Tire unloading apparatus and method in a curing line

A tire unloading apparatus for separating a cured tire from a toroidally shaped core body configured to carry the cured tire, the core body including a plurality of core segments extending generally radially from a central core axis, the tire unloading apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of tire engaging paddle mechanisms positioned in a spaced apart circular array defining a cured tire receiving central opening, the cured tire mounted to a core body;
• the paddle mechanisms operative to move between a radially outward tire release position and a radially inward tire gripping position;
• a core segment manipulating apparatus operative to move individual core segments from a radially outward tire supporting core body position to a radially inward segment removal position to separate the core segments from the cured tire;
• and
• wherein the paddle mechanisms in the inward tire gripping position and subsequent to the separation of the core segments from the cured tire, operatively move in unison as an array to reposition the cured tire.