Mini-tire to wheel orienting system

摘要

Apparatus for assuring that an uninflated mini tire mounted on a wheel is coaxially centered relative to the wheel prior to the arrival of the mini tire-wheel unit at the inflation station of a tire-wheel assembly line is disclosed which the mini-tire wheel unit is being conveyed in a horizontal position from the mounter to the inflator it is subjected to a hammer blow against the tire tread and subsequently apparatus mounted along opposite sides of the conveyor vertically press against an adjacent portion of one side wall of the tire. These actions jar the tire beads loose from a partially wedged engagement within the drop well of the wheel which tends to occur during the mounting of the mini tire on the wheel and to seat one bead of the tire upon the associated bead seat of the wheel.