Robotic wheel gripper with a TPM sensor
AssigneeInternational Wheel & Tire Company
InventorKevin R. Kerwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A robotic wheel gripper unit that is configured for gripping and transporting a wheel to a predetermined position during an assembly operation with a tire is disclosed. The robotic wheel gripper unit comprises a selectively moveable arm that includes a gripper tool connected thereto. The gripper tool further includes a plurality of gripper fingers and at least one sensor. The gripper fingers are configured for selectively engaging a portion of a wheel. The sensor is configured to detect a predetermined element on the wheel, such as a TPMS valve stem, to assist in placement of the wheel during an assembly operation.
Claims19
A method of locating a tire pressure monitor system valve stem during a wheel assembly operation, comprising:
- positioning a robotic wheel gripper unit above a wheel such that a gripper tool, which comprises a plurality of gripper fingers and at least one sensor configured to detect a location of a tire pressure monitor system valve stem on a wheel, is positioned above the wheel;
- lowering the gripper tool into a scanning position so as to dispose the gripper fingers about an outer periphery of the wheel and to position the sensor between a top and a bottom surface of the wheel;
- rotating the gripper tool about the wheel until the sensor detects the location of the tire pressure monitor system valve stem;
- recording the location of the tire pressure monitor system valve stem relative to a fixed reference point;
- moving the gripper tool into a gripping configuration, wherein the gripper fingers engage a portion of the wheel;
- rotating the wheel to position the tire pressure monitor system valve stem at a predetermined location;
- and
- releasing the wheel by moving the gripping tool into a releasing configuration, whereby the gripping fingers are no longer in contact with the wheel.
A robotic wheel gripper unit configured for gripping and transporting a wheel to a predetermined position, comprising:
- a selectively moveable arm;
- and
- a gripper tool that is connected to a first end of the moveable arm;
- wherein the gripper tool further includes a plurality of gripper fingers carried on platforms and configured for selectively engaging a portion of a wheel;
- and wherein the gripper tool further comprises at least one sensor mounted to at least one of the platforms and configured to detect a location of a predetermined element on the wheel indicating to the moveable arm a rotation of the gripper tool about the wheel until the sensor detects the location of the predetermined element on the wheel.
A robotic wheel gripper unit configured for gripping and transporting a wheel to a predetermined position, comprising:
- a selectively moveable arm;
- and
- a gripper tool being connected to a first end of the moveable arm and including a plurality of gripper fingers and at least one sensor, the at least one sensor configured to detect a location of a tire pressure monitor system valve stem on the wheel, and wherein the gripper tool is configured to
- position above a wheel and receive the location of the tire pressure monitor system valve stem on a wheel from the at least one sensor,
- lower into a scanning position so as to dispose the gripper fingers about an outer periphery of the wheel and to position the sensor between a top and a bottom surface of the wheel;
- rotate about the wheel until the sensor detects the location of the tire pressure monitor system valve stem;
- record the location of the tire pressure monitor system valve stem relative to a fixed reference point;
- move the gripper tool into a gripping configuration, wherein the gripper fingers engage a portion of the wheel;
- rotate the wheel to position the tire pressure monitor system valve stem at a predetermined location;
- and
- release the wheel whereby the gripping fingers are no longer in contact with the wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.