US 8,919,413 B2 · System and method for processing a tire-wheel assembly

Abstract

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one linear mounter sub-station that couples the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly. The apparatus also includes a transporting device that transports one of the wheel and the tire along a linear path that traverses the at least one linear mounter sub-station. The component of the at least one linear mounter sub-station resists, but does not prevent, movement of one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel along the linear path in order to spatially manipulate one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel in order to at least partially couple the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly, comprising:

at least one linear mounter sub-station that couples the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly;
a transporting device that transports one of the wheel and the tire along a linear path that traverses the at least one linear mounter sub-station, wherein a component of the at least one linear mounter sub-station resists, but does not prevent, movement of one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel along the linear path in order to spatially manipulate one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel in order to at least partially couple the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly;
a tire lubricating sub-station that lubricates the tire prior to the at least one linear mounter sub-station coupling the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly;
and
a wheel lubricating sub-station that lubricates the wheel, prior to the at least one linear mounter sub-station coupling the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly.

2 more elements

A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly, comprising:

utilizing at least one linear mounter sub-station for
coupling the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly;
utilizing a transporting device for transporting one of the wheel and the tire along a linear path that traverses the at least one linear mounter sub-station
utilizing a component of the at least one linear mounter sub-station for resisting, but not preventing, movement of one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel along the linear path for
spatially manipulating one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel for
at least partially coupling the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly;
utilizing a tire lubricating sub-station for lubricating the tire prior to the at least one linear mounter sub-station coupling the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly;
and
utilizing a wheel lubricating sub-station for lubricating the wheel, prior to the at least one linear mounter sub-station coupling the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly, wherein the at least one linear mounter sub-station includes a first linear mounter sub-station for
arranging a lower bead of the tire about an outer circumferential surface of the wheel, wherein the at least one linear mounter sub-station further includes a second linear mounter sub-station for
arranging an upper bead of the tire about the outer circumferential surface of the wheel.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for processing a tire-wheel assembly

Life of this patent

System and method for processing a tire-wheel assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18