A vehicle wheel service apparatus that includes: a frame; a plurality of working tools, connected to the frame and movable to perform operations for mounting and/or demounting the tyre relative to the wheel rim; a shaft driven by an actuator rotationally about a longitudinal axis and connectable to the rim; a measuring system for generating vibration signals representing vibrations of the shaft produced by wheel imbalances; a control unit, connected to the measuring system to receive the vibration signals; a support device, connected to the frame and movable between an activated position, where it encircles the shaft while still allowing it to rotate, and a deactivated position, where it is spaced from the shaft; a connector, movable between a working position, where it mechanically connects the measuring system to the frame, and a rest position, where the measuring system is mechanically disengaged from the frame.

The present invention discloses an online inflating valve insertion device. The online inflating valve insertion device has a frame, a chassis, a lift cylinder, a support A, bearing seats, linear bearings, a mounting plate, guide shafts, a lift shaft, a servomotor A, a synchronous pulley A, a connecting plate, a synchronous belt, a synchronous pulley B, a base, a connecting shaft A, a servomotor B, a shaft sleeve A, a lower end cover, a connecting shaft B, a shaft sleeve B and the like. The online inflating valve insertion device provided by the present invention can meet the requirement of automatically inserting an inflating valve into a wheel, also has the characteristics of simple structure, convenience in manufacturing, stable performance, and capability of meeting the precision machining requirement, and can fit to the requirement of automatic production.

The solution proposed by the invention consists of a method for monitoring the tyres of vehicles transporting excavations in mines, using tyre handling equipment, said tyres being equipped with radio frequency identification tags and physical parameter sensors; said method also using a database comprising the identifiers of the vehicles, the identifiers of the tyres, the identifiers of the sensors and of the positions of the tyres on the axles.

A weight apply system capable of changing tooling to apply weights to an assembly to correct unbalance. It may include a selectively movable arm, at least one weight apply tool, the ability to change the tooling based on assembly type, and a controller configured to manage the selection of the tool, loading the weight, and application of the weight to the assembly in station.

Vehicle dimension data describing dimensions of a vehicle are obtained, a robotic apparatus is moved to a position about the vehicle, a reference point of the vehicle is determined, and the robotic apparatus is caused to move to positions about the vehicle based on the reference point. The reference point may be a center point of a selected wheel of the vehicle. A coordinate system of the robotic apparatus is aligned to the reference point of the selected wheel of the vehicle. Based on the aligned coordinate system of the robotic apparatus, operations are performed by the robotic apparatus to remove lug nuts from a wheel hub of the vehicle.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

A robot tool has a chassis and a wheel servicing sub-system supported on the chassis, the wheel servicing sub-system having a sub-system interface part engageable with a wheel interface part, the wheel servicing sub-system interface part engagement with the wheel interface part permitting operation of the wheel servicing sub-system to service the wheel, and a control unit on the robot tool to control operation of the wheel servicing sub-system to effect said wheel servicing. The wheel servicing sub-system is one or more of a chassis sub-system, a tool support sub-system, a fastener detaching/attaching sub-system, a fastener storage sub-system, a jacking sub-system, a wheel gripper sub-system, a tire inspection sub-system, a tire pressure sub-system, and a wheel balancing sub-system.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

A robot tool for servicing a wheel positioned adjacent the robot tool and having an axis of rotation. The tool has a chassis which can be moved in any of rectilinear, curvilinear and spin motion on a support surface. A base mounted can be tilted from level and can be raised and lowered relative to the chassis. A wheel servicing sub-system mounted to the base has an operational axis and an interface part for mechanically engaging a corresponding interface part of a wheel being serviced in a mechanical engagement permitting wheel servicing by the servicing sub-system when the operational axis is aligned with the wheel axis of rotation.

A wheel inflation apparatus including a wheel engagement unit that suspends a tire/wheel assembly and at least one inflation unit coupled to the robotic arm, each inflation unit being configured to inflate the tire/wheel assembly. A load measuring unit is configured to sense an amount of load being applied to the wheel/tire assembly. A controller is coupled to the load measuring unit for receiving a load signal and determining an internal air pressure of the tire/wheel assembly based on the load signal. The controller controls the at least one inflation unit based on the determined internal air pressure and a target (desired) air pressure value.