Pirelli Tyre S.p.a.

Steinbichler Optotechnik Gmbh

Josef Engelsberger

Maurizio Marchini

Vincenzo Boffa

Valeriano Ballardini

Alessandro Held

Stefano Boracco

Hans Steinbichler

Giuseppe Casadio Tozzi

Bernd Leitner

Daniele Pecoraro

Rainer Huber

Volker Rasenberger

Junli Sun

Stefano Monti

Thomas Köhler

Thomas Leitner

The present invention relates to a device () for checking a tyre (), the device () comprising: a detection system () comprising a camera () having an optical plane () passing through the camera () and defining a focal plane (); a first light source (), a second light source () and a third light source () adapted for emitting a first light radiation, a second light radiation and a third light radiation, respectively to illuminate a surface portion of said tyre at or close to said focal plane (), said second light source () and said third light source () being arranged at opposite sides with respect to said optical plane (); where said first light source () is fixed with respect to said detection system () and said second light source () and third light source () are adapted to be movable from a first inactive configuration where they are controlled to not emit said second light radiation and third light radiation and wherein the distance (d, d) of said second light source () and of said third light source () from said focal plane () is greater than the distance (d) of said first light source () from said focal plane () to an active configuration wherein they are adapted for emitting at least one among said second light radiation and said third light radiation and wherein the distance (d, d) of said second source () and of said third source () from said focal plane () is equal to or less than the distance (d) of said first source () from said focal plane (); and a drive and control unit () adapted for activating said detection system () to acquire a first image and at least a second image of a first surface portion and a second surface portion of said tyre () in said inactive configuration and in said active configuration, respectively.

Method and device for checking tyres

Apparatus for checking a tyre having: a support plane; a deformation element to generate a deformed surface portion; a positioning actuator to move the deformation element; and a device with a camera, a first light source, a second light source, a processing unit and a drive and control unit. The processing unit is programmed to activate the positioning actuator to move the deformation element towards the tyre to generate a deformed surface portion. The drive and control unit is programmed to: actuate the first light source to illuminate the deformed surface portion of the tyre, the second light source being inactive during the deformation; control the camera to acquire a first image of the deformed surface portion; actuate the second light source to illuminate an undeformed surface portion of the tyre; and control the camera to acquire a second image of the undeformed surface portion.

Apparatus for checking tyres

Method for checking a tyre. The method includes associating first and second independent light sources with a camera, applying a first force against a first surface portion of the tyre to generate a first deformed surface portion, and illuminating the first deformed surface portion with a first light radiation emitted by the first light source while keeping the second light source deactivated. A first image of the first deformed surface portion is then acquired by the camera. The first force is removed and a second surface portion partially distinct from the first surface portion is illuminated with a second light radiation emitted by the second light source without deforming the second surface portion. A second image of the second surface portion is then acquired by the camera. The first and second images are processed for detection of possible defects in the first and second surface portions.

Method and apparatus for checking tyres

The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for tires having a positioning device for the tire to be inspected and a laser inspection device. In accordance with the invention, the inspection device comprises several measuring heads, in particular laser measuring heads in order to reduce the inspection time. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, several observation units and associated lighting sources are integrated in each measuring head.

Inspection apparatus for tires

Growing community of inventors

Neubeuern, Germany

Josef Engelsberger