TIRE INFLATION APPARATUS AND METHOD HAVING FLOATING PLATEN

摘要

Apparatus (10) for inflating a wheel-mounted tire on a high production basis comprises a platen (40) supported on a frame (12) beneath an inflation head (42) on which the wheel-mounted tire is received. The platen (40) has internal air passages (100) opening opposite a fixed support plate (58) of the frame (12) through which pressurized air is directed to selectively float the platen (40) above the support plate (58) to facilitate near-frictionless horizontal movement of the platen (40) in all radial directions. A centering device (96) locates the wheel-mounted tire precisely in line with the inflation head (42) after which the air is discontinued to lower the platen (40) back onto the support plate (58). The inflation head (42) is then operated to inflate the tire. The platen (40) is refloated and centered in a home position by a platen centering device (144).