Patent Publication Number: US-2023158833-A1

Title: Air Barrier Material Application Systems And Methods

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatuses for building a tire. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to building a tire without a typical inner liner and instead spraying on an air barrier material on the inner surface of the tire. 
     Typical pneumatic tires having inner liners are known in the art. An inner liner is used because the rubber used for the other portions of the tire is too permeable and allows air inside the tire to escape over time. The inner liner is made from a different and more expensive rubber that allows much less air to escape the tire over time. Halogenated rubbers, which are used in inner liners, are, on a pound per pound basis, the most expensive rubber in a tire. One to two pounds of inner liner rubber is used in a typical passenger tire. Concerns over expense, ease of manufacture, and ultimate finished tire weight make the typical inner liner undesirable. 
     What is needed, therefore, is one or more methods and apparatuses that allow for an inner liner to be sprayed onto the inner surface of the tire. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Briefly, the present disclosure relates, in one embodiment, to a method of applying an air barrier material to an inner surface of a tire. The method may include curing the tire; securing the tire onto a chuck of a post-cure inflation machine; performing a first post-cure inflation cycle; spraying the air barrier material onto the inner surface of the tire while the tire is in a spray position within 25 degrees of vertical; and axially rotating the tire while the tire is secured on the chuck in the spray position. 
     The present disclosure also relates, in one embodiment, to a method of applying an air barrier material to an inner surface of a tire. The method may include performing a post-cure inflation of the tire; placing the tire onto a dump gate platform after finishing the post-cure inflation of the tire; and spraying the air barrier material onto the inner surface of the tire while the tire is on the dump gate platform. 
     The present disclosure further relates, in an embodiment, to a method of applying an air barrier material to an inner surface of a tire. The method may include conveying the tire to a spray area section of a conveyor system; stopping the tire on the spray area section; spraying the air barrier material onto the inner surface of the tire while the tire is stopped on the spray area section; and conveying the tire away from the spray area section after spraying the air barrier material onto the inner surface of the tire. 
     The present disclosure further still relates, in one embodiment, to a method of applying an air barrier material to an inner surface of a tire. The method may include placing the tire in a tire trimming machine; rotating the tire in the tire trimming machine as part of a tire trimming operation; and spraying the air barrier material onto the inner surface of the tire while performing the tire trimming operation. 
     The present disclosure even further relates, in one embodiment, to a sprayer apparatus for spraying an air barrier material onto an inner surface of a tire. The sprayer apparatus may include a nozzle. The nozzle may include at least one material opening defined in the nozzle. The at least one material opening may be configured to project the air barrier material in a general material direction. At least one first air projection opening may be defined in the nozzle on a first side of the at least one material opening. At least one second air projection opening may be defined in the nozzle on a second side of the at least one material opening. The second side may be opposite the first side. The at least one first air projection opening and the at least one second air projection opening may each be configured to project a respective one of two air blades to contain the material between the air blades. 
     The present disclosure also relates, in one embodiment, to a post-cure inflation machine for processing a tire. The post-cure inflation machine may include a tire holder shaft. The tire holder shaft may include a chuck configured to secure the tire to the tire holder shaft. A hollow passage may be defined in the tire holder shaft. A spray nozzle may be connected to a spray shaft. The spray shaft may be telescopically disposed in the hollow passage of the tire holder shaft so that the spray nozzle may extend to spray an air barrier material onto the tire. 
     The present disclosure further still relates, in one embodiment, to a spray area section of a conveyor system for processing a tire. The spray area section may include a spray area platform. A sprayer passage may be defined in the spray area platform. A spray nozzle may be configured to pass through the sprayer passage so that the spray nozzle may extend to spray an air barrier material onto the tire. 
     The present disclosure yet further relates, in one embodiment, to a tire trimming machine for processing a tire. The tire trimming machine may include at least one centering roller configured to bias the tire into a centered position. At least one blade may be configured to trim the tire. A spray nozzle may be configured to extend to spray an air barrier material onto the tire. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a cross-sectional view of a typical pneumatic passenger tire. 
         FIG.  2    is a flow chart showing the typical steps of creating a pneumatic tire. 
         FIG.  3    is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a post-cure inflation machine for processing pneumatic tires. 
         FIG.  4    is a side elevation view of the post-cure inflation machine of  FIG.  3    with a first tire undergoing a first post-cure inflation cycle and a second tire not yet mounted to the post-cure inflation machine. 
         FIG.  5    is a side elevation view of the post-cure inflation machine of  FIG.  3   . This figure could show the first tire undergoing a second post-cure inflation cycle and the second tire undergoing a first post-cure inflation cycle. Alternatively, this figure could show the first tire undergoing a first post-cure inflation cycle and the second tire having been just recently mounted to the post-cure inflation machine. 
         FIG.  6    is a side elevation view of the post-cure inflation machine of  FIG.  3   . This figure shows the post-cure inflation machine at a spraying step wherein the tire being sprayed is in the spray position. 
         FIG.  7    is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a spray area section of a conveyor system, the spray area section including a dump gate. 
         FIG.  8    is a side elevation view of the spray area section of  FIG.  7    with the sprayer in the retracted position. 
         FIG.  9    is a side elevation view of the spray area section of  FIG.  7    with the sprayer in the extended position. 
         FIG.  10    is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a spray area section of a conveyor system showing a receiving conveyor and a horizontally mounted sprayer, the spray area section including a dump gate. 
         FIG.  11    is a side elevation view of the spray area section of  FIG.  10    with the dump gate holding the tire in a vertical position while the sprayer applies the air barrier material. 
         FIG.  12    is a side elevation view of the spray area section of  FIG.  10    with the dump gate in a dump position to transfer the tire to the receiving conveyor after the tire has been sprayed with the air barrier material. 
         FIG.  13    is a side elevation view of the spray area section of  FIG.  10    with the dump gate in the start position to receive a new tire after the previous tire has been transferred to the receiving conveyor. 
         FIG.  14    is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a spray area section of a conveyor system showing a delivery conveyor and a receiving conveyor. The spray area section being similar to that shown in  FIGS.  7 - 9   , but with no dump gate. 
         FIG.  15    is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a spray area section of a conveyor system showing a delivery conveyor and a receiving conveyor. 
         FIG.  16    is a side elevation view of the spray area section of  FIG.  15   . The spray area section being similar to that shown in  FIGS.  10  and  11   , but with no dump gate and with a differently located receiving conveyor. 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tire trimming machine. 
         FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional view of the tire trimming machine of  FIG.  17    including a sprayer in a retracted position. 
         FIG.  19    is a cross-sectional view of the tire trimming machine of  FIG.  17    with the sprayer in an extended position and spraying an air barrier material onto a tire. 
         FIG.  20    is a perspective view of a spray booth for spraying an air barrier material onto a tire. 
         FIG.  21    is a front elevation view of a spray apparatus for spraying an air barrier material onto an inner surface of a tire. 
         FIG.  22    is a top plan view of the spray apparatus of  FIG.  21    while spraying the air barrier material. 
         FIG.  23    is a top plan view of another configuration of the spray apparatus of  FIG.  21    while spraying the air barrier material. 
         FIG.  24    is a perspective view of a conveyor oven. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more drawings of which are set forth herein. Each drawing is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure and is not a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. 
     Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in, or are obvious from, the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present disclosure. 
     The words “connected”, “attached”, “joined”, “mounted”, “fastened”, and the like should be interpreted to mean any manner of joining two objects including, but not limited to, the use of any fasteners such as screws, nuts and bolts, bolts, pin and clevis, and the like allowing for a stationary, translatable, or pivotable relationship; welding of any kind such as traditional MIG welding, TIG welding, friction welding, brazing, soldering, ultrasonic welding, torch welding, inductive welding, and the like; using any resin, glue, epoxy, and the like; being integrally formed as a single part together; any mechanical fit such as a friction fit, interference fit, slidable fit, rotatable fit, pivotable fit, and the like; any combination thereof; and the like. 
     The words “vertical” and “horizontal” are used for clarity of language to aid in understanding the disclosure. These words are in reference to orientations of the components when being viewed in an upright position and do not limit any of the claims to only the upright position. Vertical may, in some embodiments, be associated with an axis along the direction of gravity. Horizontal, then, may be associated with an axis that is perpendicular thereto. The terms substantially vertical and substantially horizontal may refer to a range that is about true vertical and true horizontal. Substantially vertical should be understood to be any orientation with an absolute angle up to 25 degrees, and more preferably up to 15 degrees, from an axis along the direction of gravity. Substantially horizontal should be understood to be any orientation with an absolute angle of up to 25 degrees, and more preferably up to 15 degrees, from an axis perpendicular to the direction of gravity. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise, any part of the apparatus of the present disclosure may be made of any appropriate or suitable material including, but not limited to, metal, alloy, polymer, polymer mixture, wood, composite, or any combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a typical pneumatic passenger tire  11  is shown. The tire  11  may be multi-layered and may include tire beads  13 , body plies  15 , at least one cushion  17 , steel belts  19 , at least one belt wedge  21 , gum strips  23 , nylon overlays  25 , undertread  27 , sidewalls  29 , and a tread portion  31 . The typical pneumatic passenger tire  11  also includes an inner liner  33 , often a halobutyl, chlorobutyl, or bromobutyl liner. This inner liner  33  is used because the rubber used for the other portions of the tire  11  is too permeable and allows air inside the tire to escape over time. The inner liner  33  is made from a different and more expensive rubber that allows much less air to escape the tire over time. Halogenated rubbers, which are used in inner liners  33 , are, on a pound per pound basis, the most expensive rubber in a tire  11 . One to two pounds of inner liner rubber is used in a typical passenger tire  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , a typical pneumatic passenger tire  11  is created according to the schematic tire build process. At steps  1  and  2 , the raw materials are prepared for the building process. At step  3 , the fabric cord is calendered and cut into plies, and the steel belt is calendered and cut. At step  4 , the bead is assembled. At step  5 , the tread and sidewall is extruded, and the inner liner is calendered. At step  6 , the tire is built. At step  7 , the tire is cured. At step  8 , the tire is inspected in multiple fashions. Finally, the tire is finished and ready for use or sale. 
     Post-Cure Inflation Machine and Method Relating Thereto 
     Turning now to  FIGS.  3 - 6   , a post-cure inflation machine  100  is shown. The post-cure inflation machine  100  may receive a tire  35  (with no inner liner) that has recently been cured in a curing press (not shown). 
     At least one tire holder shaft  102  of the post-cure inflation machine  100  may include a chuck  104 . The chuck  104  may be configured to secure the tire  35  to the tire holder shaft  102 . At least one of the tire holder shaft  102  and the chuck  104  may be configured to rotate about an axis A 1  of the tire holder shaft in some embodiments. 
     A hollow passage  106  may be defined in the tire holder shaft  102 . A spray nozzle  108  may be connected to a spray shaft  110 . The spray shaft  110  may be telescopically disposed in the hollow passage  106  of the tire holder shaft  102 . This configuration may allow the spray nozzle to extend to spray an air barrier material  112  onto the tire  35 . 
     In some embodiments, the spray nozzle  108  and spray shaft  110  may be rigidly connected to a portion of the tire holder shaft  102 . The tire holder shaft  102  may be telescopic itself in many embodiments. The spray shaft  110  may also be configured to extend telescopically along the axis A 1  of the tire holder shaft  102 . Additionally or alternatively, the spray shaft  110  may be configured to extend telescopically in a direction perpendicular to the axis A 1  of the tire holder shaft  102 . 
     A method of applying the air barrier material  112  to an inner surface  37  of the tire  35  may be performed with the above described post-cure inflation machine  100 . The method may include curing the tire  35 , often with a curing press. 
     After the tire  35  has been cured, the tire may be secured onto the chuck  104  of the post-cure inflation machine  100 . The tire  35  may be placed on the tire holder shaft  102  by a robotic arm or a person. The tire  35  may be placed on the tire holder shaft  102  at the middle-right of  FIG.  3   , for instance. Once the tire  35  has been received on the tire holder shaft  102 , the chuck  104  may be actuated to secure the tire. 
     Once the tire  35  is secured by the chuck  104 , the tire holder shaft  102  may rotate around an extender arm axis A 2  to position the tire holder shaft to receive another tire on the other end of the tire holder shaft. Additionally or alternatively, the tire holder shaft  102  may rotate around a base axis A 3 . The ends of the tire holder shaft  102  may rotate about the extender arm axis A 2  along a path  114  as shown in  FIGS.  4 - 6   . 
     Once the tire holder shaft  102  has rotated once to place the tire  35  in a first position that is substantially horizontal, the tire begins its first post-cure inflation cycle. The bottom tire  35  on  FIG.  4    is in the first position, for instance. While the bottom tire  35  is undergoing its first post-cure inflation cycle, another tire may be placed on the top part of the tire holder shaft  102  as shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     Between some or all rotations, the tire holder shaft  102  may stop at a spray position that is substantially horizontal as shown in  FIG.  6   . The tire  35 , then, is substantially vertical. The bottom tire  35  of  FIG.  5   , having completed its first post-cure inflation cycle, may rotate to this spray position on the left of  FIG.  6   . At this position, the tire  35  may receive a coating of air barrier material  112  sprayed from the spray nozzle  108 . In many embodiments, the tire  35  may be rotated about the axis A 1  of the tire holder shaft during and/or after the spraying process. 
     In some embodiments, the spray nozzle  108  may extend from inside the tire holder shaft  102  such that the spray nozzle is directed at the inner surface  37  of the tire  35 . In these embodiments, the spray nozzle  108  may retract back inside the tire holder shaft  102  after completing the spraying task. 
     After the spraying step is finished, the tire  35  may then move to a second position, the top position of the two tires shown in  FIG.  5   , to undergo a second post-cure inflation cycle. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the tires  35  may receive a coating of air barrier material  112  sprayed from the spray nozzle  108  after the second post-cure inflation cycle. In some embodiments, the tire  35  may receive a coating of air barrier material  112  sprayed from the spray nozzle  108  during the second post-cure inflation cycle. 
     Dump Gate Assembly and Method Relating Thereto 
     In  FIGS.  7 - 9   , an embodiment of a spray area section  200  of a conveyor system is shown. With regard to  FIGS.  7 - 9   , the spray area section  200  is a dump gate assembly. 
     The dump gate assembly  200  may include a dump gate platform  202  for supporting the tire  35 . In many embodiments, the dump gate platform  202  may include a plurality of rollers  204 . The rollers  204  may be of any appropriate construction and may include bar rollers, ball bearing type rollers, conveyor belts, wheels, actuated sections of the spray area platform  202 , and the like. 
     A spray passage  206  may be defined in the dump gate platform  202 . This spray passage  206  may, in some embodiments, include a missing roller  204  or a gap between rollers, conveyor belts, and the like. A spray nozzle  208  may be configured to pass through the spray passage  206 . The spray nozzle  208  may extend from below the dump gate platform  202  to above the dump gate platform by a telescopic spray shaft  210  in some embodiments. The spray nozzle  208  may extend to a position to spray an air barrier material  212  onto the tire  35 . 
     A dump gate wall  214  may be positioned substantially orthogonally to the dump gate platform  202 . The dump gate wall  214  may also include rollers  204  of any appropriate construction. At least one drive roller  216  may be disposed on the dump gate wall  214  to rotate the tire  35  about the tire axis A 4  on the dump gate platform  202 . The rest of the rollers  204  disposed on the dump gate wall  214  and the dump gate platform  202  may be configured to allow this rotation of the tire  35 . Additionally or alternatively, the spray nozzle  208  may be configured to rotate on the spray shaft  210  during the spray operation. 
     A method of applying the air barrier material  212  to an inner surface  37  of the tire  35  may be performed with the above described spray area section  200 . The method may include performing a post-cure inflation of the tire  35 . 
     After the post-cure inflation process has been completed, the tire  35  may be placed on the dump gate platform  202 . The tire  35  may be placed on the dump gate platform  202  by a robotic arm or a person. 
     While the tire  35  is on the dump gate platform  202 , the air barrier material  212  is sprayed onto the inner surface  37  of the tire. This step may be accomplished by first extending the spray nozzle  208  from below the dump gate platform  202 . In some embodiments, the spray shaft  210  is telescopically elongated to extend the spray nozzle  208 . The spray nozzle  208  may then be directed at the inner surface  37  of the tire  35 . After the spraying step is completed, the spray nozzle  208  may be retracted back to a position below the dump gate platform  202 . In some embodiments, the spray shaft  210  telescopically retracts to retract the spray nozzle  208 . 
     The tire  35  may then be removed from the dump gate assembly  200  by a robotic arm, a person, or (as discussed below) may be released from the dump gate assembly by rotating the dump gate wall  214  away from the dump gate platform  202  to allow the tire to fall and come to rest on a conveyor belt. 
     Another embodiment of a spray area section, or dump gate assembly,  300  of a conveyor system is shown in  FIGS.  10 - 13   . 
     Like components to those shown in  FIGS.  7 - 9    with respect to the dump gate assembly  200  are repeated in  FIGS.  10 - 13    with a reference numeral that begins with a three instead of a two. As such, some of the reference numerals shown in  FIGS.  10 - 13    may not otherwise be mentioned herein. 
     The dump gate assembly  300  may not include an opening or passage in the dump gate platform  302 . Instead, the dump gate assembly  300  may be configured to move from a first position (shown in  FIGS.  10  and  13   ) with the dump gate platform  302  substantially horizontal to a second position (shown in  FIG.  11   ) with the dump gate platform substantially vertical. With the dump gate platform  302  in the second position, the tire  35  is also positioned substantially vertically and rests on the dump gate wall  314 . 
     The spray shaft  310  may be mounted to a sprayer tower  318  such that the spray nozzle  308  may extend substantially parallel with the ground toward the tire  35 . 
     As discussed briefly above, the dump gate wall  314  may be configured to rotate in a direction D 1  (up and into the page of  FIG.  12   ) away from the dump gate platform  302  to allow the tire  35  to fall and come to rest on a conveyor belt  320 . The conveyor belt  320  may be positioned to receive the tire  35  and to carry the tire away from the dump gate assembly  300  and toward another component of the tire manufacturing process. 
     A method of applying the air barrier material  312  to an inner surface  37  of the tire  35  may be performed with the above described spray area section  300 . The method may include performing a post-cure inflation of the tire  35 . 
     After the post-cure inflation process has been completed, the tire  35  may be placed on the dump gate platform  302 . The tire  35  may be placed on the dump gate platform  302  by a robotic arm or a person. 
     The tire may come to rest on the dump gate platform  302  in a first position that is substantially horizontal, as shown in  FIG.  10   . Next, as shown in  FIG.  11   , the tire may be moved into a spray position that is substantially vertical. This step may be accomplished by rotating the dump gate assembly  300  about a pivot point  322 . This rotation may be accomplished by a motor connected to a portion of the dump gate assembly  300 , a human actuating the rotation, and the like. Once the tire is in the substantially vertical position, the spray nozzle  308  extends toward the tire  35  such that the spray nozzle may spray air barrier material  312  onto the inner surface  37  of the tire. A spraying step is performed while the tire  35  is rotated about its axis A 4  by the at least one drive roller  316  on the dump gate wall  314 . After the spraying step is completed, the spray nozzle  308  retracts toward the spray tower  318 , and the dump gate assembly  300  is rotated back to the first position, as shown in  FIG.  10   . Additionally or alternatively, the dump gate assembly  300  may be rotated to the release position, as shown in  FIG.  12   . In the release position, the dump gate wall  314  may be rotated in a direction D 1  (represented by an arrow indicating up and into the page of  FIG.  12   ) such that it no longer obstructs the tire  35  in its path to the conveyor belt  320 . After the tire has passed to the conveyor belt  320 , the dump gate assembly  300  moves back to the first position to receive the next tire, as shown in  FIG.  13   . 
     Conveyor System Assembly and Method Relating Thereto 
     Another embodiment of a spray area section  400  of a conveyor system  424  is shown in  FIG.  14   . 
     Like components to those shown in  FIGS.  7 - 9    with respect to the dump gate assembly  200  are repeated in  FIG.  14    with a reference numeral that begins with a four instead of a two with regard to the spray area section  400 . As such, some of the reference numerals shown in  FIG.  14    may not otherwise be mentioned herein. 
     The spray area section  400  may function largely in the same way as the dump gate assembly  200 , except the spray area section may not include the release function as discussed above with regard to the dump gate assemblies  200 ,  300 . Instead, the spray area section  400  may be configured to receive the tire  35  from an upstream portion of the conveyor system  424 . They spray area section  400  may also be configured to deliver the tire  35  to a downstream portion of the conveyor system  424 . The portions of the conveyor system  424  other than the spray area section  400  may include a conveyor belt  420 , rollers  404 , wheels, actuated portions of a platform, a shaker table, and the like. 
     A method of applying the air barrier material  412  to an inner surface  37  of the tire  35  may be performed with the spray area section  400 . This method may include conveying the tire to the spray area section  400  of a conveyor system  424 . After the tire  35  has reached the spray area section  400 , the tire is stopped. This stopping function may be performed by an unactuated drive roller  416  in the spray area platform  402  or by a drive roller briefly rolling in a direction opposite the direction of the tire&#39;s momentum. While the tire  35  is stopped on the spray area section  400 , the spray nozzle  408  extends from below the spray area platform  402  to above the spray area platform. The spray nozzle  408  sprays air barrier material (not shown) onto the inner surface  37  of the tire. After the spraying step is completed, the spray nozzle  408  retracts back to below the spray area platform  402 . The tire is then conveyed away from the spray area section  400 . This conveyance may be initiated by a drive roller  416  in the spray area platform  402 , and the tire  35  may be further carried away by downstream rollers  404  (or a conveyor belt, wheels, actuated portions of a platform, shaker tables, and the like). 
     In some embodiments, one or more drive rollers  416  in the spray area wall  414  may rotate the tire about its axis A 4  during the spray operation. Additionally or alternatively, the spray nozzle  408  may rotate about the spray shaft  410  during the spray operation. 
     Another embodiment of a spray area section  500  of a conveyor system  524  is shown in  FIGS.  15  and  16   . 
     Like components to those shown in  FIGS.  10 - 13    with respect to the dump gate assembly  300  are repeated in  FIGS.  15  and  16    with a reference numeral that begins with a five instead of a three. As such, some of the reference numerals shown in  FIGS.  15  and  16    may not otherwise be mentioned herein. 
     The spray area section  500  may function largely in the same way as the dump gate assembly  300 , except the spray area section may not include the release function as discussed above with regard to the dump gate assemblies  200 ,  300 . Instead, the spray area section  500  may be configured to receive the tire  35  from an upstream portion of the conveyor system  524  and to deliver the tire to a downstream portion of the conveyor system (like conveyor system  424  of  FIG.  14    discussed above). 
     A method of applying the air barrier material  512  to an inner surface  37  of the tire  35  may be performed with the spray area section  500 . This method may include conveying the tire to the spray area section  500  of a conveyor system  524 . After the tire  35  has reached the spray area section  500 , the tire is stopped in a manner similar to the spray area section  400 . The tire is stopped on the spray area platform  502  in a substantially horizontal position (shown in  FIGS.  15  and  16   ). While the tire is stopped on the spray area platform  502 , the tire is moved to a spray position that is substantially vertical (similar to the dump gate assembly  300  shown in  FIG.  11   ) by rotating the spray area section  500  about the pivot point  522 . In the spray position, the tire  35  may be supported by the rollers  504  including at least one drive roller  516  of the spray area wall  514 . Also similar to the discussion above with regard to the dump gate assembly  300 , the tire  35  may be rotated about its axis A 4  by actuating the at least one drive roller  516 . While the tire  35  is rotating, the air barrier material is sprayed from the spray nozzle  508  to coat the inner surface  37  of the tire. When the spraying step is completed, the tire  35  returns to the substantially horizontal position by rotating the spray area section  500  about the pivot point  522  once more. Once the tire  35  has returned to the substantially horizontal position, as shown in  FIGS.  15  and  16   , the tire is then conveyed away from the spray area section  500 . As with the spray area section  400  discussed above, a drive roller  516  in the spray area platform  502  may move the tire  35  to downstream rollers  504  and the like. 
     Tire Trimming Machine and Method Relating Thereto 
     In  FIGS.  17 - 19   , an embodiment of a tire trimming machine  600  is shown. The tire trimming machine  600  may include at least one tire receiving platform  602 . The tire support platform may include rollers  604  in the form of conveyor belts, wheels, bearings, and the like. The rollers  604  may also be driven rollers  616  to move the tire  35  into the correct position. The tire receiving platform  602  may include a sprayer passage  606  to allow a spray nozzle  608  to extend from below the tire support platform to above the tire support platform. The spray nozzle  608  may be extended by a telescoping spray shaft  610  such that the spray nozzle may direct air barrier material  612  at the inner surface  37  of the tire  35 . 
     The tire trimming machine  600  may further include at least one centering roller  626 . The centering roller  626  may be configured to bias the tire  35  into a centered position (as shown in  FIGS.  18  and  19   ). In some embodiments, the centering roller  626  may include one or more conical rollers. The centering rollers may also include drive rollers  616  such that the tire is rotated about its axis A 4 . 
     At least one blade  628  may be configured to trim the tire  35  as it spins about its axis A 4 . 
     Although the tire trimming machine  600  is shown configured to maintain the tire  35  in a substantially horizontal position, it is contemplated that another embodiment of a tire trimming machine may maintain the tire in a substantially vertical position. It is even contemplated that an embodiment of a tire trimming machine may receive the tire  35  in a substantially horizontal position, move the tire to a substantially vertical position for the spraying operation, and return the tire to the substantially horizontal position before conveying the tire away from the tire trimming machine. In such embodiments, the at least one centering roller  626  may be further configured to hold the tire  35  in a first position that is substantially vertical. 
     A method of applying the air barrier material  612  to an inner surface  37  of the tire  35  may be performed with the tire trimming machine  600 . This method may include placing the tire  35  in the tire trimming machine  600 . Once the tire  35  is in place, centering the tire in the tire trimming machine  600  with at least one centering roller  626 . After the tire  35  has been centered, rotating the tire in the tire trimming machine with at least one drive roller  616  as part of a tire trimming operation. Either prior to starting to rotate the tire  35  about its axis A 4  or while the tire is rotating, extending the spray nozzle  608  from below the tire receiving platform  602  to above the tire receiving platform such that the spray nozzle is directed at the inner surface  37  of the tire. While trimming the tire  35  with the at least one blade  628 , spraying the air barrier material  612  onto the inner surface  37  of the tire. After the spraying operation is completed, retracting the spray nozzle  608  back to below the tire receiving platform  602 . 
     Spray Booth and Method Relating Thereto 
     In  FIG.  20   , an embodiment of a spray booth  700  is shown. The spray booth  700  may be a designated location for spraying the air barrier material  712  onto the tire  35  to prevent overspray. The spray nozzle  708  may be mounted to a portion of the spray booth  700  by the spray shaft  710 . In some embodiments, the spray shaft  710  may be telescopic such that the spray shaft may extend and retract to position the spray nozzle  708  correctly depending on the size of the tire  35  placed in the spray booth. The spray booth  700  may be a part of the assembly line of the tire  35 , or it may be separate from such an assembly line. A robotic arm or a human may place the tire  35  in the spray booth and may similarly remove the tire from the spray booth after the spraying operation has completed. The spray booth  700  may be a partial or complete enclosure, depending on the embodiment. The tire  35  may rotate about its axis A 4 , or the spray nozzle  708  may rotate about the spray shaft  710 , or both during the spraying operation. 
     Although the spray booth  700  is shown configured to maintain the tire  35  in a substantially horizontal position, it is contemplated that another embodiment of a spray booth may maintain the tire in a substantially vertical position. It is even contemplated that an embodiment of a spray booth may receive the tire  35  in a substantially horizontal position, move the tire to a substantially vertical position for the spraying operation, and return the tire to the substantially horizontal position before conveying the tire away from the spray booth. 
     Sprayer Apparatus and Method Related Thereto 
     As shown in  FIGS.  21 - 23   , any of the spray nozzles  108 ,  208 ,  308 ,  408 ,  508 ,  608 , and  708  and spray shafts  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ,  610 , and  710  discussed herein may be of a particular construction in some embodiments. 
     A sprayer apparatus  800  for spraying an air barrier material  812  may include a spray nozzle  808  and a spray shaft  810 . The spray nozzle  808  may be part of a spray head  830 . 
     The spray nozzle  808  may include at least one material opening  832  defined in the nozzle. The at least one material opening  832  may be configured to project the air barrier material  812  in a general material direction D 2 . 
     At least one first air projection opening  834  may be defined in the spray nozzle  808  on a first side of the at least one material opening  832 . At least one second air projection opening  836  may be defined in the spray nozzle  808  on a second side of the at least one material opening  832 . The second side may be opposite the first side. The at least one first air projection opening  834  may be configured to project a first air blade  838 . The at least one second air projection opening  836  may be configured to project a second air blade  840 . The at least two air blades  838 ,  840  may be configured to contain the air barrier material  812  therebetween. 
     As shown in  FIG.  22   , the air blades  838 ,  840  may be directed substantially parallel to the general material direction D 2  such that the air barrier material  812  projects substantially completely parallel to the general material direction. As shown in  FIG.  23   , however, the spray nozzle  808  may alternatively be configured such that the air blades  838 ,  840  form angles with respect to the general material direction D 2 . In this configuration, the air barrier material  812  may project in a more fanned out pattern along the general material direction D 2 . In further still configurations, the spray nozzle  808  may include air blades  838 ,  840  (and perhaps additional air blades) positioned and aimed such that  FIG.  22    represents a side view of the spray pattern and  FIG.  23    represents a top view of the spray pattern. 
     More than two air blades  838 ,  840  are contemplated herein. Less than two air blades  838 ,  840  is also contemplated. In some embodiments, the air blades may be of a proper number to form any polygonal shape about the at least one material opening  832 . In one embodiment, the air blade may be formed by a single opening forming a circle about the at least one material opening  832 . No matter the number of air blades, the air projection opening(s) are configured to form a virtual spray enclosure for the air barrier material  812 . 
     Air Barrier Material Curing Oven 
     The current disclosure contemplates a need for baking the tire  35  having the inner surface  37  coated with an air barrier material in order to cure the air barrier material. As such, a conveyor type curing oven  900  is shown in  FIG.  23   . This conveyor type curing oven  900  would allow the tires  35  to continue moving along an assembly line. It is also contemplated, however, that the tires  35  could be removed from the assembly line, placed in a large oven (for instance, a walk-in, heated room), cured for a period of time, removed, and returned to the assembly line. 
     It is also contemplated that embodiments of the air barrier material currently developed or hereinafter developed may not require curing with an oven of any sort. In embodiments with self-curing air barrier material, no oven would be required. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims. 
     Although embodiments of the disclosure have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. While specific uses for the subject matter of the disclosure have been exemplified, other uses are contemplated. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained herein.