A robotic tire mounter for mounting a tire to a wheel is disclosed. The robotic tire mounted comprises a robotic arm and a gripping unit. The gripping unit further comprises a plurality of gripping fingers that are selectively moveable between a releasing position and a gripping position. When in the gripping fingers are in the releasing position, the gripping fingers are positioned adjacent one another adjacent a center of the gripping unit. A method of mounting a tire to a wheel using a robotic tire mounter is also disclosed.

Described is an operating head (1) for a tire changer machine (2), having a longitudinal axis (L) and a supporting element (9) elongate along a transversal axis (T) relative to the longitudinal axis (L) and facing in a first direction, wherein the supporting element of (9) has a protrusion projecting along an operating direction (W) substantially perpendicular to a reference plane containing the longitudinal axis (L) and the transversal axis (T), and wherein the operating head (1) has a drive element (10), elongate along the transversal axis (T) in a second direction opposite the first direction in which the supporting element (9) faces and a fin (11) protruding in the operating direction (W) to define a guide surface (11a) inclined relative to a plane which is perpendicular to the reference plane and contains the longitudinal axis (L).

The present invention regards a tightening group for a rim of or for a tired wheel including a base, a main wheel-holder or rim-holder plate or table and at least three jaws or jaw or gripper components.

The present invention regards a tightening group for a rim of or for a tired wheel including a base, a main wheel-holder or rim-holder plate or table and at least three jaws or jaw or gripper components.

A pneumatic valve unit for use in a tire changer for selectively connecting at least one pressure source of the tire changer to at least one operating member of the tire changer upon successive operation of at least one pedal of the tire changer, the pneumatic valve unit comprising a pneumatic valve with a valve housing and a plunger axially slidably received in the valve housing, the plunger being operatively coupled to the pedal and movable between at least two predetermined axial positions upon successive operation of the pedal, and a selection mechanism for selectively connecting the pressure source to the operating member upon successive operation of the pedal, wherein the selection mechanism comprises a selector housing for axially slidably receiving the plunger therein, a cam body comprising a plurality of cam surfaces, a spacer body comprising a plurality of spacer surfaces for acting together with the cam surfaces, and a biasing means for biasing the spacer body towards the cam body.

Method for determining concentric mounting of a tire on a wheel. In one embodiment, method for determining concentric mounting of a tire on a wheel comprises: providing a tire including at least one bead area, wherein at least one rim centering tolerance indicator is oriented in the at least one bead area, and wherein the at least one rim centering tolerance indicator extends circumferentially about the tire; mounting the tire on a wheel to form a tire-wheel assembly, the wheel includes a circular cross-section including a center point; rotatably mounting the tire-wheel assembly on a tire balancing machine; providing a light source adjacent to the tire-wheel assembly, the light source projects a projected reference point upon the at least one bead area; rotating the tire-wheel assembly; and observing the runout of the projected reference point relative to the at least one rim centering tolerance indicator.

A tyre changing machine placed on a supporting surface comprises: a wheel-holder unit rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation; a floorplate extending along a horizontal placement surface to receive and support the wheel; a drive system for driving the wheel-holder unit along the axis of rotation; a tool-holder turret supporting a tool in a working position where it interacts with a wheel tyre; a connecting member arranged on the floorplate in a fixed position; a tool-holder arm fixable to the floorplate through the connecting member to project from the floorplate transversely to the placement surface and to hold a further tool in an operating work position where it can interact with the tyre.

A tyre changing machine placed on a supporting surface comprises: a wheel-holder unit rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation; a floorplate extending along a horizontal placement surface to receive and support the wheel; a drive system for driving the wheel-holder unit along the axis of rotation; a tool-holder turret supporting a tool in a working position where it interacts with a wheel tyre; a connecting member arranged on the floorplate in a fixed position; a tool-holder arm fixable to the floorplate through the connecting member to project from the floorplate transversely to the placement surface and to hold a further tool in an operating work position where it can interact with the tyre.

A single-cell workstation for processing a tire-wheel assembly including a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The single-cell workstation includes a mounting and indexing sub-station including a first plurality of tire engaging portions including one or more first tire-engaging surfaces, and a second plurality of tire engaging portions including one or more second tire-engaging surfaces.

A single-cell workstation for processing a tire-wheel assembly including a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The single-cell workstation includes a mounting and indexing sub-station including a first plurality of tire engaging portions including one or more first tire-engaging surfaces, and a second plurality of tire engaging portions including one or more second tire-engaging surfaces.