Weight Applicator for a Wheel and Method for Utilizing the Same

A method for correcting an unbalance on a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire by adhesive-bonding at least one corrective element to an attachment surface on an inside of the rim, comprising the following steps:

• measuring the unbalance of the vehicle wheel in an unbalance measuring station and producing correction data indicative of an amount of weights and attachment locations of the at least one corrective element relative to two correction planes and diameters of attachment surfaces in the cavity of the rim;
• providing the correction data to a control device;
• controlling an applicator head of a balancing station, wherein the applicator head includes two mounts for receiving, respectively, a first corrective element of the at least one corrective element and a second corrective element of the at least one corrective element;
• transferring the vehicle wheel from the unbalance measuring station to a balancing station by means of a gripper arranged on a handling device, wherein said gripper grips the vehicle wheel and locates the vehicle wheel at the balancing station;
• providing the first corrective element and the second corrective element each with one side coated with an adhesive upon the applicator head of the balancing station;
• arranging the first corrective element in the cavity of the rim such that the first corrective element reaches a first correction plane of the two correction planes and a first attachment location on the attachment surface, and fastening the first corrective element to the first attachment location by pressing the adhesive-coated side of the first corrective element against an attachment surface of the rim;
• arranging a second corrective element in the cavity of the rim such that the second corrective element reaches a second correction plane of the two correction planes and a second attachment location of the attachment surface, and fastening the second corrective element to the second attachment location by pressing the adhesive-coated side of the second corrective element against the attachment surface of the rim;
• and
• transferring the balanced vehicle wheel from the balancing station to an outgoing conveyor unit for further transportation and handing-over the balanced vehicle wheel to the outgoing conveyor unit by the gripper on the handling device.

A device for correcting an unbalance on a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire by adhesive-bonding at least one corrective element to an attachment surface on an inside of the rim, comprising:

• an unbalance measuring station for measuring the unbalance of the vehicle wheel and for generating correction data indicative of an amount of weight and an attachment location of at least one corrective element relative to at least one correction plane and a diameter of an attachment surface on the hollow inside of the wheel rim;
• a handling device mounting a gripper for transferring the measured vehicle wheel to a balancing station, wherein said gripper being configured for gripping the vehicle wheel, wherein said handling device being configured for locating the vehicle wheel at the balancing station;
• a transmitting device for transmitting the correction data to a control device for controlling the balancing station, wherein said balancing station includes an applicator head having at least one mount for receiving at least one corrective element, wherein said applicator head being dimensioned to be able to enter into the cavity of the wheel rim, wherein said applicator head being rotatable about an axis into any attachment position on the attachment surface by means of a rotary drive mechanism controllable by the control device, wherein a first mount of the at least one mount for receiving a first corrective element of the at least one corrective element is arranged on a support member of the applicator head, wherein a second mount of the at least one mount for receiving a second corrective element of the at least one corrective element is arranged on the support member.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a component of weight applicator that applies a weight to a surface of a wheel of a tire-wheel assembly, including:
• a plunger portion defining a cavity;
• and
• a biased pressure applicator connected to the plunger portion and disposed within the cavity.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a component of weight applicator that applies a weight to a surface of a wheel of a tire-wheel assembly, including:
• an adhesive fluid reservoir;
• a plunger portion defining an adhesive fluid channel that is in fluid communication with the adhesive fluid reservoir;
• and
• a wicking member in fluid communication with the adhesive fluid channel for delivering adhesive from the adhesive fluid reservoir through the adhesive fluid channel and out of the plunger portion for depositing the adhesive upon the surface of the wheel of the tire-wheel assembly.

A method for attaching a weight to a surface of a wheel of a tire-wheel assembly, comprising the steps of:

• providing one or more radially-directed plunger portions that is/are connected to an arm portion;
• and
• utilizing a component of the one or more radially-directed plunger portions for conducting work upon the surface of the wheel of the tire-wheel assembly, wherein the work includes at least one of:
• (1) applying a biased, radially-outwardly-directed force with respect to the plunger portion for enhancing an adhesive connection of the weight to the surface of the wheel of the tire-wheel assembly,
• (2) depositing adhesive upon the surface of the wheel of the tire-wheel assembly prior attaching the weight to the surface of the wheel, and
• (3) removing debris from the surface of the wheel of the tire-wheel assembly prior to attaching the weight to the surface of the wheel.