Patent ID: RE39312

Claim:
An apparatus for inflating a tire mounted on a rim comprising: a conveyor for transporting a tire mounted on a rim to a predetermined position at a tire inflating workstation, the conveyor having carrier surfaces spaced laterally with respect to one another along a path of travel for engaging the tire and rim for transport, the carrier surfaces moveable along the path of travel and moveable vertically between a raised transport position and a lowered transfer position; and a support surface at the tire inflating workstation, the support surface having at least two portions, the portions having at least one interlocking joint for holding the portions of the support surface in sealing engagement with respect to one another during an inflation process, at least one portion of the support surface moveable transversely with respect to the path of travel of the conveyor for allowing transfer of the tire and rim transported by the conveyor to the support surface as the conveyor moves between the raised transport position and the lowered transfer position.