Tire building core transport assembly and method

A method for transporting a tire building core of the type having a toroidal core assembly coupled to first and second spindle mechanisms extending from opposite sides of a core assembly axial passage, with at least one of the spindle mechanisms operably coupling to and decoupling from a tire build station, the method comprising:

• positioning a jig assembly over a tire building core locked within a tire build station, the jig assembly having a first arm mechanism and a second arm mechanism, each arm mechanism having a first arm and second arm coupled to a support frame and to a respective spreader mechanism;
• moving the first and second arms of each arm mechanism into an open divergent position defining an opening sized to admit a respective spindle mechanism;
• lowering the jig assembly over the core assembly until each spindle mechanism is received within the opening of a respective arm mechanism;
• moving the first and second arms of each arm mechanism into a closed convergent position engaging a respective spindle mechanism;
• raising the tire building core by the spindle mechanisms until the weight of the tire building core is supported by the jig assembly;
• decoupling the tire building core from the tire build station;
• and
• repositioning the tire building core.