Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for chucking tires to be tested in a tire testing apparatus. A lower chuck assembly or spindle includes a lower rim that is engageable with a bead region of the tire to be tested. An upper chuck assembly includes an upper rim that is engageable with an upper bead region of the tire to be tested. The upper rim is reciprocally movable towards and away from the lower rim. A plurality of sensors associated with the movable rim monitors the closing distance between the upper rim and the side wall of the tire that is being chucked, during the chucking process. A controller controls the movement of the upper rim in response to the distance data obtained from the sensors. If the data obtained indicates that the tire is mispositioned on the lower rim, the controller will slow the rate of downward movement of the upper rim and reinitiate a chucking cycle if the upper rim reaches a predetermined lower position and the data from the distance sensors still indicates that the tire is not properly positioned. The sensors are mounted to an adjustable stripping mechanism that forms part of the upper chuck assembly. The positions of the sensors are adjusted as the tire strippers are adjusted.

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First Claim