Improved wheel cleaning system and an improved wheel cleaning method

Abstract

A wheel cleaning system (100) comprising a first conveyor (140), a second conveyor (145), a controller (160), a wheel gripper (130), and a wheel carrier (120) comprising a receiving wheel cradle (125-2) and an offloading wheel cradle (125-1), wherein the controller is configured to control the wheel carrier (120) and the wheel gripper (130), wherein the wheel cleaning system is arranged to control the wheel gripper to fetch (510) a wheel to be cleaned from a first stack of wheels on the first conveyor and to place the wheel to be cleaned on the receiving wheel cradle (125-2) in a first position (P1), control a cleaning station (110) to eject (520) a wheel that has been cleaned out of the cleaning station (110) onto the offloading wheel cradle (125-1), and then control the wheel carrier (120) to move (530) to a second position (P2) and then control the wheel carrier (120) to feed (550) the wheel to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station (110), whereby the cleaning station (110) is caused to clean the wheel to be cleaned, control the wheel gripper (130) to offload (560) the wheel that has been cleaned on the second conveyor (145) from the offloading wheel cradle (125-1), and then control the wheel carrier (120) to move (590) back to the first position (P1) while the cleaning is in process for receiving (520) a cleaned wheel in the offloading cradle (125—1).

Description

[0001] IMPROVED WHEEL CLEANING SYSTEM AND AN IMPROVED WHEEL CLEANING

[0002] METHOD

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The teachings herein relate to wheel cleaning systems , and in particular to automated wheel cleaning systems and a method for providing an improved wheel cleaning .

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Wheel cleaning is a process that requires lots of heavy li fting at strange angles and is also time consuming . Even automated wheel cleaning systems are very time consuming .

[0007] As the systems of today are rather spacious and also expensive , the solution of providing parallel cleaning lines is not scalable from a financial point of view .

[0008] There is thus a need for an improved wheel cleaning system, where time is utili zed better .

[0009] SUMMARY

[0010] The teachings herein provide for a solution whereby a wheel cleaning system that allows for multiple actions to be done in parallel ( overlapping or simultaneous ) and thereby reducing the overall time that it takes to clean or wash a stack of wheels .

[0011] The solution is provided through a wheel cleaning method comprising fetching a set of wheels to be cleaned from a first stack of wheels and placing the set of wheels to be cleaned on a receiving cradle in a first position, ej ecting a set of wheel that has been cleaned out of a cleaning station onto an of floading cradle on a wheel carrier, and then moving the wheel carrier to a second position and then feed the set of wheels to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station, clean the set of wheels to be cleaned and of fload the set of wheels that has been cleaned on a second conveyor, and then move the wheel carrier back to the first position while the cleaning

[0012] ( or overlapping with the cleaning) is in process for receiving a cleaned wheel in the of floading cradle .

[0013] In some embodiments , the set of wheels has a single wheel . In some embodiments , the set of wheels has a more than one wheel .

[0014] The solution is also or alternatively provided through a wheel cleaning system comprising a controller, a wheel gripper, and a wheel carrier, wherein the wheel carrier comprises a receiving wheel cradle and an of floading wheel cradle , wherein the controller is configured to control the wheel carrier to be positioned in a first position ( Pl ) whereat a wheel to be cleaned is received in the receiving cradle and a wheel that has been cleaned is received from a cleaning station in the of floading cradle and to be positioned in a second position ( P2 ) whereat the wheel to be cleaned is fed from the receiving cradle to cleaning station and the wheel that has been cleaned is retrieved from the of floading cradle .

[0015] In some embodiments the controller is further configured to control the wheel gripper to fetch the wheel to be cleaned and place it in the receiving cradle when the wheel carrier is at the first position and to retrieve the wheel that has been cleaned from the of floading cradle when the wheel carrier is at the second position ( P2 ) .

[0016] The solution is also or alternatively provided through a wheel cleaning system comprising a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a controller, a wheel gripper, and a wheel carrier comprising a receiving wheel cradle and an of floading wheel cradle , wherein the controller is configured to control the wheel carrier and the wheel gripper, wherein the wheel cleaning system is arranged to control the wheel gripper to fetch a wheel to be cleaned from a first stack of wheels on the first conveyor and to place the wheel to be cleaned on the receiving wheel cradle in a first position, control a cleaning station to ej ect a wheel that has been cleaned out of the cleaning station onto the of floading wheel cradle , and then control the wheel carrier to move to a second position and then control the wheel carrier to feed the wheel to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station, whereby the cleaning station is caused to clean the wheel to be cleaned, control the wheel gripper to of fload the wheel that has been cleaned on the second conveyor from the of floading wheel cradle , and then control the wheel carrier to move back to the first position ( Pl ) while the cleaning is in process for receiving a cleaned wheel in the of floading cradle .

[0017] It should be noted that even though the teachings herein are focused on cleaning wheels , the teachings also can be employed to clean rims and by wheels , as used herein, a rim is also seen to be a wheel .

[0018] Further embodiments and benefits of the present teachings will be apparent from the following description . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] The solution will be disclosed with simultaneous reference to Figures 1A - IB, each showing a perspective view of various embodiments of a wheel cleaning system 100 according to herein, Figures 2A - 2 J each showing a schematic view of a wheel gripper and the operation of such a wheel gripper according to herein,

[0020] Figures 3A - 3B each showing a schematic view of a wheel carrier having wheel cradles according to herein,

[0021] Figures 3C - 3E each showing a schematic view of a wheel cradle and the operation of such a wheel cradle according to herein,

[0022] Figures 4A - 4X each showing a schematic view of a wheel cleaning system and the operation of such a wheel cleaning system according to herein,

[0023] Figure 5 showing a flow chart for a general method for various embodiments of the teachings herein, and

[0024] Figure 6 showing a schematic view of a cleaning system according to herein .

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The teachings herein will be disclosed with simultaneous reference to all the figures . Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a wheel cleaning system 100 according to the teachings herein . Figure IB shows another perspective view of the same wheel cleaning system 100 as in figure 1A according to the teachings herein . The wheel cleaning system 100 comprises or is configured to be arranged adj acent a wheel cleaning station 110 that has an opening 115 for receiving a wheel to be cleaned . As a wheel is received, the wheel is cleaned inside the wheel cleaning station 110, and as it is cleaned, the wheel is ejected out through the same opening 115. The wheel cleaning system 100 also comprises a wheel carrier 120, which is arranged with two (or more) wheel cradles 125. The wheel cradles 125 are configured to at least partially receive a wheel substantially standing (i.e. resting on the roadside of the wheel) , and movable to tip the wheel so that the wheel rolls out of the cradle 125, and into the wheel cleaning station 120 through the opening 115. This will be discussed in further detail below.

[0027] The wheel cleaning system 100 also comprises or is configured to be arranged adjacent a first (feeding) conveyor 140 and a second (output) conveyor 145 arranged to transport a stack of wheels (a stack sometime including a single wheel) into and out of the wheel cleaning system 100 respectively. As is illustrated in the figures 1A and IB, the conveyors 140, 145 may be of a roller-conveyor type.

[0028] The wheel cleaning system 100 also comprises a wheel gripper 130 that is arranged to be movable in a vertical and a horizontal direction. In some embodiments the gripper 130 is mounted to a gripper mover 135 that is arranged to be moved at least in a horizontal direction. The gripper mover 135 is arranged to be movable between and end of the first conveyor 140 to a start of the second conveyor 145.

[0029] In some embodiments, the gripper mover 135 is arranged to be movable in a direction parallel to the direction (seen from above) that the wheels are fed into (and out of) the wheel cleaning system 100, i.e. parallel to the conveyor (s) - or at least an end portion of the conveyors. In some embodiments the gripper 130 is mounted to the gripper mover 135 through a gripper arm 136 that is arranged to be moved at least in a vertical direction . The gripper mover 135 and the gripper arm 136 are , in some embodiments , configured to be moved simultaneously, thereby providing a movement of the wheel both hori zontally and vertically at the same time - or at least partially overlapping in time . In some embodiments the gripper arm 136 is configured to be rotatable in order to rotate the gripper 130 . In some embodiments the gripper 30 is rotatable around the arm 136 . In some embodiments , the arm 136 is rotatable with regards to the gripper mover 135 .

[0030] Figure 2A shows a more detailed view of the gripping apparatus formed by the gripper mover 135 carrying the wheel gripper 130 . As is shown the wheel gripper 130 comprises two or more ( for example three ) engaging elements 131 , 132 that are arranged on the wheel gripper 130 to open or tighten a grip around a wheel as is indicated by the arrows in figure 1A. In some embodiments at least one of the engaging elements 131 , 132 is arranged to be movable , wherein the grip around the wheel is tightened by moving the at least one movable engaging element toward the wheel . In some such embodiments some engaging elements are fixed, whereby the movable engaging elements push the wheel towards the fixed engaging elements , using the fixed engaging elements as fixed member ( or j aw) of a cl amp .

[0031] As noted, the number of engaging elements (movable and / or fixed) can vary between embodiments and many variations are possible as a skilled person would understand . Figure 2B shows one example of a gripper 130 ( from a side where the wheel is received) having four movable engaging elements 131 . And, Figure 2C shows another example of a gripper 130 ( from a side where the wheel is received) having one movable engaging element 131 and two fixed engaging elements 132 . The movable engaging element 131 can thus be moved in order to clamp a wheel against the fixed engaging elements 132 .

[0032] Figure 2D shows a schematic view of a gripper 130 having both fixed and movable engaging elements 131 , 132 . Details for a movable engaging element 131 will be discussed, and it should be noted that the details for the moving engaging element can be applied to any, some or all embodiments discussed herein .

[0033] The movement of the engaging element 131 is achieved through an actuator 133 . The actuator 133 is arranged to move ( or push) the engaging element 131 in a direction to open or loosen the grip on a wheel ( i . e . away from the wheel ) as the actuator 133 is activated . The actuator 133 may be common to one or more engaging elements 131 . A counteracting force is provided through a biasing element 134 , such as a spring (mechanical , hydraulic and / or pneumatic ) , which pushes the engaging element towards the wheel , i . e . in a direction to tighten the grip around a wheel . In order to open the gripper 130 , the actuator 133 is thus activated for one , some or all movable engaging elements 131 , whereby the engaging elements 131 are pushed against the corresponding biasing elements 134 and thereby opening the grip of the gripper 130 for placing the gripper around a wheel or for releasing a wheel . As a wheel is to be grabbed, the actuator 133 is deactivated at least partially allowing the biasing element to clamp the engaging elements 131 around the wheel . By utili zing the biasing element 134 , a grip will be maintained preventing a wheel from being dropped, even in case of failure ( or deactivation) of the system driving the actuator 133 . In some embodiments the actuator is a pneumatic actuator 133 and the system driving the actuator 133 is thus a pneumatic system . In some embodiments the actuator 133 is a hydraulic actuator 133 and the system driving the actuator 133 is thus a hydraulic system . In some embodiments the actuator 133 is an electromechanical actuator 133 and the system driving the actuator 133 is thus an electromechanical or mechanical system .

[0034] The teachings herein thus also provide a gripper 130 that is safe to operate and has a built-in safety feature . The wheel gripper 130 may be used in other wheel cleaning systems than the one disclosed herein, or even in other systems for moving a wheel ( or rim) , such as wheel loading systems .

[0035] The teachings herein thus provide a wheel gripper 130 comprising one or more movable engaging elements 131 and at least one actuator 133 arranged to operate on the one or more movable engaging elements 131 in order to move the one or more engaging elements in an opening or releasing direction . The wheel gripper 130 also comprises at least one biasing element 134 arranged to provide a counteracting force on the one or more engaging elements 131 in a tightening or clamping direction .

[0036] In some embodiments the griper 130 also comprises fixed engaging elements . The fixed engaging elements are arranged to act as stationary j aws against which the wheel is pushed when the gripper 130 clamps down on a wheel in order to grip it . In some embodiments the biasing element comprises a spring. In some embodiments the spring is mechanical. In some embodiments the spring is pneumatic - but connected to a different system than the one driving the actuators 133. In some embodiments the spring is hydraulic, such as oil-based.

[0037] The engaging elements are in one embodiment pneumatically controlled. As mentioned above, the wheel gripper 130 is arranged on a gripper arm 136 and is so in a rotatable manner. In some embodiments the arm is rotatable, and / or in some embodiments the wheel gripper 130 is rotatable. The gripper arm 136 in turn is movable up and down along the gripper mover 135 which allows for the wheel gripper to be lowered onto a wheel and later, as the engaging elements have engaged the wheel, lift the wheel.

[0038] Figures 2E to 2J shows a series where the gripper mover 135 moves to align with a wheel (figure 2E-> figure 2F) , lower the gripper 130 so that the gripper is over or engulfs the wheel (figure 2F-> figure 2G) whereby the engaging elements move to engage the wheel (figure 2G-> figure 2H) so that the gripper arrangement 130-136 can lift the wheel by moving the gripper 130 up along the gripper mover 135 (figure 2H-> figure 21) . The gripper arrangement 130-136 can also rotate the wheel in order to later place it in a cradle 125 (figure 2I-> figure 2J) . Naturally, the gripper arrangement 130-136 can also be used to pick or lift up a wheel from a cradle 125 and later placed on the second conveyor in a similar (but opposite) manner as discussed in relation to figures 2E-2F. A skilled person would understand how to implement this. Figure 3A shows a schematic view of a wheel cleaning system 100 as in figures 1A and IB where a cleaning station 110 is shown along with a wheel carrier 120 having two cradles 125 .

[0039] Each cradle 125 has a back section 125A and a base section 125B . In some embodiments the back section 125A is arranged to lean a wheel at an angle a . The angle a is in some embodiments between 5 and 10 degrees to a vertical line , and in some embodiments between 6 and 9 degrees and in some embodiments 8 degrees .

[0040] By leaning the wheel slightly, the wheel is balanced as regards the hub ( shown but not referenced in the figures ) and the angling is away from the curbside of the wheel , which is indicated by the hub in the figures . This prevents the - or at least reduced the risk of the wheel rolling into or touching any side of the opening 115 ( or a lid of the opening 115 ) , when fed ( or tipped) into the cleaning station 120 or when ej ected (pushed) out of the cleaning station 120 . This also allows for more space to be available for the gripper 130 as it is lowered down to grab or drop a wheel in a cradle 125 as is shown in figure 3B .

[0041] By leaning the wheel , granulates used during the cleaning process ( or other particles ) will more easily roll of f the wheel .

[0042] The cradles 125 , or at least one ( a first ) of the cradles 125- 2 is arranged to be rotatably movable sideways , such as to tip to one side . In some embodiments the cradle ( including base and back) is tippable , and in some embodiments the base portion 125B is tippable . This allows for a wheel to be tipped to the side , and as the wheel cleaning station 110 is arranged on a side of the wheel carrier 120 , the wheel can be tipped into the cleaning station 110 through the opening 115 . The wheel is thus moved into the cleaning station 110 in a direction orthogonal ( seen from above ) to the direction that the wheels are fed into or rather through the wheel cleaning system 100 .

[0043] Figure 3C and 3D show a schematic view of a cradle 125 , where the view is from a direction orthogonal to that of figures 3A and 3B . In some embodiments the cradle 125 of figures 3C and 3D is a receiving cradle 125-2 - which is tippable . As is illustrated the base portion 125B of a cradle 125 (possibly both for a receiving and an of floading cradle ) is , in some embodiments configured to have a recess that can receive a portion of a wheel , which provides for stabili zing the wheel in the cradle 125 during transport in the wheel carrier 120 . As shown in figure 3D, the cradle is rotatably movable so that it can tip to one side ( towards the wheel cleaning station 110 ) for tipping the wheel into the opening 115 of the wheel cleaning station 110 . As is shown in figure 3E , in some embodiments , the recess can be provided by two flanges ( such as two rods ) 125B1 , 125B2 between which a wheel can come to rest when placed in the wheel cradle 125. It should be mentioned that a cradle 125 can be arranged in series to receive or accommodate a set of wheels and such a set of cradles is in such embodiments referred to in common as a single cradle ( for a set of wheels ) .

[0044] By utili zing two ( or more ) cradles , an ef ficient manner of cleaning the wheels can be achieved which only utili zes one wheel gripper 130 . This manner is ef ficient as there is no - or at least very little - dead time and the wheel cleaning system 100 is always active during operation, saving time . As will be discussed below, the wheel cleaning system 100 as herein allows for a two-duty cleaning cycle .

[0045] Such an improved cleaning two-duty cleaning cycle enables for parallel cleaning cycles to be run and will be discussed in detail with reference to figures 4A to 4X, each showing a schematic view of a wheel cleaning system 100 as in previous figures and according to the teachings herein . Simultaneous reference will be given to figure 5 showing a flow chart for a general process or method according to the teachings herein .

[0046] It should be noted that only elements involved in an action are illustrated in order to clear up the illustrations .

[0047] In figure 4A a stack of wheels has been received on the first conveyor 140 .

[0048] It should be noted that the stack of tire wheels may be a first stack of wheels , or a subsequent stack of wheels wherein a wheel from an earlier stack is already in the washing system . In figure 4A an earlier wheel from an earlier stack is indicated to indicate that the received stack of wheels may not be a first ( for the day) stack of wheels . How an earlier wheel is handled will be apparent from the following description, but for illustrative purposes , a single stack will be followed . Figures 4V and 4X show one alternative manner of handling a first wheel received when there are no other wheels yet in the wheel cleaning system 100 .

[0049] The wheel gripper 130 is maneuvered on to the top wheel to engage it ( figure 4B ) . A "dirty" ( as in unwashed) wheel has thus been fetched . The wheel is moved and rotated by the gripper arrangement 130- 136 ( figure 4C ) and placed in the receiving cradle 125-2 of the wheel carrier 120 ( figure 4D) . As is shown, the wheel is placed standing ( and in some embodiments slightly leaned as discussed above with reference to figures 3A and 3B ) in the cradle 125-2 . The wheel has thus been placed standing in the carrier 120 . The carrier 120 has been at a first receiving position Pl when receiving the wheel and is now moved to a second ( loading) position P2 ( figure 4E ) The second position is such that the receiving cradle 125-2 is in front of the opening 115 of the wheel cleaning station 110 . The cradle 125-2 is tipped and the wheel is fed into the wheel cleaning station 110 . Optionally a door or other covering is closed over the opening 115 to prevent water or other cleaning substances from escaping the wheel cleaning station 110 as is indicated in figure 4 F .

[0050] As has been illustrated in figures 4A - 4 F, i f the stack of wheels is not the first stack of wheels of the day, and there are previous wheels being handled, the dotted wheel indicates how the previous wheel is handled . In figure 4A the previous wheel is about to be fed into the cleaning station 110 to be cleaned while the first wheel of the (new) dirty stack is fetched, figures 4B and 4C . As the previous wheel has been cleaned it is ej ected onto the of floading cradle 125-2 , figure 4D and as the wheel carrier 120 is moved to the second position, the previous wheel is retrieved and placed on the stack of previous wheels , figures 4E to 4 F whereby the finished stack is transported for further processing or delivery, as indicated by the dotted arrow in figure 4 F . While the wheel carrier 120 has been moved to of fload the dirty wheel , the wheel gripper 130 has been or is moved to engage a second wheel as is shown in figure 4G . The movement of the wheel gripper 130 can thus be made simultaneously as moving the wheel carrier so that no time is wasted . The wheel carrier 120 is moved back to the first position Pl and the wheel gripper is ready to load the second wheel onto the receiving cradle 125-2 ( figure 4H) .

[0051] The movements of the wheel carrier 120 and the wheel gripper 130 can be simultaneous or overlapping so that time is not wasted waiting for the other .

[0052] While the wheel carrier 120 has been moved to the first position and while the second wheel has been loaded onto the receiving cradle 125-2 , the first wheel has been cleaned and is now ej ected out onto the of floading cradle 125- 1 . The first position Pl is thus such that the of floading cradle 125- 1 is in front of the opening 115 . As discussed in the above , the back portion 125A of the cradle is in some embodiments at an angle a, which prevents or at least reduced the risk of the wheel tipping " forwards" ( in direction of curbside ) as it is ej ected out onto the cradle 125- 1 .

[0053] The tipping into and out of the cleaning station of the wheel removes the necessity for a gripper to be used to place the wheel in the cleaning station . This thus alleviates the need for an additional gripper or for the same gripper to spend more time doing additional loading tasks .

[0054] As the "clean" (washed) wheel is received, the wheel carrier 120 is moved to the second position P2 , figure 41 where the clean wheel can be picked up by the gripper 130 and placed on the second conveyor 145 at the same time as the second wheel is fed into the wheel cleaning station 110 , figure 4 J . As the wheel carrier 120 is then moved back to the first position Pl , all while the second wheel is being cleaned, the wheel gripper 130 fetches the third wheel , figure 4K . And the third wheel is then loaded onto receiving cradle 125-2 . At the same time the second wheel has been cleaned and is ej ected out onto the of floading cradle 125- 1 , figure 4L . This process is then repeated while placing the second wheel on the clean stack, cleaning the third wheel and picking up the fourth wheel , figures 4M, 4N and 40.

[0055] Here a great benefit of the teachings herein also come into play . As the last ( fourth) wheel has been picked up, a second stack of dirty wheels can be received on the first conveyor 140 , figure 4P, and as the last wheel of the first stack is cleaned ( figure 4P and 4Q) a first wheel of the second stack is fetched, figure 4Q, and placed on the receiving cradle 125- 2 as the of floading cradle 125- 1 receives the clean last wheel of the first stack, figure 4R . The first wheel of the second stack is then moved to the second position and fed into the wheel cleaning system 110 , while the last wheel of the first stack is picked up and placed on the first stack of clean wheels on the second conveyor 145 . As the wheel carrier 120 is moved back to the first position, the second wheel of the second stack is fetched while the first stack is moved out of the wheel cleaning system 100 , figure 4T . As can be seen, already as the first stack of wheels is through the wheel cleaning system 100 , the second stack is already almost hal fway through the cleaning process where the second wheel has already been loaded onto the wheel carrier 120 and is about to be fed into the cleaning station 110 , figure 4U .

[0056] Referring to figure 5 and figures 4A to 4X, the teachings herein thus provide a wheel cleaning system 100 and a wheel cleaning process , where a dirty wheel is fetched 510 from a first ( dirty) stack of wheels and placed on a receiving cradle 125-2 while a clean wheel is ej ected 520 out of a cleaning station onto an of floading cradle 125- 1 . Then both wheels are moved 530 , such as by moving the wheel carrier 120 to a second position . The wheel gripper 130 has also moved 540 now to its second position ( related to the second conveyor 145 ) . In the second position, the dirty wheel is tipped or fed 550 into the wheel cleaning station 110 , while the clean wheel is of floaded - picked up and placed - 560 on a second ( clean) stack of wheels . The dirty wheel is cleaned 570 as it is fed into the cleaning station and while the cleaning ( or overlapping with the cleaning) is in process , the wheel gripper 130 is moved 590 to its first position ( related to the first conveyor 140 ) for fetching 510 a new dirty wheel , and the wheel carrier 120 is also moved 590 to the first position for receiving 520 a cleaned wheel in the of floading cradle 125-1 .

[0057] During startup, when there is no clean wheel yet to handle , the ej ecting 520 , moving the wheel gripper forth 540 and back 590 and of floading the clean wheel 560 can be skipped in some embodiments , the process only loading and cleaning the first dirty wheel and onloading the second dirty wheel . In some such embodiments , the first dirty wheel is moved by the gripper 130 directly to the receiving cradle 125-2 . This saves time as the wheel carrier 120 need not be repositioned . In such embodiments the of floading cradle 125- 1 is also configured to be tippable . Figures 4V and 4X show one such alternative manner of handling a first wheel received when there are no other wheels yet in the wheel cleaning system 100 . Figure 4V corresponding to figure 4B shows how the first wheel is placed in the of floading cradle 125- 1 instead of in the receiving cradle 125-2 . The wheel is thus ready to be tipped in to the washing station 110 directly ( as is shown in figure 4X ) , and the cleaning process can continue by accepting a new wheel straight away without having to move the wheel carrier 120 . The new wheel ( or second wheel from the stack) is shown as having been loaded into the receiving cradle 125-2 and the cleaning process can continue as previously disclosed . The cleaning process thus also comprises determining that the fetched set of wheels is a first set of wheels and then placing the first set of wheels to be cleaned on the of floading cradle 125- 1 in the first position Pl , feeding 550 the first set of wheels to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station 110 , fetching 510 a second set of wheels to be cleaned from the first stack of wheels and placing the second set of wheels to be cleaned on the receiving cradle 125- 1 in the first position Pl . The feeding 550 of the first set of wheels to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station 110 and fetching 510 the second set of wheels to be cleaned from the first stack of wheels and placing the second set of wheels to be cleaned on the receiving cradle 125- 1 should at least partially overlap in time .

[0058] Similarly, when there are no more wheels to clean, during shutdown, the fetching 510 , and other actions dealing with the dirty wheel can be skipped, the process only of floading and cleaning the last wheels . Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a cleaning system according to the teachings herein . As has been discussed herein, the wheel cleaning system 100 comprises a wheel gripper 130 and a wheel carrier 120 , wherein the wheel carrier 120 comprises a receiving wheel cradle 125-2 ( or set thereof ) and an of floading wheel cradle ( or set thereof ) .

[0059] In order to automate the cleaning process as disclosed herein, the wheel cleaning system 100 may further comprise a controller 160 . The controller 160 is an electronic control unit , such as a processor or Programmable Logic Control circuit - or other known controllers - that by reading computer-readable instructions stored in a memory comprised in ( or connected to ) the controller 160 is able to control the wheel cleaning system 100 according to the process disclosed herein .

[0060] The controller 160 , which may be one controller or several controllers , is connected to the wheel carrier 120 for controlling the wheel carrier 120 to move between the first and second position, and also to cause the wheel carrier 120 , or rather the receiving cradle 125-2 to feed the wheels into the cleaning station 110 .

[0061] The controller is thus configured to control the wheel carrier ( 120 ) to be positioned in a first position ( Pl ) whereat a wheel ( or set thereof ) to be cleaned is received in the receiving cradle ( 125-2 ) and a wheel ( or set thereof ) that has been cleaned is received from a cleaning station ( 110 ) in the of floading cradle ( 125- 1 ) . The wheel to be cleaned is received by being placed there by the wheel gripper 130 which has fetched the wheel from a first stack of wheels . The controller is also configured to control the wheel carrier 120 to be positioned in a second position P2 whereat the wheel to be cleaned is fed from the receiving cradle 125-2 to cleaning station 110 and the wheel that has been cleaned is retrieved from the of floading cradle 125- 1 . The wheel that has been cleaned is retrieved by being picked up by the wheel gripper 130 which then of floads the wheel on a second stack of wheels .

[0062] As discussed, the controller is further configured to control the wheel gripper 130 to fetch the wheel to be cleaned and place it in the receiving cradle 125-2 when the wheel carrier 120 is at the first position and to retrieve the wheel that has been cleaned from the of floading cradle 125- 1 when the wheel carrier 120 is at the second position P2 .

[0063] The wheel gripper 130 is thus configured to be movable between the first stack of wheels and the second stack of wheels and also to the first position and the second position . When the first stack is on a first conveyor and the second stack is on a second conveyor, the wheel gripper 130 is configured to be movable between the first conveyor and the second conveyor .

[0064] As has also been discussed herein, in order to save time , the controller is further configured in some embodiments to control the wheel gripper 130 to fetch the wheel to be cleaned at least partially overlapping in time while the wheel carrier 120 is moving to the first position .

[0065] As has also been discussed herein, in order to save time , the controller is further configured in some embodiments to control the wheel gripper 130 to place the wheel that has been cleaned on a second stack of wheels at least partially overlapping in time while the wheel carrier 120 is moving to the first position Pl .

[0066] Returning to figures 3C and 3D, at least the receiving cradle 125- 1 is arranged to be able to tip (be tippable ) between a receiving position, as in figure 3C, and a feeding position, as in figure 3D . The feeding position is rotated relative an axis and compared to the receiving position so that the wheel rolls out of the cradle through gravity . The cradle is thus configured to rotate around an axis 35 degrees , 40 degrees , 45 degrees , 50 degrees , 55 degrees , 60 degrees or more ( or in any range there-in-between) . The angle required to be rotated depends on the design of the cradle as a skilled person would understand . The angle required to be rotated also depends on the dimensions of the wheel . As will be discussed in the below, the controller can receive information regarding a wheel si ze from a server and thus determine which angle the cradle 125 should be rotated based on the dimensions of the wheel . The dimensions of the wheel can also be received by the controller for example through user input during operation or through operator input during setup .

[0067] In some embodiments the cradle comprises a pushing element 125C (mechanical or pneumatic ) that when activated pushes the wheel out of the cradle ( thus in a direction away from the base 125B ) . The pushing element is thus arranged to assume a first inactive position as shown in figure 3C where a wheel can be received in the cradle 125 , and an extended position, where the wheel is pushed out of the cradle 125 , as shown in figure 3D . The controller 160 can thus also control the pushing element to feed the wheel into the cleaning station . The angle required to rotate the cradle is also dependent on whether a pushing element is utili zed, and the extension possible for the pushing element . In embodiments where a pushing element 125C is utili zed, the angle may thus even be smaller than indicated above , and be for example 20 degrees , 25 degrees , or more ( or any range there in between)

[0068] At least the receiving cradle 125-2 is thus arranged to be tippable for feeding the wheel to be cleaned into the cleaning station 110 , wherein the receiving cradle 125-2 is movable between a receiving position in which a wheel is received, and a feeding position where the wheel is turned to roll out of the receiving cradle 125-2 .

[0069] The controller 160 may also be connected to the wheel cleaning station 110 . In some embodiments to control the operation of the wheel cleaning station 110 , and in some embodiments merely to be informed of status of the cleaning station 110 , and to provide status of the wheel carrier 120 to the cleaning station 110 ( such as ready to receive wheel to be ej ected) . The controller 160 is also connected to the wheel gripping arrangement 130- 136 for controlling its movements including engaging and disengaging a wheel .

[0070] The wheel cleaning system 100 may also in some embodiments comprise a wheel sensor 161 for determining the presence of wheels ( and possibly how many) at the first conveyor 140 . The wheel cleaning system 100 may also in some embodiments comprise a wheel sensor 162 for determining the presence of wheels ( and possibly how many) at the second conveyor 145 . Such wheel sensors are known in the art and can be based on optics and / or weight sensing .

[0071] The wheel gripper 130 may also in some embodiments comprise a wheel sensor 163 for determining the presence of a wheel , and more precisely determine the position of the gripper 130 relative the wheel for enabling the wheel gripper 130 to engul f the wheel properly in order to engage the wheel . In some embodiment , one or both of the wheel sensors 161 , 162 at the conveyors 140 , 145 can be implemented as the wheel sensor 163 of the wheel gripper 130 , whereby the wheel gripper 130 can determine the presence of wheels at the conveyors when moved there .

[0072] In some embodiments , the wheel sensor 163 is also configured to provide sensor data indicating a si ze ( including dimensions such as height and / or width / radius ) of the wheel , enabling the controller 160 to determine the si ze of the wheel . By knowing the si ze of the wheel , the gripper can be (better ) positioned to pick up the wheel , as well as better positioned to put the wheel down on the second conveyor ensuring that the wheel ( or stack of wheels ) is properly positioned on the second conveyor for transport out of the wheel cleaning system . Furthermore , by knowing the si ze of the wheel , the gripper 130 may be (better ) controlled when placing and picking up wheels in the cradles 125 .

[0073] As discussed above , the wheel cleaning system 100 according to the teachings herein may or may not comprise the wheel cleaning station 110 . In embodiments where the wheel cleaning system 100 does not comprise the wheel cleaning station 110 , the wheel cleaning system 100 is configured to be placed adj acent the wheel cleaning station 110 ( and possibly connect its controller 160 to the wheel cleaning station 110 ) so that the wheel cleaning system 100 can clean wheels as discussed herein . Similarly, as discussed above , the wheel cleaning system 100 according to the teachings herein may or may not comprise the wheel carrier 120 . In embodiments where the wheel cleaning system 100 does not comprise the wheel carrier 120 , the wheel cleaning system 100 is configured to be placed adj acent the wheel carrier 120 ( and possibly connect its controller 160 to the wheel carrier 120 ) so that the wheel cleaning system 100 can clean wheels as discussed herein .

[0074] It should be noted that the wheel cleaning station 110 is discussed herein as being able to receive and clean one wheel at a time , but in some embodiments , the cleaning station 110 is configured to receive more than one wheel at a time . In such embodiments any reference to a wheel should be understood as a reference to a set of wheels , and any reference to a cradle should be understood as a reference to a set of cradles or alternatively a cradle that can accommodate a set of wheels . Such a cradle would, in some embodiments , comprise duplicate cradles as illustrated in figures 3A and 3B .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A wheel cleaning method comprising fetching (510) a set of wheels to be cleaned from a first stack of wheels and placing the set of wheels to be cleaned on a receiving cradle (125-2) in a first position (Pl) , ejecting (520) a set of wheels that has been cleaned out of a cleaning station (110) onto an offloading cradle (125-1) on a wheel carrier (120) , and then moving (530) the wheel carrier (120) to a second position (P2) and then feed (550) the set of wheels to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station (110) , clean the set of wheels to be cleaned and offload (560) the set of wheels that has been cleaned on a second conveyor (145) , and then move (590) the wheel carrier (120) back to the first position (Pl) while the cleaning (or overlapping with the cleaning) is in process for receiving (520) a cleaned wheel in the offloading cradle (125-1) .

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises fetching (510) a set of wheels to be cleaned from a first stack of wheels and placing the set of wheels to be cleaned on the receiving cradle (125-2) and ejecting (520) a set of wheels that has been cleaned out of a cleaning station (110) onto the offloading cradle (125-1) at least overlapping in time.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the method further comprises moving (530) the wheel carrier (120) to thesecond position and moving (540) a wheel gripper (130) to its second position at least overlapping in time.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises moving (580) the wheel carrier (120) to the first position and moving (590) the wheel gripper (130) to its first position at least overlapping in time while overlapping the cleaning process.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the method further comprises moving (590) the wheel gripper (130) to its first position for fetching (510) a new wheel to be cleaned.

6. The method according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein, when there is no clean wheel yet to handle, the method further comprises skipping the ejecting (520) , moving the wheel gripper forth (540) and back (590) and offloading the clean wheel ( 560 ) .

7. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the method further comprises determining that the fetched set of wheels is a first set of wheels and then placing the first set of wheels to be cleaned on the offloading cradle (125-1) in the first position (Pl) , feeding (550) the first set of wheels to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station (110) , fetching (510) a second set of wheels to be cleaned from the first stack of wheels and placing the second set of wheels to be cleaned on the receiving cradle (125-1) in the first position (Pl) .

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises feeding (550) the first set of wheels to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station (110) and fetching (510) a second set of wheels to be cleaned from the first stack of wheels and placing the second set of wheels to be cleaned on the receiving cradle (125-1) at least partially overlapping in time.

9. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the wheel consists of a rim.

10. The method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the wheel comprises a rim and a tire.

11. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein a set of wheels includes one single wheel.

12. A wheel cleaning system (100) comprising a controller (160) , a wheel gripper (130) , and a wheel carrier (120) , wherein the wheel carrier (120) comprises a receiving wheel cradle (125-2) and an offloading wheel cradle (125-1) , wherein the controller is configured to control the wheel carrier (120) to be positioned in a first position (Pl) whereat a wheel to be cleaned is received in the receiving cradle (125-2) and a wheel that has been cleaned is received from a cleaning station (110) in the offloading cradle (125-1) and to be positioned in a second position (P2) whereat the wheel to be cleaned is fed from the receiving cradle (125-2) to cleaning station (110) andthe wheel that has been cleaned is retrieved from the offloading cradle (125-1) .

13. The wheel cleaning system (100) according to claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to control the wheel gripper (130) to fetch the wheel to be cleaned and place it in the receiving cradle (125-2) when the wheel carrier (120) is at the first position and to retrieve the wheel that has been cleaned from the offloading cradle (125-1) when the wheel carrier (120) is at the second position (P2) .

14. The wheel cleaning system (100) according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to control the wheel gripper (130) to fetch the wheel to be cleaned at least partially overlapping in time while the wheel carrier (120) is moving to the first position.

15. The wheel cleaning system (100) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the controller is further configured to control the wheel gripper (130) to place the wheel that has been cleaned on a second stack of wheels at least partially overlapping in time while the wheel carrier (120) is moving to the first position (Pl) .

16. The wheel cleaning system (100) according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein at least the receiving cradle (125-2) is arranged to be tippable for feeding the wheel to be cleaned into the cleaning station (110) , wherein the receiving cradle (125-2) is movable between a receiving position in which awheel is received, and a feeding position where the wheel is turned to roll out of the receiving cradle (125-2) .

17. A wheel cleaning system (100) comprising a first conveyor (140) , a second conveyor (145) , a controller (160) , a wheel gripper (130) , and a wheel carrier (120) comprising a receiving wheel cradle (125-2) and an offloading wheel cradle (125-1) , wherein the controller is configured to control the wheel carrier (120) and the wheel gripper (130) , wherein the wheel cleaning system is arranged to control the wheel gripper to fetch (510) a wheel to be cleaned from a first stack of wheels on the first conveyor and to place the wheel to be cleaned on the receiving wheel cradle (125-2) in a first position (Pl) , control a cleaning station (110) to eject (520) a wheel that has been cleaned out of the cleaning station (110) onto the offloading wheel cradle (125-1) , and then control the wheel carrier (120) to move (530) to a second position (P2) and then control the wheel carrier (120) to feed (550) the wheel to be cleaned into the wheel cleaning station (110) , whereby the cleaning station (110) is caused to clean the wheel to be cleaned, control the wheel gripper (130) to offload (560) the wheel that has been cleaned on the second conveyor (145) from the offloading wheel cradle (125-1) , and then control the wheel carrier (120) to move (590) back to the first position (Pl) while the cleaning is in process for receiving (520) a cleaned wheel in the offloading cradle (125— 1) •

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