Automated wheel decking assembling

Claim 2

Fully automated apparatus for assembling wheels having attaching openings with mounted and inflated tires upon motor vehicles travelling along a conveyor the motor vehicles having hubs with threaded fastening means for cooperation with the wheel openings for attachments of the wheel-tire unit, said apparatus comprising means for automatically orienting each hub upon which a wheel is to be mounted with its threaded fastening means in a predetermined position, means for automatically orienting a wheel-tire unit with its attaching openings positioned in alignment with the positioned threaded fastening means of the associated hub, mounting means for automatically placing the wheel-tire unit onto the hub, and means for threading cooperating threaded fastening means onto the hub threaded fastening means for securing the wheel-tire unit to the hub.

Claim 3

A apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means for aligning the vehicle relative to the apparatus.

Claim 4

An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for orienting the hub includes means for centralizing the steered front hubs of the vehicle and for centralizing the vehicle relative to the apparatus.

Claim 5

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the apparatus further includes means for centralizing the rear of the vehicle relative to the apparatus.

Claim 6

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for orienting the hub is adapted to sequentially orient front hubs and rear hubs.

Claim 7

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for threading the cooperated threaded fastening means onto the hub includes a first station for affixing a first threaded fastening means onto the hub and a second station for affixing the remaining threaded fastening means onto the hub.

Claim 8

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for orienting the hub includes means for affixing the orienting means for movement with the vehicle along the conveyor.

Claim 11

Apparatus for automatically assembling wheels having attaching openings and mounted and inflated tires upon motor vehicles traveling along a conveyor, the motor vehicles having hubs with threaded fastening means for cooperation with the wheel openings for attachment of the wheel-tire unit, said apparatus comprising: wheel-tire orienting means operative to receive a wheel-tire unit from delivery means and to automatically rotate said wheel-tire unit so as to orient said openings in a predetermined position; positioning means operative to automatically position each of said hubs in a predetermined location and to orient said hub threaded fastening means in a position to be in alignment with said attaching openings in said wheel; mounting means for automatically placing said wheel-tire unit on said hub; and securing means for threading cooperating threaded fastening means through said openings onto said hub threaded fastening means to secure said wheel-tire unit to said hub.

Claim 12

Apparatus for automatically assembling wheels having attaching openings and mounted and inflated tires upon motor vehicles traveling along a conveyor, the motor vehicles having hubs with threaded fastening means for cooperation with the wheel openings for attachment of the wheel-tire unit, said apparatus comprising: wheel-tire orienting means operative to receive a wheel-tire unit from delivery means and to automatically rotate said wheel-tire unit so as to orient said openings in a predetermined position; positioning means operative to automatically position each of said hubs in a predetermined location and to orient said hub threaded fastening means in a position to be in alignment with said attaching openings in said wheel; mounting means for automatically placing said wheel-tire unit on said hub; and securing means for threading cooperating threaded fastening means through said openings onto said hub threaded fastening means to secure said wheel-tire unit to said hub.

Claim 13

An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said wheel-tire orienting means include sensing means operative to control operation of means for effecting rotation of said wheel-tire unit and to halt rotation thereof in response to the sensed presence of one of said openings.

Claim 14

An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said positioning means includes means to vertically position said hubs and means to position said hub fastening means in a plane extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said vehicle along said conveyor.

Claim 15

An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said mounting means and said securing means include means for effecting movement thereof in a direction substantially parallel to and in synchronism with the movement of said vehicle along said conveyor.