초록

Tire changing machines with automated positioning and closed loop control of bead pressing devices are described to maintain and control operation of the bead pressing devices during tire mount and de-mount procedures. Methodology is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A machine for changing a tire on a wheel rim, the machine comprising: a base;a drive assembly coupled to the base and defining a drive axis;a clamping mechanism configured to retain the wheel rim to the drive assembly;a plurality of bead pressing devices engageable to a tire associated with the w

1. A machine for changing a tire on a wheel rim, the machine comprising: a base;a drive assembly coupled to the base and defining a drive axis;a clamping mechanism configured to retain the wheel rim to the drive assembly;a plurality of bead pressing devices engageable to a tire associated with the wheel rim, the plurality of bead pressing devices mounted for rotation about a first rotational axis, the first rotational axis being coincident with the drive axis as the wheel rim is rotated thereabout in a tire changing procedure; anda controller operatively connected to the plurality of bead pressing devices and at least one sensor communicating with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to automatically monitor a position of at least one of the plurality of bead pressing devices relative to the drive axis. 2. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism positioning the plurality of bead pressing devices to a predetermined rotational position on the tire. 3. The machine of claim 2 where the drive mechanism is a traction point drive mechanism. 4. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a first position sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of bead pressing devices. 5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the first position sensor is a rotational position sensor. 6. The machine of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to monitor a rate of change of position of the at least one of the plurality of bead pressing devices, as determined by the position sensor. 7. The machine of claim 4, further comprising a second position sensor associated with the drive assembly. 8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the second position sensor is a rotational position sensor. 9. The machine of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to detect a deviation between a position of the drive assembly and a position of the at least one of the plurality of bead pressing devices utilizing the first and second position sensors. 10. The tire changer machine of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second positions sensors is an encoder. 11. The machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bead pressing devices comprises a first bead pressing device and a second bead pressing device, the first and second bead pressing devices being automatically positionable in a tire mount mode in first respective locations on the tire, and the first and second pressing devices further being automatically positionable in a tire de-mount mode in second respective locations on the tire, the first respective locations being different from the second respective locations. 12. A machine for changing a tire on a wheel rim, the machine comprising: a base;a drive assembly coupled to the base and defining a drive axis;a clamping mechanism configured to retain the wheel rim to the drive assembly;at least one bead pressing device structurally engageable to a tire associated with the wheel rim;a rotational drive mechanism associated with the at least one pressing device; anda position sensor associated with the at least one bead pressing device. 13. The machine of claim 12, further comprising a controller, the position sensor providing a feedback control signal to the controller. 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to monitor a rate of change of the at least one bead pressing device, as determined by the position sensor. 15. The machine of claim 13, wherein the rotational drive mechanism is a traction point drive mechanism, and further wherein the controller is configured to adjust the traction point drive mechanism when the monitored rate of change exceeds a predetermined threshold. 16. The machine of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to determine a deviation, based on the feedback control signal, between a position of the drive assembly and a position of the at least one bead pressing device. 17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the rotational drive mechanism is a traction point drive mechanism, and further wherein the controller is configured to adjust one of the traction point drive mechanism, the drive assembly, and a position of the at least one bead pressing device when a determined deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold. 18. A method of changing a tire associated with a wheel rim, the method utilizing a machine having a drive assembly defining a drive axis, a traction point drive mechanism, and a plurality of bead pressing devices engageable with the tire, the method comprising: positioning the plurality of bead pressing devices in contact with the tire;rotating the wheel rim about the drive axis;operating the traction point drive mechanism to rotate at least one of the pressing devices in position on a tire; andmonitoring a position of the at least one pressing device. 19. The method of claim 18, the machine including a controller, the method further comprising determining, with the controller, a rate of change in position of at least one pressing device and comparing the determined rate of change with a predetermined threshold. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising adjusting operation of the traction point drive mechanism when the monitored rate of change exceeds a predetermined threshold. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the machine includes a controller, and the machine is operable in a tire mount mode and a tire de-mount mode, the method further comprising: accepting an input for operation of the machine in one of the tire mount mode and the tire de-mount mode; andthe controller initially positioning the plurality of bead pressing devices at tire mount and de-mount positions on a side wall of the tire, the tire mount and de-mount positions being different from one another. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the machine further includes a position sensor associated with the drive axis and a controller, the method further comprising comparing, with the controller, a position of the traction point drive with a position of the drive axis. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising adjusting, with the controller, operation of one of the traction point drive mechanism and the drive axis when a deviation in compared position exceeds a predetermined threshold. 24. A machine for changing a tire on a wheel rim, the machine comprising: a base;a drive assembly coupled to the base and defining a drive axis;a clamping mechanism configured to retain the wheel rim to the drive assembly;at least one bead pressing device structurally engageable to a tire associated with the wheel rim;a traction point drive mechanism associated with the at least one bead pressing device; anda closed loop control system monitoring an operation of the traction point drive mechanism.