DEVICE AND METHOD FOR QUALITY INSPECTION OF AUTOMOTIVE PART

• US 20150019014A1
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Ho
• Application Number:
  US14/106,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20150019014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/259
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1697 Vision controlled systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9515 Objects of complex shape, e.g. examined with use of a surface follower device measuring contours and curvatures G01B11/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/47 Optical

Abstract

A device for quality inspection of an automotive part includes i) a jig unit for securing and supporting an inspection object, ii) rotary vision imager mounted to a fore end of a robot arm rotatable in a turret type for vision photographing a plurality of processed portions of the inspection object, and iii) a controller for obtaining a vision data from the rotary vision imager, and analyzing and processing the vision data for extracting a defect of the processed portion.

Claims

1. A device for quality inspection of an automotive part comprising:

a jig unit for securing and supporting an inspection object;

rotary vision imager mounted to a fore end of a robot arm rotatable in a turret type for vision photographing a plurality of processed portions of the inspection object; and

a controller for obtaining a vision data from the rotary vision imager, and analyzing and processing the vision data for extracting a defect of the processed portion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotary vision imager includes:

a circular turret body mounted to a fore end of the robot arm with a mounting bracket rotatable in both directions for a predetermined section by a step motor; and

a plurality of vision heads mounted to the turret body radially for vision photographing the processed portions of the inspection object.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the vision heads vision photograph the inside/outside mounting surfaces, the inside surface of the hole, and the inside surface of the bore of the inspection object with the turret body rotated at a fixed angle by the step motor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality vision heads mounted to the turret body spaced from one another at fixed angles include:

a first vision head for vision examination of the inside/outside mounting surfaces of the inspection object;

a second vision head for vision examination of the inside surface of the hole of the inspection object; and

a third vision head for vision examination of the inside surface of the inspection object.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein each of the vision heads includes:

a camera unit for vision photographing the processed portion of the inspection object; and

a lighting unit for directing light to an inspection portion.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the jig unit includes:

a base frame;

a rotary table rotatably mounted to the base frame;

a plurality of jig frames mounted on the rotary table to stand upright;

fixing members mounted to some of the jig frames for securing the inspection object; and

supporting members mounted to a remainder of the jig frames for supporting the inspection object.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein

the base frame has a square shape matched to the rotary table, and a rotation shaft mounted at a central portion of the base frame for coupling to the rotary table;

and

the base frame has a plurality of roller members mounted thereto radially rotatable centered on the rotation shaft.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the base frame is a square shape matched to the rotary table;

the rotary table has a restriction roller rotatably mounted to each of corners of the rotary table; and

the base frame has a restriction stopper mounted to each of corner portions of the base frame matched to the restriction roller for supporting the restriction roller elastically and restricting a rotation position of the rotary table.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the stopper includes:

a fixed block mounted fixedly secured to each of the corner portions of the base frame;

a restriction block having a holding recess for holding a roller surface of the restriction roller, the restriction block being movably mounted to the fixed block with one pair of guide rods passed through the fixed block;

a supporting block mounted to a passed through end portion of the guide rods; and

a spring disposed between the restriction block and the fixed block for applying elastic force to the restriction block.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the supporting block has an adjusting knob screw coupled thereto for adjusting the elastic force of the spring.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the fixing member includes:

a first securing pin mounted to the jig frame for coupling to a securing hole in the inspection object from a lower side to an upper side of the securing hole.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the fixing member includes:

a second securing pin mounted to the jig frame for coupling to a securing hole in the inspection object from an upper side to a lower side of the securing hole.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second securing pin is provided to a securing bracket which may be secured to a top side portion of the jig frame for coupling to the securing hole passed through the top side portion.

14. The device of claim 6, wherein the supporting member is

mounted to the jig frame and includes a supporting pin for supporting an underside of the inspection object.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the supporting member is

mounted to the jig frame and includes a supporting surface for supporting an underside of the inspection object.

16. The device of claim 6, wherein the jig unit further includes;

at least one hand grip member foldably mounted to an upper surface of the rotary table.

17. A device for quality inspection of an automotive part comprising:

a jig unit for securing and supporting an inspection object including a transmission case;

a circular turret body mounted to a fore end of a robot arm with a mounting bracket, the turret body being provided rotatable a predetermined section in both directions by a step motor;

a plurality of vision heads mounted to the turret body radially for vision photographing the processed portion of the inspection object; and

a controller for obtaining a vision data from the vision head and analyzing and processing the vision head for extracting a defect from the processed portion.

18. A method for quality inspection of an automotive part, in which processed portions of an inspection object including a transmission case is vision examined, comprising the steps of:

providing a device for quality inspection of an automotive part, the device including a jig unit for securing and supporting an inspection object including a transmission case, a circular turret body mounted to a fore end of a robot arm with a mounting bracket, the turret body being provided rotatable a predetermined section in both directions by a step motor, a plurality of vision heads mounted to the turret body radially for vision photographing the processed portion of the inspection object, and a controller for obtaining a vision data from the vision head and analyzing and processing the vision head for extracting a defect from the processed portion;

setting the inspection object to the jig unit, and mounting a turret body to a fore end of a robot arm;

driving a step motor to rotate the turret body, and moving one of a plurality of vision heads toward an inside/outside processed portion of the inspection object;

photographing the processed portion with the vision head and forwarding a vision data photographed thus to a controller; and

analyzing and processing the vision data with the controller for extracting defect data on the processed portion.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

rotating a rotary table of the jig unit at 90 degree intervals;

rotating the vision heads at fixed angles with the turret body; and

vision examining inside/outside mounting surfaces, an inside surface of a hole, and an inside surface of a bore of the inspection object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a rotation position of the rotary table is restricted by a stopper.