The invention concerns a device and a method for detecting a tire on a vehicle to determine whether there is a single or twin tire on an axle. The device has an optical sensor for this purpose, the sensor detecting at least one region of a rim on which a tire to be determined is mounted. An evaluation unit is also provided which is designed to determine a shape of the area of the rim from the sensor signals and to generate a signal from the shape which represents the type of tire.

A weight apply system capable of changing tooling to apply weights to an assembly to correct unbalance. It may include a selectively movable arm, at least one weight apply tool, the ability to change the tooling based on assembly type, and a controller configured to manage the selection of the tool, loading the weight, and application of the weight to the assembly in station.

Vehicle dimension data describing dimensions of a vehicle are obtained, a robotic apparatus is moved to a position about the vehicle, a reference point of the vehicle is determined, and the robotic apparatus is caused to move to positions about the vehicle based on the reference point. The reference point may be a center point of a selected wheel of the vehicle. A coordinate system of the robotic apparatus is aligned to the reference point of the selected wheel of the vehicle. Based on the aligned coordinate system of the robotic apparatus, operations are performed by the robotic apparatus to remove lug nuts from a wheel hub of the vehicle.

The disclosure discloses a high-precision wheel assembling device, which is high in size and shape precision, good in dynamic balance, high in fatigue strength, good in rigidity and elasticity, light in weight, attractive in appearance and recyclable in material.

The present invention concerns a tyre-changing machine provided with a basic structure that can rest on the ground, a retaining and rotation unit mounted on an upper part of the structure and adapted to retain and set the rim (C) of a wheel (R) in rotation around an axis of rotation of the wheel (Z-Z) and a holding column associated with the retaining and rotation unit and intended to support a tool for mounting/disassembling a tyre (P) onto/from the rim (C) of the wheel (R). Advantageously, the tool comprises a hooked end which can rotate passively around an axis of rotation (X-X) orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the wheel (Z-Z).

A method and computer program product are disclosed. The method includes tracking a distance travelled on a set of tires, determining a threshold, determining whether the distance travelled has exceeded the threshold, and notifying the user that the distance travelled has exceeded the threshold. The computer program product includes code to perform tracking a distance travelled on a set of tires, determining a threshold, determining whether the distance travelled has exceeded the threshold, and notifying the user that the distance travelled has exceeded the threshold.

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.

A robot tool has a chassis and a wheel servicing sub-system supported on the chassis, the wheel servicing sub-system having a sub-system interface part engageable with a wheel interface part, the wheel servicing sub-system interface part engagement with the wheel interface part permitting operation of the wheel servicing sub-system to service the wheel, and a control unit on the robot tool to control operation of the wheel servicing sub-system to effect said wheel servicing. The wheel servicing sub-system is one or more of a chassis sub-system, a tool support sub-system, a fastener detaching/attaching sub-system, a fastener storage sub-system, a jacking sub-system, a wheel gripper sub-system, a tire inspection sub-system, a tire pressure sub-system, and a wheel balancing sub-system.

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.

A machine (M) for mounting and demounting a tyre (P) relative to a corresponding rim (C) of a vehicle wheel (R) comprises a wheel-holder unit (200) that is movable in rotation about a vertical axis of rotation (Y) and movable in translation along an axis of translation (X) towards and away from the machine (M). The machine (M) comprises a main arm (400) and a working unit (500) connected to the main arm (400) and including a first arm (501a) pivoted to the main arm (400) at a hinge point (F) and a first sidewall pressing tool (502a) which is configured to come into abutment against a sidewall of the tyre (P) of the wheel (R) mounted on the wheel-holder unit (200) and which is connected to the first arm (501a). The main arm (400) is movable by translation parallel to the horizontal axis of translation (X) towards and away from a column (101) to keep the hinge point (F) vertically aligned with the vertical axis of rotation (Y) of the wheel-holder unit (200), responsive to a movement in translation of the wheel-holder unit (200).