Tire testing apparatus and method for testing a tire

1. A tire testing apparatus for testing a tire, comprising:

loading means for the tire ( 17 );

one or more measuring heads ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) which is movable relative to the tire ( 17 ), the one or more measuring heads ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) are arranged on one or more horizontally extending measuring head carriers ( 19 ), the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) extend through a hole defined by the tire ( 17 ) and the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) is oriented parallel to the rotational axis of the tire, wherein at least one measuring head is arranged to test an inner tread ( 21 ) of the tire ( 17 ); and

lower bearing elements ( 7 ) that rest against a first end of the tire ( 17 ), on which the tire ( 17 ) can be positioned in a vertical position, and upper bearing elements ( 8 ) that rest against a second end of the tire ( 17 ) opposite the first end and on an outside portion of the tire ( 17 ), the upper bearing elements ( 8 ) being movable relative to the lower bearing elements ( 7 ) and which together with the lower bearing elements ( 7 ) form a holder for the tire ( 17 ).

2. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing elements ( 7 ; 8 ) are formed as rollers ( 9 , 10 ; 11 , 12 ).

3. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the upper bearing elements ( 8 ) are arranged on a pivotally mounted rocker, wherein a pivot axis of the pivotally mounted rocker is outside a center of gravity of the pivotally mounted rocker.

4. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the upper bearing elements ( 8 ) and the lower bearing elements ( 7 ) are adjustable in opposite directions.

5. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the upper bearing elements ( 8 ) and the lower bearing elements ( 7 ) are adjustable in the same direction.

6. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a holder ( 14 ) for the upper bearing elements ( 8 ) includes a control means for the upper and lower bearing elements ( 7 , 8 ) is arranged.

7. The tire testing apparatus according claim 1 , wherein the bearing elements ( 7 , 8 ) are arranged on a movable holding frame ( 4 ).

8. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the lower and upper bearing elements ( 7 , 8 ) are arranged on a column ( 5 ) which is pivotally mounted on the movable holding frame ( 4 ), wherein a pivot axis of the column ( 5 ) extends vertically such that column ( 5 ) pivots the lower and upper bearing elements ( 7 , 8 ) in a horizontal direction.

9. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 . wherein one bearing element of the lower bearing elements ( 7 ) is formed as drivable roller ( 9 ).

10. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more measuring heads ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) are arranged on one or more horizontally extending measuring head carriers ( 19 ), wherein the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) extends through a hole defined by the tire ( 17 ), such that a first measuring head ( 22 ) is positioned on a first side of the tire ( 17 ), a second measuring head ( 24 ) is positioned on a second side of the tire ( 17 ), and a third measuring head ( 20 ) is positioned in between the first measuring head ( 22 ) and the second measuring head ( 24 ).

11. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein on the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) the first measuring head ( 22 ) of the one or more measuring heads ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) is arranged for testing a first outer side wall ( 23 ) of the tire ( 17 ).

12. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein on the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) the second measuring head ( 24 ) of the one or more measuring heads ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) is arranged for testing a second outer side wall ( 25 ) of the tire ( 17 ), the second outer side wall ( 25 ) being opposite the first outer side wall ( 23 ).

13. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) are adjustable in radial direction (r) within the hole defined by the tire ( 17 ).

14. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein one or more measuring heads ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) include recording optics with variable focal length.

15. The tire testing apparatus according to claims 10 to 14 , wherein the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) are pivotable about their longitudinal axes ( 11 ).

16. The tire testing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a pallet ( 27 ) with pallet lower bearing elements on which the tire ( 17 ) can be positioned in a vertical position, and with pallet upper bearing elements which are movable relative to the pallet lower bearing elements and which together with the pallet lower bearing elements form a pallet holder for the tire ( 17 ), wherein the pallet ( 27 ) is connectable with the tire testing apparatus.

17. The tire testing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein when testing the tire ( 17 ), the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) are pivoted in one direction about its or their longitudinal axes ( 11 ) and when testing a next tire, the one or more measuring head carriers ( 19 ) are pivoted in the opposite direction.

18. The tire testing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the movable holding frame ( 4 ) is completely enclosed within a housing ( 1 ) of the tire testing apparatus, and an image of a first measuring head ( 20 ) of the one or a measuring heads ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) is taken for testing an inner tread ( 21 ) of the tire ( 17 ), and that a movement of the movable holding frame ( 4 ) is terminated when the first measuring head ( 20 ) is positioned opposite the inner tread ( 21 ) of the tire ( 17 ).

19. The tire testing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the image of the first measuring head ( 20 ) for testing the inner tread ( 21 ) of the tire ( 17 ) is transmitted to a screen.