JP2011122873A - Coated electric wire inspection device, and electric wire processor including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coated electric wire inspection device capable of more accurately inspecting the quality of an end of a coated electric wire where the coating is stripped. <P>SOLUTION: The coated electric wire inspection device B for inspecting the condition of an end of a coated electric wire R where the coating is stripped includes: a conveyance unit for conveying the coated electric wire R; imager 3a and 3b for taking images of a core wire S of the coated electric wire R whose coating is stripped; a determinator 6 for determining the quality of the stripping based on the images taken by the imager 3a and 3b; and a display unit 7 for displaying images of the core wire S taken again by the imager 3a and 3b, when the quality is determined to be bad by the determinator 6, and the coated electric wire R is conveyed to the side of the imager 3a and 3b by the conveyance unit, so as to determine the quality of the stripping by visual observation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coated electric wire inspection apparatus capable of inspecting the quality of an end portion of an electric wire from which a coating has been peeled, and an electric wire processing machine equipped with the same.

  Conventionally, for example, the following devices exist as this type of covered electric wire inspection apparatus. That is, this conventional device includes an illuminating unit that illuminates the end of the core wire from which the coating has been peeled off, an imaging unit that is disposed opposite to the illuminating unit and images the side of the core end, and the imaging unit. An image processing unit that processes the captured image and a monitor that displays the image processed by the image processing unit are provided. Then, the plane coordinates are set on the imaging surface by the imaging means, and the quality of the end of the electric wire is determined based on the coordinate position of the skinned end and the end of the core obtained from the brightness data of the captured image, the inclination of the core, etc. Is inspected (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-5-79824

  By the way, in the above-described conventional apparatus, when the defect determination is made by the image processing means, the covered wire is excluded as it is by the operator so that the terminal crimping which is the next process is not performed. Yes.

  However, an erroneous determination may be made due to a failure of the image processing means itself. Moreover, since the determination of good or bad is not always easy, there are not a few cases where the determination is delicate. In such a case, it is not preferable to eliminate all the covered electric wires that have been judged to be uniformly defective, although it is not a problem as a practical product.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is to provide a coated wire inspection apparatus capable of more accurately inspecting the quality of the coated wire end portion from which the coating has been peeled, and It is to provide an electric wire processing machine.

  The coated electric wire inspection apparatus according to the present invention is a coated electric wire inspection apparatus that inspects the state of the end portion of the coated electric wire from which the coating has been peeled off, and a transport unit that transports the coated electric wire and the coating from which the coating has been peeled off An imaging unit that images the core of the electric wire, a determination unit that determines the quality of the separation based on an image captured by the imaging unit, and whether the separation is good or not when the determination by the determination unit is poor In order to determine visually, the covered electric wire is transported to the imaging means side by the transport unit, and provided with a display means for displaying an image of the core wire imaged again by the imaging means. .

  In the above-described covered wire inspection apparatus, when the determination unit determines a defect, the covered wire is transferred to the imaging unit side by the transfer unit. At that time, the core wire of the covered electric wire is picked up again by the image pickup means, and the image is displayed on the display means. Then, the appropriateness of the determination is visually confirmed by the operator based on the captured image. In this way, it is left to the operator to make a final determination regarding whether the coating is peeled off, and for the core wire determined to be defective, by visually determining the image of the core wire, whether or not a good product is included, It can be confirmed correctly. As a result, it is possible to prevent a non-defective product from being erroneously determined as defective, and to further reduce the occurrence of defects.

  Moreover, it becomes possible to change suitably the setting regarding each part of a covered wire inspection apparatus based on this operator's final judgment. Thereby, the determination by the covered wire inspection apparatus can be made appropriate in accordance with the actual situation at the site. As a result, not only can the yield be improved, but also the burden on the operator can be greatly reduced.

  In addition, the image of the core wire first captured by the imaging unit is an image captured during the transport of the covered electric wire, and the image of the core wire captured again by the imaging unit is the transport of the covered electric wire. It is good also as an image imaged in the state which stopped.

  According to this, since the second imaging is performed with the covered electric wire stationary, the state of the covered electric wire can be imaged more accurately and reliably. For this reason, the judgment by the worker becomes more accurate.

  Furthermore, when the determination by the determination unit is poor, it is possible to further include a control unit that automatically switches from the automatic determination mode in which determination is performed by the determination unit to the visual determination mode in which determination is performed by visual inspection. It is.

  As described above, when the control unit that automatically switches from the automatic determination mode to the visual determination mode is provided, the visual determination after the defect determination in the automatic determination mode is performed more accurately and smoothly. Become.

  Further, the display unit may divide the screen so that a plurality of images can be displayed.

  According to this, since necessary captured images can be displayed on the respective divided screens as appropriate, it is possible to efficiently perform a visual confirmation operation by the operator.

  Furthermore, an identification unit for identifying the divided screen of the display unit on which the captured image determined to be defective is displayed from another divided screen may be provided.

  According to this, since the screen on which the good and bad coated electric wires are displayed can be easily identified, the visual confirmation work by the operator can be efficiently performed.

  Moreover, the wire processing machine according to the present invention includes the above-described covered wire inspection apparatus, a cutter unit that cuts the covered wire, and peels off the covering, and terminal crimping that crimps a terminal to the core wire of the covered wire. It is characterized by having a unit.

  According to this, the end portion of the covered electric wire peeled and cut by the cutter unit is inspected by the covered electric wire inspection device. And a terminal is crimped | bonded by the terminal crimping | compression-bonding unit, for example to the core wire of the covered wire determined to be a good product by the covered wire inspection apparatus. On the other hand, when it is determined by the covered electric wire inspection apparatus that the product is defective, whether or not the determination is appropriate is confirmed by visual inspection by an operator. Thereby, the core wire determined to be defective by the automatic determination is reconfirmed, and the core wire determined to be non-defective is subjected to a crimping process by the terminal crimping unit. As a result, the non-defective product is not erroneously determined to be defective, and the yield of the electric wire can be improved.

  As mentioned above, according to this invention, the quality of the edge part of the covered electric wire from which the coating | coated was peeled can be test | inspected still more accurately.

It is a top view showing one embodiment of an electric wire processor concerning the present invention. It is a mimetic diagram showing one embodiment of a covering electric wire inspection device concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the apparatus main body of a covered wire inspection apparatus. It is a front view which shows the monitor on which the end surface and side image of the covered electric wire were displayed. It is a flowchart which shows the test | inspection procedure about the end surface of the core wire of a covered electric wire. (A)-(d) is a side view which shows the defect pattern about the side surface of the core wire of a covered electric wire. (A)-(d) is a side view which shows the defect pattern about the side surface of the core wire of a covered electric wire.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electric wire processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An electric wire processing apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 includes a covered electric wire inspection apparatus B arranged so as to cross a substantially central portion, a cutter unit C that peels and cuts the covered electric wire R, and a core wire S of the covered electric wire R. And a pair of terminal crimping units D for crimping the terminals.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the covered electric wire inspection apparatus B has a recess 2 in the approximate center of the front surface, and a pair of apparatus main bodies 1 formed in a vertically long box shape, and in each apparatus main body 1. Two CCD cameras 3a and 3b as image pickup means arranged in the front-rear direction with a predetermined interval in the vertical direction, a conveyance unit 4 arranged between the apparatus main body 1 and conveying the covered electric wire R, and conveyance The unit 4 measures the number of the cored wire S of the covered electric wire R and the photoelectric sensor 5 that detects the covered electric wire R that is conveyed in the width direction (arrow P direction) in the recess 2. A personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) 6 as a determination means for determining the quality of the battery, and a monitor 7 as a display means for displaying an image of the covered wire R imaged by the CCD cameras 3a and 3b. As shown in FIG. 1, the covered wire inspection apparatus B is provided on the side of each transport unit 4 so that the concave portion 2 is disposed on the cutter unit C side.

  One CCD camera 3a positioned below images the end surface T of the core wire S of the covered wire R, and the other CCD camera 3b positioned above includes the covered portion of the core wire S of the covered wire R. The side is imaged. A square hole 11 is formed in the back side surface 10 of the recess 2 located in front of a lens (not shown) of one CCD camera 3a, and the square hole 11 is closed by a transparent glass plate 12. . The lens of the CCD camera 3a is disposed so as to face the end surface T of the core wire S when the covered wire R is imaged. An illumination unit 13 is provided inside the glass plate 12 so as to surround the imaging axis X of the CCD camera 3a. This illumination part 13 consists of many LED groups arrange | positioned substantially cyclically | annularly. At the front position of the other CCD camera 3b, a reflecting mirror 14 that is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° in side view with respect to the imaging axis Y is disposed. A square hole (not shown) formed in the upper inner surface of the recess 2 is closed by a transparent glass plate 15. The imaging axis Y of the CCD camera 3b is configured to be guided to the side surface of the covered electric wire R to be imaged via the reflecting mirror 14 and the glass plate 15.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 4 includes a front-side transport unit 4 a and a rear-side transport unit 4 b that are arranged on substantially the same line with the center-side front ends approaching each other. Clamp mechanisms 20 and 21 that can hold the covered electric wire R are provided at the front ends of the respective conveying units 4a and 4b, and the covered electric wire R transferred through the front side conveying unit 4a is conveyed on the rear side. It is supplied to the clamp mechanism 21 of the unit 4b. Each of the transport units 4a and 4b is driven to rotate around the base end side by a motor or the like.

  The photoelectric sensor 5 includes a light projecting unit 5a and a light receiving unit 5b that are arranged on one side surface of the apparatus main body 1 with a predetermined interval. The CCD cameras 3a and 3b and the illumination unit 13 are configured to operate based on a detection signal of the covered wire R by the photoelectric sensor 5. That is, when the covered electric wire R passes through the vicinity of the imaging axis X of the CCD camera 3a and the imaging axis Y of the CCD camera 3b, the illumination unit 13 emits light to the covered electric wire R, and the covered electric wire R is covered by the CCD camera 3a. The end surface T is imaged, and at the same time, the side surface of the covered wire R is imaged by the CCD camera 3b.

  The personal computer 6 measures the number of the core wires S of the covered electric wire R from the image captured by the CCD camera 3a, and determines the quality of the peeling based on the measurement result and the side image of the core wire S by the CCD camera 3b. Each image of the core S taken by the CCD cameras 3a and 3b, the determination result by the personal computer 6 and the like are displayed on each screen of the monitor 7 divided into a plurality as shown in FIG. Moreover, although the personal computer 6 has the database regarding the various covered electric wires R used as a test object, this is mentioned later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cutter unit C includes a cutting blade 30 for cutting the covered electric wire R at the center and a pair of peeling blades 31 provided on both sides thereof. Is peeled off.

  Normally, after the covering is peeled off by the cutter unit C, the transport units 4a and 4b are rotated and the covered electric wire R is transported to the apparatus main bodies 1. When the inspection in the apparatus main body 1 is completed, the transport units 4a and 4b further rotate, the covered electric wire R is transported to the terminal crimping unit D, and the terminals are crimped. On the other hand, when a failure is determined by the covered wire inspection apparatus B, the determination is made by the operator's visual inspection from an automatic determination mode that automatically determines the quality of peeling based on a signal from the personal computer 6. It is configured to be automatically switched to the visual judgment mode to be performed. As described above, the personal computer 6 in this embodiment is not only a function as a determination unit as described above, but also as a control unit that automatically switches the determination mode and controls the operation of each part of the wire processing machine A. It also has the function. However, such a configuration is not necessarily required, and the control unit may be configured by a control device provided separately from the personal computer 6. Each part of the electric wire processor A in the visual judgment mode is controlled by the personal computer 6 as follows. Here, for the sake of simplification of description, a case where a defect is determined on the front side will be described, but the rear side is similarly controlled.

  First, the front-side transport unit 4a is stopped and rotated in the reverse direction so that the covered wire R is transported to the apparatus main body 1. Then, at the position where the core wire S of the covered electric wire R faces the CCD camera 3a, the transport unit 4a stops. In this state, the end surface T and the side surface of the covered electric wire R are imaged again by the CCD cameras 3a and 3b. In this case, since the covered wire R to be imaged is stationary, the aperture, illumination brightness, and shutter speed of the CCD camera 3a are appropriately changed. Each image of the captured coated wire R is displayed on the monitor 7. In this case, for example, the first captured images are displayed on the left and upper divided screens, and the captured images are displayed again on the right upper and lower divided screens. However, the specific display mode of each image is not limited to this. For example, the front-side images captured again on the upper left and lower divided screens may be displayed, and the first rear image determined to be non-defective may be displayed on the upper right and lower divided screens. In this case, for example, the background color or the warning text may be displayed as an identification means so that the left and upper left and lower divided screens can be clearly distinguished from other divided screens. preferable. However, such identification means may be provided as necessary and may be omitted. Further, it is possible that both the front side and the rear side are determined to be defective, and both of them may be imaged again. In this case, for example, all four images captured again are displayed on each divided screen of the monitor 7. Will be.

  As described above, since the second imaging is performed with the covered electric wire R being stationary, the covered electric wire R can be imaged more accurately and reliably. For this reason, the judgment by the worker becomes more accurate. In addition, you may perform imaging again during the conveyance operation of the covered electric wire R. FIG. However, considering that the re-imaging is for reconfirmation, it is preferable that the transport speed of the covered wire R at the time of the re-imaging is slower than that at the time of the first imaging.

  In the wire processing machine A configured as described above, a terminal is crimped to the core wire S of the covered wire R as follows. First, the covered electric wire R is transferred from the front-side conveyance unit 4a to the rear-side conveyance unit 4b and is held by the clamp mechanisms 20 and 21 in this state. Then, the covered electric wire R is cut by the cutting blade 30 of the cutter unit C. Next, each conveyance unit 4a, 4b rotates in the opposite direction and stops, and the covering of each covered electric wire R is peeled off by the peeling blade 31.

  Thereafter, each of the transport units 4a and 4b rotates substantially simultaneously and is transported across the recess 2 of the apparatus body 1 as shown in FIG. At that time, the peeling state of the covering of the covered electric wire R is inspected by each apparatus main body 1. In this way, since the two coated wires R are inspected substantially simultaneously, the high speed required for this type of wire processing machine A is not impaired.

  The passage of the covered wire R is detected by the photoelectric sensor 5, and in conjunction with this, the end surface T of the core wire S of the covered wire R substantially passes the imaging axis X of the CCD camera 3a, and the side surface of the core wire S is the CCD camera 3b. When substantially passing through the imaging axis Y, the illumination unit 13 emits light, and the CCD camera 3a, 3b images the end surface T and the side surface of the core wire S, respectively. Each of these captured images is divided and displayed on the monitor 7 on the front side and the rear side as shown in FIG.

  The end face image of the core wire S is processed as follows when displayed on the monitor 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the captured image is taken into the personal computer 6 (step 100), and binarization processing is performed based on a preset threshold value (step 101). This process is to convert a portion having a luminance of a predetermined level or higher with respect to the brightest part in the captured end face image and a lower part to a binary image. The captured image is subjected to so-called edge enhancement processing so that the edge portion of the end face T is clear. Such edge enhancement processing is performed as necessary, and is omitted if there is no problem in the end face image.

  Next, data on the covered electric wire R to be inspected is retrieved from the database of the personal computer 6. This data includes the type of electric wire, the conductor diameter indicating the outer diameter of the entire core wire, the core wire outer diameter d indicating the outer diameter of one core wire, the number of core wires, and the like. Here, the core wire outer diameter d and the number of core wires in the data are used.

  It is searched whether or not there is a substantially circular image having the core wire outer diameter d in the end face image of the core wire S extracted by the binarization process (steps 102 and 103). In this case, if it is within the range of -10% to + 5% of the core wire outer diameter d, it will be counted as one core wire (step 104), until there is no substantially circular image matching the core wire outer diameter d. This search is repeated (step 103). However, the range of the substantially circular image counted as one core wire can be changed as appropriate, and is not limited to the range of −10% to + 5%. As a result, if the data and the counted number of core wires of the covered electric wire R are matched (step 105), then the processing related to the side image of the core wire S is performed on the assumption that the coating has been properly peeled off (step 106). ). On the other hand, if the number of core wires is missing, it is determined that the stripped state of the coating is inappropriate, and the covered wire R is determined to be defective (step 108). Thereafter, the automatic determination mode is switched to the visual determination mode (step 109), and the operator's visual confirmation is performed as described later (step 110). However, even if it is determined that the end face image of the core line S is defective, automatic determination of the side face image may be performed continuously. In this case, after the side image is determined, the mode is switched to the visual determination mode regardless of the result.

  On the other hand, the following processing is performed on the side image of the core wire S by the CCD camera 3b. First, the captured side image of the core S is taken into the personal computer 6, and edge enhancement processing is performed as necessary in the same manner as in the case of the end surface image processing. Then, the quality of the peeling state of the core wire S is determined based on the data regarding the covered electric wire R to be inspected from the database of the personal computer 6. Regarding the determination of the side image, a plurality of defective patterns as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are registered in advance.

Shown in FIG. 6 (a) relates to a loose of the core wire S, the width W ₁ is measurement of the in core group at the distal end of the core wire S, the width W of the in core group to the root portion _If the difference from ₂ is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value, it is determined as defective. FIG. 4B relates to the withdrawal of the core wire S, and the linearity α between the leading ends of the long and short core wires S is measured. FIG. 4C relates to the bending of the core wire S, and the linearity β of the tip portion of the core wire S is measured. FIG. 4D relates to the cutting of the core wire S. When the measured width W _{1 of the} core wire group is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, it is regarded as defective. This complements the determination by the end face T of the core wire S described above.

FIGS. 7A and 7B relate to the length of the peeling length. If the peeling length L is not within the threshold range, it is considered as defective. Shown in FIG. (C), the release blade 31 is intended and which has been cut to the core wire S, if it could not be measured width W ₁ of the core group are defective. Shown in FIG. (D) is peeling blade 31 are those that did not peel off the coating of the coated electric wire R, if it could not be measured width W ₁ similarly core group are defective.

  When it is determined that the product is a non-defective product by the inspection from both the end face T and the side face (steps 105 and 106) (step 107), the transport units 4a and 4b rotate and the covered electric wire R is connected to each terminal crimping unit D. The terminal is crimped to the core portion of the covered electric wire R. On the other hand, for example, when it is determined that the product is defective on the front side (step 108), the automatic determination mode is switched to the visual determination mode (step 109). The transport unit 4a stops, rotates in the reverse direction, and the covered wire R is transported to the apparatus main body 1. Then, at the position where the core wire S of the covered wire R faces the CCD camera 3a, the transport unit 4a stops, and the end face T and the side surface of the covered wire R are imaged again by the CCD cameras 3a and 3b. Each captured image is divided and displayed on the monitor 7. If it is determined that the side surface image of the core S is defective, the inspection of the end surface image has already been completed as a non-defective product, so that only the side image of the core S is captured by the other CCD camera 3b. Although it is possible to take an image, if it is determined that the end face image of the core S is inferior (steps 105 and 108), the side face image has not been inspected yet, so the end face and the side face It is desirable to take both images.

  Thereafter, the operator visually confirms the monitor image (step 110), thereby determining the suitability of the defect determination by the covered wire inspection apparatus B. In other words, the covered wire R determined by the operator to be practically not a problem as a product is regarded as a non-defective product (step 107), and after switching to the automatic determination mode, the operation of the wire processing machine A is resumed. Is done. A terminal is crimped to the core wire S of the covered electric wire R by a terminal crimping unit D. On the other hand, the covered electric wire R determined to have a practical problem by the operator is regarded as a defective product (step 111), and is discharged to the outside by, for example, the transport unit 4a to be distinguished from a good product. Thereafter, the mode is switched to the normal automatic determination mode, and the operation of the wire processing machine A is resumed.

  In this way, it is left to the operator to make a final determination regarding whether the coating is peeled off. Whether the core wire S is determined to be defective or not is visually checked again to determine whether a non-defective product is included. I can confirm it correctly. As a result, it is possible to prevent a non-defective product from being erroneously determined as defective, and to further reduce the occurrence of defects.

  Moreover, it becomes possible to change suitably the setting regarding each part of the electric wire processing machine A including the covered electric wire inspection apparatus B based on this operator's final judgment. As a result, not only can the yield be improved, but also the burden on the operator can be greatly reduced, and the wire processing machine A can be automated.

  Furthermore, since the entire configuration of the wire processing machine A and the covered wire inspection apparatus B according to the present embodiment is very simple, there is also a practical advantage that the manufacture can be easily and inexpensively.

  The covered wire inspection apparatus B according to the present invention is not necessarily incorporated into the wire processing machine A as in the above embodiment. For example, it can be incorporated into a device that only peels and cuts the coating of the covered electric wire R, or can be used as a single machine as a dedicated inspection machine.

  In the above embodiment, the personal computer 6 as the control means is configured to automatically switch between the automatic determination mode and the visual determination mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, manually. You may comprise so that it may switch.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, since the monitor 7 serving as the display unit is divided into a plurality of screens, necessary captured images can be displayed on the divided screens as appropriate, and the operator's visual confirmation work can be performed efficiently. The preferred advantage was obtained. However, the display means is not necessarily divided into a plurality of screens.

  In the above embodiment, the two CCD cameras 3a and 3b are used as the image pickup means. However, the number of the CCD cameras 3a and 3b is not limited, and the image pickup means need not be the CCD cameras 3a and 3b.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the personal computer 6 is used as a determination means which determines the quality of peeling of the covered wire | wire R, the determination means which concerns on this invention is not restricted to this.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part of the wire processing machine A and the covered wire inspection apparatus B can be arbitrarily changed within the range intended by the present invention.

3a, 3b CCD camera (imaging means)
6 PC (judgment means, control means)
7 Monitor (display means)
4 Conveying unit A Coated wire inspection device B Wire processing machine C Cutter unit D Terminal crimping unit R Coated wire S Core wire

Claims (6)

A coated wire inspection device that inspects the state of the end of the coated wire from which the coating has been peeled,
A transport unit for transporting the covered electric wire;
Imaging means for imaging the core wire of the coated electric wire from which the coating is peeled;
Determination means for determining the quality of the peeling based on an image captured by the imaging means;
When the determination by the determination unit is poor, the covered electric wire is transported to the imaging unit side by the transport unit and is imaged again by the imaging unit in order to visually determine the quality of the peeling. A covered electric wire inspection apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays an image of a core wire.   The image of the core wire first captured by the imaging unit is an image captured during the transport of the covered wire, and the image of the core wire captured again by the imaging unit stops the transport of the covered wire. The coated wire inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coated wire inspection apparatus is an image picked up in a state where the wire is taken.   The control unit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control unit that automatically switches from the automatic determination mode in which determination is performed by the determination unit to the visual determination mode in which determination is performed by visual inspection when the determination by the determination unit is poor. 2. The covered wire inspection apparatus according to 2.   The covered electric wire inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display unit has a screen divided so that a plurality of images can be displayed.   The coated wire inspection apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an identification unit configured to identify a divided screen of the display unit on which a captured image determined to be defective is displayed from another divided screen. The coated wire inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A cutter unit for cutting the coated electric wire and peeling the coating;
An electric wire processing machine comprising a terminal crimping unit for crimping a terminal to a core wire of the covered electric wire.

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