Method and apparatus for integrated tire mounting and inflating operations performed at a single station

A method for mounting and inflating a tire onto a wheel by selective movements of a cylinder having an annular rim, said tire having upper and lower beads, said wheel having an upper rim, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a married tire and wheel combination;
• causing first selected movements to be imparted to said cylinder so as to cause said annular rim to contact said tire and thereby cause said upper and lower beads of said tire to slip over said upper rim of said wheel, thereby mounting said tire onto said wheel;
• causing second selected movements to be imparted to said annular rim so that said annular rim makes sealable contact with said tire;
• providing pressurized air inside said annular rim so as to pressurize air inside said tire to inflate said tire;
• and
• providing third selected movements to be imparted to said annular rim so that said annular rim no longer contacts said tire leaving said tire inflated on said wheel.

A method for mounting and inflating a tire onto a wheel by selective movements of a cylinder having an annular rim, said tire having upper and lower beads, said wheel having an upper rim, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a married tire and wheel combination;
• causing first selected movements to be imparted to said cylinder so as to cause said annular rim to approach said tire;
• causing a plurality of sequentially spaced forces to be applied to said tire adjacent said annular rim in order to thereby cause said upper and lower beads of said tire to slip over said upper rim of said wheel, thereby mounting said tire onto said wheel;
• causing second selected movements to be imparted to said annular rim so that said annular rim makes sealable contact with said tire;
• providing pressurized air inside said annular rim so as to pressurize air inside said tire to inflate said tire;
• and
• providing third selected movements to be imparted to said annular rim so that said annular rim no longer contacts said tire leaving said tire inflated on said wheel.

A method for mounting and inflating a tire onto a wheel by selective movements of a cylinder having an annular rim, said tire having upper and lower beads, said wheel having an upper rim, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a married tire and wheel combination;
• causing first selected movements to be imparted to said cylinder so as to cause said annular rim to approach said tire;
• causing a force to be applied to said tire in a circular pattern adjacent said annular rim in order to thereby cause said upper and lower beads of said tire to slip over said upper rim of said wheel, thereby mounting said tire onto said wheel;
• causing second selected movements to be imparted to said annular rim so that said annular rim makes sealable contact with said tire;
• providing pressurized air inside said annular rim so as to pressurize air inside said tire to inflate said tire;
• and
• providing third selected movements to be imparted to said annular rim so that said annular rim no longer contacts said tire leaving said tire inflated on said wheel.