JPH07119698B2 - Device for inspecting members arranged in a predetermined positional relationship - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for inspecting members arranged in a predetermined positional relationship, such as a male connector and a female connector forming a vehicle connector. .

(Prior Art and Object of the Invention) For example, a vehicular connector is widely known to be used for connection between electric components of a vehicle. This connector is generally composed of a male connector and a female connector, and the connection is made by fitting the male connector and the female connector to each other during a vehicle production process.

The process of fitting these male connect and female connector to each other tends to be performed by robot work or the like in accordance with the recent automation, and accordingly, due to this tendency, the process by the robot work or the like is not performed well. It is desired that the inspection as to whether or not the product has been obtained can be easily performed.

Therefore, the present invention provides an inspection as to whether or not a member, such as a male connector or a female connector that constitutes a vehicle connector, that should be arranged in a predetermined positional relationship is arranged in a predetermined positional relationship. An object is to provide an inspection device that can be easily performed.

(Means and Actions for Achieving Object) To achieve this object, the present invention is directed to at least two members 2, 3, 21, 3 arranged in a predetermined positional relationship.
Irradiation means 9 for irradiating light to marks 4, 5, 41, 51, 42, 52, 43, 53, 44, 54 of predetermined shapes provided on 1, 22, 32, 23, 33, 24, 34, respectively. A light detecting means 10 for detecting the reflected light of the mark of the light emitted by the irradiating means 9, and the at least 2 based on the output signal of the light detecting means 10.
It comprises a judging means 11 for judging whether or not the two members are arranged in a predetermined positional relationship.

According to such a configuration, the marks 4,5, 41, 51, 42, 52, 4
Predetermined members 2, 3, by optically detecting 3,53, 44, 54
It is possible to easily determine whether 21, 31, 22, 32, 23, 33, 24, 34 are arranged in a predetermined positional relationship.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by taking a vehicle connector as an example.

1 is a mating state view of a male connector provided with linear marks according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory view of a state when a linear mark is detected.

1 is a vehicle connector, and this connector 1 is a female connector 2
And male connector 3. These female connector 2 and male connector 3 are used in a state of being fitted to each other, and each corresponds to a member arranged in a predetermined positional relationship according to the present invention.

The female connector 2 includes a housing 2a that is substantially rectangular in side view,
Inside the housing 2a, a contact member 2b for connecting a cord (see FIG. 3) 7 of a vehicle electric component or a unit such as an electronic control device is disposed. Further, a cantilever 2c forming a part of the locking mechanism is formed on the upper surface side of the housing 2a. This cantilever 2c
Has its tip 2d fixed to the center of the tip of the upper surface of the housing 2a, and its rear end 2e extending to approximately the center of the housing 2a with some distance from the upper surface of the housing 2a. A protrusion 2f extending in the width direction is provided on the upper surface of the lever 2c at a substantially central portion thereof.

Then, on the upper surface of the rear end portion 2e of the cantilever 2c, the type (for example, model name) of the female connector 2 and the fitting state when the female connector 2 is fitted to the male connector 3 are inspected by an inspection device described later. A linear mark 4 that serves as a guide for doing is integrally formed. It should be noted that this mark can be formed integrally with the connector so that the number of steps for attaching the mark can be saved. This linear mark 4 is the cantilever 2c.
Protrusions 4a-1, 4a-2, 4a-3 having equal lengths in the longitudinal (front-back) direction of the cantilever and having a length over the entire width of the cantilever 2c.
Are formed from.

The male connector 3 is a housing 3c integrally formed with a connection portion accommodation portion 3a for accommodating the connection portion with the cord 8 and a rear portion of the connection portion accommodation portion 3a for accommodating the distal end portion of the female connector 2. It consists of A wire connecting portion 3d for connecting a cord (see FIG. 3) 8 of a unit such as the electric component or the electronic control device is provided inside the wire connecting portion housing portion 3a, and a tip portion of this wire connecting portion 3d (so-called terminal (Part) 3e projects into the female connector accommodating portion 3b. The female connector accommodating portion 3b
Has a tip end that is opened to accommodate the female connector 2 having the cantilever 2c, and an inner surface of the opening that engages with the protrusion 2f of the cantilever 2c to form a rocking mechanism. 3f is molded.

At the position close to the top end of the female connector housing portion 3b of the male connector 3, the type (for example, model name) of the male connector 3 and the male and female connectors 3, similar to the female connector 2 described above,
A linear mark 5 that serves as a pointer for inspecting the fitted state of 2 with an inspection device described later is integrally formed. The linear marks 5 are parallel to the linear marks 4 provided on the female connector 2 at equal intervals in the fitting direction of the male connector 3 and in the fitted state of the female and male connectors 3 and 2. Equally, the upper end surface is composed of three convex portions 5a-1, 5a-2, 5a-3 having the same height as the convex upper end surface of the mark 4. However, the convex portion 5a-3 is formed to be slightly larger than the width of the other convex portions 5a-1 and 5a-2.

The upper surface of each convex portion 5a that forms the linear mark 5 of the male connector 3 and the upper surface of each convex portion 4a that forms the linear mark 4 of the female connector 2 are polished to thereby form the convex portions. Four
The upper surfaces of a and 5a have different reflected light from the other surfaces of the housings 2a and 3c.

On the other hand, an inspection device for inspecting the fitting state of the male and female connectors, that is, the positional relationship between the male and female connectors by detecting the linear marks 4 and 5 of the male and female connectors 3 and 2 is shown in FIGS. There is. As shown in FIG. 4 or 5, this inspection device 6 includes a light source 9a (for example, an LED) as an irradiation means 9 for irradiating the linear marks 4 and 5 with light, and a line formed by the light source. Optical sensor as the light detecting means 10 for detecting the reflected light from the circular marks 4 and 5, the information from the optical sensor and the inside, for example RA
A computer, which is a judgment means for comparing and judging stored data stored in M or ROM, and a display section 12 (for example, CRT) which is a displaying means for displaying information based on the judgment of the computer 1
2c and case 6A are provided. A pair of left and right projecting pieces 6e is provided at the tip of the case 6A, and further, a notch 6e to be fitted to both ends of the connector 1 at the time of inspection is provided inside the tip.
1,6e-2 are provided. These protrusions have notches 6e-1,6e
When the connector is fitted and supported by -2, it acts to keep the distance between the irradiation means 9 and the detection means 10 and the marks 4 and 5 constant.

The light source 9a is disposed on the inner wall of the bulging portion 6b at the tip of the case 6A, irradiates oblique light having an incident angle to the upper surfaces of the linear marks 4 and 5, and the optical sensor reflects the reflected light. To detect. When the mark is uneven as described above, the contrast becomes clearer and the detection accuracy is improved.

Based on the output signal of the optical sensor, the computer measures the distance from the rear end of the convex portion 4a-3 of the linear mark 4 on the female connector 2 side to the front end of the convex portion 5a-3 of the linear mark 5 on the male connector 3 side ( (See FIGS. 2 and 3) t is calculated, and at the same time, the female-side convex portions 4a-1, 4a-2, 4a-3 and the male-side convex portions 5a-1, 5a-2, 5a are calculated.
A light contrast of -3 (brightness / darkness width) is obtained.

Then, the computer stores the previously stored distance data of the linear marks 4 and 6 in the completely fitted state of the vehicle connector 1 and the light contrast (brightness and darkness) due to the convex portions 4a and 5a of the linear marks 4,5. Width) and the data based on the detection result are compared and determined, and a command signal based on the determination is output to the display unit 12c.

The display unit 12a converts the command signal according to the determination of the computer into an image signal and displays “OK”, “NG”, and “impossible” as an image.

When the detection data based on the distance t between the convex portions 4a and 5a forming the marks 4 and 5 and the width of the light and dark coincides with the respective data stored in the memory of the computer in advance, the display portion 12a displays the data. “OK” is displayed, which allows, for example, a worker in the vehicle production process to confirm that the male and female connectors 3 and 2 have been selected and fitted properly.

Further, when the detected data and the data stored in the memory do not match, the display section 12a displays "NG", which allows, for example, an operator to select the male and female connectors 2 and 3 or to fit them properly. You can confirm that it was not done.

Then, a part of the connector is damaged, and if the optical sensor in the detection device 6 does not detect any reflected light, the display section 6c displays "impossible".

Thus, according to the vehicle connector 1 of the present invention,
During the production process, it is possible to easily and swiftly know whether or not the female and male connectors 3 and 2 have been fitted together, that is, the connection between the two has been made satisfactorily, and immediate countermeasures can be taken.

In the above, the embodiment of the present invention is described by taking the male and female connector of the vehicle connector as an example, and the mark is formed by a plurality of convex portions, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. A bar code having a different reflectance may be attached. Further, in the embodiment, the mark surface is polished, but the polishing can be omitted by changing the received light amount of the reflected light only by the unevenness.
Also, various configurations of the mark are applied.

FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 show various structures of these members and marks in a simplified manner, which will be briefly described below.

FIG. 6 shows that two linear projections 41a-1, 41a-2, 51a-1, 51a-2 are formed on the upper surfaces 21a, 31a of the two members 21, 31, respectively, by projection molding.
The marks 41 and 51 are formed. Each protrusion 41a-1, 41a
-2, 51a-1, 51a-2, the upper end surface is ground in the same manner as in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the upper end surface is in the same plane, between the protrusions 51a-1, 51a-2 of one member 31. The distance of is larger than that of the other 21. Then, by detecting the distance t between the protrusions 41a-1 and 51a-1 at the outermost ends of both members 21 and 31 and the contrast of the marks 41 and 51 on the members 21 and 31,
It is possible to check whether the selection of the two members is appropriate and whether these two members 21, 31 are arranged in place.

FIG. 7 shows that the marks 42, 52 are formed by making the entire upper end surfaces of the two members 22, 32, or a part thereof, at the same height, and polishing the entire outer surface or providing a means for varying the reflectance. With such a structure, the same inspection as described above can be performed by detecting the distance t between the marks 42 and 52 and the mark width.

In FIG. 8, the entire upper surface 23a of one member 23 is ground to form a mark 43, and a protrusion 33a-1 having the same height as the mark 43 is provided on the outer end portion of the other member 33. Mark 53 is made by polishing only this upper end surface.
Similar inspection can be performed by combining such marks.

FIG. 9 shows the positional relationship between the two members 24 and 34, and is the two members in the above embodiment, a male and female connector.
Although the members 2 and 3 are in a positional relationship of being fitted to each other, when the other member 34 is attached to a part of the one member 24 as shown in FIG. Marked on 44,54
The present invention can be applied by providing.

Further, FIG. 10 shows that when the members 25 and 35 to be detected are respectively arranged on the member 60, the detection can also be performed by pressing the tip of the detection device onto the member 60. That is, the detection values of the reflected light on the upper surfaces of these members 25 and 35 and the reflected light on the member 60 are different due to the difference in height of the reflecting surfaces, and the reflected light by the member 60 is dark as shown in FIG.
a, 60b, 60c, the reflected light on the upper surface of one side member 25, 35 is bright 25a, 35
a Detected from the bright and dark stripes, the member 25, 35 and the member
60 positional relationships can be detected. In this case, needless to say, if the upper surfaces of the members 25 and 35 are polished, the contrast becomes clearer.

As described above, in the present invention, the unevenness may be provided on the light receiving surface to change the light receiving amount of the reflected light and detect it. The marks may be formed by forming different reflectances on a flat surface having the same height without providing the unevenness, or by combining them.

(Effect of the Invention) As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is extremely easy to determine whether or not a member to be arranged in a predetermined positional relationship is actually arranged in a predetermined position. In addition, it can be confirmed quickly and in a non-contact manner, and can be easily applied to automation of production processes and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a fitting state view of a male and female connector provided with a linear mark according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a state in which the linear mark is detected by the detecting means,
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an inspection apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tip of the inspection apparatus, and FIGS. 6 to 11 are diagrams simply showing another embodiment. In the drawings, 1 is a vehicle connector, 2, 3, 21 to 24, 31 to 3
4 is at least 2 or more members, 4, 5, 41 to 44, 51 to 54 are linear marks, 6 is an inspection device, 9 is irradiation means, 10 is light detection means, 11 is judgment means, and 12 is display It is a means.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A predetermined mark formed by a convex portion or a concave portion which is provided on at least two members arranged in a predetermined positional relationship and which forms a predetermined pattern by fitting the two members. Irradiation means for irradiating light, light detection means for detecting light reflected by the mark of light emitted by the irradiation means, and the at least two members are positioned in a predetermined position based on an output signal of the light detection means. And an inspection device for a member arranged in a predetermined positional relationship, which comprises a judging means for judging whether or not the members are arranged in such a relationship. 2. The apparatus for inspecting a member arranged in a predetermined positional relationship according to claim 1, wherein the mark has a linear shape. 3. The inspection device is provided with display means for displaying a result judged by the judging means, and the predetermined position according to claim 1 or 2 is provided. Inspection device for related parts. 4. The mark is provided with a predetermined positional relationship according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mark has an anti-slope having different reflectances with respect to light. Inspection device for parts. 5. The predetermined position according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the judgment means uses a distance between marks of the at least two members as a judgment reference. Inspection device for members arranged in a physical relationship. 6. The determination means uses the contrast of the mark as a determination reference, and the determination means is arranged with a predetermined positional relationship according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Inspection device for used components. 7. The at least two members are a male and female connector for connecting a unit such as an electrical component or an electronic control device, and the predetermined positional relationship means that the male and female connectors are in a fitted state. A device for inspecting a member arranged with a predetermined positional relationship according to any one of claims 1 to 6.