Robotic On-Vehicle Wheel Balancing for Tire Service Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

The automobile service industry faces challenges in maintaining an adequate number of skilled vehicle service technicians, labor-intensive tire changing processes, and inefficient tire balancing methods, which limit throughput and pose safety risks.

Innovation Solution

An automated tire changing system with robotic components and sensors that enable on-vehicle tire balancing, allowing a single technician to efficiently change multiple tires and balance wheels without constant human intervention, using instruments and tools that minimize manual labor and ergonomic strain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual tire changing methods are used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but labor intensity increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of tire changes per technician per time periodVSAvoidlabor intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service operation where the automated tire changing machine can perform tire changes with minimal human intervention. A single technician can initiate the process and the system automatically completes multiple tire changes sequentially, eliminating the need for multiple technicians to manually perform each tire change operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated robotic system that uses sensors, actuators, and control systems to perform tire changing tasks. The mechanical system substitutes human labor in bead breaking, tire removal, tire installation, and wheel balancing operations, dramatically increasing productivity while reducing labor intensity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If conventional tire balancing methods are used, then balancing accuracy is achieved, but constant technician presence is required which limits throughput

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethroughput of tire changing and balancing operationsVSAvoidautomation level of balancing system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the tire changing operation with the wheel balancing operation into a single integrated automated process. After the robotic system installs the tire, it immediately proceeds to balance the wheel without requiring technician intervention to transfer the wheel to a separate balancing machine. This combination eliminates idle time and increases overall throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated system maintains continuous operation by seamlessly transitioning from tire installation to wheel balancing without interruption. The robotic arm continuously moves between these operations, and the system keeps the wheel on the vehicle throughout the process, eliminating the discontinuity of removing and remounting wheels that occurs with conventional separate balancing machines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If multiple technicians are deployed to handle tire changes and balancing, then task completion speed increases, but labor costs and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of tires processed per time periodVSAvoidnumber of technicians required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system performs multiple functions including bead breaking, tire removal, tire installation, wheel balancing, and weight application using a single integrated robotic platform. This multi-functional capability replaces the need for multiple specialized technicians (tire changers, balancers, weight applicators) with one automated system that can handle all operations sequentially.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If on-vehicle balancing is implemented, then throughput increases by eliminating wheel removal, but measurement precision challenges arise due to vehicle vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime efficiency of balancing operationVSAvoidaccuracy of imbalance detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces conventional mechanical vibration-based balancing measurement with electronic sensor-based detection. Accelerometers and other electronic sensors mounted on the wheel hub or vehicle chassis detect imbalance forces electrically, providing precise measurements even in the presence of vehicle vibrations. This electronic substitution enables accurate on-vehicle balancing without the measurement interference that plagues mechanical methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12553788B2Autonomous tire and wheel balancer, method therefor and robotic automotive service system

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 AUTOMATED TIRE INC

AI summary

A vehicle component balancing method for on vehicle balancing of one or more of a tire, a wheel, bearings, brake components, and vehicle components that impart vibrations to the vehicle.