An intelligent quality grading and evaluation system for interior modification plastic materials of an automobile

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of material quality evaluation, and particularly relates to an intelligent grading evaluation system for quality of modified plastic materials for automobile interiors. The intelligent grading evaluation system for quality of modified plastic materials for automobile interiors comprises a rotary table, a micro-environment simulation cabin, a bionic probe, a flexible pressure sensing array, a self-closing valve, a hollow sampling needle, a micro-heating unit, a driving module, a linear driving part, a gas detection analyzer and an intelligent evaluation host. The intelligent grading evaluation system for quality of modified plastic materials for automobile interiors realizes synchronous collection and comprehensive evaluation of the touch characteristics and odor characteristics of the modified plastic materials for automobile interiors under the unified test state benchmark.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of material quality evaluation, and in particular to an intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors. Background Technology

[0002] Modified plastic materials for automotive interiors (hereinafter referred to as interior plastic materials) are widely used in components such as dashboards, door panels, center consoles, and armrests. Their quality evaluation typically encompasses two core dimensions: tactile characteristics and odor characteristics. Tactile characteristics include the softness / hardness, smoothness / gritty feel, and particle texture of the material surface upon contact, while odor characteristics involve the types and concentrations of volatile organic compounds released by the material under specific temperature conditions. These two dimensions jointly influence the subjective experience of the driver and passengers within the vehicle, and are also important bases for the formulation development and quality grading of interior materials.

[0003] In current evaluation practices, tactile evaluation and odor evaluation are usually performed separately as independent test items. Tactile evaluation is generally completed using a uniaxial pressure tester or a human sensory evaluation team, while odor evaluation is carried out using an electronic nose, olfactory evaluation, or a dedicated odor testing box. The two types of tests are often conducted separately on different devices at different time points, and the samples need to undergo transfer operations between each testing stage.

[0004] However, the tactile and odor properties of interior plastic materials are not independent; both are affected by the material's surface temperature and contact conditions. The material's surface temperature determines the release rate of volatile components, while contact conditions (such as pressure and contact area) simultaneously influence both the tactile data collection results and the local temperature distribution of the material. In current stepwise testing schemes, the surface temperature inevitably changes when samples are transferred between tactile and odor tests, and volatile components continue to dissipate in the open environment, resulting in inconsistent temperature conditions and contact conditions for the samples during the two sets of data collection. Under these conditions, the tactile and odor data lack a common testing baseline, thus affecting the reliability of the correlation analysis results and making it difficult to objectively reflect the comprehensive performance of the material's tactile and odor characteristics in real-world usage environments.

[0005] In addition, existing tactile evaluation equipment usually uses homogeneous hard probes or elastic probes with a single hardness, which differ significantly from the actual mechanical response of human skin when in contact. The accuracy of the collected contact force data in representing the subjective tactile sensation of the human body is limited. Furthermore, odor testing is usually conducted under static conditions at room temperature, which fails to simulate the actual volatilization behavior of materials in a heated environment inside a vehicle. The test results are not representative of the odor characteristics in actual use scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0006] (a) Technical problems to be solved To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors. By integrating tactile and volatile gas collection into the same biomimetic probe and combining it with the coordinated control of a microenvironment simulation chamber, a rotary worktable, and an intelligent evaluation host, the system achieves simultaneous collection and comprehensive evaluation of the tactile and odor characteristics of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors under a unified testing benchmark.

[0007] (II) Technical Solution To achieve the above objectives, this application provides an intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors, comprising: a rotary worktable; a microenvironment simulation chamber, covering the pretreatment station of the rotary worktable; a bionic probe, including a rigid inner skeleton and a flexible bionic layer covering the outer side of the rigid inner skeleton; a flexible pressure sensor array, embedded in the flexible bionic layer; a self-closing valve, disposed at the top of the bionic probe; a hollow sampling needle, inserted into the self-closing valve; a micro heating unit, disposed within the bionic probe, for heating the flexible bionic layer; a drive module, connected to the bionic probe, configured to drive the bionic probe to move; a linear drive, connected to the hollow sampling needle, configured to drive the hollow sampling needle to extend through the self-closing valve to collect volatile gases released from the surface of the test object; a gas detector and analyzer, connected to the outlet end of the hollow sampling needle; and an intelligent evaluation host, communicatively connected to the flexible pressure sensor array, the drive module, the linear drive, the gas detector and analyzer, the microenvironment simulation chamber, the micro heating unit, and the rotary worktable.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the flexible biomimetic layer is composed of multiple layers of hardness gradient materials, with the hardness gradually decreasing from the inside to the outside, in order to simulate the mechanical response characteristics of the surface of the object under test.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the self-closing valve is an elastic sealing membrane. After the hollow sampling needle extends through the elastic sealing membrane to complete the sampling, the elastic sealing membrane automatically resets when the linear drive drives the hollow sampling needle to retract, thereby sealing the inner cavity of the bionic probe.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the microenvironment simulation chamber is equipped with an ultraviolet light source and an infrared heating tube. The ultraviolet light source is used to irradiate the test object placed in the pretreatment station, and the infrared heating tube is used to regulate the temperature inside the microenvironment simulation chamber. Both the ultraviolet light source and the infrared heating tube are connected to the intelligent evaluation host.

[0011] In one possible implementation, a six-dimensional torque sensor is also included. The six-dimensional torque sensor is positioned between the drive module and the bionic probe to collect three-dimensional force components and three-dimensional torque components during the contact between the bionic probe and the object under test. The six-dimensional torque sensor is communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the sensing units of the flexible pressure sensing array are arranged uniformly in a matrix, with the spacing between adjacent sensing units not exceeding 1 mm, in order to obtain a pressure distribution cloud map between the bionic probe and the object under test.

[0013] In one possible implementation, a multispectral vision inspection station is also included, located around the rotary table. The multispectral vision inspection station includes a multispectral industrial camera and a laser rangefinder. The multispectral industrial camera is used to acquire multispectral images of the surface of the object to be measured, and the laser rangefinder is used to measure the contour height and gloss of the surface of the object to be measured. Both the multispectral industrial camera and the laser rangefinder are connected to the intelligent evaluation host for communication.

[0014] In one possible implementation, an adaptive fixture is also included. The adaptive fixture is set on a rotary table for holding the object to be tested. A miniature weighing sensor is provided at the bottom of the adaptive fixture for detecting the mass of the object to be tested. The miniature weighing sensor is communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the drive module includes a multi-axis motion mechanism configured to drive the bionic probe to move along at least three degrees of freedom to simulate various contact motion trajectories such as vertical pressing, oblique sliding, and rotational friction.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the gas detection analyzer includes a chromatographic column and a mass spectrometry detection unit. The volatile gas collected by the hollow sampling needle is separated by the chromatographic column and then enters the mass spectrometry detection unit to complete the component identification and quantitative concentration analysis of volatile organic compounds.

[0017] In one possible implementation, a probe self-cleaning station is also included, located around the rotary table. The probe self-cleaning station includes a clean cloth conveyor belt and an ultrasonic atomizing nozzle. The clean cloth conveyor belt is configured to deliver the cleaning surface to the contact end face of the bionic probe, and the ultrasonic atomizing nozzle is configured to spray cleaning liquid mist onto the contact end face of the bionic probe for automatic cleaning. Both the clean cloth conveyor belt and the ultrasonic atomizing nozzle are communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the intelligent evaluation host is configured to establish a multi-dimensional comprehensive evaluation model based on pressure distribution data collected by a flexible pressure sensor array, force and torque data collected by a six-dimensional torque sensor, volatile component data collected by a gas detector and analyzer, and surface images and gloss data output by a multispectral industrial camera and laser rangefinder in a multispectral vision inspection station, in order to quantitatively score the test object.

[0019] (III) Beneficial Effects Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors, which has the following beneficial effects: This system integrates tactile and volatile gas collection into a single biomimetic probe, enabling simultaneous acquisition of both types of data at the same moment and under the same contact conditions when the probe contacts the material. Sharing the same temperature conditions and contact state benchmarks eliminates the interference of temperature drift and gas escape caused by sample transfer during step-by-step testing, ensuring the reliability of the correlation analysis between tactile pressure and odor data. The self-closing valve remains closed when the hollow sampling needle is not extended, isolating the probe's internal space from the external environment. This prevents the diffusion and loss of volatile components enriched on the surface of the test material before sampling. When the sampling needle extends, it collects locally concentrated volatile gases within the contact area, rather than diluted samples that have already been fully mixed with external air. This is particularly important for odor evaluation of materials with low release rates.

[0020] The rigid inner skeleton of the bionic probe ensures positioning accuracy and effective transmission of driving force, while the flexible bionic layer allows the probe to exhibit deformation characteristics and pressure spatial distribution characteristics similar to human skin when in contact with materials. Compared to homogeneous rigid probes, the pressure distribution data collected by the flexible pressure sensing array more accurately represents the subjective tactile sensation of the human body. The miniature heating unit brings the probe surface temperature close to that of human skin, which not only replicates the real tactile contact conditions but also helps to stimulate the release of volatile components on the material surface, making the gas sampling results more reflective of the odor characteristics of the material under actual contact and use conditions.

[0021] The microenvironment simulation chamber, positioned above the pretreatment station, applies a controlled temperature and atmosphere to the samples before testing, simulating in-vehicle heating conditions. This addresses the issue of insufficient representativeness in odor testing under static, room-temperature conditions. A rotary table separates the pretreatment and testing stations; after pretreatment, the samples rotate to the testing station, reducing contact time with the open environment and minimizing the loss of volatile components. The intelligent evaluation host coordinates the timing of all functional modules, synchronously controlling pretreatment conditions, probe movement, sampling timing, heating status, and data acquisition, ensuring the orderly execution of each testing step under predetermined parameters. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the structure of an intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors, as provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This illustration shows a structural schematic diagram of a biomimetic probe, a self-closing valve, a hollow sampling needle, and a linear drive provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Marked in the attached diagram: 1. Rotary worktable; 11. Adaptive fixture; 2. Microenvironment simulation chamber; 21. Ultraviolet light source; 22. Infrared heating tube; 3. Bionic probe; 31. Rigid inner frame; 32. Flexible bionic layer; 33. Flexible pressure sensor array; 34. Miniature heating unit; 4. Self-closing valve; 5. Hollow sampling needle; 6. Drive module; 7. Linear drive; 8. Gas detection and analysis instrument; 9. Intelligent evaluation host; 10. Six-dimensional torque sensor; 11. Multispectral industrial camera; 12. Laser rangefinder. Detailed Implementation

[0024] 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 embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the 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.

[0025] Please see Figures 1 to 2 This application provides an intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors, comprising: a rotary workbench 1; a microenvironment simulation chamber 2, covering the pre-processing station of the rotary workbench 1; a bionic probe 3, including a rigid inner skeleton 31 and a flexible bionic layer 32 covering the outside of the rigid inner skeleton 31; a flexible pressure sensing array 33, embedded in the flexible bionic layer 32; a self-closing valve 4, disposed at the top of the bionic probe 3; a hollow sampling needle 5, inserted into the self-closing valve 4; and a micro heating unit 34, disposed within the bionic probe 3, for measuring the flexible pressure sensor array. The biomimetic layer 32 is heated; the drive module 6 is connected to the biomimetic probe 3 and configured to drive the biomimetic probe 3 to move; the linear drive 7 is connected to the hollow sampling needle 5 and configured to drive the hollow sampling needle 5 to extend through the self-closing valve 4 to collect the volatile gases released from the surface of the object to be tested; the gas detector and analyzer 8 is connected to the gas outlet of the hollow sampling needle 5; the intelligent evaluation host 9 is communicatively connected to the flexible pressure sensor array 33, the drive module 6, the linear drive 7, the gas detector and analyzer 8, the microenvironment simulation chamber 2, the micro heating unit 34, and the rotary table 1.

[0026] In this invention, the rotary table 1 connects the various functional stations into a continuous testing process. The microenvironment simulation chamber 2 is placed above the pretreatment station, allowing for environmental pretreatment of the test object without affecting the normal operation of other stations. The bionic probe 3 uses a rigid inner frame 31 as its structural support and is covered with a flexible bionic layer 32, giving the probe's contact surface a certain degree of elastic deformation capability, enabling it to form an adaptive contact with the surface of the test object. A flexible pressure sensing array 33 is embedded in the flexible bionic layer 32, which can record the pressure distribution at the contact interface in real time during the contact between the bionic probe 3 and the test object. A micro heating unit 34 actively heats the flexible bionic layer 32, bringing the probe surface temperature close to human skin temperature. This makes the testing conditions closer to the actual use scenario of the product and helps promote the release of volatile components from the surface of the test object, providing conditions for subsequent gas sampling. The self-closing valve 4 and the hollow sampling needle 5 work together. During the contact between the probe and the object to be tested, the linear drive 7 drives the hollow sampling needle 5 to extend through the self-closing valve 4, completing the on-site collection of volatile gases released from the surface of the object to be tested. The collected gas is transported to the gas detector and analyzer 8 through the outlet end of the hollow sampling needle 5 for component analysis. The intelligent evaluation host 9 uniformly schedules all functional modules, ensuring that tactile pressure data and gas composition data are collected synchronously under the same test conditions, avoiding the differences in environmental variables introduced by step-by-step operations, and ensuring temporal consistency between the data of each dimension.

[0027] Specifically, the rigid inner skeleton 31 provides stable morphological support for the flexible bionic layer 32, preventing irreversible structural deformation of the probe during repeated contact. The flexible bionic layer 32 bears direct contact with the surface of the object to be measured, and its elastic properties allow the contact interface to adapt to the surface morphology of the object. The hollow sampling needle 5 is inserted into the self-closing valve 4. In the non-sampling state, the self-closing valve 4 remains closed. Only when the linear drive 7 drives the sampling needle to extend, the sampling needle pierces the self-closing valve 4 to open it. After retraction, the self-closing valve 4 automatically returns to a sealed state, thereby isolating the sampling path from interference from external ambient gases during non-sampling periods.

[0028] In a specific embodiment, for the skin feel evaluation scenario of cosmetics (such as foundation and face cream products), the system can trigger the sampling action after the temperature of the bionic probe 3 reaches a preset value. The volatile fragrance components released by the test object under the heat conduction of the probe and the pressure distribution data when the probe actually comes into contact are collected synchronously. The obtained odor data and tactile data have the same temperature-contact condition background, which is closer to the comprehensive sensory experience when the human body actually uses the product.

[0029] In related technologies, skin feel evaluation usually relies on a human sensory evaluation team, or instrument testing is broken down into multiple independent steps. Touch testing, odor testing and visual inspection are often completed on different instruments at different times. There is a lack of a unified test state benchmark between the data of each dimension. The state of the sample may change when it is transferred between different test stages (such as temperature drop, volatile components disperse), resulting in weak correlation of data and difficulty in guaranteeing the reproducibility of evaluation results.

[0030] In this embodiment of the invention, the bionic probe 3, flexible pressure sensor array 33, self-closing valve 4, hollow sampling needle 5, micro heating unit 34 and gas detection analyzer 8 are integrated into a unified testing system, and the intelligent evaluation host 9 achieves time-series coordination. Data from all dimensions are collected synchronously under the same temperature conditions and contact state, eliminating the state drift problem introduced by step-by-step testing, and enabling the tactile and odor evaluation results to be established on a consistent testing benchmark.

[0031] In some embodiments, the flexible biomimetic layer 32 is composed of multiple layers of hardness gradient materials, with the hardness gradually decreasing from the inside to the outside, in order to simulate the mechanical response characteristics of the surface of the object under test.

[0032] In this invention, the flexible bionic layer 32 is composed of multiple layers of materials with varying hardness, with the hardness gradually decreasing from the inside to the outside. This causes the contact surface of the bionic probe 3 to exhibit a layered mechanical response characteristic under pressure: the softer outer layer deforms first, forming a thorough contact with the surface of the object being tested; the harder inner layer only deforms under greater pressure, providing support for the overall structure to resist excessive compression. This layered mechanical response, with the hardness gradually increasing from the outside to the inside, allows the pressure distribution data collected by the flexible pressure sensing array 33 to more closely resemble the contact state between the skin and the object surface when a human hand actually presses down, thereby improving the accuracy of the evaluation data in representing subjective skin sensation.

[0033] Specifically, multi-layered hardness gradient materials can be composed of layers of silicone rubber, polyurethane foam, or similar elastomer materials with different hardness values. The thickness and hardness difference of each layer can be specifically adjusted according to the simulation target (e.g., the mechanical properties of a specific area of ​​the fingertip or palm). The hardness gradually decreases from the inside to the outside, meaning that the innermost layer material, which is in contact with the rigid inner skeleton 31, has the highest hardness, while the outermost layer material, which is in direct contact with the test object, has the lowest hardness, forming a continuous or stepped hardness transition between the layers.

[0034] In some embodiments, the self-closing valve 4 is an elastic sealing membrane. After the hollow sampling needle 5 extends through the elastic sealing membrane to complete sampling, when the linear drive 7 drives the hollow sampling needle 5 to retract, the elastic sealing membrane automatically resets to seal the inner cavity of the bionic probe 3.

[0035] In this invention, the self-closing valve 4 employs an elastic sealing membrane. The hollow sampling needle 5 extends through the elastic sealing membrane under the drive of the linear drive 7 to complete sampling. When the linear drive 7 retracts the hollow sampling needle 5, the elastic sealing membrane automatically returns to a sealed state based on its own elastic deformation recovery force, without the need for an additional reset drive mechanism. This ensures that the inner cavity of the bionic probe 3 remains sealed when not sampling, effectively blocking the path of external ambient gas into the inner cavity through the sampling passage, thereby reducing the interference of environmental background volatile components on the sampling results.

[0036] Specifically, the elastic sealing membrane can be made of a rubber-like material (such as a silicone rubber film) with sufficient elastic recovery properties, with a puncture site or local weak area reserved in its central region to adapt to the outer diameter of the hollow sampling needle 5. When the hollow sampling needle 5 passes through the elastic sealing membrane, the sealing membrane undergoes elastic expansion deformation at the puncture site; when the hollow sampling needle 5 retracts, the site re-contracts and closes under the action of the material's elastic recovery force, restoring the seal to the inner cavity. The thickness and elastic modulus of the elastic sealing membrane determine its puncture resistance and repositioning speed, which can be matched and selected according to the outer diameter of the hollow sampling needle 5 and the driving force parameters of the linear drive component 7.

[0037] In some embodiments, the microenvironment simulation chamber 2 is equipped with an ultraviolet light source 21 and an infrared heating tube 22. The ultraviolet light source 21 is used to irradiate the test object placed in the pretreatment station with ultraviolet light, and the infrared heating tube 22 is used to adjust the temperature inside the microenvironment simulation chamber 2. Both the ultraviolet light source 21 and the infrared heating tube 22 are communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host 9.

[0038] In this invention, the microenvironment simulation chamber 2 is equipped with both an ultraviolet light source 21 and an infrared heating tube 22, both controlled by the intelligent evaluation host 9. The ultraviolet light source 21 is used to quantitatively irradiate the test sample placed in the pretreatment station, simulating an ultraviolet radiation environment of a specific intensity within the closed chamber. The infrared heating tube 22 is used to adjust the temperature within the microenvironment simulation chamber 2, ensuring that the test sample completes pretreatment under conditions close to the target application scenario temperature. Since both operate according to preset parameters under the control of the intelligent evaluation host 9, the ultraviolet dose and temperature conditions of the pretreatment process are repeatable, ensuring the consistency of pretreatment conditions in different batches of tests.

[0039] Specifically, the irradiation intensity and duration of the ultraviolet light source 21 can be set by the intelligent evaluation host 9 according to the test protocol, which is suitable for test scenarios that need to evaluate the impact of ultraviolet aging on the skin feel of products (such as sunscreen products and skin care products containing photosensitive ingredients); the infrared heating tube 22 heats the gas inside the chamber and the surface of the test object through radiation heat transfer without introducing additional airflow, which helps to maintain the stability of the concentration of volatile components on the surface of the test object at a controlled temperature. The enclosure structure of the microenvironment simulation chamber 2 isolates the pretreatment area from the external environment, preventing ultraviolet light from diffusing outward and the gas inside the chamber from escaping outward.

[0040] In this embodiment of the invention, the microenvironment simulation chamber 2 is directly covered above the pretreatment station of the rotary table 1. After the pretreatment is completed, the rotary table 1 directly transfers the test sample to the bionic probe 3 testing station. There is no need to remove the sample from the pretreatment equipment and transfer it manually, which reduces the impact of sample state changes during the transfer process on the test data and makes the connection between pretreatment conditions and test conditions closer.

[0041] In some embodiments, a six-dimensional torque sensor 10 is also included. The six-dimensional torque sensor 10 is disposed between the drive module 6 and the bionic probe 3, and is used to collect three-dimensional force components and three-dimensional torque components during the contact between the bionic probe 3 and the object to be tested. The six-dimensional torque sensor 10 is communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host 9.

[0042] In this invention, a six-dimensional torque sensor 10 is positioned between the drive module 6 and the bionic probe 3, along the transmission path of all contact forces between the bionic probe 3 and the object under test. It can simultaneously acquire the three-dimensional force components and three-dimensional torque components experienced by the bionic probe 3 during contact. Compared to solutions that rely solely on the flexible pressure sensor array 33 to obtain the normal pressure distribution, the six-dimensional torque sensor 10 additionally provides data on the tangential force components and torque components along each axis, making the system's description of the contact mechanics more complete and providing data support for physical quantities related to subjective skin sensations such as slipperiness, friction, and adhesion.

[0043] Specifically, the six-dimensional torque sensor 10 is typically based on strain gauge or piezoelectric crystal principles. By decoupling and calculating signals from multiple independent measurement channels, it outputs force components (Fx, Fy, Fz) along the x, y, and z axes, as well as torque components (Mx, My, Mz) around the three axes. Installing it between the drive module 6 and the bionic probe 3 means that the sensor is at the end of the contact force transmission chain. All contact forces and torques experienced by the bionic probe 3 must be transmitted to the drive module 6 through this sensor. Therefore, the sensor can completely capture the mechanical information at the contact interface (the sensor's own weight zero drift can be eliminated through zero-point calibration after power-on).

[0044] In this embodiment of the invention, by setting a six-dimensional torque sensor 10 between the drive module 6 and the bionic probe 3, three-dimensional force components and three-dimensional torque components can be collected simultaneously in a single contact action. Combined with the pressure distribution data of the flexible pressure sensor array 33, a more comprehensive description of the mechanical state of the contact interface can be made, so that the skin sensation dimensions such as slipperiness and friction, which depend on tangential force information, can be objectively quantified and characterized.

[0045] In some embodiments, the sensing units of the flexible pressure sensing array 33 are arranged uniformly in a matrix, with the spacing between adjacent sensing units not exceeding 1 mm, in order to obtain a pressure distribution cloud map between the bionic probe 3 and the object to be measured.

[0046] In this invention, the sensing units of the flexible pressure sensing array 33 are arranged uniformly in a matrix, and the spacing between adjacent sensing units is no greater than 1 mm. This allows the array to achieve a spatial sampling density of the pressure distribution at the contact interface that can resolve millimeter-level contact details, thereby obtaining a pressure distribution cloud map reflecting detailed features between the bionic probe 3 and the object under test. This resolution is of practical significance for characterizing the influence of the microscopic geometric features of the object's surface (such as fabric texture and leather grain) on the contact pressure distribution.

[0047] Specifically, the uniform matrix arrangement ensures that the sampling positions of each sensing unit are evenly distributed within the contact surface, avoiding the problem of insufficient sampling density in local areas, which is beneficial for unbiased sampling of the pressure state of the entire contact interface. The signals of each sensing unit are collected sequentially or in parallel by the readout circuit and then transmitted to the intelligent evaluation host 9. The host maps the coordinate positions of each sensing unit with the corresponding pressure values ​​to generate a two-dimensional pressure distribution cloud map for subsequent skin sensation dimension feature extraction.

[0048] In some embodiments, a multispectral visual inspection station is also included, which is set around the rotary table 1. The multispectral visual inspection station includes a multispectral industrial camera 11 and a laser rangefinder 12. The multispectral industrial camera 11 is used to acquire multispectral images of the surface of the object to be tested, and the laser rangefinder 12 is used to measure the contour height and gloss of the surface of the object to be tested. Both the multispectral industrial camera 11 and the laser rangefinder 12 are communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host 9.

[0049] In this invention, a multispectral visual inspection station is set around the rotary table 1. A multispectral industrial camera 11 is used to acquire multispectral images of the surface of the object under test, and a laser rangefinder 12 is used to measure the contour height and gloss of the surface. Both are communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host 9. The multispectral images describe the surface state of the object under test from the perspective of spectral features, and the surface contour data describes its geometric shape, complementing the tactile sensing data and providing visual input data for the intelligent evaluation host 9 to construct a multi-dimensional comprehensive evaluation model.

[0050] Specifically, the multispectral industrial camera 11 can simultaneously acquire images in multiple bands beyond the visible light band (such as the near-infrared band). The difference in reflectivity between different bands can reflect the compositional distribution characteristics of the surface of the object under test. For example, the reflectivity of oil and water phase components in skin care products differs in the near-infrared band, and the uniformity of the compositional distribution on the product surface can be characterized by using multispectral images. The laser rangefinder 12 emits a laser beam towards the surface of the object under test and receives the reflected signal. Based on the time-of-flight or triangulation principle, it calculates the height coordinates of each sampling point to reconstruct the three-dimensional contour of the surface. The gloss can be derived from the ratio of specular reflection intensity to diffuse reflection intensity measured by the laser rangefinder 12 at a fixed incident angle.

[0051] In some embodiments, an adaptive fixture 11 is also included. The adaptive fixture 11 is disposed on the rotary table 1 for holding the object to be tested. A miniature weighing sensor is provided at the bottom of the adaptive fixture 11 for detecting the mass of the object to be tested. The miniature weighing sensor is communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host 9.

[0052] In this invention, an adaptive fixture 11 is mounted on a rotary table 1 to hold the object under test, ensuring its stable position during transfer and testing at various workstations. A miniature weighing sensor is located at the bottom of the adaptive fixture 11, collecting its mass data and transmitting it to the intelligent evaluation host 9 after the object is properly clamped. This mass data serves as an auxiliary signal to confirm the object's position and provides a quality benchmark for comparison between samples of different specifications or batches, ensuring the comparability of the evaluation conclusions.

[0053] Specifically, the adaptive characteristic of the adaptive fixture 11 is reflected in its clamping mechanism's ability to automatically adjust the opening angle and contact shape of the grippers or clamping surfaces according to the shape, size, and surface curvature of the object to be measured. This allows for stable clamping of various shapes of objects (such as flat-packaged skincare products, soft fabric samples, or three-dimensional molded products) without requiring fixture changes for different sample shapes. A miniature weighing sensor is installed at the bottom of the adaptive fixture 11, completing the weighing process while the fixture is clamping the object, integrating clamping and weighing into one step, eliminating the need for a separate weighing procedure.

[0054] In this embodiment of the invention, the adaptive fixture 11 automatically adapts to the clamping of test objects of different shapes, reducing the need for manual assistance and improving the repeatability of sample clamping position; the miniature weighing sensor is integrated into the bottom of the adaptive fixture 11, which incorporates the acquisition of mass data into the automated testing process, ensuring that there is a corresponding mass record for each test, and providing complete sample parameter information for subsequent data processing.

[0055] In some embodiments, the drive module 6 includes a multi-axis motion mechanism configured to drive the bionic probe 3 to move along at least three degrees of freedom to simulate various contact motion trajectories such as vertical pressing, oblique sliding, and rotational friction.

[0056] In this invention, the drive module 6 includes a multi-axis motion mechanism configured to drive the bionic probe 3 to move along at least three degrees of freedom, enabling the bionic probe 3 to reproduce various contact motion trajectories such as vertical pressing, oblique sliding, and rotational friction. Under different motion trajectories, the dynamic data collected by the flexible pressure sensing array 33 and the six-dimensional torque sensor 10 can respectively reflect the mechanical response characteristics of the test object under different contact modes, expanding the evaluation dimension of the system from static contact state to a dynamic process covering multiple contact modes.

[0057] Specifically, the multi-axis motion mechanism can be composed of a linear guide module and a rotary joint module. The linear guide module provides displacement control along each translational direction, while the rotary joint module provides rotational control around each axis. At least three degrees of freedom mean that the bionic probe 3 can achieve a combination of translational and rotational motion in three-dimensional space: vertical pressing corresponds to normal translation; oblique sliding corresponds to tangential translation superimposed while maintaining constant normal pressure; and rotational friction corresponds to rotational motion around the normal axis of the contact point while maintaining constant normal pressure. The velocity, displacement, and contact force of each motion trajectory can be preset by the intelligent evaluation host 9 according to the test protocol to ensure consistency of motion conditions between different test batches.

[0058] In this embodiment of the invention, the multi-axis motion mechanism endows the bionic probe 3 with the ability to move in at least three degrees of freedom. Under program control, it can switch to execute different contact motion trajectories such as vertical pressing, oblique sliding, and rotational friction. This enables the system to perform instrumental quantitative characterization of skin sensation dimensions such as slipperiness and friction related to the dynamic contact process, thus broadening the coverage of objective evaluation.

[0059] In some embodiments, the gas detection analyzer 8 includes a chromatographic column and a mass spectrometry detection unit. The volatile gas collected by the hollow sampling needle 5 is separated by the chromatographic column and then enters the mass spectrometry detection unit to complete the component identification and concentration quantitative analysis of volatile organic compounds.

[0060] In this invention, the gas detection analyzer 8 includes a chromatographic column and a mass spectrometry detection unit. Volatile gases collected by the hollow sampling needle 5 are first separated by the chromatographic column and then detected by the mass spectrometry detection unit. The chromatographic column achieves stepwise separation of the components in the mixed volatile gas based on differences in their physicochemical properties. The mass spectrometry detection unit performs a library search on the mass-to-charge ratio spectra of each separated component to complete qualitative identification, and simultaneously performs quantitative concentration based on the chromatographic peak area. Finally, it outputs the types and concentrations of volatile organic compounds, realizing the identification and quantitative analysis of the components in the volatile gas.

[0061] Specifically, the chromatographic column can be selected with a suitable stationary phase type (such as nonpolar or polar stationary phase) based on the volatile characteristics of the analyte to optimize the resolution of the target component. The mass spectrometry detection unit ionizes the molecules of each component through an ionization source. The generated ions are separated in the mass analyzer according to their mass-to-charge ratio and recorded by the detector to form a characteristic mass spectrum. The substance is identified by comparing it with a standard spectral library. The combination of the chromatographic column and the mass spectrometry detection unit constitutes the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analytical pathway, which is currently the most widely used qualitative and quantitative analysis method in the field of volatile organic compound analysis.

[0062] In some embodiments, a probe self-cleaning station is also included, which is located around the rotary table 1. The probe self-cleaning station includes a lint-free cloth conveyor belt and an ultrasonic atomizing nozzle. The lint-free cloth conveyor belt is configured to deliver the cleaning surface to the contact end face of the bionic probe 3, and the ultrasonic atomizing nozzle is configured to spray cleaning liquid mist onto the contact end face of the bionic probe 3 to automatically clean the bionic probe 3. Both the lint-free cloth conveyor belt and the ultrasonic atomizing nozzle are communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host 9.

[0063] In this invention, the probe self-cleaning station is set around the rotary table 1, including a clean cloth conveyor belt and an ultrasonic atomizing nozzle. The clean cloth conveyor belt is configured to deliver the clean surface to the contact end face of the bionic probe 3, and the ultrasonic atomizing nozzle is configured to spray cleaning liquid mist onto the contact end face of the bionic probe 3. The two work together to achieve automatic cleaning of the contact end face of the bionic probe 3, and the intelligent evaluation host 9 controls the triggering sequence so that the probe cleaning step is naturally embedded into the continuous testing process without manual intervention.

[0064] Specifically, the cleanroom cloth conveyor belt continuously delivers unused cleaning cloth surfaces to the contact surface of the bionic probe 3 via a stepping drive. After each cleaning action consumes a section of cloth, the conveyor belt advances step by step, ensuring that the next cleaning action contacts the probe with an unused cleaning surface, thus preventing residue from accumulating on the cleaning cloth and causing reverse contamination of the probe. The ultrasonic atomizing nozzle atomizes the cleaning liquid into fine droplets and sprays them evenly onto the contact surface of the bionic probe 3. The liquid mist has a dissolving and emulsifying effect on organic residues such as grease. Combined with the cleaning surface provided by the cleanroom cloth conveyor belt, it performs physical wiping, transferring the dissolved residues from the probe surface to the cleaning cloth and carrying them away, forming a two-stage cleaning process of "liquid mist dissolution + physical wiping".

[0065] In some embodiments, the intelligent evaluation host 9 is configured to establish a multi-dimensional comprehensive evaluation model based on the pressure distribution data collected by the flexible pressure sensor array 33, the force and torque data collected by the six-dimensional torque sensor 10, the volatile component data collected by the gas detection analyzer 8, and the surface images and gloss data output by the multispectral industrial camera 11 and the laser rangefinder 12 in the multispectral visual inspection station, so as to quantitatively score the test object.

[0066] In this invention, the intelligent evaluation host 9 is configured to integrate pressure distribution data from the flexible pressure sensor array 33, force and torque data collected by the six-dimensional torque sensor 10, volatile component data collected by the gas detector and analyzer 8, and surface images and gloss data output by the multispectral industrial camera 11 and laser rangefinder 12 in the multispectral visual inspection station into the same multidimensional comprehensive evaluation model to quantitatively score the test object. The convergence of multi-source data enables the evaluation model to simultaneously consider tactile, mechanical, odor, and visual characteristics and their interrelationships when establishing scoring dimensions, thus providing a richer information basis for the final scoring result's prediction of the overall subjective skin feel.

[0067] Specifically, the multi-dimensional comprehensive evaluation model takes the data output by each sensing module as input and obtains a quantitative score through steps such as data preprocessing, feature extraction, multi-dimensional feature fusion, and scoring mapping. In the feature fusion stage, the surface contour data output by the laser rangefinder 12 and the pressure distribution cloud map of the flexible pressure sensing array 33 can be jointly analyzed in spatial coordinates to calculate the actual contact area and local contact stress of the surface of the object under test. This calculation result is closer to the actual contact mechanical state than using a single type of data alone. The volatile component concentration data output by the gas detection and analysis instrument 8 and the heating temperature data of the micro heating unit 34 are used together to construct the temperature response characteristics of volatile components, which can be used to characterize the emission pattern of odor at different operating temperatures.

[0068] It should be noted that the embodiments referred to in the specification, such as "one embodiment," "embodiment," "exemplary embodiment," and "some embodiments," may include specific features, structures, or characteristics, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not, is within the knowledge scope of those skilled in the art.

[0069] It should be readily understood that “on,” “above,” and “on top of” in this disclosure should be interpreted in the broadest manner, such that “on” means not only “directly on something” but also “on something” with an intermediate feature or layer therebetween, and that “above” or “on top of” means not only “on something” but also “on something” without an intermediate feature or layer therebetween (i.e., directly on something).

[0070] Furthermore, for ease of explanation, spatially relative terms such as "below," "below," "under," "above," and "above" may be used to describe the relationship of one element or feature relative to other elements or features as shown in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation other than those shown in the figures. The device may have other orientations (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptive terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

[0071] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0072] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A smart grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors, characterized in that, include: Rotary worktable (1); The microenvironment simulation chamber (2) is installed above the pretreatment station of the rotary workbench (1); The bionic probe (3) includes a rigid inner skeleton (31) and a flexible bionic layer (32) covering the outside of the rigid inner skeleton (31). A flexible pressure sensing array (33) is embedded in the flexible biomimetic layer (32); A self-closing valve (4) is located at the top of the bionic probe (3); A hollow sampling needle (5) is inserted into the self-closing valve (4); A micro heating unit (34) is disposed inside the bionic probe (3) for heating the flexible bionic layer (32); A drive module (6) is connected to the bionic probe (3) and configured to drive the bionic probe (3) to move; A linear drive (7) is connected to the hollow sampling needle (5) and configured to drive the hollow sampling needle (5) to extend through the self-closing valve (4) to collect volatile gases released from the surface of the object to be tested; The gas detector and analyzer (8) is connected to the gas outlet of the hollow sampling needle (5); The intelligent evaluation host (9) is connected to the flexible pressure sensor array (33), the drive module (6), the linear drive (7), the gas detection and analysis instrument (8), the microenvironment simulation chamber (2), the micro heating unit (34), and the rotary table (1) respectively.

2. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible biomimetic layer (32) is composed of multiple layers of hardness gradient materials, with the hardness gradually decreasing from the inside to the outside, in order to simulate the mechanical response characteristics of the surface of the object under test.

3. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The self-closing valve (4) is an elastic sealing membrane. After the hollow sampling needle (5) extends through the elastic sealing membrane to complete the sampling, when the linear drive (7) drives the hollow sampling needle (5) to retract, the elastic sealing membrane automatically resets to seal the inner cavity of the bionic probe (3).

4. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microenvironment simulation chamber (2) is equipped with an ultraviolet light source (21) and an infrared heating tube (22). The ultraviolet light source (21) is used to irradiate the test object placed in the pretreatment station with ultraviolet light. The infrared heating tube (22) is used to adjust the temperature inside the microenvironment simulation chamber (2). Both the ultraviolet light source (21) and the infrared heating tube (22) are connected to the intelligent evaluation host (9).

5. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a six-dimensional torque sensor (10), which is disposed between the drive module (6) and the bionic probe (3) for collecting three-dimensional force components and three-dimensional torque components during the contact process between the bionic probe (3) and the object to be tested. The six-dimensional torque sensor (10) is communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host (9).

6. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing units of the flexible pressure sensing array (33) are arranged uniformly in a matrix, with the spacing between adjacent sensing units not exceeding 1 mm, in order to obtain a pressure distribution cloud map between the bionic probe (3) and the object to be tested.

7. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a multispectral visual inspection station, which is set around the rotary table (1). The multispectral visual inspection station includes a multispectral industrial camera (11) and a laser rangefinder (12). The multispectral industrial camera (11) is used to acquire multispectral images of the surface of the object to be tested. The laser rangefinder (12) is used to measure the contour height and gloss of the surface of the object to be tested. Both the multispectral industrial camera (11) and the laser rangefinder (12) are connected to the intelligent evaluation host (9) for communication.

8. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an adaptive fixture (11), which is set on the rotary table (1) for holding the object to be tested. The bottom of the adaptive fixture (11) is provided with a miniature weighing sensor for detecting the mass of the object to be tested. The miniature weighing sensor is communicatively connected to the intelligent evaluation host (9).

9. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive module (6) includes a multi-axis motion mechanism configured to drive the bionic probe (3) to move along at least three degrees of freedom to simulate various contact motion trajectories such as vertical pressing, oblique sliding and rotational friction.

10. The intelligent grading and evaluation system for the quality of modified plastic materials for automotive interiors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas detection analyzer (8) includes a chromatographic column and a mass spectrometry detection unit. The volatile gas collected by the hollow sampling needle (5) is separated by the chromatographic column and then enters the mass spectrometry detection unit to complete the component identification and concentration quantitative analysis of volatile organic compounds.

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