Peeler tool system and method of use thereof

Abstract

A liner-removing tool for peeling a protective liner secured to a wheel-balancing weights strip is presented, the liner-removing tool comprising a liner peeler comprising a liner-contacting portion for engaging the protective liner secured to the wheel-balancing weights strip, the liner peeler being movable between a liner-contacting position, for engaging an end of the protective liner secured to the wheel-balancing weights strip; and a liner-removing position for routing the protective liner once the end of the protective liner is unsecured from the wheel-balancing weights strip and engaged with the liner peeler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liner-removing tool for peeling a protective liner secured to a wheel-balancing weights strip, the liner-removing tool comprising a liner peeler comprising:
 a liner-contacting portion for engaging the protective liner secured to the wheel-balancing weights strip, the liner peeler being movable between a liner-contacting position, for engaging an end of the protective liner secured to the wheel-balancing weights strip; and   a liner-removing position for routing the protective liner once the end of the protective liner is unsecured from the wheel-balancing weights strip and engaged with the liner peeler.   
     
     
         2 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the liner-contacting portion is moved adjacent a sticky portion layer of the wheel-balancing weights strip when the liner peeler is in the liner-contacting position. 
     
     
         3 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the liner-contacting portion is moved away from the sticky portion layer of the wheel-balancing weights strip of between about 0 mm and 4 mm when the liner peeler is in the liner-removing position. 
     
     
         4 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the liner peeler is pivotably movable about a peeler axis between the liner-contacting position and the liner-removing position. 
     
     
         5 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the liner peeler further includes a concave portion on a side routing the unsecured protective liner. 
     
     
         6 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the liner peeler further includes a hook-like portion for engaging the protective liner. 
     
     
         7 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein, once the liner is unsecured from the wheel-balancing weights strip, the protective liner is routed with a liner-guiding edge. 
     
     
         8 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein, once the protective liner is unsecured from the wheel-balancing weights strip, the protective liner is routed with a liner guide. 
     
     
         9 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 8 , wherein the liner guide is disposed in a direction routing the unsecured protective liner in a direction different from a direction of the wheel-balancing weights strip. 
     
     
         10 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the liner-removing tool further includes a sensor located downstream of the liner peeler for sensing a presence of the protective liner. 
     
     
         11 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the liner peeler is operatively connected to an actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator includes a pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is disposed upstream from the liner-peeler. 
     
     
         14 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the liner-contacting portion is adjacent to a wheel-balancing weight strip-cutter travel projection. 
     
     
         15 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner-cutting mechanism for cutting the removed protective liner in shorter portions thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The liner-removing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel-balancing weight strip with the protective layer secured thereon is configured to move toward the liner peeler. 
     
     
         17 . A liner peeler comprising:
 a body including a pivot portion for pivoting the liner peeler between a liner-contacting position and a liner-removing position;   a liner-contacting portion for engaging and disconnecting a protective liner secured to a wheel-balancing weights strip when the liner peeler is in the liner-contacting position; and   a liner-routing portion for routing the protective liner after the protective liner is disconnected from the wheel-balancing weights strip and the liner peeler is in the liner-removing position.   
     
     
         18 . The liner peeler of  claim 17 , wherein the pivot portion includes a pivot axis perpendicular with the wheel-balancing weights strip. 
     
     
         19 . The liner peeler of  claim 17 , wherein the liner peeler is operatively connected to an actuator for alternatively pivoting the liner peeler between the liner-contacting position and the liner-removing position. 
     
     
         20 . The liner peeler of  claim 17 , wherein the liner peeler further includes a concave portion on a side routing the unsecured protective liner.