Robotic weight apply station

1. A method for processing a tire-wheel assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of sub-stations of a single-cell workstation;

disposing a tire-wheel transporting device within reach of all of the plurality of sub-stations; and

moving the tire-wheel assembly to or from each of the plurality of sub-stations for providing one or more weights to an imbalanced tire-wheel assembly, and auditing the tire-wheel assembly by

determining if the imbalanced tire-wheel assembly has been substantially corrected responsive to providing said one or more weights to the imbalanced tire-wheel assembly,

wherein, subsequent to the determining step:

providing additional weight to the tire-wheel assembly, and

re-auditing the imbalanced tire-wheel for

re-determining if the imbalanced tire-wheel assembly has been substantially corrected, and

wherein, subsequent to the re-determining step:

discharging the imbalanced tire-wheel assembly to a rework station of the plurality of sub-stations.

2. A method for processing a tire-wheel assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of sub-stations of a single-cell workstation;

disposing a tire-wheel transporting device within reach of all of the plurality of sub-stations; and

moving the tire-wheel assembly to or from each of the plurality of sub-stations for providing one or more weights to an imbalanced tire-wheel assembly, and

retaining the tire-wheel transporting device for permitting one or more of the steps of

determining if the tire-wheel assembly is imbalanced, and

auditing the tire-wheel assembly by

determining if the imbalanced tire-wheel assembly has been substantially corrected responsive to providing said one or more weights to the imbalanced tire-wheel assembly,

wherein the tire-wheel transporting device includes:

an arm portion, and

a claw portion connected to the arm portion, wherein the determining if the tire-wheel assembly is imbalanced step and the auditing the tire-wheel assembly step is conducted by

retaining one of the tire and wheel with the claw portion, and

rotating the claw portion relative the arm portion.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein, subsequent to the determining if the tire-wheel assembly is imbalanced step, further comprising the steps of:

providing additional weight to the tire-wheel assembly, and

re-auditing the imbalanced tire-wheel for

re-determining if the imbalanced tire-wheel assembly has been substantially corrected.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein, subsequent to the re-determining step:

discharging the imbalanced tire-wheel assembly to a rework station of the plurality of sub-stations.

5. A method of utilizing a single-cell workstation system, comprising the steps:

providing a first device including a robotic arm that assist in performing the steps of:

picking a wheel,

attaching a valve stem to the wheel,

orientating the wheel to index a tire pressure monitor sensor,

soaping the wheel,

mounting a tire to the wheel in order to form a tire-wheel assembly,

imaging the tire-wheel assembly,

match-marking the tire-wheel assembly, and

auditing the match-marked tire-wheel assembly,

providing a second device including a robotic arm that assist in performing the steps of:

as a result of being handed-off from the first device, receiving the tire-wheel assembly at the second device,

inflating the tire-wheel assembly

proving a third device including a robotic arm that assist in performing the steps of:

as a result of being handed-off from the second device, receiving the inflated tire-wheel assembly at the third device,

testing a uniformity of the tire mounted to the wheel,

balancing the tire-wheel assembly,

applying a weight to the tire-wheel assembly,

auditing the balanced and weight-applied tire-wheel assembly.