Method and Apparatus for Retaining a Wheel

A device for retaining a wheel having an inner diameter during an assembly operation of a tire-wheel assembly at a single-cell workstation, comprising:

• a claw portion that releasably-attaches to the inner diameter of the wheel, including a fixed portion and a rotatable portion, wherein the rotatable portion is rotatably-disposed upon the fixed portion;
• wheel-engaging portions slidably-disposed upon the rotatable portion;
• sliding portions that are slidably-disposed within the fixed portion, wherein each sliding portion is coupled with one of each wheel-engaging portion;
• an actuator portion coupled to the rotatable portion, wherein the rotatable portion further comprises a coupling portion;
• and
• a detachable portion that is releasably-attached to the coupling portion.

A method for operating a device for retaining a wheel during an assembly operation, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a claw portion proximate the wheel;
• actuating an actuator;
• and
• responsive to the actuation of the actuator, engaging the wheel with the wheel-engaging portions of the claw portion.

The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

• engaging a detachable portion of the claw portion with a sub-station of the single-cell workstation;
• disengaging the wheel-engaging portions from the wheel;
• releasing the detachable portion from the claw portion;
• and
• supporting the wheel at the sub-station with the detachable portion.