DE102022127299A1 - Tool, system and method for mounting a tire valve on a rim - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a tool for mounting a tire valve on a rim, wherein a first holding element for receiving a threaded sleeve of a valve body and a second holding element for receiving a nut are arranged on the tool along a common axis, wherein the first holding element and the second holding element are arranged to be movable with respect to their distance from one another and wherein the tool further comprises an actuator connected to the second holding element for transmitting a torque to the second holding element. The invention further relates to a method for mounting a tire valve on a rim using a tool according to the invention.

Description

The invention relates to a tool, a system and a method for mounting a tire valve on a rim, which in particular make it possible to mount the tire valve on the rim in an automated manner.

Placing a valve in the opening provided for it in a rim requires positioning the valve stem/valve body in the opening, placing some washers and screwing the lock nut from the other side. When manufacturing new car wheels, these processes are usually carried out manually on a production line. There are approaches to automation, but these are complex and expensive to implement, which is why this step remains semi-automatic at most, with a hand-held tool being used to screw the valve.

The EP 1 405 690 A1 describes an apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of a motor vehicle wheel. The apparatus includes rims fed in series by a conveyor belt to a measuring station where the type and/or size of the rim and the location and orientation of an opening for receiving the valve stem are determined by a machine vision system. An electronic control system instructs a robotic manipulator to grasp the valve stem, move the valve stem to an assembly station, position the valve stem with respect to the rim such that the opening in the rim is coaxially aligned with the valve stem, and insert the valve stem through the opening in the rim. If necessary, a nut is tightened over the valve stem using a power nut driver mounted on the robotic manipulator or adjacent to the assembly station. The machine vision system is thereby programmed to recognize certain features of the rim that identify the rim as an example of one of a variety of pre-programmed rim types and sizes.

In the US 2008 301 923 A1 describes a valve stem installation system that includes a conveyor for moving wheel rims. A detector is compatible with the conveyor to detect the size of the wheel rim and the location of an opening in the wheel rim for receiving various valve stems. Two robots can advance the valve stems to the wheel rim. A controller communicates with the robots and the detector to receive a signal from the detector when the detector identifies the configuration of the wheel rim and then transmit the signal to the robots, thereby instructing the robots to selectively detect the valve stem to be inserted into the opening. An insertion tool is connected to each robot to selectively engage the valve stem to interchangeably move and insert the valve stem into the opening in response to the signal received by the robot from the controller.

The EP 2 399 763 B1 discloses an apparatus for assembling a tire and a wheel. The apparatus includes a single cell work station having a device that holds a wheel and a plurality of substations. The apparatus moves the wheel to each of the plurality of substations without releasing the wheel to assemble a tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.

The state-of-the-art solutions are based on the assumption that identical movement sequences are completed in very large numbers, so that the complex programming of the movement plan is worthwhile due to the subsequent high level of efficiency and precision.

Car dealerships, workshops and service providers who process different models of tires for their customers every day, as well as vehicle manufacturers and/or original equipment manufacturers, have to do the valve inserting job by hand. Manual errors often make rework necessary, for example if the tightening torque of the nut is not always checked. The quality of the work suffers from the very monotonous task, which sometimes leaves injured or scarred fingertips, as the valve is held in place with the finger and high pressure.

The invention is based on the object of providing a solution for mounting a tire valve on a rim, which offers flexibility and the possibility of automation.

The object is achieved in terms of the device by the features of independent patent claims 1 and 7 and in terms of the method by the features of independent patent claim 9. Further expedient embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims.

To solve this problem, a tool for mounting a tire valve on a rim is proposed, wherein a first holding element for receiving a threaded sleeve of a valve body and a second holding element for receiving a nut are arranged on the tool along a common axis. A valve body in the sense of the invention has a threaded sleeve and a The tool is thus designed to receive the threaded sleeve and the nut in an opposing linear arrangement, wherein it can be provided that the second holding element is designed to simultaneously receive the nut and at least one washer.

According to the invention, the first holding element and the second holding element are arranged so that they are movable with respect to their distance from one another. According to the invention, the tool also has an actuator connected to the second holding element for transmitting a torque to the second holding element.

The tool according to the invention can be designed as an attachment for a robot arm and/or as a robot end effector.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first holding element and/or the second holding element can be moved along the common axis. In particular, it can be provided that the two holding elements are pneumatically movable along the common axis.

It is also conceivable that the two holding elements can be moved via a hydraulic drive or an electric drive.

It can further be provided that the two holding elements are movable independently of each other along the common axis.

The first and/or the second holding element is/are designed such that a threaded sleeve and/or a nut and/or a washer is received in a form-fitting manner.

It can be provided that the first and/or the second holding element is/are designed in the manner of a gripper. The first and/or the second holding element can have two opposing gripping arms which can be bent radially outwards and, when springing back, engage in a groove arranged on the threaded sleeve and/or the nut to be gripped, whereby the threaded sleeve and/or the nut is/are gripped or picked up with or without a washer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first holding element and/or the second holding element is/are releasably attached to the tool.

The holding elements can be formed by a rapid prototyping process or in the form of a 3D print. This means that the holding elements can advantageously be easily adapted to different types of threaded sleeves and/or nuts, which increases the flexibility of the tool according to the invention, especially when the holding elements are detachably attached to the tool.

It can be provided that the actuator is current controlled.

Advantageously, the actuator connected to the second holding element is a geared motor, preferably an electric motor. It is particularly conceivable that the actuator is a DC geared motor.

The actuator can apply a required torque, for example a torque of 5 Newton meters, to screw a nut received by the second holding element to a threaded sleeve received by the first holding element.

The tool can be designed as a robot end effector on a robot arm and have a control system that is integrated into the existing control system of the robot arm. Alternatively, the control of the tool can be integrated via a suitable control system, for example via a programmable logic controller (PLC) or via a microcontroller (for example an Arduino).

To connect to an external control unit, several digital outputs and several digital inputs can be arranged on the tool. Alternatively, an arrangement of analog inputs and analog outputs is possible.

It can further be provided that the tool according to the invention has a connection point for connection to different adapters, which in turn enables the tool to be attached to different robot arms.

The object is further achieved by a system for mounting a tire valve on a rim, comprising a movable robot arm, a wheel attachment and a robot end effector which is designed as a tool according to the invention.

It can be provided that the wheel attachment is mounted so that it can rotate. This can advantageously save working space.

If the wheel mount is not rotatable, it is intended that the robot End effector can move around the wheel mount.

Advantageously, the system according to the invention further comprises at least one controller for controlling the tool. This can be integrated into the control of the robot arm or can be integrated separately via a suitable controller, for example via a programmable logic controller (PLC) or via a microcontroller (for example an Arduino).

The robot end effector is designed to be moved by the robot arm to the action point of a rim attached to the rotatable wheel attachment.

1. a. Ausrichten einer durch das erste Halteelement aufgenommenen Gewindehülse eines Ventilkörpers und einer durch das zweite Halteelement aufgenommenen Mutter entlang einer Achse einer Durchgangsbohrung der Felge, wobei die Achse durch den Mittelpunkt der Durchgangsbohrung verläuft,
2. b. Positionieren der Gewindehülse in der Durchgangsbohrung,
3. c. Ansteuern des zweiten Halteelementes durch den Aktuator zum Positionieren der Mutter auf der Gewindehülse, und
4. d. Ansteuern des zweiten Halteelementes durch den Aktuator zum Aufschrauben der Mutter auf der Gewindehülse.

The object is further achieved by a method for mounting a tire valve on a rim with a tool according to the invention, comprising the steps

1. a. Aligning a threaded sleeve of a valve body received by the first retaining element and a nut received by the second retaining element along an axis of a through hole of the rim, the axis passing through the center of the through hole,
2. b. Positioning the threaded sleeve in the through hole,
3. c. Controlling the second holding element by the actuator to position the nut on the threaded sleeve, and
4. d. Control of the second holding element by the actuator to screw the nut onto the threaded sleeve.

The alignment of the first and the second holding element along the through-hole is carried out in particular in such a way that the two holding elements are positioned on both sides of the through-hole, i.e. on the two opposite sides of the through-hole.

The first holding element and/or the second holding element is/are then set in a linear movement along the axis, which results in a reduction in the distance between the first and the second holding element. The threaded sleeve is positioned in the through hole and released by the geometric shape of the gripping arms due to the pressure between the gripping arm and the rim and the nut (with washer if necessary) is moved in the direction of the threaded sleeve.

To position the nut on the threaded sleeve, the actuator preferably rotates the nut anti-clockwise by a maximum of three-quarters of a turn. This causes the nut to be threaded onto the threaded sleeve.

To screw the nut onto the threaded sleeve, the actuator causes the nut to rotate clockwise until a predefined torque is reached.

After the tire valve has been installed, the first and/or the second retaining element can be removed again along the axis from the through hole, whereby the positive connection of the first retaining element to the threaded sleeve is released when the first retaining element moves into the through hole.

Tire valves which can be mounted with the tool according to the invention and/or the system according to the invention and/or the method according to the invention can be, for example, standard Schrader valves and/or TPMS valves (tire pressure monitoring system valves) and/or rubber valves.

The invention advantageously offers a cost-effective solution for the automated assembly of a tire valve on a rim with consistent quality. The possibility of automation also enables personnel savings.

• 1: eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Werkzeuges; und
• 2: eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems.

The invention is explained in more detail below using embodiments and associated drawings.

• 1 : a schematic representation of a tool according to the invention; and
• 2 : a schematic representation of a system according to the invention.

1 shows a schematic representation of a tool 1 according to the invention. A first receiving element 2 for receiving a threaded sleeve G of a valve body and a second receiving element 3 for receiving a nut are arranged on the tool 1. The first holding element 2 and the second holding element 3 are arranged so as to be movable along a common axis L with respect to their distance from one another. For this purpose, the first holding element 2 and the second holding element 3 are arranged so as to be movable along the common axis L.

The second holding element 3 is connected to an actuator 4, which is designed to transmit a torque to the second holding element 3.

The first holding element 2 has two opposing first gripping arms 2.1, which can be bent radially outwards and, when springing back, engage in a groove arranged on a threaded sleeve G.

The second holding element 3 has two opposing second gripping arms 3.1, which can also be bent radially outwards and which each have a groove 3.2 into which a nut with washer (both not shown) can be received when springing back.

2 shows a schematic representation of a system according to the invention for mounting a tire valve on a rim F, wherein on a (in 2 not shown) robot arm, a tool 1 according to the invention is designed as a robot end effector. Also part of the system according to the invention is a (in 2 Wheel mounting (not shown) to which the rim F is attached.

The rim F has a through hole F1 in which a tire valve is to be mounted. For this purpose, the tool 1 according to the invention is aligned by the robot arm in such a way that a threaded sleeve G of a valve body received by the first holding element 2 and a nut and washer received by the second holding element 3 are arranged along an axis A of the through hole F1 of the rim F, wherein the axis A runs through the center of the through hole F1. 1 Following this alignment, the common axis L of the first holding element 2 and the second holding element 3 described above is identical or almost identical to the axis A of the through hole F1.

By moving the first holding element 2 along the axis L or by a linear movement of the entire robot arm, the threaded sleeve G received by the first holding element 2 is positioned in the through hole F1.

The second holding element 3 is also set in a linear movement along the axis L and is then controlled by the actuator 4 as described above in such a way that a nut received by the second holding element 3 together with the received washer is positioned on the threaded sleeve G and the nut is screwed onto the threaded sleeve G.

List of reference symbols

1

inventive tool

2

first holding element

2.1

first gripping arms

3

second holding element

3.1

second gripping arms

3.2

Groove

4

Actuator

A

Axis along the through hole F1

F

rim

F1

Through hole of the rim

G

Threaded sleeve

L

common axis of first and second holding element

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely to provide the reader with better information. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1405690 A1 [0003]
• US 2008301923 A1 [0004]
• EP 2399763 B1 [0005]

Claims (11)

Tool (1) for mounting a tire valve on a rim (F), wherein a first holding element (2) for receiving a threaded sleeve (G) of a valve body and a second holding element (3) for receiving a nut are arranged on the tool along a common axis (L), wherein the first holding element (2) and the second holding element (3) are arranged to be movable with respect to their distance from one another and wherein the tool further comprises an actuator (4) connected to the second holding element (3) for transmitting a torque to the second holding element (3). Tool after Claim 1 , wherein the first holding element (2) and/or the second holding element (3) is/are movable along the common axis (L). Tool after Claim 2 , wherein the two holding elements (2, 3) are movable independently of one another along the common axis (L). Tool according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the first holding element (2) and/or the second holding element (3) is/are designed in the manner of a gripper. Tool according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the first holding element (2) and/or the second holding element (3) is/are detachably fastened. Tool according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the actuator (4) is current controlled. System for mounting a tire valve on a rim (F), comprising a movable robot arm, a wheel attachment and a robot end effector which serves as a tool (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 is trained. System according to Claim 7 , whereby the wheel attachment is rotatably mounted. Method for mounting a tire valve on a rim with a tool (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , comprising the steps of a. aligning a threaded sleeve (G) of a valve body received by the first holding element (2) and a nut received by the second holding element (3) along an axis (A) of a through-bore (F1) of the rim (F), wherein the axis (A) runs through the center of the through-bore (F1), b. positioning the threaded sleeve (G) in the through-bore (F1), c. controlling the second holding element (3) by the actuator (4) to position the nut on the threaded sleeve (G), and d. controlling the second holding element (3) by the actuator (4) to screw the nut onto the threaded sleeve (G). Procedure according to Claim 9 , whereby to position the nut on the threaded sleeve (G), the nut is rotated anti-clockwise by a maximum of three-quarters of a turn. Procedure according to Claim 9 or 10 To screw the nut onto the threaded sleeve (G), the nut is rotated clockwise until a predefined torque is reached.

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