Tire casing preparation method

Abstract

A tire casing preparation system including a transfer machine and associated with a plurality of work stations for performing a variety of operations on worn tire casings such as de-treading, contouring, surface conditioning, dimensional gauging, defect detection and adhesive treatment. The transfer machine includes a turntable having a plurality of chucking and rotating mechanisms for mounting and processing tire casings as they are moved from one work station to another. A tire casing is first transported to a de-treading station where it undergoes a rough machining or de-treading operation for forming a curvilinear surface on the upper outer periphery of the tire casing. The tire casing is then transported to a contouring work station where a semi-rough machining operation is performed to form an arcuate outer peripheral surface. Following the completion of the semi-rough machining operation, the tire casing is moved to a finishing and surface conditioning work station for finishing the machined contoured tire casing, and conditioning its outer machined surface area. Provision is also made for dimensionally gauging the finished machined tire casing and detecting any defects that may exist. The finished machined tire casing is then transported to an adhesive solution application work station where an adhesive solution is applied. The finished and prepared tire casing is finally removed from the turntable and transported to a separate work area where re-treading or re-manufacturing operations take place.