JPH06201595A - Inspecting apparatus of outer periphery of annular member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain the distance from a point of sight or an ITV camera to the outer periphery of an annular member which is not a true circle, e.g. a piston ring or the like, thereby to improve the inspecting accuracy when the outer periphery of the annular member is to be observed and inspected from a specific position. CONSTITUTION:A piston ring 101 is supported in the horizontal state by a driving roller 23 and a plurality of driven rollers 30, and rotated by driving of the driving roller 23. Each driven roller 30 is always urged in a direction to be separated from the driving roller 23 by a coil spring 31 interposed between a fixing table 24 of a work 2 and a movable table 27. The piston ring 101 is rotated while the inner periphery thereof is always pressed in touch with the outer periphery of the driving roller 23. Accordingly, the distance L between the ITV camera 43 and the outer periphery of the piston ring 101 photographed by the ITV camera 43 can be kept constant.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an outer circumference inspection apparatus for a non-round circular annular member such as a piston ring used in an internal combustion engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Peripheral inspection has been one of the inspection processes for piston rings used in internal combustion engines.
This outer circumference inspection is performed by actually mounting the piston ring on the piston, sliding the piston in the cylinder, and visually confirming the state of wear caused on the outer circumference of the piston ring. Then, the non-defective product / defective product is screened by, for example, determining that the wear width is uniform and proper over the entire circumference of the ring as a non-defective product.

However, the visual inspection is inefficient, and high inspection accuracy cannot be expected. So ITV
An inspection method has been considered in which an image of the outer circumference of the piston ring is captured using a camera or the like, and whether the image is good or bad is determined based on the captured image information. In the case of this inspection method, a rotation mechanism that rotates the piston ring on a plane at a constant speed and that satisfies the condition that the distance from the ITV camera to the outer circumference of the piston ring is constant at all rotation angles of the piston ring is provided. It is necessary to provide. However, strictly speaking, the planar shape of the piston ring before mounting the piston is not a perfect circle, but is rather close to an ellipse because it is separated by the abutment. Therefore, when the piston ring is rotated, the distance from the ITV camera to the outer circumference of the piston ring is not fixed, which causes a problem that the inspection accuracy is significantly deteriorated.

[0004]

As described above, when a non-circular annular member such as a piston ring is rotated and the outer periphery is inspected visually or by observation with an ITV camera, the annular member has a non-round shape. Therefore, there is a problem that the distance from the viewpoint or the ITV camera to the outer periphery of the annular member is not fixed and an accurate inspection result cannot be obtained.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and when an outer periphery of a non-round circular annular member such as a piston ring is observed from a specific position to inspect the outer periphery, a viewpoint or an ITV camera is used. An object of the present invention is to provide an outer circumference inspection device for an annular member, which can keep a constant distance to the outer circumference of the annular member.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an outer peripheral inspection device for an annular member according to the present invention is an outer peripheral inspection device for inspecting an outer periphery of a non-round circular annular member, wherein the inner periphery of the annular member is A driving roller for rotationally driving the annular member while making point contact with the driving roller, and a driving roller for rotatably driving the annular member, which is arranged at a position substantially opposite to the driving roller with the center portion of the annular member interposed therebetween, and in point contact with the inner circumference of the annular member. A driven roller that supports the annular member in a rotatable state together with the drive roller;
A support portion for movably supporting the driven roller in a line direction connecting a rotation center of the drive roller and a contact point between the drive roller and the annular member, and the drive roller for supporting the driven roller by the support portion. And a biasing member that biases the inner circumference of the annular member into pressure contact with the drive roller at all rotation angles of the annular member, and is supported by the drive roller and the driven roller. The annular member is rotated by the drive of the drive roller, and the outer peripheral position corresponding to the contact point of the annular member with the drive roller is observed to perform the inspection.

[0007]

That is, in the annular member outer circumference inspection apparatus of the present invention, the urging member urges the driven roller on the support portion in a direction away from the drive roller at all times, and at all rotation angles of the annular member. Since the inner circumference of the annular member is pressed against the driving roller, the outer circumference of the non-round circular annular member such as the piston ring is observed from a specific position and the outer circumference is inspected. The distance to the outer circumference can be kept constant, and the inspection accuracy can be greatly improved.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of an outer circumference inspection apparatus for an annular member according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a piston ring which is an annular member to be inspected by the present inspection device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a transport rotary table. A plurality of workpieces 2 (eight in this embodiment) for holding one piston ring 101, which is a non-round circular annular member shown in FIG. It is installed. Each work 2
Are arranged at respective positions obtained by dividing the transport rotary table 1 into eight parts radially from the center thereof at equal angles. The transport rotary table 1 is rotated by 45 degrees in the direction of arrow R by a table drive motor (not shown).

Around the transport rotary table 1, an object-to-be-inspected portion 3 for supplying the piston rings 101 to the workpiece 2 one by one, and the piston ring 1 held by the workpiece 2.
01 is rotated and an image of the outer periphery thereof is captured to perform an inspection, a non-defective product discharging unit 5 that discharges the piston ring 101 determined to be a non-defective product from the work 2 by the inspection executing unit 4, and an inspection executing unit 4 Defective product ejecting parts 6 for ejecting the piston rings 101 determined as defective products from the work 2 are respectively arranged.

The inspection execution unit 4 slidably contacts a friction wheel 21 provided above each work 2 to rotate a drive friction wheel 41 for rotating the friction wheel 21, and a work 42. ITV (Industrial Television) that captures the image of the outer circumference of the piston ring 101 held by the
And a camera 43.

Next, details of the work 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 is a plan view of the work 2, and FIG. 4 is FIG.
It is a side view which makes a part a cross section.

In these drawings, reference numeral 22 denotes a base plate of the work 2, and the work 2 is fixed to the transport rotary table 1 by the base plate 22. The friction wheel 21 described above is provided so as to project from above the base plate 22 fixed to the transport rotary table 1. Also, below the base plate 22,
While holding the piston ring 101 in a horizontal state, the rotational force transmitted from the motor 42 of the inspection execution unit 4 through the friction wheel 21 and the driving friction wheel 41 causes the piston ring 101 to move.
Is provided for driving the rotation of the.

In this mechanical portion, the point 23 makes point contact with the inner circumference of the piston ring 101.
2 shows a drive roller for rotating the drive roller. The drive roller 23 is directly connected to the friction wheel 21 via the shaft 21a. Further, the piston ring 101 is provided on the outer periphery of the drive roller 23 that comes into contact with the inner periphery of the piston ring 101.
The stepped portion 23a is provided so that it can be held at a constant height together with a driven roller described later.

On the other hand, a fixed table 24 is fixed to the base plate 22 through a connecting portion 25. The fixed table 24 has a table guide 26 fixed thereto.
The movable table 27 is slidably supported in the direction of the arrow A, that is, in the line direction connecting the rotation center of the drive roller 23 and the contact point between the drive roller 23 and the piston ring 101 via. That is, the table guide 2
A plurality of (seven in this embodiment) guide grooves 26a are provided in parallel with each other in the guide 6, and each of the guide grooves 26a has two connecting pins 28 protruding from the movable table 27.
The books are inserted one by one. Further, a plurality of driven roller mounting portions 29 corresponding to the respective guide grooves 26 a are fixed to the movable table 27 via connection pins 28 such that the table guide 26 is sandwiched between the movable table 27 and the movable table 27. Each driven roller mounting portion 29 is in point contact with the inner circumference of the piston ring 101 and the piston ring 1
A driven roller 30 driven by the rotation of 01 is attached. The piston ring 1 is attached to the outer periphery of each driven roller 30.
The step portion 30a is provided so that 01 can be held together with the drive roller 23 at a constant height.

Further, the fixed table 24 and the movable table 2
A movable table 27, driven roller mounting portions 29 and driven rollers 30 that move integrally with the movable table 27 are provided between the movable table 27 and the movable table 27.
One or a plurality of coil springs 31 for biasing the drive roller 23 in a direction away from the drive roller 23 are inserted.

Reference numeral 32 denotes the piston ring 101 supported from below by the drive roller 23 and each driven roller 30,
Further, it is a pressing member that is pressed from above and fixed in a horizontal state.

Next, the operation of the outer peripheral inspection device for the annular member will be described. First, the piston ring 101 is supplied to and held by the workpiece 2 by the inspection object supply unit 3. Specifically, the piston ring 101 is a stepped portion 23 a of the drive roller 23.
The stepped portions 30a of the driven rollers 30 support the rollers from below, and the pressing members 32 hold the rollers horizontally from above.

After that, the conveyance rotary table 1 rotates 45 degrees in the direction of arrow R, and the work 2 holding the piston ring 101 reaches the inspection execution unit 4. The state at this time is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the work 2 reaches the inspection execution unit 4, the friction wheel 21 of the work 2 comes into contact with the driving friction wheel 41 directly connected to the motor 42 of the inspection execution unit 4. After that, the motor 42 is activated, and the piston ring 101 held by the work 2 rotates as the drive roller 23 rotates.

During this period, the ITV camera 4 of the inspection execution unit 4
An outer peripheral image of the piston ring 101 is captured by 3, and the quality is judged based on the wear state, particularly the wear width.

After the inspection is completed, the conveyance rotary table 1 is rotated again by 45 degrees in the direction of the arrow R, and the inspection execution section 4 similarly performs the outer periphery inspection on the next conveyed work 2.

On the other hand, the piston ring 1 which is judged to be non-defective
01 is discharged from the work 2 when the work 2 holding it is conveyed to the non-defective product discharging unit 5. Similarly, in the piston ring 101 determined to be defective, the work 2 holding this is defective product discharging unit. When it is transported to 6, it is discharged from the work 2.

By the way, since the piston ring 101 is not a perfect circle, if the piston ring 101 is simply supported from above and below by the drive roller 23, each driven roller 30, and the pressing member 32, the ITV camera 43 and this. Piston ring 1 imaged by ITV camera 43
01 The distance L from the outer periphery is not constant, and good image information cannot be obtained when performing inspection.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a coil spring 31 is arranged between the fixed table 24 and the movable table 27 of the work 2, and the force of the coil spring 31 causes the movable table 27, each driven roller mounting portion 29, and each driven roller. The configuration is such that 30 is pulled in a direction away from the drive roller 23. As a result, the piston ring 101 rotates with its inner circumference constantly in pressure contact with the outer circumference of the drive roller 23, and the ITV camera 43 and this ITV camera 4 are rotated.
It is possible to keep the distance L with the outer circumference of the piston ring 101 imaged by 3 constant. Therefore, it is possible to obtain accurate image information of the outer circumference of the piston ring 101 when performing the inspection, and it is possible to improve the inspection accuracy.

Further, in this embodiment, a plurality of driven rollers 3 are used.
By arranging 0 adjacently, the piston ring 1 shown in FIG.
It is also possible to avoid the situation where the cut surface of the abutment portion 01 of 01 collides with the driven roller 30.

In this embodiment, the piston ring 101 is taken as an example of the annular member, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to any other non-round circular annular member. The present invention can also be applied to a tubular member having a non-round cross section.

Further, when a continuous annular member which does not have a separating portion such as an abutment is to be inspected as the annular member, only one driven roller can be used.

[0029]

As described above, according to the outer circumference inspection apparatus for an annular member of the present invention, when the outer circumference of a non-round circular annular member such as a piston ring is observed from a specific position and an outer circumference is inspected, The distance from the viewpoint or ITV camera to the outer circumference of the annular member can be kept constant, and the inspection accuracy can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of an outer circumference inspection device for an annular member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a piston ring which is an annular member to be inspected by the outer periphery inspection device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a structure of a work in the outer circumference inspection apparatus of FIG.

4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the structure of the work shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveying rotation table, 2 ... Work piece, 3 ... Inspected object supply part, 4 ... Inspection execution part, 5 ... Non-defective product discharge part, 6 ... Defective product discharge part, 21 ... Friction wheel, 22 ... Base plate, 23 ... Drive roller , 24 ... Fixed table, 25 ... Connection part, 26 ... Table guide, 27 ... Movable table, 28 ... Connection pin,
29: driven roller mounting portion, 30 ... driven roller, 31 ... coil spring, 41 ... driving friction wheel, 42 ... motor, 43 ... I
TV camera, 101 ... Piston ring.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outer circumference inspection device for inspecting the outer circumference of a non-true circular annular member, comprising: a drive roller for rotationally driving the annular member while making point contact with the inner circumference of the annular member; and a center of the annular member. A driven roller which is arranged at a position substantially opposite to the drive roller with a portion interposed therebetween, and which supports the annular member in a rotatable state together with the drive roller while being in point contact with the inner circumference of the annular member, and the driven roller. A support portion that supports the rotation center of the drive roller and a contact point between the drive roller and the annular member so as to be movable in a line direction; and the support portion that moves the driven roller away from the drive roller. And a biasing member that biases the inner periphery of the annular member into pressure contact with the drive roller at all rotation angles of the annular member, the drive roller and the driven roller. The annular member supported by the driving roller is rotated to rotate, and the outer peripheral position corresponding to the contact point of the annular member with the driving roller is observed to perform the inspection. Perimeter inspection device. 2. An outer periphery inspection device for inspecting an outer periphery of a non-round circular annular member, which is separated at one place, wherein a driving roller for rotationally driving the annular member while making point contact with the inner periphery of the annular member. And is disposed adjacent to a position substantially opposite to the drive roller with the center portion of the annular member interposed therebetween, and supports the annular member in a rotatable state together with the drive roller while making point contact with the inner periphery of the annular member. A plurality of driven rollers, a support portion for movably supporting each driven roller in a line direction connecting a rotation center of the drive roller and a contact point between the drive roller and the annular member, and the support portion. At the same time, the driven rollers are simultaneously urged in a direction away from the drive roller, and the inner circumference of the annular member is pressed against the drive roller at all rotation angles of the annular member. ; And a cell biasing member, and the annular member supported by said respective driven rollers and the drive roller is rotated by driving the drive roller,
An outer peripheral inspection device for an annular member, wherein an outer peripheral position corresponding to a contact point of the annular member with the drive roller is observed to perform an inspection. 3. The outer periphery inspection device for an annular member according to claim 1, wherein the drive roller is provided at a predetermined position on an extension line connecting a center of rotation of the drive roller and a contact point between the drive roller and the annular member. An outer periphery inspection device for an annular member, comprising an imaging device for capturing an image of the outer periphery of the annular member.