Patents by Inventor Fabio REGOLI

Fabio REGOLI has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250018671
    Abstract: A method for checking tyres includes: arranging, at a checking device, a finished tyre that was moulded in a mould, and providing comparison data inclusive of a drawing of the mould and supplementary data. The method also includes: activating one or more detection devices to obtain a graphic representation of at least one sidewall of the finished tyre; activating a processing unit to perform a comparison between symbols included in the graphic representation and symbols defined by the comparison data; and generating, by the processing unit, a notification signal representative of a result of the comparison. A tyre checking apparatus is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Fabio REGOLI, Davide Abramo CONTI, Stefano MONTI, Alessandro HELD, Lorenzo ROBERTI
  • Patent number: 11402299
    Abstract: Method for setting up a tyre checking apparatus, said apparatus (1) comprising at least: a support base (34) for a tyre (2); a first acquisition device (430) and a second acquisition device (43a) for acquiring images representative of said tyre (2) positioned on said support base (34); a first robotic member (40a) for moving said second acquisition device (43a). Said method comprises: providing a setup device (100) comprising: a first wall (110) having first predefined shapes (F1); a second wall (120) having second predefined shapes (F2), said second wall (120) being substantially parallel and non-coplanar to said first wall (110); a top surface (130); a central reference (140) arranged on said top surface (130). Said method also comprises: executing at least one of a first set-up and a second set-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Boffa, Maurizio Marchini, Fabio Regoli, Stefano Boracco, Marco Cantu', Valeriano Ballardini, Stefano Monti
  • Patent number: 11370187
    Abstract: A station for checking the formation of beads of tyres, including: a forming drum for arranging a carcass sleeve with formed beads with the carcass sleeve in rotation, an image acquisition system for acquiring at least an image of a circumferential portion of external surface including the respective edges of the end flaps turned up; a processing unit for processing the image in order to determine a circumferential trend of the axial distance of each edge from an axial reference plane and for detecting possible defects of the beads as a function of such trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Erika Vaniglia, Fabio Regoli, Stefano Boracco, Davide Conti
  • Patent number: 11346792
    Abstract: An apparatus for checking tyres has at least one check unit at least two consecutively placed check stations defining a check path such that each check station is traversed in one cycle time and by pitches by each tyre to be checked. Each check station includes: a support device for one tyre at a time housed in the respective check station, high-definition image acquisition systems of a surface of the tyre, and movement devices. The high-definition image acquisition systems have systems for acquiring high-definition two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. Only one of the at least two check stations has all the high-definition three-dimensional image acquisition systems of the check unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Boffa, Alessandro Held, Fabio Regoli
  • Patent number: 11215567
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Boffa, Alessandro Held, Fabio Regoli, Valeriano Ballardini, Giuseppe Casadio Tozzi
  • Patent number: 11119008
    Abstract: A method for checking tyres. A shift is determined along an acquisition direction between an acquisition point on a surface of a tyre to be checked and a position occupied by the acquisition point following a rotation of the tyre about its rotation axis. A linear laser beam is projected on a linear portion of surface of the tyre, and propagates in a direction parallel to the acquisition direction. A matrix image of a matrix portion of surface of the tyre containing the linear portion of surface is acquired; the image containing a laser line reflected by the linear portion of surface. A sub-portion of the matrix image is determined as a function of the determined shift, containing the reflected laser line. The sub-portion of the matrix image is then processed to determine an elevation profile of the linear portion of surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cantu′, Fabio Regoli, Vincenzo Boffa, Luca Tersi
  • Publication number: 20210213695
    Abstract: A station for checking the formation of beads of tyres, including: a forming drum for arranging a carcass sleeve with formed beads with the carcass sleeve in rotation, an image acquisition system for acquiring at least an image of a circumferential portion of external surface including the respective edges of the end flaps turned up; a processing unit for processing the image in order to determine a circumferential trend of the axial distance of each edge from an axial reference plane and for detecting possible defects of the beads as a function of such trend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Erika VANIGLIA, Fabio REGOLI, Stefano BORACCO, Davide CONTI
  • Patent number: 11027505
    Abstract: Method for checking the formation of beads of tyres including: arranging a carcass sleeve with formed beads with the carcass sleeve in rotation, acquiring at least an image of a circumferential portion of external surface including the respective edges of the end flaps turned up; processing the image in order to determine a circumferential trend of the axial distance of each edge from an axial reference plane; and detecting possible defects of the beads as a function of such trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Erika Vaniglia, Fabio Regoli, Stefano Boracco, Davide Conti
  • Patent number: 10989628
    Abstract: A checking method and line for checking a tyre for vehicle wheels. The tyre is associated with a model associated with a setting for image acquisition devices. Once the model is obtained, preliminary images of the tyre are acquired, from which at least one adjustment value representative of at least one geometric characteristic of the tyre is obtained. A deviation between the at least one adjustment value and a respective reference value associated with the model is then calculated. The setting associated with the model of tyre is then adjusted based on the calculated deviation and the tyre is then inspected to look for possible production defects by acquiring images of at least part of the surface of the tyre using the image acquisition devices, set according to the adjusted setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Boffa, Marco Cantù, Fabio Regoli, Valeriano Ballardini
  • Publication number: 20210025833
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo BOFFA, Alessandro HELD, Fabio REGOLI, Valeriano BALLARDINI, Giuseppe CASADIO TOZZI
  • Publication number: 20210025785
    Abstract: Method for setting up a tyre checking apparatus, said apparatus (1) comprising at least: a support base (34) for a tyre (2); a first acquisition device (430) and a second acquisition device (43a) for acquiring images representative of said tyre (2) positioned on said support base (34); a first robotic member (40a) for moving said second acquisition device (43a). Said method comprises: providing a setup device (100) comprising: a first wall (110) having first predefined shapes (F1); a second wall (120) having second predefined shapes (F2), said second wall (120) being substantially parallel and non-coplanar to said first wall (110); a top surface (130); a central reference (140) arranged on said top surface (130). Said method also comprises: executing at least one of a first set-up and a second set-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo BOFFA, Maurizio MARCHINI, Fabio REGOLI, Stefano BORACCO, Marco CANTU', Valeriano BALLARDINI, Stefano MONTI
  • Patent number: 10878558
    Abstract: Method and related apparatus for detecting defects on a surface of a tyre, comprising: providing the tyre (200); acquiring a digital image comprising a structure comprising sections representative of linear elements of a pattern in a surface portion and representative of possible elongated defects, said sections of the structure having a respective orientation; providing a model of the pattern in the surface portion, wherein each pixel is associated with a first index representative of whether the pixel belongs or not to a pattern section and a second index representative of an at least local orientation of the pattern section passing through said pixel; calculating for each pixel of the structure a third index representative of the orientation of the structure section passing through said pixel; and establishing, for each pixel of the structure having a corresponding pixel in the pattern model belonging to the pattern, whether said pixel of the structure belongs to a proposed defect on the basis of the compa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Ghidotti Piovan, Valeriano Ballardini, Vincenzo Boffa, Fabio Regoli, Luigi Di Stefano
  • Publication number: 20200400590
    Abstract: An apparatus for checking tyres has at least one check unit at least two consecutively placed check stations defining a check path such that each check station is traversed in one cycle time and by pitches by each tyre to be checked. Each check station includes: a support device for one tyre at a time housed in the respective check station, high-definition image acquisition systems of a surface of the tyre, and movement devices. The high-definition image acquisition systems have systems for acquiring high-definition two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. Only one of the at least two check stations has all the high-definition three-dimensional image acquisition systems of the check unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Vincenzo BOFFA, Alessandro HELD, Fabio REGOLI
  • Patent number: 10845271
    Abstract: Method and related apparatus for analysing a surface of a tyre, includes: acquiring one or more digital images of a surface portion having a pattern that includes a scheme that is repeated substantially equal thereto in a plurality of positions; identifying a plurality of first regions of said one or more digital images, each corresponding to a respective scheme sub-portion; identifying a respective plurality of regions homologous to each first region, wherein the respective scheme sub-portion is substantially identical to the respective scheme sub-portion of each first region; calculating a model of the respective scheme sub-portion, where each pixel is associated with a mean value of the values associated with the pixels of each first region and of the respective homologous regions having the same relative coordinates of said each pixel; and obtaining a pattern model using the calculated scheme sub-portion models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Ghidotti Piovan, Valeriano Ballardini, Vincenzo Boffa, Fabio Regoli, Luigi Di Stefano
  • Patent number: 10837920
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Boffa, Alessandro Held, Fabio Regoli, Valeriano Ballardini, Giuseppe Casadio Tozzi
  • Patent number: 10837868
    Abstract: Method for setting up a tyre checking apparatus, said apparatus (1) comprising at least: a support base (34) for a tyre (2) a first acquisition device (430) and a second acquisition device (43a) for acquiring images representative of said tyre (2) positioned on said support base (34); a first robotic member (40a) for moving said second acquisition device (43a). Said method comprises: providing a setup device (100) comprising: a first wall (110) having first predefined shapes (F1); a second wall (120) having second predefined shapes (F2), said second wall (120) being substantially parallel and non-coplanar to said first wall (110); a top surface (130); a central reference (140) arranged on said top surface (130). Said method also comprises: executing at least one of a first set-up and a second set-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Boffa, Maurizio Marchini, Fabio Regoli, Stefano Boracco, Marco Cantu', Valeriano Ballardini, Stefano Monti
  • Patent number: 10775273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and line for checking a tyre (2) for vehicle wheels in which it is provided to determine whether the tyre (2) is made according to a known model among a plurality of known models. If the tyre (2) is made according to a known model, the tyre (2) is inspected to search for any manufacturing defects by acquiring data representative of at least part of the surface of the tyre (2) through a set of image acquisition devices (282) set according to a setting associated with the known model of the tyre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Boffa, Marco Cantu', Fabio Regoli, Valeriano Ballardini
  • Patent number: 10670497
    Abstract: Device and method for analysis of tyres are presented. The device includes a support frame, a flange, and first/second image acquisition systems. According to one aspect, the first acquisition system is two-dimensional and includes a first camera having a first optical axis, a first focal plane, a first focal point, and a first depth of field, and a first illumination system that illuminates around the first focal point. According to another aspect, the second image acquisition system is three-dimensional and includes a second camera having a second optical axis, a second focal plane, and a second depth of field, and a second illumination system. A translation plane, substantially orthogonal to the first optical axis, is defined by the first focal point, and an intersection between the second optical axis and the second depth of field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A
    Inventors: Alessandro Held, Vincenzo Boffa, Fabio Regoli, Valeriano Ballardini, Giuseppe Casadio Tozzi
  • Publication number: 20200072704
    Abstract: A method for checking tyres. A shift is determined along an acquisition direction between an acquisition point on a surface of a tyre to be checked and a position occupied by the acquisition point following a rotation of the tyre about its rotation axis. A linear laser beam is projected on a linear portion of surface of the tyre, and propagates in a direction parallel to the acquisition direction. A matrix image of a matrix portion of surface of the tyre containing the linear portion of surface is acquired; the image containing a laser line reflected by the linear portion of surface. A sub-portion of the matrix image is determined as a function of the determined shift, containing the reflected laser line. The sub-portion of the matrix image is then processed to determine an elevation profile of the linear portion of surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Marco CANTU', Fabio REGOLI, Vincenzo BOFFA, Luca TERSI
  • Publication number: 20190318466
    Abstract: Method and related apparatus for detecting defects on a surface of a tyre, comprising: providing the tyre (200); acquiring a digital image comprising a structure comprising sections representative of linear elements of a pattern in a surface portion and representative of possible elongated defects, said sections of the structure having a respective orientation; providing a model of the pattern in the surface portion, wherein each pixel is associated with a first index representative of whether the pixel belongs or not to a pattern section and a second index representative of an at least local orientation of the pattern section passing through said pixel; calculating for each pixel of the structure a third index representative of the orientation of the structure section passing through said pixel; and establishing, for each pixel of the structure having a corresponding pixel in the pattern model belonging to the pattern, whether said pixel of the structure belongs to a proposed defect on the basis of the compa
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro GHIDOTTI PIOVAN, Valeriano BALLARDINI, Vincenzo BOFFA, Fabio REGOLI, Luigi DI STEFANO