Method and apparatus for optically scanning a vehicle wheel
First Claim
1. A method of optically scanning a vehicle wheel rotatable about a stationary axis using a wheel balancing machine, wherein the wheel includes a rim and wheel disc portions, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first set of sensor devices, pivotally mounted to a frame of the wheel balancing machine, for scanning the inside of the wheel;
providing a second set of sensor devices, fixed to a wheel guard hood of the wheel balancing machine, for scanning the outside of the wheel, wherein each set of the sensor devices includes a light source for emitting a light beam on to the surface of the wheel, and a receiver that moves together with the light source, for receiving a light beam reflected from the wheel surface;
providing a position sensor configured to specify positions of the light sources and the receivers of the sensor devices; and
determining dimensions and positions of constituent parts of the rim and the wheel disc portions of the vehicle wheel based on the respective directions of the at least one emitted light beam and the at least one reflected beam.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for scanning a vehicle wheel rotatable about a measuring shaft of a wheel balancing machine. A light source scans the vehicle wheel by emitting a light beam onto the wheel surface, which is reflected and received by a receiver 11. The light source and the receiver are configured to move together with each other. An evaluation device is coupled to the receiver and a position sensor specifying the positions of the light source and the receiver. The evaluation device ascertains dimensions and positions of constituent parts of the vehicle wheel in a computer-aided procedure based on data obtained by the scanning process.
21 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of optically scanning a vehicle wheel rotatable about a stationary axis using a wheel balancing machine, wherein the wheel includes a rim and wheel disc portions, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first set of sensor devices, pivotally mounted to a frame of the wheel balancing machine, for scanning the inside of the wheel; providing a second set of sensor devices, fixed to a wheel guard hood of the wheel balancing machine, for scanning the outside of the wheel, wherein each set of the sensor devices includes a light source for emitting a light beam on to the surface of the wheel, and a receiver that moves together with the light source, for receiving a light beam reflected from the wheel surface; providing a position sensor configured to specify positions of the light sources and the receivers of the sensor devices; and determining dimensions and positions of constituent parts of the rim and the wheel disc portions of the vehicle wheel based on the respective directions of the at least one emitted light beam and the at least one reflected beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for optically scanning a vehicle wheel affixed with a stationary axis to a measuring shaft of a wheel balancing machine, wherein the wheel includes a rim and wheel disc portions, the apparatus comprising:
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a first set of sensor devices, pivotally mounted to a frame of the wheel balancing machine, configured to scan the inside of the wheel; a second set of sensor devices, fixed to a wheel guard hood of the wheel balancing machine, configured to scan the outside of the wheel, wherein each set of the sensor devices includes a light source for emitting a light beam on to the surface of the wheel, and a receiver that moves together with the light source, for receiving a light beam reflected from the wheel surface; a position sensor configured to specify positions of the light sources and the receivers of the sensor devices; and an evaluation device, coupled to the receivers and the position sensor, for ascertaining dimensions and positions of constituent parts of the rim and the wheel disc portions of the vehicle wheel using a computer-aided procedure based on the respective directions of the emitted beams and the reflected beams. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification