Robotic tire mounter
AssigneeArkk Engineering
InventorsKevin R. KERWIN, Daniel EHLKE, Mohammed HASSAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A robotic tire mounter for mounting a tire to a wheel is disclosed. The robotic tire mounted comprises a robotic arm and a gripping unit. The gripping unit further comprises a plurality of gripping fingers that are selectively moveable between a releasing position and a gripping position. When in the gripping fingers are in the releasing position, the gripping fingers are positioned adjacent one another adjacent a center of the gripping unit. A method of mounting a tire to a wheel using a robotic tire mounter is also disclosed.
Claims15
A method of mounting a tire on a vehicle wheel using a robotic tire mounter having a selectively moveable gripper unit, the method comprising:
- moving the gripper unit downward toward an opening of a tire while in a releasing configuration until gripping elements of the gripper unit are disposed at least partially within the opening of the tire;
- moving the gripping elements away from one another and into engagement with one of a first or second bead of the tire;
- continue moving the gripping elements away from one another a predetermined distance to a gripping position so as to slightly deform the opening of the tire;
- actuating the robotic tire mounter so as to lift the gripping unit, and thereby lifting the tire, and moving the tire to a wheel;
- actuating the robotic tire mounter so as to lower the tire over the wheel and manipulate the tire over a rim of the wheel such that a rim of the wheel is disposed between the first and second beads of the tire;
- and
- moving the gripping elements from the gripping position to the releasing configuration.
A robotic tire mounter for mounting a tire to a wheel, comprising:
- a robotic arm;
- and
- a gripping unit;
- wherein the gripping unit further comprises a plurality of gripping fingers that are selectively moveable between a releasing position and a gripping position;
- wherein when the gripping fingers are in the releasing position, the gripping fingers are positioned adjacent one another adjacent a center of the gripping unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.