A method for calibrating an X-ray inspection system for a tire. The X-ray inspection system includes an X-ray tube, a linear X-ray detector, and a manipulator for the tire. The method includes moving one of the X-ray tube, the linear X-ray detector, and the manipulator along a travel path from a set starting position to a set end position, capturing, at a preset reading rate during the movement of one of the X-ray tube, the linear X-ray detector, and the manipulator, a continuous capture of X-ray radiography images of a cord within the tire, tracking the cord using successive X-ray radiography images, and deducing an absolute position of the cord using a total shift of the cord in the X-ray radiography images between the starting position and the end position and using known geometric data.

A tire distortion detection method includes a first step of forming a portion to be detected on a surface of an inner liner, a second step of detecting the portion to be detected in any two states from a formation of a product tire from a tire component including the inner liner to a change for a load condition on the product tire, and a third step of comparing positions of the portions to be detected in the two states obtained in the second step.

The invention relates to a device for non-destructively material testing objects, in particular rims and wheels (12), comprising an X-ray inspection cabin (14) which contains an X-ray inspection device (28) for X-raying the objects and comprising conveyor devices (34, 36, 56, 68, 98) for conveying objects through at least one lock (20, 22) into the X-ray inspection cabin (14) and out of the X-ray inspection cabin (14). The aim of the invention is to prevent a leakage of X-rays into the surrounding area through the lock (20, 22) and to reduce the quantity of lead needed for shielding and optionally the space requirement of the device (10). According to the invention this is achieved in that the lock (20, 22) comprises a hollow cylinder (60), the circumferential wall (62) of which has a through-opening (64) for the objects and which can be rotated about a horizontal rotation axis in order to position the through-opening (64) on a lock (20, 22) side facing away from the X-ray inspection cabin (14) or the lock (20, 22) side facing the X-ray inspection cabin (14) in an alternating manner.

A tire distortion detection method includes a first step of forming a portion to be detected on a surface of an inner liner, a second step of detecting the portion to be detected in any two states from a formation of a product tire from a tire component including the inner liner to a change for a load condition on the product tire, and a third step of comparing positions of the portions to be detected in the two states obtained in the second step.

A method for observing deformation of an elastic material including rubber or elastomer, includes a first step of capturing projection images of at least a part of the elastic material from directions perpendicular to an arbitrary axis of the elastic material and a second step of constructing a three-dimensional image of the elastic material from the projection images. The first step includes deforming the elastic material in predetermined constant cycles, outputting capture signals at the same time points of the predetermined constant cycles, and capturing the projection images based on the respective capture signals.

Among other things, a tire inspection system and method are provided. A radiation source and a detector array are configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. During a first examination of a tire, the tire has a first orientation relative to the axis of rotation, and during a second examination, the tire has a second orientation relative to the axis of rotation. For example, between the first examination and the second examination, the tire is at least one of shifted with respect to the axis of rotation or rotated about a tire rotation axis (e.g., perpendicular to the axis of rotation) to change the orientation of the tire relative to the axis of rotation. In this manner, imagery of the tire may be developed, which can be inspected to identify irregularities, etc., in the tire, for example.

The invention relates to a device for non-destructively material testing objects, in particular rims and wheels (12), comprising an X-ray inspection cabin (14) which contains an X-ray inspection device (28) for X-raying the objects and comprising conveyor devices (34, 36, 56, 68, 98) for conveying objects through at least one lock (20, 22) into the X-ray inspection cabin (14) and out of the X-ray inspection cabin (14). The aim of the invention is to prevent a leakage of X-rays into the surrounding area through the lock (20, 22) and to reduce the quantity of lead needed for shielding and optionally the space requirement of the device (10). According to the invention this is achieved in that the lock (20, 22) comprises a hollow cylinder (60), the circumferential wall (62) of which has a through-opening (64) for the objects and which can be rotated about a horizontal rotation axis in order to position the through-opening (64) on a lock (20, 22) side facing away from the X-ray inspection cabin (14) or the lock (20, 22) side facing the X-ray inspection cabin (14) in an alternating manner.

A device for testing a tyre (2) for representing tomographical images of sections of a casing of the tyre includes a source (11) of ionizing radiation arranged outside the tyre (2) and a detector (12) for receiving the radiation. The detector (12) is situated opposite the source (11) with respect to at least one section of the casing. The axis (X-X) of the tyre runs parallel to a sectional plane (P) passing through the focus (F) of the source (11) and the detector (12). The tyre and the source-detector assembly are moved with rotational motion relative to one another about an axis of rotation (Z-Z) perpendicular to the sectional plane (P), according to a predetermined angular excursion range. The detector (12) is disposed in a central internal zone (20) of the tyre (2) during the testing cycle.

Among other things, a tire inspection system (100) and method are provided. A radiation source (116) and a detector array (118) are configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. During a first examination of a tire (104), the tire (104) has a first orientation relative to the axis of rotation, and during a second examination, the tire (104) has a second orientation relative to the axis of rotation. For example, between the first examination and the second examination, the tire (104) is at least one of shifted with respect to the axis of rotation or rotated about a tire rotation axis (e.g., perpendicular to the axis of rotation) to change the orientation of the tire relative to the axis of rotation. Such rotation and translation of the tire (104) are carried out by using a conveyer belt (114) and a robotic arm (602). In this manner, imagery of the tire (104) may be developed, which can be inspected to identify irregularities, etc. in the tire (104), for example.