Tire building core assembly and disassembly station

Abstract

A station apparatus method within a tire curing line is provided for assembling and disassembling a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a cured tire. The core includes a plurality of core segments assembling to form a core body and extending generally radially from a central core axis within a core central axial passage. The core further includes first and second locking spindle sections connecting to opposite sides of the core body. The station apparatus includes: a base; a station locking mechanism mounted to the base and operative to lock to the lower core locking mechanism; a transport device operative to lock to the first spindle section and to lower the core in substantially a vertical core axis orientation into locked engagement with the station locking mechanism; a core segment manipulating mechanism operative to move respective core segments radially inward between a radially outward position to a radially inward segment removal position; and a tire unloading mechanism operative to support a cured tire during radial movement of the core segments inward.