MXPA99006210A - Method and apparatus for removing tire treads from storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for removing an unvulcanized tire tread from a storage device (14) includes the step of inverting the tread (12) and transporting it to a roller conveyor in a single step. The tread (12) is picked up by a vacuum bar (80) fitted with a series of suction cups (76). Individual suction cups (76) can be selectively supplied with vacuum depending on the length of the tread (12). After the suction cups (76) have engaged the tread, the tread is raised from the storage device (14), inverted through 180 degrees, and then set onto a special slotted roller conveyor (130). The slotted roller conveyor (130) has a center slot (142) to receive the vacuum bar (80) as it passes therethrough. Side slots (144, 146) in the conveyor receive arms (90, 92) attached to the vacuum bar (80).

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING RIM BEARING BANDS FROM STORAGE DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD This invention pertains to the technique of methods and apparatus for storing unvulcanized rim treads, side walls and other rim components, and more specifically with an improved method and apparatus for removing an uncured tread from of a storage device.

Prior art is known in the art as storing unvulcanized tire treads in storage devices commonly known as "bear traps" that have a series of planar elements on which the treads are stored. Previously, the separate treads of said storage devices were manually removed by a human tire manufacturer, depending on the size of the tire tread, the task of removing the tread from the storage device could be one of the most disgusting and uncomfortable in the entire tire construction process. For example, tires for trucks and tires for airplanes, the associated treads in their unvulcanized state can approach 45.36 kilograms in weight and can be up to 3.66 meters long. In addition, the treads are "accommodated" or stored head so that a layer of sticky rubber is up. The manual handling of the tire treads is physically imposing for the tire manufacturer, in addition certain non-uniformities and undesirable qualities could be imparted to the tire tread, and eventually to the rim, through the manual handling of the tire. the unvulcanized tread. The present invention contemplates a new and improved method and apparatus for removing uncured tire treads from storage devices. The method and apparatus is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes the above difficulties in others while providing better and advantageous total results.

Disclosure of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved method and apparatus for removing uncured tire treads from a storage device is provided. More particularly, according to the invention, the apparatus includes a frame, an arm movably mounted on the frame, the arm having a horizontal axis, a first translation element for moving the arm along the vertical axis of the frame, an element of grip for holding the associated rim band, a second horizontal translation element for moving the gripping element along the horizontal axis of the arm. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a frame with a vertical axis and an arm assembly movably mounted on the frame. The arm assembly has a horizontal axis, a vertical movement element for moving the arm assembly along the vertical axis, a first horizontal movement element for moving the arm assembly along the horizontal axis, a gripping element for clamping the associated rim band, a translation element for transferring the gripping element about the horizontal axis, and a second horizontal movement element for moving the gripping member horizontally along the horizontal axis. An advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new apparatus that can effectively remove tire treads from a storage device, and reverse the treads, and place them on an appropriate conveyor for further processing. Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that said removal includes the step of inverting, in this way, in a single step removing the tread of the storage device and inverting it for application to the rim. Another advantage of the present invention is the saving of work, increase in work satisfaction, and the release of effort in the body of the tire builders automating the difficult task of lifting and placing a tread tire tire. Another advantage of the invention is that the above mentioned advantages are achieved by an apparatus with relatively few moving parts. Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it belongs, after reading and understanding the following detailed specification.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may take the physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this. , and wherein: Figure 1 is a top view of a tread separation system including a lifting apparatus and a conveyor apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the compliance lifting apparatus; with the invention Figure 3 is a side view from perspective 3-3 of the Figure. Figure 3A is a partial front view of an arm assembly in a more upright position before the tread is reversed. Figure 3B is a partial front view of the arm assembly in a higher position after the tread is reversed. Figure 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of the tread separation system according to the invention. Figure 5 is a further front view of the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the lifting apparatus is in a different position. Figure 6 is another front view of the second embodiment of the invention, wherein the lifting apparatus is in yet another position. Figure 7 is another front view of the second embodiment of the invention, wherein the lifting apparatus is shown in yet another position, Figure 8 is a top half view of the second embodiment of the invention. Figure 9 is a top half view of the second embodiment, showing the lifting apparatus in the position shown in Figure 6. Figure 10 is a top half view of the second embodiment, showing the lifting apparatus in the position shown in Figure 7.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring now to the drawings, wherein the illustrations are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same. Figures 1-3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a tread separation system according to the invention. The invention is directed to the problem of removing and inverting an associated untreated rim bearing band 12 from an associated tread storage device 14. the illustrated storage device 14 is commonly known in the tire industry as a "bear trap". It comprises a series of flat steel sheets 18 which are hinged at one end 20 so that they can be made to jump up and out of the way when the tread band 12 is separated, as illustrated by a tray 18A. The unvulcanized rolling belts 12 are stored in the storage device 14 on the trays 18. As the associated bearing strips 12 are separated by the apparatus of the invention, the trays 18 can be pushed up to the illustrated position by tray 18A. And currently, this process is manual, that is, the human tire manufacturer pushes the trays 18 upwards, but in the preferred and intended embodiment this process is automated at a future date in conjunction with the invention described herein, associated bearing bands 12 are stored in an inverted position on the trays 18, so that the ground contact portion of the tread is resting on the upper surface of the tray 18, as illustrated in Figure 1, and the lower side 24 of the tread is exposed. This is mainly due to the rubbery cushion layer 25 which is fixed to the lower side 24 of a tread. The cushioning rubber 25 is unvulcanized, relatively tacky rubber. The cushion rubber 25 performs the important function of helping to adhere the bearing band 12 to the unvulcanized frame (not shown) of the rim (not shown) during a separate step in the tire building process. If the bearing band 12 is stored on the tray 18 in the storage device 14 with the lower side 24 resting on the upper surface of the tray 18, the cushion rubber 25 would tend to cause the bearing band 12 to stick to the tray 18. In addition to the undesirable difficulties this presents in the manufacturing process, the uniformity of the tire would also be adversely affected. Therefore, one of the steps in supplying the tread of the tire building machine is the reversal step, where the inverted rim bearing band 12 is rotated 180? so that the cushion rubber side of the bearing band 12 is oriented downwards. The reversal of the tire bearing band 12 is achieved by the lifting apparatus 30.

The lifting apparatus 30 includes a frame 32 generally comprised of two stationary vertical members 36, joined at one end by a floor member 40, best shown in Figure 2, even though the invention works equally well with the vertical members 36 standing freely . The frame 32 must be strong enough to withstand the static and dynamic loads imposed thereon by manipulation of the bearing bands 12. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical members 36 and the floor member 40 are made of steel. The calculation of the size and strength required for the vertical members 36 and the floor member 40 is a typical calculation using sound engineering principles and depends on the weight of the rim component involved. However, these materials and dimensions may vary from application to application and materials and sizing must be made with respect to common engineering judgment. The lifting apparatus 30 also includes an arm assembly 30. In a preferred embodiment, the arm assembly 60 includes a first arm 90 and second arm 92 that are spaced apart from one another along a rod 44 extending between the vertical members 36. Rod 44 is rotatable about its axis as will be discussed in more detail later in this disclosure. The rod 44 is preferably made of steel and has a suitable diameter to handle the required torque. A first translation element 50 provides vertical movement for the arm assembly 60. The first translation element 50 includes pneumatic cylinders and one or more chain drives 54. In the preferred embodiment, each chain drive 54 is a double chain drive, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of the chain drives 54 operates between a pair of toothed wheels 56. Parallel to the floor member 40 is an axle 64 which is driven by pneumatic cylinders mounted within the vertical members 36. The chain drives 54 keep the machine in alignment, since the movement of the shaft 64 through the air cylinders may not provide the required precision. The shaft 64 is supported by bearings 66. Couplings can also be used in place of the bearings, if desired. The first translation element 50 operates to raise or lower the arm assembly 60 along the vertical axes of the vertical members 36. The lifting apparatus 30 further includes a gripping member 74 for securely holding the bearing band 12. The gripping member 74 preferably comprises a series of suction cups 76 operatively associated with a vacuum bar 80. The vacuum bar 80 is mounted on the first ends 68. 69 of the arms 90, 92, respectively, of the arm assembly 60 and is operatively connected to a vacuum source (not shown.) The preferred suction cup 76 is approximately eleven centimeters 43 millimeters (11.43 cm) in diameter and has bellows with a relatively large volume The preferred arrangement of the suction cups is illustrated in Figure 2. Note that at the first and second ends 84, 86 of the vacuum bar 80 the spacing between the individual suction cups 76 The purpose of the narrowing space is twofold.First, it allows a secure hold at the end of the associated bearing band 12. Second, because the length of the bearing band 12 can vary, allows that any suction cups 76 extending beyond the end of the bearing band 12 closes the vacuum.Each of the suction cups 76 is provided with an interruption valve. to that the vacuum can only be supplied to those suction cups 76 that actually come into contact with the bearing band 12, the suction cups 76 of a preferred interface positioning means for interfacing between the * 80 bar vacuum and the associated bearing band 12. Nevertheless, other devices could be used to achieve many of the objects of this invention. The suction cups 76 do not damage the cushion rubber 25 on the lower side 24 of the rolling band 12. In the preferred embodiment, a single row of suction cups 76 is used, even though, depending on the size of the suction cups 76, the amount of vacuum pulled and the size of the bearing band 12 involved, different sizes may be preferred. configurations of suction cups 76. For example, the suction cups 76 could be staggered or placed asymmetrically or non-uniformly. The first and second arms 90, 92 of the arm assembly 60 are essentially pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically driven cylinders that extend outwardly or retract inward relative to the vertical axes of the vertical members 36, shown as CL1 in the Figure 3. The first arm 90 is operable separately from the second arm 92 in the event that the bearing band 12 is misaligned in the tray 18 in the storage device 14. In that case, the first arm 90 can extend a distance either greater or less than the second arm 92 so that the central line CL2 of the vacuum bar 80 can be aligned with the centerline of the bearing band 12. Joints 110, 112 are provided at the interface between the vacuum bar 80 and the arms 90, 92 which allow the vacuum bar 80 to oscillate. A second translation element 96 allowing the extension or retraction of the arms 90, 92 comprises linear bearings 100, 102 through which first and second arms 90, 92 slide, respectively. The first rotation element for rotating the arm assembly 60 includes at least one, preferably two, hydraulic actuators 120, 122 positioned on the ends of the rod 44. The actuators 120, 122 cause the rod 44 to be rotated about of its axis, As the rod 44 rotates, the arms 90, 92 rotate about the rod axis 44 as shown in Figure 3A to thereby invert the vacuum rod 80 and the associated bearing band 12. The rotation of the rod 44 occurs after the bearing band 12 is held by the gripping member 74 and the arms 90, 92 are retracted towards the vertical members 36 so that the bearing band 12 leaves the trays 18. In In a preferred embodiment, the arm assembly 60 is moved vertically to an upper position, illustrated as 60B in Figure 3B, before the rod 44 is rotated. It is readily apparent then that during the lifting of the bearing band 12 from the trays 18, the vacuum bar 80 is above the bearing band 12. After the rod 44 is rotated, the vacuum bar 80 is placed below the bearing band 12 as illustrated as 60C in Figure 3B. The arms 90, 92 then extend away from the vertical members 36 and the arm assembly 60 is positioned as illustrated by 60D in Figure 3. A related element in the system is a transfer apparatus 128. As best illustrated in Figure 1, the transfer apparatus 128 includes a slotted conveyor 130. The upper surface 132 of the slotted conveyor 130 comprises a plurality of rollers 138, as is known in the art. Each roller 138 is supported by a ball bearing (not shown) at either end. An important advantage of the present invention is the ability to invert the bearing band 12 and place it on the grooved conveyor 130 with its lower side 24 downwards. The structure of the slotted conveyor 130 allows the lifting apparatus 30 to achieve this desirable event through the provisions of the central slot 142 and the lateral slots 144, 146. From the position illustrated as 60D, the arm assembly 60 translates vertically downward toward the conveyor 130. The first ends 68, 69 of the arms 90, 92 pass through the lateral slots 144, 146 and the vacuum bar 80 passes through the central slot 142 as the arm assembly 60 is lowered below the upper surface 132 of the arm. 130 slotted conveyor. However, the bearing band 12 is prevented from passing through the central groove 142 because the width W1 of the bearing band 12 is wider than the width W2 of the central groove 142. In this way, the outer edges of the bearing band 12 rest on the rollers 138 and the bearing band 12 is suspended on the upper surface 132 of the slotted conveyor 130, while the first ends 68, 69 of the arms 90, 92 they pass down through the lateral slots 144, 146 and the vacuum bar 80 passes down through the central slot 142. The vacuum is disconnected as the arms 90, 92 pass through the slotted conveyor. When the vacuum bar 80 is placed on a band 12 bearing, as shown in Figure 1, the second ends 70, 71 of the arms 90, 92 also - le ¬ they can pass through the lateral grooves 144, 146. After the bearing band 12 is placed on the slotted conveyor 130, an associated advancing member 150 advances the rolling band 12 forwardly through the tread roll 154. The translation device 150 advances the bearing band 12, in its proper orientation with the lower side 24 downwards, through the construction machine for inclusion to the rim itself. With the apparatus described above, the method of the invention for separating a tread from a storage device will now be described with reference to an operator manually operating a drive lever to control some movements of the apparatus of the invention. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to incorporate a fully automated system. The bands 12 of unvulcanized bearing are placed on the trays 18 of the storage device 14"bear trap style". In the present embodiment, the bearing bands 12 are manually positioned but it is anticipated that the treads will automatically be placed in the near future. Currently, two bearing bands 12 are placed side by side and parallel on each tray 18 even though the invention will work with alternate configurations of treads. An electric eye 164 mounted on the front side of each of the arms 90, 92 can perceive the board of the uppermost tray 18. From a rest position, the human operator of the apparatus and method of the invention has manual control of the arms 90, 92. The operator pushes a driving lever on a control panel (not shown) to the "forward cylinder" position. " The arms 90, 92 extend until the vacuum bar 80 is placed on the bearing band 12. The sensors 164 placed on the front side of each of the arms 90, 92 perceive the location of the tread, thereby stopping each arm 90, 92 independently of the other. The operator now brings the actuating lever (not shown) to a control position called "low" and the arm assembly 60 moves downward until all the suction cups 76 have engaged the lower side 24 of the band 12 of tread. At this point, the operator releases the drive lever. After the release of the drive lever, the vacuum in each individual suction cup 76 is attracted. As mentioned above, the suction cups 76 that extend beyond the limits of the bearing band 12 must be closed to save variance. A pressure release cylinder is installed so that the operator can not inadvertently apply too much downward pressure on the bearing band 12 through the vacuum bar 80 and the suction cups 76. In the preferred embodiment, each cup 76 of suction has a source of individual vacuum. The vacuum supplied to each individual suction cup 76 is activated when the cup 76 in question touches the lower side 24 of the rolling band 12. The operator now moves the actuating lever to the "up" position. again, a pressure release regulator is installed so that the operator can not inadvertently apply too much pressure in the upward direction. Once the bearing band 12 is seen to be free only from the tray 18, the operator moves the operating lever to an "in" position to retract the arms 90, 92 while the gripper 74 engages the band 12 of the bearing . The arm assembly 60 returns to a "rest position" in which the vacuum bar 80 is close to the vertical members 36 of the frame 32, This position is illustrated as 60A in Figure 1. The arm assembly 60 moves vertically upwards along the frame 32 in response to the chain drive 54. When the arm assembly 60 reaches the uppermost position, as illustrated in 60B in Figure 3A, the sensors (not shown) make contact and signal the actuators 120, 122 to rotate the rod 44. These actuators 120, 122 rotate the rod 44 causing the assembly 60 to rotate. df arm and vacuum bar 80 rotate about rod axis 44 approximately 180 degrees in the direction illustrated by the arrow shown in Figure 3A. Note that during this process, the tread 12 is reversed so that the lower side 24 is down. A further embodiment of the present invention would allow the rod 44 to be rotated simultaneously with the vertical translation of the arm assembly 60 so long as free space is achieved from the trays 18. With the bearing band 12 now placed on top of the bar 80, as shown in Figure 3B, the arms 90, 92 extend at the full stroke of the cylinder to the position illustrated as 60D in Figure 3, the arm assembly 60 moves vertically downward toward the conveyor 130 ranu ^ ado. The arms 90, 92 pass through the lateral slots 140, 146 while the vacuum bar 80 passes through the central slot 142. In the process, the bearing band 12 contacts the upper surface 132 of the slotted conveyor 130 and is retained thereon. As the bearing band 12 is lowered, the vacuum ceases, allowing the tread 12 to be easily uncoupled from the suction cups 76. The bearing band 12 is now advanced by the advancing element 150 towards the tire building machine (not shown) and the arm assembly 60 is again positioned to lift and reverse another bearing band 12. In general, the arms 90, 92 are retracted towards the vertical members 36, the brazing assembly 60 is returned to the uppermost position, and the rod 44 is rotated again. One method for advancing the tread band 12 incorporates a tread rolling cylinder 154 for moving the suction cups 152 on the tread band 12. The suction cups 152 are provided with vacuum at this point so that they can hold the bearing band 12 and move forward. A pressure sensor will indicate when the vacuum has been made, thereby causing the cylinders 154 to lift the end of the bearing band 12. When the lift is made, the 1 tread rolling cylinder 154 will make a full forward stroke, thereby moving the tread band 12 over the power rollers (not shown). Other advancement elements, such as activated rollers, may be employed. With reference to Figures 4-10, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. This mode may be preferred in some applications, such as when there is a lack of total space in the manufacturing facility. A primary advantage of the second embodiment is that less total space is needed to operate the lifting apparatus 30A because the arm assembly 60D does not oscillate about the rod axis 44. For ease of illustration and brevity, similar components of the The second embodiment shown in Figures 4-10 will not be described again, since its operation is the same as in the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-3. Instead, the differences between the modes will be described more fully. The main difference between the first and second embodiments of the invention relates to the use of double linear cylinders, the first cylinder 202 and the second cylinder 204, fixed to each of the vertical members 36a of the lifting apparatus 30a.

Figures 8-10 show only a vertical member 36a and its associated first and second cylinders 202, 204. However, the lifting apparatus 30A is generally symmetrical about the central line CL3 and comprises a second vertical member 36a (not shown) and its associated first and second cylinders 202, 204 (not shown) The linear cylinders 202, 204 currently Preferred are available from Parker Hannifin and sold under the trade name Parker Series RC.The preferred type linear cylinder is a rodless air cylinder.Another important difference between the second and the first embodiment includes the provision of at least one, and preferably two rotating actuators 212 that are operably connected to the ends of the vacuum rod 80A.This rotary actuator is commercially available from a variety of sources and reverses the bearing band 12 soon after it is lifted from the tray 18 The operation of the second mode will now be described, as before, the operation will be described with reference ia to a human operator, even when a fully automated system is within the scope of the present invention. The unvulcanized bearing strips 12 are placed on trays 18 of the storage device 14. The human operator of the second embodiment of the lifting apparatus 30A drives an operating lever on a control panel (not shown) to a "forward cylinder" position. The cylinders 202 extend outward from the vertical members 36A until the vacuum bar 80A and the associated suction cups 76A are placed on the bearing band 12. The operator now moves the actuating lever to the control position called "down" until the suction cups 76A have engaged the lower side 24 of the bearing band 12. At this point, the vertical translation element, such as chain drives _ previously described (not shown), are used to lift the arm assembly 60E so that the bearing band 12 leaves the tray 18 free, in addition, the cylinders 202 can be retracted to secure the free space the bearing band 12 of the tray 18. The rotary actuator 212 is activated and the vacuum SOA bar is rotated in the direction represented by the arrow in Figure 4 approximately 180 degrees. The vacuum bar 80a is selectively positioned at the first ends 220 of the cylinders 202 when the bearing band 12 is engaged and inverted.

With reference to Figures 8 and 9, the vacuum SOA bar which retains the bearing band 12 is movable along the cylinder 202 to selectively place on the second ends 222 of the cylinders 202. With particular reference to Figure 10, the cylinders 202 are movable further along the lengths of the cylinders 204. Therefore, the bearing band 12 can be moved from the tray 18 to the slotted conveyor 130 by moving the vacuum bar 80A from the first ends 220 to the second ends 222 of the cylinders 202 and moving the cylinders 202 with respect to the cylinders 204. The operator of the lifting SOA apparatus manipulates the operating lever on the control panel to a "cylinder backward" position to move the cylinders 202 toward the grooved conveyor 130. As is readily apparent, the vacuum bar 80A must be placed vertically on the grooved conveyor 130 before the bearing band 12 can discharge. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the vertical lift of the arm assembly 60E can be achieved at any point after the vacuum SOA bar and the bearing band 12 have released the tray 18. As illustrated by the Figures 7 and 10, once the vacuum bar 80A and the bearing band 12 ST place on the slotted conveyor 130, the arm assembly 60E is lowered by the vertical translation element. The cylinders 202 and the vacuum SOA bar pass through the slots as described above, and the bearing band 12 is retained on the slotted conveyor 130. As with the first embodiment, the suction cups 76A are released after the tread band 12, and the tread band 12 is advanced to a tire building machine. The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiment. Evidently, modifications and alterations will occur to others after a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all these modifications and alterations as long as they are within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof. Having described the invention, what is claimed now is:

Claims (31)

1. feEIVlNDICAChICS 1. - An apparatus for separating an associated rim tread from an associated storage device, the apparatus being characterized by: a gripping element for clamping the associated tread; and an inversion element for reversing the gripping element.
2. 2. An apparatus for separating an associated rim tape from an associated storage device, the apparatus comprising a frame, the frame including spaced apart vertical members and a vertical axis, the apparatus characterized by: an arm assembly mounted on the frame, the arm assembly generally defining a first plane; a first translation element for vertically moving the arm assembly along the vertical axis of the frame; a gripping element for clamping the associated rim band, the gripping element being mounted to the arm assembly; and an inversion element for reversing the gripping element, 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the gripping element comprises: a vacuum bar having spaced ends; and an interface element to be placed in interface between the vacuum bar and the associated rim band. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reversing element includes a rotary actuator mounted on the arm assembly, the rotary actuator being operable to rotate the vacuum bar about an axis thereof. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a pair of oscillating together, one of the joints connecting one end of the vacuum bar to the arm assembly, the other of the joints connecting the other end to the vacuum bar to the arm assembly, 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the arm assembly comprises: first and second arms spaced apart; and, a second translation element for transferring the first and second arms relative to the frame in the first plane, 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second arms are movable in the first plane one independently of the other. . 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the arms comprises a tread sensor, the tread sensor sensing a placement of the associated tread. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tread sensors are electric eyes. 10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the arm assembly further comprises a rod extending between the vertical members, the first arm positioned near a first end of the rod and the second arm positioned close to a second. end of the rod; and wherein the reversing element includes a first operable hydraulic actuator for rotating the rod about an axis thereof. 11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the arms is a pneumatic cylinder. 12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the arms comprises first and second linear cylinders, each of the linear cylinders having a length. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the ends of the vacuum bar is mounted to the first cylinders and the vacuum bar is movable along the lengths of the first cylinders. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the first cylinders is movable with respect to the second cylinders along the lengths of the second cylinders. 15. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the interface positioning element comprises a plurality of spaced suction cups, which extend in a first direction from the vacuum bar. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a spacing between the adjacent suction cups narrows near the ends of the vacuum bar. 17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first translation element comprises: a chain drive that is mounted to one of the vertical members and that is operably connected to the arm assembly. 18. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the arm assembly includes first and second spaced arms, a second translation element for moving the first and second arms relative to the frame in the first plane, and a band sensor of bearing placed on each of the arms, the tread sensor sensing a positioning of the associated tread; the first translation element includes a chain drive which is mounted to one of the vertical members and which is operably connected to the arm assembly; the fastening element includes a vacuum bar having spaced ends and an interface positioning element for interfacing between the vacuum bar and the associated rim band; and, the reversing element includes a rotary actuator mounted on the arm assembly, the rotary actuator being operable to rotate the vacuum bar about an axis thereof. 19. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the first arm assembly includes first and second spaced arms, second translation element for moving the first and second arms relative to the frame in the first plane, and a rod that is extends between the vertical members, the first arm positioned near a first end of the rod and the second arm positioned near a second end of the rod; the first translation element includes a chain drive that is mounted to one of the vertical members and which is operably connected to the arm assembly; the fastening element includes a vacuum bar having spaced ends and interface positioning element to interface with the vacuum bar and the associated rim band; and the reversing element includes a first hydraulic actuator operable to rotate the rod about an axis thereof. 20. A system for removing an associated rim band from an associated storage device, the system characterized by: a lifting element comprising a gripping element for clamping the associated tread and an element for lifting. investment to invest in the gripping element; and a transfer apparatus having an upper surface for supporting the associated tread, the upper surface having a first groove thereon for passage of the fastener from a position above the upper surface to a position below the upper surface , the first groove having a narrower width than a width of the associated tread. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the lifting apparatus further comprises: a frame including first and second vertical spaced members and having a vertical axis; an arm assembly mounted on the frame - and supporting the clamping element, the arm assembly generally defining a first plane; and a first translation element for vertically transferring the arm assembly along the vertical axis of the frame. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the arm assembly comprises first and second arms, and wherein the upper surface of the conveyor assembly has first and second side slots therein for passage of an end portion of each of the first and second arms from a position above the upper surface to a position below the upper surface. 23. - The system of claim 22, wherein the arm assembly further comprises: the second translation element for transferring the first and second arms relative to the frame in the first plane. 24. The system of claim 22, wherein the arm assembly further comprises a rod extending between the vertical members, the first arm positioned near a first end of the rod and the second arm positioned near a second end of the rod; and wherein the reversing element includes a first operable hydraulic actuator for rotating the rod about an axis thereof. 25. The system of claim 21, wherein the reversing element includes a rotary actuator mounted on the arm assembly, the rotary actuator being operable to rotate the vacuum bar about an axis thereof, 26.- The system of claim 22, wherein the frame is positioned between the associated storage device and the transport apparatus, 27.- A method for removing an associated tire tread from a storage device using an apparatus for lifting comprising a fastening element for fastening the associated tread, the method characterized by the steps of: operably placing the fastening element above the associated tread; vertically moving the fastening element and the associated tread at a predetermined upward distance; and invert the associated tread after the vertical transfer step. 28. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of: aligning an axis of the fastener element with a center line longitudinally of the associated tread before the vertical transfer step. 29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of: moving horizontally the ujection element at a predetermined distance relative to the associated storage device before the inversion step. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the fastening element comprises a vacuum bar and, wherein the reversing step includes rotating the vacuum bar about an axis thereof. 31. - The method of claim 27, wherein the lifting apparatus further comprises a rod that is connected to the fastening element and, wherein the reversing step includes rotating the rod about an axis thereof.