Importance

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Abstract

A tire buffer for buffing a tire casing as part of a retread operation can include a rasp pedestal having a rasp head and a texturing device. A moving assembly can be connected to the rasp pedestal for selectively moving the rasp pedestal along a pair of perpendicular axes. The rasp pedestal can rotate about a vertical axis. A tire hub assembly can be included for rotating the tire casing. The tire buffer can be operated at an operator station by interfacing with a control unit. The tire buffer can automatically buff a tire casing to achieve a predetermined tire casing profile and impart a texture thereto. The tire buffer includes a tire location mechanism and a tire measurement mechanism mounted to the rasp pedestal. The control unit can monitor an operating parameter of the rasp pedestal or the tire hub assembly during the buffing sequence, compare the actual value of the operating parameter to a predetermined target value of the parameter, and adjust an operating characteristic of the rasp pedestal, the tire hub assembly, or both such that the actual value of the operating parameter is urged toward the calculated target value of the operating parameter.

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First Claim