Inspection system and inspecting method

• US 8,176,792 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kozasa, Nobuhiro, Ikeda, Takafumi, Kamiyama, Michio, Yoshimichi, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, PAUL M
• Application Number:
  US12/387,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20090301235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 738/00, 738/49
• US Class Current: 73/840
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/081 by using a contact-less detection method, i.e. with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/005 by means of external apparatus, e.g. test benches or portable test systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0091 by using electromagnetic excitation or detection

Abstract

An inspection system for inspecting a processing accuracy of a work piece is provided. The inspection system includes a supporting mechanism which supports the work piece in a same posture as a posture in which the work piece is assembled to a body; a load reproduction device which applies a load to the work piece along a substantially vertical direction; and a measurement device which measures positions of at least one characteristic portion of the work piece while the load is being applied to the work piece.

Claims

1. An inspection system for inspecting a processing accuracy of a work piece, the inspection system comprising:

a supporting mechanism which supports the work piece in a same posture as a posture in which the work piece is assembled to a body;

a load reproduction device which applies a load to the work piece along a substantially vertical direction;

wherein the load is substantially equivalent to an actual load of at least one additional component which is added to the work piece during final assembly;

a measurement device which measures positions of at least one characteristic portion of the work piece while the load is being applied to the work piece; and

a defective/non-defective determination unit operable to determine whether the work piece is defective based on measured positions of said at least one characteristic portion of the work piece.

2. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein said defective/non-defective determination unit is operable to compare measured positions of said at least one characteristic portion of the work piece with corresponding pre-set positions of non-defective work piece, and to determine whether said work piece is defective based on the comparison results.

3. An inspection system for inspecting a processing accuracy of a vehicle door prior to final assembly of the vehicle door with a vehicle body, the inspection system comprising:

a supporting device which supports the vehicle door in a same posture as a posture of the vehicle door after final assembly of the vehicle door with the vehicle body;

a load reproduction device which applies a load to the vehicle door along a substantially vertical direction, the load being equivalent to an actual load the vehicle door will experience after final assembly with the vehicle body;

wherein the actual load includes a load of at least one additional component which is added to the vehicle door during final assembly;

a measurement device which measures positions of at least one characteristic portion of the vehicle door while the load is being applied to the vehicle door; and

a defective/non-defective determination unit operable to determine whether the vehicle door is defective based on measured positions of said at least one characteristic portion of the vehicle door.

4. An inspection system for inspecting a processing accuracy of a vehicle door prior to final assembly of the vehicle door with a vehicle body, the inspection system comprising:

a supporting mechanism which supports the vehicle door in a same posture as a posture of the vehicle door after final assembly of the vehicle door with the vehicle body;

a load reproduction device which applies a load to the vehicle door along a substantially vertical direction, the load being equivalent to an actual load the vehicle door will experience after final assembly with the vehicle body;

a measurement device which measures positions of at least one characteristic portion of the vehicle door while the load is being applied to the vehicle door; and

a defective/non-defective determination unit operable to determine whether the vehicle door is defective based on measured positions of said at least one characteristic portion of the vehicle door;

wherein;

the supporting mechanism comprises a first pillar fixed to a floor surface, a first panel supporting device attached to the first pillar and comprising a first jig which is removeably attachable to the vehicle door, and a second panel supporting device attached to the first pillar and comprising a second jig which is removeably attachable to the vehicle door;

the load reproduction device comprises a hook connected to a hook driving device, the hook being removeably attachable to the vehicle door; and

the measurement device comprises a second pillar and third pillar fixed on the floor surface, and a plurality of positional sensors provided on the second and third pillars which sense the positions of the at least one characteristic portion.

5. The inspection system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a control device coupled to the positional sensors, wherein

the control device determines whether the vehicle door is defective based on the positions of the at least one characteristic portion.

6. An inspecting method for inspecting processing accuracy of a work piece, the inspecting method comprising:

supporting the work piece in a same posture as a posture of the work piece after final assembly to a body;

applying a load to the work piece along a substantially vertical direction, the load being substantially equal to an actual load on the work piece after the work piece is final assembled to the body;

wherein the actual load includes a load of at least one additional component which is added to the work piece during final assembly;

measuring positions of at least one characteristic portion of the work piece while the load is being applied to the work piece; and

determining whether the work piece is defective based on measured positions of said at least one characteristic portion of the work piece.

7. The inspecting method according to claim 6, further comprising:

adding said at least one additional component to the work piece; and

assembling the work piece to the body.