Tyre removal tool for a tyre removing machine and a tyre removing machine

1. A removal tool ( 10 ) for a tyre removing machine ( 1 ), for taking off a tyre ( 7 ) from a respective wheel rim ( 6 ), comprising an elongate body ( 12 ) and having a first end ( 10 a ) which is connectable to a supporting arm ( 3 ) and a second, hook-shaped end ( 10 b ) for grasping a bead ( 14 ) of the tyre ( 7 ),

wherein the second end ( 10 b ) of the tool ( 10 ) has a fingernail ( 13 ) which is movable between a first operating configuration, where it projects in cantilever fashion from the tool body ( 12 ) to define the hooked shape, and a second operating configuration, where it is tucked in a lateral zone of the tool body ( 12 ), to give the tool ( 10 ) a hookless shape.

2. The removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fingernail ( 13 ), when it is in the second operating configuration, is placed against the tool body ( 12 ).

3. The removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the fingernail ( 13 ) has a width which is less than that of a zone of the body ( 12 ) against which it is placed when it is in the second operating configuration.

4. The removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the tool body ( 12 ) defines a cavity for receiving at least part of the fingernail ( 13 ) when the latter is in the second operating configuration.

5. The removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , comprising movement means for moving the fingernail ( 13 ) from the first operating configuration to the second and/or vice versa.

6. The removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the movement means comprise an elastic element ( 19 ).

7. The removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fingernail ( 13 ) is pivoted to the tool body ( 12 ) to rotate about an axis of rotation (Y).

8. The removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the fingernail ( 13 ) is pivoted to the tool body ( 12 ) at a portion of the tool body ( 12 ) which is proximal to the second end ( 12 b ) thereof, the free end of the fingernail ( 13 ) being at a position which is distal from the second end ( 12 b ) of the body tool ( 12 ) when the fingernail ( 13 ) is in the second operating configuration.

9. The removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the tool body ( 12 ) comprises a contact surface ( 16 ) against which the fingernail ( 13 ) abuts when it is in the first operating configuration, defining a mechanical constraint which prevents movement of the fingernail ( 13 ) away from the first end ( 10 a ) of the tool ( 10 ).

10. A tyre removing machine ( 1 ) comprising:

a rotary support ( 4 ) for a wheel ( 5 );

an arm ( 3 ) having a first end ( 3 a ) which is movably connected to a frame ( 2 );

a removal tool ( 10 ) connected to a second end ( 3 b ) of the arm ( 3 ), wherein the removal tool ( 10 ) is a removal tool ( 10 ) according to claim 1 .

11. The tyre removing machine ( 1 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the removal tool ( 10 ) is rotatably connected to the arm ( 3 ) at a single hinge point which is fixed relative to the arm ( 3 ), so as to oscillate between a first operating position and a second operating position, and comprising elastic biasing means ( 22 ) operating on the tool ( 10 ) in such a way as to force it to move to the first operating position when there are no external forces applied to the tool ( 10 ).

12. A method for removing a tyre ( 7 ) from a corresponding rim ( 6 ) of a wheel ( 5 ), using a tyre removing machine ( 1 ) equipped with a rotary support ( 4 ) for the wheel ( 5 ), an arm ( 3 ) having a first end ( 3 a ) which is movably connected to a frame ( 2 ), and a removal tool ( 10 ) having a first end ( 10 a ) which is connected to a second end ( 3 b ) of the arm ( 3 ), the method comprising the following steps:

inserting at least a second end ( 10 b ) of the tool ( 10 ) between an edge ( 6 a ) of the rim ( 6 ) and a bead ( 14 ) of the tyre ( 7 );

extracting the bead ( 14 ) of the tyre ( 7 ) from the rim ( 6 );

rotating the rim ( 6 ) about its axis (X) while keeping the arm ( 3 ) in a position where the bead ( 14 ) of the tyre ( 7 ) is extracted from the rim ( 6 ), wherein between the step of insertion and the step of extraction, the second end ( 10 b ) of the tool ( 10 ) is deformed from a second operating configuration, where it is tapered, to a first operating configuration, where it is hook shaped.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the deformation of the second end ( 10 b ) of the removal tool ( 10 ) from the second operating configuration to the first occurs automatically by interaction between the tool ( 10 ) and the bead ( 14 ) of the tyre ( 7 ) in the step of insertion or in the step of extraction.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the removal tool ( 10 ) comprises an elongate body ( 12 ), having a first end ( 12 a ) and a second end ( 12 b ) corresponding to the first end ( 10 a ) and the second end ( 10 b ) of the tool ( 10 ), and a fingernail ( 13 ) pivoted to the second end ( 12 b ) of the body ( 12 ), in such a way as to be movable between a first operating configuration, where it projects in cantilever fashion from the tool body ( 12 ) to define the hooked shape, and a second operating configuration, where it is folded onto the body ( 12 ), to give the body ( 12 ) its hookless shape.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the removal tool ( 10 ) is hinged to the arm ( 3 ) to oscillate relative to it between a first operating position, where the step of insertion is in progress, and a second operating position, where the step of extraction is in progress, and wherein the tool ( 10 ) is kept in the first operating position by biasing means ( 22 ), and wherein the movement of the tool ( 10 ) from the first operating position to the second occurs automatically by effect of a force applied to the tool ( 10 ) by the tyre ( 7 ) bead ( 14 ) in the extracted position.