| CPC B60C 25/138 (2013.01) [B60C 25/0527 (2013.01); B60C 25/0545 (2013.01); B60C 25/0554 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
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1. An apparatus for changing a tyre from a corresponding rim of a wheel, comprising:
a frame;
a supporting element, rotatable about an axis of rotation and configured to support the wheel rotatably about the axis of rotation;
an arm, movable relative to the supporting element to allow the arm and the supporting element to be moved relative to each other by an actuator along a direction of movement parallel to the axis of rotation;
a bead breaker tool connected to the arm to move between an activated position, where the bead breaker tool is in contact with the tyre, and a deactivated position, where the bead breaker tool is spaced from the tyre, wherein the bead breaker tool includes a mounting element and a bead breaker disc, which can rotate freely about a disc rotation axis relative to the mounting element, the bead breaker tool including a sensor, configured to generate a contact signal indicating contact between the bead breaker tool and a sidewall of the tyre based upon the sensor detecting a relative rotation between the bead breaker disc and the mounting element, wherein the contact signal varies between an “off” value and an “on” value,
wherein the mounting element has a first end connected to the arm and a second end connected to the bead breaker disc, the sensor being positioned at the second end of the mounting element for sensing the rotation of the breaker disc about the disc rotation axis relative to the mounting element; and
a control unit connected to the actuator for driving the actuator and connected to the sensor to receive the contact signal, wherein the control unit, responsive to the contact signal switching from the “off” value to the “on” value, derives that the bead breaker tool is in the activated position, generates a stop signal to stop the actuator, and stores position data about a position of the arm.
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