Air Barrier Material Application Systems And Methods

Abstract

A post-cure inflation machine for processing a tire may include a tire holder shaft. The tire holder shaft may include a chuck to secure the tire to the tire holder shaft. A hollow passage may be defined in the tire holder shaft. A spray nozzle may be connected to a spray shaft that is telescopically disposed in the hollow passage of the tire holder shaft. The spray nozzle may extend to spray an air barrier material onto the tire.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of applying an air barrier material to an inner surface of a tire, the method comprising:
 (a) conveying the tire to a spray area section of a conveyor system;   (b) stopping the tire on the spray area section;   (c) while the tire is stopped on the spray area section, spraying the air barrier material onto the inner surface of the tire; and   (d) after spraying the air barrier material onto the inner surface of the tire, conveying the tire away from the spray area section.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to performing step (c), extending a spray nozzle from below the conveyor system such that the spray nozzle is directed at the inner surface of the tire; and   after completing step (c), retracting the spray nozzle back below the conveyor system.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing step (a) with the tire in a first position within 25 degrees of horizontal;   while the tire is stopped on the spray area section, moving the tire to a spray position within 25 degrees of vertical; and   performing step (c) while the tire is in the spray position.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 axially rotating the tire during step (c).   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 after performing step (c), returning the tire to the first position.