JP2003347007A - Method and device for inspecting terminal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for a terminal fitting, capable of accurately determining whether the insulation displacement condition of an electric wire is acceptable or not. <P>SOLUTION: This device 1 for inspecting a terminal fitting is provided with a CCD camera 5, a control device 7 and the like. The CCD camera picks up the image of an insulation displacement terminal as the terminal fitting. The control device 7 memorizes a normal binary image obtained by binarizing the image of the insulation displacement terminal wherein the insulation displacement condition of the electric wire is excellent. The control device 7 obtains a binary image by binarizing the image of the insulation displacement terminal with which the electric wire as an object to be inspected is insulation-displaced. The control device 7 collates the normal binary image with the binary image to determine whether the insulation displacement condition of the electric wire of the insulation displacement terminal as the object to be inspected is acceptable or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal fitting inspection method and an inspection apparatus for inspecting whether or not a wire is pressed against a terminal fitting attached to a connector housing and to which the wire is pressed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an automobile as a moving body is equipped with various kinds of electronic devices such as lamps such as a head lamp and a tail lamp, a starter motor and a motor for an air conditioner. For this reason, in order to supply electric power or the like to the above-described various electronic devices, the automobile is provided with a wiring harness.

[0003] A wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and connectors attached to the ends of the electric wires. The electric wire includes a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that covers the core wire. The connector includes a conductive terminal fitting and an insulating connector housing. The terminal fitting is electrically connected to the core wire of the electric wire. The connector housing is formed in a box shape (cylindrical shape) and accommodates terminal fittings. In the wire harness described above, the connector is connected to the connector of the electronic device and the like described above,
Power and various signals are transmitted to these electronic devices.

[0004] As a terminal fitting of the above-mentioned wire harness, a press contact terminal for press contact with an electric wire is sometimes used.
The press contact terminal has a press contact portion that presses against the electric wire. The press contact portion includes a pair of walls for positioning the electric wires between each other, and a plurality of pairs of press contact blades extending in a direction approaching each other from the pair of walls. After the press contact terminal is attached to the connector housing, an electric wire is press-fitted between the pair of walls, that is, between a plurality of pairs of press contact blades. The press-connecting terminal is electrically connected to the electric wire when the press-contact blade cuts the covering portion of the electric wire and comes into contact with the core wire.

[0005] In an assembly line for assembling the above-described wire harness, after an electric wire is pressed against a press contact terminal mounted on a connector housing, an appearance inspection is performed on the press contact terminal to which the wire is pressed. At the time of the appearance inspection, first, an image of the press-contact portion of the press-contact terminal having a good press-contact state of the wire is obtained.

Then, an image of the press-contact portion of the press-contact terminal as an object to be inspected is obtained, and a correlation value with the image of the press-contact portion of the press-contact terminal having a good press-contact condition is calculated by a well-known correlation method. Based on the correlation value, it is determined whether or not the pressure contact state of the wire of the pressure contact terminal as the inspection object is good. In this way, the quality of the press-contact terminal as the inspection object is determined by comparing the press-contact terminal of the wire with the image of the press-contact portion of the press-contact terminal having a favorable wire-contact state.

[0007]

On the other hand, the covering portion of the electric wire used in the above-mentioned wire harness is colored in various colors. In the above-described conventional inspection method, when the color of the wire pressed against the press-contact terminal as the inspection object changes, the correlation value between the wire and the press-contact terminal having a good press-contact state of the wire changes. For this reason, there is a possibility that a press contact terminal having a good press contact state is determined as a defective product, or a press contact terminal having a poor press contact status is determined as a non-defective product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal fitting inspection method and an inspection apparatus capable of accurately determining the quality of a wire pressure contact state.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for inspecting a terminal fitting, wherein the terminal fitting is mounted on a connector housing and an electric wire is pressed against the terminal fitting. A terminal fitting inspection method for inspecting the pressure welding state of the wire, wherein the image of the terminal fitting to which the wire as the inspection object is pressed is binarized, and a binary image obtained by binarizing the image; A normal binary image obtained by binarizing an image of a terminal fitting having a good pressure contact state of an electric wire is compared with a normal binary image to determine the quality of the pressure contact state of the terminal fitting as the inspection object. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal fitting inspection method according to the first aspect.
The terminal fitting includes a pair of walls for positioning the electric wire between each other, a first press-contact blade extending from one wall of the pair of walls toward the other wall, and one wall from the other wall. And a second press-contact blade extending toward the second press-connecting blade, and press-fitting the electric wire between the first press-contact blade and the second press-contact blade to connect with the electric wire, A first inspection target area including the one wall and the first press blade in the image, and a first inspection area including the one wall and the first press blade in the normal binary image And a second inspection target area including the other wall and the second press-contact blade of the binary image, and the other wall of the normal binary image. A second normal binary image including the second press blade is collated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal fitting inspecting apparatus for inspecting a state of a wire fitting of a terminal fitting attached to a connector housing to which a wire is pressed, the terminal fitting being inspected. Storage means for storing a normal binary image obtained by binarizing an image of a terminal fitting having a good pressure contact state of an electric wire, imaging means for imaging a terminal fitting to which an electric wire is pressed as an inspection object; Processing means for binarizing an image captured by the means, a binary image obtained by the processing means being binarized, and a regular binary image stored by the storage means.
Determining means for comparing the value image with the value image to determine whether or not the press-fitting state of the terminal fitting as the inspection object is good.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the terminal fitting inspection apparatus according to the third aspect.
The terminal fitting includes a pair of walls for positioning the electric wire between each other, a first press-contact blade extending from one wall of the pair of walls toward the other wall, and one wall from the other wall. A second press-contact blade extending toward the first press-contact blade, and press-fitting the electric wire between the first press-contact blade and the second press-contact blade to connect to the electric wire and to store the storage means. A first normal binary image including the one wall and the first press contact blade as the normal binary image, and a second normal binary image including the other wall and the second press contact blade as the normal binary image. While storing a binary image, the processing means may include a first inspection target area including the one wall and the first press-contact blade in the binary image and the other wall and the first inspection target area. Calculating a second inspection target area including the second press-contact blade,
The first normal binary image is compared with the first inspection target area, and the second normal binary image and the second
Is compared with the inspection target area.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the normal binary image of the press contact terminal having a good press contact state of the electric wire is compared with the binary image of the press contact terminal as the inspection object. As described above, since the binary images obtained by binarization are compared with each other, the influence of the color of the electric wire can be suppressed.

According to the present invention, an image including one wall and a press-contact blade extending from the wall is binarized and collated. For this reason, the electric wires included in the image to be binarized can be suppressed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the judging means compares the normal binary image of the press-contact terminal having a good press-contact state of the electric wire with the binary image of the press-contact terminal as the inspection object. . As described above, since the binary images obtained by binarization are compared with each other, the influence of the color of the electric wire can be suppressed.

According to the present invention, an image including one wall and a press-contact blade extending from the wall is binarized and collated. For this reason, the electric wires included in the image to be binarized can be suppressed.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A terminal fitting inspection apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as an inspection apparatus) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The inspection apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 and the like inspects the press contact state of the wire 2 of the press contact terminal 200 as a terminal fitting attached to the connector housing 201 shown in FIG. 9 and the like.

The electric wire 2 is a so-called covered electric wire having a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion for covering the core wire.
The core wire is configured by twisting a plurality of conductive wires. The covering portion is made of an insulating synthetic resin. The outer surface of the covering portion, that is, the outer surface of the electric wire, is colored in various colors and various marks are formed. These colors and marks indicate places and systems where the electric wires 2 are used. In the present embodiment,
The outer surface of the electric wire is formed in a stripe pattern with two colors A and B different from each other. 6 and 9, the color A is indicated by oblique parallel lines, and the color B is indicated by a white background.

The press contact terminal 200 is obtained by bending a conductive sheet metal or the like. The insulation displacement terminal 200
As shown in FIG. 9, the electric contact portion 203 and the electric wire connection portion 2
04. The electric contact portion 203 includes a tubular tubular portion 205, an elastic contact piece 206 for connecting to a male terminal (not shown), and a lance 207 for engaging with the connector housing 201.

The cylindrical portion 205 is connected to a bottom wall 208 and a pair of side walls 209 of the electric wire connecting portion 204, which will be described later. The elastic contact piece 206 is provided in the cylindrical portion 205,
The tab of the male terminal that has entered the inside 5 is urged toward the inner surface of the tubular portion 205 so that the tab of the male terminal does not come off from the tubular portion 205.

The lance 207 is formed in a belt shape and is provided on the outer surface side of the tubular portion 205. The lance 207 is elastically deformable such that one end thereof is connected to the cylindrical portion 205 and the other end thereof comes into contact with or separate from the cylindrical portion 205.
The lance 207 is engaged with the connector housing 201 to prevent the press contact terminal 200 from coming out of the terminal receiving groove 202.

The electric wire connecting portion 204 includes a bottom wall 208 on which the electric wire 2 is placed, a pair of side walls 209, a plurality of pairs of press contact blades 211a and 211b, and a pair of caulking pieces 212. The bottom wall 208 is formed in a strip shape with a substantially flat surface. The side walls 209 are connected to both edges of the bottom wall 208 in the width direction. The side walls 209 stand on the bottom wall 208 and face each other. The pair of side walls 209 position the electric wire 2 between each other. Note that the pair of side walls 209 form a pair of walls described in this specification.

The pressing blades 211a and 211b are respectively
It stands on the bottom wall 208. In the illustrated example, three pairs of the press contact blades 211a and 211b are provided. One of the press-contact blades 211a and 211b (hereinafter, referred to as a first press-contact blade) 211a is formed from one side wall 209 (hereinafter, referred to as reference numeral 209a) of the pair of side walls 209 to the other side wall 209 (hereinafter, reference numeral 209b). ). The other press contact blade (hereinafter referred to as a second press contact blade) 211
b extends from the other side wall 209b toward the one side wall 209a. The edges of the press contact blades 211a and 211b are
The pair of side walls 209a and 20b are opposed to each other at a distance along the direction facing each other.

The press-contact blades 211a and 211b press the wire 2 between each other, so that the covering portion of the wire 2 is cut into contact with the core wire of the wire 2. Pressing blades 211a, 21
1b is electrically connected to the electric wire 2. Thus, the press contact blades 211a and 211b press against the electric wire 2.

The pair of caulking pieces 212 are connected to both widthwise edges of the bottom wall 208. The pair of caulking pieces 212
Each of them stands on the bottom wall 208. The pair of caulking pieces 212 face each other with an interval therebetween. The caulking piece 212 is bent toward the bottom wall 208 so as to sandwich the electric wire 2 with the bottom wall 208. That is, the pair of crimping pieces 212 crimp the electric wire 2. Thus, the pair of crimping pieces 212 fixes the electric wire 2 to the electric wire connection portion 204.

The connector housing 201 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 9, the connector housing 201 includes a terminal accommodating portion 213 and the terminal accommodating portion 21.
3 and a cover 214 connected via a hinge.

The terminal receiving portion 213 includes a substantially rectangular plate portion 215, a plurality of terminal receiving grooves 202, and a plate portion 2.
15 and a ceiling wall 216 facing at an interval. The plate portion 215 includes a lock groove and a lock arm (not shown) for preventing the press contact terminal 200 inserted into the terminal receiving groove 202 from coming off.

The terminal accommodating grooves 202 are respectively formed so as to be concave from the surface of the plate portion 215 and are arranged side by side. The terminal accommodating groove 202 extends substantially linearly. The press contact terminal 200 is inserted into the terminal accommodating groove 202 along the longitudinal direction.

The ceiling wall 216 has a substantially rectangular planar shape. The ceiling wall 216 exposes the wire connection portion 204 of the press contact terminal 200 housed in the terminal housing groove 202 and covers the electric contact portion 203. Also, the plate portion 215
An engagement protrusion 217 protruding outward is provided on an edge portion of the ceiling wall 216 remote from the ceiling wall 216.

The cover 214 has a plurality of ridges 218 for holding electric wires that match the terminal receiving grooves 202 of the terminal receiving portion 213. The cover 214 has a cover lock arm 219 that can be engaged with the engagement protrusion 217. Cover 2
14 is rotatable with respect to the terminal accommodating portion 213 by a hinge (not shown) provided at an edge of the ceiling wall 216.

Further, the connector housing 20 described above
In a state 1 before the assembly, the terminal accommodating groove 202 of the terminal accommodating portion 213 and the ridge 218 of the cover 214 are connected by a band (not shown) in a state where the openings are located in the same direction. That is, the cover 214 is
The terminal housing 213 and the cover 214 are connected by a band in a state where the terminal housing 13 is turned upside down.

When assembling, first, along the longitudinal direction of the terminal accommodating groove 202, the terminal accommodating groove 20
2, the press contact terminal 200 is inserted. When the lance 207 is engaged with the connector housing 201 or the like, the press contact terminal 200 is fixed (mounted) to the connector housing 201 in a state of being housed in the terminal housing groove 202. Thereafter, the electric wire 2 is press-fitted between the press contact blades 211a and 211b. The caulking piece 212 is bent. The electric wire 2 is fixed to the insulation displacement terminal 200.

Then, using the inspection device 1,
Inspection of the press-fit state (fixation state) of the electric wire 2 to 00 is performed. If all the insulation displacement terminals 200 are non-defective, the band is removed, and the cover 214 is turned around the hinge by the arrow K in FIG.
Is rotated along. The cover lock arm 219 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 217, and the terminal accommodating portion 213 and the cover 21 are engaged.
4 are fixed to each other.

The inspection apparatus 1 includes a connector housing 201
The wire 2 of the crimping terminal 200, which is attached to the crimping terminal 200 and has the wire 2 pressed between the crimping blades 211a and 211b, is inspected for the quality of the crimping condition. As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection apparatus 1 includes a CCD camera 5 as an imaging unit, an inspection table 3, a drive arm unit 4, and a control unit 7 as a control unit.
, An input device 24, a display device 25, and an output device 26 as output means.

The CCD camera 5 is mounted on a connector housing 201 as an object to be inspected placed on the inspection table 3 and is capable of capturing an image of a press-contact terminal 200 to which the electric wire 2 is pressed. The CCD camera 5 is supported by a later-described Y-axis arm 33 of the drive arm unit 4.

In the illustrated example, the CCD camera 5 includes a two-dimensional CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor in which image sensors constituting pixels are two-dimensionally arranged;
A lens for guiding an image to a two-dimensional CCD image sensor is provided. In the CCD camera 5, a two-dimensional CCD image sensor detects the intensity of light in a plurality of stages. That is, the CCD camera 5 detects the intensity of light at each pixel arranged two-dimensionally. The CCD camera 5 captures a so-called black and white image with shading.

The inspection table 3 has a surface 3a formed in a substantially flat plate shape along the horizontal direction. The inspection table 3 can place a press-contact terminal 200 attached to a connector housing 201 as an object to be inspected and pressed against the electric wire 2 on the front surface 3a.

The drive arm unit 4 includes a drive arm 28
And a drive control unit 29. Drive arm 28
Is movable along the surface 3a with respect to the inspection table 3 by a known linear guide 40 or the like. In the illustrated example, it is movable along the arrow Y from the near side to the far side or from the far side to the near side in FIG. The linear guide 40 includes a rail 40a attached to the inspection table 3 and extending along the arrow Y;
A slider 40b is provided movably with respect to the rail 40a.

The drive arm 28 includes a Z-axis arm 31, an X-axis arm 32, and a Y-axis arm 33 extending along the vertical direction. One end of the Z-axis arm 31 is fixed to the slider 40b. The X-axis arm 32 is movably supported by the Z-axis arm 31 along a direction intersecting both the surface 3a and the arrow Y.

In the illustrated example, the X-axis arm 32 is movable with respect to the Z-axis arm 31 along an arrow Z in FIG. 1 perpendicular to the arrow Y and along the vertical direction. The X-axis arm 32 is formed in an arm shape extending along the surface 3a and along a direction intersecting the arrow Y.
In the illustrated example, the X-axis arm 32 extends along an arrow X (horizontal direction) orthogonal to both the arrow Y and the arrow Z.

The Y-axis arm 33 is supported on the X-axis arm 32 by a known linear guide 41 or the like so as to be movable along the arrow X. The linear guide 41 includes a rail 41a attached to the X-axis arm 32 and extending along the arrow X, and a slider 41b provided movably with respect to the rail 41a.

One end of the Y-axis arm 33 has a slider 41b.
Fixed to. The Y-axis arm 33 is formed in an arm shape extending along the arrow Y. Y-axis arm 3
3 has a CCD camera 5 attached to the other end.

The Z-axis arm 31 is moved along the arrow Y by a known air cylinder or motor.
The X-axis arm 32 is moved along the arrow Z by a well-known air cylinder or motor. Y-axis arm 3
3 is a well-known air cylinder or motor,
It is moved along arrow X.

The drive control section 29 drives an air cylinder or a motor for moving the Z-axis arm 31, X-axis arm 32 and Y-axis arm 33, respectively, based on a command from the control device 7. With the configuration described above, the drive arm unit 4 moves the CCD camera 5 along arrows Y, Z, and X in FIG. Drive arm unit 4
Positions the CCD camera 5 at a position where the pressure contact terminal 200 attached to the connector housing 201 can be imaged based on a command from the control device 7.

The input device 24 is used to input the setting status of the inspection device 1 such as the part number and the number of the press contact terminals 200 as the inspection object to the control device 7. The input device 24 is used for performing various operations of the inspection device 1. Further, the input device 24 inputs a binary image (hereinafter, referred to as a normal binary image) of the press-contact terminal 200 having a good press-contact state to a normal image memory 12 (shown in FIG. 2) of the control device 7 described later.

As a normal binary image, a first normal binary image F1 including one side wall 209a and a first press contact blade 211a of the press contact terminal 200 having a good press contact condition shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. The second regular 2 including the other side wall 209b of the press contact terminal 200 having a good press contact state and the second press contact blade 211b.
The value image F2 is used. In addition, the first shown in FIGS.
In the second normal binary images F1 and F2, portions indicated by parallel oblique lines indicate O (black), that is, portions where light from the inspection object is weak. In the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a white portion indicates 1 (white), that is, a portion where light from the inspection object is strong.

Since the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 are, of course, binary images, each pixel (coordinate) is shown as 0 (black) or 1 (white). . That is, the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 are:
It is a black and white image without shading. The above-described first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 are obtained by converting an image including the above-described side walls 209a and 209b and the press-contact blades 211a and 211b of the press-contact terminal 200 having a good press-contact state into a desired threshold value. And binarized. In addition, the inspection device 1 actually captures an image of the press-contact terminal 200 having a good press-contact state with the CCD camera 5, and performs the above-described first and second normal binary images F1 and F2.
May be calculated.

Further, the input device 24 is an object to be inspected picked up by the CCD camera 5 or a press contact terminal 2 having a good press contact condition.
A threshold value used for binarizing the image 00 is input to a threshold memory 13 (shown in FIG. 2) of the control device 7 described later. The input device 24 is a CPU 1 described later of the control device 7.
1 compares the inspection target areas R1 and R2 of the binary image (shown in FIG. 7) of the pressure contact terminal 200 of the inspection target with the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 (by normalization correlation). (Obtained), a predetermined correlation value for determining whether or not the inspection target regions R1, R2 match the first and second normal binary images F1, F2 is stored in a correlation value memory 14 (FIG. 2)).

As the input device 24, a well-known keyboard,
Mouse, various switches and operation buttons, CD-ROM
Various storage medium driving devices such as a driving device can be used.

The display device 25 displays the operation status of the inspection device 1 or the quality of the press-contact condition of the wire 2 of the press-contact terminal 200 that has been inspected. As the display device 25, a well-known CRT
(Cathode Ray Tube) display, liquid crystal display (Liquid Crystal Display) and the like can be used. In the illustrated example, a well-known C is used as the display device 25.
An RT display is used.

The output device 26 outputs the quality of the press-contact state of the wire 2 of the press-contact terminal 200 inspected by the inspection device 1 and the like. As the output device 26, a well-known printer that prints the inspection result or the like, or a CD-ROM that can write the inspection result or the like as electronic information on various recording media such as a CD-ROM.
A ROM drive can be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 7 includes a storage unit 8, a well-known ROM (Read-only Memory) 9, and a RAM.
(Random Access Memory) 10 and a CPU (Central Pr
(Processing Unit) 11.
The control device 7 is connected to the CCD camera 5, the input device 24, the display device 25, the output device 26, the drive control unit 29, and the like. The control device 7 controls the CCD camera 5, the input device 24, the display device 25, the output device 26, the drive control unit 29, and the like, and controls the entire inspection device 1.

The storage section 8 includes a normal image memory 12 as a storage means, a threshold value memory 13, a correlation value memory 14,
And The regular image memory 12 stores the first
And second normal binary images F1 and F2. The normal image memory 12 is connected to the input device 24, and receives first and second normal binary images F1, F2 from the input device 24.
2 is input. The threshold value memory 13 stores a threshold value used when binarizing the image 20 (shown in FIG. 6) of the press contact terminal 200 as the inspection object. The threshold memory 13 is connected to an input device 24, from which the above-mentioned threshold value is input.

The correlation value memory 14 stores a binary image 21 (shown in FIG. 7) obtained by binarizing an image 20 (shown in FIG. 6) of the press contact terminal 200 as an inspection object, and a binary image 21 shown in FIG.
A predetermined correlation value for determining whether or not the inspection target regions R1 and R2 match the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 is stored. The correlation value memory 14 is connected to the input device 24, from which the above-described predetermined correlation value is input. These memories 12, 1
Reference numerals 3 and 14 each include a known nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM.

The ROM 9 stores an image 20 picked up by the CCD camera 5 in the inspection target areas R1 and R2 (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 6) determined by the operation program of the CPU 11 and the part number of the press contact terminal 200 as the inspection target. And the like. Note that the inspection target regions R1, R2
Is an image at the same location as the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 described above. Therefore, one inspection target region R1 includes one side wall 209a and the first pressure contact blade 211a, and constitutes a first inspection target region described in this specification. The other inspection target region R2 is the other side wall 2
09b and the second press contact blade 211b, and constitutes the second inspection target area described in this specification. RAM1
0 temporarily holds data required when the CPU 11 executes an operation.

The CPU 11 serves as both the processing means and the determination means described in this specification. The CPU 11 uses the CC
An image 20 shown in FIG. 6 captured by the D camera 5 is captured.
Note that the image 20 is digital image information in which the intensity of light is indicated at, for example, 256 levels in each pixel arranged two-dimensionally. The CPU 11 binarizes the image 20 captured by the CCD camera 5 with the threshold value stored in the threshold value memory 13 as shown in FIG. The CPU 11 collates the inspection target regions R1 and R2 of the binary image 21 with the normal binary images F1 and F2 stored in the normal image memory 12.

The CPU 11 compares each of the binary images of the inspection target regions R1 and R2 with the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 stored in the normal image memory 12 and
First, a normalization process is performed. In the normalization process, two pieces of image information to be compared are superimposed on each other by relatively moving or enlarging / reducing them. After that, a correlation value indicating the degree of coincidence between the two pieces of image information is calculated based on a well-known correlation method. As described above, the control device 7 controls the binary image 21
The inspection target regions R1 and R2 are compared with the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 using the normalized correlation.

The CPU 11 checks the inspection target areas R1 and R2 of the binary image 21 and the first image data stored in the normal image memory 12.
And a correlation value with the second normal binary images F1 and F2. In addition, the CPU 11 outputs the image information and the like during the collation operation described above to the display device 25 and displays them.

The CPU 11 compares the correlation value between each binary image of the inspection target areas R 1 and R 2 with the first and second normal binary images F 1 and F 2 stored in the normal image memory 12. It is determined whether or not a predetermined correlation value stored in is stored. Inspection target areas R1 and R2 of the binary image 21
When the correlation value between the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 stored in the normal image memory 12 exceeds a predetermined correlation value, the CPU 11 It is determined that the pressure contact state is good.

The inspection target areas R1 and R2 of the binary image 21
When the correlation value between the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 stored in the normal image memory 12 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined correlation value, the CPU 11
Is determined to be defective. The CPU 11 displays the determination result on the display device 25 and outputs the result to the output device 26.

Further, the CPU 11 controls the drive control section 29 to drive each cylinder or motor of the drive arm unit 4 to cause the CCD camera 5 to sequentially image the press contact terminals 200 attached to the connector housing 201. . In addition, the CCD camera 5 is operated at a time to
In particular, when the inspection target areas R1 and R2 of 00 cannot be imaged, the imaging is performed in a plurality of times. Thus, the CPU
Reference numeral 11 appropriately drives each cylinder or motor or the like of the drive arm unit 4 when the CCD camera 5 captures images a plurality of times.

When inspecting the pressure contact terminal 200 attached to the connector housing 201, the inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment firstly performs the first inspection in step S1 in FIG.
And the second normal binary images F1 and F2 are stored in the normal image memory 1
2 and a threshold value and a predetermined correlation value in the threshold value memory 13 and the correlation value memory 14 (setting).
Then, the process proceeds to step S2. When the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 are stored, the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 may be input from the input device 24, and the press-contact terminal 200 having a good press-contact state of the electric wire 2 may be used.
May be imaged by the CCD camera 5 and the image obtained by the imaging may be binarized.

In step S2, the CPU 11 of the control device 7 controls the drive control unit 29 so that the CCD camera 5 is opposed to the press contact terminal 200 attached to the connector housing 201, and the CCD camera 5 is connected to the press contact terminal 200.
Is imaged. The CCD camera 5 captures an image 20
(Shown in FIG. 6) is output to the CPU 11, and the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the CPU 11
The image 20 captured by the camera 5 is binarized to calculate a binary image 21 shown in FIG. Then, the CPU 11
The correlation value between the first normal binary image F1 and the inspection target region R1 of the binary image 21 is calculated by the normalized correlation, and the second normal binary image F2 and the inspection target region of the binary image 21 are calculated. R2
Is calculated. The binary image 21 shown in FIG.
Indicates that the portion indicated by the oblique lines is O (black), that is, the portion where the light from the inspection object is weak. Binary image 21 shown in FIG.
Indicates that the portion indicated by a white background is 1 (white), that is, a portion where light from the inspection object is strong.

Further, in step S3, the CPU 11
Determines whether the calculated correlation value exceeds a predetermined correlation value. Thus, in step S3, the inspection target region R1 of the binary image 21 of the press contact terminal 200 as the inspection target is compared with the first normal binary image F1, and the inspection target region R2 and the second normal binary image are compared. The image F2 is collated with the image F2 to determine whether or not the press-contact state of the wire 2 of the press-contact terminal 200 of the inspection object is good, and the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, C
The output device 26 outputs the determination result of the PU 11 by printing or the like, or stores it in a storage medium or the like.

According to the present embodiment, the normal binary image of the press contact terminal 200 having a good press contact state of the electric wire 2 is compared with the binary image of the press contact terminal 200 as the inspection object. In this way, the binary images obtained by the binarization are collated. Even if the colors A and B of the electric wire 2 change, the binary image hardly changes, so that the influence of the colors A and B of the electric wire 2 can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the colors A and B of the electric wire 2 change, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of the press-contact state of the electric wire 2 and to accurately determine the press-contact state of the electric wire 2.

Further, one side wall 209a and this side wall 20a
The images including the first press contact blade 211a extending from 9a are compared with each other. Further, the images including the other side wall 209b and the second pressing blade 211b extending from the side wall 209b are compared with each other. For this reason, the electric wires 2 included in the image to be compared can be suppressed. Therefore, the influence of the colors A and B of the electric wire 2 can be further suppressed.

As described above, the first and second normal binary images F1 and F2 and the inspection target regions R1 and R2 have one side wall 209a and 209b, and the first and second side walls 209a and 209b extend from the side wall 209a and 209b. And press-contact blades 211a and 211b. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, even when a white portion C occurs at the boundary between the colors A and B when the electric wire 2 having the black color A and the white color B is binarized, the inspection target regions R1 and The white portion C included in R2 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not the press-contact state of the wire 2 of the press-contact terminal 200 as the inspection object is good.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the above-described white portion C is located between the inspection target regions R1 and R2. In this case, of course, the pressure contact terminal 2 as an inspection object
It is possible to accurately determine the quality of the press-contact state of the wire 2 of 00. Further, even if the above-described white portion C is included in the inspection target regions R1 and R2, since the inspection target regions R1 and R2 are narrow, the electric wires 2 of the press-connecting terminal 200 as the inspection target are surely provided.
The quality of the pressure contact condition can be accurately determined.

[0070]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a normal binary image of a press contact terminal having a good wire press contact state is compared with a binary image of a press contact terminal as an inspection object. I do. In this way, the binary images obtained by the binarization are collated. Even if the color of the electric wire changes, the binary image hardly changes, so that the effect of the color of the electric wire can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the color of the electric wire changes, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of the press-contact state of the electric wire, and it is possible to accurately determine the press-contact state of the electric wire.

According to the present invention, an image including one wall and a press-contact blade extending from the wall is binarized and collated. For this reason, the electric wires included in the image to be binarized can be suppressed. Therefore, the influence of the color of the electric wire can be further suppressed. Therefore, even if the color of the wire changes,
It is possible to reliably prevent erroneous determination of the pressure welding state of the electric wire, and it is possible to more accurately determine the pressure welding state of the electric wire.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the judging means compares the normal binary image of the press contact terminal having a good press contact state of the electric wire with the binary image of the press contact terminal as the inspection object. In this way, the binary images obtained by the binarization are collated.
Even if the color of the electric wire changes, the binary image hardly changes, so that the effect of the color of the electric wire can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the color of the electric wire changes, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of the press-contact state of the electric wire, and it is possible to accurately determine the press-contact state of the electric wire.

According to the present invention, an image including one wall and a press-contact blade extending from the wall is binarized and collated. For this reason, the electric wires included in the image to be binarized can be suppressed. Therefore, the influence of the color of the electric wire can be further suppressed. Therefore, even if the color of the wire changes,
It is possible to reliably prevent erroneous determination of the pressure welding state of the electric wire, and it is possible to more accurately determine the pressure welding state of the electric wire.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a terminal fitting inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the terminal fitting inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of inspection by the inspection device for terminal fittings shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a first normal binary image stored in a storage unit of the terminal fitting inspection device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a second normal binary image stored in a storage unit of the terminal fitting inspection device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an image of a press-contact terminal as an inspection object imaged by a CCD camera of the terminal fitting inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a binary image obtained by binarizing the image shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the binary image shown in FIG. 7;

9 is a perspective view showing an example of a press contact terminal and a connector housing which can be inspected by the terminal fitting inspection device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Terminal fitting inspection equipment 2 Electric wires 5 CCD camera (imaging means) 11 CPU (processing means, determination means) 12. Regular image memory (storage means) 200 insulation displacement terminal (terminal fitting) 201 Connector housing 209 Side wall (wall) 209a One side wall (one wall) 209b The other side wall (the other wall) 211a Pressure contact blade (first pressure contact blade) 211b Pressure contact blade (second pressure contact blade) R1 inspection target area (first inspection target area) R2 inspection target area (second inspection target area) F1 First normal binary image F2 Second normal binary image

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An inspection method of a terminal fitting which is attached to a connector housing and in which a wire is pressed against the wire, wherein the terminal fitting is inspected by pressing the wire as an inspection object. Is binarized, and a binary image obtained by binarization is compared with a normal binary image obtained by binarizing an image of a terminal fitting having a good press-fitting state of an electric wire. A method for inspecting a terminal fitting, comprising determining whether or not a pressure contact state of a terminal fitting as an object is good. 2. The terminal fitting comprises: a pair of walls for positioning the electric wire between each other; a first press-contact blade extending from one of the pair of walls toward the other; A second pressure contact blade extending from the wall toward the one wall,
By press-fitting the electric wire between the first press-contact blade and the second press-contact blade, the electric wire is connected to the electric wire, and the one wall of the binary image and the first press-contact blade are connected to each other. And a first normal binary image including the one wall and the first press-contact blade in the normal binary image, and A second inspection area including the other wall and the second press-contact blade;
The method according to claim 1, wherein a second normal binary image including the other wall and the second pressing blade of the normal binary image is collated. 3. A terminal fitting inspection apparatus for inspecting the state of press-fitting of an electric wire of a terminal fitting attached to a connector housing to which the electric wire is press-fitted, wherein a binary image of the terminal fitting having a good press-fitting state of the electric wire is provided. Storage means for storing a regular binary image obtained by binarization; imaging means for imaging a terminal fitting to which an electric wire is pressed as an inspection object; processing means for binarizing an image captured by the imaging means; Determining means for comparing the binary image obtained by the processing means with the binary image and the normal binary image stored in the storage means to determine whether or not the press fitting state of the terminal fitting as the inspection object is good; An inspection device for a terminal fitting, comprising: 4. The terminal fitting includes a pair of walls for positioning the electric wire therebetween, a first press-contact blade extending from one wall of the pair of walls toward the other wall, and A second pressure contact blade extending from the wall toward the one wall,
By press-fitting the electric wire between the first press-contact blade and the second press-contact blade, the electric wire is connected to the electric wire, and the storage means stores the one wall and the second image as the normal binary image. A first normal binary image including the first press contact blade and a second normal binary image including the other wall and the second press contact blade; In the binary image, a first inspection target area including the one wall and the first pressure contact blade and a second inspection target area including the other wall and the second pressure contact blade are referred to. Calculating, the determination unit compares the first normal binary image with the first inspection target area, and checks the second normal binary image.
4. The terminal fitting inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the value image is compared with the second inspection target area.