Patent ID: 7954447

Claim:
Apparatus for protecting an innerliner splice of a green tire comprising: a spray station having a shaft and at least one lubricant spray nozzle mounted on the shaft and connectable to a supply of release lubricant for applying said release lubricant on the innerliner of the green tire, said shaft being moveable in a first linear direction and in a rotational direction; an air nozzle connectable to a supply of pressurized air which provides a stream of pressurized incoming air to the air nozzle for directing a pair of air streams on opposite sides of the innerliner splice creating a protective air barrier about said innerliner splice protecting said innerliner splice from contact by the release lubricant; and at least one bearing mounted on the shaft and supporting the air nozzle on the shaft free of rotation from the shaft as the shaft moves in the rotational direction when applying the release lubricant on the innerliner.