A system is disclosed. The system includes a processing station for processing at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes one of a tire lubricating sub-station and a wheel lubricating sub-station. A lubrication conditioning system is fluidly-coupled to the processing station. The lubrication conditioning system includes: a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature modifier arranged at least proximate to the lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature sensor arranged within a cavity formed by the lubricant reservoir and a controller communicatively-coupled to both of the lubricant temperature modifier and the lubricant temperature sensor.

The machine (1) for fitting and removing wheel tyres for vehicles comprises a bearing structure (2), an attachment and rotation arrangement (4) of the rim (C) of a wheel (R) for vehicles, a tool-holder assembly (5) movably associated with the bearing structure (2) and having at least a tool (8, 9, 10) for removing and/or fitting a tyre (P) from/onto the rim (C), an adjustment arrangement (11, 12) able to adjust the relative position between the tool-holder assembly (5) and the rim (C), to place the tool-holder assembly (5) in an optimal operating position wherein the tool (8, 9, 10) is operable to remove and/or fit a tyre (P), and a visual signaling assembly (13, 14) of said optimal position having at least an emitter (13, 14) of a light beam (L1, L2), the optimal operating position being defined when the point of incidence of the light beam (L1, L2) on the wheel (R) coincides with an external point of the edge of the rim (C).

A method and associated apparatus for uniquely identifying tyres for wheels of vehicles as part of wheel maintenance processes. The method envisages that a vehicle wheel is mounted on a support of a wheel maintenance apparatus, said wheel comprising a rim and a tyre. Moreover, a digital code is created to uniquely identify the tyre. Finally, via a marking system, preferably of the optical type, at least one marking is created on the surface of one side wall of the tyre of said wheel, corresponding to the previously created digital code.

An autonomous traverse tire changing bot includes a carriage having a carriage frame with a carriage drive section effecting autonomous traverse of the carriage, along a traverse path, relative to a traverse surface or a floor on which the bot rests, and a bot frame including at least one actuator mounted to the carriage and a bot drive section with a motor defining an actuator degree of freedom, wherein the at least one actuator has an end effector having a tire engagement tool disposed so that articulation of the at least one actuator with the actuator degree of freedom effects engagement contact of the tire engagement tool and a tire mounted on a vehicle, and a controller effects traverse of the bot along the traverse path effecting dynamic positioning of the at least one actuator relative to a variable position of the vehicle with the tire mounted thereon.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

An axial clamping system for securing a wheel assembly onto a tire changer drive spindle. The clamping system consists of a shaft for engaging an axial bore of the drive spindle, configured with a set of ball bearings seated within radial bore arranged in a spiral configuration and which extend into a central bore of the shaft. Axial movement of a plunger within the central bore radially displaces the ball bearings to protrude outboard of the shaft outer surface, engaging a spiral channel within the drive spindle axial bore. Rotation of the clamping system within the drive spindle axial bore while the ball bearings engage the spiral channels, tightens a clamp nut against a wheel assembly seated on a flange of the drive spindle. Counter rotation and retraction of the plunger within the shaft releases the clamping forces, allowing for removal of the wheel assembly from the drive spindle.

In an embodiment, a system for wear monitoring, includes a wear surface, a metallic reflector embedded in the wear surface, a radio-wave transmitter, and a radio-wave receiver. The metallic reflector reflects radio waves transmitted by the radio-wave transmitter for detection by the radio wave receiver. Attenuation of the radio waves between transmission by the radio-wave transmitter and detection by the radio-wave receiver indicates a degree of wear of the wear surface.

A tire characteristic determination system is disclosed. The tire characteristic determination system includes a memory device that stores tire-engaging data related to one or more tire-engaging value to be utilized for spatially manipulating a tire about a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The tire characteristic determination device includes a tire-engaging test probe that is urged adjacent the tire at one or more tire displacement distances or is urged against the tire with one or more amounts of urging forces. The tire characteristic determination device is communicatively-coupled to the memory device for communicating the one or more tire displacement distances or the one or more amounts of urging forces to the memory device.

The invention discloses a small automatic tire changing machine, which comprises an upper casing, wherein an installation cavity is provided in the upper casing, and a detachable sleeve disc oil tank is arranged in the installation cavity. There are bumps on the wall. The invention has simple structure, convenient maintenance, and convenient use. The device can be used in emergency situations, and it can automatically disassemble and assemble the tires of the vehicle, which greatly simplifies the tire change process and improves the vehicle. In addition to the disadvantages of laborious disassembly and removal of hub screws compared with traditional tire replacement tools, the device does not require laborious disassembly of the hub screws, so that female users can easily change tires by themselves. The device is small in size, stable and safe in work. Can be put in the car to go with the car for emergency needs.

A method is presented for fitting a tyre onto a rim or removing a tyre from a rim in a tyre fitting machine using an appropriate tool. A wheel, a tyre/rim assembly, or the rim alone is caused to rotate about an axis of rotation, and at least one operating parameter of the tyre fitting machine is continuously monitored during the rotation to determine every actual value. Change in or gradient of such actual value is automatically monitored over time and each actual value found and/or the change in the value over time is compared with corresponding predetermined threshold values. The predetermined threshold values define a range of present values and/or change in values delimiting an accepted operating range for the tyre fitting machine, and the machine is controlled to maintain each measured present value and/or change therein over time within the range of corresponding predetermined threshold values.