System and method of removing beads from tires

A system for removing beads from tires, the system comprising:

• a support frame;
• an elongated hook arm having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a long axis that extends between the forward end portion and rearward end portion;
• the forward end portion having a hook that bends toward the rearward end portion;
• the elongated hook arm being operatively coupled with the support frame in a manner that permits selective reciprocal movement of the elongated hook arm along its long axis, between extended and retracted positions;
• a pair of separate, opposing stripping dies disposed in a common plane, operatively coupled with the support frame;
• the stripping dies having forward surfaces, rearward surfaces, and a hook slot that penetrates the stripping dies;
• the hook slot being shaped to allow at least a portion of the elongated hook arm to pass through the stripping dies;
• at least one of the die opposing plates being selectively, reciprocally movable between a closed position, adjacent the opposing stripping die, and an open position, spaced apart from the opposing stripping die;
• the stripping die positioned generally transverse to the long axis of the elongated hook arm so that at least a portion of the elongated hook arm passes through the hook slot when the elongated hook arm is moved between the extended and retracted positions;
• and
• a first stripper bar and a second stripper bar each coupled to a forward surface of at least one of the opposing stripping dies, between a peripheral edge portion of the at least one opposing stripping die and the hook slot;
• the hook slot being disposed between the first stripper bar and second stripper bar;
• the first stripper bar and second stripper bar each having a thickness, and a bead engagement edge portion that is faced toward the hook slot;
• the thickness of the first stripper bar and second stripper bar positioning the bead engagement edge portions in a spaced-apart relationship with the forward surface of the at least one opposing stripping die.

A system for removing beads from tires, the system comprising:

• a support frame;
• an elongated hook arm having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a long axis that extends between the forward end portion and rearward end portion;
• the forward end portion having a hook that bends toward the rearward end portion;
• the elongated hook arm being operatively coupled with the support frame in a manner that permits selective reciprocal movement of the elongated hook arm along its long axis, between extended and retracted positions;
• at least one generally planar stripping die operatively coupled with the support frame and having a forward surface, a rearward surface, and a hook slot that penetrates the stripping die;
• the hook slot being shaped to allow at least a portion of the elongated hook arm to pass through the stripping die;
• the stripping die positioned generally transverse to the long axis of the elongated hook arm so that at least a portion of the elongated hook arm passes through the hook slot when the elongated hook arm is moved between the extended and retracted positions;
• and
• a shear positioned adjacent the hook slot in the at least one stripping die;
• the shear having at least one cutting surface that is selectively movable in a cutting direction between open and closed positions.

A system for removing beads from tires, the system comprising:

• a support frame;
• an elongated hook arm having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a long axis that extends between the forward end portion and rearward end portion;
• the forward end portion having a hook that bends toward the rearward end portion;
• the elongated hook arm being operatively coupled with the support frame in a manner that permits selective reciprocal movement of the elongated hook arm along its long axis, between extended and retracted positions;
• at least one generally planar stripping die operatively coupled with the support frame and having a forward surface, a rearward surface, and a hook slot that penetrates the stripping die;
• the hook slot being shaped to allow at least a portion of the elongated hook arm to pass through the stripping die;
• the stripping die positioned generally transverse to the long axis of the elongated hook arm so that at least a portion of the elongated hook arm passes through the hook slot when the elongated hook arm is moved between the extended and retracted positions;
• a base frame, the support frame operatively coupled with the base frame;
• a tire lift coupled with the base frame, the tire lift comprising:
• a tire cage having opposing arm members that are selectively, pivotably movable with respect to one another, between gripping and releasing positions;
• the tire cage having a tire receiving void between the opposing arm members that is sized to securely receive a tire;
• and
• a tire receiving platform adjacent the tire cage;
• the tire platform being shaped and positioned with respect to the tire cage to support a side portion of a tire while the tire is disposed within the tire cage;
• a length of the tire platform extending parallel to a plane in which the opposing arm members pivot.

A system for removing beads from tires, the system comprising:

• a support frame;
• an elongated hook arm having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a long axis that extends between the forward end portion and rearward end portion;
• the forward end portion having a hook that bends toward the rearward end portion;
• the elongated hook arm being operatively coupled with the support frame in a manner that permits selective reciprocal movement of the elongated hook arm along its long axis, between extended and retracted positions;
• at least one generally planar stripping die operatively coupled with the support frame and having a forward surface, a rearward surface, and a hook slot that penetrates the stripping die;
• the hook slot being shaped to allow at least a portion of the elongated hook arm to pass through the stripping die;
• the stripping die positioned generally transverse to the long axis of the elongated hook arm so that at least a portion of the elongated hook arm passes through the hook slot when the elongated hook arm is moved between the extended and retracted positions;
• and
• a base frame;
• the support frame coupled with the base frame with at least one lifting arm having first and second opposite end portions;
• the first end portion of the at least one lifting arm being pivotably coupled with the support frame and the second end portion of the at least one lifting arm being pivotably coupled with the base frame such that at least a forward end portion of the support frame is selectively, vertically moveable with respect to the base frame between upper and lower positions.

A system for removing beads from tires, the system comprising:

• a base frame;
• a support frame;
• the support frame coupled with the base frame with at least one lifting arm having first and second opposite end portions;
• the first end portion of the at least one lifting arm being pivotably coupled with the support frame and the second end portion of the at least one lifting arm being pivotably coupled with the base frame such that at least a forward end portion of the support frame is selectively, vertically moveable with respect to the base frame between upper and lower positions;
• an elongated hook arm having a forward end portion, a rearward end portion, and a long axis that extends between the forward end portion and rearward end portion;
• the forward end portion having a hook that bends toward the rearward end portion;
• the elongated hook arm being operatively coupled with the support frame in a manner that permits selective reciprocal movement of the elongated hook arm along its long axis, between extended and retracted positions;
• a pair of separate, opposing stripping dies disposed in a common plane;
• at least one of the die opposing plates being selectively, reciprocally movable between a closed position, adjacent the opposing stripping die, and an open position, spaced apart from the opposing stripping die;
• a hook slot penetrating the opposing stripping dies;
• the hook slot being shaped to allow at least a portion of the elongated hook arm to pass through the stripping die;
• the opposing stripping dies positioned within a plane that is generally transverse to the long axis of the elongated hook arm so that at least a portion of the elongated hook arm passes through the hook slot when the elongated hook arm is moved between the extended and retracted positions;
• and
• a tire lift pivotably coupled with the base frame and movable between a generally horizontal receiving position and a generally upright cutting position;
• the tire lift including a tire cage having opposing arm members that are selectively, pivotably movable with respect to one another, between gripping and releasing positions;
• the tire cage having a tire receiving void between the opposing arm members that is sized to securely receive a tire.

A method of removing beads from tires, the method comprising:

• positioning a tire so that a sidewall of the tire is closely adjacent a forward surface of at least one generally planar stripping die;
• the at least one stripping die having a hook slot that penetrates the stripping die;
• at least one portion of the hook slot including a peripheral edge portion having at least one bead engagement edge that is removably coupled with a forward surface of the at least one stripping die;
• the at least one bead engagement edge including a corner portion that is shaped and positioned to engage portions of tire beads that pass through the opposing stripping dies and strip tire material from the tire beads;
• positioning a hook end portion of an elongated hook arm closely adjacent a bead of the tire, wherein the bead of the tire is disposed between the hook end portion of the elongated hook arm and the at least one stripping die;
• and
• withdrawing the elongated hook arm through a hook slot that penetrates the at least one stripping die such that the hook end portion engages the tire bead and pulls the tire bead in a manner that engages the corner portion of the bead engagement edge and past a rearward surface of the at least one stripping die while a substantial portion of the tire remains adjacent the forward surface of the at least one stripping die.

A method of removing beads from tires, the method comprising:

• positioning a tire so that a sidewall of the tire is closely adjacent a forward surface of at least one generally planar stripping die;
• the at least one stripping die having a hook slot that penetrates the stripping die;
• positioning a hook end portion of an elongated hook arm closely adjacent a bead of the tire, wherein the bead of the tire is disposed between the hook end portion of the elongated hook arm and the at least one stripping die;
• moving a shear, positioned adjacent the hook slot in the at least one stripping die, in a cutting direction, such that a remainder of tire material is severed from the tire bead;
• and
• withdrawing the elongated hook arm through a hook slot that penetrates the at least one stripping die such that the hook end portion engages the tire bead and pulls the tire bead past a rearward surface of the at least one stripping die while a substantial portion of the tire remains adjacent the forward surface of the at least one stripping die.

A method of removing beads from tires, the method comprising:

• positioning a tire so that a sidewall of the tire is closely adjacent a forward surface of at least one generally planar stripping die;
• the at least one stripping die having a hook slot that penetrates the stripping die;
• positioning a hook end portion of an elongated hook arm closely adjacent a bead of the tire, wherein the bead of the tire is disposed between the hook end portion of the elongated hook arm and the at least one stripping die;
• and
• securing a portion of the tire bead within a bead grapple disposed at the end of a bead crane having a boom arm that is operatively, pivotably coupled with a support frame associated with the at least one stripping die and the elongated hook arm;
• and
• moving the bead crane such that the tire bead is moved away from the hook arm and at least one stripping die;
• withdrawing the elongated hook arm through a hook slot that penetrates the at least one stripping die such that the hook end portion engages the tire bead and pulls the tire bead past a rearward surface of the at least one stripping die while a substantial portion of the tire remains adjacent the forward surface of the at least one stripping die.