US 11,912,066 B2
Automated removal and placement of vehicle wheels and tires
Jonathan Downey, San Francisco, CA (US); Victor Darolfi, Canton, MI (US); Robert Baranowski, San Francisco, CA (US); Mark Bauer, San Francisco, CA (US); and Bernard J. Michini, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to RoboTire, Inc., Canton, MI (US)
Filed by RoboTire, Inc., Canton, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/086,152.
Application 18/086,152 is a division of application No. 17/359,389, filed on Jun. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,597,233.
Application 17/359,389 is a continuation of application No. 16/999,060, filed on Aug. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,059,325, issued on Jul. 13, 2021.
Application 16/999,060 is a continuation of application No. 16/872,666, filed on May 12, 2020, granted, now 10,773,550, issued on Sep. 15, 2020.
Application 16/872,666 is a continuation of application No. 16/386,512, filed on Apr. 17, 2019, granted, now 10,974,546, issued on Apr. 13, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/660,798, filed on Apr. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0130910 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B23P 6/00 (2006.01); B60S 5/00 (2006.01); B60B 29/00 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01); B21D 39/00 (2006.01); B60C 25/05 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B23P 19/04 (2006.01); B23P 19/06 (2006.01); B23P 21/00 (2006.01); B66F 7/26 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 29/001 (2013.01) [B21D 39/00 (2013.01); B23P 6/00 (2013.01); B23P 19/04 (2013.01); B23P 19/06 (2013.01); B25J 9/1656 (2013.01); B25J 9/1679 (2013.01); B25J 9/1697 (2013.01); B25J 11/005 (2013.01); B25J 11/008 (2013.01); B60B 29/00 (2013.01); B60C 25/0515 (2013.01); B23P 19/069 (2013.01); B23P 21/002 (2013.01); B23P 2700/50 (2013.01); B25J 9/1661 (2013.01); B25J 9/1674 (2013.01); B60B 2320/00 (2013.01); B60B 2320/10 (2013.01); B60B 2340/18 (2013.01); B60B 2340/34 (2013.01); B60B 2340/50 (2013.01); B60B 2340/52 (2013.01); B60S 5/00 (2013.01); B66F 7/26 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method comprising the operations of:
positioning a robotic apparatus tooling end comprising a torque wrench with an attached socket, to a first wheel removal position of a first wheel of a vehicle, the first wheel having bolt holes and the first wheel being attached to a first wheel hub of the vehicle via a first plurality of wheel fasteners fastened to the first wheel hub, the first wheel having a first affixed tire; and
performing a first wheel removal and replacement procedure comprising:
removing each of the first plurality of wheel fasteners from the first wheel hub using the torque wrench with the attached socket; and
after a first new tire has been placed onto the first wheel, and the wheel has been placed onto the first wheel hub, replacing each of the first plurality of wheel fasteners onto the first wheel hub using the attached socket of the torque wrench.