Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a tire tread of a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire configured to perform the steps of: (1) emitting an electromagnetic radiation towards the tread of the tire, (2) receiving a reflected electromagnetic radiation from said tread of the tire in response to the emitted radiation, (3) processing the reflected radiation to obtain height data including respective heights of a plurality of points located on the tread of the tire, (4) repeating the steps (1) to (3) in successive time intervals within which the vehicle wheel has driven a predetermined distance, and storing the respective height data, particularly average values of the height data, each in dependence of the driven distance, and (5) deriving from the succession of the stored height data a residual mileage of the tire.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a wheel diagnosis system (DS) for diagnosing a wheel (12) under test mounted to a vehicle and including at least a rim (18) and a tire (13). The wheel diagnosis system comprises a plurality of sensing units (1, 2, 3) being adapted for scanning predetermined surfaces of the wheel under test when the wheel under test is rotated, a supporting unit (5) to which the plurality of sensing units is mounted. Specifically, the supporting unit is freely movable relative to the wheel under test, and the sensing units are located at different positions on the supporting unit for scanning different portions of the predetermined surfaces of the wheel under test and collecting data of the operation result when the supporting unit is placed at the wheel under test at a predetermined scanning position. The present invention further refers to a method of diagnosing the condition of the wheel under test mounted to a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a scanner system for scanning the surface of an object, especially a vehicle wheel, the system comprises a mobile scanner including at least one sensor adapted to sense at least one position on the surface of the object and a reference system to which the sensor is sensitively adapted to provide at least one sensor signal corresponding the at least one sensed position on the surface with respect to the reference system, wherein the reference system is designed to provide a magnetic field having at least one orientation and the sensor is a magnetic sensor to be positioned within said magnetic field in proximity of or on the surface to be scanned.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining geometrical dimensions of a wheel, especially a vehicle wheel, or of at least a part of the wheel, comprising the steps of pivoting at least one sensing device for scanning the wheel surface or a part of the wheel surface about a pivot axis in plane perpendicular to the wheel axis and determining the geometrical dimensions of the scanned wheel surface in dependence from the angular position of the at least one sensing device, wherein the angular position is determined from measured accelerations of the sensing device in two predetermined directions during the pivotal movement of the sensing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mounting a tyre on a rim or demounting a tyre from a rim, wherein the wheel (tyre/rim assembly) is rotated by an electric motor (12) about an axis (A), wherein the motor current fed to the electric motor (12) is controlled dependent on the rotational speed and torque required for the mounting and/or demounting operation, and wherein the motor current is automatically changed to apply a high torque peak, when the measured motor current is greater than a preset limit at a low rotational speed during a preset time.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for mounting a tyre on a rim to form a motor vehicle wheel and for demounting a tyre from a rim with at least one fitting or removal tool, wherein images of the wheel (14) or the rim (12) are created by a vision system (21) and corresponding signals are sent to a computer (18; 28), wherein commands to move the at least one fitting or removal tool (16) are sent to the at least one fitting or removal tool (16) by the computer (18; 30), wherein the signals of the vision system (21) and the commands sent to the at least one fitting or removal tool (16) are correlated to define the position of the at least one fitting or removal tool relative to the rim contour and wherein the movement of the at least one fitting or removal tool (16) is guided in dependence on the performed correlation without contacting the rim surface. Furthermore, the invention concerns an apparatus for mounting a tyre on a rim to form a motor vehicle wheel and for demounting a tyre from a rim.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed for hidden spokes placement of balancing weights on a wheel, having a hub, a rim and the hub and the rim being connected by several spokes, comprising determination of spoke configuration data. Now, it is possible to analyze spoke configuration and width of the spokes in details, enabling the weight splitting behind spokes even if spokes are forked, oblique, not equidistant, or they have different dimension.

Abstract: A method and a wheel balancer for balancing a vehicle wheel, comprising: predetermining, dependent from the type of the vehicle wheel, axial positions for positioning at least a single correction weight on the wheel surface, predetermining, dependent from the vehicle type, thresholds for the residual static and dynamic imbalances; obtaining imbalance data for the vehicle wheel during a measuring run; calculating from the imbalance data the respective mass and angular position of a correction weight each in one of the predetermined axial positions on the vehicle wheel; comparing each of the predetermined static and dynamic residual imbalances with the achieved static and dynamic residual imbalances, when the calculated respective correction mass is placed by simulation in one of the axial position in the different angular positions; and placing the single correction weight with the calculated mass in the calculated angular position in that axial position in which the residual imbalances are within the prede

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a wheel diagnosis system (DS) for diagnosing a wheel (12) under test mounted to a vehicle and including at least a rim (18) and a tire (13). The wheel diagnosis system comprises a plurality of sensing units (1, 2, 3) being adapted for scanning predetermined surfaces of the wheel under test when the wheel under test is rotated, a supporting unit (5) to which the plurality of sensing units is mounted. Specifically, the supporting unit is freely movable relative to the wheel under test, and the sensing units are located at different positions on the supporting unit for scanning different portions of the predetermined surfaces of the wheel under test and collecting data of the operation result when the supporting unit is placed at the wheel under test at a predetermined scanning position. The present invention further refers to a method of diagnosing the condition of the wheel under test mounted to a vehicle.

Abstract: An alignment measuring apparatus for 3D contactless measuring alignment of a wheel of an automotive vehicle, a system formed by several apparatuses for a total wheel alignment of all wheels of an automotive vehicle, and a respective method for carrying out 3D contactless wheel alignment in real time. The several embodiments provide a comprehensive diagnosis tool for the alignment operation of vehicle wheels by contactless scanning, in particular a real time measuring for total wheel alignment, and enable a respective hassle-free adjustment operation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of determining geometrical dimensions of a motor vehicle wheel (rim/tyre assembly) 1 by contact-less sensing, wherein the wheel is fixed on wheel receiving means 8 of a tyre changer, that at least one planar light beam 3 is emitted on to the wheel or at least a part of the wheel, wherein the light beam reflected at the impingement area is detected, and wherein the directions of the emitted and reflected light beams are evaluated for determining the shape and/or position of the respective impingement area 4 on the wheel 1.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring forces which are produced by an unbalance of a rotary member 8, comprising support means 3 for supporting the rotary member 8 rotatably about its axis 1 and having at least one measurement sensor 4 placed at a vibratory location of the support means 3, wherein the at least one measurement sensor 4 is designed to measure vibratory accelerations of the location at which the measurement sensor 4 is placed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a tire tread of a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire configured to perform the steps of: (1) emitting an electromagnetic radiation towards the tread of the tire, (2) receiving a reflected electromagnetic radiation from said tread of the tire in response to the emitted radiation, (3) processing the reflected radiation to obtain height data including respective heights of a plurality of points located on the tread of the tire, (4) repeating the steps (1) to (3) in successive time intervals within which the vehicle wheel has driven a predetermined distance, and storing the respective height data, particularly average values of the height data, each in dependence of the driven distance, and (5) deriving from the succession of the stored height data a residual mileage of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a parameter detection system for detecting in a non-mechanical manner at least one parameter of an object (1) to be examined. The parameter detection system includes a mounting device (2) for holding the object, and a mobile unit (14) which is freely movable and adapted for indicating a position on the object. A sensing means is provided for sensing the position on the object indicated by the mobile unit and for outputting corresponding detection signals indicative of the sensed position. A calculation means (13) is provided for calculating the at least one parameter from the position on object based on the detection signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network system for automotive shops including at least one computer-aided automotive shop machine and a respective computer network, wherein the computer-aided machine is connected to the computer network by communicating by transmitting information signals on a power supply line. Further, the invention relates to a machine for an automotive shop with a computer and communication means configured to communicate by transmission of information signals on a power supply line to at least one peripheral functionality over a communication line.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for optically scanning the tread surface of a pneumatic tire 10 which for forming a vehicle wheel 1 is mounted on a disc wheel 5, wherein measurement data are obtained along a plurality of peripheral lines by light beam scanning, said data corresponding to the spacings of the impingement points of the light beams on the tread surface from a reference position, wherein associated first or higher harmonics for quality classification of the rotational truth of the vehicle wheel are formed in a computer-aided evaluation apparatus 9 from the measurement data along the respective peripheral lines.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of determining geometrical dimensions of a motor vehicle wheel (rim/tyre assembly) 1 by contact-less sensing, wherein the wheel is fixed on wheel receiving means 8 of a tyre changer, that at least one planar light beam 3 is emitted on to the wheel or at least a part of the wheel, wherein the light beam reflected at the impingement area is detected, and wherein the directions of the emitted and reflected light beams are evaluated for determining the shape and/or position of the respective impingement area 4 on the wheel 1.

Abstract: A method of balancing a vehicle wheel in which to calculate the respective balancing masses permissible mass deviations (tolerances) for dynamic balancing are greater than the permissible mass deviation (tolerance) for static balancing. The measuring run is stopped when the calculated balancing masses lie within the predetermined tolerances (FIGURE).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically scanning a pneumatic tire of a vehicle wheel that is rotatably mounted on a measuring shaft of a wheel balancing machine. A light source, such as a laser beam source, is provided to emit at least one light beam onto the surface of the pneumatic tire, which is reflected by the surface and received by a receiver. In response, the receiver produces position signals based on the impingement point of the reflected beam for evaluation by a computer-aided evaluation device. Rotary angle signals representing the rotational angle of the wheel are supplied to the computer-aided evaluation device by a rotary angle sensor. The computer-aided evaluation device determines dimensions and positions of the pneumatic tire or its constituent parts based on the positional signals and the rotary angle signals.

Abstract: An update/upgrade concept which regards a convenient procedure for making updates or upgrades of control software and/or configuration data available to microcontroller-based hardware of machine units in the field without requirement of special tools and experience. In particular, by use of a standard memory device as known in the field of digital cameras, mp3-players whatsoever, together with a procedure which detects an available update/upgrade stored on such memory device and performs a respective download of the update/upgrade data to the respective microcontroller-based hardware, if applicable. An additional or optional aspect relates to collecting of operational data during operation of a machine unit in the field, which operational data can be transferred/carried back to the manufacturer of the machine unit for research and development purposes as well as for quality control, also a tracking of machine units through their lifetime is made possible thereby.