Importance

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Abstract

A machine is provided for automatically applying a balance correcting weight (44)-and-clip (46) assembly to a vehicle wheel-and-tire assembly (12). The machine includes a conveyor (20) portion for conveying the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to which the balance-correcting weight (44) is to be applied to a weight (44) application station, orienting the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) properly to receive at the correct location the balance-correcting weight (44), and conveying the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to which the balance-correcting weight (44) has been applied away from the weight (44) application station. The machine includes a hammer (22, 24) having a storage orientation permitting conveying of the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to and from the weight (44) application station and a use orientation adjacent the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to which balance correcting weight (44) is to be applied, and means for moving the hammer (22, 24) selectively between its storage and use orientations to permit conveying of the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to the weight (44) application station, application of the balance-correcting weight (44) to the wheel-and-tire assembly (12), and conveying of the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to which a balance correcting weight (44) has been attached away from the weight (44) application station. The hammer (22, 24) includes a jaw (40) with a contour conforming to the shape of the clip (46) and a shank (50) portion. The shank (50) portion and jaw (40) comprise ferromagnetic material. An electrically conductive coil (94) surrounds the shank (50) portion of the hammer (22, 24). The hammer (22, 24) is driven through operating cycles to hammer (22, 24) the weight (44)-and-clip (46) assembly onto the wheel.

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First Claim