DE202017103420U1 - Apparatus for providing a tire with a marker - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for providing a tire with a marker, the device comprising: a receiving device configured to provide a representation of at least a portion of a sidewall of the tire; a controller configured to set a final marking location on the tire using the representation and a predetermined first criterion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of tire markings.

BACKGROUND

DE 20 2005 002 355 U1 discloses a device for laser marking individual automobile tires, in which tires of different types lie on a conveyor belt and are transported through the device without stopping and slip-free, whereby the center positions of the tires moving with the belt are first determined by means of a laser scanner. Thereupon, a pivot bar suspended from an X, Y axis system is positioned over the tire such that the vertical axis of rotation of the pivot bar moves through the system in synchronism with the center of the tire. On the swivel bar, a light section sensor is mounted, is picked up by pivoting the arm, the relief structure of the sidewall of the tire as height profile and compared with reference profiles. This will identify the type of tire and set the marking point. The marker laser is also located on the pivot bar and is aligned with the marker. After the mark is burnt in by the laser, the light section sensor is swept over the mark to check it.

DE 20 2005 000 640 U1 discloses a device for individual marking of automobile tires, characterized in that for detecting the type of tire and determining the marking point, a relief structure of the sidewall of the tire is recorded by means of a light section sensor as height profile and compared with a reference profile of the corresponding tire type.

EP 1 636 117 B1 discloses a system for marking a vehicle tire, comprising: a control unit; a first station; a first reading device disposed at the first station for reading a reference position on the tire and transmitting the position to the control unit; a second station; a laser applicator disposed at the second station for applying a mark at a particular location on the tire, characterized in that the system comprises a positioning mechanism which provides alignment between the laser applicator and the tire in response to the reference position on the tire, which has been read by the first reading device, provides for applying the mark at the particular location by the laser applicator.

US 7,295,948 B2 discloses a laser system for marking tires. The laser system has tire information stored in a memory, the tire information having elevation profiles and sidewall templates. The laser system has a station having an image processing system equipped with a light section sensor for measuring the height profile of the tire sidewall, the image processing system being further configured to identify the type and size of tires by comparing the tire information and the height profiles shown in FIG stored in the memory.

SUMMARY

In view of the situation described above, there is a need for a technique that allows creation of a mark in a tire that is reliably readable, such as machine-readable.

This need is taken into account by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

According to the first aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, an apparatus is disclosed, in particular a device for providing a tire with a marker.

According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the apparatus comprises: a pickup device configured to provide a representation (eg, a pictorial representation, a height profile, etc.) of at least a portion of a sidewall of the tire (eg, as part of a tire) positioning step); a controller configured to set a final marking location on the tire using the representation and a predetermined first criterion.

According to a second aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a pair of tires is disclosed.

According to an embodiment of the second aspect, the pair of tires consists of a first tire and a second tire, which coincide in terms of manufacturer, type of tire, tire size and DOT type code and which are in respect of the relative position of the corresponding information on manufacturer, type of tire, tire size and DOT Do not differentiate typecode; wherein (i) the first tire has a first mark and the second tire has a second mark, and wherein, with respect to the corresponding manufacturer information, Tire type, tire size and DOT type code, the relative position of the first mark of the first tire and the relative position of the second mark of the second tire differ by more than 5 mm, but in particular by more than 50 mm; or (ii) at least one of the two tires has two markers, in particular two 2D matrix codes whose information content is at least partially identical (2D matrix code = two-dimensional matrix code, for example a QR code or a Data Matrix Code (DMC)).

According to a third aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a tire is disclosed.

According to one embodiment of the third aspect, the tire has two markings, in particular two 2D matrix codes whose information content is at least partially identical.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a positioning method for determining a (final) marking location for a marker of a tire is disclosed.

According to an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the method comprises: creating a representation of at least a portion of a sidewall of the tire; Define the marker using the representation and a predetermined first criterion.

According to a fifth aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a computer program product is disclosed, particularly in the form of a program element or a computer readable medium containing the program element.

According to an embodiment of the fifth aspect, when the program element is executed on a processor device, the computer program product is arranged to execute a method according to the fourth aspect or an embodiment thereof.

Aspects and embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are based on the idea that information marked on a tire is more reliably readable if the mark is avoided with a feature (hereinafter also referred to as a third feature, such as a colored feature or surface texture). of the tire overlaps. For example, the third feature (eg, a balancing point) may be at a position that changes from tire to tire. This makes it difficult to avoid overlapping of the mark with the further feature. For example, a balancing point of a tire marks the angular position in which the tire is the lightest (or, more rarely, the heaviest). By positioning the valve in the area of the balancing point, a weight necessary for balancing the tire can be reduced.

According to embodiments of the first aspect, the device is configured to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, particularly the embodiments of the first, second, and third embodiments. third, fourth and / or fifth aspect.

According to embodiments of the second aspect, the pair of tires is configured to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, particularly the embodiments of the first, second, third, fourth and / or fifth aspect.

According to embodiments of the third aspect, the tire is configured to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide functionality as required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, particularly the embodiments of the first, second, and third embodiments. third, fourth and / or fifth aspect.

According to embodiments of the fourth aspect, the method is configured to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, particularly the embodiments of the first, second, and third embodiments. third, fourth and / or fifth aspect

According to embodiments of the fifth aspect, the computer program product is configured to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular the embodiments of the first, second, and third embodiments. third, fourth and / or fifth aspect.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the objects disclosed herein will be described, wherein, for example, a Device, a pair of tires, a tire, a method and a computer program product is referred to. It should be emphasized that of course any combination of features of different aspects, embodiments and examples is possible. In particular, some embodiments will be described with reference to a method or computer program product, while other embodiments will be described with reference to an apparatus, a pair of tires, or a tire. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing and following description, claims and drawings that, unless stated otherwise, features of various aspects, embodiments and examples are to be combined and such combinations of features are to be considered as disclosed by this application. For example, even a feature related to a method or a computer program product may be combined with a feature related to a device, a tire or a pair of tires, and vice versa. Further, a feature of an embodiment relating to a device can be combined with a corresponding feature relating to a pair of tires or a tire.

As used herein, reference to a computer program product is intended to be equivalent to reference to a program element and / or a computer readable medium containing a program element for controlling a computer system (processor device) to effect and / or coordinate the execution of one or more of the methods described above.

The program element may be implemented as a computer readable instruction code using any suitable programming language such as, for example, JAVA, C #, etc. and may be stored on a computer readable medium (removable disc, volatile or non-volatile memory, embedded memory / processor Etc.).

The instruction code is operable to program a computer or any other programmable processor device to perform the intended functions. The program element may be available from a network, such as the World Wide Web, from which it can be downloaded.

The objects disclosed herein can be realized by means of a program element or software. However, the objects disclosed herein may also be realized by means of one or more specific electronic circuits or hardware. Furthermore, the articles disclosed herein can also be realized in hybrid form, i. in a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following exemplary description of presently preferred embodiments, to which the invention is not limited. The individual figures of the drawings of this application are merely to be regarded as schematic and not to scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 schematically shows an apparatus according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

2 FIG. 12 shows a tire according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein. FIG.

3 shows the tire 2 with a label generated in the final labeling site.

4 FIG. 12 shows a pair of tires according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein. FIG.

5 FIG. 12 shows a tire according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein. FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed which includes a receptacle configured to provide a representation of at least a portion of a sidewall of the tire. In one embodiment, the illustration is a pictorial representation of the portion of the sidewall of the tire, a height profile of the portion of the sidewall of the tire, or any other representation suitable for implementation of embodiments of the items disclosed herein. The apparatus further comprises, according to one embodiment, a controller configured to set a mark location on the tire using the representation and a predetermined first criterion.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, a method comprises: creating a representation of at least a portion of a sidewall of the tire and determining a mark location using the representation and a predetermined first criterion.

According to one embodiment, the control device is set up in the illustration Predetermined first feature to identify and the first criterion is, for example, a position relative to the predetermined first feature. For example, it can be provided (and the control device can be set up accordingly) that a certain type of tire is assigned a corresponding parameter set, the parameter set containing the position information relative to the predetermined first feature. Identifying the type of tire may be accomplished, for example, by reading a barcode sticker affixed to the tire or by identifying features of the tire, for example in the illustration. In another embodiment, the parameter set includes information (eg, a radius range) where the tire is to search for a predetermined feature (eg, the predetermined first feature). By means of the parameter set, according to one embodiment, a so-called autoteach function can be implemented via which programming of the device (in particular the control device of the device) takes place automatically, depending on the values contained in the parameter set.

In one embodiment, the controller is configured to set a first potential marker location on the tire. Further, in one embodiment, the controller is configured to set a second potential marker location on the tire. To better distinguish the potential labeling sites and the labeling site in which the label is to be labeled, the latter labeling site is also referred to as the final labeling site. If the controller is configured to set two (or more than two, according to another embodiment) potential markers on the tire, in one embodiment, the controller is arranged to set at least one of the potential markers as the final mark using a selection criterion. For example, in one embodiment, the controller is configured to set, using the selection criterion, at least one of the first potential tag location and the second potential tag location as the final tag location.

In one embodiment, the controller is configured to set the second potential tag location using a predetermined second criterion. According to one embodiment, the predetermined second criterion may be defined analogously to the predetermined first criterion. According to one embodiment, the position indication relative to the predetermined first feature is a first position indication and the second criterion is a second position indication relative to the predetermined first feature. In other words, according to one embodiment, the first potential marker location and the second potential marker location may be defined based on the predetermined first feature (as well as, in particular, the first criterion and the second criterion).

In accordance with another embodiment, the control device is configured to identify a predetermined second feature, wherein the second criterion is a second position indication relative to the predetermined second feature. In other words, according to one embodiment, the first potential marker location may be defined based on the predetermined first feature while the second potential marker location is defined based on the predetermined second feature. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to identify the predetermined second feature in the diagram. According to a further embodiment, the control device may be configured to identify the predetermined second feature in a second representation, wherein the second representation may be created by the receiving device or, according to another embodiment, by a further exception device.

In one embodiment, the final marker location is as close as possible to the first feature (or feature). The greater the distance between the final marking site and the feature concerned with respect to which the final marking site has been established, the greater may be inaccuracies in the position of the final marking site. Therefore, it may be advantageous for the feature in question to extend around the final marker location in one embodiment.

According to one embodiment, the mark is a laser mark. According to a further embodiment, the marking is a laser marking produced with a CO2 laser.

In one embodiment, the predetermined (first) feature and / or the predetermined second feature is a reference representation of at least a portion of a reference tire. According to one In one embodiment, the controller is configured to identify the predetermined first feature and / or the predetermined second feature using the reference representation of at least a portion of a reference tire. For example, the control device may be configured to identify in the representation (created by the recording device) the predetermined feature by comparing the representation with the reference representation. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to compensate for distortion of a predetermined feature (eg, the predetermined first feature or the predetermined second feature) by different acquisition directions that underlie the creation of the reference representation and the creation of the representation. In this case, for example, a recording direction may relate in particular to the relative recording direction between recording device and tire surface, more particularly to an angle between the optical axis of the recording device and the tire surface in the region of the predetermined feature. In this way, according to an embodiment, inclination of the sidewall (for example, when the sidewall in a horizontal position of the tire due to gravity is incident at the location of the predetermined feature) can also be compensated.

According to a further embodiment, the predetermined (first) feature and / or the predetermined second feature comprises at least one of the following elements:
a symbol (for example, a geometric shape, in particular a circle or a rectangle);
a logo (for example, a manufacturer's logo from a manufacturer of the tire);
an edge or a combination of multiple edges (for example, design elements of the tire);
an empty area of a predetermined minimum size on the sidewall;
a string (for example the "DOT" symbol of a DOT code or another part of a DOT code);
an identified by OCR (optical character recognition) string.

According to another embodiment, the predetermined first feature is identical to the predetermined second feature. According to another embodiment, the first and second criteria are also identical since the device can not distinguish between the predetermined first feature and the predetermined second feature.

In principle, any element which can be identified and which is always present on a tire of a certain type is suitable as (first and / or second) feature (or as part of such feature) within the meaning of the articles disclosed herein. According to another embodiment, in particular those elements which are always present at the same position relative to the desired marking location on more than one type of tire are preferred.

According to one embodiment, based on the rotational axis of the tire, the first potential marker location deviates at most 30 degrees from an area in which an identified feature, such as the first feature or the second feature, is located. In other words, the angle with respect to the axis of rotation between the first potential marker and the identified feature is less than 30 degrees. According to other embodiments, the first potential marker location relative to the axis of rotation of the tire deviates from an area in which an identified feature is located by an angle between 0 degrees (no deviation, ie, the potential marker location and the identified feature are on the same Angular position) and 40 degrees, in particular by an angle which is less than 20 degrees, less than 15 degrees or less than 10 degrees.

In particular, according to one embodiment, based on the axis of rotation of the tire, the first potential marker location is at most 30 degrees from a first region on the sidewall of the first tire in which the first feature is located, and / or the second potential marker location is at most 30 degrees from the first area and / or a second area on the sidewall of the first tire in which the second feature is located.

According to one embodiment, the first potential marker overlaps the predetermined first feature. According to another embodiment, the second potential marker overlaps with the predetermined second feature. Overlapping may be partial or complete according to embodiments. For example, the marking in the relevant marking location can be arranged completely within the predetermined first feature. For example, according to one embodiment, the predetermined (first and / or second) feature may be a rectangle sized enough to fully accommodate the mark located in the potential marker location. Further, according to another embodiment, the predetermined feature may be a free area dimensioned to fully accommodate the mark located in the potential marker location.

According to a further embodiment, the receiving device has a sensor and the sensor is set up for measuring an angle of a back reflection of a laser beam projected onto the sidewall of the tire and for determining therefrom a height profile of the side wall. For example, according to one embodiment, the first sensor is a light section sensor. Light-section sensors (English: sheet of light sensor) are well known and will therefore not be described in further detail.

According to one embodiment, the selection criterion is a reduced processing time. For example, according to one embodiment, the selection criterion (and the control device is adapted to) select from the first potential marker and the second potential marker the final marker location that can be positioned under a marker in a shorter time (eg, moving the marker or by moving the tire). In this way, the total time required to create the mark can be reduced.

According to another embodiment, the creation of the representation is aborted as soon as the control device has identified the predetermined first feature. For example, the recording device and / or the control device can be set up to perform the creation of the representation and the identification of the predetermined first feature in a temporally overlapping manner. Temporally overlapping here means that before the completion of the creation of the representation with the identification of the predetermined first feature (or a part thereof) is started. The temporally overlapping creation of the representation and identification of the predetermined first feature (or a part thereof) can take place, for example, simultaneously or alternately. In the latter case, according to one embodiment, a part of the representation is alternately created and subsequently identified before a further part of the representation is created and subsequently identified.

According to another embodiment, the control device is arranged to identify the predetermined second feature in the (first) representation.

According to a further embodiment, the receiving device is a first receiving device and the illustration is a first representation, the device further comprising: a second receiving device for creating a second representation of a part of the side wall of the tire; wherein the control device is arranged to identify a predetermined third feature in the second representation.

In another embodiment, the controller is configured to identify the predetermined third feature in the illustration.

According to one embodiment, the third feature is a post-vulcanized color mark on the sidewall of the tire, the color mark having at least one of the following features: (i) the color mark has at least one of the colors white, red, yellow, green or blue; (ii) the color mark has the shape of a circle, a triangle or a rectangle; (iii) the color marking has a colored area which is greater than 0.01 cm ² , but in particular greater than 0.25 cm ² . For example, in one embodiment, the predetermined third feature is, for example, a balancing point of the tire. According to one embodiment, the selection criterion may be a lack of the third feature, in particular a lack of the third feature in the second representation, in particular at one of the potential marker locations. According to another embodiment, the selection criterion may be a missing overlap of the third feature with the potential marker. In other words, according to one embodiment, one of the potential marker sites (eg, the first potential marker site or the second potential marker site) is selected as the final marker site if the potential marker site of interest does not overlap with the third feature. This ensures that when the marker is placed in the potential marker, the legibility of the marker is not affected by the third feature.

According to one embodiment, the selection criterion provides that the first potential marker is provided with the marker and the second marker is provided with a further marker, wherein an information content of the marker and an information content of the further marker are at least partially identical. In one embodiment, the label and the further label may be different. For example, the mark and the further mark can differ in the scope of the maximum codable information (for example, in the case of a QR code in the version of the QR code). Further, the mark and the further mark may differ in fault tolerance.

According to one embodiment, the marker and the further marker are (digital) 2D matrix codes. According to another embodiment, the marker and the further marker are two 2D matrix codes which have identical code content. According to one embodiment, the code content is defined by payload data; Error correction information is therefore not part of the code content. According to another embodiment, the 2D matrix codes are binary matrix codes, each represented by a pattern of bright modules and dark modules (bright and dark surface areas of the tire).

In one embodiment, the first potential marker site and the second potential marker site are located on the same sidewall (i.e., on a single sidewall) of the tire.

According to one embodiment, the dark modules are defined by a surface structure and the light modules do not have this surface structure. According to another embodiment, the surface structure is formed in a surface of the rubber material of the tire. For example, if the balance point (or other third feature) is applied to the tire (and at least partially to the 2D matrix code) after the 2D matrix codes have been created, then the balance point (or third feature) will cover the 2D matrix code, resulting in a reduced Readability of the 2D matrix code. If the balancing point (or third feature) is applied to the tire prior to creating the 2D matrix codes, the 2D matrix code is generated at least partially in a surface of the balancing point (or third feature), due to the varying contrast within the 2D Matrix codes may result in reduced readability of the 2D matrix code.

According to one embodiment, the two 2D matrix codes have an identical sequence of light and dark modules. For example, in this case, the two 2D matrix codes only differ in that, in one embodiment, the balance point overlaps one of the 2D matrix codes.

According to one embodiment, the color marking with respect to an axis of rotation of the tire indicates an angular position in which the tire has a maximum or minimum imbalance. According to another embodiment, the color marking with respect to the axis of rotation of the tire indicates an angular position in which the tire has a largest or smallest geometric deviation. For example, the color marking indicates a balance point of the tire, as already explained above. Instead of the imbalance or the largest / smallest geometric deviation, the color marking may be an indication of concentricity, axial runout, force fluctuations and their harmonic oscillations and / or conicity of the tire.

According to one embodiment, the second receiving device has a camera. According to a further embodiment, the camera is set up in order to be able to record and / or identify the predetermined third feature, for example the color marking.

According to one embodiment, the second receiving device is configured to determine (for example, measure) an intensity (for example in lumens) of a back reflection of a laser point projected onto the side wall.

According to one embodiment, the first receiving device and the second receiving device are part of a light section sensor (for example, a single light section sensor). In particular, according to one embodiment, a single physical sensor is arranged to simultaneously provide information on the angle and intensity of the back reflection.

According to a second aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a pair of tires is disclosed.

According to an embodiment of the second aspect, the pair of tires consists of a first tire and a second tire, which coincide in terms of manufacturer, type of tire, tire size and DOT type code and which are in respect of the relative position of the corresponding information on manufacturer, type of tire, tire size and DOT Type code (also referred to herein as fix features) does not distinguish; wherein (i) the first tire has a first mark and the second tire has a second mark, and wherein relative to the manufacturer, tire type, tire size and DOT type code, the relative position of the first mark of the first tire and the relative position the second mark of the second tire by more than 5 mm, but in particular by more than 50 mm from each other; or (ii) at least one of the two tires has two markings, in particular two 2D matrix codes whose information content is at least partially identical. In addition, according to another embodiment, the first tire and the second tire also coincide in terms of other fix features, for example, at least one of DOT week code, DOT plant code, load index, and speed index. According to further embodiments, the deviation between the relative position of the first mark with respect to the fix features of the first tire and the relative position of the second mark with respect to the fix features of the second tire is more than 3 mm, more than 10 mm, more than 20 mm or more than 30 mm. According to one embodiment, the relative position of the first mark with respect to the fix features of the first tire is a first distance, and the relative position of the second mark with respect to the fix features of the second tire is a second distance.

According to a third aspect, a (single) tire has two marks whose information content is at least partially identical. According to In one embodiment, each of the two markers is a 2D matrix code.

According to one embodiment, the markers described herein (eg, the two markings on a single tire or the first mark on the first tire and the second mark on the second tire) are on the same sidewall of the tire (eg, an outer sidewall which, when the tire is in FIG Tire is mounted on a vehicle, facing away from the vehicle).

In one embodiment, the tire (e.g., the only tire or tire of the pair of tires) is a passenger tire. According to a further embodiment, the tire is a tire for mounting on new vehicles, in particular tires with a vulcanized manufacturer logo.

In general, according to one embodiment, the pair of tires consists of a first tire and a second tire, each having an identical set of fix features (which in particular coincide with each other with respect to the fix features and with respect to the relative location of the fix features), the set of fix features being at least two (at least three according to another embodiment) of the following features (fixed features) include: manufacturer, tire type, tire size, DOT plant code, DOT type code, DOT week code, load index, speed index. According to one embodiment, the group of fix features has the following fix features: manufacturer, tire type, tire size, DOT plant code, DOT type code. In another embodiment, the set of fix features has the following fix characteristics: manufacturer, tire type, tire size, DOT plant code, DOT type code, DOT week code, load index, speed index. It is understood that an identity of the set of fix features can only be an identity within manufacturing tolerances. For example, according to one embodiment, an identity of the set of fix features on the first tire and on the second tire results when the first tire and the second tire are manufactured in the same tire mold. According to a further embodiment, the first tire and the second tire may be manufactured in different tire molds of the same type, which results in increased manufacturing tolerances compared to production in the same tire mold. Conversely, according to one embodiment, the relative location of the first marker of the first tire and the relative location of the second marker of the second tire differ to an extent that exceeds manufacturing tolerances. According to one embodiment, the relative position of the first mark relates to the relative position of the first mark relative to the group of fix features on the first tire. According to another embodiment, the relative position of the second mark relates to the relative position of the second mark with respect to the group of fix features on the second tire.

According to one embodiment, the first mark of the first tire is identical to the second mark of the second tire. According to a further embodiment, the first mark and the second mark each consist of at least one of a symbol, a logo and a serial number. According to another embodiment, each of the first mark and the second mark includes a symbol, a logo, and / or a serial number. According to a further embodiment, each of the first mark and the second mark is a digital code pattern, for example a 2D matrix code.

In one embodiment, the first tire 2D matrix code and the second tire 2D matrix code have different content (i.e., they have different payload data, in one embodiment). According to another embodiment, the 2D tire of the first matrix and the second tire of the second tire of the second tire have identical content (for example, they have identical payload data encoded).

According to one embodiment, a tire has two markings whose information content is at least partially identical. According to another embodiment, the two marks are two 2D matrix codes.

According to another embodiment, the tire with the two markings in a position of one of the two marks has a color mark or a part of a color mark. According to a further embodiment, the color marking has at least one of the following features: the color marking has at least one of the colors white, red, yellow, green or blue; the color marking is in the form of a circle, a triangle or a square; the color mark has a colored area larger than 0.25 cm ² .

In one embodiment, a marker (disclosed herein) (eg, the first marker, the second marker, or each of the two indicia on a single tire) is a laser marker, ie, a marker generated with a laser beam. According to another embodiment, a marker disclosed herein (eg, each of the two markings on a single tire) is a marker created by means of a suitably shaped tire mold. For example, the mark by a corresponding Insert be produced in the tire mold. The insert may, for example, have a negative shape of the marking to be produced.

In one embodiment, the two 2D matrix codes (on a single tire) have identical code content. Embodiments of the 2D matrix code and the code content have been explained above with respect to the device and therefore will not be repeated in detail.

According to one embodiment, a positioning method comprises: creating the representation (according to one or more embodiments of the articles disclosed herein, in particular the first illustration) of at least a portion of a sidewall of the tire; Determining the final marking location (in accordance with one or more embodiments of the subject-matter disclosed herein) using the representation and the predetermined first criterion (in accordance with one or more embodiments of the subject-matter disclosed herein).

In one embodiment, a predetermined first feature is identified and, if the first criterion is a positional indication relative to the predetermined first feature, the final marker location is determined based on a position of the predetermined first feature on the tire and the positional indication relative to the predetermined first feature.

In another embodiment, at least two potential labeling sites (e.g., the first potential labeling site and the second potential labeling site) are defined on the tire, and using the selection criterion, at least one of the at least two potential labeling sites is determined to be the final labeling site. Defining a (final) tagging location in one embodiment includes determining the final tagging location and providing positional data of the final tagging location. According to one embodiment, providing position data to a positioning device configured to position a tool for creating the mark over the final marking location of the tire based on the positional data (eg, by properly moving the tire and / or moving the tool ).

According to one embodiment, the second potential marker location is determined using a predetermined second criterion. The second criterion may be a second relative position indication (eg, a second position indication relative to a starting point). The determination of the second potential marker can be made according to embodiments based on the starting point and the second relative position indication. According to embodiments, the starting point may be the predetermined first feature (or its position) or the predetermined second feature (or its position).

In one embodiment, the predetermined first feature in the representation is identified by comparing the representation with a reference representation. For example, according to one embodiment, the capture device may continuously or stepwise create the representation, the representation being partially compared to the reference representation, and, if consistent, the corresponding angular region of the representation identified as the angular region containing the predetermined first feature. The radial position of the predetermined first feature may, for example, be known from the reference illustration or, according to another embodiment, may be determined from the representation (for example by the control device). Similarly, the predetermined second feature (or its position) can be identified in the illustration.

According to one embodiment, the first potential marking location is set in an angular range which deviates at most 30 degrees from a first area on the side wall of the tire in which the first feature is arranged. According to a further embodiment, the second potential marking location is defined in an angular range which deviates by at most 30 degrees from the first region and / or a second region on the sidewall of the tire in which the second feature is arranged on the tire.

According to one embodiment, the first criterion indicates that the first potential marker location overlaps the predetermined first feature. According to another embodiment, the second criterion indicates that the second potential marker site overlaps the predetermined second feature.

According to one embodiment, the (first) representation has a height profile of the sidewall of the tire. In accordance with a further embodiment, an angle of back reflection of a laser beam projected onto the side wall is measured for determining the height profile of the side wall therefrom.

According to one embodiment, the selection criterion is to select the potential marker site as the final marker site from the first potential marker site and the second potential marker site. which can be positioned under a marking device in a shorter time.

According to one embodiment, upon identifying the first feature in the representation, the creation of the first representation is aborted. According to another embodiment, the predetermined second feature is identified in the first representation. According to another embodiment, a second representation of a part of the sidewall of the tire is created. According to another embodiment, the first representation of a first part of the side wall is created and the second representation is created by a second part of the side wall, wherein the first part and the second part of the side wall are different.

According to one embodiment, a predetermined third feature is identified, for example in the first representation or in the second representation.

According to one embodiment, the selection criterion is a lack of the third feature. For example, in one embodiment, a potential label site (eg, the first potential label site and / or the second potential label site) is selected as the final marker site if in a surface portion of the sidewall of the tire that would cover the label located in the potential marker site, the third feature is missing.

According to one embodiment, the selection criterion is that the first potential marker is provided with the marker and the second candidate marker is provided with a further marker, wherein an information content of the marker and an information content of the further marker are at least partially identical. For example, in this case, in the absence of the third feature on the (entire) sidewall of the tire (for example, in the absence of a color mark, particularly a balance point on the sidewall), both the first potential mark location and the second potential mark location will become the mark equipped with additional marking. Due to the fact that an information content is at least partially identical in the marking and the further marking, this redundantly provided information is still available if the first potential marking location or the second potential marking location is at least partially covered by a balancing point.

As already explained above, according to an embodiment, each of the marks and the further mark is a 2D matrix code.

According to one embodiment, of a pair of tires each having an identical set of fix features, a first tire is provided with a first mark at a first relative position and a second tire with a second mark at a second relative position. This flexible configuration of the tire with a marking makes it possible to avoid an overlap between the first and second mark and a third feature.

According to another embodiment, a tire is provided with two markings (one mark and another mark), wherein an information content of the mark and an information content of the further mark are at least partially identical. This redundant provision of information can ensure that the redundant information content can still be determined from the tire (for example from the marking or the further marking) even if one of the two markings at least partially overlaps the third feature.

According to one embodiment, depending on the first and / or second representation and optionally as a function of the first, second, third criterion and / or the selection criterion, no final marking location is determined. According to one embodiment, no marking is generated as a function of the first and / or second representation and optionally as a function of the first, second, third criterion and / or the selection criterion. This can be provided according to an embodiment if (u) one of the criteria is not met; (v) an envisaged feature (e.g., the predetermined first feature) is not found in the representation concerned, and / or (w) when two potential landmarks are so similar in terms of the selection criterion that a tolerance threshold of the selection criterion is not exceeded. In the latter case, if necessary, two identical markings can then also be generated.

According to one embodiment, for markings introduced into the tire via the tire mold, no final marking location on a particular tire is determined. Rather, such an embodiment makes use of the general idea that a mark of a tire is more reliably readable if it is avoided that the mark overlaps another feature (for example, a colored feature (eg, a paint mark) or surface texture) of the tire.

According to one embodiment, the device has a marking device (for example a laser engraving device), and the A control device is further configured to position a tool (eg, a laser beam) of the marking device at the final marking location to thereby provide the tire with the marker at the final marking location.

By some advantageous embodiments, it is possible to reliably ensure the readability of information provided on a tire even if a position of a third feature on a sidewall of the tire varies from tire to tire.

According to one embodiment, the device is designed to position the tire in the course of a positioning step to an axis of rotation such that the axis of rotation of the tire and the axis of rotation lie one above the other. According to a further embodiment, a receiving device and / or a marking head, in particular a laser marking head, are located on the axis of rotation. According to a further embodiment, marking head and / or receiving device are attached to the turret so that they can be displaced over a further axis, perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the axis of rotation of the tire, so that marking head and / or receiving device in a circle over the side wall of the tire can be moved with a radius adjustable over the further axis. According to one embodiment, the positioning of the tire relative to the axis of rotation is carried out by moving the tire horizontally on a conveyor belt under a stationary axis of rotation. According to a further embodiment, the receiving device and / or the marking head can be moved via a third axis perpendicular to the tire and so the position of the marking head and / or the receiving device can be adjusted to the width of the tire. In another embodiment, the device includes a tire turner. According to one embodiment, the tire turner is connected to the marking head and / or the receiving device in such a way that, after a representation of a part of its first side wall has been made with the receiving device and / or a marking has been applied on the first side wall with the marking head, the tire is turned by the tire turner, so that subsequently receiving device and / or marking head are positioned relative to the tire that the axis of rotation of the tire and the axis of rotation are superposed so that the second side wall of the tire can be recorded and / or marked. According to one embodiment, the tire turner is attached to the device such that the tire can be turned without its center of gravity leaving its relative position with respect to the axis of rotation. According to another embodiment, the tire turner is attached to the device so that the tire is first transported to the tire turner to be turned there. According to a further embodiment, the device is designed such that the tire can then be positioned again below the receiving device and / or the marking head to mark the second side wall of the tire and / or to receive a part thereof with the receiving device. In another embodiment, the apparatus is configured such that while a first tire is in the tire turner and, according to another embodiment, is turned there, a second tire is positioned below the receiver and / or the marker head. In another embodiment, a portion of a sidewall of the second tire is provided with a representation by the receptacle and a mark is made on the sidewall of the second tire by the marking head while the first tire is in the tire turner and / or turned there.

According to another embodiment, the device includes a second tire turner. According to a further embodiment, the first tire turner, marking head and / or receiving device and second tire turner are connected together in this order with a conveyor belt for transporting the tire. According to one embodiment, the conveyor belt is arranged to move the tire in two directions, the "forward direction" from the first tire turner via marking head and / or pick-up device to the second tire turner, and the "reverse direction" from the second tire turner via marking head and / or Receiving device for the first tire turner. According to a further embodiment, the device is set up to receive and / or mark two tires on both sides (ie on both sidewalls) by firstly in a first step the first sidewall of the first tire in the forward direction under the marking head is moved and positioned there to produce an illustration of a portion of the first sidewall of the first tire and / or to mark the tire. Subsequently, in a second step, the first tire is moved in the forward direction to the second tire turner and a second tire is also positioned in the forward direction under the marking head and / or the receiving device. In a third step, the first tire in the second tire turner is turned and a representation of a part of the first side wall of the second tire is generated and / or a mark is applied to the first side wall of the second tire. In a third step, according to another embodiment, the second tire is moved in the reverse direction into the first tire turner and the first tire is moved in the reverse direction from the second tire turner under the receiving device or the marking head. In one Fourth step, a representation is produced by a part of the second side wall of the first tire and / or a marking is produced on the second side wall of the first tire and the second tire is turned in the first tire turner. In a fifth step, the first tire is conveyed in the forward direction into the second tire turner and the second tire is conveyed in the forward direction under the receiving device or the marking head. According to a further embodiment, in a sixth step, the first tire in the second tire turner is turned and a representation is produced by a part of the second side wall of the second tire and / or a marking is produced on the second side wall of the second tire. According to another embodiment, in a seventh step, the first tire is moved in the forward direction out of the second tire turner and thus out of the device, and the second tire is conveyed in the forward direction into the second side turner. According to another embodiment, in an eighth step, the second tire in the second tire turner is turned over and in a ninth step in the forward direction out of the second side turner and thus out of the device.

According to a further embodiment, the processes take place in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and / or seventh step in succession. According to a further embodiment, the processes in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and / or seventh step take place simultaneously or overlapping in time.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that according to another embodiment, the described steps involve only two of many continuously processed tires and that a preceding tire is still forwardly fed into the second tire turner during the first step and then turned there during the second step and a third third tire according to another embodiment in the seventh step in the forward direction is moved under the marker head / or the receiving device, in the eighth step there is a representation of a part of its first side wall is generated or generated on the first side wall marker and is moved in the ninth step in the forward direction in the second tire turner. It goes without saying that, according to a further embodiment, whenever the preparation of a representation is described during the above-mentioned steps one to nine, if necessary several representations are generated with a plurality of recording devices and used there using the first, second or third criterion as well as the Selection criterion one, two or no mark are generated.

According to a further embodiment, a tire is first turned - for example in the first tire turner - before a representation is produced in a part of the side wall. This may be useful, in particular, when the tire is lying on the conveyor belt during feeding to the device with the single side wall of the tire, from which a representation is to be generated or which is to be marked. According to a further embodiment, the preparation of a representation of a part of the second side wall or the application of a marking on the second side wall in dependence on the one or more identified in the representation of the first side wall feature (s), so that it is necessary that the first side wall must be received in front of the second side wall, even if it is at the bottom during the feeding of the tire.

According to a further embodiment, the device is set up so that different tires are provided with different markings on one or two side walls and different criteria are used in each case. According to a further embodiment, the control device is so arranged that, depending on the successive tires as well as the number and side of the markings to be taken, the sequence of processing the first and second sidewalls and the use of the first or the second tire turner is controlled such that the cycle time is optimized.

According to another embodiment, the device is arranged to create a further representation of the tire after the application / creation of a marking on a sidewall of the tire, the quality, the depth and / or the completeness (in general: at least one characteristic) of the marking to determine. In accordance with a further embodiment, the device is set up to generate further markings as a function of the result of this check, or not to generate further markings (for example initially planned). According to one embodiment, the determination of the completeness of a mark is carried out by comparing the further illustration with a reference mark. According to another embodiment, the marking is checked by OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and compared with the desired values. According to another embodiment, the mark content determined by OCR is made plausible on the basis of predetermined rules. For example, a tagged DOT week code may not be in the future, may not contain a week detail greater than 53, and may not exceed a predetermined maximum age. According to another embodiment, the device is designed to provide a 2D Record matrix code marking on a tire with a camera and evaluate the representation of the 2D matrix code on the basis of previously defined criteria (so-called grading). According to one embodiment, the criteria Cell Modulation, Cell Contrast, Fix Pattern Damage and / or Unused Error Correction according to the ISO / IEC TR 29158: 2011 (or equivalent standard for eg DMC codes or other 2D matrix codes).

For this purpose, the further representation is modified according to a further embodiment by using image processing processes and subsequently evaluated. According to one embodiment, possible image processing processes are, in particular, adaptive threshold or fixed threshold binarization filters, Gaussian filters or other filters for image smoothing, erosion filters for enlarging dark areas, dilation filters for reducing dark areas and / or filters for gray-scale enhancement for overexposed image areas.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the objects disclosed herein will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that in different figures, similar or identical elements or components are partially provided with the same reference numerals, or with reference numerals that differ only in the first digit and / or an attached digit. Features or components that are the same or at least functionally identical with the corresponding features or components in another figure are described in detail only in their first appearance in the following text and the description will be in subsequent occurrence of these features and components (or the corresponding reference numbers) not repeated. The above definitions apply according to an embodiment for the following embodiments, and vice versa. Furthermore, the features and embodiments described above can be combined with the features and embodiments described below.

1 schematically shows a device 100 according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein.

According to one embodiment, the device 100 a transport device 102 on which a tire 104 is positionable. According to one embodiment, the tire is replaced by the transport device 102 roughly positioned and optionally by a known per se centering device (in 1 not shown) on the transport device 102 centered. Transport devices and centering device are for example in the European Patent Application No. 16 161 235.3 Applicant (Attorney's note J 1142) and the published European patent application EP 3 147 114 (Attorney's note J 1128). The content of these two applications, in particular the devices and methods for transporting and positioning a tire described in these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

The device 100 has a first receiving device 106 , For example, a light section sensor, which according to an embodiment by means of a laser beam, shown at 108 , a depiction 116 For example, a height profile of at least a part of a side wall 110 of the tire 104 created. According to one embodiment, the device 100 a control device 112 on. The control device includes a processor device 114 , which is configured to execute a program element and thereby implement embodiments of the objects disclosed herein.

In 1 is the representation 116 schematically represented by an information element, which via a data transmission connection 118 from the first receiving device 106 to the control device 112 is transmitted. According to one embodiment, the device 100 a second receiving device 120 on to create a second presentation 122 , what a 1 is shown schematically by an information element, which via a data transmission connection 118 from the second receiving device 120 to the control device 112 is transmitted.

According to one embodiment, the second receiving device 120 a separate entity, which is different from the first receiving device 106 , According to a further embodiment, the first receiving device 106 and the second receiving device 120 formed by a single entity, which according to one embodiment has a single sensor. The second recording device 120 has a detection area 124 on. According to one embodiment, the first receiving device 106 and / or the second receiving device 120 a lighting device (in 1 not shown) for lighting the tire 104 assigned (for example, a dome light = round, flat light for homogeneous illumination of the tire).

According to one embodiment, the device 100 Further, a marking device 126 on, for example, a laser device, which is designed to create a mark on the side wall 110 of the tire 104 by means of a tool, for example a laser beam 128 , The marking device 126 is via a data transfer connection 118 with the control device 112 connected. The device 100 further comprises a positioning device according to one embodiment 130 to position the marking device 126 and the tire 104 relative to each other. According to one embodiment, the positioning device 130 configured to respond to control signals of the control device 112 the laser beam 128 to a final marker 148 to position and thereby the mark in the final marker 148 to create. According to one embodiment, the positioning device 130 via a data transfer connection 118 with the control device 112 connected.

In general, the data transmission connections 118 be unidirectional or bidirectional, depending on the requirements and the actual implementation of the device 100 ,

2 shows a tire 104 according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein. Further, on the tire 104 in 2 discloses an apparatus and method in accordance with embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

According to one embodiment, on the tire 104 a first potential marker 142 and a second potential labeling site 144 established. The potential labeling sites 142 . 144 are in 2 indicated schematically by two dashed circles. In one embodiment, the potential labeling site may have an extension corresponding to an outer boundary line of the label to be located in the relevant potential labeling site. According to a further embodiment, the potential marking site may be punctiform and according to another embodiment the positioning may take into account the actual dimensions of the mark to be placed in the potential marking site.

In one embodiment, the tire has a predetermined first feature 143 on, for example, a beginning of the word "DOT". In another embodiment, the tire has a predetermined second feature 145 on, for example, an end of a DOT code 147 in a circumferential direction 149 , In one embodiment, the first potential label is 142 defined by a first criterion, for example a first position indication relative to the first feature 143 , For example, according to one embodiment, the first position indication may be defined by (a) an angular position that originates from the predetermined first feature 143 counterclockwise by an angle 150 is turned; and (b) a radial distance 152 from a rotation axis 154 of the tire 104 ,

In another embodiment, the second potential label is 144 defined by a second criterion, for example a second position indication relative to the second feature 145 , The second position specification may be defined according to an embodiment analogous to the first position indication by a rotation angle (for example in a clockwise direction) starting from the predetermined second feature 145 and a radial distance from the axis of rotation 154 ,

According to one embodiment, based on a selection criterion at least one of the potential first marker site 142 and the second potential labeling site 144 set as the final marker. According to one embodiment, the selection criterion is the absence of a third feature 146 For example, the absence of a balancing point. In other words, according to one embodiment, the potential marker site is selected as the final marker site that does not have the third feature. In the in 2 As shown, this is the second potential labeling site 144 , Thus, according to one embodiment, the second potential labeling site becomes 144 as the final marker 148 selected.

3 shows the tire 104 out 2 with one in the final marker 148 generated mark 156 , According to embodiments of the subject-matter disclosed herein, the third feature overlaps 146 For example, a balancing point, not with the mark 156 causing the mark 156 Reliably readable, especially machine-readable.

It is understood that in the tire 104 that for creating the marker 156 used methods or the definition of two or more potential labeling sites 142 . 144 not immediately apparent. Furthermore, there are also several possibilities for defining the potential marking points for a specific type of tire 142 . 144 possible. For example, the predetermined first feature may be defined differently, for example, by the position of the letter T in the word "DOT", which also requires an altered first criterion to define the (identical) first marker location by the predetermined first feature and the first criterion ,

However, in a tire made by a device according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein or by a method according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein, the Characteristics implemented in the device or method may be indirectly apparent when viewing two or more tires. This aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein will be described below with reference to FIG 4 and 5 described.

• 1. Die ersten zwei Symbole, der DOT-Plant-Code, identifizieren die Herstellerfabrik, in welcher der Reifen gefertigt wurde (pp in 162 in 4).
• 2. Die nächsten zwei Symbole identifizieren die Größe des Reifens (ss in 162 in 4).
• 3. Danach folgt ein optionaler, herstellerspezifischer Code, der Typ Code (tttt in 162 in 4).
• 4. Die letzten vier Stellen definieren das Datum der Herstellung des Reifens. Die ersten zwei Stellen, der Wochencode (ww in 162 in 4), definieren die Kalenderwoche, wobei die erste Kalenderwoche die Woche ist, in welche der 1. Januar fällt. Die dritte und, falls vorhanden, die vierte Stelle (yy in 162 in 4) definieren das Jahr der Herstellung des Reifens.

4 shows a pair of tires 160 according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein. The pair of tires 160 has two tires 104 on, a first tire 104-1 and a second tire 104-2 , In one embodiment, each of the tires 104 the same set of fix features, in terms of their relative position to each other (and optionally in terms of their design (for example, shape, size)) on each of the tires 104 are identical. According to one embodiment, the fixed features comprise one or more symbol groups of a DOT code 162 , According to one embodiment (and in accordance with currently applicable legislation) the DOT code includes 162 ( 147 ) the following four symbol groups:

• 1. The first two symbols, the DOT Plant Code, identify the manufacturer factory where the tire was made (pp in 162 in 4 ).
• 2. The next two symbols identify the size of the tire (ss in 162 in 4 ).
• 3. This is followed by an optional, manufacturer-specific code, the type code (tttt in 162 in 4 ).
• 4. The last four digits define the date of manufacture of the tire. The first two digits, the week code (ww in 162 in 4 ), define the calendar week, where the first calendar week is the week in which the 1st of January falls. The third and, if present, the fourth digit (yy in 162 in 4 ) define the year of manufacture of the tire.

According to another embodiment, the group of fix features discloses one or more of the following features: a manufacturer's indication 164 (For example, a manufacturer's logo), a tire size specification 166 , a load index 168 and a speed index 170 ,

According to another embodiment, the first tire 104-1 a first mark 156-1 and on and the second tire 104-2 has a second mark 156-2 on. According to one embodiment, the two 2D matrix codes have an identical sequence of light and dark modules (light and dark areas of the 2D matrix codes), as in FIG 4 shown. According to one embodiment, the first mark 156-1 a first relative position 172-1 concerning the group of fix features 162 . 164 . 166 . 168 . 170 , For example, the first relative position is located 172-1 between the DOT year of manufacture (yy) of the DOT code 162 and the tire size specification 166 , as in 4 shown. According to another embodiment, the second mark 156-2 a second relative position 172-2 concerning the group of fix features 162 . 164 . 166 . 168 . 170 , For example, there is the second relative position 172-2 between the word "DOT" of the DOT code 162 and the manufacturer's information 164 ,

According to one embodiment, the first relative position 172-1 different from the second relative position 172-2 , The cause may be, for example, according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein, that in the first tire 104-1 in a first potential marker 142 a third feature 146 is arranged while at the second tire 104-2 the first potential marker 142 free from the third feature 146 is. Therefore, according to one embodiment, the first marker 156-1 of the first tire in a second potential labeling site 144 arranged, ie present in the first relative position 172-1 while the second mark 156-2 of the second tire in the first marker site preferred according to one embodiment 142 is arranged, that is present in the second relative position 172-2 ,

It should be understood that by applying embodiments of the articles disclosed herein in a batch of tires, multiple pairs of tires may occur, such as the pair 160 are formed. If the third feature 146 is a balancing point, is the third feature 146 typically arranged on each tire at a different location. Therefore, there is a certain probability that the third feature 146 at one of the potential tags 142 . 144 is arranged, or overlapped with these marks.

5 shows a tire 204 according to embodiments of the articles disclosed herein.

According to one embodiment, the tire 204 two markers, in particular two 2D matrix codes 156 . 157 on which a 2D matrix code 156 has a first information content and another 2D matrix code 157 has a second information content. According to one embodiment, the first information content is at least partially identical to the second information content. For example, according to one embodiment, the first information content may be completely identical to the second information content. According to a further embodiment, the first 2D matrix code and the second 2D matrix code may have the same error correction level (according to another embodiment, the error correction level may be different, for example, with identical first and second information content).

According to one embodiment, the 2D matrix code overlaps 156 with a third feature 146 . which can lead to the 2D matrix code 156 no longer readable. However, because of the additional 2D matrix code 157 is still available (and not overlapped with a third feature), at least the redundant part of the first and second information content is from the other 2D matrix code 157 readable.

It should be noted that a cradle or controller is not limited to the dedicated entities as described in some embodiments. Rather, the objects disclosed herein can be implemented in numerous ways while still providing the disclosed specific functionality.

It is understood that each entity (device, element, feature, and method step) disclosed herein is not limited to a dedicated entity, as described in some embodiments. Rather, the articles described herein may be provided in various ways with different granularity at the device level, at the process level, or at the software level, while still providing the stated functionality. Further, it should be noted that according to embodiments, a separate entity may be provided for each of the functions disclosed herein. According to other embodiments, an entity may be configured to provide two or more functions as described herein. In yet other embodiments, two or more entities may be configured to together provide a function as described herein.

It should be understood that the implementations described herein are merely a limited selection of possible embodiments of the invention. Thus, it is possible to combine the features of individual embodiments in a suitable manner with one another, so that a multiplicity of different embodiments are to be regarded as disclosed to the person skilled in the art with the embodiment variants which are explicit here. It should also be noted that terms such as "a" or "one" do not exclude a plurality. Terms such as "containing" or "having" do not exclude other features or method steps.

It should also be noted that while the exemplary tires and apparatus show in the drawings a particular combination of several embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein, any other combination of embodiments is equally possible and to be regarded as disclosed with this application.

An advantageous combination of embodiments of the articles disclosed herein may be summarized as follows:
Using a representation of a sidewall of a tire and a predetermined first criterion, a final marking location for a mark is set on the tire. The first criterion may be a position indication relative to a predetermined first feature in the representation. The marker can be a 2D matrix code. According to one embodiment, two or more potential marker sites are established on the tire and, according to a selection criterion, at least one of the two or more potential marker sites is designated as the final marker site. According to a further embodiment, the marking is produced at the final marking location, for example by laser processing (eg laser engraving) of the tire. According to one embodiment, tires having identical fix features differ in the position of the marker. The position of the marker is, for example (eg, inter alia) dependent on the first criterion, a second criterion and / or the selection criterion. In one embodiment, the tag is a 2D matrix code, such as a QR code or a Datamatrix code. According to one embodiment, at least a portion of a content of a tag is redundantly generated in the tire, for example in two 2D matrix codes on the same sidewall of a single tire.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

Cited patent literature

• DE 202005002355 U1 [0002]
• DE 202005000640 U1 [0003]
• EP 1636117 B1 [0004]
• US 7295948 B2 [0005]
• EP 16161235 [0108]
• EP 3147114 [0108]

Cited non-patent literature

• ISO / IEC TR 29158: 2011 [0104]

Claims (38)

 A device for providing a tire with a marker, the device comprising a pickup device configured to provide a representation of at least a portion of a sidewall of the tire; a controller configured to set a final marking location on the tire using the representation and a predetermined first criterion.  Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to identify in the representation a predetermined first feature; and the first criterion is a position indication relative to the predetermined first feature.  Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller is configured to set a first potential marker location on the tire; the controller is configured to set a second potential mark on the tire; and the controller is arranged to determine, using a selection criterion, at least one of the first potential tag and the second potential tag as the final tag.  The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to set the second potential tag location using a predetermined second criterion.  Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising the features of claim 2, wherein the position indication relative to the predetermined first feature is a first position indication; and the second criterion is a second position indication relative to the predetermined first feature.  Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to identify a predetermined second feature; and the second criterion is a second position indication relative to the predetermined second feature.  Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the marking is a laser marking, preferably a laser marking, which is generated with a CO2 laser.  Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the predetermined feature is a reference representation of at least a portion of a reference tire.  Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the predetermined first feature and / or the predetermined second feature comprises at least one of the following elements: a symbol; a logo; one edge or a combination of multiple edges; an empty area of a predetermined minimum size on the sidewall; a string a string identified by OCR.  Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein relative to the axis of rotation of the tire the first potential marker is deviated by at most 30 ° from a first region on the sidewall of the tire in which the first feature is disposed; and or the second potential marker is deviated at most by 30 ° from the first region and / or by a second region on the sidewall of the first tire in which the second feature is disposed.  Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first potential marker overlaps with the predetermined first feature; and or wherein the second potential marker overlaps with the predetermined second feature. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the receiving device has a sensor; and the sensor is arranged to measure an angle of a back reflection of a laser beam projected onto the side wall and to determine therefrom a height profile of the side wall.  The device according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the selection criterion is, from the first potential marker site and the second potential marker site, to select one as the final marker site that is positionable under a marker in a shorter time.  Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the creation of the representation is terminated as soon as the control device has identified the predetermined first feature. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 14, wherein the control device is arranged to identify the predetermined second feature in the representation.  Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle and the representation is a first representation, the apparatus further comprising: a second picking device for making a second representation of a part of the sidewall of the tire; wherein the control device is arranged to identify a predetermined third feature in the second representation. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the control device is arranged to identify a predetermined third feature in the representation. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the selection criterion is a lack of the third feature, in particular the absence of the third feature in the second representation. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 18, wherein the selection criterion provides that the first potential tag is provided with the tag and the second tag is provided with a further tag, and wherein an information content of the tag and an information content of the further tag are at least partially identical is. Device according to claim 19, wherein the marking and the further marking 2D are matrix codes, in particular two 2D matrix codes which have an identical code content. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the 2D matrix codes are binary matrix codes, each defined by a pattern of bright modules and dark modules. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the dark modules are defined by a surface structure and the light modules do not have this surface structure. Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 or 22, wherein the two 2D matrix codes comprise an identical sequence of light and dark modules. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 23, wherein the third feature is a vulcanization-applied paint mark on the sidewall of the tire; wherein the color marking has at least one of the following features: the color marking has at least one of the colors white, red, yellow, green or blue; the color marking is in the form of a circle, a triangle or a square; the color mark has a colored area larger than 0.25 cm ² . Apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the color marking with respect to a rotational axis of the tire indicates an angle with the greatest or smallest unbalance or the largest or smallest geometric deviation of the tire. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 25, wherein the second receptacle comprises a camera. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 26, wherein the second pickup device is arranged to determine an intensity of back reflection of a laser spot projected onto the sidewall.  Apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 27, wherein the first receiving device and the second receiving device are part of a light section sensor, in particular wherein a single physical sensor simultaneously provides information on the angle and intensity of the back reflection. A pair of tires consisting of a first tire and a second tire that are the same in terms of manufacturer, tire type, tire size and DOT type code and that do not differ in the relative position of the corresponding information on manufacturer, tire type, tire size and DOT type code; in which (i) the first tire has a first mark and the second tire has a second mark, and relative to the manufacturer, tire type, tire size and DOT type code, the relative location of the first tire mark and the relative location of the second mark of the second tire by more than 5 mm, but in particular by more than 50 mm from each other; or (ii) at least one of the two tires has two markings, in particular two 2D matrix codes whose information content is at least partially identical. The pair of tires according to claim 29, wherein the first tire and the second tire additionally also coincide in terms of at least one of DOT Plant Code, DOT Week Code, Load Index and Speed Index. The pair of tires according to claim 29 or 30, wherein the first mark of the first tire with the second mark of the second tire is identical and in particular contains a symbol, a logo or a serial number or consists of a symbol, a logo or a serial number. The pair of tires according to any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein the first mark and the second mark consist of a 2D matrix code. The pair of tires according to any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein the at least one tire having the two markings in a position of one of the two markers has a color mark or part of a color mark, the mark color having at least one of the following features: the color mark is at least one of the colors white, red, yellow, green or blue; the color marking is in the form of a circle, a triangle or a square; the color mark has a colored area larger than 0.25 cm ² . The pair of tires according to any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein at least one of the first mark and the second mark is a laser mark. The pair of tires of any one of claims 29 to 34, wherein the two 2D matrix codes have at least partially identical code content. The pair of tires of claim 35, wherein the 2D matrix codes are binary matrix codes, each defined by a pattern of bright modules and dark modules. The pair of tires according to claim 36, wherein the dark modules are defined by a surface structure and the light modules do not have this surface structure. The pair of tires of any of claims 36 or 37, wherein the two 2D matrix codes have an identical sequence of light and dark modules.

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