Automated green tire conveyance system

摘要

An automated conveyance system moves green tires (24) with monorail carriers (18) to tire molding presses (40). Each monorail carrier (18) deposits a green tire (24) into an elevator system (31) which, in turn, transfers the green tire to within reach of a press loader (38) for tire press (40). The elevator system (31) also provides a buffer storage for the tires in process. In one embodiment, the green tire in the basket (28) is rotated about a vertical path through which the basket moves to within reach of the press loader. In another embodiment, the elevator system (31) can move the green tire by linear translation from the vertical path through which the basket moves to within reach of the loader (38).