GB2446518A - System for making dimensional measurements using camera-based positioning approach - Google Patents

System for making dimensional measurements using camera-based positioning approach Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2446518A
GB2446518A GB0802449A GB0802449A GB2446518A GB 2446518 A GB2446518 A GB 2446518A GB 0802449 A GB0802449 A GB 0802449A GB 0802449 A GB0802449 A GB 0802449A GB 2446518 A GB2446518 A GB 2446518A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
measurement
predetermined portion
engine block
work
camera
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0802449A
Other versions
GB2446518B (en
GB0802449D0 (en
Inventor
Colin Western
Mark Lewis
Shane Sprules
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Honda Motor Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Honda Motor Co Ltd filed Critical Honda Motor Co Ltd
Publication of GB0802449D0 publication Critical patent/GB0802449D0/en
Publication of GB2446518A publication Critical patent/GB2446518A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2446518B publication Critical patent/GB2446518B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T7/00—Image analysis
    • G06T7/70—Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
    • G01B11/08—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring diameters
    • G01B11/12—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring diameters internal diameters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B21/00—Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant
    • G01B21/10—Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant for measuring diameters
    • G01B21/14—Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant for measuring diameters internal diameters
    • G06T7/004—
    • G06T7/602—
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T7/00—Image analysis
    • G06T7/60—Analysis of geometric attributes
    • G06T7/62—Analysis of geometric attributes of area, perimeter, diameter or volume

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Measuring Arrangements Characterized By The Use Of Fluids (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices With Unspecified Measuring Means (AREA)

Abstract

A measurement system for measuring the bore inner diameter of an automotive engine block. The measurement system measures dimensions of bores AO to A3 in an engine block 10 conveyed on a transport conveyor 2. The measurement system includes: a CCD camera positioned above the transport conveyor 2; an air micrometer for measuring dimensions; a movement system for relatively moving the CCD camera and the air micrometer with respect to the transport conveyor 2; and a controller (5, Fig.4) for performing control thereof. The controller captures by way of the CCD camera, the bore AO and the side surface A of the engine block 10 conveyed on the transport conveyor 2, identifies the positions of the remaining bores A1 to A3 in the engine block 10 based on the captured images, and brings the micrometer into proximity to the bores AO to A3 for dimensional measurement.

Description

MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND MEASUREMENT METHOD
The present invention relates to measurement systems and measurement methods and, in particular, to a measurement system and measurement method for measuring a bore inner diameter of an automotive engine block.
In a conventional manufacturing process for an engine, to measure a bore inner diameter of an engine block, the engine block is transported to a measurement station, and the en'gine block is positioned with a positioning device before the measurement work.
Such a Positioning device, for example, is configured so that a work is sandwiched by a receiving body and pressing body topositjon the work. (See Japanese Patent No. 3341600).
This technique permits the work to be completely positioned, thus facilitating work assembly and measurement.
However, such a method has a problem in that there is a necessity of installation of a positioning device, causing a high cost increase in manufacturing an engine block.
In view of the aforementioned problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a measurement system and measurement method capable of achieving cost reduction.
A measurement system, according to the present invention, for measuring a dimension of a predetermined portion of a work Conveyed on a conveyance path, includes: a camera disposed above the conveyance path; a measurement means for measuring dimensions; a moving means for relatively moving the camera and the measurement means relative to the conveyance path; and a control means for performing control thereof in which the control means captures, by way 9f the camera, any portion other than the predetermined portion in the work conveyed on the conveyance path, identifies a position of the predetermined portion in the work based on the captured images and brings the measurement means into proximity to the predetermined portion with the moving means, to allow dimensional measurement.
With the arrangement of the present invention, any portion other than the predetermined portion of the work conveyed on a conveyance path.is captured with a camera, a position of the predetermined portion of the work is identified by image processing, and a measurement means is brought into proximity to the predetermined portion for dimensional measurement. Accordingly, a position of the predetermined portion to be measured can be identified for measurement work from the captured image without a need for installing a positioning device for positioning the work as seen in a conventional way, thus attaining a reduction in cost.
Furthermore, image processing identifies the position of the predetermined portion to be measured. This eliminates damage to the work or the measurement means without any contact of the tip of the measurement means with the work while the measurement means is being brought into proximity to the work.
A measurement method according to the present invention is a method for measuring a dimension of a predetermined portion of a work conveyed on a conveyance path, including steps of: capturing, by way of a camera, any portion other than the predetermined portion of the work conveyed on the conveyance path; identifying a position of the predetermined portion based on the captured image; and bringing the measurement means into proximity to the predetermined portion, to allow dimensional measurement.
With the arrangement of the present invention, any portion other than the predetermined portion of the work conveyed on a conveyance path is captured by way of the camera, the position of the predetermined portion is identified by means of image processing based on the captured image, and the measurement means is brought into proximity to the predetermined portion for dimensional measurement. This enables performing measurement of the work at a lower cost by identifying the position of the predetermined portion to be measured from the captured image without the installation of a positioning device for positioning the work, which a conventional system requires. Furthermore, identifying the position of the predetermined portion to be measured by way of image processing can prevent the work or the measurement means from being damaged due to there being no contact of the front end of the measurement means with the work while the measurement means is being brought into proximity of the work.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a work measured with a measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of the measurement system according to the present embodiment; Fig. 3 is a front view of the measurement system -according to the present embodiment; Fig. 4 is a block diagram of an approximate configuration of the measurement system according to the present embodiment; Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing steps for work measurement with the measurement system according to the present embodiment; and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating steps for work measurement with the measurement system according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an engine block 10 as a work measured with a measurement system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The engine block 10 is conveyed downward in Fig. 1 by a transport conveyor 2 described later. The engine block 10 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, the bottom surface of which has been processed. Moreover, one of two side surfaces on the front side thereof, that is, a side surface A herein, has been processed.
The top surface of the engine block 10 is formed with four bores A0 to A3, which are substantially circular holes in cross section and which are at predetermined intervals.
If the bore on a front-end side of the engine block 10 is taken as a bore A0 and a straight line passing through the center of the bore AU and extending vertically to the side surface A is taken as a reference line B, the centers of the remaining three bores Al to A3 are positioned on the reference line B. Correlation lengths between each center of the bores Al to A3 and the center of the bore A0 are predetermined dimensions dl, d2, and d3, respectively.
Figs. 2 and 3 are a top view and a front view of the measurement system 1, respectively.
A measurement system 1 measures inside diameters of the bores A0 to A3 as predetermined portions in the engine block conveyed on the transport conveyor 2 as a conveyance path..
The measurement system 1 includes: a measurement unit 3 having a CCD camera 32 as a camera and an air micrometer 33 as a measurement means and positioned above the transport conveyor 2; a transfer mechanism 4 as a moving means for relatively moving the measurement unit 3 to the transport conveyor 2; and a controller 5 as a control means, described later, for controlling the measurement unit 3 and the transfer mechanism 4.
The transport conveyor 2 has a plurality of conveying rollers 21 and a carrier motor 22 for driving the conveyance rollers 21. Each of the conveying rollers 21 has sprockets 211, the sprockets 211 and the carrier motor 22 being coupled to each other through chains 23.
The carrier motor 22 is controlled by the controller. 5 described later. Specifically, the carrier motor 22 rotates the conveying rollers 21 through the chains 23 by a signal from the controller 5.
The measurement unit 3 has a base 31, a CCD camera 32 mounted on the base 31, and the air micrometer 33 for measuring the inside diameters of the bores AO to A3.
The transfer mechanism 4 has a first transfer. mechanism 41 for approaching and separating the measurement unit 3 to and from the transport conveyor 2, a second transfer mechanism 42 for moving the first transfer mechanism 41 in such a direction as to cross the transport conveyor 2 and a third transfer mechanism 43 for moving the second transfer mechanism 42 along the transport conveyor 2.
The first transfer mechanism 41 has slide rails 411 extending substantially vertically to a surface of the transport conveyor 2 and a slide system 412 for sliding the measurement unit 3 along the slide rails 411.
The slide system 412 has a first drive motor 413 and a feed screw mechanism 414 coupled to the first drive motor 413.
The measurement unit 3 is configured with slide guides (not shown) fitted to the slide rails 411, and the measurement unit 3 is screwed together with the feed screw mechanism 414.
According to the first transfer mechanism 41, driving the first drive motor 413 permits the measurement unit 3 to approach and separate from the transport conveyor 2 through the feed screw mechanism 414.
The second transfer mechanism 42 has slide rails 421 provided across the transport conveyor 2 and a slide system 422 for sliding the first transfer mechanism 41 along the slide rails 421.
The slide system 422 has a second drive motor 423 and a feed screw mechanism 424 coupled to the second drive motor 423.
The first transfer mechanism 41 is provided with slide guides (not shown) fitted to the slide rails 421 antI the first transfer mechanism 41 is screwed together with the feed screw mechanism 424.
With the second transfer mechanism 42, driving the second drive motor 423 permits the first transfer mechanism 41 to move in such a direction as to cross the transport conveyor 2 through the feed screw mechanism 424.
A third transfer mechanism 43 has two slide rails 431 provided on both sides adjacent to the transport conveyor 2, support legs 435 for supporting the slide rails 431 and a slide system 432, which is provided on one side of the two slide rails 431 and slides the second movement system 42 along the slide rails 431.
The slide system 432 has a third drive motor 433 and a feed screw mechanism 434 coupled to the third drive motor 433.
At the lower end surface of the second transfer mechanism 42, there is provided two slide guides 425 fitted to the two slide rails 431. The second transfer mechanism 42 is screwed together with the feed screw mechanism 434.' With the third transfer mechanism 43, driving the third drive motor 433 permits the second transfer mechanism 42 to move along the transport conveyor 2 through the feed screw mechanism 434.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the measurement system 1.
The controller 5 receives signals from the CCD camera 32 and the air micrometer 33 of the measurement unit 3, and controls the first drive motor 413, the second drive motor 423, and the third drive motor 433 of the transfer mechanism 4 and the carrier motor 22 of the transpQrt conveyor 2.
Next, referring to a flowchart in Fig. 5, the operation of the measurement system 1 is described.
First, in ST1, an engine block 10 is conveyed by the transport conveyor 2. The engine block 10 is conveyed in a tilted attitude to a conveying direction and the side surface A thereof is positioned at the foremost thereof.
Next, in ST2, when the bore AO at the foremost of the engine block 10 is located within'a capturing area (indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 6) of the CCD camera 32 as shown in Fig. 6, the controller 5 stops the transport conveyor 2.
Subsequently, in ST3, the CCD camera 32 captures the engine block 10 and, based on the captured image, the central position of the bore A0 at the foremost thereof is calculated.
In ST4, based on a captured image, the positions of the remaining bores Alto A3 are calculated by way of image processing. Specifically, even if the bores Al to A3 are not completely captured by the camera, a slope of the side surface A of the engine block 10 is measured. Subsequently, the reference line B, which passes through the central position of the bore A0 and is perpendicular to the slope of the side surface A, is drawn. A position which is on the reference line B and is distant from the center of the bore AO by dl is taken as the center of the bore Al, a position which is on the reference line B and is distant from the center of the bore AD by d2 is taken as the center of the bore A2, and a position which is on the reference line B and is distant from the center of the bore A0 by d3 is taken as the center of the bore A3.
In ST5, the controller 5 moves the micrometer 33 to the positions of the bores AD to A3. Next, based on the fact that the bottom surface of the engine block 10 has been processed, heights from the transport conveyer 2 to the bores AD to A3 are calculated, and the controller 5 allows the micrometer 33 to be inserted from openings of the bores A0 to A3 into the inside thereof and to measure the inside diameters of the respective bores.
The present embodiment provides the following advantages: (1) The CCD camera 32 captures the bore AD of the engine block 10 conveyed on the transport conveyor 2, and by way of image processing of the captured images of the bore A0 and the side surface A, positions of the bores Al to A3 are identified. Then, the micrometer 33 is brought into proximity to the bores A0 to A3 for dimensional measurement.
Accordingly, measurement work can be performed by identifying positions of the bores A0 to A3 to be measured from the captured images without need for.installatjon of a positioning device for positioning a work as seen in a conventional way, thus attaining a reduction in the cost of manufacturing the engine block 10.
Furthermore, image processing identifies the positions of the bores A0 to A3, which can avoid any collision of a measurement head of the micrometer 33 with the engine block 10 while the micrometer 33 is being brought into proximity of the engine block 10. This enables prevention of the engine block and the micrometer 33 being damaged.
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described and iLLustrated above, it is to be understood that it is exemplary of the invention and is not to be considered to be limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered to be limited by the foregoing description arid is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

  1. CI.1AIMS: 1. A measurement system for measuring a dimension of a
    predetermined portion of a work conveyed on a conveyance path, comprising: a camera disposed above the conveyance path; a measurement means for measuring dimensions; a moving means for moving relatively the camera and the measurement means relative to the conveyance path; and a control means for performing control thereof; wherein the control means captures, by way of the camera, any portion other than the predetermined portion of the work conveyed on the conveyance path, identifies a position of the predetermined portion in the work based on the captured images, and brings the measurement means into proximity to the predetermined portion with the moving means, to allow dimensional measurement.
  2. 2. A measurement system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion is a bore inner diameter of an automotive engine block.
  3. 3. A measurement method for measuring dimensions of a predetermined portion of a work conveyed on a conveyance path, comprising steps of: capturing, by way of a camera, any portion other than the predetermined portion of the work conveyed on the conveyance path; identifying a position of the predetermined portion in the work based on the captured images; and bringing the measurement means into proximity of the predetermined portion, to allow dimensional measurement.
  4. 4. A measurement method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the predetermined portion is a bore inner diameter of an automotive engine block.
  5. 5. A measurement system substantially as hereirthefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  6. 6. A measurement method substantially as hereirthefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0802449A 2007-02-09 2008-02-08 Measurement system and measurement method Expired - Fee Related GB2446518B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2007030804A JP2008196902A (en) 2007-02-09 2007-02-09 Measurement system and measurement method

Publications (3)

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GB0802449D0 GB0802449D0 (en) 2008-03-19
GB2446518A true GB2446518A (en) 2008-08-13
GB2446518B GB2446518B (en) 2009-03-25

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GB (1) GB2446518B (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4620353A (en) * 1981-06-15 1986-11-04 Pryor Timothy R Electro-optical and robotic casting quality assurance
JPH1164228A (en) * 1997-08-27 1999-03-05 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Surface inspecting device
EP0939382A1 (en) * 1997-05-30 1999-09-01 Fanuc Ltd Image acquisition device
JP2006170676A (en) * 2004-12-14 2006-06-29 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Device of measuring cylinder bore inner surface

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4620353A (en) * 1981-06-15 1986-11-04 Pryor Timothy R Electro-optical and robotic casting quality assurance
EP0939382A1 (en) * 1997-05-30 1999-09-01 Fanuc Ltd Image acquisition device
JPH1164228A (en) * 1997-08-27 1999-03-05 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Surface inspecting device
JP2006170676A (en) * 2004-12-14 2006-06-29 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Device of measuring cylinder bore inner surface

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2446518B (en) 2009-03-25
GB0802449D0 (en) 2008-03-19
JP2008196902A (en) 2008-08-28

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20140208