Pirelli Tyre S.p.a.

Stefano Monti

Valeriano Ballardini

Fabio Regoli

Maurizio Marchini

Vincenzo Boffa

Stefano Boracco

Marco Cantu'

Giuseppe Casadio Tozzi

Josef Engelsberger

Luca Tersi

Method for setting up a tyre checking apparatus, said apparatus () comprising at least: a support base () for a tyre (); a first acquisition device () and a second acquisition device () for acquiring images representative of said tyre () positioned on said support base (); a first robotic member () for moving said second acquisition device (). Said method comprises: providing a setup device () comprising: a first wall () having first predefined shapes (F); a second wall () having second predefined shapes (F), said second wall () being substantially parallel and non-coplanar to said first wall (); a top surface (); a central reference () arranged on said top surface (). Said method also comprises: executing at least one of a first set-up and a second set-up. Said first set-up sets the first acquisition device (), and comprises: positioning said setup device () on said support base () in a first position (PI); carrying out a first group of movements relative to said setup device (); executing a calibration of said first acquisition device () as a function of said first predefined shapes (F) and second predefined shapes (F). Said second set-up sets said first robotic member () that moves said second acquisition device () and comprises: positioning said setup device () on said support base () in a second position (P); carrying out a second group of movements relative to said setup device (); executing a configuration of said first robotic member () as a function of positions taken by said central reference (). The invention also describes a setup device () adapted for being used in said method.

Method for setting up a tyre checking apparatus, setup device used in said method

Method for setting up a tyre checking apparatus, said apparatus () comprising at least: a support base () for a tyre () a first acquisition device () and a second acquisition device () for acquiring images representative of said tyre () positioned on said support base (); a first robotic member () for moving said second acquisition device (). Said method comprises: providing a setup device () comprising: a first wall () having first predefined shapes (F); a second wall () having second predefined shapes (F), said second wall () being substantially parallel and non-coplanar to said first wall (); a top surface (); a central reference () arranged on said top surface (). Said method also comprises: executing at least one of a first set-up and a second set-up. Said first set-up sets the first acquisition device (), and comprises: positioning said setup device () on said support base () in a first position (PI); carrying out a first group of movements relative to said setup device (); executing a calibration of said first acquisition device () as a function of said first predefined shapes (F) and second predefined shapes (F). Said second set-up sets said first robotic member () that moves said second acquisition device () and comprises: positioning said setup device () on said support base () in a second position (P); carrying out a second group of movements relative to said setup device (); executing a configuration of said first robotic member () as a function of positions taken by said central reference (). The invention also describes a setup device () adapted for being used in said method.

A method and apparatus for detecting defects on tires in a tire production process. The method includes: receiving a reference image of a surface portion of a reference tire substantially defects-free; providing a sample tire to be analyzed; illuminating a surface portion of the sample tire with a raking light source; acquiring a sample image of the illuminated surface portion of the sample tire; extracting the edges from the reference image and from the sample image and respectively generating an edge reference image and an edge sample image; carrying out a dilation of the edges of the edge reference image and generating therefrom a dilated edge reference image; comparing the edge sample image with respect to the dilated edge reference image and generating an edge image of possible defects; and identifying the edges in the edge image of possible defects.

Method and apparatus for detecting defects on tyres in a tyre production process

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Imola, Italy

Stefano Monti