Method of inspecting and manufacturing vehicle body
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing a vehicle body, comprising:
- assembling outer panels on a vehicle frame, producing a vehicle body;
coating an aqueous lustering agent diluted to a predetermined concentration to a surface of said vehicle body under pneumatic pressure with a spray means, thereby forming a thin lustrous film on the surface of the vehicle body;
measuring a degree of surface distortion of the surface of the vehicle body, including the outer panels;
identifying a defective area of the surface by comparing said degree of surface distortion with a predetermined decision value, thereby determining whether said surface distortion is acceptable or not;
if the defective area is not acceptable, repairing said defective area; and
delivering the vehicle body with the defective area repaired to a coating station,wherein said aqueous lustering agent comprises one of an anionic surface-active agent diluted to said predetermined concentration by water and an emulsion of a cationic or aqueous surface-active agent and a petroleum solvent.
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Abstract
After outer panels have been assembled on a vehicle frame, they are coated with an aqueous lustering agent P, and then irradiated with a light beam L. Light reflected by the outer panels is processed to produce a degree and range of distortion thereof. Based on the produced degree and range of distortion, it is determined whether the outer panels suffer a surface distortion or not. The determined result is displayed on a display monitor. According to the displayed image, the outer panels are repaired and thereafter coated with a paint.
29 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a vehicle body, comprising:
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assembling outer panels on a vehicle frame, producing a vehicle body; coating an aqueous lustering agent diluted to a predetermined concentration to a surface of said vehicle body under pneumatic pressure with a spray means, thereby forming a thin lustrous film on the surface of the vehicle body; measuring a degree of surface distortion of the surface of the vehicle body, including the outer panels; identifying a defective area of the surface by comparing said degree of surface distortion with a predetermined decision value, thereby determining whether said surface distortion is acceptable or not; if the defective area is not acceptable, repairing said defective area; and delivering the vehicle body with the defective area repaired to a coating station, wherein said aqueous lustering agent comprises one of an anionic surface-active agent diluted to said predetermined concentration by water and an emulsion of a cationic or aqueous surface-active agent and a petroleum solvent. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of inspecting a vehicle body, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a surface profile of a vehicle body, producing measured surface profile data; differentiating said measured surface profile data into linear differential data; smoothing said linear differential data into smoothed linear differential data; determining a central point of a distortion from said smoothed linear differential data and said linear differential data; determining the difference between reference surface profile data of the vehicle body and said measured surface profile data at said central point, as a degree of distortion; differentiating said linear differential data into quadratic differential data; determining a range of distortion around said central point from said quadratic differential data; and determining whether the distortion of the vehicle body is acceptable or not based on said degree of distortion and said range of distortion. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of inspecting a vehicle body, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining luminance data depending on a surface profile of a vehicle body from light reflected by a surface of the vehicle body irradiated with illuminating light; differentiating said luminance data into linear differential data; determining a central point of a distortion of the surface profile from said linear differential data; determining a range of distortion around said central point from said linear differential data; integrating said luminance data twice in said range of distortion, determining quadratic integral data; and determining a degree of distortion of said surface profile from said quadratic integral data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of inspecting a vehicle body, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a surface profile of a vehicle body, producing measured surface profile data; determining deviation data between reference surface profile data of the vehicle body and said measured surface profile data at a predetermined pitch on the surface profile corresponding to a given location of the vehicle body; converting said deviation data into stepwise deviation data in a plurality of ranks; displaying said stepwise deviation data depending on the surface profile of the vehicle body, in different colors established with respect to the ranks, each of said displayed ranks corresponding to a different location of the vehicle body, respectively; and determining a surface distortion of the vehicle body, at said given location based on the stepwise deviation data displayed in said different colors. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of inspecting a vehicle body, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a surface profile of a vehicle body, producing measured surface profile data; determining deviation data between reference surface profile data of the vehicle body and said measured surface profile data at a predetermined pitch on the surface profile; establishing decision reference data based on at least a profile composed of said reference surface profile data in a range in which said deviation data is not nil, wherein a gradient of said decision reference data is greater as respective curvatures of said reference surface profile data and said measured surface profile data are greater in said range; and comparing said decision reference data and the deviation data in said range thereby to determine a surface distortion of the vehicle body.
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19. A method of manufacturing a vehicle body, comprising:
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assembling outer panels on a vehicle frame, producing a vehicle body; coating an aqueous lustering agent diluted to a predetermined concentration ranging from 15 to 20% to a surface of said vehicle body under pneumatic pressure with a spray means, thereby forming a thin lustrous film on the surface of the vehicle body; measuring a degree of surface distortion of the surface of the vehicle body, including the outer panels; identifying a defective area of the surface by comparing said degree of surface distortion with a predetermined decision value, thereby determining whether said surface distortion is acceptable or not; if the defective area is not acceptable, repairing said defective area; and delivering the vehicle body with the defective area repaired to a coating station. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification