The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1997
Keith A Neiferd, Norton, OH (US);
Francis J Bormet, Tallmadge, OH (US);
Richard Cukelj, Strongsville, OH (US);
Richard L Krieger, Kent, OH (US);
David W Lees, Sr, Ravenna, OH (US);
Dennis Allyn Reynolds, Munroe Falls, OH (US);
Christy Quinn, Doylestown, OH (US);
Illinois Tool Works, Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
An inlet conveyor for conveying tires through a tire uniformity testing system includes a tire centering mechanism and a pair of conveyor belts for delivering tires to a tire testing station. A fixed conveyor having rollers on which tires can easily slide is secured to a frame that supports the centering mechanism. The conveyor belts are reeved around respective pulleys and are supported by support rails fixed to and extending away from the centering mechanism in cantilever fashion. A conveyor elevator is raised or lowered with respect to the frame unit to raise or lower the support rails and conveyor belts to either engage or disengage a tire resting on the fixed conveyor. The support rails and conveyor belts are adjustable in a lateral direction to vary the width of the space between the belts to accommodate different size tires. The conveyor belts are advanced by a rotary pneumatic actuator that precisely controls the distance the belts move to position the tire with respect to the testing station. The inlet conveyor is mechanically isolated from the testing station so that disturbances affecting the inlet conveyor are not transmitted to the testing station. The inlet conveyor is movable with respect to the testing station to reverse the direction of tire flow through the testing machine.