Patents by Inventor Steve Molbach

Steve Molbach 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).

  • Patent number: 9731566
    Abstract: A tire changer with a controller includes a with a mount assembly adapted for contacting a wheel assembly to mount the wheel to a rotating spindle. The tire changer controller is configured to regulate the operation of a motor, and which is operatively connected to the rotating spindle to rotate the wheel assembly. A sensor coupled to the controller provides a data representative of the rotational position of the wheel assembly about a rotational axis. The controller is further configured to engage a load roller with the wheel assembly to apply a radial force to a tire mounted on a rim of the wheel assembly during rotation of the wheel, and to regulate the operation of a tire handling means and mount assembly, enabling identification, optional marking, and adjustment of the tire angular mounting position relative to the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: David A. Voeller, Douglas S. Hanneken, Steve Molbach, Joel Clasquin, Michael D. Gerdes
  • Patent number: 9662945
    Abstract: A robotic tire changing machine having a processing system is configured with software instructions to carry out the procedures for tire mounting and demounting, and with software instructions to detect and respond to abnormal operating conditions during a tire mounting or demounting procedure. A specific response to the detection of an abnormal operating condition by the processing system is guided by the software instructions and is associated with the particular state in which the tire changing machine is in and/or the current step of an ongoing tire mounting or demounting procedure. The specific responses may include, but are not limited to, providing a prompt or instruction to an operator, providing a warning to an operator, carrying out one or more additional procedural steps, suspending operations to await an operator action, or limiting movement of articulated components during the tire mounting or demounting procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steve Molbach, Joel A. Clasquin, Jeffrey P. Talbott
  • Publication number: 20150096692
    Abstract: A robotic tire changing machine having a processing system is configured with software instructions to carry out the procedures for tire mounting and demounting, and with software instructions to detect and respond to abnormal operating conditions during a tire mounting or demounting procedure. A specific response to the detection of an abnormal operating condition by the processing system is guided by the software instructions and is associated with the particular state in which the tire changing machine is in and/or the current step of an ongoing tire mounting or demounting procedure. The specific responses may include, but are not limited to, providing a prompt or instruction to an operator, providing a warning to an operator, carrying out one or more additional procedural steps, suspending operations to await an operator action, or limiting movement of articulated components during the tire mounting or demounting procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Steve Molbach, Joel A. Clasquin, Jeffrey P. Talbott
  • Patent number: 8904863
    Abstract: A tire changer with a controller includes a with a mount assembly adapted for contacting a wheel assembly to mount the wheel to a rotating spindle. The tire changer controller is configured to regulate the operation of a motor which is operatively connected to the rotating spindle to rotate the wheel assembly. A sensor coupled to the controller provides a data representative of the rotational position of the wheel assembly about a rotational axis. The controller is further configured to regulate the operation of a hydraulic actuating means for engaging a load roller with the wheel assembly to apply a radial force to a tire mounted on a rim of the wheel assembly during rotation of the wheel, and to regulate the operation of a tire handling means and mount assembly, enabling identification, marking, and adjustment of the tire angular mounting position relative to the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: David A. Voeller, Douglas S. Hanneken, Steve Molbach, Joel Clasquin, Michael D. Gerdes
  • Patent number: 8250915
    Abstract: A tire changer with a controller includes a with a mount assembly adapted for contacting a wheel assembly to mount the wheel to a rotating spindle. The tire changer controller is configured to regulated the operation of a motor, which may be hydraulically driven, and which is operatively connected to the rotating spindle to rotate the wheel assembly. A sensor coupled to the controller provides a data representative of the rotational position of the wheel assembly about a rotational axis. The controller is further configured to regulate the operation of a hydraulic actuating means for engaging a load roller with the wheel assembly to apply a radial force to a tire mounted on a rim of the wheel assembly during rotation of the wheel, and to regulate the operation of a tire handling means adapted to hold the tire during rotation of the wheel rim enabling automated adjustment of the tire angular mounting position relative to the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: David A. Voeller, Douglas S. Hanneken, Steve Molbach, Joel Clasquin, Michael D. Gerdes