Coating defect detecting and marking system

• US 6,398,870 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chuo Electronic Measurement Co., Ltd. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Chuo Electronic Measurement Co., Ltd. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kaya, Toshiyuki, Fuchiwaki, Motoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Crispino, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tadesse, Yewebdar T
• Application Number:
  US09/425,752
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 118/712, 118/713, 118/670, 118/668, 118/323, 118/326
• US Class Current: 118/323
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/124 responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/005 Repairing damaged coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8851 Scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment, for detecting different kinds of defects, for compensating for structures, markings, edges G01N21/8806 and G01N21/93 - G01N21/95692 take precedence; optical measurement of dimensions G01B11/00; optical scanning G02B26/10; image transformation G06T3/00; computerised image enhancement G06T5/00; image processing per se for flaw detection G06T7/0002

Abstract

A coating defect detecting and marking system is provided for automatic detection and marking of a coating defect on the body surface of a car. The system detects a spot to mend such as a flaw or coating defect on the outer surface of a coated car body and marks the position of the spot to mend. There are provided along a production line along which the car body is conveyed an imaging block to detect a spot to mend such as a flaw or coating defect on the outer surface of the coated car body, and a piezo pump to provide a jet of marking solution to a corresponding position on the car body surface to the spot to mend detected by the imaging block.

Claims

1. A coating defect detecting and marking system for detecting on the outer surface of a coated car body a flaw or coating defect to mend and marking it on the car body surface, the system comprising:

an image pickup means provided along a production line along which the coated car body is conveyed to detect a defective spot to mend such as a flaw or coating defect on the car body surface;

a marking mews also provided along the production line including a nozzle to provide a jet of a marking solution for marking the detected defective spot in its actual position and/or size on the car body surface; and

the marking means including a moving means for moving the nozzle, based on imaged data, to direct the jet of the marking solution at the detected defective spot.

2. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 1, wherein the moving means includes a transport device to move the nozzle toward the detective spot for marking.

3. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 2, wherein the marking solution is removable by wiping after drying.

4. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 3, wherein the marking solution has a grain compound having a pigment.

5. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 1, wherein the moving means includes a pivoting device to pivot the jet produced by the marking means toward the defective spot for marking.

6. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 5, wherein the marking solution is removable by wiping after drying.

7. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 6, wherein the marking solution has a grain compound having a pigment.

8. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 1, wherein the marking solution is removable by wiping after drying.

9. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 8, wherein the marking solution has a grain compound having a pigment.

19. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup means is proximate the markings.

20. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup means is a CCD camera.

21. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 1, wherein the marking means includes an air cylinder for maintaining a predetermined distance between the marking means and the car.

10. A defect detecting and marking system for detecting a spot to mend on an outer surface of a coated body and marking the spot to mend, the system comprising:

an image pickup device moved relative the coated body for detecting a spot to mend on the coated body;

a marking unit moved relative the coated body having a marking solution applicator for making the spot to mend using a marking solution;

a relocating mechanism for moving the marking solution applicator to apply the marking solution at the spot to mend; and

a controller for controlling the marking unit and the relocating mechanism to apply the marking solution at the spot to mend based on output from the image pickup device.

11. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 10, wherein the relocating mechanism moves the marking solution applicator to the spot to mend.

12. The coating defeat detecting and marking system according to claim 11, wherein the marking solution is removable by wiping after drying.

13. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 12, wherein the marking solution has a grain compound having a pigment.

14. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 10, wherein the relocating mechanism pivots the marking solution applicator to apply the marking solution at the spot to mend.

15. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 14, wherein the marking solution is removable by wiping after drying.

16. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 15, wherein the marking solution has a grain compound having a pigment.

17. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 10, wherein the marking solution is removable by wiping after drying.

18. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 17, wherein the marking solution has a grain compound having a pigment.

22. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 10, wherein the image pickup device is proximate the marking unit.

23. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 10, wherein the image pickup device is a CCD camera.

24. The coating defect detecting and marking system according to claim 10, wherein the marking unit includes a movable nozzle and an air cylinder for maintaining a predetermined distance between the marking unit and the body.