Patent Publication Number: US-8113806-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for assembling, disassembling and storing a tire building core

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention relates generally to automated tire manufacturing lines and more specifically to an apparatus and method for disassembling a tire building core in an integrated tire manufacturing system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to vulcanize uncured or green tires using a mold in a tire press. A tire bladder is inserted inside the mold and the green tire and inflated to press the green tire into the sidewall and tread forming surfaces of the mold as heat and pressure are applied to the tire to cure it. After a predetermined time the mold is opened and the cured tire is removed from the press. 
     Because of the lack of control inherent to toroidal expansion of a tire carcass in conventional tire building processes, it has been proposed to build a tire from components applied to a segmented core dimensioned and configured close to the finished tire. The core includes multiple segments extending generally radially from a central axis. Each core segment has an outer surface that together, with the other segment outer surfaces, define a toroidal outer surface on which a tire may be constructed. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/292,991 entitled “TIRE BUILDING CORE LATCHING AND TRANSPORT MECHANISM”, filed Dec. 2, 2005 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/293,397 entitled “HEATED TIRE BUILDING CORE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD”, filed Dec. 2, 2005 disclose one such segmented core. In using a segmented core for the construction of a tire it is necessary to assemble and disassemble the multiple core segments that define the tire building surface and to temporarily store such segments prior to reassembly. An efficient apparatus and method for accomplishing core assembly, disassembly, and storage is, accordingly, desired and heretofore not achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top front perspective view of the tire curing line assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a top rear perspective view of the tire curing line assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a core manipulator apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the lower core manipulator assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the lower core segment handling assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the lower core segment handling assembly with portions removed for illustration. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bottom spindle clamp assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the bottom spindle clamp assembly with portions removed for the purpose of illustration. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the core segment support apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the lower core segment handling assembly. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one of eight core segment pin subassemblies. 
         FIG. 11A  is a sectional view through a portion of the subassembly of  FIG. 11 , taken along the line  11 A- 11 A. 
         FIG. 11B  is a sectional view through a portion of the subassembly of  FIG. 11 , taken along the line  11 B- 11 B. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the tire unloader apparatus shown with the tire gripping assembly  40  in the tire pickup position. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the tire unloader apparatus from a side opposite that shown in  FIG. 12  shown with the tire gripping assembly rotated 180 degrees from the position in  FIG. 12  to the unload position. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective side view of the upper core manipulator. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective end view of the upper core manipulator. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective top view of the core segment gripping mechanism. 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom perspective view of the core segment gripping mechanism. 
         FIG. 17A  is a longitudinal sectional view of the core segment gripping mechanism. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the upper core spindle latch mechanism. 
         FIG. 19  is a longitudinal perspective view in partial section of the upper core spindle latch mechanism. 
         FIG. 20  is perspective view of the core assembly/disassembly station and a tire positioned therein. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the cure station showing a cured tire moving from the core assembly/disassembly station. 
         FIG. 22  is a sectional view of the core assembly/disassembly station shown in  FIG. 21  taken along the line  22 - 22 . 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the upper core manipulator positioning a tire over the core assembly/disassembly station. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the upper core manipulator lowering the core onto the core assembly/disassembly station. 
         FIG. 25  is an enlarged perspective view shown partially in section of a portion of the upper core manipulator, core, and core assembly/disassembly station identified in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view in sequence to  FIG. 24  showing the lower spindle latch assembly rising to engage the core in the core assembly/disassembly station. 
         FIG. 27  is an enlarged perspective view shown partially in section of a portion of the upper core manipulator, core, and core assembly/disassembly station illustrated in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view in sequence to  FIG. 26  showing actuation of the latch mechanism inside the core to release the lower core spindle, thus rendering the core in two sub-assemblies. 
         FIG. 29  is an enlarged perspective view shown partially in section of a portion of the actuation latch, core, and core assembly/disassembly station illustrated in  FIG. 28 . 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view in sequence to  FIG. 28  showing segment receiving pins moved into position through windows defined between core supporting arms in the core assembly/disassembly station. 
         FIG. 31  is an enlarged perspective view of the segment receiving pins in position between core supporting arms as shown in  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 32  is an elevation view of the upper core manipulator, core, and core assembly/disassembly station showing the core support assembly moving down to lower the core onto the segment receiving pins. 
         FIG. 33  is an enlarged perspective view of the core support assembly moving down to lower the core onto the segment receiving pins. 
         FIG. 34  is a perspective view showing the upper core manipulator being moved out of the way and the upper segment manipulator moving into operative position. 
         FIG. 35  is an enlarged perspective view shown in partial section of the core, upper segment manipulator, and core assembly/disassembly station from  FIG. 34 . 
         FIG. 36  is an enlarged perspective view shown in partial section of the core, upper segment manipulator, and core assembly/disassembly station in sequence to  FIG. 35  and showing a key segment being driven to the center in the core disassembly sequence. 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective view shown in partial section of the core, upper segment manipulator, and core assembly/disassembly station in sequence to  FIG. 36  and showing a core segment lifted in preparation for transfer to storage. 
         FIG. 38  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of  FIG. 37  showing a core segment lifted in preparation for transfer to storage. 
         FIG. 39  is a perspective view of the tire being lifted and rotated into the unload position. 
         FIG. 40  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of  FIG. 39  showing the tire in the unload position prior to being dropped. 
         FIG. 41  is a front plan view of the upper segment manipulator showing core segments positioned in the segment storage station. 
         FIG. 42  is a schematic top plan view of the positioning of core segments in the segment storage station taken along the line  42 - 42  of  FIG. 41 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the subject curing line  10  is shown as part of an integrated tire manufacturing line. The curing line  10  is shown to include a plurality of stations arranged in a linear array, however, other arrangements of the work stations may be utilized if desired to accommodate the facility and/or preferences of the user. The tire manufacturing line builds a tire from components applied to a segmented core dimensioned and configured close to the finished tire. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/417,849, filed Apr. 17, 2003, entitled “A METHOD FOR CURING TIRES AND A SELF-LOCKING TIRE MOLD”, incorporated by reference herein, a segmented mold for molding a tire is described. The mold has a central axis; a plurality of radially movable tread forming segments; two sidewall forming plates, a top sidewall forming plate, and a bottom sidewall forming plate; a top locking ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced means for locking the segments, each means for locking providing a predetermined angular path for radially contracting the segments upon closing the mold in a locked position. The segmented mold for molding a tire has an enlarged opening for accepting a green tire assembly. The mold can accept the green tire and its building core internally while maintaining the tire&#39;s as-built dimensions very close to the as-molded dimensions. 
     The mold receives a tire building core assembly, including segments combining to define an annular tire building surface and including a latching and handling mechanism. Such a core is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/292,991, entitled “TIRE BUILDING CORE LATCHING AND TRANSPORT MECHANISM”, filed Dec. 2, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/293,397 entitled “HEATED TIRE BUILDING CORE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD”, filed Dec. 2, 2005, incorporated herein by reference. The mechanism provides a positive means of attachment between the tire building core in tire manufacture and any of the building, curing or other stations involved in the manufacturing process. Attachment points are located in each end of the core useful for transporting the core the core between stations. The mechanism allows for automatic attachment/detachment of the core into two halves and provides sufficient accuracy and rigidity for the motions required for precision tire manufacture. The mechanism consists of a cone shaped interface within the core together with linkage driven latching fingers. 
     In order to cure the green tire, a tire curing station, such as that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/741,752, entitled “A SINGLE STATION TIRE CURING METHOD AND APPARATUS”, filed Dec. 19, 2003, incorporated herein by reference, may be employed. A coil or group of coils is positioned to surround areas of the tire mold that require application of precise heat. The heating is specified through a recipe program supplied to the control unit. 
     The curing line  10  is intended to be integrated into the tire manufacturing line described above for curing a green tire constructed on a core assembly  15 . The line  10  includes an upper core manipulator  12 , upender apparatus  14 , and a lower core assembly station  16  that operatively engage a tire building core assembly  15 . The upper core manipulator assembly  12  is a mobile assembly that generally moves the core assembly  15  along the curing line  10  between a mold assembly station  18  and a cure station  22  having an induction heat dome assembly  24  positioned adjacent thereto. A mold manipulator assembly  26  bridges over the curing line and moves an assembled mold containing the core and tire assembly  15  under electrical control from control panel  28  along a transport rail assembly  30  between the cure station  22  and the mold assembly station  18 . Induction heating control panels  32  are positioned adjacent the induction dome assembly  24  and electrically control assembly  24  throughout the heating cure cycle. Throughout the line  10 , a conical docking interface  84  is used in stations  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  22  to couple with the lower half of the core and tire assembly  15 , whereby locating and positioning the core and tire assembly  15  for operations conducted within such stations. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates in enlarged detail the upper core manipulator assembly  12  constructed as a bridging support frame assembly and positioned to move reciprocally along the rail assembly  30  station to station. The upper core manipulator assembly  12  spans the lower core manipulator  16  and, with the lower core manipulator  16 , comprises a core assembly/disassembly station  34 . The station  34  includes multiple assemblies that operatively interact with the core and tire assembly. Such assemblies include a bottom spindle clamp assembly  84 , an intermediate core segment support assembly  82 , a lower segment handling assembly  80 , and an upper tire unloading apparatus  36 . The assemblies  84 ,  82 ,  80  and  36  constitute the lower core manipulator  16  and are oriented generally in a mutually stacked configuration as shown in  FIG. 3 . The assemblies  36 ,  80 , and  82  are generally circular in configuration, peripherally oriented about a common circular central opening  39 . The bottom spindle clamp assembly  84  projects axially upward from the bottom of the station  34  into the opening  39 . As will be explained, multiple operations are conducted at station  34  within the curing line  10 . As used herein, the core assembly and disassembly station  34  is the combination of the lower core manipulator  16  (sub-assemblies  36 ,  80 ,  82 , and  84 ) and the upper core manipulator  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  6 ,  12 ,  13 , and  38  tire unloading apparatus  36  is part of the lower core manipulator  16  and is shown positioned at the top of the manipulator  16  within station  34 . The tire unloader  36  is supported by a vertical support post  38  and includes a tire gripping assembly  40 . The assembly  40  includes a circular upper support plate  41  and a lower support plate  43  spaced below upper plate  41 . The central axial opening  39  extends medially through each of the plates  41 ,  43 . Spaced about the periphery of the opening  39  and facing inward is a plurality of elongate, generally vertically oriented tire gripping paddles  42 . Eight paddles  42  are shown but more or fewer may be deployed if desired. The paddles  42  are generally L-shaped having a vertical plate portion  44  and a horizontal bottom flange  46  extending into opening  39 . Linkage arms  48  connect the paddles  42  together to maintain the paddles in a radial orientation relative to the opening  39 . An upper connecting link  52  is further provided to tie the paddles together as shown. Spaced apart sets of upper and lower actuation arms  52 ,  54  are pivotally coupled at remote ends to the paddles  42  and pivotally coupled at opposite ends to pivot rods  58 . The arms  52 ,  54  are linked together to swing the paddles  42  in unison along an arcuate path radially inward and outward as the arms  52 ,  54  pivot about the pivot rods  58 . The paddles  42  are mounted to pivot at the remote end of the arms  52 ,  54  to maintain a radially inward facing tire clamping orientation at the innermost extent of the arcuate path. The pivot rods  58  extend vertically between the plates  41 ,  43 . Accordingly, paddles  42  move reciprocally in unison between a radially innermost tire clamping position and a radially outward tire release position as arms  54 ,  56  pivot. 
     An air cylinder  60  is mounted and includes a drive shaft coupled to arms  54 ,  56 . The drive shaft of the cylinder  60  is linked by a conventional linkage to the arms  54 ,  56  that are linked to each paddle  42 . Accordingly, the drive shaft of cylinder  60 , by way of reciprocal axial movement, imparts rotational movement to the arms  54 ,  56 , whereby moving the arms  54 ,  56  and the paddles  42  connected thereto between the tire clamping and release positions as described above. A circular support frame  62  carries the tire gripping assembly  40  and is secured to a support stand  64 . A ball screw mechanism  66  is driven by a servo-motor  68  and couples by means of drive linkage  69  to raise and lower the tire unloading assembly  36  along rails  70 . Rails  70  are spaced apart and positioned to extend vertically up the post  38 . A drive motor  72  is coupled to rotate the tire gripping assembly  40  180 degrees between the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The assembly  40  is mounted to shaft  74 . Motor  72  engages shaft  74  by means of clutch  76  to drive shaft  74 , thus effecting programmed reciprocal pivotal movement of the assembly  40 . Cables are routed to the unit by means of cable carrier  71 . An encoder position sensor  78  controls pivotal movement of the assembly  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 , the tire unloading apparatus  36  is shown positioned generally above the remaining sub-assemblies of lower core manipulator  16 , namely the lower core segment handling assembly  80 , a central core segment supporting apparatus  82 , and a lower spindle clamping assembly  84 . As best seen from  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the lower spindle clamping assembly  84  provides an upward directed clamping mechanism  86  including a frustro-conical support  88  mounted to move vertically in reciprocal fashion within support column  87 . A pneumatic cylinder  104  is mounted to move the mechanism  86  vertically along rails  96 . An air cylinder  90  through a drive rod  92  is coupled to pivot four latch members  94  mounted within respective openings  95  within the support  88 . The four latch members  94  reside within the openings  95  spaced equidistant and ninety degrees apart about the frustro-conical support  88 . The latch members  94  are spring biased to an inward position that places and holds the latch members  94  within detents in a lower core spindle assembly  240 . The latch members  94  are spring biased in the inward latched position until the rod  92  moves axially upward and cams the latch members  94  outward and out of their respective core spindle detents, whereby releasing the lower core assembly from the frustro-conical support  88  as will be further explained. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/292,991, incorporated by reference herein, shows and describes the attachment and release mechanisms employed between the core assembly and a clamping mechanism configured similarly as the clamping mechanism  86 . 
     The clamping mechanism  86  moves reciprocally in the vertical direction along rails  96 . A freestanding support stand  98  is provided. Power and control cables are routed to the bottom spindle clamp assembly  84  from a control tower  100  along a cable support  102 . An air cylinder  104  with an integrated rod clamping braking mechanism  93  is mounted to vertical support column  106  and reciprocally drives the assembly  86  along rails  96 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the core segment support apparatus is shown in detail. A pair of support base members  108  support posts  110 . A rectangular frame  111  is coupled to an upper end of the posts  110 . Between the frame  111  is a central moveable segment support frame  112 . The support frame  112  includes a circular plate  113 . Circumferentially spaced about and projecting upward from a top surface of the plate  113  is a circular array of L-shaped arms  114 , each having a pad  116  affixed to a remote end. Pads  116  are composed of abrasive resistant material such as bronze or plastic. While eight arms  114  are illustrated, corresponding to the number of segments within the lower core assembly, more or fewer arms may be employed if necessary for alternative core assembly configurations. A pair of air cylinders with a braking mechanism  118  attach to the posts  110  and act to reciprocally move the moveable support frame  112  along rails  120  that extend upwardly along the inward facing sides of the posts  110 . The circumferential array of spaced apart L-shaped arms  114  define a circular array having a diameter allowing each of the arms  114  to support a respective segment component of a segmented core  234 . 
       FIGS. 5 ,  10 ,  11 ,  11 A, and  11 B illustrate the lower segment handling assembly  80 . The lower core segment handling assembly  80  is supported in a free standing frame  122  by support posts  121  connected by cross support braces  123 . A circular array of eight radially extending alternating segment pin sub-assemblies  124 ,  127  are positioned on an upper top plate  125 , the eight sub-assemblies corresponding to the eight core segments comprising the assembled annular core. There are four pin sub-assemblies  124  for the key segments  244  and four pin sub-assemblies  127  for the larger core segments  246 . More or fewer sub-assemblies  124 ,  127  may be used as necessary to accommodate more or fewer core segments. Each sub-assembly  124 ,  127  has a servo-motor  126  coupled by a positive drive belt  128  to ball screw  130 . The ball screw  130  is coupled to drive sub-assembly  132  axially along guide rails  134  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Positioned at the forward end of the moveable frame  132  and projecting upward is a pin  136  supported by block  138 . The pin  136  extends from a segment support surface  140  situated at a remote end of the block  138  and each pin is provided with a convex lead-in remote surface  142  to facilitate insertion of pin  136  into a respective segment pin-receiving aperture. Each pin  136  is thus reciprocally moveable in a radial direction along the plate  125  between an inward, segment engaging position and an outward storage position. The configuration of the pin array on surface  125  is such that the pins  136  are positioned to insert into appropriate respective apertures extending upwardly into respective core segments. A protective guard  144  covers the belt  128 . The tilting pin assembly  124  is depicted in  FIG. 11  and represents a key segment engaging assembly. The segmented core is assembled from smaller key segments  244  alternating with larger core segments  246  in a circular array. 
     During disassembly of the core, the four segment pin assemblies  124  and the four large segment pin assemblies  127  are in the radially outward position ( FIG. 10 ). The pins  136  of the four key segment engaging assemblies  124  project into respective key segments  244  from below and the pins  136  of the large segment engaging assemblies  127  project into respective large segments  246  from below. A cured tire  230  is positioned on the assembled core  234 . The segments  244 ,  246  are moved radially to the center of the assembly  15  and removed one by one from the center opening of the core and the tire. The key segments  244  are first removed, one by one. Each key segment is moved radially inward by its assembly  124  to the center of the core and tire assembly  15 . From the center location, the segment is picked by an upper segment manipulator  146  carried by the upper core manipulator  12 . The segment is lifted up and out of the center core position by the manipulator  146  and transported to a storage station on the manipulator  12 . The moveable frame  132  of the assembly  124  is then retracted radially outward and placed back into its initial position. Once all of the key segments  244  have been removed and stored, the larger segments  246  are removed one by one in like fashion. 
     Each of the four key segment assemblies  124  is constructed to allow the pin  136  carried thereby to be tilted from the upright pin position of  FIG. 11  into a tilted, near horizontal orientation shown in  FIG. 38 . The tilting of each key segment assembly  124  occurs when the assembly is retracted into a radially outward storage position after delivering its key segment to the manipulator  146  at the center of the core assembly  15 . Each of the four key segment assemblies  124  are tilted downward after unloading their respective key segments and returning to the radially outward storage position. The downward tilting of the key segment assemblies  124  allows sufficient clearance for each larger segment assembly  127  to move its larger segment  246  past the adjacent key segment assemblies  124  to the center of the core and tire assembly  15  for delivery to the manipulator  146 . 
     At the conclusion of the core disassembly, all of the segment handling assemblies  124 ,  127  are returned to their respective radially outward storage positions shown in  FIG. 10 . The key segment handling assemblies  124  are tilted upward and back into a vertical orientation in preparation for the core re-assembly procedure. In the storage position, the segment handling assemblies  124 ,  127  generally take the form of the assembled core  15 . However, the position of the key segment handling assemblies  124  in the retracted location is slightly radially inward relative to the large segment handling assemblies  127 . The manipulator  146  delivers the core segments back to positions on their respective pins  136  in reverse order one by one, larger segments  246  first followed by the key segments  244 . After all of the segments  244 ,  246  are on their respective pins, the key segments  244  are moved radially outward to engage against adjacent large segments to form the final assembled shape of the core  15 . The key segments  244  retain the larger segments  246  into the assembled circular segmented core  234  by the segment surface to surface abutment referenced at  262  of  FIG. 38 . Thus, the key segments  244  removed first from the circular array in order to allow removal of the larger segments  246  and returned last to the array in order to lock the larger core segments into place. 
     It will be appreciated that the key segment handling assemblies  124  are similarly constructed to the large segment handling assemblies  127  except that the assemblies  124  mount the segment pin  136  on a pivoting block  133  at the forward end of the assembly to facilitate the downward tilting of the pin for clearance as described above. The segment handling assemblies  127  for each larger segment  246  are similarly constructed to assemblies  124  except that the tilting capability and, hence, mechanism is not necessary and, accordingly, not present. Each pin  136  for the larger assemblies  246  is mounted to a fixed block (not shown). It will further be appreciated that the segments  244 ,  246  are removed one by one from the center of the core and tire assembly  15  during core disassembly to avoid the cured tire  120  on the core. Once the core has been disassembled and tire unloaded, the core segments  244 ,  246  are moved downward by the manipulator  146  onto the pins  136  in the radially outward position. The core is thus reassembled into final configuration segment by segment. 
     An activation cylinder  135  is mounted on the frame  132  and includes an actuation rod coupled to the pin supporting block  138 . Actuation of the cylinder  135  acts to pivot the pin  136  from a core segment engaging vertical position (shown in  FIG. 11 ) to a storage position approaching horizontal as in  FIG. 38 . Once all of the segments  244 ,  246  are disassembled, the pins  136  of the segment handling assemblies  124  are pivoted back into a vertical orientation to await reassembly of the core  234 . 
       FIGS. 14 ,  15 , and  22  show the upper core manipulator assembly  12  to include an upper core segment manipulator  146  and an upper spindle latch mechanism  198 . Bridging trusses form a support frame assembly  148  that includes a frame  222  carrying the core segment manipulator  146  and a frame  224  for carrying the upper spindle latch mechanism  198 . The frame  222  includes a vertically repositionable inner frame  222 A and an outer frame  222 B and the frame  224  an inner frame  224 A and an outer frame  224 B. The core segment manipulator  146  includes an upper core segment handling mechanism  150  (shown in detail by  FIG. 16 ) that mounts to the inner frame  222 A. The upper core segment manipulator  146  further includes a core segment storage station  152  adjacent the handling mechanism  150 . A pair of spaced apart horizontal plates  153  is located within the storage station  152 , each plate  153  supporting a linear array of four spaced apart, upwardly directed pin members  151 . The pins  151 , four on each side of the storage station  152 , are dimensioned for insertion into a respective core segment socket and function to support a core segment within the storage station  152 . Collectively, the eight pins  151  receive eight core segments in a disassembly sequence as will be describe, and temporarily store the segments until the procedure is reversed for core re-assembly. 
     A gear box and servo-motor  154  is coupled by belt drive  156  to rotate a vertical shaft  158  360 degrees. Shaft  158  thereby rotates the upper core segment handling mechanism  150 . Referring to  FIGS. 14 ,  17 ,  41  and  42 , the storage pins  151  within storage station  152  each extend from a respective pin support block  160 . Each of the pins  151  is at a specific location in the storage station  152  determined by the core segment assigned to the pin. Each segment is picked by the core segment gripper  174  at the remote end of the core segment handling assembly  150 . The horizontal pin  184  of gripper  174  is pivoted into a segment side socket  252  while the vertical pin  182  of the gripper  174  enters down into a segment vertical socket  250  ( FIG. 35 ). Guide flange  173  assists in aligning the vertical pin  182  into a targeted segment socket. Once the pins  182 ,  184  are engaged into respective sockets within a segment, the segment is securely gripped and may be moved radially inward and lifted out of the core segment array as the upper core segment handling assembly  150  is moved upward along the frame rails  167 . The lifted segment is transported laterally by the assembly  150  along rails  170  until reaching an intended pin  151  in the segment storage station  152 . The segment is then lowered onto the intended pin  151  and rotated by pivotal movement of the gripper  174  into the position depicted in  FIG. 42 . The segment is released as the horizontal pin  184  is pivoted out of the segment side socket. The assembly  150  is raised and may return to the core by a reverse procedure to locate and retrieve another core segment. The procedure is reversed in a reverse sequence in order to reassemble the upper core during a core reassembly operation. Once completely reassembled, the segmented core  234  is available for another new tire build operation. 
     The storage location of each core segment  244 ,  246  is pre-assigned within the storage station  152  to correspond with the sequence the segments  244 ,  246  are disassembled and assembled. As discussed previously, the core  234  is constructed from alternating wedge shaped smaller key segments  244  and larger core segments  246 . The key segments  244  entrap the larger segments  246  into the annular configuration of core  234  through an abutment of beveled segment surfaces  262 . See  FIG. 38 . Accordingly, the smaller key segments  244  are removed first to facilitate subsequent removal of the larger core segments  246 . Each of the four of the key segments  244  are removed and placed in the storage station  152  first, followed by the four larger segments  246 . The sequencing used in disassembly will be understood from  FIG. 42  in which the storage location in station  152  of the key segments K 1 -K 4  and the larger core segments L 1 -L 4  are identified. The key segments K 1 -K 4  are positioned over center located pins  151  while the core segments L 1 -L 4  are located on outer pins  151  adjacent to the same key segment that a given segment abuts within the assembled core array. Thus, the core segment, for example L 4 , in the assembled core would reside next to the key segment K 1 . The storage location of each larger segment  246  adjacent to its neighboring key segment  244  in the storage station  152  expedites the disassembly of the upper core as well as expedites reassembly of the core in a reverse procedure because the proximity of neighboring key/large segment pairs in the core is maintained in the storage station  152 . 
     In addition, a radially inward face or side  251  of each segment  244 ,  246  is canted inwardly within the station  152  toward a center point “P” between the two sides of the station  152 . The rotational travel of the gripper  174  necessary to deposit and to retrieve each segment is thereby minimized. The canted orientation of the front side  251  of each segment orients the vertical socket  250  and horizontal socket  252  of each segment toward the center point “P” where gripper  174  is stationed to provide the gripper  174  with oriented access to each segment  244 ,  246  whereby eliminating wasted motion and time. The position of each segment  244 ,  246  on the storage station plates  153  adjacent to the segment neighboring the segment within the assembled core; coupled with the radially inward cant of the forward side  251  toward the point “P” between parallel station plates  173 , expedites assembly and disassembly of the upper core and reduces cycle time. 
     The upper core segment handling mechanism  150  is mounts to inner frame  222 A that reciprocally moves along rails  167 . A servo-motor/gear box  164  is coupled to drive the moveable frame  222 A, and thereby the upper core segment handling mechanism  150 , along vertically oriented rails  167 . 
     As will be seen from  FIG. 16 , a servo-motor  168  is mounted to drive ball screw  172  which moves the upper core segment handling mechanism  150  in a radial direction along rails  170 . At the remote end of the mechanism  150  is a segment gripper assembly  174  including a mounting plate  175  from which a guide lead-in projection  173  depends. Arm  177  depends from base plate  176  at an acute angle. The segment gripper assembly  174  is connected to a remote end of arm  177  at a mounting plate  175 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 16 ,  17 ,  17 A, and  38 , a support mount  179  extends from an underside of the mounting plate  175 . Air cylinder  178  is pivotally coupled to the mount  179  at pin  181 . A support arm  183  depends from the underside of the plate  175  and a vertical segment engaging pin  182  is secured by a screw  185  to the support arm  183 . Pin  182  projects downward from the support arm  183  and is dimensioned for close downward receipt into a socket within each core segment as will be explained. A dependant pivot arm  180  is pivotally coupled to the remote end of an actuation rod of air cylinder  178  by pin  187 . The pivot arm  180  is pivotally coupled by a lower pin  189  to the support arm  183 . Actuation of the air cylinder  178  pivots the pivot arm  180  about pivot points  189 , whereby moving a remote end of the pivot arm inside and outside of a passageway through the arm member  173 . Secured to a remote end of the pivot arm  180  is a segment side engaging pin  184  which moves with the pivot arm remote end into and out of the passageway  188  through the arm member  173 . A proximity switch  186  is mounted to the support arm  183  and controls the extent to which the pin  182  is inserted into each core segment by proximally detecting the presence of the core segment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 ,  15 ,  18 ,  19 , and  28 , a motor/gear box  165 ,  190  having an output shaft  192  is mounted to the frame  148  and drive shaft  192  is coupled to the core manipulator frame  224 . The drive shaft  192  powers a reciprocal vertical movement of the core manipulator frame  224  along rails  192 . Mounted to and depending from the frame  224  is an upper core spindle latch mechanism  198  shown in detail in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . The upper core spindle latch mechanism  198  reciprocally moves in the vertical direction on the inner frame  224 A of the frame assembly  224 . The mechanism  198  as shown includes a frustro-conical nose  200  having four circumferentially spaced latch members  202 . Members  202  pivot about a respective pivot pin  203  within respective openings  205  between an outward latched position in which members  202  protrude beyond an outer surface of the nose  200 , and a retracted unlatched position in which each latch member  202  is within a respective passage  205 . A cylindrical sleeve  204  extends axially within an upper housing  216  of the mechanism  198  and a co-axial actuation rod  206  is positioned within an axial bore  201  of the sleeve  204 . The actuation rod is provided with an end cap  207 . An air cylinder  208  is positioned above the housing  216  in axial alignment with the sleeve  204  and includes a push rod  209  coupled by a clevis  213  to the actuation rod  206 . Axial motion of the actuation rod  206  operated the internal latching mechanism in the upper spindle assembly of a tire building core assembly  15 , allowing it to be detached from the lower spindle assembly at the appropriate stage in the core disassembly process. A pair of air cylinders  210  mounts to opposite sides of the housing  216  surrounding the sleeve  204  and each cylinder  210  has a push rod  215  that is coupled to an angle bracket. Angle brackets  219  are positioned on either side of sleeve  204  and are attached to it by means of screws  218 . Each latch member  202  attaches to the sleeve  204  by a fitting  212 . The upper core spindle latch mechanism  198  is lowered by moving frame  224  downward as described above until nose  200  is received into an upper spindle assembly socket of a tire building core assembly. The latch members  202  pivot outward to engage recesses within the spindle assembly socket sidewalls. Upon encountering the recess, the latch members  202  load outward by the force applied by cylinders  210  into a latched relationship with the core recess. The upper core spindle latch mechanism  198  is thereby secured to the upper spindle assembly of a tire building core. 
     The core, subsequent to latching engagement with spindle latch mechanism  198 , may be lifted and lowered axially by the mechanism  198  traveling along the rails  226 . U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/292,991 describes and shows the latching mechanism employed in attaching the upper core spindle latch mechanism  198  to the core and tire assembly  15 . 
     The core assembly  15 , once attached to the latch mechanism  198 , is transported station to station in the curing line  10  by the upper core manipulator  12  traveling reciprocally along the rail assembly  30 . As will be seen from  FIG. 21 , the upper core manipulator  12  is configured to suspend a core and tire assembly  15  attached to latching mechanism  198  a distance “H” above the feet  166  of the frame  148 . As will be apparent from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the distance “H” is of sufficient height to create clearance between a core and tire assembly  15  suspended from the manipulator  12  and stations  16 ,  18 ,  22  comprising curing line  10 . Accordingly, the clearance created by the height “H” allows the manipulator, for example, to transport a cured tire and core assembly  15  over a second tire and core assembly at another station. Multiple core and mold units may thereby be processed simultaneously at different locations within the line  10  whereby improving efficiency by reducing cycle time. 
     It will be appreciated that the latch members  202  may be pivoted into a retracted unlatched position by axially moving the sleeve  204  within mechanism  198  upward under pressure from the air cylinders  210 . The sleeve moves upward causing the linkages to pull the latch members  202  inward until each latch member  202  exits its respective detent in the core upper spindle assembly sidewalls and retracts each latch member  202  into its respective opening  205 . In the retracted position, the latch members  202  do not protrude beyond the outer surface of the frustro-conical nose  200 . Upon movement of the latch members  202  within the respective openings  205  into the retracted position, the nose  200  is released from the upper spindle assembly socket and the core upper spindle latch mechanism  198  may be withdrawn from the upper spindle assembly socket by vertical movement of the core manipulator frame  196 . 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 3 ,  12 ,  14 ,  15 ,  20 ,  21 ,  23 ,  25 , the upper core manipulator  12  includes four vertically oriented guide rails forming outer frame  220 B supporting the inner frame  222 A for core segment manipulation. The frame  224 A similarly moves vertically along a vertical set of rails  226  to raise and lower the latch mechanism  198 . The latch mechanism  198  lifts the upper core spindle assembly  236  from a core and tire assembly  15  stationed on the lower core manipulator  16 . Access to the core segments  244 ,  246  is thereby facilitated. Thereafter, the manipulator  12  moves along the rails  30  until the upper core segment handling assembly  150  is above the manipulator  16 . The segments are sequentially disassembled from the assembled core by moving the segments  244 ,  246  radially inward using a coordinated motion between assembly  150  and the core segment handling assembly  80  and then axially moving the segments to escape the confines of the tire and core assembly  15  using assembly  150 . The cured tire  230  is dropped from the unloader  36  after the segmented core  234  has been disassembled. Reassembly of the core is conducted in reverse fashion. Alternatively, the segments  224 ,  246  may be removed by radially moving them inward using only assembly  80  and then moving them axially with assembly  150 . This allows assembly to be storing the previous segment while the current segment is being moved radially, thus reducing cycle time. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 25 ,  35 ,  36 , and  38 , the core and tire assembly  15  is shown to include a tire carcass  230  extending between a tire bead  232 . The carcass  230  mounts to a segmented core  234  that includes an upper core spindle assembly  236  having a frustro-conical socket  238  extending therein along a longitudinal spindle axis. The core  234  further includes a lower core spindle assembly  240  having a frustro-conical socket  242  extending therein along a longitudinal spindle axis. The body of the core  234  is toroidally shaped formed by a plurality of alternating core small key segments  244  and core large segments  246 , each segment having an outer surface portion that together define a toroidal outer surface surrounding a central axis. The core  234  in the assembled configuration is adapted to hold a green tire on the toroidal outer surface. The tire carcass  230  is constructed onto the core  234  at a tire building station (not shown). At the conclusion of the tire build operation, the assembly  15  consisting of the core  234  and green tire carcass  230  is transported to the upender apparatus  14  of curing line  10  where the assembly  15  is upended from an axial horizontal orientation to an axially vertical orientation. The upper core manipulator  12  traverses rails  30  to the upender  14  where the latching mechanism  198  is employed to latch into the upper spindle assembly  236  of the core and tire assembly  15 . The mechanism  198  lifts the assembly  15  and transports the assembly  15  to the mold assembly station  22  where a multiple component mold is constructed around the assembly  15 . 
     A plurality of electrical connector sockets  248  extend into ends of the core segments  244 ,  246 . Also disposed within the ends of the core segments  244  is a pin socket  250 . A horizontally extending bore  252  extends into the base of each segment  244 ,  246 . The segments  244 ,  246  are composed of suitable material such as aluminum, each segment having a resistive heating element attached to the segment for heating the segment to a desired temperature during the curing cycle. Electrical conductors  256  are provided to provide electrical power to the segment heating elements. The conductors  256  are electrically connected to connectors within the electrical sockets  248  of each segment. The connectors within sockets  248  are engaged by pins in the spindle assemblies  236  and  240 . U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/292,991 describes the electrical and mechanical components and connectors electrically and mechanically connecting the upper and lower core spindle assemblies  236 ,  240  with the segmented core  234 . 
     Operation of the apparatus described above is as follows. The tire building core assembly and disassembly station  34  is a part of the cure line assembly  10 . Its purpose is to receive a tire building core  15  with a freshly cured tire  230  attached from the mold assembly station  18 , disassemble the tire core piece-by-piece from inside the cured tire, transport the cured tire away from the main zone of the cure line  10 , and then re-assemble the tire building segmented core  234  and place it back into the tire building process. All of this activity is preferably to be preformed in a totally automatic mode without a machine operator. 
     The cure line  10  is shown in a preferred layout in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Other arrangements of the sundry stations within the line may be utilized to suit the preferences of or facilities of the user. As shown in  FIG. 1  and previously explained, the stations of the cure line  10  are from right to left:
         1. The tire upender  14 , partially hidden by the upper core manipulator  12  mounted on the cure line rail transport assembly  30 .   2. The tire building core assembly and disassembly station  34  consisting of the lower core assembly station  16  and the upper core manipulator  12 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show only the lower core manipulator  16  because the upper core manipulator  12  has been moved to the tire upender station  14 .   3. The mold assembly station  18 .   4. The mold loading and storage station  20 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the mold transport assembly or manipulator  26  mounted on another part of the cure line rail transport assembly  30 .   5. The cure station  22 .   6. The jib crane  236 , used for positioning the induction curing dome  24 .       

       FIG. 3  shows the tire building core assembly and disassembly station  34 . As described above, the station  34  is comprised of two main assemblies. The lower core manipulator station  16  , which is fixed to the cure line foundation plate assembly, and the mobile upper core manipulator assembly  12 , which is connected to the cure line rail transport assembly  30  and moves between the tire upender  14 , the lower core assembly station  16 , and the mold assembly station  18 . The connection to the rail assembly  30  is not shown for clarity in  FIG. 3 , and therefore, the upper core manipulator assembly  12  appears to be floating in space. 
     The lower core manipulator assembly  16  is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  FIG. 6  shows the assembly in a cross-sectional view. This assembly includes four sub-assemblies: the bottom spindle clamp assembly  84 , the core segment support assembly  82 , the lower core segment handling assembly  80 , and the tire unloader  36 . 
     The bottom spindle clamp assembly  84  is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Its function is to remove one half of the tire building core spindle, namely the lower core spindle assembly  240 . The clamp assembly  84  is actuated by the pneumatic cylinder  104  and traverses vertically on the set of linear guide rails  96 . The tip or nose  88  of the clamp assembly  84  is tapered into a frustro-conical shape to mate with the tapered socket  242  on the tire building lower core spindle assembly  240 . A rod clamp on the cylinder  104  is a braking mechanism used to maintain position. A second pneumatic cylinder  90  actuates a linkage at the tapered end to clamp the end of the tire building core spindle assembly  240  as described previously. The rod  92  actuates pivotal latch members  94  within respective openings  95  to extend the latch members  94  into and out of detent openings in the frustro-conical socket  242 . This clamp linkage and tapered spindle connection are used in station  14  as well as station  16  within the curing line  10  as will be appreciated from  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The clamp linkage and tapered spindle connection may further be utilized at a tire building station (not shown) to provide means for mechanically connecting to the core assembly  15 . 
     The core segment support assembly  82  is shown in  FIG. 9 . Its function is to support the tire building core segments  244 ,  246  in eight places below the tire bead area so that the lower core spindle assembly  240  can be removed or inserted. The support moves vertically on linear guide rails  120  and is actuated by two pneumatic cylinders  118 . Rod clamps on the cylinders are used to maintain the desired vertical position of the support  82 . 
     The lower core segment handling assembly  80  is shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  11 A and  11 B, and described in detail previously. Eight pins  136 , one for each of the eight core segments  244 ,  246 , are used to support the tire building core  234  after the lower and upper spindle assemblies  236 ,  240  have been removed. Each pin  136  is moved radially on linear rails  134  using a ball screw  130  driven by a servo-motor  126 . See  FIGS. 11 ,  11 A, and  11 B. This radial movement is used to pull the respective core segment inward to allow the upper core segment handling assembly  150  to remove it upward from the cured tire. 
     The tire unloader assembly  36  is shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  and described in detail previously. The tire unloader assembly  36  grips the outside diameter of a cured tire by means of the tire gripping paddles  42  driven by pneumatic cylinder  60  through arms  54 ,  56  as the tire building core segments  244 ,  246  are being removed, one by one. Thereafter, the unloader lifts the tire over the lower segment handling assembly  80 , rotates 180 degrees about shaft  74  to the tire drop zone (rotated from the  FIG. 12  position to the  FIG. 13  unload position), and lowers the assembly  36  by means of ball screw  66  along rails  70  to the drop-off height. The tire is released by the paddles  42  at the drop-off height. The tire is thus held by the eight paddles  42  which are actuated in unison from the single pneumatic cylinder  60  acting on the drive linkage  54 ,  56 . A rod clamp of a type common within the industry operates on the rod of the cylinder  60  to maintain the desired linkage position during the unloading operation. The unloader is lifted using the servo-motor  68  driven ball-screw jack  66 . The servo- system allows precise vertical positioning. The unloader rotation is achieved using the gear motor  72  with a variable frequency drive and encoder feedback. A clutch is used to prevent damage to the assembly should the path of rotation become unexpectedly restricted.  FIGS. 38 ,  39 , and  40  illustrate sequentially the operation of assembly  36 .  FIG. 38  is a sectional view showing clamping engagement of the paddles  42  against a tire carcass  230 ; and  FIGS. 39 and 40  the tire carcass  230  being lifted and rotated for placement at a tire unload position and height represented by  FIG. 40 . 
     The upper core assembly station  12  is shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The station  12  is comprised of two mechanisms  150 ,  198  supported by sub-frames  222 A, B, and  224 A, B, respectively, within a common outside frame  148 , which is mounted to the rail transport assembly  30  below. The first mechanism, the upper core segment handling assembly  150  has three primary axes of motion and is used to transport the individual core segments  244 ,  246  between positions on the pins  258  on the lower core segment handling assembly and the pins  151  in the segment storage station  152 . The second mechanism, the upper core handling assembly  198 , is used to grip and remove the upper spindle assembly  236  from the tire building core  234  to expose the individual core segments  244 ,  246  for removal. It is also used to transport the tire and core assembly  15 , both with and without a tire on it, between stations on the cure line assembly  10 . The upper core handling assembly  198  can position the complete core assembly at these stations: tire upender  14 ; core assembly and disassembly  34 ; and mold assembly and disassembly  18 . 
     The upper core segment handling assembly  150  is mounted to a sub-frame  222 A which is attached to the main frame  222 B through four linear guide assemblies. Three axes of movement are possible: vertical lift, rotation about the center of the tire, and radial movement. 
     Precision vertical movement control is achieved by lifting or lowering the sub-frame  222 A using two positive-drive belts  157 , driven by a common drive shaft  193  connected to the output of a gearbox and servo-motor combination  164 . The sub-frame  222 A also supports a second servo-motor and gearbox combination  154  which uses a positive-drive belt  156  to rotate the center shaft  158  to the desire angular position. Full rotation from zero to 360 degrees is possible. This drive shaft  158  supports the radial positioning assembly  150  shown in  FIG. 16 . The radial positioning assembly  150  uses another set of linear guides  170  and a ball screw  172  driven by a third servo-motor  168  to establish the desired radial position for the core segment gripper head  174  which is shown in  FIGS. 17 and 17A . 
     The gripper head  174  inserts a guide pin  182  into the top socket  250  of the core segment, and then uses a pneumatic cylinder  178  to actuate a link arm  180  to drive a conical pin  184  into a conical hole  252  in the core segment. Proximity switches  186  mounted on the cylinder  178  detect the position of the link arm  180 , and a spring-loaded foot mechanism actuates a proximity switch to assure that the core segment is present. 
     The core segment storage station or area  152  consists of two plates  153  with four pins  151  each mounted on either side of the upper core segment handling assembly frame  222 . The pins  151  are similar to the pins  254  used on the lower core assembly station  34  to hold the core segments in place until the sequence calls for the tire building core  234  to be re-assembled. The pins  151  are placed such that they may be accessed using only the vertical, rotational, and radial axes of the upper core handling assembly  150  as shown at the bottom of  FIG. 15  and in  FIGS. 41 and 42 . 
     The upper core handling assembly  198  also uses a sub-frame  224 A moving on four linear guide assemblies  226  to control vertical movement similar to the upper core segment handling assembly  150 . A telescoping mechanism is used to conserve space. Two intermediate frames  224 A, one on each side, are raised and lowered by two positive-drive belts  194 ,  196  connected to a common drive shaft  192  which is driven from the output of a gearbox and servo-motor combination  165 . A pinion gear  191 A mounted on each intermediate frame  224 A engages gear racks  191 B mounted to both the sub-frame and main frame. This pinion gear and rack combination allows the sub-frame  224 A to travel twice the vertical distance that the intermediate frame moves. The core gripper assembly  198 , shown in  FIG. 18  and in cross-section in  FIG. 19 , is mounted to the moving sub-frame  224 A. 
     The core gripper assembly, alternatively referred to as the upper core spindle latch mechanism,  198  is designed to hold and transport the assembled tire building core comprising core  234  and spindle assemblies  236 ,  234 , with or without a tire  230  on it, or the upper core spindle assembly  236  alone. The tip or frustro-conical nose  200  of the assembly  198  is tapered to match the tapered socket  238  in the spindle assembly  236 . This frustro-conical nose and socket arrangement is the same one used on the bottom spindle clamp assembly  84  described above. Once the nose  200  is engaged in the socket, a linkage is actuated using two pneumatic cylinders  210  acting in parallel. Rod locks on the cylinders maintain the position in case air pressure is lost. A third pneumatic cylinder  208  located at the top, center of the shaft is used to drive a long rod  206  in the assembly center. This rod  206  actuates the latch at the center of the tire building core  234  that keeps the two halves of the core spindle together. Extending the cylinder  208  actuates the latch, which separates the two halves  236 ,  240  comprising the tire building core spindle. 
     SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS 
     The sequence of operation will be understood from the following with reference to the drawings. 
     Disassembly—Initial Conditions:
         1. Tire building core  234  with cured tire  230  attached to upper core manipulator  12  at core assembly station  34 .  FIGS. 21 ,  22 ,  23 .   2. Core segment support  82  extended upward.   3. Bottom spindle clamp assembly  84  retracted (down).   4. Lower core handling assembly  80  with pins  136  retracted (radially outward) to wide diameter for clearance.   5. Tire unloader assembly  36  in tire pickup position over the lower core handling assembly center.       

     Sequence
         1. Upper core manipulator  12  moves into position with the upper core handling assembly  198  directly above the lower core segment handling assembly  80 .  FIGS. 20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23 .   2. Upper core handling assembly  198  lowers the tire building core  15  onto the core segment support  82 . See  FIGS. 24 and 25 . There is one support  114  for each segment of the core  15 .   3. Bottom spindle clamp assembly  84  extends upwardly to engage the lower core spindle assembly  240  of the tire building core  15 . Cylinder  90  actuates linkage  92 ,  94  to clamp. See  FIGS. 8 ,  26  and  27 .   4. The center cylinder  208  in the upper core handling assembly  12  actuates a rod  206  which releases the spring-loaded clamp, latches  264 , holding the two spindle halves  236 ,  240  of the tire building core  15  together. See  FIGS. 22 ,  29 .   5. The bottom spindle clamp assembly  84  retracts (moves downward) to remove the bottom spindle half  240  of the tire building core  15  The core segments are still supported on the arms  114  of the core segment support assembly  82 . See  FIGS. 28 and 29 .   6. The eight arms of the pin assemblies  124 ,  127 , each with a pin  136  extending upward from the end, of the lower core segment handling assembly  80  extend through the gaps between the arms  114  of the core segment support assembly  82  to positions placing the pins  136  directly under the holes in the tire building core segments. See  FIGS. 11 ,  30  and  31 .   7. The air pressure in the cylinders  118  extending the core segment support assembly  80  is lowered. The upper core handling assembly  12  lowers the core segments  244 ,  246  onto the eight pins  136  on the lower core segment handling assembly  80  arms. This action overpowers the force in the air cylinders  118  of the core segment support assembly  80  causing it to lower as well until the segments are engaged on the pins  136 . Then the core support assembly  80  is lowered to its extreme retracted position. The gripper assembly  40  of the tire unloader assembly  36  is engaged to hold the tire  230 . See  FIGS. 32 and 33 .   8. The upper half  236  of the tire building core spindle is removed by raising the upper core handling assembly  198 .   9. The entire upper core assembly manipulator  12  shifts along rails  30  to position the center of the upper core segment handling assembly  150  directly above the center of the lower core handling assembly  80 .   10. Upper core segment handling assembly  150  positions radially, and lowers to a position inside the tire  230  to engage the first key segment of the tire building core  234 . See  FIGS. 34 and 35 .   11. The radial axis of the core segment handling assembly  150  and the axis of the arm of the lower core segment handling assembly  80  are electronically synchronized together to pull the first key segment  244  radially toward the center of the tire  230 . The shape of the cured tire  230  may require the tire to flex slightly to allow the wider part of the key segment  244  to pass between the tire beads  232 . See  FIG. 36 .   12. The key segment  244  is then lifted by raising the core handling assembly  150 . See  FIGS. 37 and 38 .   13. Upper core handling assembly  150  moves the segment  244  to a storage pin  151  located on the main frame of the upper core manipulator  12  using a combination of vertical, rotational, and radial axes movements. Four segments are stored on each side of the frame at the positions corresponding to the position of each segment in the assembled core  234  as described previously. Each segment is rotated into a preferred retrieval orientation within the storage station in which the leading face of each segment is canted inward to a center region P between the storage plates as previously explained.   14. Steps 10-13 are repeated to remove the other three key segments  244 . The pins  136  of the four key segment handling assemblies  124  of the lower segment handling assembly  80  are retracted into the radially outward position and tilted downward to allow clearance for the subsequent removal of the larger core segments  246 .   15. Steps 10-13 are repeated to remove the four large segments  246 .   16. Upper core segment handling assembly  150  moves to a park position, allowing for clearance as the entire upper core assembly manipulator  12  moves toward the upending station  14 .   17. Tire unloader  36  raises to clear the pins  254  from the lower core spindle assembly  240 , rotates 180 degrees to the unload position, and then lowers to the unload height. See  FIGS. 39 and 40 .   18. The above sequence is then repeated in reverse order to re-assemble the tire building core  234 . The pins  136  of the four key segment handling assemblies  124  are reverse tilted back into the upright vertical orientation. The segment pins  136  for the core segments  244 ,  246  are in the retracted (radially outward) position to generally recreate the configuration of the assembled core. The key segment pins  136  for the key segments  244  are positioned radially inward from the segment pins  136  for the larger core segments  246 . The large segments  246  are put in place first and placed on respective pins  136 . The key segments  244  are then put in place on their respective radially inward positioned pins  136 . The key segments  244  are moved radially outward against the larger segments  246  to finally configure the assembled core  234 . The upper spindle half assembly  236  is installed followed by the lower spindle half assembly  240 . Finally, the assembled tire building core  234  is picked up by the upper spindle latch mechanism  198  of the upper core manipulator  12  and transported to the upender station  14  for delivery back to the tire building area.   19. A completed green tire arrives at the upender station  14  from the tire building area on the tire building core  15 . The upender station  14  rotates the core and green tire to a vertical orientation.   20. The upper core manipulator  12  moves into position, picks up the tire building core  15  with the upper core spindle latch mechanism  198  and transports it to the mold assembly station  18  for loading into a tire mold.   21. The upper core spindle latch mechanism  198  releases the tire building core  15  and moves with the upper core manipulator  12  to a storage position to wait for a core to finish the curing operation so that the cycle can begin again.
 
Alternate Sequence
       

     An alternate sequence for disassembly may be utilized to save cycle time. In steps 10 and 11 above, the segments may be removed using only the force provided by the ball screw  130  on the arm of each pin assembly  124 ,  127  of the lower core segment handling assembly  80 . In the alternative sequence, the lower unit  124 ,  127  would move a segment to the center, clear of the tire, where it would then be engaged by the upper unit  150 . This would allow the next segment to be pushed to the center while the upper core segment handling assembly  150  is still placing the first segment on its storage pin  151 . This alternate sequence would save several seconds from the total cycle time. 
     It will be appreciated that the subject curing line  10  is commercially applicable to the manufacture of all types of tires as well as non-tire items such as bladders and sleeves. The line  10  is not material specific and is not limited only to the manufacture of rubber articles. The subject invention does not involve the conventional practice in the tire building art in which tires are manufactured on building drums that are flat when the tire components are applied and then form the tire carcass to shape that approximates that of the cured tire. Rather the invention accommodates tires built in their final, cured shape. The mold shapes the outside of the tire, and the core flanges provide a solid surface to maintain the inside shape of the tire during curing. The invention thereby provides the means to remove the solid core segments from within a cured tire. 
     Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.