Tire rim-assembling mechanism, rim-assembling method of tire, automatic visual inspection equipment of tire, and automatic visual inspection method of tire

• US 8,307,702 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Inventors: Nakano, Ryohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Andre
• Application Number:
  US12/866,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/00 Apparatus or tools adapted for mounting, removing or inspecting tyres testing of tyres G01M17/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/002 Inspecting tyres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49526 with assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53448 Vehicle wheel

Abstract

Disclosed is automatic visual inspection equipment of a tire in which eccentricity of a rim-assembled tire is prevented by preventing the tire from being deformed by the load of an upperrim. An upper rim is previously pulled up to the side of a main shaft by an upper rim pull-up mechanism, which is fixed to the side of a main shaft. The lower rim is elevated up to the upper rim to fix the upper rim to the tire, and the rim-assembled tire is fixed to the main shaft. Only the upper rim pull-up mechanism is lowered and visual inspection of the tire is performed by rotating the main shaft. A positioning means is provided and includes a positioning pin and a positioning hole provided between the upper surface of an upper rim connector and the lower end surface of the upper rim fixing portion of the main shaft.

Claims

1. A tire rim-assembling mechanism in which an upper rim is fixed for rim assembly to a tire to which a lower rim is fixed, comprising:

a main shaft which is connected to the upper rim to rotate the tire; and

an upper rim pull-up mechanism provided in the main shaft for pulling up the upper rim to join it to the main shaft.

2. The tire rim-assembling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein

the rim pull-up mechanism includes an engaging means to engage the upper rim, and an elevating device to move the engaging means vertically.

3. The tire rim-assembling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein

the upper rim and the main shaft are provided with a positioning means to position the upper rim and the main shaft for joining them together.

4. The tire rim-assembling mechanism according to claim 3, wherein

the positioning means includes a positioning pin provided on a joint surface of the upper rim and the main shaft and a fitting hole of the pin.

5. An automatic visual inspection equipment of tire comprising the tire rim assembling mechanism according to claim 1.

8. The tire rim-assembling mechanism according to claim 2, wherein

the upper rim and the main shaft are provided with a positioning means to position the upper rim and the main shaft for joining them together.

9. The tire rim-assembling mechanism according to claim 8, wherein

the positioning means includes a positioning pin provided on a joint surface of the upper rim and the main shaft and a fitting hole of the pin.

10. An automatic visual inspection equipment of tire comprising the tire rim assembling mechanism according to claim 2.

11. An automatic visual inspection equipment of tire comprising the tire rim assembling mechanism according to claim 3.

12. An automatic visual inspection equipment of tire comprising the tire rim assembling mechanism according to claim 4.

13. An automatic visual inspection equipment of tire comprising the tire rim assembling mechanism according to claim 8.

14. An automatic visual inspection equipment of tire comprising the tire rim assembling mechanism according to claim 9.

6. A rim-assembling method of tire, comprising the steps of:

pulling up an upper rim to position and join it to a main shaft; and

elevating a tire to which a lower rim is fixed to connect it to the upper rim.

7. An automatic visual inspection method of tire, comprising the steps of:

rotating a tire rim-assembled by the rim-assembling method according to claim 6; and

inspecting the rotating tire.