Process and machine for identification and working of defects on used tyres

• US 8,499,625 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Go Energy S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Leonardo Cappuccini
• Inventors: Cappuccini, Leonardo
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US13/138,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20120016522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/26 for mechanical pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2030/00 Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37205 Compare measured, vision data with computer model, cad data

Abstract

An automatic process for the identification and working of defects (12) on used tires (6) is disclosed, comprising the steps of assembling the used tire (6) on rotative support and centring means (7), starting the rotation of the tire (6), automatic scanning of the working surface (30) of the tire (6) to identify the morphology of defects (12) by means of automatic identification means (8, 41) of defects (12), comparison between the morphology of the defect (12) identified and a virtual library of defects (12′) of reference for the selection of the working and of the tool (9) to be used, charging the tool (9) chosen on an anthropomorphic robot (31), and executing the selected working on the defect (12) to form a crater (13) that is suitable for being coated, said steps being managed by a computerized control unit (11) comprising said virtual library of defects (12′).

Claims

1. An automatic process for the identification and working of defects on used tires, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

a. Assembling the used tire on rotative support and centering means;

b. Starting the rotation of the tire;

c. Automatic scanning of the working surface of the tire to identify the morphology of defects by means of automatic identification means of defects;

d. Comparison between the morphology of the defect identified and a virtual library of defects of reference for the selection of the working and of the tool to use;

e. Charging the tool on an anthropomorphic robot;

f. Executing the selected working onto the defect to form a crater suitable to be coated;

said steps being managed by a computerized control unit comprising said virtual library of defects.

2. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that said automatic identification means comprise visual identification means.

3. The process according to claim 2, characterized in that said automatic identification means comprise infrared cameras.

4. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that said support means comprise a three arm motorized spindle.

5. A machine for the execution of the process according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises rotative support and centering means for used tire, automatic identification means of the defects, an anthropomorphic robot, and computerized means suitable to compare the morphology of the defect identified with a library of defects of reference for the selection of the working and of the tool to charge on said robot for the execution of the working selected.