JPH07117604A - Inspection device and method for bulk loading type air bag module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide such an inspection device that can perform a perfect inspection of a bulk loading type air bag module having also a horn switch incorporated therein by just one time arrangement. CONSTITUTION:An inspection device 1 for a bulk loading type air bag module M which is loaded with a control unit 35 for starting a collision sensor 36 and a squib 37, while the unit 35 has a lamp 4 for indicating the condition of the circuit function, and which is also provided with horn switches 5, 6, is further provided with a simulated attachment means energized by power supply 48 connectable to fixing means 24, 25 of the module M and the unit 35. It is also provided with a light receiving means 15 for confirming lighting of the lamp 4, a drive means 14 for operating the horn switches 5, 6, and displays 30a, 31a, 34 for displaying the results inspected by the drive means 14 and the light receiving means 15, and a circuit mechanism inspection by monitoring the lamp for indicating the circuit function and a horn operation inspection of pressing the horn actually are performed by using, for example, a robot continuously or simultaneously.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inspection device and an inspection after assembling of a packaged air bag module used in an air bag system for ensuring the safety of a driver and passengers from a shock caused by a collision accident of an automobile. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art What is a collectively mounted airbag module?
Not only the squib for igniting the gas generator for inflating the airbag, but also all the devices for starting the squib are collectively mounted. Specifically, it is equipped with a collision sensor and a control unit for starting the squib. The control unit includes a condenser that stores the current from the vehicle-mounted power supply, a diagnostic circuit for diagnosing the soundness of the circuit, an LED lamp that displays the diagnostic result, and the like. Therefore, the vehicle can be started only by connecting the main connector of the airbag module to the vehicle-mounted power source.

Further, since there is a risk that the airbag will deploy if an impact is applied before it is fixed to the steering wheel with bolts or the like, a safety device in which the control unit becomes operable only after it is mounted at a predetermined position on the steering wheel. Is attached. Furthermore, the collectively mounted airbag module that is mounted on the steering wheel,
A horn switch is also incorporated.

When the final assembly of such a packaged air bag module is completed, it is necessary to inspect whether the air bag and the horn switch are normally operated before shipping. For inspection after this assembly,
There are a circuit function inspection mainly for the control unit and a horn switch operation inspection.

The above-mentioned inspection of the circuit function is performed by connecting to a temporary power source and inspecting the capacitor capacity to see if a necessary current is accumulated in the capacitor, and to check if there is a short circuit in the entire circuit system including the collision sensor. A short-circuit presence / absence inspection, a harness connection state confirmation inspection for a harness connected to the main connector, and a safety device function confirmation inspection for confirming whether or not the safety device is surely functioning are performed.

The operation inspection of the horn switch is carried out by actually pushing the horn to check whether the circuit is conductive, a stroke test whether the stroke of the horn is proper, and a stroke of the horn. The load is checked to see if the load is proper.

[0007]

By the way, the above-mentioned circuit function test and horn operation test are different from each other, and they are performed separately. Therefore, the setup of the inspection is required twice, and there is a problem that the inspection is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to perform a complete inspection of a package type air bag module in which a horn switch is also incorporated. An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection device and an inspection method that can be set up once.

[0009]

The inspection apparatus of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is equipped with a control unit 35 for starting a collision sensor 36 and a squib 37, and the unit 35 is a lamp 4 for displaying the state of the circuit function. Have
Further, the inspection device 1 for the collectively mounted airbag module M to which the horn switches 5 and 6 are also attached,
A fixing means 24, 25 of the module M and a simulated mounting means by a power source 48 connectable to the unit 35 are provided, a light receiving means 15 for confirming lighting of the lamp 4, and a drive for operating the horn switches 5, 6. Means 14,
The driving means 14 and the display devices 30a, 31a and 34 for displaying the inspection result by the light receiving means 15 are provided. The driving means is one in which a push pin 16 is attached to the tip of the robot arm 14, and the load cell 1 for measuring the stroke of the load when the horn operates.
7 and a displacement gauge 18 are attached to the tip of the arm 14,
Further, the light receiving means 15 is also preferably attached to the tip of the arm 14. Further, the module M has a safety device 38 for non-explosion, and the simulated mounting means may include releasing means 26, 27 for the safety device 38.

In the inspection method of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned object, a control unit 35 for starting the collision sensor 36 and the squib 37 is mounted, and the unit 35 is installed.
Is a method for inspecting the collectively mounted air bag module M having a lamp 4 for displaying the state of the circuit function and further having horn switches 5 and 6 attached thereto. The module M is connected to a power source 48 and fixed. This is a method in which the circuit function inspection step by the lamp 4 and the operation inspection step for the horn switches 5 and 6 are performed simultaneously or simultaneously through a simulated mounting step.

[0011]

[Function] When the collectively mounted air bag module is connected to the power supply and put in the simulated mounting state fixed to the steering wheel, the circuit function inspection is performed by monitoring the lamp that displays the circuit function, and the horn operation inspection is performed by actually pushing the horn. Can be performed successively or simultaneously using, for example, a robot arm. If this simulated mounting state also includes means for releasing the safety device, the safety circuit function is also inspected.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the schematic structure of the inspection device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a side view of the inspection device, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a simulated mounting state.

The inspection device 1 has a slide base 2 on which the collectively mounted air bag module M is mounted by imitating a steering wheel, and the robot 3 can freely access the slide base 2 drawn in as shown by a solid line. It has become. Reference numeral 7 is an opening / closing door.

The robot 3 includes a revolving structure 11 and a first arm 1
It is a multi-joint robot having 5 degrees of freedom, in which 2 is swingably attached, a second arm 13 is swingably attached to the first arm 12, and a tip jig 14 is rotatably attached to the second arm 13. A robot having a tip jig that can be moved up and down may be attached to the XY table, and the point is that the robot has a tip jig that can move freely in the XYZ directions. The tip jig 14 includes a light receiving probe 15 for the LED lamp 4, a push pin 16 for the horn switches 5 and 6, a load cell 17 for measuring a load applied to the push pin 16, and a movement of the push pin 16 as a reference. A laser displacement meter 18 for measuring the distance is attached.

The slide base 2 of the inspection apparatus 1 is pulled out as shown by the chain double-dashed line, the module M is mounted, and the main connector 20 is connected to the main connector 20 to supply power, and the slide base 2 is pushed in as shown by the solid line to start the control panel. When the button is pressed, the door 7 is closed, the module M is further fixed and the simulated mounting state is established, and the inspection is automatically started.

As shown in FIG. 6A, horn switches 5 and 6 are incorporated on both sides of the upper surface of the module M,
Further, the LED lamp 4 is incorporated at the end. The module M is fixed by the mounting portions 21 and 22 of the slide base 2, and the simulated power source is supplied by connecting the main connector 20. In this way, the LED lamp 4 and the horn switch 5,
Since 6 is on the upper surface side of the module M, as shown in FIG. 6B, the horn switches 5 and 6 are pushed by the push pin 16 only by accessing the tip jig 14 of the robot arm from above. The load and stroke can be measured by the load cell 17 and the laser displacement meter, and the lighting of the LED lamp 4 can also be measured by the light receiving probe 15.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the fixing pin 24 projects from the nut 23 of the module M by the pneumatic cylinder 25, so that the module M is fixed to the steering wheel in a simulated manner. This fixed pin is moved back and forth by operating the start button on the control panel. Furthermore, the release pin 26 is movable forward and backward by the pneumatic cylinder 27 in the mounting portion 21, and the safety device is not released at the retracted position shown in the drawing, but is released at the advanced position. The advancement / retraction of the release pin is automatically performed in a series of inspections.

Next, a circuit incorporated in the above-described inspection apparatus 1 and its operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Figure 1
Is a circuit diagram of the inspection device, FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the inspection process, and FIG.
Is a diagram showing a display example of a control panel of the inspection device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a personal computer of the inspection device.

The inspection apparatus 1 is composed of each device for the module M, a control panel 30 and wiring between them.
The control panel 30 is connected to the personal computer 31, and the personal computer 31 includes the bar code reader 32 and the bar code printer 3.
3 and the printer 34.

The module M is the control unit 3
5, a collision sensor 36 and a squib 37 are connected in series to the unit 35, the above-mentioned LED lamp 4, horn switches 5 and 6 and a safety device 38 are connected to the harness 39 leading to the main connector 20. Is also connected. The squib 37 is embedded in the gas generator 40,
The gas generator 40 inflates the airbag 41.

The pneumatic cylinders 25, 25 (see FIG. 6 (c)) for moving the fixing pins 24, 24 back and forth are the control panel 30.
It operates via an electromagnetic switching valve 42 that opens and closes in response to a command from. Similarly, the pneumatic cylinder 27 (see FIG. 6C) for moving the release pin 26 forward and backward with respect to the safety device 38 is the control panel 3
It operates via an electromagnetic switching valve 43 that opens and closes according to a command from 0.

Signals from the light-receiving probe 15 for the LED lamps, which are processed by the detection circuit 45, signals from the load cell 17 and the laser displacement gauges 17 and 18 for the horn switches 5 and 6, are transmitted via the control panel 3 to the personal computer 31.
Is output to. Especially, the conduction of the horn switches 5 and 6 is
It is determined by the sequence circuit 46 of the control board 30. Also,
When the system of the collision sensor 36 is short-circuited, the current flowing through the unit 35, the collision sensor 36 and the squib 37 through the fuse 48 is detected by the overcurrent detection circuit 47, and the presence or absence of the short circuit is detected by the magnitude of the current. Then, a predetermined current is supplied from the DC power supply 48 to the overcurrent detection circuit 47 and the sequence circuit 46. Note that 31a and 30a
Is a display screen of the personal computer 31 and the control panel 30.

Next, the inspection process by the above-mentioned detection circuit will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. A person causes the bar code reader 32 of FIG. 1 to read the bar codes of the airbag, the collision sensor, the gas generator, and the control unit (step # 1). Here, it is checked whether or not a different product is incorporated or double inspection is performed. Next, the module M is mounted on the slide base 2 as shown in FIG. 6A, and subsequently the main connector 20 is connected. (Step # 2).

Then, the module M is moved to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.
And push the start button on the control panel 30,
The door 7 is closed, and the fixing pin 24 of FIG. 6C projects to fix the module M, and the release pin 26 also projects to release the safety device 38, which is a simulated mounting state (step # 3).

Then, as shown in step # 4,
Energization is started as after passing through the overcurrent detection circuit 47 in FIG. 1, and the capacity of the capacitor incorporated in the unit 35 is inspected as described above. The judgment is based on the lighting time of the LED lamp 4 (OK in A ± α seconds). The detection is performed by the light receiving probe 15. At the same time, the sensor system short circuit presence / absence test is performed by the overcurrent detection circuit 47, and a predetermined current value Bm is detected.
If it is A or less, it is considered OK.

Then, as shown in step # 5,
The connection state confirmation inspection of the harness 39 is performed. This inspection is also confirmed by the lighting of the LED lamp 4, and becomes OK when the capacitor is charged and then turned off.

Then, the release pin 26 of FIG. 6C is retracted, and the safety device function confirmation inspection is performed (step #
6). This inspection is also confirmed by turning on the LED lamp 4,
When the safety device 38 is restored and the circuit of the unit 35 is cut off, the LED lamp 4 for notifying the abnormality is turned on, and the result is OK. As described above, a circuit for controlling the lighting of the LED lamp 4 is incorporated in the control unit 35 so that the circuit function can be checked by lighting the LED lamp 4.

The above steps # 4 to # 6 are the circuit function inspection of the unit 35, and the progress thereof is displayed on the display screen 30a of the control panel 30 as shown in FIG. 3 (a). 4 shown
It is displayed that the four inspection items have been sequentially reversed in black and white. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the display screen 31 of the personal computer 31 is displayed.
In a, the results of the four inspection items are displayed as numbers together with the barcode of each component. In addition, steps # 4 to # 6
During this period, the light receiving probe 15 of the tip jig 14 in FIG.
It is located directly above the lamp 4.

The tip jig 14 shown in FIG.
6 moves to a position where the horn switch 5 is pressed. Since there are two horn switches 5 and 6, the tip jig 14 moves to the position where the horn switch 6 is pushed when the inspection of the horn switch 5 is completed.

Returning to the flow chart of FIG. 2, the horn continuity inspection is performed as in step # 8. This continuity test is carried out by pressing one horn switch at, for example, five points in the center and its periphery. If the left and right horn switches 5 and 6 have a point where they do not conduct even at one place, it will be NG. Further, for example, the load W and the stroke S at the central point of each of the switches 5 and 6 are measured by the load cell 17 and the laser displacement meter 18, and if they are within a predetermined range, it becomes OK.

This step # 8 is a horn switch operation inspection, and the progress thereof is displayed on the display screen 30a of the control panel 30 as shown in FIG. 3 (b). The black and white of the inspected point is reversed and the load and stroke of the center point are also displayed. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, on the display screen 31a of the personal computer 31, the presence / absence of conduction at each point and the load are displayed as shown in the figure.

Then, as in step # 8, the bar code printer 33 of FIG. 1 issues a bar code for an OK product as shown, and at the same time, the printer 34 prints out the result sheet.

With the above, the inspection is completed, and the fixing pin 24 of the module M is withdrawn and opened as in step # 9.
The release pin 26 for the safety device 38 also moves forward and is initialized as shown, and the door is automatically opened as shown. Therefore, FIG.
The slide plate 2 is pulled out, the main connector 20 is removed, the module M is removed from the mounting portion, and the bar code is temporarily attached to the module M as indicated by the two-dot chain line. By repeating steps # 1 to # 10, the circuit function inspection and the horn switch operation inspection of the collectively mounted airbag module M are continuously performed.

The circuit function test and the horn switch operation test may be performed in the reverse order or at the same time. Further, the LED lamp for displaying the circuit function may be normally lit. Furthermore, the safety device 3
In the type 8 in which the conducting portion is physically damaged by interlocking with the module fixing bolt, a temporary circuit for interrupting the conducting portion is provided for inspection instead of the release pin.
This temporary circuit is used to create a state in which the conductive portion is damaged in a simulated manner.

[0035]

According to the inspection device and the inspection method of the present invention, the circuit function by monitoring the lamp for displaying the circuit function by connecting the collectively mounted air bag module to the power supply and setting it in the simulated mounting state fixed to the steering wheel. Since the inspection and the horn operation inspection that actually pushes the horn are performed continuously using, for example, a robot arm, the inspection after assembly can be done in one setup, and the inspection time can be greatly shortened and the inspection can be performed. It enables integrated data processing of results.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an inspection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an inspection process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a control panel of the inspection device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a personal computer of the inspection device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the inspection device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a simulated mounting state of the inspection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inspection device 3 Robot (driving means) 4 LED lamp 5, 6 Horn switch 14 Tip jig (robot arm) 15 Light receiving probe (light receiving means) 16 Push pin 17 Load cell 18 Laser displacement meter 20 Main connector 21 Mounting part (simulated mounting) Means) 24 Fixing pin (fixing means) 30 Control panel 31 Personal computer 30a, 31a Display screen 34 Printer 35 Control unit (C / U) 36 Collision sensor 37 Squib 38 Safety device 26 Release pin (release means) 46 Sequence circuit 47 Overcurrent Detection circuit 48 DC power supply (power supply that can be connected to the main connector) M Bulk-mounted airbag module

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An inspection device for a packaged air bag module equipped with a collision sensor and a control unit for starting a squib, the unit having a lamp for indicating a state of a circuit function, and further having a horn switch attached thereto. There is provided a fixing means for the module and a simulated mounting means by a power source connectable to the unit, a light receiving means for confirming lighting of the lamp, a driving means for operating the horn switch, the driving means and the A device for inspecting a collectively mounted airbag module, comprising: a display device for displaying an inspection result by a light receiving means. 2. The driving means comprises a push pin attached to a tip of a robot arm, a load cell for measuring a stroke of a load during horn operation and a displacement meter are attached to the tip of the arm, and the light receiving unit is further provided. The collectively mounted airbag module inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the means is also attached to the tip of the arm. 3. The inspection of the collectively mounted air bag module according to claim 1, wherein the module has a safety device for non-explosion, and the simulated attachment means includes a release means for the safety device. apparatus. 4. A method for inspecting a packaged air bag module equipped with a collision sensor and a control unit for starting a squib, the unit having a lamp for indicating a state of a circuit function, and further having a horn switch attached thereto. Therefore, the circuit function inspection step by the lamp and the operation inspection step for the horn switch are performed sequentially before or after the simulated mounting step of connecting the module to a power source and fixing the module. A method for inspecting a packaged air bag module characterized by.