Patent ID: 8037916

Claim:
A tire labeling system for positioning a label on a tire tread surface of a specific tire, wherein the specific tire is maintained within a stack of tires, the tire labeling system comprising, a computer adapted to receive tire information and position information regarding a specific tire within a stack of tires; a printer receiving the tire information for the specific tire from said computer and printing the tire information on the label; a single applicator configured to receive the label for placement on a tire tread surface of the specific tire within the stack of tires; a frame carrying the applicator, the frame receiving the position information so as to direct movement of the applicator along a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis, and including at least one first guide for linearly moving the applicator along the first axis, a second guide supported by the at least one first guide for linearly moving the applicator along the second axis, and a third guide supported by the second guide for linearly moving the applicator along the third axis; and a rotatable arm carried by one of said guides, wherein said rotatable arm is rotatable with respect to one of said axes and wherein said computer instructs said rotatable arm to linearly move along the first, second and third axes so as to pick up a label from said printer with said rotatable arm, and then move said rotatable arm along said axes so as to apply the label to the tire tread surface of the specific tire within the stack of tires.