Weight material dispensing, cutting, and applying system

US8943940B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Esys Corporation · US
• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Louis R. HEDTKE, JR. · St. Clair Shores, US
• Matthew W. King · Mount Clemens, US
• Scott R. Claxton · Ortonville, US
• Mark A. Compton · Lake Orion, US
• David L. McDole · Westfield, US
• John K. Funcheon · Carmel, US
• Mark R. Gabel · Cottage Grove, US
• Ben D. Belknap · Northville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 1, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 3, 2015
• Expiry date: Feb 26, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T83/7195
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool and an arm control module. The tool is mechanically coupled to an arm and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The arm control module actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck of a cutting apparatus to receive a piece of non-segmented wheel weight material. A blade of a cutting apparatus passes between the edge of the deck and the leading edge of the tool to cut the piece from the non-segmented wheel weight material.