A device for detecting machining surface scratch defects of an automobile wheel hub

Abstract

This invention provides a device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automotive wheel hubs, relating to the field of wheel hub inspection technology. The device includes: a frame, a feeding conveyor belt, a pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism, a material transfer mechanism, an eight-station rotary inspection table, a multi-directional optical inspection component, a controller, and an alarm. The feeding conveyor belt and the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism are sequentially fixed on the frame along the material conveying direction. The material transfer mechanism is located between the output end of the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism and the feeding station of the eight-station rotary inspection table. The eight-station rotary inspection table includes an indexing rotary disc and eight wheel hub clamping platforms evenly distributed in a ring on the indexing rotary disc, each capable of independent rotation. This invention enables automated, blind-spot-free inspection of the machined surface of wheel hubs, effectively eliminating interference from mirror reflections on the machined metal surface, improving the detection accuracy and overall inspection efficiency of minor scratches, and can be directly connected to a wheel hub machining production line for continuous assembly line operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wheel hub inspection technology, and in particular to a device for detecting scratches and defects on the machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs. Background Technology

[0002] The automotive industry is one of the core pillar industries of my country's manufacturing sector. With the continuous development of new energy vehicles and traditional fuel vehicles, automotive wheels, as a core safety component of the vehicle's driving system, directly affect the vehicle's driving safety, assembly stability, and service life. Scratches and defects generated during machining not only affect the product's appearance pass rate but also lead to safety hazards such as stress concentration, poor assembly sealing, and rust cracking during use. Therefore, they are core quality indicators that must be strictly controlled in the wheel manufacturing process.

[0003] Currently, the detection of scratches on machined surfaces of wheel hubs is mainly divided into two categories: manual visual inspection and conventional machine vision inspection. Manual visual inspection relies on the experience and visual recognition of inspectors, which is easily affected by fatigue, lighting and subjective judgment. It has a high rate of missed detection and false detection, and the inspection efficiency is extremely low. It cannot be adapted to the operation rhythm of the mass production line of wheel hubs, and the labor cost remains high. Conventional machine vision inspection devices generally suffer from the following technical defects: First, they use ordinary white light direct illumination, which easily produces specular reflection and localized high-gloss spots on the high-gloss machined surface of the wheel hub, causing scratch features to be submerged and unable to be accurately extracted; second, they mostly adopt a single-station, single-view camera layout, which can only inspect a single plane of the wheel hub and cannot cover hidden areas such as the inner side of the rim, the base of the spokes, and the lower mating surface, resulting in serious blind spots; third, they lack a pre-screening step, and a large number of obviously defective products occupy the inspection station, resulting in low overall inspection efficiency.

[0004] Based on the aforementioned shortcomings of existing technologies, there is an urgent need to develop a device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automotive wheel hubs, thereby addressing a long-standing technical challenge in the industry. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates to a device for detecting scratches on the machined surface of automobile wheel hubs, in order to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] In a first aspect, this invention provides a device for detecting scratch defects on the machined surface of automotive wheel hubs, specifically comprising: a frame, a feeding conveyor belt, a pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism, a material transfer mechanism, an eight-station rotary inspection table, a multi-directional optical inspection component, a controller, and an alarm; the feeding conveyor belt and the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism are sequentially and fixedly mounted on the frame along the material conveying direction; the material transfer mechanism is located between the output end of the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism and the feeding station of the eight-station rotary inspection table; the eight-station rotary inspection table includes an indexing rotary disk and eight wheel hub clamping platforms evenly distributed in a ring on the indexing rotary disk and capable of independent rotation; the multi-directional optical inspection component corresponds to the eight-station rotary inspection table. The inspection station layout includes an upper optical inspection probe, a side optical inspection probe, a lower optical inspection probe, and polarized supplementary lights that are matched with each set of inspection probes. The pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism, material transfer mechanism, indexing rotary disc, wheel hub clamping platform, multi-directional optical inspection components, and alarm are all electrically connected to the controller. During the conveyor belt transporting the wheel hubs, the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism completes the pre-identification of the wheel hubs and pushes out the defective products. The qualified wheel hubs are transferred to the corresponding wheel hub clamping platform by the material transfer mechanism. The indexing rotary disc drives the wheel hub clamping platform to rotate step by step. The rotation of the wheel hub clamping platform, in conjunction with the multi-directional optical inspection components, completes the full-range scratch inspection of the machined surface of the wheel hub.

[0007] Furthermore, the feeding conveyor belt is a horizontal belt conveyor belt, with hub limiting strips symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the feeding conveyor belt, and inclined baffles arranged on the rear side of the feeding conveyor belt.

[0008] Furthermore, the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism includes a flexible conveyor chain, a material blocking module, a pre-identification industrial camera, a pneumatic push rod, and a defective product collection trough. The flexible conveyor chain is connected to the output end of the feeding conveyor belt, the material blocking module is fixed above the flexible conveyor chain, the lens of the pre-identification industrial camera faces the upper machined surface of the wheel hub, the pneumatic push rod is installed perpendicular to the conveying direction of the flexible conveyor chain, and the defective product collection trough is correspondingly located on the other side of the flexible conveyor chain, directly opposite the pneumatic push rod. The controller receives the image signal from the pre-identification industrial camera and controls the pneumatic push rod to move, directly pushing the pre-identified defective wheel hubs out of the flexible conveyor chain and into the defective product collection trough.

[0009] Furthermore, the material transfer mechanism adopts a gantry-type clamping and transfer robot. The end of the robot is equipped with a flexible clamping claw, and the inner side of the flexible clamping claw is covered with an anti-slip buffer pad. It can be adapted to clamp the outer circle of wheel hubs of different outer diameters without damage. Moreover, the transfer stroke of the robot is precisely aligned with the stepping position of the indexing rotary disk, so as to realize the smooth transfer of qualified wheel hubs to the wheel hub clamping platform.

[0010] Furthermore, the indexing rotary disk is driven by a servo motor to achieve precise indexing rotation. The single step rotation angle is fixed at 45 degrees. The eight hub clamping platforms are arranged in a ring at equal angles. Each time the indexing rotary disk completes a step rotation, it simultaneously completes the continuous action of loading material at one station and multi-directional detection at at least three stations, realizing continuous flow-type detection.

[0011] Furthermore, the hub clamping platform includes a support, a transmission box, a micro servo motor, a rotating seat, a sliding plate, and a conical platform. The support is fixedly mounted on an indexing rotary disc, the transmission box is mounted on the support, the micro servo motor is mounted on the transmission box, and the output shaft of the micro servo motor is connected to the input end of the transmission box. The rotating seat is connected to the output end of the transmission box. The sliding plate is bolted to the upper end of the rotating seat. Three radial grooves are evenly opened along the circumference of the sliding plate, and a clamping plate is slidably fitted in each groove. The clamping plate is used to clamp the inner circle of the hub. A first telescopic cylinder and a second telescopic cylinder are installed on the rotating seat. The conical platform is fixed on the piston rod of the first telescopic cylinder, and the conical side of the conical platform corresponds to and fits the inner side of the three clamping plates one by one. A positioning rod that can move up and down is installed on the sliding plate. The lower end of the positioning rod is connected to the piston rod of the second telescopic cylinder. The positioning rod is used for auxiliary positioning of the hub.

[0012] Furthermore, the rotation speed of the micro servo motor can be controlled by a controller, and during the rotation process, it works in conjunction with a multi-directional optical detection component to complete 360° full-circle scanning and detection of the machined surface.

[0013] Furthermore, in the multi-directional optical inspection assembly, the upper optical inspection probe is arranged vertically downwards, facing the upper machined surface of the wheel hub; the side optical inspection probes are arranged along the arc-shaped trajectory of the wheel hub side, corresponding to the side of the rim and the machined surface of the spokes; the lower optical inspection probe is arranged vertically upwards, facing the lower mating surface of the wheel hub; the polarized supplementary lamps matched with each group of inspection probes adopt a 45-degree oblique beam layout to filter the specular reflection light from the machined metal surface and enhance the imaging contrast of scratch defects.

[0014] Furthermore, the controller incorporates a defect analysis module and a workstation linkage control module. The defect analysis module receives image signals transmitted by the multi-directional optical detection components, identifies the scratch size, and determines whether the product is qualified or not. The workstation linkage control module synchronously controls the timing of the feeding conveyor belt, the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism, the material transfer mechanism, the indexing rotary disc, and the wheel hub clamping platform to achieve full-process linkage. The alarm is an integrated sound and light structure. When a severe non-conforming scratch defect is detected, the controller immediately triggers the alarm and simultaneously marks the workstation information of the corresponding non-conforming wheel hub.

[0015] Furthermore, the height of each set of detection probes and polarized supplementary lights in the multi-directional optical detection component is adjustable, and the detection distance and illumination height can be adjusted according to the wheel hub thickness and specifications.

[0016] This invention provides a device for detecting scratch defects on the machined surface of automotive wheel hubs, which has the following beneficial effects: This invention utilizes a multi-directional optical inspection probe layout paired with a 45° oblique polarized supplementary light, effectively filtering specular reflections from the high-gloss machined surface of the wheel hub metal. This significantly improves the imaging contrast between shallow, fine scratches and normal surfaces, resulting in inspection accuracy far superior to manual inspection and conventional visual inspection devices. It solves the industry's pain point of inaccurate scratch feature extraction due to interference from metal surface reflections. Simultaneously, it employs an eight-station indexing rotary disc with an independently rotating wheel hub clamping platform, achieving precise step-by-step rotation and 360° uniform rotation of the wheel hub, complemented by multiple sets of optical inspection probes at the top, sides, and bottom. It can cover all machined areas of the wheel hub's upper surface, inner and outer sides of the rim, front and back of the spokes, and lower mating surfaces, completely solving the blind spot problem of traditional single-view inspection and ensuring the integrity of the inspection. In the material loading stage, a pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism is set up. Through the pre-identification industrial camera, obvious defects in the wheel hub's appearance are pre-screened, and unqualified defective products are directly rejected online. Only qualified workpieces are allowed to enter the subsequent precision inspection stage, which greatly reduces invalid inspection work and improves the overall inspection efficiency. It can be directly connected to the wheel hub machining production line to achieve continuous flow operation and adapt to the high-speed operation rhythm of the production line.

[0017] Furthermore, this invention achieves full-process time-series linkage control of feeding, pre-screening, transfer, clamping, detection, and defect alarm through a controller, completely replacing traditional manual visual inspection, avoiding quality errors caused by fatigue and subjective judgment in manual inspection, while significantly reducing the cost of manual quality inspection. Inspection data can be stored and traced in real time, facilitating production quality control and process optimization. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described below.

[0019] The accompanying drawings described below are only related to some embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0020] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention is shown.

[0021] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the feeding conveyor belt and the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism of the present invention is shown.

[0022] Figure 3 The present invention is shown Figure 2A magnified structural diagram of part A in the middle.

[0023] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the material transfer mechanism of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the indexing rotary disk portion of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the hub clamping platform portion of the present invention is shown.

[0026] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the rotating seat portion of the present invention is shown.

[0027] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of the upper optical detection probe portion of the present invention is shown.

[0028] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the side optical detection probe portion of the present invention is shown.

[0029] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of the lower optical detection probe portion of the present invention is shown.

[0030] List of reference numerals 1. Frame; 2. Feeding conveyor belt; 21. Hub limiting bar; 22. Inclined stop bar; 3. Pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism; 31. Flexible conveyor chain; 32. Material blocking module; 33. Pre-identification industrial camera; 34. Pneumatic push rod; 35. Defective product storage trough; 4. Material transfer mechanism; 41. Flexible clamping claw; 5. Eight-station rotary inspection table; 51. Indexing rotary disc; 52. Hub clamping platform; 521. Support; 522. 523. Transmission box; 524. Miniature servo self-rotating motor; 525. Rotating seat; 5241. First telescopic cylinder; 5242. Second telescopic cylinder; 5243. Positioning rod; 525. Slide plate; 5251. Clamping plate; 526. Conical stage; 6. Multi-directional optical inspection assembly; 61. Upper optical inspection probe; 62. Side optical inspection probe; 63. Lower optical inspection probe; 64. Polarizing supplementary light; 7. Controller; 8. Alarm. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the described embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] Please refer to Figures 1 to 10 Example 1: This invention proposes a device for detecting scratch defects on the machined surface of automotive wheel hubs, comprising: a frame 1, a feeding conveyor belt 2, a pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3, a material transfer mechanism 4, an eight-station rotary inspection table 5, a multi-directional optical inspection component 6, a controller 7, and an alarm 8; the feeding conveyor belt 2 and the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3 are sequentially fixedly installed on the frame 1 along the material conveying direction; the material transfer mechanism 4 is located between the output end of the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3 and the feeding station of the eight-station rotary inspection table 5; the eight-station rotary inspection table 5 includes an indexing rotary disk 51 and eight wheel hub clamping platforms 52 that are evenly distributed in a ring on the indexing rotary disk 51 and can rotate independently; the multi-directional optical inspection component 6 corresponds to the inspection station of the eight-station rotary inspection table 5. The system includes an upper optical inspection probe 61, a side optical inspection probe 62, a lower optical inspection probe 63, and polarized supplementary lights 64 that are matched with each set of inspection probes. The pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3, the material transfer mechanism 4, the indexing rotary disc 51, the wheel hub clamping platform 52, the multi-directional optical inspection component 6, and the alarm 8 are all electrically connected to the controller 7. During the process of conveying the wheel hubs by the feeding conveyor belt 2, the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3 completes the pre-identification of the wheel hubs and pushes out the defective products. The qualified wheel hubs are transferred to the corresponding wheel hub clamping platform 52 by the material transfer mechanism 4. The indexing rotary disc 51 drives the wheel hub clamping platform 52 to rotate step by step. The rotation of the wheel hub clamping platform 52, in conjunction with the multi-directional optical inspection component 6, completes the full-range scratch detection of the machined surface of the wheel hub.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the feeding conveyor belt 2 is a horizontal belt conveyor belt. Symmetrical hub limiting strips 21 are provided on both the left and right sides of the feeding conveyor belt 2, and an inclined baffle 22 is provided on the rear side of the feeding conveyor belt 2. The feeding conveyor belt 2 is used to smoothly receive machined hubs, achieving automated continuous feeding and ensuring that the hubs maintain a horizontal posture throughout the conveying process, consistent with the reference for subsequent pre-identification, material transfer, and precision inspection processes. The hub limiting strips 21 are used to constrain the lateral displacement of the hubs, preventing them from deviating left or right during conveying and ensuring that the hubs always move directionally along the conveying center axis, providing a unified position reference for subsequent processes. The inclined baffle 22 is used to guide the hubs on the conveyor belt to the flexible conveyor chain 31 when the feeding conveyor belt 2 is running, achieving smooth connection between the feeding conveyor belt 2 and the flexible conveyor chain 31.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3 includes a flexible conveyor chain 31, a baffle module 32, a pre-identification industrial camera 33, a pneumatic push rod 34, and a defective product collection trough 35. The flexible conveyor chain 31 is connected to the output end of the feeding conveyor belt 2. The baffle module 32 is fixed above the flexible conveyor chain 31. The lens of the pre-identification industrial camera 33 faces the upper machined surface of the wheel hub. The pneumatic push rod 34 is installed perpendicular to the conveying direction of the flexible conveyor chain 31. The defective product collection trough 35 is correspondingly located on the other side of the flexible conveyor chain 31, directly opposite the pneumatic push rod 34. The controller 7 receives the image signal from the pre-identification industrial camera 33 and controls the pneumatic push rod 34 to move, directly pushing the pre-identified defective wheel hubs out of the flexible conveyor chain 31 and into the defective product collection trough 35. The pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3 is used to complete the pre-positioning of the wheel hubs during the feeding stage. Initial defect screening removes defective products with obvious appearance defects in advance, reducing ineffective work at subsequent inspection stations and improving overall inspection efficiency. A flexible conveyor chain 31 smoothly connects to the feeding conveyor belt 2, ensuring stable conveying of the wheel hubs. A baffle module 32 controls the conveying rhythm of the wheel hubs, allowing for single-wheel hub release at a time, ensuring only one wheel hub enters the inspection area at a time at the pre-identification station, avoiding stacking of multiple parts that could affect imaging accuracy. A pre-identification industrial camera 33 captures images of the machined surface at the top of the wheel hub, providing image data for initial defect screening. A pneumatic push rod 34, linked to the controller 7, receives control signals from the controller 7 and pushes wheel hubs deemed defective in the initial screening out of the conveyor line. A defective product collection trough 35 receives the pushed-out defective wheel hubs, achieving centralized collection and diversion of defective products, preventing them from flowing into subsequent precision inspection stages.

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the material transfer mechanism 4 employs a gantry-type clamping and transfer robot. The end of the robot is equipped with a flexible clamping claw 41, the inner surface of which is covered with an anti-slip buffer pad. This allows for damage-free clamping of the outer diameter of wheel hubs of different sizes. Furthermore, the robot's transfer stroke is precisely aligned with the stepping position of the indexing rotary disc 51, enabling the smooth transfer of qualified wheel hubs to the wheel hub clamping platform 52. The material transfer mechanism 4 is used to precisely transfer qualified wheel hubs from the pre-identification conveyor line to the eight-station rotary inspection table 5, thus realizing the material loading process. The device is designed for automated integration with the inspection process. The flexible gripper 41 is used to grip the outer diameter of the wheel hub, and the anti-slip buffer pad on the inner side can prevent scratches on the surface of the wheel hub during gripping. It can also adapt to the gripping requirements of wheel hubs with different outer diameters, improving the versatility of the device. The transfer stroke of the gantry-type gripping and transfer robot is precisely aligned with the stepping position of the indexing rotary disk 51, which can place qualified wheel hubs smoothly and accurately on the wheel hub gripping platform 52, ensuring that the wheel hub placement position is consistent with the gripping positioning reference, and avoiding the impact of position deviation on subsequent gripping centering and inspection accuracy.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the indexing rotary disk 51 is driven by a servo motor to achieve precise indexing rotation. The single step rotation angle is fixed at 45 degrees. Eight hub clamping platforms 52 are arranged in a ring at equal angles. Each time the indexing rotary disk 51 completes a step rotation, it simultaneously completes the continuous action of loading at one station and multi-directional detection at at least three stations, realizing continuous flow-type detection. The hub clamping platform 52 includes a support 521, a transmission box 522, a micro servo self-rotating motor 523, a rotating seat 524, a sliding plate 525, and a conical platform 526. The support 521 is fixedly installed on the indexing rotary disk 51, the transmission box 522 is installed on the support 521, and the micro servo self-rotating motor 523 is installed on the transmission box 522. The output shaft of the rotary motor 523 is connected to the input end of the transmission box 522. The rotating seat 524 is connected to the output end of the transmission box 522. The sliding plate 525 is bolted to the upper end of the rotating seat 524. Three radial grooves are evenly opened on the sliding plate 525 along the circumference. Each groove has a clamping plate 5251 that is slidably fitted inside. The clamping plate 5251 is used to clamp the inner circle of the wheel hub. The rotating seat 524 is equipped with a first telescopic cylinder 5241 and a second telescopic cylinder 5242. The conical platform 526 is fixed on the piston rod of the first telescopic cylinder 5241, and the conical side of the conical platform 526 corresponds to and fits against the inner side of the three clamping plates 5251. The sliding plate 525 is equipped with a positioning rod 5243 that can move up and down. The lower end is connected to the piston rod of the second telescopic cylinder 5242. The positioning rod 5243 is used for auxiliary positioning of the wheel hub. The indexing rotary disc 51 is used to drive the wheel hub clamping platform 52 to achieve precise stepping rotation. Through the servo motor-driven 45-degree fixed-angle stepping rotation, the loading, multi-station inspection, and unloading processes are synchronized and continuous, ensuring the continuous flow inspection operation of the device. The wheel hub clamping platform 52 is used to achieve precise centering and uniform rotation of the wheel hub, providing a stable carrier for full-circumference inspection. The support 521 is used to fix the wheel hub clamping platform 52 as a whole on the indexing rotary disc 51, providing stable installation support. The transmission box 522 is used to transmit the power of the micro servo self-rotating motor 523 to drive the rotating seat 524. Smooth rotation; the micro servo motor 523 provides driving power for the rotation of the wheel hub, and works with the inspection process to achieve uniform rotation of the wheel hub; the rotating seat 524 supports the sliding plate 525, the first telescopic cylinder 5241, and the second telescopic cylinder 5242, driving the clamped wheel hub to rotate synchronously; the sliding plate 525 provides sliding guidance for the clamping plate 5251, and constrains the movement trajectory of the clamping plate 5251 through the radial sliding groove to ensure the coaxiality of the three-way clamping; the clamping plate 5251 is used to directly support the inner circle of the wheel hub to achieve centering clamping of the wheel hub; the first telescopic cylinder 5241 is used to drive the conical platform 526 to move up and down, and pushes the clamping plate 5251 to open and close synchronously through the conical side of the conical platform 526 to achieve adaptive centering clamping of wheel hubs of different specifications;The conical stage 526 converts the vertical linear motion of the first telescopic cylinder 5241 into the radial synchronous opening and closing action of the clamping plate 5251, ensuring the synchronicity and centering accuracy of the three-way clamping; the second telescopic cylinder 5242 drives the positioning rod 5243 to extend and retract vertically; the positioning rod 5243 is inserted into the wheel hub bolt hole to achieve circumferential auxiliary positioning of the wheel hub, avoiding slippage and offset during wheel hub rotation, ensuring the stability of the wheel hub position during inspection, and improving inspection accuracy.

[0037] In the embodiments of the present invention, the rotation speed of the micro servo motor 523 can be controlled by the controller 7. During the rotation process, it works with the multi-directional optical detection component 6 to complete 360° full-circumference machined surface scanning detection. The micro servo motor 523 achieves precise speed control through the controller 7, and can match the corresponding rotation speed according to the detection requirements, driving the wheel hub to rotate at a uniform speed. It works with the multi-directional optical detection component 6 to complete continuous scanning detection of the 360° full-circumference machined surface of the wheel hub, ensuring that there are no blind spots in the circumferential direction. At the same time, the speed can be adjusted to adapt to the detection requirements of wheel hubs with different detection accuracies and specifications, improving the adaptability and detection integrity of the device.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, in the multi-directional optical inspection component 6, the upper optical inspection probe 61 is vertically downward, facing the upper machined surface of the wheel hub; the side optical inspection probes 62 are arranged along the arc-shaped trajectory of the side of the wheel hub, corresponding to the side of the rim and the machined surface of the spokes; the lower optical inspection probe 63 is vertically upward, facing the lower mating surface of the wheel hub; the polarized supplementary lamps 64 matched with each group of inspection probes adopt a 45-degree oblique layout to filter the specular reflection light from the machined metal surface and enhance the imaging contrast of scratch defects. The multi-directional optical inspection component 6 is used to acquire clear images of the entire machined surface of the wheel hub, providing core image data for the identification and judgment of scratch defects, and is the core functional unit for realizing non-destructive testing of surface defects of the wheel hub; the upper optical inspection probe 61 is vertically downward, facing the upper machined surface of the wheel hub. 1 is used to acquire images of the upper machined surface of the wheel hub, covering the detection area around the upper surface of the wheel hub, the center hole, and the bolt holes; 62 is used to acquire images of the side of the wheel rim and the machined surfaces of the spokes, covering the hidden detection areas on the side of the wheel hub and the front and back of the spokes; 63 is used to acquire images of the mating surface at the lower end of the wheel hub; multiple sets of probes work together to achieve blind-spot-free coverage of the entire machined surface of the wheel hub, completely solving the problem of missed detection in traditional single-view inspection; 64 adopts a 45-degree oblique beam layout, which can effectively filter the specular reflection light from the machined metal surface, eliminate the interference of high-brightness spots on imaging, greatly enhance the imaging contrast between scratch defects and normal surfaces, improve the recognition accuracy of fine scratches, and ensure the accuracy of defect detection.

[0039] In some embodiments of the present invention, the controller 7 incorporates a defect analysis module and a workstation linkage control module. The defect analysis module receives image signals transmitted by the multi-directional optical detection component 6, identifies the scratch size, and determines whether the product is qualified or not. The workstation linkage control module synchronously controls the timing of the feeding conveyor belt 2, the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3, the material transfer mechanism 4, the indexing rotary disc 51, and the wheel hub clamping platform 52 to achieve full-process linkage. The alarm 8 is an integrated sound and light structure. When a severe defective scratch is detected, the controller 7 immediately triggers the alarm 8 and simultaneously marks the workstation information of the corresponding defective wheel hub. The controller 7 is the control core of the entire device, realizing fully automated linkage control and intelligent defect identification. The built-in defect analysis module is used to receive... The multi-directional optical inspection component 6 transmits image signals, completes image processing and analysis, accurately identifies the size, location, and other characteristics of scratches, and determines whether the product is qualified or not according to preset standards. The built-in workstation linkage control module is used to synchronously control the action sequence of the feeding conveyor belt 2, the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3, the material transfer mechanism 4, the indexing rotary disc 51, and the wheel hub clamping platform 52, ensuring that each process is accurately synchronized and orderly connected, realizing the fully automated closed-loop operation. The alarm 8 is an integrated sound and light structure. When the controller 7 detects severe non-conforming scratch defects, it can simultaneously issue sound and light alarm signals. At the same time, it works with the controller 7 to mark the workstation information and defect information of the corresponding non-conforming wheel hub, reminding on-site personnel to deal with it in time, preventing non-conforming products from flowing out, and ensuring the quality of products leaving the factory.

[0040] In some embodiments of the present invention, the height of each set of detection probes and polarized supplementary lights 64 of the multi-directional optical detection component 6 is adjustable. The detection distance and illumination height can be adjusted according to the wheel hub thickness and specifications. The multi-directional optical detection component 6 adopts a height-adjustable design, which can flexibly adjust the detection distance of the detection probes and the illumination height of the polarized supplementary lights 64 according to different wheel hub thicknesses and outer diameter specifications. This ensures that clear and uniform imaging effects can be obtained when detecting wheel hubs of different specifications. It can adapt to the detection needs of wheel hubs of multiple specifications without changing special tooling, greatly improving the versatility and adaptability of the device, reducing the debugging time when switching specifications, and adapting to the multi-variety, small-batch production mode of wheel hub production lines.

[0041] The complete workflow of the device described in this embodiment is as follows: 1. Automatic feeding: After machining, the wheel hubs are conveyed to the feeding conveyor belt 2 through the production line. The feeding conveyor belt 2, together with the wheel hub limiting strip 21 and the inclined baffle 22, will directionally and smoothly convey the wheel hubs to the flexible conveyor chain 31 of the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism 3. 2. Pre-identification and defect rejection: The material blocking module 32 releases the wheel hub in one go. The pre-identification industrial camera 33 captures the image of the upper surface of the wheel hub and transmits it to the controller 7 to complete the preliminary defect screening. If it is determined to be a defective product, the controller 7 controls the pneumatic push rod 34 to push the defective wheel hub into the defective product storage slot 35. The qualified wheel hub continues to be transported to the transfer station. 3. Material transfer: The controller 7 controls the action of the material transfer mechanism 4. The flexible clamping claw 41 clamps the qualified wheel hub and accurately transfers it to the wheel hub clamping platform 52 of the loading station of the eight-station rotary inspection table 5. 4. Adaptive centering clamping: After the wheel hub is placed in place, the second telescopic cylinder 5242 drives the positioning rod 5243 to extend upward and insert into the wheel hub bolt hole to complete circumferential positioning. The first telescopic cylinder 5241 drives the conical platform 526 to move downward and push the three clamping plates 5251 to open outward in sync, tightening the inner circle of the wheel hub to complete coaxial centering clamping. 5. Indexing and Full-Range Inspection: The indexing rotary disk 51 completes a 45-step rotation driven by a servo motor, sequentially sending the clamped wheel hub into three inspection stations. The miniature servo motor 523 of the wheel hub clamping platform 52 drives the wheel hub to rotate at a constant speed. The upper optical inspection probe 61, the side optical inspection probe 62, and the lower optical inspection probe 63 simultaneously acquire images of the entire machined surface of the wheel hub and transmit them to the controller 7 to complete defect analysis and judgment. 6. Defect Alarm and Unloading: After the inspection is completed, the indexing rotary disc 51 continues to rotate step by step, sending the hub into the unloading station. If a severely defective product is detected, the controller 7 triggers the alarm 8 to sound an alarm, and at the same time marks the defective product information. The defective products are diverted by on-site personnel or the supporting unloading mechanism, and qualified products are directly transported to the next process.

[0042] The following points should be noted in this article: 1. The accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention only involve the structures involved in the embodiments of the present invention; other structures can refer to general designs.

[0043] 2. Where there is no conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other to obtain new embodiments.

[0044] The preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed above are merely illustrative of the invention. These preferred embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the invention to the specific implementations described. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of the invention, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize the invention. The invention is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.

Claims

1. A device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs, characterized in that, include: The machine includes a frame (1), a feeding conveyor belt (2), a pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism (3), a material transfer mechanism (4), an eight-station rotary inspection table (5), a multi-directional optical inspection component (6), a controller (7), and an alarm (8). The feeding conveyor belt (2) and the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism (3) are sequentially fixed on the machine frame (1) along the material conveying direction. The material transfer mechanism (4) is located between the output end of the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism (3) and the feeding station of the eight-station rotary inspection table (5). The eight-station rotary inspection table (5) includes an indexing rotary disc (51), with eight discs evenly distributed in a ring on the indexing disc. A hub clamping platform (52) on a rotary disc (51) that can rotate independently; the multi-directional optical detection component (6) is arranged in accordance with the detection station layout of the eight-station rotary detection table (5), including an upper optical detection probe (61), a side optical detection probe (62), a lower optical detection probe (63), and polarized supplementary lights (64) that are matched with each group of detection probes; the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism (3), the material transfer mechanism (4), the indexing rotary disc (51), the hub clamping platform (52), the multi-directional optical detection component (6), and the alarm (8) are all electrically connected to the controller (7).

2. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automotive wheel hubs according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding conveyor belt (2) is a horizontal belt type conveyor belt. The feeding conveyor belt (2) is symmetrically provided with hub limiting strips (21) on the left and right sides, and inclined baffles (22) are provided on the rear side of the feeding conveyor belt (2).

3. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism (3) includes a flexible conveyor chain (31), a baffle module (32), a pre-identification industrial camera (33), a pneumatic push rod (34), and a defective product collection trough (35). The flexible conveyor chain (31) is connected to the output end of the feeding conveyor belt (2). The baffle module (32) is fixed above the flexible conveyor chain (31). The lens of the pre-identification industrial camera (33) faces the upper machined surface of the hub. The pneumatic push rod (34) is installed perpendicular to the conveying direction of the flexible conveyor chain (31). The defective product collection trough (35) is located on the other side of the flexible conveyor chain (31) and opposite to the pneumatic push rod (34).

4. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material transfer mechanism (4) adopts a gantry-type clamping and transfer robot. The end of the robot is equipped with a flexible clamping claw (41). The inner side of the flexible clamping claw (41) is covered with an anti-slip buffer pad, which can be used to clamp the outer circle of different outer diameter wheel hubs without damage. The transfer stroke of the robot is precisely aligned with the stepping position of the indexing rotary disk (51), so as to realize the smooth transfer of qualified wheel hubs to the wheel hub clamping platform (52).

5. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs according to claim 4, characterized in that, The indexing rotary disk (51) is driven by a servo motor to achieve precise indexing rotation. The single step rotation angle is fixed at 45 degrees. The eight hub clamping platforms (52) are arranged in a ring at equal angles. Each time the indexing rotary disk (51) completes a step rotation, it simultaneously completes the continuous action of feeding material at one station and multi-directional detection at at least three stations, realizing continuous flow-type detection.

6. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs according to claim 4, characterized in that, The hub clamping platform (52) includes a support (521), a transmission box (522), a micro servo motor (523), a rotating seat (524), a sliding plate (525), and a conical platform (526). The support (521) is fixedly mounted on the indexing rotary disc (51). The transmission box (522) is mounted on the support (521). The micro servo motor (523) is mounted on the transmission box (522), and the output shaft of the micro servo motor (523) is connected to the input end of the transmission box (522). The rotating seat (524) is connected to the output end of the transmission box (522). The sliding plate (525) is bolted to the rotating seat (524). At the upper end of the wheel hub, three radial grooves are evenly opened along the circumferential direction on the sliding plate (525). Each groove is fitted with a clamping plate (5251). The clamping plate (5251) is used to clamp the inner circle of the wheel hub. The rotating seat (524) is equipped with a first telescopic cylinder (5241) and a second telescopic cylinder (5242). The conical platform (526) is fixed on the piston rod of the first telescopic cylinder (5241), and the conical side of the conical platform (526) is in one-to-one correspondence with the inner side of the three clamping plates (5251). The sliding plate (525) is equipped with a positioning rod (5243) that can move up and down. The lower end of the positioning rod (5243) is connected to the piston rod of the second telescopic cylinder (5242).

7. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs according to claim 6, characterized in that, The rotation speed of the micro servo self-rotating motor (523) can be controlled by the controller (7). During the self-rotation process, it cooperates with the multi-directional optical detection component (6) to complete the 360-degree full-circumference machining surface scanning detection.

8. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the multi-directional optical inspection assembly (6), the upper optical inspection probe (61) is arranged vertically downwards, facing the upper machined surface of the hub; the side optical inspection probe (62) is arranged along the arc trajectory of the side of the hub, corresponding to the side of the rim and the machined surface of the spokes; the lower optical inspection probe (63) is arranged vertically upwards, facing the lower mating surface of the hub; the polarized supplementary lamps (64) matched with each group of inspection probes all adopt a 45-degree oblique layout to filter the mirror reflection light of the metal machined surface and enhance the imaging contrast of scratch defects.

9. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs according to claim 7, characterized in that, The controller (7) has a built-in defect analysis module and a workstation linkage control module. The defect analysis module receives the image signal transmitted by the multi-directional optical detection component (6), identifies the scratch size and determines whether the product is qualified or not. The workstation linkage control module synchronously controls the timing of the feeding conveyor belt (2), the pre-identification defective product rejection mechanism (3), the material transfer mechanism (4), the indexing rotary disc (51), and the hub clamping platform (52) to achieve full-process linkage. The alarm (8) is an integrated sound and light structure.

10. The device for detecting scratches on machined surfaces of automobile wheel hubs according to claim 9, characterized in that, The height of each group of detection probes and polarized supplementary lamps (64) of the multi-directional optical detection component (6) is adjustable, and the detection distance and illumination height can be adjusted according to the wheel hub thickness and specifications.

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