Inspection method and inspection line for tires

An inspection method for a tire, the method comprising:

• (A) in a first sequence:
• (1) at a first inspection post of an inspection line for tires, simultaneously utilizing a first rotation driver to rotate the tire about an axis of the tire while utilizing a first image acquisition apparatus to carry out a first acquisition of at least one partial or whole macroscopic image of:
• an inner shape of the tire, or an outer shape of the tire, or both an inner shape and an outer shape of the tire,
• (2) utilizing a first electronic processor to detect whether a deviation is present by:
• comparing the at least one macroscopic image with a stored representative reference image, wherein the comparing comprises comparing (i) relative spatial positions of spatially separated pixels of the at least one macroscopic image, the pixels being defined on spatially separated circumferential generatrices and/or spatially separated generatrices located in planes containing an axis of the tire, with (ii) relative spatial positions of spatially separated pixels of the stored representative reference image, and
• (3) utilizing the first electronic processor to output a signal for the tire in accordance with the detection of whether a deviation is present, wherein the signal is a rejection signal, in accordance with a deviation having been detected, and wherein the signal is an acceptance signal, in accordance with a deviation having not been detected;
• and
• (B) in a second sequence:
• (1) in accordance with the rejection signal having been output in the first sequence:
• utilizing a transfer apparatus to transfer the tire from the first inspection post to a discharge point of the inspection line, and discharging the tire, and,
• (2) in accordance with the acceptance signal having been output in the first sequence:
• (a) utilizing the transfer apparatus to transfer the tire from the first inspection post to a second inspection post of the inspection line,
• (b) at the second inspection post, simultaneously utilizing a second rotation driver to rotate the tire about the axis of the tire while utilizing a second image acquisition apparatus to carry out a second acquisition of at least one partial or whole microscopic image of:
• an inner surface of the tire, or an outer surface of the tire, or both an inner surface and an outer surface of the tire,
• (c) utilizing a second electronic processor to detect whether a local deviation in a surface of the tire is present by:
• analyzing the at least one microscopic image using digital image processing algorithms, or comparing the at least one microscopic image with a stored reference image representing a desired surface condition of the tire, or both analyzing the at least one microscopic image using digital image processing algorithms and comparing the at least one microscopic image with the stored reference image representing the desired surface condition of the tire, and
• (d) utilizing the second electronic processor to output a signal in accordance with the detection of whether a local deviation is present.