Abstract: A system and associated method of marking a molded vehicle tire with laser engraved information to provide both human visible and machine readable data concerning the tire. Information contained in a barcode on the tire is read at a first station and supplied to a control unit. The physical location of human visible information previously molded into the tire is read from the tire at a second station and supplied to the control unit which uses this information to position a laser located at a third station for engaging additional human visible information pertaining to the manufacture of the tire adjacent the existing visible information to satisfy the Department of Transportation (DOT) tire marking requirements. The additional information also can be laser engraved into the tire in a machine readable encoded format, such as 2D symbols, for subsequent control and verification throughout the life of the tire.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention includes a mounting frame which is pivotally mounted on the load drum carriage and is pivotally positioned by a pneumatic positioner. A cleaning brush assembly is rotatably mounted on the mounting frame so that, as the actuater moves the mounting frame toward the load drum surface, the cleaning brush assembly engages the periphery of the load drum to clean same. A drive motor is provided for rotating the cleaning brush assembly as it is pressed against the surface of the drum. The pneumatic actuator is connected to a regulated fluid pressure source so that the force with which the cleaning brush assembly is pressed against the drum surface can be regulated and is maintained below the unloaded threshhold force at which the load drum controller is set to prevent automatically rezeroing the load set point of the load drum.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a bead filler material to a bead wherein the bead filler material may be applied to the bead at an offset position to compensate for the stretching of the filler material as it is applied to the bead to afford a proper splice of the leading and trailing ends of the bead filler material.