A station for checking tyres includes a support structure defining an operating space for receiving a tyre and an overturning device with grip elements for engaging a radially outer portion of the tyre. A checking device includes a mechanical arm and at least one sensor associated with the mechanical arm. The overturning device overturns the tyre around an overturning axis perpendicular to a rotation axis of the tyre when the tyre is in the operating space. The mechanical arm is operatively active within the operating space and carries the sensor at least partially within the tyre for executing checks on an inner surface of the tyre housed in the operating space.

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.

Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.

A method for checking tyres, includes: arranging a tyre in a station for checking tyres; moving a sensor within the tyre; performing first checks on an inner surface of the tyre with the at least one sensor; engaging a radially outer portion of the tyre with grip elements of an overturning device; extracting the sensor from the tyre and spacing the sensor from the tyre; overturning the tyre by 180° by rotation of the grip elements; moving again the sensor within the tyre; performing second checks on the inner surface of the tyre with the sensor; extracting again the sensor from the tyre and spacing the sensor from the tyre; and transporting the tyre outside the station for checking tyres.

An assembly (10) for positioning sensors within a tire is provided that has first and second bead sensors (14,16), and first and second side-wall/shoulder sensors (18, 20). A first actuator (30) moves the sensors in a radial direction of the tire, and a second actuator (32) moves the first and second bead sensors in the axial direction of the tire. A third actuator (34) is present and moves the first and second bead sensors in the axial direction relative to the first and second sidewall/shoulder sensors. A fourth actuator (36) moves the first and second bead sensors in the axial direction relative to one another, and a fifth actuator (38) moves the first and second sidewall/shoulder sensors in the axial direction relative to one another.

The invention is directed to a valve stem system (1) for tubeless wheels. The valve stem system (1) includes a valve stem body (2) with a first end (3) and a second end (4), wherein the second end (4) is located in a tire/rim-volume when mounted at the wheel. A first valve (5) is arranged at the second end (4) of the valve stem body (2). The first valve (5) is a self-sealing one-way valve. A second valve (10) is removably mountable at the first end (3) and is, when mounted, at least partially housed in the valve stem body (2). The second valve (10) comprises a valve stem core inserted in the valve stem body (2) and can be added or removed from the valve stem body (2) while pressure is maintained within the tire by the first valve (5). The invention further concerns a probe (30) for a valve stem system, a method to test the amount of sealant in a wheel and a refilling assembly (80) for a wheel.

A positioning device for keeping a monitoring device for tyres of vehicle wheels in an installation condition, includes: two separate active portions, each having a main surface the shape of which matches that of a respective portion of an outer surface of a monitoring device, said separate active portions being adapted to cooperate with at least base portions of said monitoring device so that, when said positioning device is associated with said monitoring device, the base portions of said monitoring device are maintained at a given mutual distance by said active portions.

A tire spreader has a pair of tire engaging members pivotally interconnected at a coupling location, each supporting a tire engaging element for contacting a sidewall of a tire. The tire engaging members can be pivotally actuated relative to one another from a neutral position, in which the sidewalls are spaced apart at a regular spacing, to a self-retaining spreading position in which the tire engaging elements are spaced further apart than in the neutral position so as to spread the sidewalls further apart from their regular spacing. First and second pivotally interconnected links are provided, with one of the links connected to the first tire engaging member between the coupling location and the tire engaging element of this first member, while the other one of the links is connected to the second engaging member spaced from the coupling location in a direction distal to the tire engaging element thereof.

Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.

Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.