A tyre changing apparatus (1) for demounting and mounting a tyre relative to a respective rim of a vehicle wheel (2) includes: a frame (10); a chuck (11) rotating about an axis of rotation (A); a working tool (12), connected to the frame (10) and movable towards and away from the chuck; an electric motor (13), imparting to the chuck (11) a rotation speed and a working torque; a controller (14), including a power unit (141) supplying voltage and current as a function of a drive signal (101); a processing unit (142) generating the drive signal (101) and programmed to derive a control parameter (102) representing the working torque delivered to the electric motor (13) and to apply a torque-limiting function responsive to the control parameter (102). The processing unit (142) derives an activation parameter and, as a function of the activation parameter, enables and disables the torque-limiting function.

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.

The present invention concerns a machine for treating a tired wheel, for example a machine for assembly and/or disassembly of a tired wheel, as well as a method for treating a tired wheel, for example an assembly and/or disassembly method.

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 said 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 said value over time is compared with corresponding predetermined threshold values. The predetermined threshold values define a range of present values and/or change in said values delimiting an accepted operating range for said 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.

A bead exerciser system for an automated wheel assembly may include a center lift configured to lift a wheel assembly off of a conveyor belt, a drum roller configured to rotate the wheel assembly, a pair of pinch rollers driven by a driver and configured to apply force to a tire of the wheel assembly, a force sensor configured to detect a force of the tire against the pinch rollers, and a controller configured to receive the force from the force sensor and generate a command for an alert in response to the force falling outside of a predefined threshold range.

Described is a machine (1) for fitting and removing a tyre 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 tyre tread of the wheel mounted on the wheel-holder unit (4), to a position of non-interference relative to the tyre; at least one sensor (40) connected to the roller (2) for detecting a signal representing a force transmitted to the roller (2) by the tyre; 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).

An apparatus for mounting and removing a tyre on and from a respective rim comprises: an element for moving a bead of the tyre in order to insert/remove the bead into/from a respective groove in the rim, the element comprising a tool connected to a respective supporting arm for moving the bead; a rotatable support for the rim, in such manner as to turn the rim and the tyre about a corresponding longitudinal axis of the rim; at least one sensor associated with the supporting arm for measuring the mechanical strain applied to the bead of the tyre when the latter is mounted on, and removed from, the rim.

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).

The invention provides a drive assembly for tire service machines comprising a drive motor having a rotatable output drive shaft, and a wheel support. The inventive drive assembly further comprises a gear unit having at least one gearbox, wherein the at least gear box has at least a gear box input shaft and a gear box output shaft. The wheel support is in 5 direct torque transmitting connection with the gear box output shaft, and the output drive shaft of the drive motor is in a direct torque transmitting connection with the gear box input shaft of the gear box. Furthermore, the drive assembly is adapted to provide structural support.

A bead exerciser system for an automated wheel assembly may include a center lift configured to lift a wheel assembly off of a conveyor belt, a drum roller configured to rotate the wheel assembly, a pair of pinch rollers driven by a driver and configured to apply force to a tire of the wheel assembly, a force sensor configured to detect a force of the tire against the pinch rollers, and a controller configured to receive the force from the force sensor and generate a command for an alert in response to the force falling outside of a predefined threshold range.