US3789226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-ray tire inspection machine
Assignee: FedEx Kinkos Business Stationery Print System Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-01
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-09-01
Abstract
Abstract An X-Ray tire inspection machine for automatic handling of tires and display of X-Ray shadow pictures of every part of the circumference of the tires includes devices for measuring each of a random succession of tires of differing sizes, positioning each tire in turn with the axis of an X-Ray imaging system in the midplane of the tire, spreading the beads of the tire sufficiently to avoid presence of more than one part of the tire in any ray of the X-Ray beam, stepwise rotation of the tire and successive display of X-Ray shadow pictures of each portion of the circumference of the tire while in a stationary position, marking the approximate location of each defect or other noteworthy observed feature and diversion of the marked tire, and dispatching toward their destinations the tires not marked for diversion. The machine may scan a single zone of the tire such as the tread, or may scan tread and sidewalls successively with a single imaging system or simultaneously with a group of imaging systems.
Inventors
- 👤 D Green
- 👤 J Snarr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/18; G01N23/185; G01N23/083; G01N23/16; G01N2223/00; G01N2223/60; G01N2223/627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine comprising a conveyor for transmitting a succession of tires to an inspection station and removing them from the inspection station, means including several tire supporting spools radially retractible out of the path of the tires on the conveyor and movable into positions for engaging the tread of each tire in succession in the inspection station and rotating the tire on its axis by rotation of the spools on their own different axes, an X-Ray source and X-Ray transducer on radially opposite sides of a wall of the tire in the inspection station, and means for retracting the X-Ray device from within the tire at the conclusion of the inspection and replacing it when the next tire is placed in the inspection station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine comprising a conveyor for transmitting a succession of tires to an inspection station and removing them from the inspection station, means including several tire supporting spools radially retractible out of the path of the tires on the conveyor and movable into positions for engaging the tread of each tire in succession in the inspection station and rotating the tire on its axis by rotation of the spools on their own different axes, an X-Ray source and X-Ray transducer on radially opposite sides of a wall of the tire in the inspection station, and means for retracting the X-Ray device from within the tire at the conclusion of the inspection and replacing it when the next tire is placed in the inspection station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 1 including means for separating the beads of the tire only in the portion of the tire penetrated by the X-Rays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 1, in which the tires are conveyed and inspected in a horizontal posture with the tire axis vertical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 3, in which the tires supporting spools engage the tread of the tire and have flanges bearing against the shoulders for lifting the tire out of contact with the conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 1, including means for driving the spools intermittently for stepwise rotation of each tire in steps no greater than can be inspected in one position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 5, in which the X-Ray transducer includes a fluoroscope screen and closed circuit television for display of a stepwise succession of still pictures of the images on the screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 1, including means for sensing the diameter of each successive tire and for transmitting an electric signal indicative of its diameter, and means responsive to the signal for radially positioning a tire supporting spool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 7, including means for driving the spools intermittently for stepwise rotation of each tire in steps no greater than can be inspected in one position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 8, in which the X-Ray transducer includes a fluorescent screen and a television camera which integrates the image received from the fluoroscope screen, means for transferring the image to a storage device, and means for displaying the image visually on a television monitor while the next segment of the tire is subjected to X-Ray examination.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
An X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 9, in which the means for sensing the diameter of the tires include a tire support in a fixed position; a tire contact element with power means for moving it into contact with a surface of a tire on the support, pulse generating means connected to the contact element for generating a number of pulses proportional to motion, and means for translating the pulses into motion of the tire supporting spools, and the tire supporting spools include a cylindrical tire tread engaging surface and an axially movable tire shoulder engaging flange.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
An X-Ray tire inspecting machine as in claim 10, including bead spreaders comprising pairs of fingers freely rotatable about their individual longitudinal axes and laterally projecting from axially movable supports, means for jointly moving the supports into tire bead engaging positions, and means for moving the Supports of the separate fingers of each pair equal distances in opposite directions for spreading the beads of a tire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
An X-Ray tire inspecting machine as in claim 11, in which the means for jointly moving the supports for the fingers include means for axial motion to and from the location of a tire and means for swiveling about the axis of the supports for engaging and disengaging the beads, and the means for moving the supports in opposite directions include a rack connected to each support and a freely rotatable pinion connected to the means for jointly moving the supports and engaging both racks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an X-Ray tire inspection machine, tire supporting spools comprising a cylindrical tire tread engaging surface, an axially movable tire shoulder engaging flange, means for programmed radial and axial motion to a predetermined position for support of a tire in an inspection station, and means for rotating the spools for presentation of the circumference of the tire for inspection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an X-Ray tire inspection machine, tire supporting spools comprising a cylindrical tire tread engaging surface, an axially movable tire shoulder engaging flange, means for programmed radial and axial motion to a predetermined position for support of a tire in an inspection station, and means for rotating the spools for presentation of the circumference of the tire for inspection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
In an X-Ray tire inspection machine, bead spreaders comprising pairs of fingers freely rotatable about their individual longitudinal axes and laterally projecting from axially movable supports, means for jointly moving the supports and fingers of each pair into fixed tire bead engaging positions for free rotation of the fingers on the inside of the beads as the tire is rotated, and means for moving the supports of the separate fingers of each pair equal distances in opposite directions for spreading the beads of a tire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
In an X-Ray tire inspection machine, bead spreaders comprising pairs of fingers freely rotatable about their individual longitudinal axes and laterally projecting from axially movable supports, means for jointly moving the supports and fingers of each pair into fixed tire bead engaging positions for free rotation of the fingers on the inside of the beads as the tire is rotated, and means for moving the supports of the separate fingers of each pair equal distances in opposite directions for spreading the beads of a tire.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
In an X-Ray tire inspection machine as in claim 14, the means for jointly moving the supports include means for axial motion to and from the location of a tire and means for swiveling about the axis of the supports for engaging and disengaging the beads, and the means for moving the supports in opposite directions include a rack connected to each support and a freely rotatable pinion connected to the first mentioned means and engaging both racks.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |