Station for checking tyres configured for overturning tyres perpendicular to a tyre rotation axis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11428607-B2
Application number	US-201816772758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

A station for checking tyres includes a support structure defining an operating space for receiving a tyre and an overturning device with grip elements for engaging a radially outer portion of the tyre. A checking device includes a mechanical arm and at least one sensor associated with the mechanical arm. The overturning device overturns the tyre around an overturning axis perpendicular to a rotation axis of the tyre when the tyre is in the operating space. The mechanical arm is operatively active within the operating space and carries the sensor at least partially within the tyre for executing checks on an inner surface of the tyre housed in the operating space.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A station for checking tyres, comprising:
a support structure delimiting an operating space configured for receiving a tyre;
a checking device comprising a movable mechanical arm and at least one sensor associated with the movable mechanical arm, the at least one sensor being configured for inspecting, upon movement of the movable mechanical arm, an inner surface of the tyre housed in the operating space, wherein the movable mechanical arm is operatively active within the operating space and is configured for carrying the at least one sensor at least partially within the tyre housed in the operating space; and
an overturning device having grip elements configured for engaging a radially outer portion of the tyre, the overturning device being operative within the operating space and being configured for overturning the tyre around an overturning axis perpendicular to a rotation axis of the tyre while the tyre is situated in the operating space for inspection by the at least one sensor upon movement of the movable mechanical arm,

wherein the station is configured for
an inspection of a first half of the inner surface of the tyre before the overturning of the tyre by the overturning device, where the at least one sensor is moved a first time by the movable mechanical arm at least partially within the tyre, and
an inspection of a second half of the inner surface of the tyre after the overturning of the tyre by the overturning device, where the at least one sensor is moved a second time by the movable mechanical arm at least partially within the tyre.

2. The station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the overturning device is a gripper comprising a first arm and a second arm movable in mutual approaching or moving apart; and
the grip elements comprise a first grip element situated on a respective end of the first arm and a second grip element situated on a respective end of the second arm.

3. The station as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the grip elements are rotatable with respect to said first arm and second arm around the overturning axis.

4. The station as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the gripper is movable along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the tyre.

5. The station as claimed in claim 4 , wherein
the first grip element is motorized for rotating around the overturning axis and the second grip element is free to rotate on the second arm; and
the gripper comprises a rotation detector operatively connected to the second grip element in order to detect the rotation thereof.

6. The station as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a grip member configured for engaging at least one bead of the tyre; the grip member being operative within the operating space and being configured for supporting the tyre in abutment against a sidewall while the tyre is situated in said operating space.

7. The station as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the grip member comprises at least three projections parallel to a central axis thereof and movable between a contracted position, in which the at least three projections lie close together and close to said central axis, and a grip position, in which the at least three projections lie spaced from each other and equidistant from the central axis, in order to engage the bead of the tyre.

8. The station as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the grip member is movable along its central axis.

9. The station as claimed in claim 8 , wherein
the grip member comprises at least three support arms, each carrying a respective projection; and
the projections are movable along the arms between the contracted position and the grip position.

10. The station as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a rotary device carrying the grip member, the rotary device being configured for rotating the grip member around the central axis while the grip member is situated in said operating space.

11. The station as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising an abutment plane for the tyre; wherein
said abutment plane is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the tyre and faces the operating space; and
the abutment plane is movable along an advancement direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the tyre and perpendicular to the overturning axis.

12. The station as claimed in claim 11 , wherein
the abutment plane has an opening configured for allowing the passage of the grip member; and
the grip member is movable between a rest position in which the grip lies retracted in the opening, and an operating position, in which it projects from the opening in order to engage the tyre.

13. The station as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the mechanical arm of the checking device is movable along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the tyre and along a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the tyre.

14. The station as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the checking device comprises at least one auxiliary sensor mounted on the support structure for executing checks on an outer surface of the tyre housed in the operating space.

15. The station as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the checking device comprises a code scanner mounted on the support structure.

16. The station as claimed in claim 14 , wherein each of said at least one sensor and at least one auxiliary sensor is an image detector.

17. The station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the support structure has an inlet for the tyre;
the station further comprises a measuring device placed at the inlet and configured for detecting a diameter and an axial size of the tyre; and
the measuring device comprises an emitter and a receiver configured for generating an optical barrier through the inlet.

18. The station as claimed in claim 11 , wherein
the support structure comprises a frame having a lower portion configured for being set against the ground and an upper portion; and
the mechanical arm is constrained to the upper portion and is protruded towards the abutment plane, the operating space being delimited between the abutment plane and the upper portion.

19. An apparatus for checking tyres comprising:
the station as claimed in claim 1 ;
a first check unit having an inlet for the tyres and comprising a first plurality of checking tools;
a second check unit having an outlet for the tyres and comprising a second plurality of checking tools; and
an overturning and transport device operatively interposed between the first check unit and the second check unit,

wherein
the first check unit, the second check unit and the overturning and transport device define a check path configured so as to be traversed by pitches by each tyre,
the first check unit and the second check unit are configured for executing high-definition checks on at least respective halves of the tyres, and
said station is placed immediately upstream of the first check unit and is configured for executing a low-definition checking of the tyres before the entrance into the first check unit.

20. A station for checking tyres, comprising:
a support structure delimiting an operating space configured for receiving a tyre;
a checking device comprising a movable mechanical arm and at least one sensor associated with the movable mechanical arm, the at least one sensor being configured for inspecting, upon movement of the movable mechanical arm, an inner surface of the tyre housed in the operating space, wherein the movable mechanical arm is operatively active within the operating space and is configured for carrying the at least one sensor

Assignees

• Pirelli

Inventors

• Held Alessandro
• De Col Christian
• Berenguer Albert
• Boffa Vincenzo
• Di Felice Cristian

Classifications

• B60C25/0515

  Automated devices, e.g. mounting robots · CPC title

• B60C25/0512

  Integrated systems performing multiple operations, e.g. assembly lines · CPC title

• B60C25/007

  outside surface (measuring profile depth G01B11/22) · CPC title

• B60C25/0554

  optical, e.g. cameras · CPC title

• B29D2030/0027

  Handling cured tyres, e.g. transferring or storing after vulcanizing · CPC title