Balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels

• US 20100139396A1
• Filed: 09/10/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sicam S.r.l. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Sicam S.r.l. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Montanari, Marco, Nicolini, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/462
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/02 Details of balancing machines or devices

Abstract

The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a supporting structure for supporting grip and rotation means for gripping and rotating a wheel to be balanced, detection means for detecting the unbalance of the wheel during rotation, a processing unit which is operatively associated to the grip and rotation means and to the detection means, and interface means associated to the supporting structure and operatively associated to the processing unit. The interface means comprise a support associated to the supporting structure, a screen housed internally of a first housing on the support and a keyboard housed internally of a second housing on the support.

Claims

1. A balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels, comprising a supporting structure for supporting grip and rotation means for gripping and rotating a wheel to be balanced, detection means for detecting the unbalance of the wheel during rotation, at least a processing unit which is operatively associated to said grip and rotation means and to said detection means, and interface means associated to said supporting structure and operatively associated to said processing unit, wherein said interface means comprise a support associated to said supporting structure, at least a screen housed internally of a first housing on said support and at least a keyboard housed internally of a second housing on said support.

2. The machine according to the claim 1, wherein said screen and said keyboard are arranged side by side.

3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said support is substantially plate-shaped.

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard is of a discrete keyboard type.

5. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard is of a touch keyboard type or the like.

6. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said screen is of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen type or the like.

7. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said interface means comprise at least a button housed internally of a third housing on said support, said button being operatively associated to said processing unit and adapted to pilot the start and the stop of said detection means for detecting the wheel unbalance.

8. The machine according to claim 7, wherein said button is of a touch button type or the like.

9. The machine according to claim 7, wherein said screen, said keyboard and said button are arranged side by side.

10. The machine according to claim 7, wherein said interface means comprise at least a light indicator for indicating the start or stop condition of said detection means for detecting the wheel unbalance.

11. The machine according to claim 10, wherein said light indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs or the like arranged along at least a section of the perimeter of said button.

12. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said interface means comprise at least an electrical connector associated to said support and electronically associated to said processing unit and to at least one of said screen and said keyboard.

13. The machine according to claim 7, wherein said interface means comprise at least an electrical connector associated to said support and electronically associated to said processing unit and to said button.

14. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure comprises at least a seat for housing said support.

15. The machine according to claim 14, wherein said seat is shaped to reproduce at least in part the profile of said support.

16. The machine according to claim 14, wherein said seat is defined at a front upper portion of said supporting structure.