Android Industries LLC

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.

Roura Material Handling, Inc.

Barry Allan Clark

Lawrence J Lawson

Robert Reece

Donald Graham Straitiff

Joshua J Hicks

David Henry Larson

David Paul Donnay

Keith Masserang

Joshua James Hicks

Ramsey Richard Niazy

David A Strand

Michael E Hennessey

Christopher Michael Bulliner

Michael David Genter

Anthony Willard Pierce

Daniel David Larson

Kyle John Swinter

Cecil I Hand

Paul Gasiorowski

A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.

System and method for pre-conditioning pneumatic tires prior to mounting same onto a wheel

A system for preparing an interior surface of a tire for an adhesive includes a turntable configured to remove a layer of material from the tire, and a manipulator operable to move and rotate the tire. The turntable includes a platform rotatable about a first axis. An ablation module is disposed within the platform and includes one or more lasers each configured to emit a laser beam for removing the layer of material from the tire. A plurality of guide rollers extend from the platform and are operable between a retracted position and an extended position to selectively secure the tire to the platform. An exhaust system is disposed adjacent to the one or more lasers.

Tire preparation for adhesive using laser ablation system and method

A method for installing a sensor onto an inner surface of a tire is generally disclosed. The method includes robotically deglazing at least a portion of the inner surface of the tire, defining a preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically selected and a target surface of the sensor is cleaned. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the target surface of the sensor. In some embodiments, the adhesive is applied to a portion of the preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically positioned, wherein the target surface of the sensor abuts the preconditioned surface. A wet-out operation is performed, wherein a predetermined pressure is applied to the sensor for a predetermined period of time to affix the sensor to the preconditioned surface.

Tire sensor installation system and method

A system is disclosed. The system includes a processing station for processing at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes one of a tire lubricating sub-station and a wheel lubricating sub-station. A lubrication conditioning system is fluidly-coupled to the processing station. The lubrication conditioning system includes: a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature modifier arranged at least proximate to the lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature sensor arranged within a cavity formed by the lubricant reservoir and a controller communicatively-coupled to both of the lubricant temperature modifier and the lubricant temperature sensor.

System and method for applying a lubricating paste to a wheel

A balancing device, a uniformity device and an apparatus including the balancing device and the uniformity device are disclosed. Each of the balancing device and the uniformity device includes at least one multi-axis transducer. Methods are also disclosed.

Balancing device, uniformity device and methods for utilizing the same

An apparatus for seating a bead of a tire adjacent a bead seat of a wheel is disclosed.

Bead seater apparatus and method for using the same

A weight applicator system includes a shaft, an applicator assembly, and a weight feed assembly. The shaft defines a length between a proximal end and a distal end configured to support a wheel-tire assembly for common rotation about a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The applicator assembly is supported by the shaft and includes a base portion disposed upon the shaft and operable to translate axially along the length of the shaft, a radial portion connected to the base portion and operable to radially move relative to the base portion between a retracted position and an extended position; and a pressure roller rotatably supported by the radial portion about an axis of rotation. The weight feed assembly is operable to feed a prescribed length of weighted material to the pressure roller.

Automated balance-weight applicator

A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to the mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.

System for pre-conditioning pneumatic tires prior to mounting the same onto a wheel

A system includes a processing station and a lubricant supply system in fluid communication with the processing station. The processing station is operable to process at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel to form a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes at least one of a tire lubricating sub-station or a wheel lubricating sub-station. The lubricant supply system includes a storage container configured to store a lubricant and a whipping device received by the lubricant container and operable to whip or blend the lubricant from a semi-solid state to a whipped state. The lubricant supply system also includes a pump operable to pump the lubricant in the whipped state out of the storage container.

Paste based lubricating system

An apparatus for seating a bead of the a adjacent a bead seat of a wheel is disclosed. The apparatus is disposable adjacent one or more of a tread surface and an outer sidewall surface of the tire.

A wheel inflation apparatus including a wheel engagement unit that suspends a tire/wheel assembly and at least one inflation unit coupled to the robotic arm, each inflation unit being configured to inflate the tire/wheel assembly. A load measuring unit is configured to sense an amount of load being applied to the wheel/tire assembly. A controller is coupled to the load measuring unit for receiving a load signal and determining an internal air pressure of the tire/wheel assembly based on the load signal. The controller controls the at least one inflation unit based on the determined internal air pressure and a target (desired) air pressure value.

Growing community of inventors

Ortonville, MI, United States of America

Barry Allan Clark