Method for mounting and demounting a tyre to and from a wheel rim

• US 20150343862A1
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Equipment S.r.l. (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Equipment S.r.l. (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: SOTGIU, Paolo, BRAGHIROLI, Francesco
• Granted Patent: US 11,214,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/0548 equipped with sensing means, e.g. for positioning, measuring or controlling
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/0554 optical, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/056 measuring speed, acceleration or forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/0578 hooking only
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/0593 Multi-functional tools for performing at least two operations, e.g. bead breaking and bead seeking
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/138 with rotary motion of tool or tyre support

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mounting/demounting a tyre (T) on a rim (R). The method comprises the steps of: determining an initial reference position for the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2), said initial reference position being proximal to an edge (E) of the wheel rim (R); linking the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) with the initial reference position; adjusting the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) with respect to either the first or the second direction; continuously detecting the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) with respect to said either first or second direction; and continuously and automatically adjusting the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2), with respect to the other one of said either first or second direction, at least in dependence of the initial reference position.

Claims

1. A method for mounting a tyre (T) on a rim (R) of a vehicle wheel (W) and/or for demounting a tyre (T) from a rim (R) of a vehicle wheel (W), in which a mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) is supported by a post of a tyre mounting/demounting machine (M) and is movable at least in a first direction, which is substantially parallel with respect to a rotational axis (A) of the vehicle wheel (W), and in a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular with respect to said rotational axis (A) of the vehicle wheel (W), comprising the steps of:

determining an initial reference position for the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2), said initial reference position being proximal to an edge (E) of the wheel rim (R);

linking the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) with the initial reference position;

adjusting the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) with respect to either the first or the second direction;

continuously detecting the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) with respect to said either first or second direction; and

continuously and automatically adjusting the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2), with respect to the other one of said either first or second direction, at least in dependence of the initial reference position.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2), with respect to the other one of said either first or second direction is additionally adjusted with respect to said either first or second direction.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2), with respect to the other one of said either first or second direction is additionally continuously and automatically adjusted with respect to said either first or second direction.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determined initial reference position is stored in a storing device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the continuously and automatically adjusting the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) is carried out by means of a control unit (500).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial reference position for the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) is determined through a mechanical feeler arm.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial reference position for the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) is determined through optical means.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initial reference position for the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) is manually selected by an operator.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) comprises a rotary bead breaker.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) comprises a first mounting/demounting tool unit (U1), comprising:

a tool carrier arm (10) having a center line (TM) and a first as well as a second end (10a, 10b), and

a mounting/demounting tool (40) having a first as well as a second end (42a, 42b) and a hook (56) arranged in the region of the second end (42b), and being pivotally mounted to the tool carrier arm (10) in the region of its first end (42a),

wherein means (70) for reversibly urging the mounting/demounting tool (40) in a resting/operating position and for positioning the mounting/demounting tool (40) in said resting/operating position are provided.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) comprises a second mounting/demounting tool unit (U2), comprising:

a carrier unit (100) having a first as well as a second end (112, 114) and being provided with first support means (120) for receiving a bead breaker tool (200) and second support means (130) for receiving a mounting support tool (300),

a bead breaker tool (200) for loosening the tyre bead (TB) from the rim edge (RE) of a wheel (W), having a first as well as a second end (202, 204), the first end (202) is provided with at least one bead breaker tool element (210) and the second end (204) is adapted to be mounted to the carrier unit (100) via the first support means (120), and

a mounting support tool (300) for supporting the mounting of at least one tyre bead (TB) of a tyre (T) to be mounted on a rim (R), the mounting support tool (300) having a first as well as a second end (302, 304), the first end (302) is provided with at least one mounting support tool element (310) and the second end (304) is adapted to be mounted to the carrier unit (100) via the second support means (130),

wherein the shape of the bead breaker tool element (210) and the shape of the mounting support tool (300) are at least partially congruent to each other.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the initial reference position for the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) and the step of positioning the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) in correspondence with the initial reference position, are carried out in a single step.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first direction, which is substantially parallel with respect to a rotational axis (A) of the vehicle wheel (W), is a substantially vertical direction.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second direction, which is substantially perpendicular with respect to said rotational axis (A) of the vehicle wheel (W), is a substantially horizontal direction.

15. A tyre mounting/demounting machine (M) for mounting a tyre (T) to or demounting a tyre (T) from a rim of a vehicle wheel (W), comprising:

a mounting/demounting device (U1, U2), which is supported by a post of the tyre mounting/demounting machine (M) and is movable at least in a first direction, which is substantially parallel with respect to a rotational axis (A) of the vehicle wheel (W), and in a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular with respect to said rotational axis (A) of the vehicle wheel (W), and

a control unit (500), the control unit (500) being adapted for carrying out the step of continuously and automatically adjusting the position of the mounting/demounting device (U1, U2) of the method according to claim 1.