Support and rotation device for the visual inspection of a tire and associated method

• US 9,903,791 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Inventors: Charlat, Julien, Leobal, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Andre
• Application Number:
  US15/024,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20160231202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/021 Tyre supporting devices, e.g. chucks for balancing G01M1/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/022 the tyre co-operating with rotatable rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques

Abstract

An inspection device for holding and turning a tire includes a centering structure which centers a first bead of the tire, a locking structure which locks the first bead in a centered position, a rotational driver which turns the tire about a tire axis, and at least one centering gripper module which interacts with a second bead of the tire. Each centering gripper module is provided with an internal spacing roller, an external holding roller, and a centering roller. The internal spacing roller is able to press axially against an internal face of the second bead. The external holding roller is able to bear axially against an external face of the second bead opposite the internal face. The centering roller is able to bear radially against the second bead and extends substantially axially. The internal spacing roller and the external holding roller extend substantially radially.

Claims

1. An inspection device for holding and turning a tire having a tread and first and second lateral beads, the device comprising:

a centering device structured to enable the first lateral bead of the tire to be centered;

a locking device structured to lock the first lateral bead in a centered position;

a rotation driver arranged to turn the tire about an axis of the tire; and

at least one centering gripper module arranged to interact with the second lateral bead of the tire, each centering gripper module including;

an internal spacing roller arranged to be able to press axially against an internal face of the second lateral bead,

at least one external holding roller arranged to be able to bear axially against an external face of the second lateral bead opposite the internal face, and

at least one centering roller arranged to be able to bear radially against the second lateral bead,

wherein each centering roller extends along an axis oriented axially, parallel to the axis of the tire, and

wherein the internal spacing roller and each external holding roller each extend along an axis oriented radially, perpendicular to the axis of the tire.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each centering gripper module includes at least two centering rollers.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two centering rollers are arranged circumferentially with at least one being arranged on each side of the internal spacing roller.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein each centering roller is arranged to be able to bear radially against a bore of the second lateral bead.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein each centering roller is cylindrical.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the internal spacing roller is axially moveable with respect to the at least one external holding roller and the at least one centering roller.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein each centering gripper module includes:

a mounting base on which the at least one external holding roller and the at least one centering roller are mounted, and

a rod slidably mounted on the base and arranged to support the internal spacing roller.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein each centering gripper module includes at least two external holding rollers.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the at least two external holding rollers are arranged circumferentially with at least one being arranged on each side of the internal spacing roller.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the internal spacing roller is arranged in a middle portion of an angular sector delimited by the at least two external holding rollers.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein, in each centering gripper module, the internal spacing roller is the only internal spacing roller.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed plate on which each centering gripper module is mounted with radial translational mobility.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one centering gripper module corresponds to a plurality of mutually identical centering gripper modules arranged to interact with the second lateral bead.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of centering gripper modules are spaced apart from each other uniformly in a circumferential direction.

15. A method for inspecting a tire using an inspection device for holding and turning a tire that has a tread and first and second lateral beads, wherein the inspection device includes:

a centering device, a locking device, a rotation driver, and at least one centering gripper module, wherein each centering gripper module includes;

an internal spacing roller, at least one external holding roller, and at least one centering roller, wherein each centering roller extends along an axis oriented axially, parallel to the axis of the tire, and wherein the internal spacing roller and each external holding roller each extend along an axis oriented radially, perpendicular to the axis of the tire, the method comprising;

centering the first lateral bead of the tire on the centering device;

locking the tire on the centering device using the locking device to lock the first lateral bead in a centered position;

for each centering gripper module, positioning the internal spacing roller relative to the tire by causing a relative axial movement between the tire and the internal spacing roller, such that the internal spacing roller presses against an internal face of the second lateral bead, and such that the internal spacing roller is positioned axially at a different height from a height of the internal face of the second lateral bead while being situated in an interior space of the tire;

deploying each centering gripper module radially to bring the at least one centering roller to a dimension smaller than a seat of the tire;

actuating the rotation driver to turn the tire;

for each centering gripper module, causing a relative axial movement between the tire and the internal spacing roller in order to pinch the second lateral bead axially between the internal spacing roller and the at least one external holding rollers;

deploying each centering gripper module radially to bring the at least one centering roller radially to bear against the second lateral bead at a dimension corresponding to the seat of the tire, and

capturing internal and external images of angular regions of internal and external surfaces of the tire using an image capturing device.