A valve stem installation system (10) includes a conveyor (24) for moving
wheel rims (14). A detector (50) is cooperable with the conveyor (24) to
detect size of the wheel rim (14) and a location of an aperture (12) of
the wheel rim (14) to receive various valve stems (16, 18). Two robots
(110, 112) are adaptable for matably moving the valve stem (16, 18) to
the wheel rim (14). A controller (60) is operably communicated with the
robots (110, 112) and the detector (50) for receiving a signal from the
detector (50) as the detector (50) identifies configuration of the wheel
rim (14) and then transmitting the signal to the robots (110, 112)
thereby directing the robots (110, 112) to selectively engage the valve
stem (16, 18) to be inserted into the aperture (12). An insertion tool
(114) is connected to each robot (110, 112) to selectively engage the
valve stem (16, 18) to interchangeably move and insert the valve stem
(16, 18) into the aperture (12) in response to the signal received by the
robot (110, 112) from the controller (60).