A robotic wheel gripper unit that is configured for gripping and transporting a wheel to a predetermined position during an assembly operation with a tire is disclosed. The robotic wheel gripper unit comprises a selectively moveable arm that includes a gripper tool connected thereto. The gripper tool further includes a plurality of gripper fingers and at least one sensor. The gripper fingers are configured for selectively engaging a portion of a wheel. The sensor is configured to detect a predetermined element on the wheel, such as a TPMS valve stem, to assist in placement of the wheel during an assembly operation.

A vehicle wheel service apparatus that includes: a frame; a plurality of working tools, connected to the frame and movable to perform operations for mounting and/or demounting the tyre relative to the wheel rim; a shaft driven by an actuator rotationally about a longitudinal axis and connectable to the rim; a measuring system for generating vibration signals representing vibrations of the shaft produced by wheel imbalances; a control unit, connected to the measuring system to receive the vibration signals; a support device, connected to the frame and movable between an activated position, where it encircles the shaft while still allowing it to rotate, and a deactivated position, where it is spaced from the shaft; a connector, movable between a working position, where it mechanically connects the measuring system to the frame, and a rest position, where the measuring system is mechanically disengaged from the frame.

A tyre changing machine (100) for mounting and demounting a tyre (P) to and from a corresponding rim (C) of a vehicle wheel (R) comprises a wheel-holder unit (200), a frame (400) and a bead breaker unit (300) including an abutment surface (S) and a bead breaking arm (301) articulated to the frame (400) to rotate about a second vertical axis (Y). The bead breaker unit (300) comprises: a bead breaker tool (302) mounted on the bead breaking arm (301), a bead breaker actuator (303), connected to the bead breaking arm (301) to move the bead breaker tool (302) towards and away from the abutment surface (S), and a driving element (304), mounted on the bead breaking arm (301) and configured to drive the bead breaker actuator (303), the driving element (304) alternately adopting an advanced position, a return position and an intermediate position.

A tyre changing machine (100) comprises: a wheel-holder unit (200); a frame (400); a bead breaker unit (300) including a bead breaking arm (301) articulated to the frame (400) to rotate about a vertical axis (Y), a bead breaker tool (302) and a bead breaker actuator (303) to move the bead breaker tool (302) towards and away from a wheel (R); a lifting device (500), including a lifting arm (501) and a supporting platform (502), defining a horizontal surface on which to rest the wheel (R) and connected to the lifting arm (501) to be movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The lifting device (500) also comprises a lifting actuator to move the supporting platform (502) between the raised position and the lowered position, and a box-shaped body (600) that is operatively coupled to the flank (400b) of the frame (400); the lifting actuator is at least partly positioned in the box-shaped body.

A tire changer machine, and method of operation, configured with a tire-engaging wheel clamp assembly to secure a wheel assembly consisting of a wheel rim and tire mounted thereon to a drive assembly, and for demounting of the tire from the wheel rim. Upon dismounting of the tire from the wheel rim, a recessed surface and annular flange of the tire-engaging wheel clamp assembly is configured to catch and retain a rim or bead of the demounted tire, restricting movement of the tire upon dismounting from the wheel rim, until retrieved by an operator.

An apparatus enables a commercial vehicle tire hub drum to be attached and detached. The apparatus includes a main body frame having traveling wheels mounted on a lower part thereof and holding means that face forward from the main body frame for holding upright a circular load mounted on a commercial vehicle. An attachment/detachment means executes an attachment/detachment operation of the load from above the holding means. A position adjustment device coupled to the main body frame adjusts the position of the holding means and the attachment/detachment means. Accordingly, the apparatus uses a hydraulic device providing a hydraulic driving force to conveniently attach or detach a load of various sizes to a vehicle from a fixed position while simultaneously adjusting the vertical position of a load-holding means.

Described is a device for locking a rim of a wheel to a wheel-holder unit (4) equipped with a supporting plate (12) and a hollow rotary shaft having an end portion projecting in a cantilever fashion from the supporting plate (12), comprising: a centring cone (16) having a through hole; a clamping rod (11) having at a first end a clamping element (10) which can be inserted inside the hollow shaft to prevent a movement of the clamping rod (11) along a first axis (A) of the wheel-holder unit (4), and having at a second end a threaded portion; a clamping element (17) coupled to the threaded portion and which can be rotated for translating along an axis of the clamping rod; a centring flange (23) operatively interposed between the centring cone (16) and the clamping element (17). The first end of the clamping rod (11) is operatively inserted in a hole of the centring flange (23), with the same direction as that in which centring rods (23b) of the centring flange project, and in the hole of the centring cone (16), with the opposite direction to that along which the centring cone (16) is tapered.

A fixture for eccentric clamping of a wheel is composed of a base (1), a cylinder (2), a cylinder support (3), a connecting seat (4), a movable positioning seat (5), a guide rail sliding seat (6), a linear guide rail (7) and a fixed positioning seat (8), wherein the cylinder support (3), the linear guide rail (7) and the fixed positioning seat (8) are fixed on the base (1), the cylinder (2) is mounted on the cylinder support (3), an output shaft of the cylinder (2) is connected with the connecting seat (4), the connecting seat (4) is connected with the linear guide rail (7) via the guide rail sliding seat (6), the movable positioning seat (5) is fixed on the connecting seat (4), and the cylinder (2) is configured to drive the connecting seat (4) and the movable positioning seat (5) to move along the linear guide rail (7).

A tyre changing machine includes a frame; a wheel support assembly mounted on the frame for locking and setting in rotation a rim of a wheel; at least a bead breaking arm; and a bead breaking tool adapted to carry out the bead breaking operation of the tyre of the wheel. The bead breaking arm is movable between a disengaged position, in which the bead breaking tool is substantially distanced with respect to the tyre, and a working position, in which the bead breaking tool can engage on the tyre. A motor device has an output drive shaft for moving the bead breaking arm. The tyre changing machine further includes means for transmitting drive from the motor device to the bead breaking arm or to the wheel support assembly and adapted to activate the bead breaking arm or the wheel support assembly.

A tyre changing machine includes a wheel support assembly for locking and setting in rotation a rim of a wheel from which to demount or on which to mount a tyre, and a bead breaking tool disposed at an end of a bead breaking arm and able to carry out the bead breaking operation. The bead breaking arm is movable between a disengaged position and a working position. A motor device has an output drive shaft for moving the bead breaking arm between the disengaged and working positions. Means for transmitting the drive from the motor device to the bead breaking arm include threaded means having an external screw-thread and hollow counter-threaded means operatively coupled with the threaded means. Connecting means operatively associate the means for transmitting the drive to the bead breaking arm.