Pneumatic tire, tire processing machine, wheel, method, control device and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a bead having a bead base facing an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire; the tire bead base part is provided with a bulge which faces the rotating axis and extends along the circumferential direction of the tire bead base part; and wherein the projection has a geometry that varies in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a bead with a bead base facing the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire; wherein the bead base has a surface structure formed by removing a tire material along a processing trajectory in a processing region of the bead base; and wherein the surface structure is wave-shaped. The invention further relates to a method and to a tire processing machine for producing such a pneumatic tire, to a method for operating a tire processing machine, to a wheel having such a pneumatic tire, to a control device for controlling such a method, and to a computer program product for controlling such a method.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of processing pneumatic tires, such as passenger car tires or truck tires. BACKGROUND

[0002] DE 43 39 775 C2 discloses a method for correcting the concentricity of a pneumatic tire and a device for clamping the tire suitable for carrying out the method. The method removes sufficient material from a radially inner seating surface of a tire bead so that the radial force fluctuations remaining thereafter are within the tolerance range. The removal is carried out by a laser beam. A device for clamping the tire and removing rubber from the bead area is designed in cross section like a rim, with a first seating surface arranged radially inside and a further seating surface arranged axially outside, wherein the radially inside arranged seating surface is recessed over a region of the circumference so that a tool for removing from the radially inner surface of the tire bead can touch the bead within this region of the circumference. The region of the circumference over which the radially inside arranged seating surface is recessed has an extension of 50 to 160 degrees, preferably 90 degrees. SUMMARY

[0003] There is a need for a technology that allows for improved processing of pneumatic tires.

[0004] This need is considered by the independent claims. Some advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a pneumatic tire is provided.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the first aspect, a pneumatic tire is provided, the pneumatic tire having: a bead having a bead base facing towards an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire; wherein the bead base has a surface structure formed by removing tire material in a processing region of the bead base along a processing trajectory; wherein the surface structure is wavy.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a method is provided.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the second aspect, a method for processing a pneumatic tire, in particular for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to at least one embodiment of the first aspect from it, is provided, wherein the pneumatic tire has a bead base, wherein the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire, and wherein the pneumatic tire defines a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, the method having: removing tire material in a processing region of the bead base and thereby forming a surface structure by removing tire material along a processing trajectory, wherein the surface structure is wavy, and / or generating a protrusion extending towards the axis of rotation and in the circumferential direction, and wherein the protrusion has a geometry that varies in the circumferential direction.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a tire processing machine is provided.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the third aspect, a tire processing machine is provided for processing a pneumatic tire, in particular for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to at least one embodiment of the first aspect from it, wherein the pneumatic tire to be processed has a first bead and a second bead, wherein the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the tire, and wherein the pneumatic tire defines a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, the tire processing machine having at least one first holding finger engageable with the first bead, at least one second holding finger engageable with the second bead, wherein the at least one first holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tire, in particular together with the at least one first holding finger, relative to the at least one second holding finger.

[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a method is provided.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the fourth aspect, a method is provided for operating a tire processing machine for processing a pneumatic tire, in particular for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to at least one embodiment of the first aspect from it, wherein the pneumatic tire to be processed has a first bead and a second bead, wherein the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire, and wherein the pneumatic tire defines a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, the method having engaging at least one first holding finger with the first bead, engaging at least one second holding finger with the second bead, operating the at least one first holding finger, in particular performing a rotational movement, to rotate the pneumatic tire, in particular together with the at least one first holding finger, relative to the at least one second holding finger.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a vehicle wheel is provided.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the fifth aspect, a vehicle wheel is provided having a rim and a pneumatic tire according to the first aspect fitted on the rim.

[0015] According to a sixth aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a control device of a tire processing machine is provided.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the sixth aspect, the control device is configured to perform the method according to at least one embodiment of the second aspect and / or the method according to at least one embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0017] According to a seventh aspect of the subject matter disclosed herein, a computer program product is provided.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product having program elements which, when implemented on a processor device, are configured to carry out the method according to at least one embodiment of the second aspect and / or the method according to at least one embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0019] Even though when certain shortcomings of the earlier technology are referred to herein, the claimed subject matter should not be limited to implementations that overcome some or all of the mentioned shortcomings of the earlier technology. Moreover, even though when certain advantages of the herein disclosed subject matter are referred to or implied in the present disclosure, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that have some or all of these advantages.

[0020] Example implementations of the herein disclosed subject matter are described below, wherein any number and combination of the example implementations can be implemented in implementations of aspects of the herein disclosed subject matter. Example implementations of the herein disclosed subject matter include, inter alia, at least one of the following implementations and combinations of implementations:

[0021] According to one embodiment of the first aspect, the pneumatic tire has a bead with a bead base. As is common, the bead base faces towards an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire. In other words, the bead base is defined by a surface section of the bead that faces towards the axis of rotation. If the pneumatic tire is fitted on a rim, according to one embodiment, the bead base rests on the rim. According to another embodiment, the bead base seals the pneumatic tire against the rim (e.g. in a tubeless tire).

[0022] According to one embodiment of the herein disclosed subject matter, the bead base has a surface structure formed by removing tire material in a machining region of the bead base along a machining trajectory, wherein the surface structure is wavelike.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the bead base has a protrusion towards the axis of rotation and extending in a circumferential direction. According to another embodiment, the protrusion has a geometry that varies in the circumferential direction.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire and in particular the bead of the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire and a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation. As is common and according to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire has two beads, namely a first bead and a second bead.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the second aspect, the method for processing a pneumatic tire has: removing tire material in a processing region of a bead base and thereby forming (i) a surface structure formed by removing tire material along a processing trajectory, wherein the surface structure is wavy; and / or (ii) a protrusion, wherein the protrusion extends toward the rotational axis and in the circumferential direction, and wherein the protrusion has a geometry that varies in the circumferential direction.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the third aspect, the tire processing machine for processing a pneumatic tire has: at least one first holding finger engageable with a first bead; and at least one second holding finger engageable with a second bead. According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tire (e.g., together with the at least one first holding finger) relative to the at least one second holding finger.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the fourth aspect, the method for operating a tire processing machine has: engaging at least one first holding finger with a first bead; and engaging at least one second holding finger with a second bead. According to one embodiment, the method further has: operating the at least one first holding finger to rotate the pneumatic tire relative to the at least one second holding finger. According to one embodiment, operating the at least one holding finger has: driving the at least one first holding finger in a rotational motion to rotate the pneumatic tire together with the at least one first holding finger relative to the at least one second holding finger.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the wheel has a rim and a pneumatic tire according to at least one embodiment of the first aspect fitted on the rim.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the sixth aspect, the control device is configured to perform or control the method according to at least one embodiment of the second aspect and / or the method according to at least one embodiment of the fourth aspect.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the seventh aspect, the computer program is configured to perform (i.e., control) the method according to at least one embodiment of the second aspect and / or the method according to at least one embodiment of the fourth aspect when it is implemented on a processor device.

[0031] In the above and below, in some embodiments, a feature is referred to with an indefinite article at the first occurrence of the feature, e.g. when describing embodiments of different aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein. It is to be understood, however, that the use of indefinite articles in the present disclosure is not limiting and that a feature referred to in different embodiments, whether with definite or indefinite article, refers to the same feature in any case, at least in one embodiment, and thus in a combination of different embodiments, a feature can be referred to with an indefinite article at the first occurrence of the feature and with a definite article at a further occurrence of the feature. Further, in one embodiment, the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect and the seventh aspect are at least partially different aspects of the same subject matter.

[0032] Aspects and embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are based on the idea that by a suitable design of the force seeking in the bead base, an improved processing of the pneumatic tire can be achieved. Other aspects and embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are based on the idea that by providing a suitable tire processing machine, a design of the force seeking in the bead base can be achieved.

[0033] Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are described below, e.g. with reference to a pneumatic tire, a method for processing a pneumatic tire, a tire processing machine, a method for operating a tire processing machine, a vehicle wheel, a control device and a computer program product. It is emphasized that any combination of features of different aspects, embodiments and examples is naturally possible. In particular, some embodiments are described with respect to methods, control devices and computer program products, while other embodiments are described with respect to devices or products, e.g. a pneumatic tire, a tire processing machine and a vehicle wheel. Yet other embodiments are described with respect to mechanical structures, in particular with respect to mechanical interplay of elements of a device and / or product, while other embodiments are described with respect to control devices for interacting with elements of a device. However, it is clear to the person skilled in the art from the above and below description of the specification, claims and drawings that features of different aspects, embodiments and examples can be combined, and that such combinations of features are to be considered as disclosed by the present application, as long as not stated otherwise. For example, features relating to a method can be combined with features relating to a device or product and vice versa. Further, features can be combined regardless of the position of disclosure, e.g. regardless of whether the relevant features are disclosed in the general part, the description of the drawings, the claims or the drawings themselves.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the methods disclosed herein can define the functionality of the devices disclosed herein or the products disclosed herein, without being limited to device-specific features. In this regard, any functionality disclosed herein as being implemented by the devices disclosed herein or the products disclosed herein is meant only to be illustrative of a corresponding method that is defined only by the functionality disclosed. Conversely, according to one embodiment, the methods disclosed herein can be implemented using any suitable known device, which can have unique elements or multiple, co-acting elements. In this regard, any method disclosed herein is meant to imply a corresponding device configured to implement the method or a product configured to result from the method.

[0035] It should be noted that, unless explicitly stated otherwise, numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are used only to identify different elements (e.g. bead, roller, etc.), and the numbers do not imply an order of method steps, and the numbers do not require or imply the presence of one of the other different elements. For example, a mere reference to a second roller does not require a first roller to have been present or to be set up at all.

[0036] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, according to one embodiment, a list of features or method steps does not limit the order of the features or method steps in the sequence of the list. According to another embodiment, however, the order of the features or the order of the method steps corresponds to the stated sequence of the list.

[0037] The expression "A and / or B" includes the three embodiments "only A", "only B", and "A and B". The term "in particular" refers to optional features. The term "at least one of the following" or "at least one of the following features" includes embodiments with only one of the features mentioned, respectively, as well as embodiments with any combination of two or more of the features mentioned.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the varying geometry of the protrusion (of the bead base) extends the entire circumference of the bead base, i.e. an angular range of 360 degrees. According to one embodiment, the varying geometry of the protrusion (of the bead base) extends an angular range of less than 360 degrees, e.g. an angular range of less than 180 degrees. For example, according to one embodiment, the angular range is in the interval between 20 degrees and 350 degrees. Thus, this embodiment includes both an angular range of 20 degrees (which is the minimum angular range in this embodiment) as well as an angular range of 350 degrees (which is the maximum angular range in this embodiment). According to one embodiment, the angular range is in the interval between 40 degrees and 160 degrees. According to one embodiment, the protrusion extends an angular range disclosed herein, e.g. an angular range of less than 360 degrees.

[0039] One embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein allows for processing over a large angular range. A large angular range has the advantage that, for example, deviations of the ideal roundness of the pneumatic tire and the taper of the pneumatic tire can be at least partially corrected by the full processing of the bead base during the processing. As the person skilled in the art is familiar with, the roundness of a tire refers to the deviation of the ideal distance of a portion of the pneumatic tire from the axis of rotation. Thus, the roundness of a tire is a geometric requirement which is to be distinguished from the tire imbalance of a reference mass distribution. As the person skilled in the art is also familiar with, the taper of a tire refers to the different outer diameter of the pneumatic tire at different axial positions.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the protrusion is a first protrusion and the bead base has a second protrusion extending in the circumferential direction of the bead base. According to one embodiment, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are arranged spaced apart from each other (axially). According to one embodiment, the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion of the bead base is deformed by the rim to which the pneumatic tire is fitted. In this way, the sealing of the pneumatic tire to the rim can be improved. Accordingly, in the wheel according to one embodiment, the protrusion of the bead base is deformed by the rim. For example, the protrusion of the bead base, in particular the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion, has a deformation varying in the circumferential direction by the rim.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the first protrusion and the second protrusion define a recess therebetween, in particular a recess which is at least partially slot-shaped in the axial direction and / or in the circumferential direction. For example, the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend over the same angular range. According to another embodiment, the first protrusion can be offset in the circumferential direction relative to the second protrusion. In other words, according to one embodiment, the first protrusion extends over a first angular range and the second protrusion extends over a second angular range, wherein the first angular range and the second angular range only partially overlap.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the recess can be formed asymmetrically in the axial direction. For example, the transition from the bottom of the recess to the respective protrusion can be designed differently for the first protrusion and for the second protrusion.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the protrusion protrudes beyond a bottom of the bead base (the bottom). In one embodiment, the geometry varying in the circumferential direction can comprise a height of the protrusion relative to the bottom varying in the circumferential direction. According to one embodiment, the height of the protrusion relative to the bottom is at most 1 mm, for example at most 0.5 mm. According to one embodiment, the difference of the height of the protrusion at one angular position in the circumferential direction relative to the bottom and the height of the protrusion at another angular position relative to the bottom is at most 1 mm, for example at most 0.5 mm. In another embodiment, the height of the protrusion relative to the bottom or the difference is at most 0.3 mm. In another embodiment, in the manufacturing of the pneumatic tire, additional rubber material is provided on the bead base in order to provide a larger removal volume for the out-of-roundness. In particular, in this case, the height or the difference can be larger than 1 mm, for example less than 1.5 mm or less than 2 mm.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the protrusion (e.g. the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion) is arranged in an axial edge region of the bead base. The axial edge region of the bead base (i.e. the edge region of the bead base as viewed in the axial direction) is also commonly referred to as the toe (in case of an edge region pointing towards the interior of the pneumatic tire) or the heel (in case of an edge region pointing outwards).

[0045] According to one embodiment, the protrusion (e.g. the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion) is formed by removing tire material in the machining region of the bead base (in particular the aforementioned machining region). According to one embodiment, the removal of tire material is performed with laser radiation, in particular with laser radiation of a CO2 laser. In general, this removal can be a removal according to the embodiments disclosed herein, for example a removal for forming the protrusion and / or a removal for forming the surface structure.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the laser radiation (with which the removal is generated) is continuous or quasi-continuous laser radiation (also referred to as CW laser radiation). According to another embodiment, the power distribution of the laser radiation over the beam cross section of the laser radiation exhibits a Gaussian profile. According to another embodiment, the laser radiation has a power of more than 400 W. According to another embodiment, the laser radiation has a power of more than 800 W. The power of the laser radiation emitted by the laser device is also referred to as the output power of the laser device (or simply "laser").

[0047] According to one embodiment, the removal of the tire material is carried out along at least one line. In the case of continuous laser radiation, in this case continuous removal is carried out along the line. In the case of pulsed laser radiation, the removal is carried out by removal points which overlap along the line (each laser pulse produces a removal at one removal point). By suitable overlapping along the line, an almost continuous removal along the line can also be achieved in this way. According to one embodiment, the term "line" herein refers to a line along which the laser radiation or the laser spot produced by the laser radiation is directed. The width of the removal along the line, i.e. the width of the removal area of the only line, is thus determined by the width or diameter of the laser radiation (or of the laser spot produced on the pneumatic tire by the laser radiation). Since the removal is not a linear function of the intensity, the width of the removal area can be smaller than the width of the laser spot.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the laser radiation is configured such that the removal width along the only line, i.e. the width of the removal area of the only line, corresponds to the desired total removal width, i.e. the width of the machining area. For example, according to one embodiment, the width of the removal area along the only line corresponds to the width of the recess. It is to be noted that this width is always determined in the axial direction here. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the width of the removal area of the only line corresponds approximately to the diameter of the laser radiation at 1 / e2when the beam cross section of the laser radiation exhibits a Gaussian intensity distribution.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the removal of the tire material is carried out along a plurality of parallel lines. In this way, in a transverse direction which extends in the longitudinal direction transverse to the parallel lines, the removal extends over an area which is greater in the transverse direction than the extension of the removal area of the only line in the transverse direction.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the parallel lines enclose an angle with the axial direction which is in the range between 0 degrees and 60 degrees. According to another embodiment, the parallel lines extend in the circumferential direction. Thus, according to one embodiment, the removal area or machining track also extends in the circumferential direction or encloses an angle with the axial direction which is in the range between 0 degrees and 60 degrees.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the removal areas of adjacent lines overlap. For example, according to one embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is between 10% and 90%. According to another embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is between 65% and 85%. For example, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is 10%, 20%, 33.333%, 50%, 66.667%, 80% or 90%. For example, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is 80%.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is constant. For example, for all parallel lines of the plurality of parallel lines, the overlap of the removal areas of two adjacent lines is always 80%.

[0053] According to another embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines depends on the removal depth. For example, according to one embodiment, the greater the removal depth, the greater the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines, and vice versa. For example, by a greater overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines, a greater depth of removal can be achieved.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the removal depth varies continuously in the circumferential direction.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the variation of the removal depth in the circumferential direction and / or in the axial direction is at least partially achieved by varying the power of the laser radiation. Varying the power of the laser radiation to vary the removal depth has the advantage that the overlap of the individual removal lines can be kept constant and the process control is less complex.

[0056] The laser radiation generates a laser spot (also simply referred to as "spot") on the surface of the pneumatic tire, in particular on the surface of the bead base. The area of the surface that is illuminated by the laser spot is also referred to herein as machining spot. According to one embodiment, the variation of the removal depth in the circumferential direction and / or in the axial direction is at least partially achieved by varying the feed speed of the laser spot onto the surface of the tire. This has the advantage that, according to one embodiment, the entire process can be performed with constant maximum laser power and thus with higher efficiency. In particular, according to one embodiment, the variation of the removal depth in the circumferential direction and / or in the axial direction is at least partially achieved by varying the feed speed of the laser spot onto the surface of the bead base.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the bead in the machining region has a surface structure, for example a surface structure according to the embodiments described herein.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the surface structure is formed by removing tire material along a machining track in the machining region. According to one embodiment, the machining track corresponds to a removal area of a line, for example a removal area of an adjacent line.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the surface structure is wavelike, for example the surface structure has a plurality of wave crests which alternate with wave troughs, so that there is one wave trough between two wave crests.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the wave crests of the surface structure are arranged at least partially parallel to each other. According to one embodiment, the wave crests extend generally parallel to each other, according to one embodiment, with a deviation from exact parallelism. It is noted that the wave-shaped surface structure is not necessarily a symmetrical surface structure in the sense of a sinusoidal shape. Rather, according to one embodiment, the wave shape of the surface structure differs from a sinusoidal shape. For example, according to one embodiment, the wave shape is characterized in that the wave crests are narrower than the wave troughs. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the wave crests can be pointed and the wave troughs can be flat.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the surface structure has a first structure portion and / or a second structure portion. For example, the surface structure can have only a first structure portion or only a second structure portion, or a first structure portion and a second structure portion. For example, the surface structure can have a superposition of a first structure portion and a second structure portion.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the first structure portion has wave crests defined by an overlap of machining tracks. For example, the overlap of machining tracks, i.e. the removed areas of parallel lines, is between 10% and 90% of the width of the machining tracks. According to one embodiment, the wave crests of the first structure portion extend along the machining tracks.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the second structure portion has wave crests at a distance greater than the width of the machining tracks. According to one embodiment, the geometry of the wave crests of the second structure portion varies along the longitudinal direction of the wave crests.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the distance between the wave crests of the first structure portion is greater than 0.05 mm. According to another embodiment, the distance between the wave crests of the first structure portion is less than 2 mm. According to another embodiment, the distance between the wave crests of the second structure portion is greater than 0.5 mm. According to another embodiment, the distance between the wave crests of the second structure portion is less than 10 mm. According to another embodiment, the amplitude of the surface structure is between 0.005 mm (= 5 pm) and 0.25 mm (= 250 pm).

[0065] According to one embodiment, the amplitude of the surface structure varies along the circumferential direction. For example, starting from a maximum amplitude value, the amplitude of the surface structure continuously decreases along the circumferential direction, according to one embodiment, in both directions, i.e. starting from the maximum amplitude point, both along the circumferential direction and opposite to the circumferential direction. According to one embodiment, the amplitude of the surface structure is modulated along the circumferential direction, with one or more local maxima / minima in the amplitude.

[0066] According to one embodiment, at least one edge region of the bead base (e.g. the toe and / or the heel) is free of surface structures. According to one embodiment, in the machining region, a recess is formed in the bead base. In other words, machining the bead base (e.g. removing tire material) in the machining region results in a recess. In particular, according to one embodiment, the creation of the surface structures results in a recess in the bead base. In one embodiment, in which the machining region does not extend to an edge region of the bead base, the removal in the machining region results in a protrusion according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0067] Embodiments are described below in particular with respect to the second aspect, wherein related embodiments are of course also embodiments of the other aspects.

[0068] Corresponding to the above-described embodiments, according to one embodiment, the removal of tire material is performed over an angular range of less than 360 degrees. Thus, according to one embodiment, the protrusion extends over an angular range of less than 360 degrees.

[0069] According to one embodiment, during the removal of tire material, the pneumatic tire is rotated about its axis of rotation. In this way, for example, according to one embodiment, the source of laser radiation and / or the suction device can be positioned fixedly during machining of the first bead or the second bead. According to one embodiment, the tire material is removed multiple times in a portion of the machining region. For example, if the power of the laser radiation is not sufficient to achieve the desired depth at a certain machining speed, almost any desired removal depth can be achieved by removing the tire material multiple times.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the protrusion is a first protrusion and the removal of the tire material in the machining region results in a second protrusion extending in the circumferential direction. According to one embodiment, the machining region is arranged between the first protrusion and the second protrusion and thereby defines a recess between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. According to one embodiment, the recess is at least partially channel-shaped in the axial direction and / or in the circumferential direction. According to one embodiment, the removal of the tire material is performed to a depth and the depth varies in the circumferential direction of the protrusion. Thus, according to one embodiment, the geometry varying in the circumferential direction can comprise a depth of the recess varying in the circumferential direction. In one embodiment, the depth of the recess corresponds to the height of the protrusion with respect to the base. Thus, embodiments regarding the height of the protrusion apply correspondingly to the depth of the recess and vice versa. According to another embodiment, the depth of the recess corresponds to the removal depth, i.e. the depth of the removal of the tire material from the bead base. According to one embodiment, the variation of the depth in the circumferential direction can be generated by combining more than one harmonic vibration, which differ in the maximum amplitude and the frequency, respectively, for example by combining 2, 3 or 4 such harmonic vibrations. According to one embodiment, the desired variation of the removal depth is defined as a combination of several harmonic vibrations in the form of a Fourier transform of the desired removal function.

[0071] According to another embodiment, the symmetry in the axial direction of the recess can vary along the circumferential direction. For example, according to one embodiment, the symmetry in the axial direction can depend on the average removal depth in the circumferential direction. Thus, for example, according to another embodiment, the recess can be uniform and / or symmetrical in the axial direction at angular positions along the circumferential direction where there is a minimum removal.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the machining region comprises a central region of the bead base, wherein the central region of the bead base is arranged between the edge regions of the bead base in the axial direction. According to another embodiment, the machining region is present in the central region of the bead base. In other words, according to one embodiment, the edge regions of the bead base, which delimit the bead base in the axial direction, are not part of the machining region.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the removal of the tire material is achieved with laser radiation, in particular laser radiation of a CO2 laser. According to one embodiment, the CO2 laser is operated continuously during the removal. According to another embodiment, the CO2 laser has a Gaussian intensity profile over its beam cross section. According to another embodiment, the output power of the CO2 laser exceeds 400 W. For example, according to one embodiment, the output power of the CO2 laser exceeds 800 W.

[0074] According to one embodiment, removing the tire material along at least one line is implemented. For example, according to one embodiment, removing the tire material along a unique line is implemented. According to another embodiment, removing the tire material along a plurality of lines is implemented, in particular along a plurality of parallel lines. According to one embodiment, the parallel lines enclose an angle with the axial direction in the range between 0 degree and 60 degrees. According to another embodiment, the parallel lines extend along the circumferential direction.

[0075] According to one embodiment, removing the tire material along a line defines a removal area. According to one embodiment, the removal areas of adjacent lines overlap. For example, according to one embodiment, the 1 / e2 diameter of the laser radiation is greater than the spacing between the parallel lines.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is between 10% and 90%. Accordingly, according to one embodiment, the spacing between the adjacent lines is between 90% and 10% of the 1 / e2 diameter of the laser radiation. According to another embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is between 65% and 85%. Accordingly, according to one embodiment, the spacing between the adjacent lines is between 35% and 15% of the 1 / e2 diameter of the laser radiation. According to another embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is 10%, 20%, 33.333%, 50%, 66.667%, 80% or 90%. Accordingly, according to one embodiment, the spacing between the adjacent lines is between 90%, 80%, 66.667%, 50%, 33.333%, 20% or 10% of the 1 / e2 diameter of the laser radiation. According to one embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines corresponds to the overlap of adjacent machining tracks.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines is constant. Accordingly, according to one embodiment, the spacing between the adjacent lines is constant.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the overlap of the removal areas of adjacent lines depends on the removal depth. According to one embodiment, during the removal of the tire material in the machining area, the power of the laser radiation varies as a function of the position in the axial direction and / or of the position in the circumferential direction. According to another embodiment, during the removal of the tire material in the machining area, the feed speed, i.e. the speed at which the laser spot is guided on the bead base, varies as a function of the position in the axial direction and / or of the position in the circumferential direction. According to one embodiment, during the removal of the tire material, a rotation of the pneumatic tire around a rotation axis is implemented, in particular at a constant angular speed.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the rotation of the pneumatic tire about the axis of rotation is compensated for when positioning the laser radiation in the machining region. For example, in order to produce parallel lines in the axial direction, the laser radiation is tracked in the direction of rotation at the circumferential speed of the bead base, then jumped back against the direction of rotation, in order to then reproduce the parallel lines in the opposite direction (against the axial direction) during the tracking of the laser radiation in the direction of rotation at the circumferential speed of the bead base. After the jump back, this procedure is repeated until the desired number of parallel lines is produced.

[0080] If the parallel lines are not parallel to the axial direction, but should run at an acute angle to the axial direction, the procedure is similarly performed, wherein the laser radiation is then tracked in the direction of rotation at a speed higher than the circumferential speed of the bead base in order to produce an acute angle between the axial direction and the parallel lines.

[0081] The tracking of the laser radiation parallel to the circumferential direction (i.e. in the direction of rotation and against the direction of rotation) and the jump back parallel to the circumferential direction (i.e. in the direction of rotation and against the direction of rotation) can be implemented, for example, by means of a laser scanner (also referred to herein simply as "scanner"), for example a galvanometer scanner. According to one embodiment, the laser radiation is switched off (the power of the laser radiation is equal to 0 W) for the jump back.

[0082] Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to ways and means of receiving a pneumatic tire or holding and moving a pneumatic tire in a tire machining machine in order to be able to machine a pneumatic tire as disclosed herein in an efficient manner.

[0083] According to one embodiment of the method, at least one first holding finger engages with a first bead of the pneumatic tire and at least one second holding finger engages with a second bead of the pneumatic tire.

[0084] According to one embodiment, at least two first holding fingers and at least two second holding fingers are provided. In another embodiment, at least three first holding fingers and three second holding fingers are provided. At least three holding fingers have the advantage that they define a plane and thus the spatial position of the associated bead is determined by the at least three holding fingers. A larger number of holding fingers (for example four holding fingers, six holding fingers or eight holding fingers per bead) has the advantage that a deformation of the bead due to gravity can be avoided, in particular even in one embodiment in which the pneumatic tire is machined in a horizontal arrangement, i.e. in an arrangement in which the axis of rotation extends parallel to the direction of gravity.

[0085] Accordingly, the term "at least one first retaining finger" explicitly also comprises the embodiments "at least two first retaining fingers", "at least three first retaining fingers", "at least four first retaining fingers", "at least six first retaining fingers" and "at least eight first retaining fingers", as well as the term "a set of first retaining fingers", wherein according to one embodiment the set of first retaining fingers comprises at least one first retaining finger, at least two first retaining fingers, at least three first retaining fingers, at least four first retaining fingers, at least six first retaining fingers or at least eight first retaining fingers.

[0086] Accordingly, the term "at least one second retaining finger" explicitly also comprises the embodiments "at least two second retaining fingers", "at least three second retaining fingers", "at least four second retaining fingers", "at least six second retaining fingers" and "at least eight second retaining fingers", as well as the term "a set of second retaining fingers", wherein according to one embodiment the set of second retaining fingers comprises at least one second retaining finger, at least two second retaining fingers, at least three second retaining fingers, at least four second retaining fingers, at least six second retaining fingers or at least eight second retaining fingers.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire is held exclusively by the at least one first retaining finger and / or the at least one second retaining finger. According to another embodiment, in addition to the at least one first retaining finger and / or the at least one second retaining finger, further retaining elements are provided.

[0088] According to one embodiment, by positioning the at least one first retaining finger and the at least one second retaining finger relative to each other, the distance between the first bead and the second bead can be adjusted. For example, according to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire can be unfolded in the axial direction, i.e. by means of the set of first retaining fingers and the set of second retaining fingers the distance between the first bead and the second bead is adjusted to a value which is greater than the nominal distance between the first bead and the second bead after mounting on the rim. By unfolding the tire in the axial direction, the processing of the tire can be simplified.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the rotation of the pneumatic tire during the removal of tire material is effected by a rotational movement of the at least one first retaining finger (or by a rotational movement of the set of first retaining fingers).

[0090] According to one embodiment, the set of first retaining fingers thus fulfills two functions: first, positioning the first bead of the tire, and second, driving the first bead of the tire in a rotational movement.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the second bead is in rolling engagement with the at least one second holding finger when driving the at least one first holding finger in rotational movement, for example by releasing at least one roller of the at least one second holding finger. In other words, according to one embodiment, the second bead is supported in rolling manner on the at least one second holding finger when driving the at least one first holding finger in rotational movement, and the removal (of the tire material) takes place on the second bead.

[0092] The fact that the bead (the second bead in the above embodiment) from which the tire material is removed is supported in rolling manner on the associated at least one (second) holding finger has the advantage that the associated (second) holding finger can keep its position unchanged and thus the laser radiation can be directed towards the bead between two adjacent holding fingers. During the removal, the suction device can also be positioned positionally fixed relative to the bead to be processed and between two adjacent holding fingers. Thus, in general, according to one embodiment, the bead to be processed is guided through the laser radiation and the suction device by the rotational movement of the pneumatic tire.

[0093] According to another embodiment, the removal of tire material from the first bead is effected after the removal of tire material from the second bead. According to one embodiment, during the removal of the first bead, the rotation of the pneumatic tire is effected by driving the at least one second holding finger in rotational movement. For example, during the driving in rotational movement, the at least one second holding finger is in frictional engagement with the pneumatic tire, for example by locking at least one roller of the at least one second holding finger.

[0094] As mentioned above, the first holding finger (for example each of the at least one first holding finger or at least one of the at least one first holding finger) and / or the second holding finger (for example each of the at least one second holding finger or at least one of the at least one second holding finger) can have at least one roller. For example, the roller (one or more rollers can be associated with the holding finger) can be locked to prevent the roller from rotating, for example to bring the first holding finger into frictional engagement with the pneumatic tire. According to another embodiment, the roller can be releasable to allow the roller to rotate, for example to bring the first holding finger and the roller into rolling engagement.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the first bead is in rolling engagement with the at least one first holding finger during driving the at least one second holding finger in rotational movement.

[0096] The provision of the holding fingers can allow the pneumatic tire to be processed efficiently.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger is brought into engagement with the first bead of the pneumatic tire by moving the at least one first holding finger into the pneumatic tire in a first lateral direction (e.g. in an axial direction) and then moving the at least one first holding finger in a direction towards the first bead. Similarly, according to another embodiment, the at least one second holding finger is brought into engagement with the second bead of the pneumatic tire by moving the at least one second holding finger into the pneumatic tire in a second lateral direction (e.g. in an axial direction) and then moving the at least one second holding finger in a direction towards the second bead.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger is mounted at a carrier (also referred to herein as a first carrier). According to another embodiment, the at least one second holding finger is mounted at a second carrier.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger is moved into the pneumatic tire in a first lateral direction by lifting the carrier. According to one embodiment, the carrier can be arranged, for example, below a transport device. According to one embodiment, the transport device is configured for positioning the pneumatic tire in a tire processing machine.

[0100] According to one embodiment, in order to drive the at least one first holding finger into a rotational movement, the carrier is lifted above the transport device. According to one embodiment, the carrier (and thus also the holding fingers mounted thereat) is then driven into a rotational movement.

[0101] According to another embodiment, at least one roller can be driven to drive the pneumatic tire into a rotational movement relative to the holding fingers. In other words, according to one embodiment, the relevant holding fingers can be operated by driving their rollers to drive the pneumatic tire into a rotational movement relative to the holding fingers. In other words, the driving holding fingers do not move here together with the pneumatic tire.

[0102] According to one embodiment, the tire processing machine according to the third aspect has in particular at least one first holding finger engageable with the first bead and at least one second holding finger engageable with the second bead. According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tire (e.g. together with the at least one first holding finger) relative to the at least one second holding finger (i.e. to drive a rotational movement of the pneumatic tire relative to the at least one second holding finger). As already described herein, this embodiment allows a position fixed positioning of the beam path of the laser radiation and / or the suction device relative to the second holding finger and still allows a processing of the second bead over the entire circumference. Obviously, the possibility to process over the entire circumference (i.e. over 360 degrees) is not used in every case according to the embodiments, but according to some embodiments, the processing of the relevant bead (here: the second bead) is only performed over a limited angular range, e.g. over an angular range of 270 degrees.

[0103] According to one embodiment, the at least one second holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tire (e.g. together with the at least one second holding finger) relative to the at least one first holding finger (i.e. to drive a rotational movement of the pneumatic tire relative to the at least one first holding finger). For example, according to one embodiment, it can be provided that the pneumatic tire is selectively driven into a rotational movement by the at least one first holding finger or by the at least one second holding finger.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger and / or the at least one second holding finger is configured to hold the first bead and the second bead at a predetermined distance. For example, as described herein, it can be provided that the at least one first holding finger and / or the at least one second holding finger is configured to expand the pneumatic tire in axial direction.

[0105] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger is configured for introduction of the at least one first holding finger into the pneumatic tire from a first side of the pneumatic tire. According to another embodiment, the at least one second holding finger is configured for introduction of the at least one second holding finger into the pneumatic tire from a second side of the pneumatic tire. According to one embodiment, the second side of the pneumatic tire is arranged opposite to the first side of the pneumatic tire. For example, the pneumatic tire has a first sidewall and a second sidewall which are arranged opposite to each other, wherein the first side of the pneumatic tire is arranged opposite to the first sidewall of the pneumatic tire and the second side is arranged opposite to the second sidewall of the pneumatic tire.

[0106] According to an embodiment, the tire processing machine has a suction device. For example, according to an embodiment, the suction device is movable into a first position for suction of process residues of the processing of the first bead. According to another embodiment, the suction device is movable into a second position for suction of process residues of the processing of the second bead. According to another embodiment, the suction device has a brush head which is temporally guided over the processing point behind the laser when the tire is subjected to a relative rotational movement with respect to the suction device. For example, the brush head of the suction device is arranged downstream with respect to the suction device. The brush head serves for removing possibly adhering process residues.

[0107] According to an embodiment, the tire processing machine has at least two of the first holding fingers, and the suction device is locatable between two adjacent first holding fingers. Alternatively or additionally, the tire processing machine can have at least two of the second holding fingers, wherein the suction device is locatable between two adjacent second holding fingers. As already mentioned above, the spatial position of the holding fingers between which the suction device is located can remain unchanged during the processing. For example, according to an embodiment, the spatial position of the holding fingers between which the suction device is located remains unchanged during the processing of the first bead. Furthermore, according to an embodiment, the spatial position of the holding fingers between which the suction device is located remains unchanged during the processing of the second bead.

[0108] According to an embodiment, the tire processing machine has a laser emission device for emitting laser radiation onto the pneumatic tire for processing the pneumatic tire thereby. According to an embodiment, the laser emission device is arranged radially outside the pneumatic tire. In this way, the design flexibility and / or positioning flexibility of the laser emission device is improved, since the laser emission device does not need to be installed inside the pneumatic tire.

[0109] According to an embodiment, the laser transport device has at least one scanner for moving a beam path of the laser radiation across the pneumatic tire. Moving the beam path by means of the at least one scanner is also referred to herein as "scanning movement of the beam path" (or simply "scanning movement"). According to an embodiment, the at least one scanner is configured to move the beam path in a direction which is parallel to the axis of rotation. In other words, according to an embodiment, the scanning movement has a directional component which is parallel to the axis of rotation. According to another embodiment, the scanning movement has a directional component in the circumferential direction.

[0110] According to one embodiment, the laser emission device can be configured to machine the bead base of the first bead. Optionally, the laser emission device can be configured to machine the bead base of the second bead, alternatively or additionally. Optionally or additionally, according to one embodiment, the laser emission device can be configured to machine an inner surface of the pneumatic tire. For example, according to one embodiment, the laser emission device can be configured to machine an inner surface section of the pneumatic tire facing away from a tread of the pneumatic tire.

[0111] According to one embodiment, the tire processing machine has a transport device, for example, on which the pneumatic tire can be transported lying flat. In the sense of one embodiment of the present disclosure, the directional specification "lying flat" means that the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire runs parallel or almost parallel to the force of gravity. According to one embodiment, the directional specification "lying flat" means that the sidewall of the pneumatic tire is opposite the transport device. According to one embodiment, the sidewall of the pneumatic tire rests on the transport device (and, for example, the tread of the pneumatic tire does not rest on the transport device). According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire rests on the transport device such that a barcode applied in the bead region is oriented upwards, i.e. away from the transport device, on the pneumatic tire. According to one embodiment, the barcode serves as a reference point in the tire circumferential direction for determining the angular position of the removal of tire material (rubber material).

[0112] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger and the at least one second holding finger can engage with the pneumatic tire lying flat on the transport device.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire can be lifted from the transport device by the at least one first holding finger and / or the at least one second holding finger into a lifted position such that the sidewall of the pneumatic tire is spaced apart from the transport device. According to one embodiment, the laser emission device is configured to machine the pneumatic tire in the lifted position.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger has a mechanical stop for a surface section of the first bead (also referred to herein as a first surface section). Optionally or additionally, the at least one second holding finger has a mechanical stop for a surface section of the second bead (also referred to herein as a second surface section). According to one embodiment, the mechanical stop (of the first holding finger and / or the second holding finger) is formed by a roller, as described herein. In particular, the roller forming the mechanical stop can be releasable or lockable, as described herein. By rollingly engaging the relevant surface section (i.e. the first surface section or the second surface section) with the roller, the mechanical load of the relevant surface section is reduced relative to a sliding engagement.

[0115] For example, at least one of the at least one holding finger has at least one roller, on which the first surface section can roll, and / or at least one of the at least one second holding finger has at least one roller, on which the second surface section can roll. For the sake of differentiation, the at least one roller, on which the first surface section (of the first bead) can roll, will be referred to as first roller in the following and the at least one roller, on which the second surface section (of the second bead) can roll, will be referred to as second roller. It is to be noted that this numbering of the names is only to facilitate the classification or to shorten the expression. In the description of the figures, the names "first roller" and "second roller" are used in other meanings, however, also there only to facilitate the classification or to shorten the expression.

[0116] According to one embodiment, the tire processing machine has at least one of the following features: the lateral bead portion of the first bead can roll on at least one of the at least one first roller; the bead base of the first bead can roll on at least one of the at least one first roller; the lateral bead portion of the second bead can roll on at least one of the at least one second roller; the bead base of the second bead can roll on at least one of the at least one second roller; at least one of the at least one first roller can be locked in its rotation for frictional engagement of the pneumatic tire and the first roller; at least one of the at least one second roller can be locked in its rotation for frictional engagement of the pneumatic tire and the second roller; at least one of the at least one first roller can be driven for rotation to drive the pneumatic tire into a rotational movement; at least one of the at least one second roller can be driven for rotation to drive the pneumatic tire into a rotational movement. According to one embodiment, the lateral bead portion of the first bead is a bead portion extending transversely to the bead base of the first bead and adjoining the bead base of the first bead. According to another embodiment, the lateral bead portion of the second bead is a bead portion extending transversely to the bead base of the second bead and adjoining the bead base of the second bead.

[0117] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger can be turned around the rotation axis at a distance from the rotation axis by at least 360 degrees. Alternatively or additionally, according to another embodiment, the at least one second holding finger can be turned around the rotation axis at a distance from the rotation axis by at least 360 degrees. For example, as described herein, the at least one first holding finger is mounted at the first carrier and / or the at least one second holding finger is mounted at the second carrier. By turning the associated carrier (i.e. the first carrier or the second carrier), the holding finger mounted at the carrier can be turned.

[0118] According to one embodiment, the first holding fingers are movably assembled at the first carrier. For example, according to one embodiment, the first holding fingers are movable towards and away from each other at the first carrier. For example, according to one embodiment, the first holding fingers are movable towards each other to introduce the first holding fingers into the pneumatic tire. Further, according to one embodiment, the first holding fingers are movable away from each other to engage the first holding fingers with the first bead of the pneumatic tire. Correspondingly, according to one embodiment, the second holding fingers are movable towards each other to introduce the second holding fingers into the pneumatic tire. Further, according to one embodiment, the second holding fingers are movable away from each other to engage the second holding fingers with the second bead of the pneumatic tire.

[0119] As described herein, the rotation of the carrier or the associated holding fingers assembled at the carrier takes place around the axis of rotation of the tire. Of course, however, as in any practical implementation of any technical process or device, deviations are possible. In particular, even when the axis of rotation of the carrier or the associated holding fingers deviates from the axis of rotation of the tire, the advantageous design of the tire processing machine enables the precise processing of the pneumatic tire. In this regard, within the scope of the present disclosure, reference to the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire also includes reference to an axis that deviates from the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire, as long as the functionality of the associated embodiments defined herein is achieved.

[0120] According to embodiments of the first aspect, the pneumatic tire is designed to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is generated by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect and / or the seventh aspect.

[0121] According to embodiments of the second aspect, the method is designed to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is generated by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect and / or the seventh aspect.

[0122] According to embodiments of the third aspect, the tire processing machine is designed to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is generated by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect and / or the seventh aspect.

[0123] According to embodiments of the fourth aspect, the method for operating a tire processing machine is configured to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is produced by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect and / or the seventh aspect.

[0124] According to embodiments of the fifth aspect, the vehicle wheel is configured to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is produced by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect and / or the seventh aspect.

[0125] According to embodiments of the sixth aspect, the control device is configured to provide the functionality of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is produced by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect and / or the seventh aspect.

[0126] According to embodiments of the seventh 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 as it is produced by one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein and / or to provide the functionality as it is required for one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, in particular embodiments of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect and / or the seventh aspect.

[0127] According to one embodiment, the computer program product is a non-transitory computer program product. According to one embodiment, the program element is a non-transitory program element.

[0128] As used herein, with reference to a computer program product having a program element, shall be construed to mean a computer program and / or a computer readable medium having said program element, according to one embodiment. According to one embodiment, the program element has instructions for controlling a processor device (having one or more microprocessors, for example a computer system), to facilitate and / or coordinate implementation of at least one of the methods described herein.

[0129] The (non-transitory) program elements can be implemented in computer readable instruction code, using any suitable programming language, such as e.g. JAVA, C++, Python, etc. and can be stored on a computer-readable medium (removable disk, volatile or non-volatile memory, embedded memory / processor, etc.). According to an embodiment, the instruction code is implemented such that the intended function is carried out by a computer or any other programmable processor device. The computer program can be available from a network, such as the World Wide Web, for example from a server or computer program product which can be connected to the network.

[0130] Suitable embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein, e.g. functions of the control device, can be implemented with the help of a computer program product (program elements) or software. However, suitable embodiments can also be implemented by means of one or more specific electronic circuits or hardware. Furthermore, a suitable embodiment can also be implemented in a hybrid form, i.e. in a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0131] As long as not otherwise specified, according to an embodiment, a numerical value is to be understood as including a window of ±5%. For example, according to an embodiment, an angle of 10 degrees specifies an angle within the interval [9.5 degrees; 10.5 degrees]. Similarly, according to an embodiment, a percentage specification includes a window of ±5%. For example, according to an embodiment, a specification of 50% includes a window of 50% ± 5% = [47.5%; 52.5%]. According to another embodiment, a numerical value is to be understood as including a window of ±10%.

[0132] Further exemplary embodiments and combinations of embodiments include the following:

[0133] 1. A pneumatic tire having

[0134] a bead having a bead base facing a rotational axis of the pneumatic tire;

[0135] wherein the bead base has a surface structure formed by removing tire material along a machining trace in a machining area of the bead base; and

[0136] wherein the surface structure is wavelike.

[0137] 2. The pneumatic tire according to embodiment 1, wherein the surface structure has a first structure portion and / or a second structure portion;

[0138] wherein the first structure portion has a wave crest defined by an overlap of the machining trace, and wherein the overlap is between 10% to 90% of a width of the machining trace; and

[0139] The peak distance of the second structure portion is greater than the width of the machining track.

[0140] 3. The pneumatic tire according to Embodiment 2,

[0141] wherein the distance between the peaks of the first structure portion is greater than 0.05 mm; and / or

[0142] wherein the distance between the peaks of the first structure portion is less than 2 mm.

[0143] 4. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 2 or 3, wherein the distance between the peaks of the second structure portion is greater than 0.5 mm.

[0144] 5. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 2 to 4, wherein the distance between the peaks of the second structure portion is less than 10 mm.

[0145] 6. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 2 to 5,

[0146] wherein the peaks of the machining track extend along the machining track; and / or

[0147] wherein the geometry of the peaks of the second structure portion varies along the longitudinal direction of the peaks.

[0148] 7. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the amplitude of the surface structure is between 0.005 mm and 0.25 mm.

[0149] 8. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the amplitude of the surface structure varies along the circumferential direction, and wherein the amplitude of the surface structure continuously decreases along the circumferential direction starting from a point of maximum amplitude.

[0150] 9. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the peaks of the surface structure are arranged at least partially parallel to each other.

[0151] 10. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein at least one edge region of the bead base is free of the surface structure in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire.

[0152] 11. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the removal of tire material is performed using laser radiation.

[0153] 12. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 11, wherein in the machining region, a recess is formed in the bead base.

[0154] 13. The pneumatic tire according to Embodiment 12,

[0155] wherein the recess has a wall extending between an unworked portion of the bead base and a bottom of the bead base; and

[0156] wherein the wall has the surface structure and / or the bottom has the surface structure.

[0157] 14. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 13,

[0158] wherein the bead base has a protrusion extending towards the axis of rotation and in a circumferential direction; and

[0159] wherein the protrusion has a geometry varying in the circumferential direction.

[0160] 15. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the varying geometry of the protrusion and / or the surface structure extends over an angular range of less than 360 degrees, in particular less than 180 degrees;

[0161] in particular wherein the angular range is between 20 degrees and 350 degrees, in particular between 40 degrees and 160 degrees.

[0162] 16. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 14 or 15,

[0163] wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion and the bead base has a second protrusion extending in the circumferential direction; and

[0164] wherein a recess is defined between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, in particular a recess at least partially channel-shaped in an axial direction and / or the circumferential direction;

[0165] in particular wherein the recess is formed asymmetrically in the axial direction.

[0166] 17. The pneumatic tire according to any one of Embodiments 14 to 16,

[0167] wherein the protrusion protrudes beyond a bottom of the bead base; further having at least one of:

[0168] a geometry varying in the circumferential direction comprising a varying height of the protrusion relative to the bottom in the circumferential direction;

[0169] the difference between the height of the protrusion at one angular position in the circumferential direction and the height of the protrusion at another angular position relative to the base varies by at most 1 mm, for example at most 0.5 mm;

[0170] the protrusion is arranged in an axial edge region of the bead base;

[0171] the protrusion is formed by removing tyre material in a machining region of the bead base.

[0172] 18. The pneumatic tyre according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13 or 17, wherein the removal of tyre material is performed using laser radiation, in particular laser radiation of a CO2 laser, in particular wherein

[0173] the laser radiation is continuous laser radiation; and / or

[0174] the laser radiation has a Gaussian beam profile; and / or

[0175] the power of the laser radiation is greater than 400 W, in particular greater than 800 W.

[0176] 19. The pneumatic tyre according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13, 17 or 18, wherein the removal of tyre material is performed along at least one line; in particular wherein

[0177] the removal of tyre material is performed along a plurality of parallel lines; and / or

[0178] the angle at which the parallel lines are encompassed by the axial direction is in the range of 0 degrees to 60 degrees, or the parallel lines extend in the circumferential direction; and / or

[0179] the removal regions of adjacent lines overlap.

[0180] 20. The pneumatic tyre according to embodiment 19, further having one of the following features:

[0181] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is between 10% and 90%;

[0182] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is between 65% and 85%;

[0183] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is 10%, 20%, 33.333%, 50%, 66.667%, 80% or 90%;

[0184] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is constant;

[0185] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines depends on the removal depth.

[0186] 21. The pneumatic tire according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13 and 17 to 20, wherein the removal depth varies continuously along the circumferential direction.

[0187] 22. The pneumatic tire according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13 and 17 to 21, wherein the variation of the removal depth along the circumferential direction and / or the axial direction is at least partially achieved by varying the power of the laser radiation and / or varying the feed speed of the laser spot onto the surface of the bead base, wherein the laser radiation generates the laser spot on the surface of the bead base.

[0188] 23. A method for machining a pneumatic tire, in particular for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22 therefrom, wherein the pneumatic tire has a bead base, wherein the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire, and wherein the pneumatic tire defines a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, the method having:

[0189] removing tire material in a machining region of the bead base and thereby forming:

[0190] a surface structure formed by removing the tire material along the machining trajectory, wherein the surface structure is wavelike; and / or

[0191] a protrusion extending towards the axis of rotation and along the circumferential direction, and wherein the protrusion has a geometry varying along the circumferential direction.

[0192] 24. The method according to embodiment 23,

[0193] wherein the protrusion and / or the surface structure extends over an angular range of less than 360 degrees; and / or

[0194] wherein the pneumatic tire is rotated around its axis of rotation during the removal of tire material; and / or

[0195] wherein tire material is removed multiple times in at least a portion of the machining region.

[0196] 25. The method according to embodiment 23 or 24,

[0197] wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion, and removing tire material in the machining region results in a second protrusion extending along the circumferential direction; and

[0198] wherein the machining region is arranged between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, and thereby defines a recess between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

[0199] 26. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 25, wherein the recess is trough-shaped in axial direction and / or in circumferential direction.

[0200] 27. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 26, wherein the removal of the tire material is conducted to a depth, and the depth varies along the circumferential direction of the protrusion.

[0201] 28. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 27, wherein the machining region comprises a central region of the bead base, and wherein the central region of the bead base is arranged between edge regions of the bead base in axial direction.

[0202] 29. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 28, wherein the removal of the tire material is conducted using laser radiation, in particular laser radiation of a CO2 laser.

[0203] 30. The method according to embodiment 29, further having at least one of the following features:

[0204] the CO2 laser is continuously operated during the removal;

[0205] the CO2 laser has a Gaussian beam profile;

[0206] the CO2 laser has an output power of more than 400 W, in particular an output power of more than 800 W.

[0207] 31. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 30, wherein

[0208] the removal of the tire material is conducted along at least one line.

[0209] 32. The method according to embodiment 31, wherein the removal of the tire material is conducted along a plurality of parallel lines and / or generates a plurality of machining tracks in the machining region;

[0210] further having at least one of the following features:

[0211] the parallel lines enclose an angle with the axial direction in the range of 0 to 60 degrees, or the parallel lines extend in circumferential direction;

[0212] the removal regions of adjacent lines overlap;

[0213] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is between 10 and 90 percent;

[0214] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is between 65 and 85 percent;

[0215] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is 10%, 20%, 33.333%, 50%, 66.667%, 80% or 90%;

[0216] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is constant;

[0217] the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines depends on a removal depth generated by the removal.

[0218] 33. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 32, wherein the surface structure has a first structure portion and / or a second structure portion;

[0219] further having at least one of the following features:

[0220] the first structure portion has a wave crest defined by an overlap of the machining tracks, and wherein the overlap is between 10% and 90% of a width of the machining tracks;

[0221] a wave crest distance of the second structure portion is greater than the width of the machining tracks;

[0222] a distance between wave crests of the first structure portion is greater than 0.05 mm;

[0223] a distance between wave crests of the first structure portion is less than 2 mm;

[0224] a distance between wave crests of the second structure portion is greater than 0.5 mm;

[0225] a distance between wave crests of the second structure portion is less than 10 mm.

[0226] 34. The method according to embodiment 33,

[0227] wherein a wave crest of the machining tracks extends along the machining tracks; and / or

[0228] wherein a geometry of a wave crest of the second structure portion varies along a longitudinal direction of the wave crest;

[0229] the wave crests of the surface structure are arranged at least partially parallel to each other.

[0230] 35. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 34, wherein

[0231] an amplitude of the surface structure is between 0.005 mm and 0.25 mm; and / or

[0232] an amplitude of the surface structure varies along a circumferential direction;

[0233] an amplitude of the surface structure continuously decreases along a circumferential direction starting from a point of maximum amplitude,

[0234] At least one edge region of the bead base is free of the surface structure in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire.

[0235] 36. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 35, wherein, in the machining region, a recess is formed in the bead base;

[0236] In particular wherein

[0237] The recess has a wall extending between an unprocessed portion of the bead base and a bottom of the bead base; and

[0238] The wall has the surface structure and / or the bottom has the surface structure.

[0239] 37. The method according to any one of embodiments 29 to 36, wherein, during the removal of the tire material in the machining region, the power of the laser radiation is varied depending on the position in the axial direction and / or depending on the position in the circumferential direction.

[0240] 38. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 37, wherein, during the removal of the tire material, a rotation of the pneumatic tire about the axis of rotation is carried out, in particular at a constant angular velocity.

[0241] 39. The method according to embodiment 38, further having the features of embodiment 29 or embodiment 30, wherein the rotation of the pneumatic tire about the axis of rotation is compensated by positioning the laser radiation in the machining region.

[0242] 40. The method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 39,

[0243] wherein at least one first holding finger engages with a first bead of the pneumatic tire and at least one second holding finger engages with a second bead of the pneumatic tire;

[0244] wherein the distance between the first bead and the second bead is adjusted by positioning the at least one first holding finger and the at least one second holding finger relative to each other;

[0245] wherein, during the removal of the tire material, the rotation of the pneumatic tire is effected by driving the at least one first holding finger in a rotational movement.

[0246] 41. The method according to embodiment 40, wherein, during driving the at least one first holding finger in a rotational movement, the second bead is in rolling engagement with the at least one second holding finger and the removal is carried out on the second bead.

[0247] 42. The method according to any one of embodiments 40 or 41, wherein, after removing tire material from the second bead;

[0248] in particular wherein the turning of the pneumatic tire during the removal from the first bead is effected by driving the at least one second holding finger into a turning motion;

[0249] in particular wherein the at least one second holding finger is frictionally engaged with the pneumatic tire during the turning motion, in particular by locking at least one roller of the at least one second holding finger.

[0250] 43. The method according to embodiment 42, wherein, during driving the at least one second holding finger into the turning motion, the first bead is rolling engaged with the at least one first holding finger.

[0251] 44. The method according to any one of embodiments 40 to 43, wherein the at least one first holding finger is engaged with the first bead of the pneumatic tire by moving the at least one first holding finger into the pneumatic tire in a first lateral direction and then moving the at least one first holding finger in a direction towards the first bead.

[0252] 45. The method according to any one of embodiments 40 to 44, wherein the at least one second holding finger is engaged with the second bead of the pneumatic tire by moving the at least one second holding finger into the pneumatic tire in a second lateral direction and then moving the at least one second finger in a direction towards the second bead.

[0253] 46. The method according to embodiment 45,

[0254] wherein the at least one first holding finger is fitted at a carrier; and

[0255] the at least one first holding finger is moved into the pneumatic tire in a first lateral direction by lifting the carrier, wherein the carrier is arranged below the transport device.

[0256] 47. The method according to embodiment 46,

[0257] wherein, for driving the at least one first holding finger into the turning motion, the carrier is lifted above the transport device; and

[0258] the carrier is then driven into the turning motion.

[0259] 48. A tyre processing machine for processing a pneumatic tyre, in particular for manufacturing a pneumatic tyre according to any one of the embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the pneumatic tyre to be processed has a first bead and a second bead, wherein the pneumatic tyre defines an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tyre, and wherein the pneumatic tyre defines a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, the tyre processing machine having:

[0260] at least one first holding finger engageable with the first bead;

[0261] at least one second holding finger engageable with the second bead;

[0262] wherein the at least one first holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tyre, in particular together with the at least one first holding finger, relative to the at least one second holding finger.

[0263] 49. The tyre processing machine according to embodiment 48, wherein the at least one second holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tyre, in particular together with the at least one second holding finger, relative to the at least one first holding finger.

[0264] 50. The tyre processing machine according to any one of embodiments 48 or 49, wherein the at least one first holding finger and / or the at least one second holding finger is configured to hold the first bead and the second bead at a predetermined distance.

[0265] 51. The tyre processing machine according to any one of embodiments 48 to 50,

[0266] wherein the at least one first holding finger is configured to be inserted into the pneumatic tyre from a first side of the pneumatic tyre;

[0267] wherein the at least one second holding finger is configured to be inserted into the pneumatic tyre from a second side of the pneumatic tyre, wherein the second side of the pneumatic tyre is arranged opposite the first side of the pneumatic tyre.

[0268] 52. The tyre processing machine according to any one of embodiments 48 to 51, further having a suction device.

[0269] 53. The tyre processing machine according to embodiment 52,

[0270] wherein the suction device is movable into a first position for suction of process residues of the processing of the first bead; and / or

[0271] The suction device is movable to a second position for sucking process residues from the processing of the second tire bead.

[0272] 54. The tire processing machine according to any one of embodiments 52 or 53, wherein the tire processing machine has at least two first holding fingers and the suction device can be located between two adjacent first holding fingers, and / or wherein the tire processing machine has at least two second holding fingers and the suction device can be located between two adjacent second holding fingers;

[0273] In particular, the spatial position of the holding fingers, between which the suction device is located, remains unchanged during the processing.

[0274] 55. The tire processing machine according to any one of embodiments 48 to 54,

[0275] Also having a laser emitting device for emitting laser radiation onto the pneumatic tire to thereby process the pneumatic tire;

[0276] In particular, the laser emitting device is arranged radially outside the pneumatic tire;

[0277] In particular, the laser emitting device has at least one scanner for moving the beam path of the laser radiation over the pneumatic tire, wherein in particular the scanning movement of the beam path has a directional component parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0278] 56. The tire processing machine according to embodiment 55,

[0279] Wherein, the laser emitting device may be configured to process the bead base of the first bead; and / or

[0280] Wherein, the laser emitting device may be configured to process the bead base of the second bead; and / or

[0281] Wherein, the laser emitting device can be configured to process the inner surface of the pneumatic tire.

[0282] 57. The tire processing machine according to any one of embodiments 48 to 56,

[0283] Also provided is a transport device, on which the pneumatic tire can be transported lying flat;

[0284] Therein, the at least one first holding finger and the at least one second holding finger are engageable with a pneumatic tire lying on the transport device.

[0285] 58. The tire processing machine according to embodiment 57, wherein the pneumatic tire is liftable from the transport device to a lifted position by the at least one first holding finger and / or the at least one second holding finger such that a sidewall of the pneumatic tire is spaced apart from the transport device.

[0286] 59. The tire processing machine according to embodiment 58, further having the features of embodiment 55, wherein the laser emission device is configured to process the pneumatic tire in the lifted position.

[0287] 60. The tire processing machine according to any one of embodiments 48 to 59,

[0288] wherein the at least one first holding finger has a mechanical stop for a first surface section of the first bead; and / or

[0289] wherein the at least one second holding finger has a mechanical stop for a second surface section of the second bead.

[0290] 61. The tire processing machine according to any one of embodiments 48 to 60,

[0291] wherein at least one of the at least one first holding finger has at least one first roller on which the first surface section is rollable; and / or

[0292] wherein at least one of the at least one second holding finger has at least one second roller on which the second surface section is rollable.

[0293] 62. The tire processing machine according to embodiment 61, further having at least one of the following features:

[0294] a lateral bead portion of the first bead is rollable on at least one of the at least one first roller;

[0295] a bead base of the first bead is rollable on at least one of the at least one first roller;

[0296] a lateral bead portion of the second bead is rollable on at least one of the at least one second roller;

[0297] a bead base of the second bead is rollable on at least one of the at least one second roller;

[0298] at least one of the at least one first roller is rotationally lockable to frictionally engage the pneumatic tire and the first roller;

[0299] at least one of the at least one second roller is rotationally locked to cause a frictional engagement of the pneumatic tire with the second roller;

[0300] at least one of the at least one first roller is rotationally driven to drive the pneumatic tire into rotational movement;

[0301] at least one of the at least one second roller is rotationally driven to drive the pneumatic tire into rotational movement.

[0302] 63. Tire processing machine according to any one of embodiments 48 to 62, wherein the at least one first retaining finger is rotatable around the rotational axis at a distance from the rotational axis by at least 360 degrees, and / or the at least one second retaining finger is rotatable around the rotational axis at a distance from the rotational axis by at least 360 degrees.

[0303] 64. Method for operating a tire processing machine for processing a pneumatic tire, in particular for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the pneumatic tire to be processed has a first bead and a second bead, wherein the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to a rotational axis of the pneumatic tire, and wherein the pneumatic tire defines a circumferential direction around the rotational axis, the method having:

[0304] engaging the at least one first retaining finger with the first bead;

[0305] engaging the at least one second retaining finger with the second bead;

[0306] operating the at least one first retaining finger, in particular into rotational movement, to cause the pneumatic tire, in particular together with the at least one first retaining finger, to rotate relative to the at least one second retaining finger.

[0307] 65. Vehicle wheel having a rim and a pneumatic tire according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22 fitted on the rim.

[0308] 66. Vehicle wheel according to embodiment 65, wherein the protrusions and / or surface structure of the bead base are deformed by the rim; in particular wherein the protrusions of the bead base are deformed by the rim with a variation along the circumferential direction.

[0309] 67. Control device configured to perform the method according to at least one of embodiments 23 to 47 and / or the method according to embodiment 64.

[0310] 68. A computer program product having program elements configured for carrying out the method according to at least one of the embodiments 23 to 47 and / or the method according to embodiment 64 when it is implemented on a processor device.

[0311] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the exemplary description of exemplary implementations thereof, which are presented in the following. The drawings in this document should only be considered schematic, and should not be considered drawn to scale. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0312] Figure 1 A portion of a tire according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown in cross-sectional view.

[0313] Figure 2 A portion of a first bead in Figure 1 is shown in enlarged view.

[0314] Figure 3 Another (first) bead according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown in partial view.

[0315] Figure 4 A side view of a pneumatic tire in Figure 1 is shown schematically.

[0316] Figure 5 A top view toward a bead base according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0317] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of a surface structure of a processing area of a bead base in Figure 5 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown schematically.

[0318] Figure 7 A top view toward a portion of a processing area of another bead base according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0319] Figure 8 A top view toward a portion of a processing area of another bead base according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0320] Figure 9 One embodiment of a method for creating parallel lines according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0321] Figure 10 A tire processing machine according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0322] Figure 11 A tyre processing machine is shown in Figure 10 in which at least one first retaining finger and at least one second retaining finger are in a radially outer position.

[0323] Figure 12 Another tyre processing machine according to an embodiment of the subject-matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0324] Figure 13 A tyre processing machine is shown in Figure 12 in another condition.

[0325] Figure 14 A tyre processing machine is shown in Figure 12 and Figure 13 in which the pneumatic tyre is in a position lifted from the transport device.

[0326] Figure 15 Another tyre processing machine according to an embodiment of the subject-matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0327] Figure 16 A portion of the tyre processing machine in Figure 15 is shown in a side view as seen from the line XIII-XIII in Figure 15 .

[0328] Figure 17 A tyre processing machine is shown in Figure 15 and Figure 16 in which further embodiments of the subject-matter disclosed herein are illustrated in further detail.

[0329] Figure 18 A portion of the tyre processing machine in Figure 17 is shown in a side view.

[0330] Figure 19 A tyre processing machine is shown in Figure 18 in a view in which the bead base of a second bead 112 is being processed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0331] It is worth noting that, in the different figures, similar or identical elements or components are provided with the same reference signs, or with reference signs in which the first digit is replaced with 2 or 3 instead of 1, or with 5 or 6 instead of 4. These features or components, which are identical or at least functionally equivalent to the corresponding features or components in another figure, are described in detail hereinafter only at their first occurrence and are not repeated in the subsequent occurrences of these features and components (or of the corresponding reference signs).

[0332] It is clear that, unless otherwise stated, the exemplary implementations of the elements described hereinafter and provided with reference signs are presented in the relative figures and configured according to the corresponding description.

[0333] Furthermore, it should be noted that embodiments described in connection with exemplary implementations (i.e. exemplary combinations of embodiments) referring to specific figures are not limited to this implementation. Rather, as described above, embodiments described herein can be combined in any way. Thus, embodiments described with reference to different implementations in different figures can also be combined with each other.

[0334] Figure 1 A portion of a vehicle wheel 100 according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown in a cross-sectional view.

[0335] According to one embodiment, the vehicle wheel 100 has a wheel rim 102 and a pneumatic tire 104 according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein fitted on the wheel rim. According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire 104 has a first sidewall 106 and a second sidewall 108 facing away from the first sidewall 106.

[0336] The pneumatic tire 104 further has a first bead 110 and a second bead 112. In a radial direction 114, the pneumatic tire 104 is seated on the wheel rim 102 with a bead base 116 of the respective bead 110, 112. Viewed in an axial direction 118, the bead base 116 further has a first edge region 120 facing towards an interior of the pneumatic tire 104 and also referred to herein as a toe. Furthermore, the bead base 116 further has a second edge region 122 arranged opposite the first edge region 120 in the axial direction 118 and also referred to herein as a heel. The bead base 116 extends in a circumferential direction of the tire. In this regard, in one embodiment, the bead base 116 further defines the circumferential direction of the tire (not represented in Figure 1 The bead base 116 has a protrusion 126 extending in the circumferential direction (not represented in Figure 1 The bead base 116 has a protrusion 126 extending in the circumferential direction (not represented in

[0337] A tread 124 of the pneumatic tire 104 is arranged between the first sidewall 106 and the second sidewall 108.

[0338] Figure 2 A portion of the first bead 110 in Figure 1 is shown in an enlarged view.

[0339] According to one embodiment, the bead base 116 has a protrusion 126 extending towards the axis of rotation and in the circumferential direction of the bead base, for example as represented in Figure 2 The axis of rotation is schematically represented in Figure 2 with 128, wherein the dimensions and in particular distances between the bead base 116 and the axis of rotation 128 are not drawn to scale.

[0340] According to an embodiment, the protrusion 126 has a varying geometry along the circumferential direction. For example, along the circumferential direction, the height 130 of the protrusion relative to the bottom 132 of the bead base 132 can vary along the circumferential direction. For example, from a first height (e.g. height 130) to a second height 134. The level of the bottom 132 of the bead base in the case of the second height 134 is illustrated in dashed form in 136. According to an embodiment, the protrusion 126 is arranged in the first (inner) axial edge region 120, for example as presented in Figure 2 Figure 2

[0341] According to an embodiment, the shape of the transition 138 varies along the circumferential direction from the protrusion 126 to the bottom 132 of the bead base 116. According to an embodiment, the transition 138 forms a wall, as disclosed in other embodiments, wherein the wall is between the unprocessed bead base 116 and the bottom 132 of the bead base (according to an embodiment, the protrusion 126 has a portion of the unprocessed bead base).

[0342] According to an embodiment, the bead 110 has a bead core 140. As known to the person skilled in the art, the bead core is formed for example from an annular steel wire or a plurality of annular strands, for example from steel, wherein some are exemplarily illustrated in Figure 2

[0343] According to an embodiment, the protrusion 126 is formed by removing tire material in a processed region 144 of the bead base 116. In this way, by removing, the distance 146 of the bottom 132 of the bead base 116 from the bead core 140 is reduced. According to an embodiment, the level of the original bottom 148 of the bead base corresponds to the level of the protrusion 126, for example as presented in Figure 2

[0344] Figure 3 Another (first) bead 110 according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein is illustrated in a partial view.

[0345] According to an embodiment, the bead base 116 has a second protrusion 150 at an axial distance 151 from the first protrusion 126. According to an embodiment, the first protrusion 126 and the second protrusion 150 define a generally slot-shaped recess 152 therebetween. According to an embodiment, the transition 138, 153 between the bottom 132 and the associated protrusion 126, 150 can for example extend substantially straight, for example as presented in Figure 3 ​​​​In this case, the groove-shaped recess 152 may have a trapezoidal shape in the axial cross section, for example as Figure 3 According to one embodiment, the first protrusion 126 is arranged in the region of the bead toe 120 and the second protrusion 150 is arranged in the region of the bead heel 122, for example as Figure 3 The arrangement of the projections 126, 150 in the opposite axial edge regions 120, 122 of the bead base 116 (as exemplarily shown in FIG. Figure 3 ) has the advantage that, compared to only one protrusion (e.g. Figure 2 The pressure load onto the bead base is more evenly distributed than in the case of the protrusion 126 presented in FIG.

[0346] Figure 4 Schematically shows Figure 1 104 is a side view of a pneumatic tire 104.

[0347] For clarity, Figure 4 The rim 102 is not shown. According to one embodiment, the protrusion 126 extends over an angular range of less than 360 degrees in the circumferential direction 154. In other words, in one embodiment, the protrusion 126 does not extend over the entire circumference of the bead base 116. According to one embodiment, the removal is continuous in the circumferential direction 154, i.e., the removal depth (which, according to one embodiment, corresponds to the height 130 of the protrusion 126, see Figure 2 ) varies continuously along the circumferential direction 154, e.g. Figure 4 As presented in .

[0348] Due to the removal of rubber material (tire material), the distance of the bottom 132 of the bead base 116 from the axis of rotation 156 changes, which corresponds to an improved concentricity of the pneumatic tire 104. According to one embodiment, the unprocessed bead base 116 (whose radial level is given by the protrusion 126 according to one embodiment) does not extend concentrically around the axis of rotation 156, e.g. Figure 4 In other words, according to one embodiment, the first distance 157 of the unmachined bead base from the axis of rotation 156 is different from the second distance 158 of the unmachined bead base from the axis of rotation 156, for example Figure 4 According to one embodiment, by removing tire material in the machined area 144 of the bead base 116, the bottom of the bead base 116 is brought to an equidistant distance 160 (or at least approximately the distance 158) from the axis of rotation 156. In this way, the concentricity of the tire can be improved.

[0349] It is clear that the concentricity or the improved concentricity of the tire always applies to the tire fitted on the rim. Thus, the bottom 132 of the bead base 116 is also crucial for the concentricity, and according to one embodiment, the protrusion 126 is deformed when fitted on the tire.

[0350] It is to be understood that Figure 4 Only a simple case of the concentricity correction of the pneumatic tire is illustrated, and according to one embodiment, also higher order deviations can be corrected by removing tire material. Thereby, the height of the protrusion (e.g. the height 138 of the protrusion 126, see Figure 2 ) can have local maxima and / or local minima in the circumferential direction (not presented). Thus, the geometry of the protrusion, the geometry of the bottom of the bead base 132 or the geometry of the recess 152 can have local maxima and / or local minima in the circumferential direction. Of course, these geometric deviations are to be distinguished from the surface structure in the machining region formed by removing tire material along the machining trajectory in the machining region, however.

[0351] Exemplary embodiments for removing tire material (i.e. for performing the removal) are explained in the following.

[0352] Figure 5 A top view towards the bead base 116 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0353] According to one embodiment, the machining region 144 where tire material is removed extends alongside the protrusion 126. According to one embodiment, the removal is performed with laser radiation, in particular laser radiation of a CO2 laser. According to one embodiment, the removal of tire material in the machining region 144 is performed along parallel lines (in Figure 5 , some of the parallel lines or their extension in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lines are illustrated with 162). According to one embodiment, the removal regions 162 of the parallel lines overlap, e.g. the removal regions 162 overlap over two thirds of their line width 164, e.g. as presented in Figure 5 . Removing tire material along the lines removes tire material in the removal regions 162, and according to one embodiment, thereby creates a machining trajectory in the sense of the present disclosure. Thus, according to one embodiment, the machining trajectory is defined by the removal regions where tire material is removed. According to one embodiment, the terms "removal region" and "machining trajectory" used herein can thus be interchanged with each other. It is clear that in case of overlapping removal regions, the removal regions 162 can at least partially be removed by subsequent removal in the overlapping removal regions, and thus no longer be visible at the final pneumatic tire 104.

[0354] According to one embodiment, the removal areas 162 of the parallel lines extend in the circumferential direction 154, i.e. the longitudinal direction of the lines is parallel to the circumferential direction 154, for example as presented in Figure 5

[0355] According to one embodiment, the removal areas 162 of the parallel lines, i.e. the machining tracks, have a defined extension transverse to the longitudinal direction and thus define edges 163 of the associated removal areas / machining tracks 162.

[0356] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the surface structure 168 of the machining area 144 of the bead base according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is schematically shown in Figure 5

[0357] According to one embodiment, the transition area 138 between the protrusion 126 and the base 132 of the bead base 116 has a different number of overlapping removal areas 132, for example as described with reference to Figure 5 In this way, in the transition area 138 between the protrusion 126 and the base 132, a stepped surface structure is derived in the direction transverse to the parallel lines, which is presented schematically and ideally in 164 in Figure 6 It is clear that the removal by laser radiation is never an ideal geometry, but always a deviation from the ideal geometry is derived. This applies even more if, according to one embodiment, the laser radiation has a Gaussian-shaped intensity profile over its beam cross-section, as this is illustrated schematically in 166 in Figure 6 In this way, at least under suitable process control, instead of a stepped surface profile, a wave-shaped surface structure 168 is derived, as this is illustrated in dashed lines in Figure 6

[0358] According to one embodiment, a surface structure 168 is also generated at the base 132 of the bead base by the overlapping removal areas 162 and / or by the edges 163 or edge areas of the removal areas 162. For example, according to one embodiment, the non-removed rubber material 170 at the edges 163 of the removal areas 162 remains at the base 132 of the machining area 144, i.e. at the base of the bead base. According to one embodiment, for example due to the Gaussian-shaped intensity profile 166 of the laser radiation, the rubber material 170 also provides a wave-shaped surface structure 168 at the base 132, wherein the wave crests 165 can have a sharp shape in this case. The surface structure with wave crests 165 whose peak tips have a distance equal to or less than the width 164 of the removal areas 162, for example with reference to Figure 5 and Figure 6 ​​​The surface structure 168 described, also referred to herein as the first structure portion. According to one embodiment, the surface structure 168, in particular the first structure portion of the surface structure, is defined by the edges of the machining tracks or the edges 163 (parallel lines) of the removal areas 162. Thus, according to one embodiment, the position of the edges 163 corresponds to the position of the crests of the surface structure, wherein some of the crests are in the Figure 6 illustrated in 165.

[0359] Figure 7 A top view onto a portion of the machining area 144 towards another bead base 116 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0360] According to one embodiment, in the machining area 144 of the bead base 116, the tire material is removed along a plurality of parallel, overlapping lines, wherein the removal areas 162 of the lines or their edges (some of which are indicated with 163) are Figure 7 angled with the axial direction 118 in a range of 0 degrees to 60 degrees, for example at an angle of about 50 degrees, for example as presented in Figure 7 Furthermore, the overlap of the presented removal areas 162 is similar to the illustration in Figure 5 .

[0361] As explained above with reference to Figure 6 , in one embodiment, the edges 163 of the machining tracks or removal areas 162 define the crests 165 of the surface structure 168, as schematically Figure 7 presented in 165. Thus, in one embodiment, the crests 165 of the surface structure 168 extend with an angle 172 to the axial direction 118. Machining inclined to the axial direction 118, i.e. an angle 172 of for example between 5 degrees to 60 degrees, has the advantage that in the case of a given width of the machining area 144 in the axial direction, the longitudinal extension of the individual machining tracks or removal areas 162 is larger than the width of the removal area 144 in the axial direction. In this way, by adjusting the angle 172, the longitudinal extension of the removal areas 162 can be matched to the available scan path of the laser scanner, such that the longitudinal extension of the removal areas 162 is as long as possible, but not longer than the maximum scan path of the laser scanner. In this way, the removal efficiency can be improved.

[0362] Figure 8 A top view onto a portion of the machining area 144 towards another bead base 116 according to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0363] According to one embodiment, the surface structure has a structure portion (herein also referred to as second structure portion 169) whose wave crests 165 have a distance 173 which is greater than the width of the removal region 162 or machining track, wherein, according to one embodiment, the second structure portion is also formed by removal of the tire material along a line according to one embodiment disclosed herein, in particular by a removal region 162 as described in its reference Figure 5 , 6 and 7. In particular, in one embodiment, the wave crests 165 of the second structure portion 169 are produced such that they do not run completely parallel to one another, and according to a further embodiment, they are also not completely straight. Thus, according to one embodiment, the distance 173 of the wave crests 165 of the second structure portion 169 is specified according to one embodiment as the average distance of the wave crests 165 of the second structure portion 169. Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the amplitude of the wave crests 165 of the second structure portion 169 can vary along the longitudinal direction 171 of the wave crests 165 of the second structure portion 169. According to one embodiment, the wave crests 165 of the second structure portion 169 extend only over a portion of the machining region 144 along the longitudinal direction 171 of the wave crests 165.

[0364] According to one embodiment, the pneumatic tire 104 is rotated about its axis of rotation during machining in the machining region 144. In order to produce parallel lines or parallel machining tracks in this case, the rotation of the pneumatic tire is compensated for by a suitable guidance of the beam path of the laser radiation.

[0365] Figure 9 One embodiment of a method for producing parallel lines according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0366] Figure 9One embodiment of the path 174 of the beam path on the bead base 116 is shown, wherein the bead base 116 is moved in the circumferential direction 154 with a speed 175. If laser radiation is emitted, the path 174 of the beam path on the bead base corresponds to the path of the laser spot generated on the bead base by the laser radiation. Since according to one embodiment the laser radiation is switched off in some path sections, the path of the beam path on the bead base is only of interest below, however. According to one embodiment, the path 174 comprises a first path section 176 starting from a first starting point, wherein the beam path of the laser radiation is moved with a directional component in the circumferential direction 154. This movement of the beam path along the path 174 on the bead base 116 is for example realized by means of a laser scanner. According to one embodiment, at the end of the first path section, for example at the edge of the machining region or at the end of the scan path of the laser scanner, the laser radiation is switched off and the beam path is returned (also referred to herein as a jump back) to a second starting point on a second path section 177 against the circumferential direction 154. According to one embodiment, from this second starting point, the beam path is moved again with a directional component in the circumferential direction 154 along a third path section 178. According to one embodiment, at the end of the third path section, a further jump back to the first starting point is realized along a fourth path section 179 with switched-off laser radiation. In this way, the first path section 176 generates a first removal region 262 on the bead base and the second path section 178 generates a second removal region 362 (symbolically represented by the line in the middle) which extends parallel in the case of a suitable coordinated speed (speed of the beam path of the laser radiation along the first path section 176 and the third path section 178 and the speed 175 of the bead base 116), for example in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction 154. The distance of the parallel removal regions 262, 362 is determined here for the duration of the jump back (path sections 177 and 179) and the speed 175. Figure 9

[0367] Figure 10 A tire machining machine 400 according to an embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein is shown.

[0368] The tire machining machine has at least one first holding finger 402, for example two first holding fingers 402, for example as presented in Figure 10 According to one embodiment, the tire machining machine 400 has at least one second holding finger 404, for example two first holding fingers 404, for example as presented in Figure 10 According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tire 104 with the at least one first holding finger 402 relative to the at least one second holding finger 404.

[0369] ​According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger 402 is assembled at the first carrier 406 and the at least one second holding finger 404 is assembled at the second carrier 408. According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger 402 and the at least one second holding finger 404 are movable into (and again out of) the pneumatic tire 104 in a transverse direction, for example in the axial direction 118. For example, the at least one first holding finger 402 and the at least one second holding finger 404 are movable relative to their carriers 406, 408 in the radial direction 114, in particular to a radially inner position 409, for example as presented in Figure 10

[0370] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger 402 and the at least one second holding finger 404 are movable relative to their carriers 406, 408 to a radially outer position (not presented in Figure 10 ) in which the at least one first holding finger 402 engages with the first bead 110 and in which the at least one second holding finger 404 engages with the second bead 112.

[0371] According to another embodiment, the at least one holding finger 402 and the at least one holding finger 404 each have at least one roller which can be configured such that it rolls on a surface of the pneumatic tire 104. For example, each holding finger 402, 404 can have a first roller 410 and / or a second roller 414, as described subsequently. In other embodiments (not presented), instead of a rolling engagement (by providing a first roller and / or a second roller), a sliding engagement of the at least one holding finger is also possible. However, a rolling engagement can be more gentle and thereby protect the surface of the pneumatic tire.

[0372] For example, the at least one roller comprises a first roller 410 which is able to roll on or can be configured to roll on an inner bead surface 412 of the pneumatic tire. According to one embodiment, the inner bead surface 412 points axially inwards and is arranged adjacent to the bead base 116, for example as presented in Figure 10

[0373] According to another embodiment, the at least one roller of each holding finger 402, 404 comprises a second roller 414 which is rollable on or can be configured to roll on the associated bead base 116 of the pneumatic tire 104.

[0374] According to one embodiment, the at least one first roller 410 and / or the at least one second roller 414 can be configured to allow or prevent a rotation of the associated roller about its axis (also referred to herein as "roller axis").

[0375] ​​Figure 11 The tire processing machine 400 is shown in Figure 10 with at least one first holding finger 402 and at least one second holding finger 404 in a radially outer position 418. The radially outer position 418 is also referred to herein as the engagement position, since in this position the associated holding finger is in engagement with the pneumatic tire 104.

[0376] According to one embodiment, the rollers 410, 414 of the at least one first holding finger 402 are in engagement with the first bead 110 of the pneumatic tire 104 in its radially outer position 418, for example as presented in Figure 11 According to another embodiment, the rollers 410, 414 of the at least one second holding finger 404 are in engagement with the second bead 112 of the pneumatic tire 104 in its radially outer position 418, for example as presented in Figure 11

[0377] According to one embodiment, the at least one first holding finger 402 is operable to rotate the pneumatic tire 104 together with the at least one first holding finger 402 relative to the at least one second holding finger 404. For example, according to one embodiment, the first roller 410 and / or the second roller 414 of the at least one first holding finger 402 is configured to produce a frictional engagement with the first bead 110. For example, to this first roller 410 and / or the second roller 414 is configured to establish a frictional engagement to prevent rotation about its axis.

[0378] According to one embodiment, the first roller 410 and the second roller 414 of the second holding finger 404 are configured to allow rotation of the first roller 410 and the second roller 414 of the second holding finger 404. In this way, during rotation of the pneumatic tire 104 about its axis of rotation 128, the second bead 112 can roll on the first roller 410 (and, according to one embodiment, also on the second roller 414) so that the second bead 112 remains at a predetermined distance from the first bead 110, and yet the second bead 112 can rotate relative to the second holding finger 404, in particular unhindered. In this way, an exact processing of the second bead 112 can be achieved.

[0379] ​As described herein, according to another embodiment, machining of the first bead can be achieved by configuring the first roller 410 and the second roller 414 of the first retaining finger 402 to allow rotation about their roller axes, while configuring the first roller 410 and the second roller 414 of the second retaining finger 404 to resist rotation, thereby causing the second retaining finger 404 to frictionally engage the second bead 112. Thus, this configuration of the rollers 410, 414 allows the rotational movement of the second retaining finger 404 about the rotation axis 128 to also drive the pneumatic tire 104 into rotational movement about the rotation axis 128 while the first bead 110 rolls on the rollers 410, 414 of at least one first retaining finger 402. In this manner, precise machining of the first bead can be achieved.

[0380] Figure 12 Another tire processing machine 500 according to an embodiment of the herein disclosed subject matter is shown.

[0381] According to one embodiment, the tire processing machine 500 has a carrier 406 on which at least two first holding fingers 402 are mounted, for example Figure 12 Obviously, more than two first holding fingers 402 can be assembled at the carrier 406, for example, four or more first holding fingers 402. However, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, Figure 12 Only the two first holding fingers are presented.

[0382] According to one embodiment, each of the at least two first holding fingers 402 has a roller 410 (also referred to herein as a first roller), for example as described with reference to FIG. Figure 10 and Figure 11 The first roller 410 is described.

[0383] According to one embodiment, the carrier 406 with the first holding finger 402 and the first roller 410 can be arranged below the transport device 420, for example Figure 12 In this position of the carrier and the first holding finger 402 , the transport of the pneumatic tire 104 into the tire processing machine 500 can be achieved in a simple manner.

[0384] Figure 13 Shown in another state Figure 12 Tire processing machine 500 in.

[0385] According to one embodiment, the first holding fingers 402 engage with the first bead 110 and the at least two second holding fingers 404 engage with the second bead 112 of the pneumatic tire 104. According to one embodiment, the engagement of the first and second holding fingers 402, 404 with the associated beads 110, 112 can be achieved by the engagement of the rollers 410 with the associated first bead 110 or second bead 112, for example as presented in Figure 13 According to one embodiment, the first holding fingers 402 pass through the transport device 420, for example as presented in Figure 13 According to one embodiment, for this purpose, the transport device can have transport sections which are spaced apart from one another, between which the first carrier 106 and the first holding fingers 402 can pass. According to one embodiment, the first bead 110 and the second bead 112 are held at a defined distance from one another by the at least two first holding fingers 402 and the at least two second holding fingers 404. According to one embodiment, the at least two first holding fingers 402 and the at least two second holding fingers 404 are movable together, for example in the axial direction 118, for example as presented in Figure 13 According to one embodiment, here, the first bead 110 and the second bead 112 are held at a constant distance from one another and adopt a defined distance at least in the final position, for example in the raised position as described with reference to Figure 14

[0386] Figure 14 The tire processing machine 500 in Figure 12 and Figure 13 is shown, wherein the pneumatic tire 104 is in a position which is raised by the transport device 420.

[0387] According to one embodiment, the first carrier 406 is configured to be positionable above the transport device 420, for example as presented in Figure 14 In this way, according to one embodiment, the first carrier 406 together with the first holding fingers 402 is freely rotatable in the raised position.

[0388] According to one embodiment, the distance 429 of the first bead 110 and the second bead 112 from one another has a defined (predetermined) value at least in the raised position. This allows an exact processing of the bead base, especially since the orientation and / or position of the bead base 116 can change in the case of a tire deformation.

[0389] According to one embodiment, the tire processing machine 500 has a first drive device 450 which is configured to drive the first carrier 406 together with the first holding fingers 402 in a rotational movement when the rollers 410 of the first holding fingers 402 are configured to be in frictional engagement with the pneumatic tire 104, in order thereby to rotate the pneumatic tire 104. ​

[0390] According to another embodiment, the tire processing machine 500 has a second drive device 452, which can be configured to drive the second carrier 408 to perform a rotational movement together with the second holding finger 404 when the roller 410 of the second holding finger 404 is configured to frictionally engage with the pneumatic tire 104, thereby rotating the pneumatic tire 104.

[0391] Figure 15 Another tire processing machine 600 according to an embodiment of the herein disclosed subject matter is shown.

[0392] According to one embodiment, the tire processing machine 600 has a transport device 420 having a first transport section 422 and a second transport section 424, which are arranged spaced apart from each other, for example Figure 15 According to one embodiment, a first carrier 406 is arranged between a first transport section 422 and a second transport section 424, on which four first holding fingers 402 are mounted, each of which has a roller, in particular a first roller 410, as particularly referred to in Figures 10 to 14 described.

[0393] The transport sections 422 and 424 can be formed, for example, by two belt sections 426 of a conveyor belt arranged spaced apart from one another, for example as Figure 15 As presented in .

[0394] According to one embodiment, the transport device 420 is configured to transport the pneumatic tire 104 lying flat, ie, the pneumatic tire 104 is placed on the transport device 420 with one of its two sidewalls, e.g. Figure 15 Shown in dotted lines.

[0395] Figure 16 Shown in side view Figure 15 Tire processing machine 600, from Figure 15 Observe the line XIII-XIII.

[0396] According to one embodiment, the first carrier 406 is arranged at a first position below the transport device 420, e.g. Figure 15 In this way, the pneumatic tire 104 can be conveyed into the tire processing machine 501 without the risk of collision with the at least one first holding finger 402 or its roller 410 .

[0397] Figure 17 Shown Figure 15 and Figure 16 600 in the tire processing machine 100 with further details for explaining additional embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0398] According to one embodiment, the carrier 406 is lifted in the second position above the transport device 420 into the pneumatic tire 104 in order to engage the first holding finger 402 with the pneumatic tire 104, for example as presented in Figure 17 According to another embodiment, the tire processing machine 600 can have a suction device 428. According to one embodiment, the transport device is arranged relative to a first sidewall of the pneumatic tire 104 and the suction device 428 is positioned into the pneumatic tire from an opposite side opposite to a second sidewall of the pneumatic tire 104 such that the suction device is opposite to a processing point 433 of the pneumatic tire 104 to be processed, in particular in a processing area 144 on the bead base 116, for example as presented in Figure 17

[0399] According to one embodiment, the tire processing machine 600 is configured to process the pneumatic tire 104 with laser radiation 430. For example, according to one embodiment, the tire processing machine 600 has a laser emission device 432 from which the laser radiation 430 can be emitted. According to one embodiment, the suction device 428 is configured to allow the laser radiation 430 to pass through the suction device 428. In this way, the suction device 428 can be positioned in the vicinity of a processing point 433 of the pneumatic tire 104 to be processed with the laser radiation 430.

[0400] According to one embodiment, the laser processing machine 600 has a control device 434 configured to control components of the laser processing machine 600, for example the laser emission device 432, the transport device 420 or the carrier 406 or the drive devices 450, 452 and / or actuators associated with the carrier 406 and to allow the carrier to move according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0401] According to one embodiment, the control device has a processor device 436 and a memory device 438, according to one embodiment, wherein a computer program product is stored, for example program elements, which are configured to carry out a method according to one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein when they are implemented on the processor device 436 and in particular to control the laser processing machine 600.

[0402] According to one embodiment, the first carrier 406 is brought into a processing position 440 before processing the first bead with the laser radiation 430 and is fixed in this processing position 440 during processing the first bead.

[0403] According to one embodiment, the processing position 440 of the first carrier 406 is twisted relative to the retracted position in which the first carrier 406 is retracted into the pneumatic tire 104, for example by 45 degrees, for example as presented in Figure 15 Figure 17 ​​The first carrier 406 is brought into the machining position 440 together with the first holding finger 402 to allow or facilitate positioning of the suction device 428 relative to the first bead and positioning of the laser radiation 430 on the bead base 116 of the first bead 110, for example as presented in

[0404] Figure 18 A portion of the tire machining machine 600 is shown in a side view Figure 17 in the tire machining machine 600.

[0405] In Figure 18 , the holding finger is not presented for the sake of presenting the laser radiation 430 or its beam path. According to an embodiment, the laser emission device 432 is configured (e.g. constructed and arranged) for directing the laser radiation 430 onto the bead base 116 of the first bead 110 at a distance above the first sidewall 106, for example as presented in Figure 18 to machine the bead base 116 of the first bead.

[0406] According to an embodiment, the suction device 428 has a parking position opposite to the second sidewall 108 of the pneumatic tire 104 (not presented in Figure 18 so that the suction device 428 can be brought into a suction position according to an embodiment, for example a first suction position 444, along the axial direction 118 through an opening 442 defined by the bead base 116 of the second bead, for example as presented in Figure 18 According to an embodiment, in the first suction position 444, the beam path of the laser radiation 430 extends through the suction device 428 in the case of machining the bead base 116 of the first bead 110, for example as presented in Figure 18 .

[0407] Obviously, in operation, the suction device is connected via a suction channel (not presented in Figure 18 with a negative pressure source (not presented in Figure 18 .

[0408] Figure 19 A view of the tire machining machine 600 is shown in the case of machining the bead base 116 of the second bead 112. Figure 18

[0409] According to an embodiment, the suction device 428 is brought into a second suction position 446 to machine the bead base 116 of the second bead 112. According to an embodiment, in the second suction position 446, the beam path of the laser radiation 430 extends through the suction device 428 in the case of machining the bead base 116 of the second bead 112, for example as presented in Figure 19 .

[0410] ​It is noted that a tire processing machine as described herein is not limited to a dedicated entity as described in some embodiments and with reference to specific figures. Rather, the subject matter disclosed herein can be implemented in various ways, at various granularities, while it always further provides the disclosed specific functionality.

[0411] According to embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein, any suitable entity (e.g., component, unit, and device) or functionality thereof can at least partially be provided in form of a respective computer program or computer program product, which enables a processor device to provide the functionality of the respective entity as described herein. According to other embodiments, any suitable entity as described herein can be provided in hardware form. According to still other hybrid embodiments, some entities can be provided in software form, while other entities can be provided in hardware form.

[0412] It is noted that each entity (e.g., component, unit, and device) disclosed herein is not limited to a dedicated entity as described in some embodiments. Rather, the subject matter described herein can be provided in various ways at different granularities on the level of devices or on the level of software modules, while it always further provides the illustrated functionality. Further, it is noted that according to embodiments, a separate entity (e.g., software module, hardware module, or hybrid module) can be provided for each functionality disclosed herein. According to other embodiments, an entity (e.g., software module, hardware module, or hybrid module) can be configured to provide two or more functionalities as described herein. According to still other embodiments, two or more entities (e.g., components, units, and devices) can be configured to jointly provide a functionality as described herein.

[0413] According to one embodiment, the control device comprises a processor device having at least one processor for implementing at least one program element, which can correspond to a respective software module.

[0414] Of course, a reference to laser radiation can likewise be defined with reference to a radiation path of the laser radiation, and vice versa. In this regard, any reference to laser radiation herein likewise discloses a reference to a radiation path of the laser radiation.

[0415] It should be noted that the exemplary implementations described herein represent only a limited selection of possible combinations of one embodiment of the present disclosure. In this way, the features of the different embodiments can be combined with each other in a suitable manner so that a person skilled in the art can regard the various combinations of the different embodiments as being disclosed together with the exemplary implementations explicitly disclosed herein. In addition, it should be noted that terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude pluralities. Terms such as "comprising" or "having" do not exclude further features or method steps. Therefore, according to one embodiment, "having" or "comprising" represents "including, among others". According to another embodiment, "having" or "comprising" represents "consisting of..." According to one embodiment, terms such as "established to" further include the meaning of "configured to".

[0416] It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that reference signs in the specification and references to the drawings in the specification should not be construed as limiting the scope of the specification. Rather, the drawings merely illustrate exemplary implementations of specific combinations of various embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein, wherein any other combination of embodiments is equally possible and should be considered as utilizing the disclosure of this application.

[0417] In an exemplary implementation including an advantageous combination of one embodiment disclosed herein, the following may be determined:

[0418] A pneumatic tire is disclosed, comprising a tire bead having a bead base facing the rotational axis of the tire; wherein the bead base has a protrusion extending toward the rotational axis and in a circumferential direction of the bead base; and wherein the protrusion has a geometric shape that varies in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, a pneumatic tire is disclosed, comprising a tire bead having a bead base facing the rotational axis of the tire; wherein the bead base has a surface structure formed by removing tire material along a machining path in a machining area of ​​the bead base; and wherein the surface structure is wavy. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing the pneumatic tire and a tire machining machine are disclosed. Furthermore, a method for operating a tire machining machine, a wheel having the pneumatic tire, a control device for controlling the method, and a computer program product for controlling the method are disclosed.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tire having: a bead having a bead base facing towards an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire; wherein the bead base having a surface structure formed by removing tire material along a machining trace in a machining region of the bead base; and wherein the surface structure is wavelike.

2. The pneumatic tire of claim 1, wherein, the surface structure has a first structure portion and / or a second structure portion; wherein the first structure portion has crests defined by an overlap of the machining trace, and wherein the overlap is between 10% and 90% of a width of the machining trace; and the second structure portion has a crest distance greater than the width of the machining trace.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2, wherein, the distance between the crests of the first structure portion is greater than 0.05 mm; and / or wherein the distance between the crests of the first structure portion is less than 2 mm.

4. The pneumatic tire of any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein, the distance between the crests of the second structure portion is greater than 0.5 mm.

5. The pneumatic tire of any of claims 2-4, wherein, the distance between the crests of the second structure portion is less than 10 mm.

6. The pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the crests of the machining trace extend along the machining trace; and / or wherein a geometry of the crests of the second structure portion varies along a longitudinal direction of the crests.

7. The pneumatic tire of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, an amplitude of the surface structure is between 0.005 mm and 0.25 mm.

8. The pneumatic tire of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, an amplitude of the surface structure varies along a circumferential direction, and wherein the amplitude of the surface structure continuously decreases along the circumferential direction starting from a point of maximum amplitude.

9. The pneumatic tire of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, the crests of the surface structure are arranged at least partially parallel to each other.

10. The pneumatic tire of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein, at least one edge region of the bead base is free of the surface structure in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire.

11. The pneumatic tire of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein, the removing of the tire material is performed using laser radiation.

12. The pneumatic tire of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, in the machining region, a recess is formed in the bead base.

13. The pneumatic tire according to claim 12, wherein the recess has a wall extending between an un-machined portion of the bead base and a bottom of the bead base; and wherein the wall has the surface structure and / or the bottom has the surface structure.

14. The pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, the bead base has a protrusion towards the axis of rotation and extending along a circumferential direction; and wherein the protrusion has a geometry varying along the circumferential direction.

15. The pneumatic tire of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein, the varying geometry of the protrusion and / or the surface structure extends over an angular range of less than 360 degrees, in particular less than 180 degrees; in particular wherein the angular range is between 20 degrees and 350 degrees, in particular between 40 degrees and 160 degrees.

16. The pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein, the protrusion is a first protrusion, and the bead base has a second protrusion extending along the circumferential direction; and wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion define a recess therebetween, in particular a recess at least partially channel-shaped in an axial direction and / or the circumferential direction; in particular wherein the recess is formed asymmetrically in the axial direction.

17. The pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the protrusion protrudes beyond a bottom of the bead base; further having at least one of: a geometry varying in the circumferential direction comprises a height of the protrusion relative to the bottom varying in the circumferential direction; a difference between a height of the protrusion at one angular position in the circumferential direction and a height of the protrusion at another angular position relative to the bottom varies at most 1 mm, for example at most 0.5 mm; the protrusion is arranged in an axial edge region of the bead base; the protrusion is formed by removing tire material in a machining region of the bead base.

18. The pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or 17, wherein the removal of tire material is performed using laser radiation, in particular laser radiation of a CO2 laser, in particular wherein the laser radiation is continuous laser radiation; and / or the laser radiation has a Gaussian beam profile; and / or a power of the laser radiation is greater than 400 W, in particular greater than 800 W.

19. The pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 1 to 13, 17 or 18, wherein the removal of tire material is performed along at least one line; in particular wherein the removal of tire material is performed along a plurality of parallel lines; and / or the parallel lines enclose an angle with the axial direction in the range of 0 degrees to 60 degrees, or the parallel lines extend in the circumferential direction; and / or the removal regions of adjacent lines overlap.

20. The pneumatic tire according to claim 19, further having one of the following features: the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is between 10% and 90%; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is between 65% and 85%; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is 10%, 20%, 33.333%, 50%, 66.667%, 80% or 90%; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is constant; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines depends on the removal depth.

21. A pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 1-13 and 17-20, wherein, the removal depth varies continuously in the circumferential direction.

22. A pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 1-13 and 17-21, wherein, a change of the removal depth in the circumferential direction and / or the axial direction is at least partially achieved by changing a power of the laser radiation and / or changing a feed speed of a laser spot onto a surface of the bead base, wherein the laser radiation generates the laser spot on the surface of the bead base.

23. A method for processing a pneumatic tire, in particular for manufacturing therefrom a pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein, the pneumatic tire has a bead base, wherein the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire, and wherein the pneumatic tire defines a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, the method having: removing tire material in a machining region of the bead base, and thereby forming: a surface structure formed by removing the tire material along the machining trajectory, wherein the surface structure is wavelike; and / or a protrusion extending towards the axis of rotation and in the circumferential direction, and wherein the protrusion has a geometry varying in the circumferential direction.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein, the protrusion and / or the surface structure extends over an angular range of less than 360 degrees; and / or the protrusion and / or the surface structure extends over an angular range of less than 360 degrees; and / or wherein, during the removal of the tire material, the pneumatic tire is rotated about its axis of rotation; and / or wherein the tire material is removed multiple times in at least a portion of the processing region.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion, and the removal of the tire material in the processing region forms a second protrusion extending in the circumferential direction; and wherein the processing region is arranged between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, and thereby defines a recess between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

26. The method of any one of claims 23-25, wherein, the recess is trough-shaped in the axial direction and / or in the circumferential direction.

27. The method of any one of claims 23-26, wherein, the removal of the tire material is performed to a depth, and the depth varies along the circumferential direction of the protrusion.

28. The method of any one of claims 23 to 27, wherein, the processing region comprises a central region of the bead base, and wherein the central region of the bead base is arranged between edge regions of the bead base in the axial direction.

29. The method of any one of claims 23 to 28, wherein, the removal of the tire material is performed using laser radiation, in particular laser radiation of a CO2 laser.

30. The method according to claim 29, further having at least one of the following features: the CO2 laser is continuously operated during the removal; the CO2 laser has a Gaussian beam profile; the output power of the CO2 laser is greater than 400 W, in particular the output power is greater than 800 W.

31. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 30, wherein the removal of the tire material is performed along at least one line.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein, the removal of the tire material is performed along multiple parallel lines and / or generates multiple processing tracks in the processing region; further having at least one of the following features: the parallel lines extend along the circumferential direction or the parallel lines are enclosed with the axial direction at an angle in the range of 0 degrees to 60 degrees; the removal regions of adjacent lines overlap; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is between 10% and 90%; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is between 65% and 85%; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is 10%, 20%, 33.333%, 50%, 66.667%, 80% or 90%; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines is constant; the overlap of the removal regions of adjacent lines depends on a removal depth formed by the removal.

33. The method of any one of claims 23-32, wherein, the surface structure has a first structure portion and / or a second structure portion; further having at least one of the following features: the first structure portion has a wave crest defined by an overlap of the processing tracks, and wherein the overlap is between 10% and 90% of a width of the processing tracks; a wave crest distance of the second structure portion is greater than the width of the processing tracks; a distance between wave crests of the first structure portion is greater than 0.05 mm; a distance between wave crests of the first structure portion is less than 2 mm; a distance between wave crests of the second structure portion is greater than 0.5 mm; a distance between wave crests of the second structure portion is less than 10 mm.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the wave crest of the processing track extends along the processing track; and / or the wave crest of the processing track extends along the processing track; and / or wherein the geometry of the wave crests of the second structure portion varies along a longitudinal direction of the wave crests; the wave crests of the surface structure are arranged at least partially parallel to each other.

35. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 34, wherein the amplitude of the surface structure is between 0.005 mm and 0.25 mm; and / or the amplitude of the surface structure varies along the circumferential direction; starting from a point of maximum amplitude, the amplitude of the surface structure continuously decreases along the circumferential direction, at least one edge region of the bead base is free of the surface structure in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire.

36. The method of any one of claims 23-35, wherein, in the processing region, a recess is formed in the bead base; in particular wherein the recess has a wall extending between an unprocessed portion of the bead base and a bottom of the bead base; and the wall has the surface structure and / or the bottom has the surface structure.

37. The method of any one of claims 29 to 36, wherein, During the removal of the tire material in the processing region, the power of the laser radiation varies depending on the position in the axial direction and / or depending on the position in the circumferential direction.

38. The method of any one of claims 23 to 37, wherein, During the removal of the tire material, the rotation of the pneumatic tire about the axis of rotation, in particular at a constant angular velocity.

39. The method according to claim 38, further having the features of claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the rotation of the pneumatic tire about the axis of rotation is compensated for by positioning the laser radiation in the processing region.

40. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 39, wherein at least one first holding finger engages with a first bead of the pneumatic tire and at least one second holding finger engages with a second bead of the pneumatic tire; wherein the distance between the first bead and the second bead is adjusted by positioning the at least one first holding finger and the at least one second holding finger relative to each other; wherein, during the removal of the tire material, the rotation of the pneumatic tire is effected by driving the at least one first holding finger in a rotational movement.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein, During the driving of the at least one first holding finger in a rotational movement, the second bead is in rolling engagement with the at least one second holding finger and the removal is carried out on the second bead.

42. The method of any one of claims 40 or 41, wherein, After the removal of the tire material from the second bead, the removal of the tire material from the first bead; in particular wherein, during the removal from the first bead, the rotation of the pneumatic tire is effected by driving the at least one second holding finger in a rotational movement; in particular wherein, during the rotational movement, the at least one second holding finger is in frictional engagement with the pneumatic tire, in particular by locking at least one roller of the at least one second holding finger.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein, During the rotational movement of the at least one second holding finger, the first bead is in rolling engagement with the at least one first holding finger.

44. The method of any one of claims 40-43, wherein, by moving the at least one first holding finger into the pneumatic tire along a first lateral direction and then moving the at least one first holding finger in a direction towards the first bead, the at least one first holding finger is brought into engagement with the first bead of the pneumatic tire.

45. The method of any one of claims 40-44, wherein, by moving the at least one second holding finger into the pneumatic tire along a second lateral direction and then moving the at least one second finger in a direction towards the second bead, the at least one second holding finger is brought into engagement with the second bead of the pneumatic tire.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the at least one first holding finger is assembled at a carrier; and by lifting the carrier, the at least one first holding finger is moved into the pneumatic tire along a first lateral direction, wherein the carrier is arranged below a transport device.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein to drive the at least one first holding finger into a rotational movement, the carrier is lifted above the transport device; and then the carrier is driven into a rotational movement.

48. A tyre processing machine for processing pneumatic tyres, in particular for manufacturing from them a pneumatic tyre according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein, a pneumatic tire to be processed has a first bead and a second bead, wherein the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the pneumatic tire, and wherein the pneumatic tire defines a circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, the tire processing machine has: at least one first holding finger engageable with the first bead; at least one second holding finger engageable with the second bead; wherein the at least one first holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tire, in particular together with the at least one first holding finger, relative to the at least one second holding finger.

49. The tire processing machine of claim 48, wherein, the at least one second holding finger is operable to rotate the pneumatic tire, in particular together with the at least one second holding finger, relative to the at least one first holding finger.

50. The tire processing machine of either one of claims 48 or 49, wherein, the at least one first holding finger and / or the at least one second holding finger is configured to hold the first bead and the second bead at a predetermined distance.

51. The tire processing machine according to any one of claims 48 to 50, wherein, the at least one first holding finger is configured to be inserted into the pneumatic tire from a first side of the pneumatic tire; wherein the at least one second holding finger is configured to be inserted into the pneumatic tire from a second side of the pneumatic tire, wherein the second side of the pneumatic tire is arranged opposite the first side of the pneumatic tire.

52. The tire processing machine according to any one of claims 48 to 51, further having a suction device.

53. The tire processing machine according to claim 52, wherein the suction device is movable into a first position for suction of process residues of a processing of the first bead; and / or wherein the suction device is movable into a second position for suction of process residues of a processing of the second bead.

54. The tire processing machine of either one of claims 52 or 53, wherein, The tire processing machine has at least two first holding fingers, and the suction device can be located between two adjacent first holding fingers, and / or wherein the tire processing machine has at least two second holding fingers, and the suction device can be located between two adjacent second holding fingers; In particular wherein the spatial position of the holding fingers between which the suction device is located remains unchanged during processing.

55. Tire processing machine according to any one of claims 48 to 54, further having a laser emission device for emitting laser radiation onto the pneumatic tire to thereby process the pneumatic tire; In particular wherein the laser emission device is arranged radially outside the pneumatic tire; In particular wherein the laser emission device has at least one scanner for moving a beam path of the laser radiation over the pneumatic tire, wherein in particular the scanning movement of the beam path has a directional component parallel to the rotation axis.

56. Tire processing machine according to claim 55, wherein the laser emission device can be configured to process a bead base of the first bead; and / or wherein the laser emission device can be configured to process a bead base of the second bead; and / or wherein the laser emission device can be configured to process an inner surface of the pneumatic tire.

57. Tire processing machine according to any one of claims 48 to 56, further having a transport device on which the pneumatic tire can be transported lying flat; wherein the at least one first holding finger and the at least one second holding finger can engage the pneumatic tire lying flat on the transport device.

58. The tire processing machine of claim 57, wherein, The pneumatic tire can be lifted from the transport device into a lifted position by the at least one first holding finger and / or the at least one second holding finger, such that a sidewall of the pneumatic tire is spaced apart from the transport device.

59. The tire processing machine of claim 58, further having the features of claim 55, wherein, The laser emission device is configured to process the pneumatic tire in the lifted position.

60. Tire processing machine according to any one of claims 48 to 59, wherein the at least one first holding finger has a mechanical stop for a first surface section of the first bead; and / or wherein the at least one second holding finger has a mechanical stop for a second surface section of the second bead.

61. Tire processing machine according to any one of claims 48 to 60, wherein at least one of the at least one first holding finger has at least one first roller on which the first surface section can roll; and / or wherein at least one of the at least one second holding finger has at least one second roller on which the second surface section can roll.

62. Tire processing machine according to claim 61, further having at least one of the following features: a lateral bead portion of the first bead can roll on at least one of the at least one first roller; a bead base of the first bead can roll on at least one of the at least one first roller; a lateral bead portion of the second bead can roll on at least one of the at least one second roller; The bead base of the second bead is rollable on at least one of the at least one second roller; At least one of the at least one first roller is rotationally lockable to frictionally engage the pneumatic tire and the first roller; At least one of the at least one second roller is rotationally lockable to frictionally engage the pneumatic tire and the second roller; At least one of the at least one first roller is rotationally driven to drive the pneumatic tire in rotational movement; At least one of the at least one second roller is rotationally driven to drive the pneumatic tire in rotational movement.

63. The tire processing machine of any one of claims 48 to 62, wherein, The at least one first retaining finger is rotatable at a distance from the rotational axis at least 360 degrees around the rotational axis, and / or the at least one second retaining finger is rotatable at a distance from the rotational axis at least 360 degrees around the rotational axis.

64. A method for operating a tyre processing machine for processing pneumatic tyres, in particular for manufacturing from it a pneumatic tyre according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein, The pneumatic tire to be processed has a first bead and a second bead, wherein the pneumatic tire defines an axial direction parallel to a rotational axis of the pneumatic tire, and wherein the pneumatic tire defines a circumferential direction around the rotational axis, the method having: Engaging the at least one first retaining finger with the first bead; Engaging the at least one second retaining finger with the second bead; Operating the at least one first retaining finger, in particular in rotational movement, to rotate the pneumatic tire, in particular together with the at least one first retaining finger, relative to the at least one second retaining finger.

65. A vehicle wheel having a wheel rim and a pneumatic tire according to any one of claims 1 to 22 fitted on the wheel rim.

66. The vehicle wheel of claim 65, wherein, The protrusions and / or surface structure of the bead base are deformed by the wheel rim; In particular wherein the protrusions of the bead base are deformed by the wheel rim with a variation along the circumferential direction.

67. A control device configured to perform the method according to at least one of claims 23 to 47 and / or the method according to claim 64.

68. A computer program product having program elements configured for, when implemented on a processor device, performing the method according to at least one of claims 23 to 47 and / or the method according to claim 64.

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