Method for inspecting an automotive wheel and associated apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of inspecting an automotive wheel having a reference feature comprising,providing an inspection station having a light source for illuminating said wheel and a camera having a zoom lens, positioning an automotive wheel in said inspection station and illuminating said wheel with said light source, employing said camera to obtain a first image providing first image information of said wheel from a first position and delivering image information to a processor, employing said processor to determine the position of said reference feature and if it is not in the desired position rotating said automotive wheel to move said reference feature toward said desired position, moving said light source camera and zoom lens to a second position closer to said reference feature, employing said camera to obtain a second image of said automotive wheel and providing second image information to said processor, and employing said processor to determine the position of said reference feature and if it is not in the desired position rotating said automotive wheel to move said reference feature to said desired position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of inspecting an automotive wheel includes providing an inspection station having a light source for illuminating the wheel, and a camera having a zoom lens. The automotive wheel is positioned in the inspection station and the wheel is illuminated to generate a first image including the reference feature. After the first image information has been delivered to the processor, the model of the automotive wheel is determined on the basis of data stored in the processor and the parameters to be used during the inspection of the particular model are employed in the subsequent inspection. The processor determines the position of the reference feature and determines whether the automotive wheel is in the desired position. If not, the wheel is rotated to move the reference feature toward the desired position. The light source, camera and zoom lens are then moved to a second position closer to the reference feature and a zoomed second image of the automotive wheel is obtained with the image second information being compared in the processor with the desired reference position location. If the reference feature is not in the desired position, the processor initiates further rotation to move the reference feature to the desired position. The zoomed second image has a smaller field of view than the first image. Related apparatus is also disclosed.
27 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of inspecting an automotive wheel having a reference feature comprising,
providing an inspection station having a light source for illuminating said wheel and a camera having a zoom lens, positioning an automotive wheel in said inspection station and illuminating said wheel with said light source, employing said camera to obtain a first image providing first image information of said wheel from a first position and delivering image information to a processor, employing said processor to determine the position of said reference feature and if it is not in the desired position rotating said automotive wheel to move said reference feature toward said desired position, moving said light source camera and zoom lens to a second position closer to said reference feature, employing said camera to obtain a second image of said automotive wheel and providing second image information to said processor, and employing said processor to determine the position of said reference feature and if it is not in the desired position rotating said automotive wheel to move said reference feature to said desired position.
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19. Apparatus for inspecting an automotive wheel having a reference feature comprising
an automotive wheel support for receiving, elevating and rotating said automotive wheel, a light source overlying said automotive wheel support, a camera and zoom lens overlying said automotive wheel support, a processor for receiving first image information from a first image of substantially the entire upper surface of said automotive wheel, and effecting a comparison between the desired position of said reference feature and the actual position thereof and if the desired feature is not in the desired position initiating rotation of said automotive wheel to move said reference feature toward said desired position, and said processor being structured to receive second image information from a second image of a portion of said automotive wheel including said reference feature and effecting a comparison between the desired reference feature position and the actual reference feature position and if the reference feature is not in the desired position, initiating rotation of said automotive wheel to move said reference position to said desired position, and an actuator for moving said light source, said camera and zoom lens between a first position for obtaining said first image and a second position for obtaining said second image, wherein said second position is closer to the reference feature than said first position.
Specification