Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of a vehicle wheel includes locating apparatus that determines the location of an aperture on the wheel rim for receiving the valve stem, the locating apparatus preferably including a machine vision system at a gauging station. A programmable, robotic manipulator capable of compound, multi-axial movement and capable of engaging the valve stem is controlled by a controller to engage a valve stem, move the valve stem to the aperture in the wheel rim, coaxially align the central axis of the aperture with the longitudinal axis of the valve stem, and insert the valve stem through the aperture along the aligned central and longitudinal axes. Optionally, the robotic manipulator may include a nut runner to tighten a nut over the valve stem. Alternately, the gauging station may include a rotating table to rotate the vehicle wheel and an optical sensor for detecting the location of the aperture for the valve stem. Preferably, the machine vision system is a video camera that can identify the wheel rim as being one of a plurality of different types of wheel rims and verify the location of the valve stem receiving aperture on the wheel rim. Optionally, a mechanical probe may be inserted into the valve stem receiving aperture to verify the location of the aperture before insertion of the valve stem.

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First Claim