APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LOCKING A WHEEL IN A BALANCING MACHINE

An apparatus for locking a wheel in a balancing machine comprises: a first casing (2), extending along a working axis (D1); a second casing (3), disposed inside the first casing (2) and movable along the working axis (D1) relative to the first casing (2) to adopt an open position (PA) and a closed position (PC) which are spaced from each other along the working axis (D1); a first lever (4), hinged to the first end (3A) of the second casing (3) at a hinge (31) to rotate between an extracted position (PE1) and a retracted position (PR1); a second lever (5), hinged at the hinge (31) of the second casing (3) to rotate between a respective extracted position (PE2) and a respective retracted position (PR2). The first lever (4) and the second lever (5) include a respective first apex (41) and a second apex (51). When the second casing (3) is at the open position (PA), the first apex (41) and the second apex (51) are disposed at a corresponding first apex position. When the second casing (3) is at the closed position (PA), the first apex (41) and the second apex (51) are disposed at a corresponding second apex position. For both the first apex (41) and the second apex (51), the first apex position is further back than the second apex position in a locking direction (VB) along the working axis (D1).