Tyre changing machine and method for using a tyre changing machine

A method for using a tyre changing machine, comprising the following steps:

• providing a tyre changing machine for mounting and demounting a tyre to and from a corresponding rim of a vehicle wheel, including:
• a wheel-holder unit rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation and configured to support the rim of the wheel from which or to which a respective tyre is to be demounted or mounted;
• a frame having a front portion and a flank;
• a bead breaker unit, mounted on the flank of the frame and including an abutment surface,
• a breaker tool movable towards and away from the abutment surface, so as to detach a bead of the tyre from an annular edge of the rim of a wheel with the tyre tread resting on a supporting surface at floor level and a sidewall in contact with the abutment surface;
• a lifting device, including a lifting arm, a supporting platform defining a horizontal supporting surface on which to rest the wheel, connected to the lifting arm and movable between a lowered position, where it can receive the wheel to be lifted off the floor, and a raised position, where it is lifted to make it easier to place the wheel on the wheel-holder unit, and a lifting actuator, connected to the lifting arm to move the supporting platform between the raised position and the lowered position;
• bead breaking, with the supporting platform at a lowered position, by moving the bead breaker tool towards the wheel;
• lifting the wheel, by rolling the wheel along the floor, loading the wheel onto the supporting platform at the lowered position and then lifting the supporting platform,
• wherein the tyre changing machine also includes a box-shaped body operatively coupled to the flank of the frame, the box-shaped body having a lateral wall defining an abutment surface and internally defining a compartment, wherein the lifting actuator is at least partly positioned in the compartment in the box-shaped body, wherein the lifting arm protrudes from one side of the box-shaped body oriented transversely to the abutment surface, the lifting arm protruding towards a zone in front of the front portion of the frame, and wherein, in the step of bead breaking, the wheel is abutted with its sidewall against the abutment surface and the bead breaker tool is moved towards the abutment surface.

A tyre changing machine for mounting and demounting a tyre to and from a corresponding rim of a vehicle wheel, comprising:

• a wheel-holder unit rotatable about a first vertical axis of rotation and configured to support the rim of the wheel from which or to which a respective tyre (P) is to be demounted or mounted;
• a frame having a front portion and a flank and resting on a floor;
• a bead breaker unit, mounted on the flank of the frame and connected thereto and including an abutment surface, a bead breaking arm articulated to the frame to rotate about a second vertical axis, a paddle shaped bead breaker tool mounted on the bead breaking arm, a bead breaker actuator, connected to the bead breaking arm to move the bead breaker tool towards and away from the abutment surface, so as to detach the bead of the tyre from an annular edge of the rim of the wheel with the tyre tread resting on a supporting surface at floor level and a sidewall in contact with the abutment surface;
• a lifting device, including a lifting arm and a supporting platform defining a horizontal supporting surface on which to rest the wheel, the supporting platform being connected to the lifting arm and movable between a lowered position, where it can receive the wheel to be lifted off the floor, and a raised position, where it is lifted to make it easier to place the wheel on the wheel-holder unit, and a lifting actuator, connected to the lifting arm to move the supporting platform between the raised position and the lowered position;
• a box-shaped body operatively coupled to the flank of the frame, the box-shaped body having a lateral wall defining the abutment surface and internally defining a compartment, wherein the lifting actuator is at least partly positioned in the compartment in the box-shaped body, and wherein the supporting platform is hinged to a first end of the lifting arm to rotate about the first end and wherein the lifting device comprises a connecting rod configured to define, together with the lifting arm, a four-bar linkage for keeping the supporting platform parallel to the floor while it is moving from the raised position to the lowered position and vice versa.