# US 2024/0199345 A1 · Rotating Singulator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0199345 A1 - Document ID: US20240199345A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/081,275 - Filed: 2022-12-14 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-14 - Inventors: Thomas Largent - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240199345A1 ## CPC - B65G 47/1478: {by means of pick-up devices, the container remaining immobile} - B65G 47/846: {Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements} - B65G 2201/0273: Tires - Y02W 30/62: Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract A system and method are disclosed for the transporting and separating of tires. The system and method use a rotating singulator that receives a plurality of tires into a feed hopper. The singulator retrieves the tires from the hopper and separates them so that a single tire is positioned between the rotating spokes of the singulator. The tires are lifted by the spokes to a feed tray and pivoted onto their side and laid flat onto the feed tray and conveyor for further processing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A singulator comprising: a circular frame; a circular disk supported by the frame and comprising an opening; a hub supported at a center of the frame; a plurality of spokes supported by the hub for rotation within the frame to place a tire at the opening; a tire separator supported by the frame and configured to position one tire between each of the plurality of spokes; and a means for guiding the tire through the opening in the disk, positioned at the opening and supported by the disk. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The singulator of claim 1 comprising a directional hopper operatively connected to the frame to position the tire between two of the plurality of spokes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The singulator of claim 1 comprising a motor operatively connected to the hub and configured to rotate the hub and the plurality of spokes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The singulator of claim 2 comprising a bracing member operatively connected to the frame to move and support the disk and frame at a plurality of angles equal to or less than ninety degrees to horizontal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The singulator of claim 1 wherein the disk and the plurality of spokes are configured to position an edge of the tire against at least one of the plurality of spokes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The singulator of claim 5 further comprising: an exit plate supported by the disk and positioned at the opening of the disk; and the means for guiding the tire through the opening in the disk pivots the tire from the spoke onto the exit plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The singulator of claim 1 comprising: a directional hopper operatively connected to the frame to position the tire between two of the plurality of spokes; a motor operatively connected to the hub to drive rotation of the hub and the plurality of spokes relative to the frame; a bracing member operatively connected to the frame to move and support the disk and frame at a plurality of angles equal to or less than ninety degrees to horizontal; and an exit plate supported by the disk and positioned at the opening of the disk to receive the tire from the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The singulator of claim 7 wherein the means for guiding the tire through the opening comprises a cylindrical member connected to the disk along its length. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The singulator of claim 8 wherein the exit plate is proximate to the cylindrical member. ### Claim 10 A system for transporting and separating tires comprising: a feed system; a singulator comprising: a circular frame; a disk supported within the frame and comprising an opening; a hub supported at a center of the frame; a plurality of spokes supported by the hub for rotation within the frame to place a tire at the opening; a means for guiding the tire through the opening in the disk positioned at the opening and supported by the disk; a tire separator supported by the frame and configured to position one tire between each of the plurality of spokes; and an exit plate supported by the disk and positioned at the opening of the disk to receive the tire from the opening; a transport assembly configured to transport the tire from the exit plate; and a conveyor operatively connected to the transport member to receive the tire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 comprising a directional hopper operatively connected to the frame to receive a tire from the feed system and configured to position the tire between two of the plurality of spokes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 comprising a motor operatively connected to the hub and configured to rotate the hub and the plurality of spokes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 comprising a bracing member operatively connected to the frame to move and support the disk and frame at a plurality of angles equal to or less than ninety degrees to horizontal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the disk and the plurality of spokes are configured to position an edge of the tire against at least one of the plurality of spokes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the means for guiding the tire through the opening pivots the tire from the spoke onto the exit plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 comprising: a directional hopper operatively connected to the frame to position the tire between two of the plurality of spokes; a motor operatively connected to the hub to drive rotation of the hub and the plurality of spokes relative to the frame; and a bracing member operatively connected to the frame to move and support the disk and frame at a plurality of angles equal to or less than ninety degrees to horizontal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the means for guiding the tire through the opening comprises a cylindrical member connected to the disk along its length. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the singulator further comprises a tire separator configured to eject a tire from between adjacent spokes, ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the exit plate is supported on the cylindrical member. ### Claim 20 A method for transporting and separating tires comprising: feeding a plurality of tires into a hopper; rotating a plurality of spokes within a circular frame to place an edge of a single tire against one of the plurality of spokes and against a disk connected to the frame; lifting a tire with a spoke to an opening formed in the disk; pivoting the tire on the edge to lay it flat on an exit plate; and sliding the tire along the exit plate to a conveyor.