Apparatus for, and methods of, disposing of tyres

2:

• The apparatus of claim 1 in which the body member comprises a bracket which receives the cutting assembly.

3:

• The apparatus of claim 2 in which the bracket is adjustably arranged relative to the mounting formation of the body member.

4:

• The apparatus of claim 1 in which the cutting assembly comprises a shaft received by the bracket, the shaft being axially and rotatably displaceably arranged relative to the bracket.

5:

• The apparatus of claim 4 in which the control member is arranged proximate a first end of the shaft and the cutting unit is arranged proximate a second end of the shaft.

6:

• The apparatus of claim 5 in which the second end of the shaft provides a datum point for positioning the cutting unit in a desired position relative to the tyre to be cut.

7:

• The apparatus of claim 4 in which the cutting unit comprises a blade carrier and at least one blade carried by the carrier, the blade lying in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

8:

• The apparatus of claim 4 in which the control member comprises a control handle extending transversely to the shaft.

9:

• The apparatus of claim 1 which includes a holder for holding a tyre to be cut.

10:

• The apparatus of claim 9 in which the holder comprises a support member and a restraining arrangement arranged on the support member.

11:

• The apparatus of claim 10 in which the support member comprises a substantially planar structure for supporting the tyre in a substantially horizontal orientation.

12:

• The apparatus of claim 9 in which the holder and cutting unit are rotatable relative to each other to effect cutting and removal of at least one side wall of the tyre.

14:

• The accessory of claim 13 in which the holder comprises a substantially planar structure for supporting the tyre in a substantially horizontal orientation.

15:

• The accessory of claim 13 in which the holder and a cutting unit of the apparatus are rotatable relative to each other to effect cutting and removal of at least one side wall of the tyre.

16:

• A tyre disposing machine which includes a tyre cutting apparatus of claim 1.

17:

• The tyre disposing machine of claim 16 which further includes an accessory of claim 13.

18:

• A tyre changing machine which includes a tyre cutting apparatus of claim 1.

19:

• The tyre changing machine of claim 18 in which the body member is mounted on a tool arm of the machine.

20:

• The tyre changing machine of claim 19 in which the body member is removably mounted on the tool arm.

21:

• The tyre changing machine of claim 20 in which the body member defines a receiving socket in which an end of the tool arm is received.

22:

• The tyre changing machine of claim 20 in which the body member includes a clamping arrangement for clamping about the tool arm.

23:

• A tyre changing machine which includes the accessory of claim 13.

24-51. (canceled)