A system and method for utilizing identification data from RFID tags, engraved QR codes, or embossed serial numbers associated with individual tires or vehicles to monitor or track the physical location and/or condition of individual tires and/or a vehicle across multiple pieces of automotive service equipment within the service shop environment. Tire and/or vehicle identification data is communicated from automotive service equipment to a cloud-based data processing application to generate or supplement an accessible record or log of data associated with one or more pieces of automotive service equipment, a vehicle service shop, an individual tire, a vehicle, or a customer.

A sensor device is provided for use in tire inspection along a bead portion of the tire. The sensor device includes a magnet array configured to provide the desired fields of magnet flux for a sensor array, which is used to detect damage to reinforcements of a body ply of the tire near the bead portion. The fields of magnetic flux are sufficient to provide for damage detection in the bead portion without overly saturating the sensor array. The sensor device also allows for positioning the sensor array proximate to the inner surface of the tire for improved detection.

Described is a machine (1) for fitting and removing a tire from a corresponding wheel rim of a vehicle, comprising: a wheel-holder unit (4), which rotates about a first axis (A); at least one bead breaker tool (29), movable along a second axis (B) parallel to the first axis (A); a roller (2) rotating about a fourth axis (D) parallel to the first axis (A) and configured to move by rotation about a fifth axis (E) spaced from the fourth axis (D), between an active position where it is in contact with a tire tread of the wheel mounted on the wheel-holder unit (4), to a position of non-interference relative to the tire; at least one sensor (40) connected to the roller (2) for detecting a signal representing a force transmitted to the roller (2) by the tire; a removal tool (37), which is movable by rotation about a sixth axis (F) parallel to the first axis (A) and spaced from it, between a first position proximal to the first axis (A) and a second position distal from the first axis (A), which is movable in a direction parallel to the first axis (A) and movable towards and away from the sixth axis (F).

A mobile robot tool has a wheel demounting sub-system mounted to a tool frame for screw disengaging fasteners from respective anchor elements integral with a hub of a vehicle from which the wheel is being demounted. Also mounted on the frame are fastener storage seats for storing respective ones of the fasteners. A transfer mechanism is operable to remotely transfer disengaged ones of the fasteners from the anchor elements to respective ones of the fastener storage seats.

A debeading device for tire changing machines includes a swing arm having a hinging end hinged to a base of a tire changing machine and swinging in a swing plane between an active debeading position toward the base and an inactive position away from the base; a debeading tool supported at a free end of the arm, opposite to the hinging end; an actuator for reciprocatingly rotating the arm between the active and inactive positions, which includes an externally screw-threaded member supported by the base and rotatably actuated by a motor and screwingly/unscrewingly engaged in a matingly threaded hollow member associated with the arm.

A lifting apparatus for a vehicle wheel comprising a wheel support which is selectively movable in order to lift or lower a vehicle wheel which is positioned thereon. An actuator group is connected to the wheel support in order to actuate the lifting and lowering thereof. A control unit is operationally connected to the actuator group in order to control the actuation. A lifting sensor member is provided to detect the height of the wheel support. At least one actuation instruction brings about the actuation of the actuator group in order to lift the wheel support from a lowered rest position to a predetermined lifting position, which is detected by the lifting sensor member.

A debeading device for tire changing machines includes a swing arm having a hinging end hinged to a base of a tire changing machine and swinging in a swing plane between an active debeading position toward the base and an inactive position away from the base; a debeading tool supported at a free end of the arm, opposite to the hinging end; an actuator for reciprocatingly rotating the arm between the active and inactive positions, which includes an externally screw-threaded member supported by the base and rotatably actuated by a motor and screwingly/unscrewingly engaged in a matingly threaded hollow member associated with the arm.

Method and related apparatus for determining the geometrical dimensions of a wheel, or at least one part of a wheel, with particular reference to vehicle wheels, in the context of a wheel maintenance process. This method uses contactless sensors which comprise a scanning radar system, preferably a millimeter-wave radar system, to scan the wheel, or at least one part of the wheel, quickly and accurately.

A vehicle wheel service system with a control system and air pathway coupling an inflated tire to an air discharge into a low pressure volume for accelerated deflation of the tire, and for reducing tire inflation pressure below atmospheric pressure during a tire demount procedure.

Provided is an automatic tire changer, relating to the technical field of tire repair and maintenance. The automatic tire changer includes a base configured to carry a carrier of a device; a column vertically disposed on the base; a tire mounting seat mechanism movably disposed on the base and configured to secure a rim when a tire is demounted or mounted; a first demounting and mounting apparatus movably disposed on the column and configured to demount or mount an upper portion of the tire; a second demounting and mounting apparatus movably disposed on the column and configured to demount or mount a lower portion of the tire; and a control system configured to run a program and control multiple components to run through an execution mechanism.