Patent ID: 7896048

Claim:
A chuck system for engaging a tire carcass, the tire carcass having an internal circumference and tapered internal ends, the chuck system comprising: first and second chucks, each chuck having a non-expandable fixed diameter circumferential external surface defined about a central rotational axis of the chuck system, the chucks and the tire carcass being rotatable about the central rotational axis; the chucks being co-axially mounted relative to each other and the central rotational axis and being movable axially relative to each other between a retracted position and a separated position; and each chuck including a plurality of friction reducing members extending radially outward from its non-expandable fixed diameter circumferential external surface for engaging the internal circumference of the tire carcass, the friction reducing members being radially non-expandable relative to the central rotational axis, the friction reducing members being rotatable relative to the external surface of their respective chucks so that friction between the chucks and the tire carcass is reduced during relative axial movement of one or both of the chucks relative to the tire carcass.