Abstract: A tire holding apparatus which holds a tire using an annular rim that is detachably mounted, includes: a body section having a support surface which supports the rim; an inflation gas supply portion which has an inflation flow passage that passes from an inner portion of the body section to a center portion of the rim and supplies inflation gas into a tire supported by the rim; and a clamping portion which is mounted on the body section and clamps the rim to the support surface of the body section by using pressure of the inflation gas that flows through the inflation flow passage as a drive force.

Abstract: The blocking device of a wheel rim on a tire-mounting machine is provided with a rotating support plate having a central hole, and includes a stem for engaging with the rotating support plate, and a cursor which is slidable on the stem and which includes a conical centring body and a device for activating for moving the cursor along the stem. The device for activating includes a mechanical transmission between a collar and a motor and the coupling between the cursor and the stem is such as to prevent rotation of the cursor about the stem.

Abstract: An automatic bead seating assembly to automatically move a bead seating assembly or manifold into contact with a wheel or tire assembly and cause the bead to be seated. The assembly comprises an extendable and retractable seater arm attached at one end to a base, with a bead seater or manifold assembly attached or mounted at the other end. The bead seater or manifold assembly may comprises a reservoir filled with compressed air or other gas, and a hose or pipe for movement of the air or gas from the reservoir to a nozzle of an appropriate size and shape to fit a particular wheel or tire. The seater arm extends forward until the bead seater or manifold assembly comes into contact with the wheel or tire assembly, whereupon air or gas from the manifold reservoir is released, causing the tire bead to be seated. The seater arm then retracts.

Abstract: In a method of straightening a rim of a spoke wheel by tensioning and/or releasing the various spokes and measuring a radial and/or axial misalignment of the rim around the circumference thereof, all spokes are tensioned in a first run such that the tension therein is brought between a predetermined minimum and maximum value. If required, several runs take place and in each following run, based on the measured radial and/or axial misalignment of the rim, the tension in certain spokes is altered between said minimum and maximum value to correct the misalignment, such that the maximum value is increased at the start of each following run. An apparatus for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for manufacturing a bicycle and an apparatus for inserting a spoke into a spoke hole of a flange of a hub from a spoke ejection apparatus that is arranged to face the spoke hole and eject the spoke by air under pressure.

Abstract: A method and a device for automatically mounting spokes in wheels. In the method, the hub of a wheel and the rim of a wheel are interconnected by an inner layer of spokes being supplied in a first station, whereafter the procedure is repeated in a second station for mounting an outer layer of spokes. If desired, this can be done simultaneously with the mounting of an inner layer of spokes in a new wheel in the first station. The device for automatically mounting spokes in wheels comprises rim support means, hub securing means, means for feeding spokes into flange apertures in the hub, means for clamping the ends of the spokes for defining the positions thereof, and means for threading nipples onto the spokes.

Abstract: A machine is provided for fitting spokes into wheel hubs comprising rotatable support arms for taking a hub and bringing it into an inclined position, means for rotating the hub, selection and guide means for fitting spokes one by one into the holes of said hub. The arms turn the hub over after insertion of one spoke out of two, so as to effect insertion of the other spokes.

Abstract: A wheel restraining means having an upper rigid plate and a compressible air bag or similar flexible medium where a generally annular configuration is provided. This structure is mounted on a shaft and a conical member secures the structure to the shaft. The lower compressible surface engages a wheel rim which is mounted on the shaft. The pressurable engagement between the undersurface of the wheel restraining means and the adjacent surfaces of the wheel rim serve to secure the wheel on the shaft.This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 871,891 filed Jan. 23, 1978, and now abandoned.

Abstract: An automatic wire feeder for feeding pieces of wire in an assembly operation. More particularly, an automatic wire feeder for feeding pieces of wire in a radial assembly operation wherein the automatic wire feeder drops the wires, one by one, in a wire loading device having means for holding the wires in assembled condition.

Abstract: A method of truing a newly built spoke wheel having a hub and rim, subsequent to fitting spokes to the wheel and loosely screwing nipples to the spokes at the wheel rim. The method comprises securing the rim and hub in a concentric relationship, locally depressing the rim relative to the hub to a datum radius in the region of a nipple, tightening said nipple at least partially, and further locally depressing said rim relative to said hub in the region of each of said remaining nipples until all of said nipples are tightened as desired.

Abstract: A method of tightening spokes of spoke-type wheels in which spokes are divided into eight groups and in which four sets of two groups each are tightened in sequence, groups of a set being oppositely positioned.