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US 12,337,562 B2Granted
Cured tire support cooling fixture
AssigneeCompagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
InventorsJohnny Irvin Scruggs, Lain Radford Smith, Jay Joseph Baudendistel, Douglas R. Douds
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is provided that has a frame, and a first cup segment that has a first contact surface that is both curved and inclined relative to a vertical direction. The first cup segment is movable relative to the frame. The first contact surface is configured for engaging a warm, cured tire for holding. The tire has a sidewall, and a tread with a tread edge and a tread contact surface. The first contact surface is configured for engaging the tread and is not configured for engaging the sidewall for holding.
Claims11
An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a warm, cured tire;
- a plurality of cup segments, wherein the plurality of cup segments includes a first cup segment that has a first contact surface that is both curved and that is inclined relative to a vertical direction, wherein all of the cup segments of the apparatus are movable relative to the frame simultaneously from a retracted position to an extended position in which the warm, cured tire is held by all of the cup segments of the apparatus;
- and
- wherein when the first cup segment is in the extended position the first contact surface engages the warm, cured tire, wherein the tire has a tread with a tread edge and a tread contact surface and wherein the tire has a sidewall, and wherein the first contact surface engages the tread and does not engage the sidewall;
- and
- a plurality of frame rollers carried by the frame, wherein the first cup segment is movable relative to the frame rollers, and wherein in the retracted position the first contact surface is free from engagement with the warm, cured tire and the frame rollers engage the warm, cured tire;
- wherein the frame is pivotable between a horizontal position and an inclined position to cause all of the plurality of the frame rollers to be pivotable between the horizontal position and the inclined position;
- an exit conveyor that has a plurality of rollers, wherein the exit conveyor is inclined relative to the vertical direction such that the plurality of rollers of the exit conveyor are aligned with the frame rollers when the frame is in the inclined position, wherein the exit conveyor is configured to receive the cured tire after the cured tire exits the frame rollers.
6 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a warm, cured tire;
- a plurality of cup segments, wherein the plurality of cup segments includes a first cup segment that has a first contact surface that is both curved and that is inclined relative to a vertical direction, wherein all of the cup segments of the apparatus are movable relative to the frame simultaneously from a retracted position to an extended position in which the warm, cured tire is held by all of the cup segments of the apparatus;
- wherein when the first cup segment is in the extended position the first contact surface engages the warm, cured tire, wherein the tire has a tread with a tread edge and a tread contact surface and wherein the tire has a sidewall, and wherein the first contact surface engages the tread and does not engage the sidewall;
- a plurality of frame rollers carried by the frame, wherein the first cup segment is movable relative to the frame rollers, and wherein in the retracted position the first contact surface is free from engagement with the warm, cured tire and the frame rollers engage the warm, cured tire;
- wherein the frame is pivotable between a horizontal position and an inclined position to cause the frame rollers to be pivotable between the horizontal position and the inclined position;
- wherein the pivoting of the frame between the horizontal position and the inclined position causes the first cup segment to be pivotable between the horizontal position and the inclined position;
- and
- an exit conveyor that has a plurality of rollers, wherein the exit conveyor is inclined relative to the vertical direction such that the plurality of rollers of the exit conveyor are aligned with the frame rollers when the frame is in the inclined position, wherein the exit conveyor is configured to receive the cured tire after the cured tire exits the frame rollers.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.