Method and apparatus for detecting tire information mark
First Claim
1. An apparatus for optically detecting tire information marks formed on a side wall portion of tire in the form of a protrusion or recess, comprisingfirst detecting means for detecting width and inner diameter of tire to derive a tire size signal;
- second detecting means comprising a detector head for detecting an identification mark provided on the side wall portion of tire separately from the tire information marks, and means for positioning said detector head in accordance with the tire size signal and for rotating relatively the detector and tire to derive a position signal representing both circumferential and radial positions of the information marks; and
third detecting means comprising a camera head for picking up the tire information marks and, means for positioning the camera head in accordance with the position signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In case of detecting tire information marks engraved in a side wall portion of tire in the form of protrusion or recess, width and inner diameter of tire are detected to provide a tire size signal, after a first camera head is driven into a given position in accordance with the tire side signal, an identification mark engraved in the size wall portion of tire is optically detected by the first camera head to derive a position signal, and after a second camera head is driven into a given position in accordance with the position signal, the tire information marks are optically detected by the second camera head to derive a tire information signal. In this manner, the tire information marks can be detected in a rapid and accurate manner.
44 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for optically detecting tire information marks formed on a side wall portion of tire in the form of a protrusion or recess, comprising
first detecting means for detecting width and inner diameter of tire to derive a tire size signal; -
second detecting means comprising a detector head for detecting an identification mark provided on the side wall portion of tire separately from the tire information marks, and means for positioning said detector head in accordance with the tire size signal and for rotating relatively the detector and tire to derive a position signal representing both circumferential and radial positions of the information marks; and third detecting means comprising a camera head for picking up the tire information marks and, means for positioning the camera head in accordance with the position signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tire for use in a vehicle comprising;
- a main body including head portion, side wall portion and tread portion, tire information marks engraved in the side wall portion in the form of a protrusion of a recess, and an identification mark engraved in the side wall portion in the form of a protrusion or a recess separated from the tire information marks, said identification mark being formed by a bar code having a plurality of elongated elements which are extended in a circumferential direction of the tire and are aligned in the radial direction of the tire, whereby said identification mark and said tire information marks are provided on the same circle.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 14, 15)
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10. A method of detecting tire information marks provided on a side wall portions of tire in the form of a protrusion or a recess comprising the steps of:
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detecting an identification mark provided on the side wall portion of tire separately from the tire information marks, at a fist detecting stage with the aid of a first detector head to derive a position signal representing both circumferential and radial directions of the information marks; transporting the tire from said first detecting position into a second detecting position, while the attitude of the tire is kept substantially unchanged; positioning at least in circumferential and radial directions of the tire a second detector head provided at the second detecting position in accordance with said position signal; and detecting the tire information marks with the aid of said detector head. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 16, 17)
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Specification