Method and apparatus for applying cushion gum to a tire casing

1. A method of applying cushion gum to a tire casing, comprising the steps of:

selecting one of a plurality of recipes for applying cushion gum based on one of a size, model and shape of the tire casing, the plurality of recipes providing one or more combinations of one or more predetermined pressures, extruder crush distances, extruder stop distances, and extruder smear distances for applying cushion gum to a tire casing;

pressurizing the tire casing to a predetermined pressure based on the selected recipe;

crushing the tire casing with an extruder head a predetermined amount of the tire casing radius, the predetermined amount based on the selected recipe;

extruding the cushion gum from the extruder head onto the tire casing and about the tire casing circumference to a predetermined stop distance less than three hundred sixty degrees about the tire casing as the tire casing rotates and as the tire casing is crushed according to the step of crushing, the predetermined extrusion stop distance being based upon the selected recipe;

the method further comprising the step of smearing the cushion gum remaining at an extruder head-tire casing interface at least about the remainder of the tire casing circumference by a predetermined smear distance based upon the selected recipe, the step of smearing being performed after the step of extruding about the tire casing circumference to a predetermined stop distance.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of crushing includes translating one of the tire casing and the extruder head towards the other to crush the tire casing.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the extruder head or the tire casing translates by a screw drive.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the extruder head translates.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein,

the tire casing is crushed from about two percent to about ten percent of the tire casing radius based upon the recipe selected.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein,

the tire casing is crushed from about three percent to about eight percent of the tire casing radius based upon the recipe selected.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

measuring a circumference of the tire casing, and

calculating parameters for applying the cushion gum, the parameters being based on the measured circumference.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the parameters include at least one of the cushion gum volume, rate of rotation of the tire casing, and rate of extrusion of the cushion gum.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of:

partially inflating the tire casing to a pressure less than the predetermined pressure prior to measuring the circumference of the tire casing, the step of measuring the circumference initiating while the tire casing is partially inflated, where the step of pressurizing proceeds from the partially inflated tire casing.

10. The method of claim 9 , where the tire casing is partially inflated to a pressure within at least 10% of the predetermined pressure.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of measuring the circumference of the tire casing is performed by an encoder associated with a wheel, the wheel selectively engaging the tire casing and rotating with the tire casing.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

substantially maintaining the predetermined tire casing pressure during extrusion of the cushion gum.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

measuring a circumference of the tire casing;

measuring a thickness of material above any tire casing belts about the circumference of the tire casing;

determining the thinnest portion of the material based upon the thickness of material measured in the step or measuring a thickness of material; and,

indexing the tire casing to initiate the application of cushion gum to the tire casing in step of extruding generally at the thinnest portion of the material thickness.

14. A method of applying cushion gum to a tire casing, comprising the steps of:

providing a cushion gum applicator having a cushion gum extruder head and a tire casing mount;

selecting one of a plurality recipes for applying cushion gum based on one of a size, model and shape of the tire casing, the plurality of recipes providing different predetermined pressures, extruder crush distances, extruder stop distances, and extruder smear distances for applying cushion gum to a tire casing;

pressurizing the tire casing to a predetermined pressure based on the selected recipe;

translating one of the tire casing and the extruder head a distance to contact the other, the distance being based on the selected recipe; and,

extruding the cushion gum from the extruder head directly onto the tire casing and about the tire casing circumference to a predetermined stop distance less than three hundred sixty degrees about the tire casing as the tire casing rotates, the predetermined extrusion stop distance being based upon the selected recipe;

the method further comprising the step of smearing the cushion gum remaining at an extruder head-tire casing interface at least about the remainder of the tire casing circumference by a predetermined smear distance based upon the selected recipe, the step of smearing being performed after the step of extruding about the tire casing circumference to a predetermined stop distance.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein,

the tire casing is crushed during the step of crushing by the extruder head from about two percent to about ten percent of the tire casing radius based upon the selected recipe.