Inspection apparatus for tires

• US 6,840,097 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Optotechnik GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Leitner, Thomas, Rasenberger, Volker, Köhler, Thomas, Sun, Junli, Engelsberger, Josef, Huber, Rainer, Leitner, Bernd, Steinbichler, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Colilla, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Marissa
• Application Number:
  US09/546,893
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468, 737/05, 731/52, 73/8, 73/9, 356346-348, 356/498, 356/511, 356/139.09, 378/4, 378/20, 378/61, 209/81, 209/82
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/30 for measuring roughness or irregularity of surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/028 using X-rays

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for tires having a positioning device for the tire to be inspected and a laser inspection device. In accordance with the invention, the inspection device comprises several measuring heads, in particular laser measuring heads in order to reduce the inspection time. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, several observation units and associated lighting sources are integrated in each measuring head.

Claims

1. An inspection apparatus for tires (3), comprising

a device (14) structured and arranged for positioning a tire (3) to be inspected,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged to inspect the thus-positioned tire (3) by the positioning device (14), and

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) to encompass the tire (3) positioned thereon, wherein

said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12),

said inspection device (8) is structured and arranged to inspect an inner radial side of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14),

said inspection device (8) comprising said measuring heads (9-12) are structured and arranged to be movable from a position outside the tire (3) to a position within the inner radial edge of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the inner radial side of the tire (3) for defects, and

said pressure chamber (2) is a vacuum chamber comprising a movable hood (4).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said measuring heads (9-12) are laser measuring heads.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said inspection device (8) and positioning device (14) is pivotally mounted.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said measuring heads (9-12) are disposed at substantially equally angular distances with respect to one another upon said inspection device (8).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said measuring heads (9-12) are adjustably supported upon said inspection device (8).

6. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least one mirror (15) structured and arranged to direct light from at least one of the measuring heads (9-12) to a location on the tire (3) not normally accessible, to check this location of the tire (3) for defects.

7. An inspection apparatus for tires (3) comprising

a positioning device (14) structured and arranged for positioning a tire (3) to be inspected thereon,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged for inspecting the thus-positioned tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14), and

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) and encompass the tire (3) to be inspected upon the positioning device (14), the tire (3) being mounted in the absence of a wheel rim and being subject to pressure from both inside and outside,

wherein said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12), each measuring head comprising at least one observation unit (16) and at least one lighting source (17),

said measuring heads structured and arranged to be directed in different directions so that different sections of the tire (3) can be inspected simultaneously, and

each said measuring head being structured and arranged to be both swivelable on at least one axis (29) and translationally movable on at least one axis (27, 28, 30, 32).

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said pressure chamber (2) is a vacuum chamber (2) provided with a movable hood (4), and additionally comprising

a vertically movable slide (5) upon which said hood (4) is mounted and

a guide (6) in which said slide (5) is movably mounted such that said hood (4) can be moved from a position above said positioning device (14) to position providing a seal about said positioning device (14) and tire (3) positioned thereon and encompass the same.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said inspection device (8) is structured and arranged to inspect an inner radial side of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14).

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said inspection device (8) is movably positioned within the inner radial edge of a tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the same for defects.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said inspection device (8) is a laser inspection device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said observation unit (16) comprises a plurality of said lighting sources (17) structured and arranged such that each said observation unit (16) is situated between two rows of laser light sources (17).

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said measuring head (18) possesses modular structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each said observation unit (16) possesses at least one camera (34).

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each said observation unit (16) possesses several cameras (34).

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said measuring head (18) is structured and arranged such that said observation unit (16) and/orlighting sources (17) can be moved as a unit therewith.

17. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said measuring head (18) is structured and arranged such that said observation unit (16) and/or lighting sources (17) are movable relative to said measuring head (18).

18. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each said measuring head (18) is structured and arranged to be both swivelable and translationally movable on multiple axes (27, 28, 29, 30, 32).

19. The apparatus of claim 7, additionally comprising at least one mirror (33) allocated to each said observation unit (16) and/or lighting source (17).

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said at least one mirror (33) is mounted to be both swivelable and translationally movable.

21. The apparatus of claim 7, additionally comprising:

a device (39, 40;

41-45) structured and arranged to detect size and/or position of the tire (3), and

a control device structured and arranged for positioning said at least one measuring head (18) according to the detected size and/or position of the tire (3).

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, additionally comprising an overpressure device arranged to apply overpressure to the tire (3).

23. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said measuring heads (9-12) are structured and arranged to be movable from outside the tire (3) to a position within an inner radial edge of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the inner radial side of the tire (3) for defects.

24. An inspection apparatus for tires (3), comprising

a device (14) structured and arranged for positioning a tire (3) to be inspected,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged to inspect the thus-positioned tire (3) by the positioning device (14), and

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) to encompass the tire (3) positioned thereon, wherein

said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12),

said inspection device (8) is structured and arranged to inspect an inner radial side of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14),

said inspection device (8) comprising said measuring heads (9-12) are structured and arranged to be movable to a position within the inner radial edge of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the inner radial side of the tire (3) for defects, and

said inspection device (8) comprises at least one lighting source (39;

42, 43) structured and arranged for illuminating the tire (3) and one observation unit (40;

44, 45) structured and arranged for detecting a shadow projected by the tire (3).

25. An inspection apparatus for tires (3), comprising

a device (14) structured and arranged for positioning a tire (3) to be inspected,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged to inspect the thus-positioned tire (3) by the positioning device (14), and

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) to encompass the tire (3) positioned thereon, wherein

said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12),

said inspection device (8) is structured and arranged to inspect an inner radial side of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14),

said inspection device (8) comprising said measuring heads (9-12) are structured and arranged to be movable to a position within the inner radial edge of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the inner radial side of the tire (3) for defects, and

additionally comprising an X-ray device (40) structured and arranged to X-ray the tire (3).

26. An inspection apparatus for tires (3), comprising

a device (14) structured and arranged for positioned a tire (3) to be inspected,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged to inspect the thus-positioned tire (3) by the positioning device (14),

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) to encompass the tire (3) positioned thereon,

wherein, said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12), and additionally comprising

a voltage measuring apparatus (50) having at least one electrode (51) and a counterpart (52) operating together, with said electrode (51) and counterpart (52) structured and arranged to be positioned upon different sides of the tire (3).

27. An inspection for tires (3) apparatus, comprising

a device (14) structured and arranged for positioning a tire (3) to be inspected,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged to inspect the thus-positioned tire (3) by the positioning device (14), and

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) to encompass the tire (3) positioned thereon, wherein

said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12),

said inspection device (8) is structured and arranged to inspect an inner radial side of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14),

said inspection device (8) comprising said measuring heads (9-12) are structured and arranged to be movable to a position within the inner radial edge of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the inner radial side of the tire (3) for defects, and

additionally comprising an overpressure device arranged to apply overpressure to the tire (3).

28. An inspection apparatus for tires (3), comprising

a device (14) structured and arranged for positioning a tire (3) to be inspected,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged to inspect the thus-positioned tire (3) by the positioning device (14), and

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) to encompass the tire (3) positioned thereon, wherein

said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12),

said inspection device (8) is structured and arranged to inspect an inner radial side of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14),

said inspection device (8) comprising said measuring heads (9-12) are structured and arranged to be movable to a position within the inner radial edge of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the inner radial side of the tire (3) for defects, and

said inspecting device (3) comprises a camera and image processing system connected thereto.

29. An inspection apparatus for tires (3), comprising

a device (14) structured and arranged for positioning a tire (3) to be inspected,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged to inspect the thus-positioned tire (3) by the positioning device (14), and

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) to encompass the tire (3) positioned thereon, wherein

said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12),

said inspection device (8) is structured and arranged to inspect an inner radial side of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14),

said inspection device (8) comprising said measuring heads (9-12) are structured and arranged to be movable to a position within the inner radial edge of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the inner radial side of the tire (3) for defects, and

additionally comprising a device for joint presentation of results of different angle inspections of the tire (3).

30. An inspection apparatus for tires (3), comprising

a device (14) structured and arranged for positioning a tire (3) to be inspected,

an inspection device (8) structured and arranged to inspect the thus-positioned tire (3) by the positioning device (14), and

a pressure chamber (2) structured and arranged to be positioned about said positioning device (14) to encompass the tire (3) positioned thereon, wherein

said inspection device (8) comprises several measuring heads (9, 10, 11, 12),

said inspection device (8) is structuured and arranged to inspect an inner radial side of the tire (3) positioned upon said positioning device (14),

said inspection device (8) comprising said measuring heads (9-12) are structured and arranged to be movable from a position outside the tire (3) to a position within the inner radial edge of the tire 93) positioned upon said positioning device (14) to inspect the inner radial side of the tire (3) for defects,

said pressure chamber (2) is a vacuum chamber comprising a movable hood (4), and

additionally comprising

a vertically movable slide (5) and a guide (6) in which said slide (5) is movably positioned and upon which said vacuum chamber hood (4) is coupled, such that said vacuum chamber hood (4) is movable between an upper position exposing said positioning device (14) and a lower position providing a seal about said positioning device (14) and the tire (3) positioned therein.