Automatic system and method for mounting and dismounting tire casing on expandable rim hub in retreading operations

A tire retreading system comprising:

• a tire hub assembly adapted to support and selectively rotate a tire casing about a rotational axis, the tire hub assembly having a tire chuck with an expandable rim hub adapted to selectively expand to retentively engage the tire casing mounted on the tire chuck, the expandable rim hub movable between a contracted position and a range of expanded positions wherein the diameter of the expandable rim hub is greater in the expanded positions than in the contracted position;
• a loader device arranged with respect to the tire hub assembly to selectively load the tire casing upon the tire hub assembly, the loader device including:
• a support pedestal, the support pedestal movable over a range of longitudinal travel along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis being substantially parallel with the rotational axis,
• a support carriage movably mounted to the support pedestal, the support carriage movable over a range of vertical travel along a normal axis, the normal axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the support carriage having a support arm adapted to engage an inner periphery of the tire casing and support the tire casing independently of the expandable rim hub,
• a loader actuator mounted to at least one of the support pedestal and the support carriage, the loader actuator is adapted to selectively move, relative to the support arm, at least a portion of the tire casing supported upon the support arm in a loading direction along the longitudinal axis off of the support arm onto the expandable rim hub.

A method of retreading a tire casing comprising:

• moving the tire casing toward a tire hub assembly along a longitudinal axis, an inner periphery of the tire casing supported by the support arm of the loader device independently of an expandable rim hub such that an upper portion of the inner periphery of the tire casing is disposed above an upper portion of the expandable rim hub of the tire hub assembly, the expandable rim hub being in a contracted position, the expandable rim hub having a rim diameter when in the contracted position that is smaller than an inner casing diameter defined by the inner periphery of the tire casing;
• loading the tire casing onto the expandable rim hub of the tire hub assembly by using a loader actuator of the loader device to move at least a portion of the tire casing relative to the support arm such that said portion moves in a loading direction along the longitudinal axis off of the support arm and into engagement with the expandable rim hub;
• expanding the expandable rim hub such that the rim engages the inner periphery of the tire casing,
• wherein the expandable rim hub is adapted to support and selectively rotate the tire casing about a casing rotation axis, the casing rotation axis being substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis.