IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,279,678
Granted Patent B2
US 9,279,678 · App. 13/746,413 · Granted Mar 8, 2016

Prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus

Inventors: Shoji Abe (Aichi, JP); Katsuo Tokida (Aichi, JP)
Assignee: SANYO MACHINE WORKS, LTD.
G01C11/02B29C70/388
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,279,678
App. No.
13/746,413
Granted
Mar 8, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Even when a pasting target body to which prepregs are pasted has a shape changed portion such as a curved portion, prepreg pasting states are accurately inspected. A prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus for inspecting a gap between adjacent prepregs on a pasting target body has a laser for emitting slit light along an inclined plane so that a projected pattern of the slit light is formed across the adjacent prepregs, a camera for imaging an irradiation region of the laser, and a control unit for determining whether the gap between the adjacent prepregs is within an allowance based on a signal from the camera. The apparatus also has a range sensor for measuring a distance between a reference position and the irradiation region, and focus adjusting units for adjusting focus positions of the camera and the laser based on the signal from the range sensor.

Claims (31)

1. A prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus for inspecting a gap between adjacent prepregs on a pasting target body having a shape changed portion, the prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus comprising:

an irradiation unit for emitting a line laser beam along an inclined plane so that a projected line of the line laser beam is formed across a longitudinal direction of the adjacent prepregs;

an imaging unit for imaging an irradiation region of the irradiation unit;

a determination unit for determining whether the gap between the adjacent prepregs is within an allowance based on a signal from the imaging unit;

a distance measurement unit for measuring a distance between a reference position and the irradiation region; and

a focus adjusting unit for adjusting a focus position of the imaging unit based on a signal from the distance measurement unit.

2. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the imaging unit has a movable lens that is capable of moving close to or separating from the irradiation region, and

the focus adjusting unit has a driving unit for moving the movable lens based on the signal from the distance measurement unit.

3. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second focus adjusting unit for adjusting a focus position of the irradiation unit based on the signal from the distance measurement unit.

4. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a moving body in which

the irradiation unit is retained, the moving body being capable of moving close to or separate from the irradiation region,

wherein the second focus adjusting unit has a second driving unit for moving the moving body based on the signal from the distance measurement unit.

5. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a light amount adjusting unit for adjusting an amount of light incident on the imaging unit.

6. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the light amount adjusting unit comprises at least one of an output adjusting unit for adjusting an output of the line laser beam emitted from the irradiation unit, a shutter speed adjusting unit for adjusting a shutter speed of the imaging unit, and an iris adjusting unit for adjusting an iris of the imaging unit.

7. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a depth of field adjusting unit for adjusting a depth of field of the imaging unit.

8. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a second focus adjusting unit for adjusting a focus position of the irradiation unit based on the signal from the distance measurement unit.

9. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a moving body in which

the irradiation unit is retained, the moving body being capable of moving close to or separate from the irradiation region,

wherein the second focus adjusting unit has a second driving unit for moving the moving body based on the signal from the distance measurement unit.

10. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a light amount adjusting unit for adjusting an amount of light incident on the imaging unit.

11. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a light amount adjusting unit for adjusting an amount of light incident on the imaging unit.

12. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a light amount adjusting unit for adjusting an amount of light incident on the imaging unit.

13. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the light amount adjusting unit comprises at least one of an output adjusting unit for adjusting an output of the line laser beam emitted from the irradiation unit, a shutter speed adjusting unit for adjusting a shutter speed of the imaging unit, and an iris adjusting unit for adjusting an iris of the imaging unit.

14. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the light amount adjusting unit comprises at least one of an output adjusting unit for adjusting an output of the line laser beam emitted from the irradiation unit, a shutter speed adjusting unit for adjusting a shutter speed of the imaging unit, and an iris adjusting unit for adjusting an iris of the imaging unit.

15. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the light amount adjusting unit comprises at least one of an output adjusting unit for adjusting an output of the line laser beam slit light emitted from the irradiation unit, a shutter speed adjusting unit for adjusting a shutter speed of the imaging unit, and an iris adjusting unit for adjusting an iris of the imaging unit.

16. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a depth of field adjusting unit for adjusting a depth of field of the imaging unit.

17. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a depth of field adjusting unit for adjusting a depth of field of the imaging unit.

18. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a depth of field adjusting unit for adjusting a depth of field of the imaging unit.

19. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a depth of field adjusting unit for adjusting a depth of field of the imaging unit.

20. The prepreg pasting state inspection apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a depth of field adjusting unit for adjusting a depth of field of the imaging unit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2013
From: FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
To: SANYO MACHINE WORKS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 029906/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2013
From: ABE, SHOJI; TOKIDA, KATSUO
To: FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.; SANYO MACHINE WORKS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 029895/0589 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-016944 · Jan 30, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130194415A1 · Aug 1, 2013