Patents Assigned to Sicam, S.r.l.
  • Patent number: 10029520
    Abstract: The bead breaking unit includes: a bead breaking arm having a substantially horizontal longitudinal direction, a first extremity hinged to the base frame of a tire changing machine around a substantially vertical rotation axis and an opposite second extremity having a bead breaking tool; an operating actuator for moving the bead breaking arm interposed between the base frame and the bead breaking arm; and a control lever, associated with the bead breaking arm in proximity of the second extremity for controlling the operating actuator, wherein the control lever is hinged around an oscillation axis substantially horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal direction and is associated with return elements for maintaining the control lever in a substantially vertical balance position, the actuator being controlled in a first direction for bead breaking the tire when the control lever is rotated towards the wheel starting from the balance position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventors: Bjoern Dressler, Marco Vescovini, Davide Ruspaggiari
  • Patent number: 9834046
    Abstract: A tire-changing machine include a base frame; a grip unit fitted on the base frame for revolving around a rotation axis and gripping a vehicle wheel having a rim and a tire to fit/remove; first operating elements for placing the grip unit in rotation around the axis; at least an operating head fitted on the base frame and having at least a work tool; second operating elements for positioning the operating head and the wheel in a work configuration wherein the tool contacts the tire; the grip unit including a first measuring portion subject to a stress condition due to the contact, in correspondence to the first measuring portion, first sensor elements for detecting the stress condition of the first measuring portion and operatively associated with a processing and control unit for determining a danger condition of the tire starting from the stress condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventors: Roberto Nicolini, Marco Matteucci
  • Patent number: 9732827
    Abstract: A machine for balancing vehicle wheels includes: a base frame; a balancing shaft on which a vehicle wheel to be balanced can be fixed; a rotoidal resting unit, fitted on the base frame and supporting the balancing shaft in a revolving way around its own axis; and motor elements for placing in rotation the balancing shaft around its own axis; wherein the balancing shaft includes at least a measuring section which is magnetized and subject to a stress condition due to the unbalance of the wheel revolving on the balancing shaft, in proximity of the measuring section being arranged magnetic field sensor elements which are suitable for detecting by magnetostrictive effect the stress condition of the measuring section and are operatively associated with at least one processing and control unit suitable for determining the unbalance of the wheel starting from the stress condition of the measuring section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Matteucci, Alessandro Gilocchi
  • Patent number: 9724973
    Abstract: The machine (10) for fitting/removing a tyre includes: a bedplate (12) for resting on the ground; a spindle (16), mounted on the bedplate and configured to tighten a rim of a wheel thereon; a demounting tool, mounted on the bedplate and able to remove a tyre from the rim when the wheel is loaded on the spindle; a bead breaking arm (30), movably connected to the bedplate and having a bead breaking tool (32) able to bead break the tyre from the rim; a lifting member (52, 54, 56), movably connected to the bedplate and able to lift the wheel to load it on the spindle after bead breaking; and an operating device (40) which is selectively connectable either to the bead breaking arm or to the lifting member and able to operate the bead breaking arm or the lifting member according to choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventor: Bjoern Dressler
  • Patent number: 9250151
    Abstract: Machine for balancing vehicle wheels includes: a base frame supporting elements for gripping and rotating a wheel around a balancing axis; first sensor elements associated with the gripping and rotation elements for detecting the unbalance of the wheel; an electronic processing and control unit associated with the first sensor elements for calculating a balancing weight to apply onto the wheel; and an auxiliary detection appliance associated with the base frame and having: a rolling device for pressing onto the wheel, and in turn including: a support structure for two rollers revolving around axes parallel to each other; and a flexible member closed on itself in a loop, wrapped around the rollers and having a substantially flat active section, and a return section substantially opposite the active section; and second sensor elements associated with the rolling device for detecting the behaviour of the wheel when pressed by the rolling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Matteucci, Alessandro Gilocchi, Marco Montanari
  • Patent number: 9080860
    Abstract: A method for detecting the shape or dimensions of a wheel on vehicle repair workshop machines comprises the stages of: projection of a line of light onto the surface of a portion of a wheel (3) mounted rotating on a vehicle repair workshop machine; acquisition of at least a two-dimensional image of the projected line of light; processing the acquired image to determine the profile of the portion of the wheel; at least two stages of complete rotation of the wheel; and a distributed detection stage, wherein the projection stage and acquisition stage are performed in correspondence to first angular positions of the wheel during the first rotation stage, and in correspondence to second angular positions of the wheel during the second rotation stages, the first angular positions and the second angular positions being at least partially distinct the one from the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Montanari, Andrea Matteucci
  • Publication number: 20140060182
    Abstract: Machine for balancing vehicle wheels includes: a base frame supporting elements for gripping and rotating a wheel around a balancing axis; first sensor elements associated with the gripping and rotation elements for detecting the unbalance of the wheel; an electronic processing and control unit associated with the first sensor elements for calculating a balancing weight to apply onto the wheel; and an auxiliary detection appliance associated with the base frame and having: a rolling device for pressing onto the wheel, and in turn including: a support structure for two rollers revolving around axes parallel to each other; and a flexible member closed on itself in a loop, wrapped around the rollers and having a substantially flat active section, and a return section substantially opposite the active section; and second sensor elements associated with the rolling device for detecting the behaviour of the wheel when pressed by the rolling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Matteucci, Alessandro Gilocchi, Marco Montanari
  • Publication number: 20130128281
    Abstract: The method (M) for detecting the shape and/or dimensions of a wheel (3) on vehicle repair workshop machines or the like comprises the stages of: projection (B1, B2) of a line of light (6) onto the surface of a portion of a wheel (3) mounted rotating on a vehicle repair workshop machine (1) or the like; acquisition (C1, C2) of at least a two-dimensional image (Ii) of the projected line of light (6); processing (F) of the acquired image (Ii) to determine the profile (Pi) of the portion of the wheel (3); at least two stages (D1, D2) of complete rotation of the wheel (3); and a distributed detection stage (A), wherein the projection stage (B1, B2) and acquisition stage (C1, C2) are performed in correspondence to first angular positions (?j) of the wheel (3) during the first rotation stage (D1), and in correspondence to second angular positions (?k) of the wheel (3) during the second rotation stages (D2), at least some of the first angular positions (?j) and the second angular positions (?k) being non-coincident.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Sicam S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Montanari, Andrea Matteucci
  • Patent number: 8356516
    Abstract: The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a supporting structure for supporting grip and rotation members for gripping and rotating a wheel to be balanced, a detector for detecting the unbalance of the wheel during rotation, a processing unit which is operatively associated with the grip and rotation members and with the detector, and interface assembly associated with the supporting structure and operatively associated with the processing unit. The interface assembly comprises a support associated to the supporting structure, a screen housed internally of a first housing on the support and a keyboard housed internally of a second housing on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sicam S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Montanari, Roberto Nicolini
  • Patent number: 8347714
    Abstract: The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels includes a base frame for supporting a balancing shaft, which receives the vehicle wheel. A plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring around the balancing shaft, and a plurality of pattern generators projects images onto the side of the wheel to form reference points. The light sources are split into sectors, and at least one pattern generator is arranged between two sectors of the light sources. Laser pointers may be used as pattern generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: SICAM S.r.l.
    Inventor: Marco Matteucci
  • Patent number: 8322211
    Abstract: The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a base frame supporting a balancing spindle for balancing a vehicle wheel, a lifting device associable with the base frame and suitable for fitting and removing the wheel onto and off the balancing spindle, and a protection guard associable with the base frame and suitable for covering the wheel fitted on the balancing spindle, the lifting device and the protection guard being integrated together in a multifunctional device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SICAM S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Matteucci, Mauro Zona
  • Patent number: 8291958
    Abstract: A machine for fitting and removing the wheel tires of vehicles comprises a base frame with a turntable for gripping and rotating a rim of wheels for vehicles with at least a retention flange and a bead of a tire to be fitted on, or removed from, the rim; an operating head is operatively associated with the base frame, and is positionable near the retention flange. The operating head includes a guiding nut for the bead; a guiding wing for the bead; a grip tool for gripping the bead which is arranged between the guiding nut and the guiding wing, and includes a shaped active extremity with an oblique profile suitable for cooperating with the guiding nut for guiding the bead. Actuator assembly moves the grip tool between a first guiding configuration of the bead, in which the active extremity is arranged near the guiding nut and near the guiding wing, and a second grip configuration of the bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Sicam S.r.l.
    Inventor: Pietro Bartoli
  • Patent number: 8276641
    Abstract: The tire-changing machine for fitting and removing vehicle wheels comprises a base frame for supporting gripping and rotating means for a vehicle wheel with a rim and a tire to be fitted/removed, an operating head operatively associated with the base frame and having at least a fitting/removal tool, operating means or actuators suitable for positioning the operating head in a work configuration in which the tool is arranged in contact against the tire substantially near the flange of the rim. The actuators are responsive to a processing and control unit which positions the operating head in the work configuration, so that the fitting/removal tools can fit, and/or remove, a tire from the rim of a vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sicam S.r.L.
    Inventor: Andrea Matteucci
  • Patent number: 8276447
    Abstract: The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a supporting structure of grip and rotation members for gripping and rotating a wheel to be balanced, detection device for detecting the unbalance of the wheel during rotation, a processing unit which is operatively associated to said grip and rotation members and to said detection device, a screen associated to the supporting structure which is operatively associated to the processing unit and adapted to display the detected unbalance data and selectable functions or lists of functions, a control panel having a touch screen control surface arranged in a discrete ring-like manner, is also located on the control panel. The operator slides his finger on the touch screen control surface to scroll between present functions, or lists of functions, displayed on the screen, in a continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sicam S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Montanari, Roberto Nicolini
  • Patent number: 8205494
    Abstract: The machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a base frame supporting a substantially horizontal balancing spindle, a lifting device for lifting a vehicle wheel to be fitted/removed to/from the balancing spindle, contact-free reading means of the profile of the tire associated with the base frame, and a processing and control unit operatively associated with the lifting device and with the reading means and suitable for calculating the position of the center of the wheel in accordance with the values read by the reading means, and for stopping the lifting device in an end-of-lifting position, in which the wheel center is substantially at the same height as the balancing spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sicam S.R.L.
    Inventor: Roberto Nicolini
  • Patent number: 8011243
    Abstract: The method for correcting the eccentricity of a vehicle wheel in balancing machines or the like, comprises: a reading phase for reading the radial eccentricity deviation of the rim of a wheel to be balanced and the radial eccentricity deviation of the tire of the wheel, read at a plurality of predetermined angular positions along the entire outer perimeter of the rim and of the tire; a processing phase of the total radial eccentricity deviation values of the wheel, starting with the radial eccentricity deviations of the rim and of the tire read and according to the angular coupling positions between the rim and the tire; a definition phase for defining a geometric irregularity index of the wheel, determined according to the total radial eccentricity deviation values of the wheel and according to the angular coupling position between the rim and the tire; a determination phase for determining an optimal coupling angular position between the tire and the rim, selected among all the possible angular coupling pos
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sicam S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Montanari, Andrea Matteucci
  • Patent number: 7775108
    Abstract: The upgraded balancing machine for vehicle wheels comprise a supporting frame for gripping and rotation means for gripping and rotating a wheel to be balanced around a rotation axis, a first sensor for detecting the unbalance of the wheel with respect to the rotation axis suitable for generating a first analog signal, a second sensor for detecting at least one portion of the profile of the wheel suitable for generating a second analog signal, at least one analog to digital converter associated with at least one of the first and the second detection sensors and suitable for converting at least one of the first and the second analog signals into a corresponding digital signal, a processing and control unit associated with the conversion device and suitable for processing the digital signal, and an adjustment unit for adjusting the sampling frequency of at least one of the first and the second analog signals associated with the conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: SICAM S.r.l.
    Inventor: Marco Montanari
  • Patent number: 7594437
    Abstract: A machine for balancing vehicle wheels, such wheels including a rim with a pair of axially spaced, ring-shaped or annular, flanges, and a tire seated up on the rim. The machine includes a frame with motor driven devices for gripping the vehicle wheel to be balanced and rotating same about a horizontal axis. A mechanical feeler, or probe, determines the position of the first of the pair of , flanges on the rim. A contact-less, or remotely spaced, sensor, such as a laser, ascertains the profile of the tire by taking a series of discrete measurements without touching the tire. The mechanical feeler, or probe, and the contact-less sensor, are connected to a control unit in the machine. The control unit interpolates the values provided by the mechanical feeler and the contact-less sensor, and determines the location of the second flange on the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Matteucci, Marco Montanari, Roberto Nicolini
  • Patent number: 7337664
    Abstract: Lifting device for fitting vehicle wheels on wheel balancers, comprising a support platform for at least one vehicle wheel to be fitted on/removed from the substantially horizontal balancing shaft of a wheel balancer, a jack for lifting or elevating said platform, and grooves and side appendices on said platform that enable the platform to slide relative to a base in a substantially parallel direction to said balancing shaft, a first and second jaw on said platform, and an actuator for translating one jaw relative to the other jaw, so that the jaws engage opposite sides of the vehicle wheel and retain same in a vertical orientation on the support platform. The actuator is located below the support platform, and is connected to one of the jaws by a bracket which passes through a slot in the support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sicam S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Matteucci, Davide Ruspagggiari, Alessandro Gilocchi
  • Patent number: D764556
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SICAM S.R.L.
    Inventors: Dressler Bjoern, Davide Ruspaggiari, Marco Vescovini