Abstract:
A device for separating individual tires that have become entwined including a movable head for engaging at least one tire in a stack of tires, an engaging finger coupled to the movable head, and at least one manipulating apparatus for moving the engaging finger and the movable head to dislodge entwined tires.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to application Ser. No. 60/870,570 filed on Dec. 18, 2006 and also claims priority to application Ser. No. 60/870,813 filed on Dec. 19, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In order to minimize shipping and transportation costs, vehicle tires are often interwoven and stacked in order to maximize their packing density. For example, when tires are shipped from overseas, they are commonly configured into a bowl shaped frustum (i.e. in the general shape of a cone or in the shape of a partial cone). By distorting the tire into a frustum, tires can be stacked (i.e. nested) one on top of the other much like ice cream cones are commonly packaged. Although this packaging arrangement minimizes shipping costs by maximizing tire packing densities, it poses a number of problems relating to separating the tires. Specifically, the tires tend to lodge one within the other whereby they are difficult to separate. 
         [0003]    The present invention overcomes the difficulties associated with separating stacked tires and provides an apparatus and method for separating stacked tires. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a stacked tire separator of the present invention wherein three stacked tires are disposed proximate the separator; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top view taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4A  is a front elevational view of the separator of  FIG. 1  wherein the separator lifting head has been lowered; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4B  is a right side view taken along  4 B- 4 B of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5A  is a front elevational view of the tire separator of  FIG. 1  wherein the separator lifting head engaging arms have engaged one of the stacked tires; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5B  is a right side view taken along  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6A  is a front elevational view of the tire separator of  FIG. 1  wherein the separator lifting head has lifted two of the stacked tires away from the bottom-most tire; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6B  is a right side view taken along  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C are top views taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6A  showing various stages of the movement of the bottom-most tire of  FIG. 6A  as it moves away from the stacked tire separator toward the next work station; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8A  is a front elevational view of the tire separator of  FIG. 1  wherein the separator lifting head has lowered the two tires that it elevated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8B  is a right side elevational view taken substantially along lines  8 B- 8 B of  FIG. 8A . 
           [0016]      FIGS. 9A-10B  are a repeat of the cycle depicted on  FIGS. 5A-6B  wherein the bottom-most tire is separated from the tire immediately above it. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are, respectively, a front elevational view, and a top plan view of yet another embodiment of the separator of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 12A and 120B  are, respectively, front and top view of the separator of  FIG. 11A  wherein the upper lifting head is lowered between the center opening of a plurality of stacked wheels; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  is, respectively, a front and a top view of the tire separator of  FIG. 11  A wherein the lifting head extends engaging finger portions  60  of lifting head  32  and securing arms  34  extend locking fingers  62 ; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 14A and 14B  depict the tire separator of  FIG. 11A  wherein the lifting head  32  has lifted the two upper-most stacked tires away from the bottom-most tire; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  are respectively a front and a top view of the separator of  FIG. 11A  wherein the lower most, separated, tire has been removed from the separator work station and the upper two most tires have been lowered against work surface  33  to start the cycle over again; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 16A and 16B  are front elevational and top views respectively of yet another embodiment of the stacked tire separator of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 17A and 17B  depict, respectively, the separator in  FIGS. 16A and 16B  wherein the lifting head  32  is shown in a lowered position; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 18A and 18B  depict the separator embodiment shown in  FIGS. 16A and 16B  wherein the engaging finger portions of the lifting head are shown in an extended, tire engaging position; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 19A and 19B  depict the separator of  FIGS. 16A  wherein the lifting head  32  is raised thereby lifting two stacked tires away from a bottom-most tire; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 20A and 20B  depict the separator of  FIG. 16A  wherein the lifting heads had been lowered and the engaging finger portions of the lifting head have been retracted thereby placing the remaining stacked tires on top of work surface  33  and thereby readying the system for the next cycle; 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is an additional embodiment of an inflator of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is the inflator of  FIG. 21  shown in a first stage of tire inflation; 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  is the inflator of  FIG. 21  shown in a second stage of tire inflation; 
           [0030]      FIG. 24  is the inflator of  FIG. 21  shown in a third stage of inflation; 
           [0031]      FIG. 25  is yet an additional embodiment of the inflator of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 26  is the inflator of  FIG. 25  shown in first stage of inflation; 
           [0033]      FIG. 27  is the inflator of  FIG. 25  shown in a second stage of inflation; 
           [0034]      FIG. 28  is the inflator of  FIG. 25  shown in a third stage of inflation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Tire separator  30  may include lifting head  32  and one or more securing arms  34 . Lifting head  32  may include lifting motor  36  which is attached to lifting head  32  and designed to manipulate lifting head  32  along a vertical axis  38 . Motor  36  may be a cylinder which is activated hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, etc or it may be a conventional rotary electric motor. Lifting head  32  may include one or more lifting arms  40 . One or more lifting arms  40  are adapted to have a portion thereof (i.e. engaging fingers  60 ) move in and out along a horizontal axis  39 . Securing arms  34  are also designed to have a portion thereof move in and out along a horizontal axis  43 . Securing arms  34  are not attached to lifting head  32  but rather they may be fixed relative to work surface  33 . The horizontal axis  39  as traversed by lifting arms  40  is depicted generally parallel to the horizontal  43  axis moved by horizontally movable portions of securing arms  34 ; however, other angular orientations between the two axes are contemplated. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the one or more lifting arms  40  move along vertical axis  38  which is generally perpendicular to the vertical movement  34  of securing arms  34  although this perpendicular orientation is not critical to the present invention. 
         [0036]    Now referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , a series of three stacked tires T 1 , T 2 , T 3  are presented to tire separator  30 . Three tires T 1 , T 2  and T 3  are shown schematically in a cross-sectional view each distorted into a bowl shaped frustum and stacked (i.e. nested) one on top of the other. 
         [0037]    In the first step, lifting head  32  is lowered  41  to a height such that when one or more lifting arms  40  are extended horizontally  43 , and engaged against a tire in the tire stack T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , the lifting arms  40  engage an outer circumferential portion of the penultimate bottom tire T 2  (i.e. the tire which is next to the bottom-most tire T 3 ). Next (see  FIGS. 5A and 5B ), a horizontally displaceable portion of securing arms  34  (e.g. gripping portion  35 ) are extended  43  such that the gripping portion  35  engage the bottom-most tire to prevent upward movement of the bottom-most tire. 
         [0038]    Now referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B  next, lift motor  36  is activated to raise  45  lifting head  32 . This in turn raises one or more lifting arms  40 . During the lifting action, the bottom-most tire T 3  is prohibited from significant upward movement by virtue of being engaged by gripping portions  35  of securing arms  34 . Accordingly, when lifting head  32  is raised, the bottom-most tire T 3  is constrained and all tires T 1 , T 2  located above the bottom-most tire are separated from the bottom-most tire T 3 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 7A-7C  depict the removal of the bottom-most tire T 3  from tire separators  30  by way of a roller table. Although a roller table is shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C , any mechanism well-known to those skilled in the art, can be used for removing the lower-most tire T 3  from the stack including motorized carts, robotic arms, conveyor belts and the like. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 8A ,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A and  10 B depict the same sequence as that which has been used to described tire separator  30  in  FIGS. 1-7C . The only difference is the depiction of  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A and  10 B is that there are only two stacked tires T 1 , T 2  depicted in  FIGS. 8A-10B  (wherein there are three stacked tires T 1 , T 2 , and T 3 , depicted in  FIGS. 1-7B ). Although tire separator  30  has been depicted separating a stack of three tires, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that this system may be used to separate any number of stacked tires from one another. 
         [0041]    Now referring to  FIGS. 11A-15B , an additional embodiment of the stacked tire separator is shown. The tire separator of  FIGS. 11A-15B  possesses many similarities to the tire separator shown in  FIGS. 1-10B . In view of the numerous similarities, only the points of distinction will be discussed herein. Separator  30  includes a lifting head  32  which is movable along a first axis  38 . Axis  38  may be a vertically disposed axis, however, nothing herein shall limit the orientation of axis  38  to that of a vertical axis. The separator  30  shown herein can operate in any orientation. Lifting head  32  is small enough to at least partially fit within an internal opening  64  defined by the bead seat portion of tires T 1 , T 2  and T 3 . Tires T 1 , T 2 , and T 3  are manipulated into a shape which generally resembles a bowl shaped frustum and stacked one on top of the other. Lifting head  32  includes one or more engaging fingers  60  which are selectively movable in a horizontal direction  72 . An electro/mechanical/hydraulic actuator (not shown) for actuating the horizontal directional movement  72  of engagement finger  60  can be mounted within lifting head  32  or it can be mounted elsewhere and mechanically coupled from a remote location to engaging fingers  60 . Likewise the actuator  74  for effecting the movement of lifting head  32  can be mounted directly to separator  30  or can be mounted elsewhere and it can be mechanically coupled from a remote location to actuator  74 . 
         [0042]    Stacked tires T 1 -T 3  are manipulated on work surface  33  such that the internal opening  64  of the stacked tires T 1 -T 3  are generally aligned (i.e. co-axial) with the central axis  75  of lifting head  32 . Next, actuator  74  which is coupled to lifting head  32  is actuated thereby lowering lifting head  32  through one or more internal openings  64  into a first lowered position (see  FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B ). Next, the engaging finger portions  60  of lifting head  32  are extended and the locking finger portions  62  of securing arms  34  are also extended (see  FIG. 13A  and  FIG. 13B ). Finger portions  60  are adapted to engage an inner circumferential portion of the tire T 2 . Next, actuator  74  is activated thereby moving lifting head  32  upwardly  38  carrying upper stacked tire T 1  and intermediate stacked tire T 2 . Lower stacked tire T 3  remains resting upon work surface  33  by virtue of the impedance to upward movement it experiences by locking fingers  62  (see  FIG. 14A ) when lifting head  32  moves tire T 1  and T 2  upwardly. Next, lower tire T 3  is transported out of position and head  32  is lowered (see  FIG. 15A ) thereby lowering tire T 1  and tire T 2 . Separator  30  is now ready to repeat the motion described herein in conjunction with  FIGS. 11A-15B  to separate tire T 1  from tire T 2 . 
         [0043]    Now referring to  FIGS. 16A and 16B , the tire separator of  FIGS. 16A and 16B  depicts yet another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is, in many ways, similar to the embodiments already discussed and accordingly, only the differences will be disclosed herein. Lifting head  32  is manipulateable along an axis  38  by way of actuator  74 . Actuator  74  can be any number of known actuators including, but not limited to, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, mechanical and the like. Lifting head  32  carries at least one engaging finger assembly  60 . Each engaging finger assembly  60  includes an actuator for moving an engaging finger  76  generally along a horizontal direction  72 . The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 16A-20B  depicts three separate engaging finger portions (generally spaced 120° apart). However, less than three engaging finger portions could be used as well as embodiments which carry more than three engaging fingers portion. 
         [0044]    Now referring to  FIGS. 16A and 16B , once stacked tires T 1 -T 3  are placed proximate to lifting head  32 , actuator  74  is activated thereby lowering lifting head  32  into a predetermined position. Once lifting head  32  is lowered into the proper predetermined position, engaging fingers  76  are generally deployed in a horizontal plane (see  FIG. 18A ) that intersects the second from the bottom stacked tire T 2  (i.e. the penultimate stacked tire). In the example of  FIG. 16A , the penultimate stacked tire is tire number T 2 . The stroke traveled by engaging finger  76  is dimensioned such that the penultimate tire T 2  is deformed (upwardly and/or radially inwardly) to such an extent that it releases any frictional grip it may have with the immediate lower tire (in this example, tire T 3 ), thereby causing dislodgement between the lower tire T 3  and adjacent tire T 2 . Next, (see  FIG. 19A ) lifting head  32  is manipulated upwardly  38  by actuator  74  thereby lifting the upper tires T 1 , T 2  away from the lower most tires T 3 . Lastly, (see  FIG. 20A ) the lower most tire is shuttled away and the two upper most tires are lowered thereby allowing the tire separation sequence to begin its separation sequence once again. 
         [0045]    Now referring to  FIG. 21 , once a stacked tire is separated (using the separator  30 ), it may be presented to tire inflator  50 . Tire inflator  50  includes head  54  which is manipulateable in an upward and downward direction (by actuator  51 ) and inflator  50  may also include a bottom sealing ring or mandrel  52  (see  FIG. 21 ). Once the tire  70  is in place (i.e. engaged with bottom sealing ring  52 ), head  54  is lowered to engage an inner periphery portion (e.g. the bead portion) of the tire  70  (see  FIG. 22 ) and pressurized air is passed into an inner volume  92  defined at least partially by the inner walls of tire  70 , the upper sealing head  54 , and the bottom sealing ring  52 . By introducing pressurized air into the inner volume  92  while the inflating head and the bottom sealing ring are in place, the air introduced therein exerts an outward force against the tire  70  and causes it to inflate (see  FIGS. 23 and 24 ) thereby assuming a general shape that will facilitate mounting the tire  70  to a wheel. Pressurized air can be introduced into the volume  92  by way of one or more air channels  81  formed in the bottom sealing ring  52 , the upper sealing head (not shown), or by way of any other means that has fluid access to volume  92 . 
         [0046]    When a tire is placed on bottom sealing ring  52  of tire inflator  50 , there may be little or no gap between the top bead  80  of tire  70  and the bottom bead  82  of tire  70 . If such a condition exists, it may be very difficult, if not impossible, to inflate tire  70  such that it can balloon open to assume its installation configuration. In order to create an egress gap between top bead  80  and lower bead  82 , actuator assembly  85  may be provided. Actuator assembly  85  includes actuator  84  connected to a respectively associated pintle  86 . Actuator  84  is capable of manipulating pintle  86  in a general horizontal manner such that pintle  86 , when fully extended, can wedge itself between top bead  80  and bottom bead  82  thereby creating a gap therebetween. Once pintle is extended (and subsequently retracted) the gap remaining is of sufficient size to allow pressurized air  86  to pass between the egress gap formed by pintle  86  thereby inflating tire  70 . The inflation steps are shown in  FIGS. 22-24 . 
         [0047]    Now referring to  FIGS. 25-28 , in a second embodiment of the inflator of the present invention, instead of using a pintle to separate top bead  80  from bottom bead  82 , bottom sealing ring  52  (a.k.a. mandrel  52 ) is designed so that its outer circumference can be expanded. One way of accomplishing this expansion is to split mandrel  52  along one or more seams  88  into two or more mandrel portions  52 ′,  52 ″. Each mandrel portion  52 ′,  52 ″ is radially manipulateable  90  by separation mechanism  89  (see  FIG. 27 ). Separation mechanism  89  may include any actuation mechanism including pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical or mechanical. In the depiction of  FIG. 27 , the two mandrel portions  52 ′,  52 ″ are radially outwardly displaced from one another thereby radially outwardly dislodging bottom bead  82  of tire  70  from top bead  80  of tire  70 . This dislodgement between the two beads creates an opening of sufficient size such that pressurized air  86  can travel into an inner volume  92  defined by tire  70 , bottom sealing ring  52 , and upper sealing ring  54 . Pressurized air  86  will then cause the walls of tire  70  to expand and otherwise assume a correct geometry which will enable them to be mounted to a wheel.