Claims
- 1. A tire mounting apparatus for mounting a flexible tire on a rim, the apparatus comprising:
a bead mounting tool moveable along a plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths including at least one non-circular tire-mounting path; means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to a size of the rim and tire; and means for selectively controlling movement of the tool along one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths corresponding to the size of the rim and tire in response to the electrical signal.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a tool mount moveable along the selectable one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths; and the tool attachable to the tool mount, the tool orientatable independent of the selected one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths for the tool mount.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a workpiece support for positioning the rim in a predetermined location with respect to the tool and for positioning the tire in a predetermined orientation with respect to the rim.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
the means for selectively controlling programmable to define the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths of movement for the tool including at least one non-planar tire-mounting path.
- 5. A method for mounting a flexible tire on a rim, the method comprising the steps of:
orientating a bead mounting tool moveable along a plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths including at least one non-circular tire-mounting path; generating an electrical signal corresponding to a size of the rim and tire; and selectively controlling movement of the tool along one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths corresponding to the rim and tire size in response to the electrical signal.
- 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:
moving a tool mount along the selectable one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths; and orientating the tool independent of the selected one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths for the tool mount, the tool attachable to the tool mount.
- 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:
positioning the rim in a predetermined location with respect to the tool and positioning the tire in a predetermined orientation with respect to the rim on a workpiece support.
- 8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:
programming movement of the tool to define the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths of movement for the tool including at least one non-planar tire-mounting path.
- 9. In a tire mounting apparatus for mounting a flexible tire on a rim, the improvement comprising:
a bead-mounting tool having a rim engaging portion and a tire engaging portion for forcing the bead of the tire over the rim in response to controlled movement of the tool with respect to the rim and tire, the tool moveable along a plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths corresponding to a size of the rim and tire to be mounted and including at least one non-circular tire-mounting path; and means for electrically controlling movement of the tool and for electrically selecting one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths in response to the size of the rim and tire to be mounted.
- 10. The improvement of claim 9 further comprising:
a tool mount for controlled movement along one of a plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths; and the tool attachable to the tool mount, the tool orientatable independent of the selected one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths for the tool mount.
- 11. The improvement of claim 10 further comprising:
means for controlling movement of the tool mount and for selecting one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths in response to a size of the rim and tire to be mounted.
- 12. The improvement of claim 9 further comprising:
the means for electrically controlling including programmable means for defining the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths of movement for the tool including at least one non-planar tire-mounting path.
- 13. A tire mounting apparatus for mounting a flexible tire on a rim, the apparatus comprising:
a bead mounting tool moveable along a plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths including at least one non-planar tire-mounting path; means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to a size of the rim and tire; and means for selectively controlling movement of the tool along one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths corresponding to the size of the rim and tire in response to the electrical signal.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:
a tool mount moveable along the selectable one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths; and the tool attachable to the tool mount, the tool orientatable independent of the selected one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths for the tool mount.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:
a workpiece support for positioning the rim in a predetermined location with respect to the tool and for positioning the tire in a predetermined orientation with respect to the rim.
- 16. A method for mounting a flexible tire on a rim, the method comprising the steps of:
orientating a bead mounting tool moveable along a plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths including at least one non-planar tire-mounting path; generating an electrical signal corresponding to a size of the rim and tire; and selectively controlling movement of the tool along one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths corresponding to the rim and tire size in response to the electrical signal.
- 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:
moving a tool mount along the selectable one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths; and orientating the tool independent of the selected one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths for the tool mount, the tool attachable to the tool mount.
- 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:
positioning the rim in a predetermined location with respect to the tool and positioning the tire in a predetermined orientation with respect to the rim on a workpiece support.
- 19. In a tire mounting apparatus for mounting a flexible tire on a rim, the improvement comprising:
a bead-mounting tool having a rim engaging portion and a tire engaging portion for forcing the bead of the tire over the rim in response to controlled movement of the tool with respect to the rim and tire, the tool moveable along a plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths corresponding to a size of the rim and tire to be mounted and including at least one non-planar tire-mounting path; and means for electrically controlling movement of the tool and for electrically selecting one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths in response to the size of the rim and tire to be mounted.
- 20. The improvement of claim 19 further comprising:
a tool mount for controlled movement along one of a plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths; and the tool attachable to the tool mount, the tool orientatable independent of the selected one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths for the tool mount.
- 21. The improvement of claim 20 further comprising:
means for controlling movement of the tool mount and for selecting one of the plurality of predetermined tire-mounting paths in response to a size of the rim and tire to be mounted.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
1. This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/449,329 filed on Nov. 24, 1999, which is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/088,357 filed on Jun. 1, 1998.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60075355 |
Feb 1998 |
US |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09449329 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Child |
09736673 |
Dec 2000 |
US |
Parent |
09088357 |
Jun 1998 |
US |
Child |
09449329 |
Nov 1999 |
US |