Tire changer with actuated load roller

A method for altering a mounting of a tire on a wheel rim using a tire changing system having a load roller assembly configured to apply a generally radial load to a wheel assembly consisting of the tire mounted to the wheel rim, disposed on the tire changing system, comprising:

• actuating the load roller assembly to engage the wheel assembly and apply a generally radial load to said wheel assembly during a driven rotation of said wheel assembly about an axis of rotation;
• acquiring measurements associated with said applied load on said wheel assembly during rotation of said wheel assembly;
• utilizing said acquired measurements to identify a rotational mounting orientation for said tire on said wheel rim;
• and
• altering said rotational mounting orientation of said tire on said wheel rim to said identified rotational mounting orientation by engaging and holding said tire stationary relative to said wheel rim with a controlled component while said wheel rim is rotated concentrically within said tire to the identified rotational mounting orientation.

A tire changer, comprising:

• a mount assembly secured to a framework for receiving at least a wheel rim of a wheel/tire assembly, the mount assembly having a rotational axis;
• a controlled component secured to said framework to selectively engage the tire mounted on the wheel rim and hold the tire in a stationary position, during rotation of the wheel rim by the mount assembly;
• a load roller being able to contact a peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly and to apply a predetermined force to the peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly;
• a control system for controlling the predetermined force applied by the load roller during a rotation of the wheel/tire assembly about the rotational axis of the mount assembly;
• a sensor for measuring force variations acting between the peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly and the load roller;
• and
• wherein an actuation mechanism of the load roller and of the mount assembly is designed for a relative movement of the load roller and of the mount assembly towards each other along a straight line to apply the predetermined force to the peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly.

A method for measuring force variations acting between a peripheral surface of a wheel/tire assembly and a load roller of a tire changing system having a mount assembly for positioning and rotating the wheel/tire assembly about a rotational axis, and a controlled component for selectively engaging and holding the tire of said wheel/tire assembly, comprising:

• mounting the wheel/tire assembly on said mount assembly;
• moving the load roller and the wheel/tire assembly into contact to engage the load roller and the wheel/tire assembly and to apply a controlled predetermined force to a peripheral surface of the wheel/tire assembly;
• and
• measuring force variations acting between the peripheral surface and the load roller while the wheel/tire assembly is rotated about the rotational axis by the mount assembly.

A wheel assembly service method for mounting a tire to a wheel rim on a tire changing system, comprising:

• measuring runout about a circumference of the wheel rim;
• mounting the tire to said wheel rim;
• measuring wheel assembly loaded force variations about the circumference of the tire mounted to said wheel rim;
• selectively altering an angular mounting position of the tire with respect to said wheel rim in response to said measured runout and said measured wheel assembly loaded force variations by holding the tire stationary while the wheel rim is rotated concentrically within the tire to a selected angular mounting position.