In a tire uniformity testing apparatus which measures uniformity of a tire by measuring a load applied to the tire pressed against a rotary drum, a load estimation model is generated which is used to control a pressing position of the rotary drum, and generates a load estimation model indicating a relation between the pressing position of the tire with respect to the rotary drum and the load applied to the tire. The load estimation model is generated by: holding the tire in which uniformity has already been measured for each characteristic value; acquiring a nominal model depending on the characteristic value of the tire; and generating based on the acquired nominal model.

Methods and systems for improving the uniformity of a tire are provided. More particularly, one or more parameters of a measurement process harmonic contributing to uniformity measurements performed for a tire can be identified. The measurement process harmonic can be a process harmonic effect associated with the acquisition of uniformity measurements of a tire, such as a process harmonic effect associated out-of-roundness of a road wheel used to load a tire during uniformity measurement in a uniformity measurement machine. The measurement process harmonic can result solely from the acquisition of uniformity measurements and may not contribute to actual tire non-uniformity. Once identified, the one or more parameters associated with the measurement process harmonic can be used to correct the uniformity measurements of the tire to account for the measurement process harmonic. Tire manufacture can then be modified to improve tire uniformity based on the corrected measurements.

An apparatus for detecting and checking defects on a tire at the end of a production process, the apparatus comprising a workstation comprising a workbench comprising a rotating table for supporting a tire; a profilometer; a high-resolution color linear camera for scanning outer surfaces of tire tread and tire shoulders; mechanical supports for the profilometer and color linear camera; a data processor for storing and processing data detected by the profilometer and the color linear camera means, for providing a three-dimensional model of a tire, and for management of a database including parameters referring to surface characteristics of defect-free tires; an interface for facilitating interaction between an operator and the apparatus; wherein the profilometer and the color linear camera are configured to operate simultaneously and perform a full scan of all the profiles of inner and outer surfaces of a tire while the tire is in rotation at a controlled speed on the rotating table; and wherein the data processor is adapted to define and classify defects detected, by comparing parameters detected by the profilometer and the color linear camera to at least one corresponding parameter of a defect-free tire of a same type as a tire being tested.

A tire testing method includes: applying a lubrication solution to a bead part of a tire; detecting a phase of a reference point of the tire; detecting a phase of a rotation origin of a spindle at common coordinates shared with coordinates at which the phase of the reference point is indicated; detecting a singular point present on the tire by conducting a tire test while rotating the tire on the spindle, and detecting a phase from the rotation origin to the singular point; calculating a phase from the reference point to the singular point based on the phase of the reference point, the phase of the rotation origin, and the phase from the rotation origin to the singular point; storing information about the reference point and information about the rotation origin at the common coordinates; and marking the tire at a position where the singular point is present.

A process for balancing a rim and tire, which comprises first balancing the rim, then mounting the tire, properly inflating it and balancing a second time to determine the location and weight of balancing required. The tire and rim are then indexed with marks to indicate where the balancing weights should be placed. These indexing marks will be used at the remounting stage to assure proper balancing. The tire is then deflated and removed from the rim and the correct mass rubberized weights are vulcanized to the internal surface of the tire sidewall at the indexing mark and on the opposite sidewall across from the indexing mark. The tire is then installed back on the rim with the indexing marks lined up next to each other. The tire is re-inflated and the balance re-checked with a spin balancing machine.

An apparatus for detecting and checking defects on a tire at the end of a production process, the apparatus comprising a workstation comprising a workbench comprising a rotating table for supporting a tire; a profilometer; a high-resolution color linear camera for scanning outer surfaces of tire tread and tire shoulders; mechanical supports for the profilometer and color linear camera; a data processor for for storing and processing data detected by the profilometer and the color linear camera means, for providing a three-dimensional model of a tire, and for management of a database including parameters referring to surface characteristics of defect-free tires; an interface for facilitating interaction between an operator and the apparatus; wherein the profilometer and the color linear camera are configured to operate simultaneously and perform a full scan of all the profiles of inner and outer surfaces of a tire while the tire is in rotation at a controlled speed on the rotating table; and wherein the data processor is adapted to define and classify defects detected, by comparing parameters detected by the profilometer and the color linear camera to at least one corresponding parameter of a defect-free tire of a same type as a tire being tested.

A tire testing method includes: applying a lubrication solution to a bead part of a tire; detecting a phase of a reference point of the tire; detecting a phase of a rotation origin of a spindle at common coordinates shared with coordinates at which the phase of the reference point is indicated; detecting a singular point present on the tire by conducting a tire test while rotating the tire on the spindle, and detecting a phase from the rotation origin to the singular point; calculating a phase from the reference point to the singular point based on the phase of the reference point, the phase of the rotation origin, and the phase from the rotation origin to the singular point; storing information about the reference point and information about the rotation origin at the common coordinates; and marking the tire at a position where the singular point is present.

In a tire uniformity testing apparatus which measures uniformity of a tire by measuring a load applied to the tire pressed against a rotary drum, a load estimation model is generated which is used to control a pressing position of the rotary drum, and generates a load estimation model indicating a relation between the pressing position of the tire with respect to the rotary drum and the load applied to the tire. The load estimation model is generated by: holding the tire in which uniformity has already been measured for each characteristic value; acquiring a nominal model depending on the characteristic value of the tire; and generating based on the acquired nominal model.

Systems and methods for improving the uniformity of a tire by identifying the effects of tooling elements used during tire manufacture on tire uniformity, such as effects resulting from building drum elements, form elements, mold elements, and other tooling elements, are provided. More particularly, a tooling signature of a tooling element can be identified by analyzing a plurality of uniformity waveforms measured for a set of tires manufactured using the tooling element. The tooling signature can be analyzed and used to modify tire manufacture to improve the uniformity of a tire.

Methods and systems for improving the uniformity of a tire are provided. More particularly, one or more parameters of a measurement process harmonic contributing to uniformity measurements performed for a tire can be identified. The measurement process harmonic can be a process harmonic effect associated with the acquisition of uniformity measurements of a tire, such as a process harmonic effect associated out-of-roundness of a road wheel used to load a tire during uniformity measurement in a uniformity measurement machine. The measurement process harmonic can result solely from the acquisition of uniformity measurements and may not contribute to actual tire non-uniformity. Once identified, the one or more parameters associated with the measurement process harmonic can be used to correct the uniformity measurements of the tire to account for the measurement process harmonic. Tire manufacture can then be modified to improve tire uniformity based on the corrected measurements.