METHOD FOR DETECTING THE ECCENTRICITY OF A TIRE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS WITHIN PROCESSES OF MAINTENANCE OF SAID WHEELS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF WHEELS OF VEHICLES

The present invention is relative to an apparatus (1) for the maintenance of wheels (4) of vehicles, like a balancer or a device for mounting/dismounting tires, and to a method for detecting the eccentricity of a tire (2) for vehicle wheels within processes of maintenance of the wheels (4) themselves. The apparatus (1) comprises a support (6) mounted on a base (5) and adapted to receive and support a rim (3) of a wheel (4) of a vehicle. The apparatus (1) comprises a device (10) for detecting the eccentricity of a tire (2) of the wheel (4) mounted on the support (6). Such device (10) comprises a source (12) emitting a beam of planar laser light (13), configured to illuminate a linear portion (17) of a tread (2A) of the tire (2), and an optical detector (14) The optical system (14) is configured to capture a light beam (18) reflected by the tread (2A) and focus it on a point (19) of an optical sensor (16). The optical sensor (16) is configured to emit a signal indicative of an average value of a radial distance of the linear portion (17) from the main axis (A), said average value being calculated along the extension of such linear portion (17). A control unit (9) is operatively connected to the optical detector (14) and is configured to process a plurality of average values corresponding to different linear portions (17) of the tread (2A) and obtained during the rotation of the tire (2), and detect the eccentricity of said tire (2).