loader, and rotating the holder arm to return the tire tray to the first position; opening the tire press to raise the top plate, the tire loader assembly, and the green tire; moving the green tire between the vertically aligned upper and bottom tire molds with the tire loader assembly; releasing the green tire from the tire loader assembly onto the bottom tire mold; moving the tire loader assembly from between the vertically aligned upper and bottom tire molds; and closing the tire press to lower the top plate and the tire loader assembly.