US5054918: Light scanning system for measurement of orientation and physical features of a workpiece.

One US patent that was issued on a "laser tire scanner" and was also filed and granted in 11 other countries.

US5054918: Light scanning system for measurement of orientation and physical features of a workpiece Inventor(s): DOWNING ELIZABETH A ROGERS STEVEN W TITSWORTH RAYMOND CHRISTIAN DONALD J BAIRD MICHAEL L Applicant(s): FMC CORP News, Profiles, Stocks and More about this company Issued/Filed Dates: Oct. 8, 1991 Feb. 2, 1990 IPC Class: G01M 17/02; G01B 11/24; Priority Number(s): Feb. 2, 1990 US1990000473754 Family Abstract: Purpose: To measure the quality of a tire and rim assembly by incorporating an optical beam projector and a photosensor in a dynamic wheel balancer. Constitution: The force converters 17, 18 of a wheel unbalance measuring apparatus 11 having a wheel mounting shaft 12 are axially adjacently isolated along the shaft at the places of bearings 13, 14. The converter supplies a periodic electric output signal representing the force of dynamic unbalance to be transmitted via the shaft when the shaft is rotatably driven. The position of the edge of the rim 19 exhibits the 'collision' or discontinuous characteristics as the 'streak' 22 of the light appears over the edge of the tire rim. The 'streak' of the light is formed by emitting the light in the form of a beam 23 from a projector 26. The 'streak' of the light illuminates the place in the rotating and emitting direction of a valve stem when dropping across the stem 27. A sensor 28 detects the feature positions of an object as the 'streak' of the light is crossed and the signal for indicating the position is supplied. COPYRIGHT: (C)1992,JPO Family: Patent Issued Filed Title JP4213041A2 Aug. 4, 1992 Feb. 1, 1991 APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WHEEL RIM AND TIME ASSEMBLY PARAMETERS SE9100206A Aug. 3, 1991 Jan. 23, 1991 ANORDNING FOER ATT BESTAEMMA FYSISKA FORMER AV EN KROPP SE9100206A0 Jan. 23, 1991 Jan. 23, 1991 ANORDNING FOER ATT BESTAEMMA FYSISKA FORMER AV EN KROPP NL9100127A Sept. 2, 1991 Jan. 25, 1991 WIELBALANCEERINRICHTING, UITLOOPMEETINRICHTING, INRICHTING VOOR HET BEPALEN VAN DE FYSIEKE CONFIGURATIE VAN EEN LICHAAM, EN WERKWIJZE VOOR HET BEPALEN VAN FYSISCHE KENMERKEN VAN EEN LICHAAM. GB2241061A1 Aug. 21, 1991 Jan. 28, 1991 LIGHT SCANNING SYSTEM GB9101814A0 March 13, 1991 Jan. 28, 1991 LIGHT SCANNING SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT OF ORIENTATION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES OF A WORKPIECE FR2658286A1 Aug. 16, 1991 Feb. 1, 1991 APPAREIL DE DETERMINATION DE LA CONFIGURATION D'UN CORPS MONTE ROTATIF SUR UN ARBRE ET PROCEDE ASSOCIE. FI910486A Aug. 3, 1991 Feb. 1, 1991 LJUSAVSOEKNINGSSYSTEM FOER MAETNING AV ORIENTATION OCH FYSISKA EGENSKAPER HOS ETT ARBETSSTYCKE. FI910486A0 Feb. 1, 1991 Feb. 1, 1991 LJUSAVSOEKNINGSSYSTEM FOER MAETNING AV ORIENTATION OCH FYSISKA EGENSKAPER HOS ETT ARBETSSTYCKE. DE4101921A1 Aug. 8, 1991 Jan. 23, 1991 LICHTABTASTSYSTEM FUER EINE MESSUNG EINER RICHTUNG UND PHYSIKALISCHER MERKMALE EINES WERKSTUECKS CA2035114AA Aug. 3, 1991 Jan. 28, 1991 LIGHT SCANNING SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT OF ORIENTATION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES OF A WORKPIECE AU7019491A1 Aug. 8, 1991 Feb. 1, 1991 LIGHT SCANNING SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT OF ORIENTATION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES OF A WORKPIECE