Apparatus for removing a tire tread

Claim 2

Apparatus for preparing a previously used tire carcass for reconditioning, such as by removal of tread from a circumferential face thereof, comprising: toolhead means for engaging and operating upon a circumferential face of a tire carcass, tire stand means for mounting a tire carcass for rotation about respective horizontal and vertical axes and including means for rotating the tire carcass about said axes, toolhead support means for mounting said toolhead means adjacent said tire stand means for translational movement along a predetermined line, and toolhead positioning means for moving said toolhead means into operative position relative to a tire carcass mounted on said tire stand means and comprising manually operable means for effecting displacement of said toolhead means toward and away from the tire carcass and power actuated means operable independently of said manually operable means for effecting displacement of said toolhead means toward and away from the tire carcass so that control over the position of said toolhead means relative to the circumferential face of a tire carcass being operated upon is selectively effected manually or by power actuation. whereby coordinated rotation of a tire carcass about said axes of rotation and translation of said toolhead means along said line passes said toolhead means in engagement with the circumferential face of the tire carcass.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tire stand means comprises turntable means for rotation about said vertical axis, an upright standard mounted on and movable with said turntable means, and tire carcass engaging means mounted on said standard for rotation about said horizontal axis, and further wherein said turntable means and tire carcass engaging means are mounted and arranged with said horizontal and vertical axes intersecting at a location substantially centrally of a tire carcass to be operated upon.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for driving a tire carcass in rotation comprises a first drive motor operatively connected for driving said turntable means in rotation about said vertical axis and a second drive motor operatively connected for driving said tire carcass engaging means in rotation about said horizontal axis independently of rotation of said turntable means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said toolhead support means comprises a base secured in predetermined spaced relation to said tire stand means, a slide carrying said toolhead Means, and means coupling said slide to said base for movement relative thereto along a line lying generally in a common plane with said vertical axis and thereby for restricting movement of said toolhead means to translation along a line.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means coupling said slide and base comprises an intermediate member supported by said base for linear movement relative thereto and supporting said slide for linear movement thereof relative to said intermediate member and wherein said power actuated means effects movement of said intermediate member and said slide relative to said base and thereby relatively rapidly moves said toolhead means relative to said tire stand means and said manually operable means effects movement of said slide member relative to said intermediate member and thereby relatively slowly moves said toolhead means relative to said tire stand means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for preparing a previously used tire carcass for renewal by removal of tread from a circumferential face thereof comprising: turntable means for rotation about a vertical axis, tire carcass engaging means carried by said turntable means for movement therewith and for rotation about a horizontal axis spaced above said turntable means and intersecting with said vertical axis and for receiving a tire carcass to be prepared for renewal, a toolhead support base secured in spaced relation to said turntable, a pair of guiding intermediate members mounted in said toolhead support base for translational movement along parallel lines in a plane generally parallel to said horizontal axis of rotation of said tire carcass engaging means. a toolhead support slide carried by said guiding intermediate members for movement relative thereto and restrained to translation along a line extending in predetermined relation to said horizontal and vertical axes, toolhead means mounted on said slide for movement therewith and comprising a spindle supported for rotation about a generally vertical axis, a tool mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith and for engaging a circumferential face of a tire carcass mounted on said tire carcass engaging means for removing tread material therefrom and drive means for driving said spindle and tool in rotation, and actuation means for rotating said turntable about said vertical axis, for rotating said tire carcass engaging means about said horizontal axis and for translating said slide and comprising control means operable for coordinating rotation of a tire carcass about said horizontal and vertical axes and translation of said slide so that said tool is passed into engagement with those portions of a tire carcass circumferential face from which tread is to be removed, said actuation means further comprising a fluid pressure cylinder acting between said intermediate members and one of said base and said slide for translating said slide relative to said base and manually operable gearing means acting between said intermediate members and the other of said base and said slide for translating said slide relative to said base.

Claim 8

Apparatus for preparing a previously used tire carcass for renewal by removal of tread from a circumferential face thereof comprising: turntable means for rotation about a vertical axis, tire carcass engaging means carried by said turntable means for movement therewith and for rotation about a horizontal axis spaced above said turntable means and intersecting with said vertical axis and for receiving a tire carcass to be prepared for renewal, a toolhead support base secured in spaced relation to said turntable, a pair of guiding intermediate members mounted in said toolhead support base for translational movement along parallel lines in a plane generally parallel to said horizontal axis of rotation of said tire carcass engaging means. a toolhead support slide carried by said guiding intermediate members for movement relative thereto and restrained to translation along a line extending in predetermined relation to said horizontal and vertical axes, toolhead means mounted on said slide for movement therewith and comprising a spindle supported for rotation about a generally vertical axis, a tool mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith and for engaging a circumferential face of a tire carcass mounted on said tire carcass engaging means for removing tread material therefrom and drive means for driving said spindle and tool in rotation, and actuation means for rotating said turntable about said vertical axis, for rotating said tire carcass engaging means about said horizontal axis and for translating said slide and comprising control means operable for coordinating rotation of a tire carcass about said horizontal and vertical axes and translation of said slide so that said tool is passed into engagement with those portions of a tire carcass circumferential face from which tread is to be removed, said actuation means further comprising a fluid pressure cylinder acting between said intermediate members and one of said base and said slide for translating said slide relative to said base and manually operable gearing means acting between said intermediate members and the other of said base and said slide for translating said slide relative to said base.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said tire carcass engaging means comprises an expandable mandrel for entering into a central opening of a toroidal tire carcass to be prepared for renewal and for positioning an engaged tire carcass with the center thereof substantially coincident with said intersection of said vertical and horizontal axes.