A tire inspection assembly includes a spindle and a clamping mechanism. The tire inspection assembly generally functions to mount a tire and allow for the inflation thereof to perform a test on the mounted tire. The tire inspection apparatus generally offers more robust centering, higher stiffness versus loads, and greater elimination of variable clearances that can otherwise impede repeatability.
A tire inspection assembly includes a spindle and a clamping mechanism. The tire inspection assembly generally functions to mount a tire and allow for the inflation thereof to perform a test on the mounted tire. The tire inspection apparatus generally offers more robust centering, higher stiffness versus loads, and greater elimination of variable clearances that can otherwise impede repeatability.
A dynamic balancer includes an outer housing and a spindle assembly rotatably mounted to the outer housing. A frameless motor assembly is connected to selected components of the spindle assembly. A chucking assembly receives a locking member to capture a tire therebetween. The chucking assembly and the locking member are captured in the spindle assembly and rotated by the frameless motor assembly. A spring-biased return cylinder may be used with the dynamic balancer to assist in capturing and releasing the locking member with respect to the chucking assembly. An adjustable encoder assembly may be associated with the motor assembly to monitor a rotational position of the tire and/or spindle assembly.
A tire grinding machine includes a frame having a plurality of vertically extending posts. A chuck assembly is associated with the frame and adapted to receive and rotate a tire. A grinding assembly is associated with the frame and is movable with respect to the frame. The grinding assembly has at least one grinding element adapted to contact and remove material from the tire when rotated by the chuck assembly. A counterbalance assembly which has a cable with one end connected to a counterbalance weight and an opposite end connected to the grinding assembly is included. A block assembly may be coupled to the grinding assembly to allow pivotable movement thereof. A calibration adapter may be used to ensure proper positioning of the grinding elements, wherein a level adjuster may be used for this purpose.
B24B 5/04 - Machines or devices designed for grinding surfaces of revolution on work, including those which also grind adjacent plane surfacesAccessories therefor involving centres or chucks for holding work for grinding cylindrical surfaces externally
B24B 49/12 - Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or workArrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation involving optical means
A chucking apparatus for positioning a tire in a tire uniformity machine includes an upper chuck assembly, a lower chuck assembly operative with the upper chuck assembly to capture a tire therebetween, and a dual piston cylinder coupled to the lower chuck assembly which moves the tire into engagement with the upper chuck assembly. The dual piston cylinder has an axially extending inner piston rod from which axially extends a field-replaceable inner piston stem.
A chucking apparatus for positioning a tire in a tire uniformity machine includes an upper chuck assembly, a lower chuck assembly operative with the upper chuck assembly to capture a tire therebetween, and a dual piston cylinder coupled to the lower chuck assembly which moves the tire into engagement with the upper chuck assembly. The dual piston cylinder has an axially extending inner piston rod from which axially extends a field-replaceable inner piston stem.
A decal marker used with a marking station interchangeably carries a decal tape and a marking tape and transfers a decal from the decal tape to a surface to be marked. A marking assembly frame and at least one marker carried by the marking assembly frame which carries the decal tape or the marking tape are included. A tape sensor assembly is carried by the at least one marker and detects an edge of the decal so that the at least one marker properly positions the decal for transfer to the surface.
A tire bead lubricating system for applying lubricant to a tire consists of a frame supporting conveyor belts which form a conveyor opening therebetween. The conveyor belts transfer a tire from one end of the frame to another. A lubricating wick chamber is maintained within the frame and positioned underneath the conveyor opening. A lubricating wick assembly is received in the lubricating wick chamber and moves into the conveyor opening. The lubricating wick assembly has at least one engagement roller and at least one elongate brush that carries lubricant applied to the tire.
B05C 1/02 - Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles
B05C 7/00 - Apparatus specially designed for applying liquid or other fluent material to the inside of hollow work
B05C 11/105 - Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent materialRecovery of excess liquid or other fluent material by capillary action, e.g. using wicks
B05C 11/10 - Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent materialRecovery of excess liquid or other fluent material
B29D 30/26 - Accessories or details, e.g. membranes or transfer rings
B60C 25/00 - Apparatus or tools adapted for mounting, removing or inspecting tyres
A tire bead lubricating system for applying lubricant to a tire consists of a frame supporting conveyor belts which form a conveyor opening therebetween. The conveyor belts transfer a tire from one end of the frame to another. A lubricating wick chamber is maintained within the frame and positioned underneath the conveyor opening. A lubricating wick assembly is received in the lubricating wick chamber and moves into the conveyor opening. The lubricating wick assembly has at least one engagement roller and at least one elongate brush that carries lubricant applied to the tire.
B05C 11/105 - Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent materialRecovery of excess liquid or other fluent material by capillary action, e.g. using wicks
B05C 1/02 - Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating for applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles
B05C 7/00 - Apparatus specially designed for applying liquid or other fluent material to the inside of hollow work
B60C 25/00 - Apparatus or tools adapted for mounting, removing or inspecting tyres
B05C 11/10 - Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent materialRecovery of excess liquid or other fluent material
F16N 7/12 - Arrangements for supplying oil or unspecified lubricant from a stationary reservoir or the equivalent in or on the machine or member to be lubricated with feed by capillary action, e.g. by wicks
F16N 7/14 - Arrangements for supplying oil or unspecified lubricant from a stationary reservoir or the equivalent in or on the machine or member to be lubricated the lubricant being conveyed from the reservoir by mechanical means
B29D 30/26 - Accessories or details, e.g. membranes or transfer rings
An apparatus to mark a surface of an object includes a conveyor assembly having spaced apart conveyor belts with a conveyor opening therebetween. The conveyor assembly has an entry side and an exit side that supports the object. A marking assembly moves between a retracted position away from the conveyor belts, which allows movement of the object from the entry side to the exit side, and an operate position proximal the surface to be marked. At least one marker is carried by the marking assembly which marks a surface of the object when the marking assembly is in the operate position.
B41F 17/00 - Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
B60C 13/00 - Tyre sidewallsProtecting, decorating, marking, or the like, thereof
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
A dynamic balancer includes a support frame with a frame plate that has a spindle opening through which a spindle assembly with a rotatable spindle shaft is received. A sensor plate is coupled to at least the support frame, and at least one force sensor is coupled between the sensor plate and the spindle assembly to detect force variations therebetween as the rotatable spindle shaft rotates. A related method for detecting a balance condition of a tire includes providing a plurality of force sensors maintained in a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the tire's rotation, chucking and inflating the tire, spinning the tire to a predetermined speed, generating force data from the plurality of force sensors, calculating an imbalance condition from the force data, and marking the tire at a location of imbalance if the imbalance condition exceeds a predetermined threshold.
An analysis machine uses a test wheel to confirm operation of measurement sensors and software algorithm associated with the analysis machine. The machine includes at least one laser measurement device that measures dimensional characteristics of tires received in the analysis machine. A test wheel is receivable and rotatable in the analysis machine, wherein the test wheel has a known dimensional configuration detected by the at least one laser measurement device to confirm the accuracy of the at least one laser measurement device and/or confirm performance of the software algorithm.
An apparatus to mark a surface of an object includes a conveyor assembly having spaced apart conveyor belts with a conveyor opening therebetween. The conveyor assembly has an entry side and an exit side that supports the object. A marking assembly moves between a retracted position away from the conveyor belts, which allows movement of the object from the entry side to the exit side, and an operate position proximal the surface to be marked. At least one marker is carried by the marking assembly which marks a surface of the object when the marking assembly is in the operate position.
An apparatus for removing flash from a tire includes a laser sensor which, while the tire is rotating, can be moved along the outer contour of the shoulders and tread area of a tire to detect the contour of the tire. A first sanding assembly removes the flash from the tread area, while the tire is not rotating, by moving horizontally and vertically in accordance with the detected contour of the tread area. A second sanding assembly removes the flash from the shoulder area, while the tire is rotating, by moving horizontally, vertically, and pivotally in accordance with the detected contour of the shoulder area.
B24B 49/12 - Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or workArrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation involving optical means
A tire uniformity machine includes an apparatus for receiving and rotating a tire. The apparatus includes opposed spindles for receiving, inflating and rotating a tire, and a load wheel applied to the rotating tire to obtain tire test results. A spindle alignment assembly is associated with the opposed spindles to align the spindles with one another each time a tire is received. At least one characterizing device is associated with components of the apparatus to characterize forces of the opposed spindles and the characterized forces are used in adjusting tire test results.
A tire uniformity machine includes an apparatus for receiving and rotating a tire. The apparatus includes opposed spindles for receiving, inflating and rotating a tire, and a load wheel applied to the rotating tire to obtain tire test results. A spindle alignment assembly is associated with the opposed spindles to align the spindles with one another each time a tire is received. At least one characterizing device is associated with components of the apparatus to characterize forces of the opposed spindles and the characterized forces are used in adjusting tire test results.
A tire uniformity machine includes an apparatus for receiving and rotating a tire. The apparatus includes opposed chuck assemblies for receiving, inflating and rotating the tire and a load wheel applied to the rotating tire to obtain tire test results. At least one characterizing device is associated with components of the apparatus to characterize forces of at least one of the components and the characterized forces are used in adjusting the tire test results.
A grinding assembly contacts a tire supported by a frame relative to the tire. The grinding assembly includes at least one section, and an axial positioning assembly supporting the at least one section. The axial positioning assembly enables the at least one section to be axially repositioned relative to the tire. The at least one section includes a grinding head, where the grinding head includes a grindstone rotatably supported thereon, the grindstone having rounded shoulders at its axial extremities. The grinding assembly further includes a radial positioning assembly supporting the grinding head for radial movement with respect to the tire.
B24B 49/00 - Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or workArrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation
A grinding assembly contacts a tire supported by a frame relative to the tire. The grinding assembly includes at least one section, and an axial positioning assembly supporting the at least one section. The axial positioning assembly enables the at least one section to be axially repositioned relative to the tire. The at least one section includes a grinding head, where the grinding head includes a grindstone rotatably supported thereon, the grindstone having rounded shoulders at its axial extremities. The grinding assembly further includes a radial positioning assembly supporting the grinding head for radial movement with respect to the tire.
B24B 49/00 - Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or workArrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation
A method of positioning a load wheel in a tire uniformity machine to load a tire for testing, the method comprising providing a drive assembly including a drive motor and a drive controller, electrically connected to each other, said drive controller being adapted to switch between analog velocity control and position control; moving the load wheel with the drive motor using analog velocity control; and switching to position control to cause said motor to maintain a selected position of said load wheel without a mechanical brake.
A grinder assembly (10) contacts a tire (T) supported by a frame (F) relative to the tire (T). The grinder assembly (10) includes at least one section, and a vertical repositioning system (118) supporting the at least one section. The vertical repositioning system (118) enables the at least one section to be vertically repositioned relative to the tire (T). The at least one section includes a grinding head (24), a radial positioning system (18) supporting the grinding head (24) for radial movement with respect to the tire (T), and a tilt adjuster (90) provided adjacent the grinding head (24) to provide for pivotal movement thereof. The vertical repositioning system (118) includes at least one rail extending along the frame (F), and a rail carriage supporting the at least one section on the at least one rail, the rail carriage being vertically repositionable along the at least one rail.
B24B 49/00 - Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or workArrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation
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