Lawrence H E Lawson

US Patent:

6481083, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

Jun 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/344042

Inventors:

Lawrence Lawson - Troy MI
Karl D. Sachs - Birmingham MI

Assignee:

Burke E. Porter Machinery Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

B23Q 1700

US Classification:

2940704, 29714, 294071

Abstract:

In an automated method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of an automotive vehicle wheel, rims are supplied in series by a conveyor to a gauging station where the location and alignment of a hole for receiving the valve stem is determined by a machine vision system. An electronic control system directs a robotic manipulator to grasp the rim, move it to a mounting station where a valve stem is retained, position the rim such that the hole is in alignment with the valve stem, and urge the rim toward the valve stem to insert the valve stem through the hole in the rim. If necessary, a power-actuated nut runner, mounted on the robotic manipulator or adjacent the mounting station, is used to tighten a nut over the valve stem to secure. As an alternative to the machine vision system, the gauging station may utilize a rotating table which rotates the wheel about its central axis, and an âelectric eyeâ optical sensor which directs a beam of infrared light onto the rim. As the rim rotates through the beam, the presence or lack of a reflection of the light beam is used to detect the location of the hole, and rotation of the table is stopped when the hole is in alignment with the beam.

US Patent:

6886231, May 3, 2005

Filed:

Oct 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/264746

Inventors:

Lawrence Lawson - Troy MI, US
Karl D. Sachs - Birmingham MI, US

Assignee:

Burke E. Porter Machinery Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

B23Q017/00

US Classification:

2940701, 2940704, 2940705, 2940709, 294071, 29430, 29709, 292131, 292215, 29714, 29802, 901 16, 901 31, 901 47, 738665

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of an automotive vehicle wheel includes rims being supplied in series by a conveyor to a gauging station where the type and/or size of the rim and the location and alignment of an aperture for receiving the valve stem is determined by a machine vision system. An electronic control system directs a robotic manipulator to grasp either the valve stem or the rim, move the valve stem or the rim to a mounting station, position the valve stem or the rim with respect to the other such that the aperture in the rim is in coaxial alignment with the valve stem, and insert the valve stem through the aperture in the rim. If necessary, a power-actuated nut runner, mounted on the robotic manipulator or adjacent the mounting station, is used to tighten a nut over the valve stem. As an alternative to the machine vision system, the gauging station can use a rotating table which rotates the wheel about a central axis, and an “electric eye” optical sensor directing a beam of infrared light onto the rim. As the rim rotates through the beam, the presence or lack of a reflection of the light beam is used to detect the location of the aperture, and rotation of the table is stopped when the aperture is in alignment with the beam.

US Patent:

7185410, Mar 6, 2007

Filed:

Apr 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/099963

Inventors:

Lawrence Lawson - Troy MI, US
Karl D Sachs - Birmingham MI, US

Assignee:

Burke E. Porter Machinery Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

B23Q 17/00
B23P 19/04

US Classification:

2940701, 2940704, 2940705, 2940709, 294071, 29709, 29714, 29802, 292215, 901 16, 901 31, 738665

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of an vehicle wheel includes engaging a valve stem with a robotic manipulator, moving the valve stem relative to the rim along a programmable path of travel, coaxially aligning the valve stem with the aperture in the rim, and inserting the valve stem through the aperture in the rim. Preferably, the aperture location in the rim is determined at a gauging station by a machine vision system. If necessary, a power-actuated nut runner is used to tighten a nut over the valve stem. Alternately, the gauging station can use a table which rotates the wheel about a central axis, and an optical sensor detects the location of the aperture. Optionally, a probe mounted on the gauging station can be extended into the aperture to confirm the aperture position and to reposition the rim slightly if required.

US Patent:

7367375, May 6, 2008

Filed:

Oct 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/544504

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Lawson - Troy MI, US
Edwin Reece - Clarkston MI, US
Robert Reece - Clarkston MI, US

Assignee:

Android Industries LLC - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60C 25/132
B60C 25/00

US Classification:

157 117, 157 11

Abstract:

A tire/wheel bead entrapment remover is disclosed. The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more working assemblies having a circumferential perimeter that substantially engages a tire. The one ore more working assemblies axially-moves one of a wheel of the tire mounted to the wheel while axially-fixing the other of the tire or the wheel to remove one or more entrapments between a bead of the tire and a beat seat of the wheel. According to an embodiment, a tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more wheels that engages an outboard surface or an inboard surface of a tire mounted to a wheel. The radial axis extends through the one or more wheels. The radial axis traverses a radial line that radially extends from a common axis of rotation of the tire and the wheel. A method for removing an entrapment from a tire/wheel assembly is also disclosed.

US Patent:

7556470, Jul 7, 2009

Filed:

Dec 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/959043

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Lawson - Troy MI, US
Lawrence L. Reece - Warren MI, US
Robert Reece - Clarkston MI, US
Richard J. Standen - Grosse Ile MI, US

Assignee:

Android Industries LLC - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B65G 59/10
B66C 1/54
B60C 25/132
B29D 30/00

US Classification:

4147956, 4147955, 294 93, 157 117, 264501

Abstract:

A device for separating individual tires that have become entwined including a movable head for engaging at least one tire in a stack of tires, an engaging finger coupled to the movable head, and at least one manipulating apparatus for moving the engaging finger and the movable head to dislodge entwined tires.

US Patent:

7600306, Oct 13, 2009

Filed:

Dec 22, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/644248

Inventors:

Lawrence Lawson - Troy MI, US
Karl D Sachs - Birmingham MI, US

Assignee:

Burke E. Porter Machinery Company - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

B23Q 17/00
B23P 17/04

US Classification:

2940709, 294071, 29709, 29714, 29802, 292215

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of a vehicle wheel includes locating apparatus that determines the location of an aperture on the wheel rim for receiving the valve stem, the locating apparatus preferably including a machine vision system at a gauging station. A programmable, robotic manipulator capable of compound, multi-axial movement and capable of engaging the valve stem is controlled by a controller to engage a valve stem, move the valve stem to the aperture in the wheel rim, coaxially align the central axis of the aperture with the longitudinal axis of the valve stem, and insert the valve stem through the aperture along the aligned central and longitudinal axes. Optionally, the robotic manipulator may include a nut runner to tighten a nut over the valve stem. Alternately, the gauging station may include a rotating table to rotate the vehicle wheel and an optical sensor for detecting the location of the aperture for the valve stem.

US Patent:

7621311, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Oct 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/543962

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Lawson - Troy MI, US
John C. Fox - Fraser MI, US

Assignee:

Android Industries LLC - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60C 25/00

US Classification:

157 124, 157 1

Abstract:

A tire-wheel assembly adjuster is disclosed. The tire-wheel assembly comprises a working assembly adapted to be adjustable along an axis relative a workpiece and a sub-assembly coupled to the working assembly that is adapted to be radially adjustable relative the axis. A method for assembling a tire-wheel assembly is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a tire in an un-mounted state relative a wheel to a tire-wheel assembly adjuster; moving a sub-assembly connected to a working assembly in a radial direction relative an axis; moving the working assembly in a first direction about the axis toward the tire and wheel; and causing a wheel adjuster extending from the sub-assembly to circumferentially seat a bead of the tire into a bead seat of the wheel.

US Patent:

7640963, Jan 5, 2010

Filed:

May 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/113325

Inventors:

Lawrence J. Lawson - Troy MI, US
Edwin Reece - Clarkston MI, US
Robert Reece - Clarkston MI, US

Assignee:

Android Industries LLC - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60C 25/132
B60C 25/00

US Classification:

157 117, 157 11

Abstract:

A tire/wheel bead entrapment remover is disclosed. The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more working assemblies having a circumferential perimeter that substantially engages a tire. The one or more working assemblies axially-moves one of a wheel of the tire mounted to the wheel while axially-fixing the other of the tire or the wheel to remove one or more entrapments between a bead of the tire and a beat seat of the wheel. According to an embodiment, a tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more wheels that engages an outboard surface or an inboard surface of a tire mounted to a wheel. The radial axis extends through the one or more wheels. The radial axis traverses a radial line that radially extends from a common axis of rotation of the tire and the wheel. A method for removing an entrapment from a tire/wheel assembly is also disclosed.