Patent ID: 7909080

Claim:
Apparatus for attaching an annular transponder unit to an annular tire surface, the transponder unit being of a type having a sensor housing coupled to an annular antenna, the apparatus comprising: a. a table for supporting a tire having an annular tire surface in an accessible disposition; b. an arm proximately disposed to the table and having tooling means at a remote end for supporting a sensor housing section of the transponder unit against the annular tire surface and for progressively attaching the annular antenna section by section to the annular tire surface, wherein the tooling means comprises: gripping means for engaging the sensor housing and placing the sensor housing at an indexed location on the annular tire surface; and guide means for engaging the annular antenna and progressively positioning the annular antenna section by section along the annular tire surface; and c. means for establishing a relative rotation between the tire and the arm tooling means between an initial relative position and a terminal relative position.