Inspection device and method for manufacturing foamed molded products

Abstract

Sometimes, the inability to find voids inside foamed molded products became a problem. [Solution] One aspect of the invention is an inspection device for inspecting whether a foamed molded product is defective, comprising: a presser; a presser support mechanism that supports the presser so that the presser moves relative to the foamed molded product and presses against the foamed molded product; and a measuring device that measures at least one of the pressing reaction force received by the presser from the foamed molded product and the pressing position in which the presser is pressed into the foamed molded product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inspection apparatus and a method for manufacturing a foamed molded product.

Background Art

[0002] Voids may occur in foamed molded products (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0003] , etc.)

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There has been a problem that voids inside a foamed molded product cannot be found.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of the invention is an inspection apparatus for inspecting whether a foamed molded product is a defective product, including a pusher, a pusher support mechanism that supports the pusher so that the pusher relatively moves with respect to the foamed molded product to press the foamed molded product, and a measuring device that measures at least one of a pressing reaction force received by the pusher from the foamed molded product and a pushing position where the pusher is pushed into the foamed molded product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of the inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the foamed molded product [Figure 3]Figure 3A is a plan view of the presser and foamed molded product when the inspection device has finished inspecting the first row of inspection points on the foamed molded product, Figure 3B is a plan view of the presser and foamed molded product when the inspection device has started inspecting the second row of inspection points on the foamed molded product, and Figure 3C is a plan view of the presser and foamed molded product when the inspection device has started inspecting the third row of inspection points on the foamed molded product. [Figure 4] Figure 4A is a side cross-sectional view of the presser moving while pressed against a foamed molded product, and Figure 4B is a side cross-sectional view of the presser moving while pressed against a foamed molded product having voids. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the inspection device. [Figure 6] Figure 6A is a graph showing the inspection position and pressure reaction force for good foamed molded products, and Figure 6B is a graph showing the inspection position and pressure reaction force for defective foamed molded products. [Figure 7] Figure 7A is a perspective view of a foamed molded product inspected by the inspection device of the second embodiment, and Figure 7B is a side cross-sectional view of a foamed molded product. [Figure 8] Figure 8A is a side cross-sectional view of the presser as it moves while pressed against the plate-shaped main body of the foamed molded product, and Figure 8B is a side cross-sectional view of the presser as it moves while pressed against the protruding part of the foamed molded product. [Figure 9] Figure 9A is a graph showing the inspection position and pressure reaction force for good foamed molded products, and Figure 9B is a graph showing the inspection position and pressure reaction force for defective foamed molded products. [Figure 10] Figure 10A is a side cross-sectional view of the inspection apparatus and foamed molded product according to the third embodiment, and Figure 10B is a side cross-sectional view of the presser whose height has been changed to correspond to the protruding portion of the foamed molded product. [Figure 11] Figure 11A is a side cross-sectional view of the presser that moves while being pressed against a foamed molded product in the inspection apparatus of the fourth embodiment, and Figure 11B is a side cross-sectional view of the presser that moves while being pressed against a foamed molded product having a void. [Figure 12] Figure 12A is a graph showing the relationship between the horizontal position and height (vertical position) of the presser when inspecting a good foamed molded product, and Figure 12B is a graph showing the relationship between the horizontal position and height when inspecting a defective foamed molded product. [Figure 13]Figure 13A is a side cross-sectional view of the presser that moves while being pressed against a foamed molded product in the inspection apparatus of the fifth embodiment, and Figure 13B is a side cross-sectional view of the presser that moves while being pressed against a foamed molded product having voids. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a perspective view of a sheet in which a foamed molded product is used. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] [First Embodiment] Figure 1 shows an inspection device 10 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. The inspection device 10 is a device for inspecting whether a foamed molded product 80 is a defective product. The inspection device 10 performs the inspection by pressing a presser 20 against the foamed molded product 80. For example, the inspection device 10 is used in an inspection step in the manufacturing process of the foamed molded product 80 to determine whether the foamed molded product 80 is a defective product.

[0008] The inspection device 10 includes a presser support mechanism 30 that supports the presser 20. The presser support mechanism 30 supports the presser 20 so that the presser 20 moves relative to the foamed molded product 80 and presses the foamed molded product 80. In this embodiment, the presser support mechanism 30 includes a robot arm 35 to which the presser 20 is attached at its tip.

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the foamed molded product 80 inspected by the inspection device 10 is a flat plate with a uniform thickness. The foamed molded product 80 is placed on a support base 50 for inspection (see Figure 1).

[0010] The structure and materials of the foamed molded product 80 are not limited to any particular type. The foamed molded product 80 may, for example, have an open-cell structure or a closed-cell structure. Furthermore, the foamed molded product 80 may be molded by chemical foaming (for example, obtained by mold molding or slab molding) or by physical foaming (for example, obtained by the mechanical flossing method). Furthermore, the foamed molded product 80 may be made of, for example, a thermosetting resin (for example, a polyurethane resin) or a thermoplastic resin (for example, a polyolefin resin).

[0011] In the inspection apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the presser support mechanism 30 moves the presser 20 relative to the foamed molded product 80 (i.e., relative to the support base 50) so as to trace a predetermined trajectory (for example, a trajectory along the surface of the foamed molded product 80) (see Figures 3A to 3C). In this embodiment, the presser 20 moves horizontally while being pressed against the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 on the support base 50 (i.e., so that the foamed molded product 80 is compressed in the thickness direction). Therefore, the presser support mechanism 30 holds the moving presser 20 at a constant height from the upper surface of the support base 50 (for example, while maintaining the height T1 of the rotation axis of the roller 21 from the upper surface of the support base 50 as shown in Figure 1). Thus, in this embodiment, the presser 20 moves while pressing a constant amount L into the upper surface of the flat foamed molded product 80 (see Figure 4A). In this disclosure, "constant" also includes "approximately constant".

[0012] Figures 3A to 3C show an example of the trajectory of the presser 20 as it moves along the presser support mechanism 30. In this example, the foamed molded product 80 has a rectangular shape in plan view. First, as shown in Figure 3A, the presser support mechanism 30 presses the presser 20 against the corner of one short side of the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 (the upper corner of the left side in Figure 3A). Then, the presser support mechanism 30 moves the presser 20 while maintaining its height (i.e., while maintaining a constant amount L of pressure into the foamed molded product 80). Specifically, for example, the presser support mechanism 30 moves the presser 20 along one long side of the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 (the upper side in Figure 3A) from end to end along the long side (from the left end to the right end in Figure 3A). Then, the presser support mechanism 30 repeats the same operation of the presser 20, shifting the position of the presser 20 one row at a time in the direction of the shorter side of the foamed molded product 80 (downward in Figures 3B and 3C), until it reaches the other longer side of the foamed molded product 80 (the bottom side in Figure 3A). In this way, it becomes possible to inspect the entire upper surface of the foamed molded product 80. The presser support mechanism 30 may also perform the inspection by moving the presser 20 in a so-called "single-stroke" manner.

[0013] The presser 20 provided in the inspection device 10 preferably has a tip portion 20A (for example, one with a rounded shape on the contact surface with the foamed molded product 80) that can move smoothly while in contact with the surface of the foamed molded product 80. In this embodiment, the presser 20 having the tip portion 20A is a rotatable roller 21. The presser support mechanism 30 supports and moves the presser 20 so that the roller 21 (the tip portion 20A of the roller 21) rolls while pressed against the surface of the foamed molded product 80 (i.e., moves in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the roller 21). In this way, by providing the roller 21 with the presser 20, it becomes easy to move the presser 20 while it is pressed against the surface of the foamed molded product 80. Note that the presser 20 having the tip portion 20A is not limited to a cylindrical roller 21, but may be spherical (for example, a ball roller), or the contact surface with the foamed molded product 80 may be curved. Furthermore, the presser 20 may be fixed in place relative to the mounting portion of the robot arm 35.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 5, the inspection apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a measuring device 11 that measures the pressing reaction force received by the pusher 20 that presses the foam-molded product 80 from the foam-molded product 80. For example, the measuring device 11 can measure the pressing reaction force by including a force sensor, a load cell, or the like. In the example of the present embodiment, since the pusher 20 is pressed against the foam-molded product 80 from above, the force applied in the vertical direction is measured as the pressing reaction force.

[0015] Here, molding defects such as voids V may occur in the foam-molded product 80 (see FIG. 4B). The void V has a smaller reaction force when pressed compared to the resin portion of the foam-molded product 80. Therefore, when a void V is generated near the portion of the foam-molded product 80 where the pusher 20 is pressed, the pressing reaction force of the foam-molded product 80 decreases compared to the case where no void V is generated (see FIG. 4A). Therefore, in the inspection apparatus 10, the void V inside the foam-molded product 80 can be detected by measuring the pressing reaction force.

[0016] FIG. 6A shows an example of data in which the inspection apparatus 10 measures the pressing reaction force of the foam-molded product 80 in the present embodiment. The data in this example is good product data indicating the pressing reaction force of a good foam-molded product 80 (one having no molding defects such as voids V). In this example, with the pusher 20 pressed against the upper surface of the good foam-molded product 80 as described above, at a constant height and with a constant pressing amount L, it is moved from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the foam-molded product 80 (from the horizontal position 0 shown on the horizontal axis of FIG. 6A to the horizontal position 100). In this case, since the foam-molded product 80 has a flat plate shape with a constant thickness, the pressing reaction force is constant (F in the example of FIG. 6A).

[0017] Here, when the presser 20, which moves along the same trajectory as in the example in Figure 6A by the presser support mechanism 30, is pressed against a defective foamed molded product 80 (one with a void V inside) shown in Figure 4B, and the pressing reaction force is measured, data like that shown in Figure 6B (defective product data) is obtained. Specifically, in this example, a void V is generated near the top surface inside the foamed molded product 80. In this case, as shown in Figure 6B, the measured pressing reaction force is lower at the position corresponding to the void V in the foamed molded product 80 (see the horizontal position 50 on the horizontal axis in Figure 6B). Therefore, by comparing the measurement result of the pressing reaction force of the foamed molded product 80 inspected by the inspection device 10 with the good product data shown in Figure 6A, it is possible to determine whether the foamed molded product 80 is a good product or a defective product containing a void V. Furthermore, by comparing this data, the location where the void V is generated in the foamed molded product 80 can also be detected.

[0018] As shown in Figure 5, the inspection device 10 of this embodiment includes a determination unit 12 that compares the measurement result of the pressing reaction force on the foamed molded product 80 by the measuring device 11 with good product data to determine whether the foamed molded product 80 is defective or not. The determination unit 12 determines, for example, that a product is defective if the difference between the measured value of the pressing reaction force of the measured foamed molded product 80 and the good product data for the pressing reaction force falls outside a predetermined range. For example, if the value obtained by subtracting the measured value from the good product data for the pressing reaction force (difference) exceeds a predetermined first reference value (positive value), it is determined to be a defective product with voids. Alternatively, if the above value (difference) is smaller than a predetermined second reference value (negative value) (i.e., if the measured value of the pressing reaction force is greater than the good product data by more than the second reference value), it may be determined to be a defective product with foreign matter (for example, a defective product with foreign matter made of a material harder than the foamed molded product 80). Such detection of foreign matter can also be performed in the inspection device 10 of the following embodiment.

[0019] In this embodiment, the inspection device 10 is also provided with a storage unit 13 for storing good product data. The good product data may be, for example, data actually measured on good foamed molded products 80 by the inspection device 10, data measured on foamed molded products 80 by another inspection device or its converted value, or a theoretical value.

[0020] The measuring device 11 may be equipped with, for example, a notification unit 14 that notifies the determination result of the determination unit 12. The notification unit 14 notifies, for example, whether the foamed molded product 80 is determined to be a good product or a defective product by the determination unit 12, or at least one of the two. The notification unit 14 may notify by display, sound, or action.

[0021] As described above, the inspection device 10 of this embodiment makes it possible to find voids V inside the foamed molded product 80. In this case, it is conceivable that an operator would determine whether or not the foamed molded product 80 has defects such as voids V by palpation. However, since the determination is made based on the operator's senses, the determination result may differ from operator to operator or depending on the operator's physical condition, which can lead to inconsistencies in the determination result. Furthermore, it may take time for the operator to become skilled at performing palpation inspections. In contrast, in the inspection device 10 of this embodiment, the presser 20 that moves relative to the foamed molded product 80 is supported by the presser support mechanism 30, and the pressing reaction force is quantitatively measured. This makes it possible to solve the above problems.

[0022] Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a foamed molded product 80 that includes an inspection step of determining whether or not the foamed molded product 80 is a defective product using an inspection device 10 makes it possible to efficiently find defective foamed molded products 80.

[0023] [Second Embodiment] Figures 7A and 7B show a foamed molded product 80 to be inspected by the inspection device 10 of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the shape of the foamed molded product 80 differs from that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the foamed molded product 80 has a flat plate-shaped main body portion 81 and a stepped projection portion 82 rising from its upper surface.

[0024] In this embodiment as well, the presser support mechanism 30 moves the presser 20 to follow the same trajectory as in the first embodiment. Specifically, the presser support mechanism 30 moves the presser 20 horizontally while maintaining a constant height from the upper surface of the support base 50 (for example, while maintaining the height T1 of the rotation axis of the roller 21 from the upper surface of the support base 50 as shown in Figure 8A). At this time, the presser 20 moves while being pressed against the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 by the presser support mechanism 30. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the presser 20 moves on the protrusion 82 on the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 (see Figure 8B), the amount of pressure (amount of pressure in the vertical direction) of the presser 20 against the foamed molded product 80 is greater than when it moves at other positions on the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 (see Figure 8A).

[0025] Therefore, in this embodiment, the pressing reaction force (good product data) corresponding to a good foamed molded product 80 is higher at the location corresponding to the protruding portion 82 than at other locations, as shown in Figure 9A (see the horizontal position from around 50 to 90 on the horizontal axis in Figure 9A). In contrast, Figure 9B shows an example of pressing reaction force data measured by the inspection device 10 for a defective foamed molded product 80. Even in this example, if a void V is generated inside the foamed molded product 80 (especially near the top surface inside), the pressing reaction force at the location corresponding to the void V on the top surface of the foamed molded product 80 becomes lower (see the horizontal position from around 60 to 70 on the horizontal axis in Figure 9B). Therefore, the inspection device 10 of this embodiment can also detect and determine the presence or absence of void V, similar to the first embodiment described above. The other configurations in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

[0026] [Third Embodiment] Figures 10A and 10B show the inspection device 10 of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the shape and other configurations of the foamed molded product 80 are the same as in the second embodiment, but the inspection device 10 (pressing element support mechanism 30) is different.

[0027] In this embodiment, the presser support mechanism 30 is configured to change the height of the presser 20 to match the shape of the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 (for example, the height can be changed between T1 and a higher T2). One example of such a configuration is one in which the presser support mechanism 30 moves the presser 20 in a trajectory such that the amount L of the presser 20 pressing into the foamed molded product 80 remains constant. In this configuration, even if the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 against which the presser 20 is pressed has an uneven shape with protrusions 82, it is possible to make the pressing reaction force of a good foamed molded product 80 to be (or approach) a constant overall, as shown in Figure 6A. In contrast, in a defective foamed molded product 80 containing voids V, the pressing reaction force at the location corresponding to the voids V on the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 is lower, as shown in Figure 6B. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, the presence or absence of voids V can be detected and determined. This inspection device 10 also makes it easier for the operator to find voids V by looking at a graph of the measured pressure reaction force.

[0028] For example, the trajectory of the presser 20, which provides a constant pressing reaction force to a good foamed molded product 80, can be stored in the presser support mechanism 30 by teaching the robot, and the presser support mechanism 30 can then move the presser 20 along that trajectory using the robot's robot arm 35 (see Figure 1). Even with this configuration, for defective foamed molded products 80, the pressing reaction force at the location corresponding to the void V on the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 will be lower (see Figure 6B), so the presence or absence of the void V can be detected and determined.

[0029] [Fourth Embodiment] Figures 11A and 11B show an inspection device 10 according to the fourth embodiment. In the inspection device 10 of this embodiment, the measuring device 11 measures the position (pressure position) of the presser 20 pressed against the foamed molded product 80. An example of this configuration is one in which the presser support mechanism 30 moves the presser 20 along a trajectory in which the pressing reaction force received by the presser 20 from the foamed molded product 80 is constant. The pressure position of the presser 20 may be, for example, the position of the tip 20A of the presser 20, the position of the rotation center of the roller 21, or the position of the upper end of the roller 21. The means for measuring the pressure position of the presser 20 in the measuring device 11 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a contact sensor that contacts a part of the presser 20, or a non-contact sensor (e.g., a camera sensor). The pressure position of the presser 20 may also be calculated from the amount of movement of the robot arm 35.

[0030] For example, the pressing reaction force that the presser 20 receives from the foamed molded product 80 is detected by a measuring device 11 using a load cell or force sensor, and the presser support mechanism 30 controls the movement of the presser 20 in the vertical direction (height) while also moving the presser 20 horizontally, so that the presser 20 traces a trajectory in which the pressing reaction force remains constant. At this time, if there is a void V inside the foamed molded product 80 (especially near the top surface) (see Figure 11B), the pressing reaction force from the foamed molded product 80 will be smaller. Therefore, in order to keep the pressing reaction force constant, the presser support mechanism 30 lowers the position of the presser 20 (lowering its height from T1 to a lower T3) and controls the amount of pressure the presser 20 puts into the foamed molded product 80 until the pressing reaction force reaches that constant value. Furthermore, the inspection device 10 of this embodiment can measure the pressing position (vertical position) of the presser 20, and by comparing this measurement result (see Figure 12B) with good product data (see Figure 12A), it is possible to detect the presence or absence of voids V in the foamed molded product 80 (see the area around the horizontal position 50 on the horizontal axis of Figure 12B).

[0031] In this configuration, when the measured pressing reaction force becomes large, the presser support mechanism 30 can be controlled to raise the presser 20 (i.e., move it away from the support base 50) in order to keep the pressing reaction force constant.

[0032] [Fifth Embodiment] Figures 13A and 13B show the inspection device 10 of the fifth embodiment. The inspection device 10 of this embodiment is the same as the fourth embodiment in that the measuring device 11 measures the position (pressing position) of the presser 20 that is pressed against the foamed molded product 80. However, the inspection device 10 of this embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in that the presser support mechanism 30 is equipped with a biasing means 38 (for example, a compression coil spring) that presses the presser 20 against the foamed molded product 80 from above, and the movement of the presser 20 is not controlled so that the pressing reaction force is constant.

[0033] When inspected with the inspection device 10 of this embodiment, in defective foam molded products 80 that have voids V inside (especially near the top surface) (see Figure 13B), the pressing reaction force of the foam molded product 80 is lower compared to good products without voids V (see Figure 13A), causing the presser 20 to sink into the top surface of the foam molded product 80. Therefore, by measuring the pressing position (vertical position) of the presser 20 and comparing this measurement result with data from good products, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of voids V in the foam molded product 80. In this embodiment, the measuring device 11 may measure the pressing reaction force of the foam molded product 80 in addition to, or instead of, the pressing position of the presser 20.

[0034] [Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, the object to be inspected by the inspection device 10 was a foamed molded product, but the object to be inspected may be something else, for example, a non-foamed elastic body (for example, rubber). Even in this case, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of molding defects such as voids in the object to be inspected by pressing the presser 20 into the object to be inspected and measuring the pressing reaction force applied to the presser 20 and the position of the presser 20.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the presser support mechanism 30 performed an inspection by pressing the presser 20 against the upper surface of the foamed molded product 80 (object to be inspected) (for example, inspecting voids V near the upper surface), but it may also perform an inspection by pressing against the side surface of the foamed molded product 80 (object to be inspected) (for example, inspecting voids V near the side surface).

[0036] In the above embodiment, the inspection device 10 was equipped with a determination unit 12, but the inspection device 10 does not need to be equipped with a determination unit 12. In this case, the operator may compare the measurement data of the foamed molded product 80 with good product data to determine whether the foamed molded product 80 is a good product or a defective product. In this case, the storage unit 13 for storing good product data does not need to be provided, and for example, the operator may make a determination by comparing the measurement data of the foamed molded product 80 with good product data printed on paper.

[0037] In the fourth embodiment described above, the movement of the presser 20 was controlled so that the pressing reaction force received from the foamed molded product 80 remained constant. However, the movement of the presser 20 may be controlled so that the pressing reaction force is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In this configuration, for example, if the pressing reaction force at the inspection point of the foamed molded product 80 is less than the predetermined value, the presser support mechanism 30 controls the position of the presser 20 so that it is pushed into the foamed molded product 80 to a position where the pressing reaction force is equal to the predetermined value.

[0038] The shape of the foamed molded product 80 is not limited to the shape of the embodiment described above. The foamed molded product 80 may be used, for example, as a seat pad 92 provided on a seat 90 (see Figure 14) for a vehicle (e.g., for a car) or a building. The foamed molded product 80 may be used as a back pad 93 that constitutes the backrest of the seat pad 92, or as a cushion pad 94 that constitutes the seat surface. The foamed molded product 80 may also be used as a headrest 99 or armrest of the seat 90. For example, the measuring surface on the foamed molded product 80 to which the presser 20 is pressed may be the front surface of the back pad 93 (the backrest surface that supports the back of the sitter) or the upper surface of the cushion pad 94 (the seat surface on which the sitter sits).

[0039] In a method for manufacturing a foamed molded product 80, in which an inspection step is performed using an inspection device 10 to determine whether or not the foamed molded product 80 is a defective product, a repair step may be performed to repair the foamed molded product 80 that has been determined to be a defective product in the inspection step so that it becomes a good product.

[0040] <Note> The following describes the features extracted from the above embodiment, explaining their effects and other aspects as needed.

[0041] For example, the following set of features, relating to inspection equipment and methods for manufacturing foamed molded products, can be considered to have been conceived in response to the problem that "voids may occur in foamed molded products (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-054419 (paragraph

[0003] , etc.))" and the issue that "the inability to find voids inside foamed molded products has sometimes been a problem." Furthermore, there has been a long-standing need for the development of novel inspection equipment and novel manufacturing methods for foamed molded products.

[0042] [Feature 1] An inspection device for checking whether a foamed molded product is defective, Pressing element and, A presser support mechanism that supports the presser so that the presser moves relative to the foamed molded product and presses against the foamed molded product, A measuring device for measuring at least one of the pressing reaction force received by the presser from the foamed molded product and the pressing position into the foamed molded product, An inspection device equipped with the following features.

[0043] [Feature 2] The pressing support mechanism moves the pressing element in a trajectory along the surface of the foamed molded product. The measuring device is an inspection device according to feature 1 that measures the pressing reaction force.

[0044] [Feature 3] The pressing support mechanism moves the pressing element in a trajectory such that the pressing reaction force is constant. The measuring device is an inspection device according to feature 1 that measures the indentation position.

[0045] [Feature 4] The pressing element has a tip portion that is movable while in contact with the outer surface of the foamed molded product, The inspection apparatus according to any one of features 1 to 3, wherein the pressing support mechanism supports the pressing so that the tip is pressed against the outer surface of the foamed molded product as it moves.

[0046] [Feature 5] An inspection device according to any one of features 1 to 4, comprising a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of voids inside the foamed molded product from the measurement results of the measuring device, and determines that the foamed molded product having voids is a defective product.

[0047] [Feature 6] An inspection device for checking whether a foamed molded product is defective using a press, A presser support mechanism that supports the presser so that the presser moves relative to the foamed molded product and presses against the foamed molded product, A measuring device for measuring at least one of the pressing reaction force received by the presser from the foamed molded product and the pressing position into the foamed molded product, An inspection device equipped with the following features.

[0048] [Feature 7] A method for manufacturing a foamed molded product, comprising an inspection step of determining whether the foamed molded product is a defective product using an inspection device described in any one of the features 1 to 6.

[0049] Based on the above characteristics, it becomes possible to easily find voids inside foamed molded products.

[0050] While this specification and drawings disclose specific examples of the technology included in the claims, the technology described in the claims is not limited to these specific examples, but also includes various modifications and changes to these examples, as well as parts of the examples taken individually. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 10 Inspection equipment 11 Measuring devices 12 Judgment section 13 Storage section 14 Hochi Department 20 Pressing element 21 Laura 30 Pressing element support mechanism 35 Robot Arm 38. Biasing means 50 Support stand 80 Foamed molded products 81 Plate-shaped main body 82 Protrusion 90 seats 92 Seat Pads 93 Backpad 94 Cushion pads 99 Headrest V Void

Claims

1. An inspection device for checking whether a foamed molded product is defective or not, Pressing element and, A presser support mechanism that supports the presser so that the presser moves relative to the foamed molded product and presses against the foamed molded product, A measuring device for measuring at least one of the pressing reaction force received by the presser from the foamed molded product and the pressing position into the foamed molded product, An inspection device equipped with the following features.

2. The pressing support mechanism moves the pressing element in a trajectory along the surface of the foamed molded product. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device measures the pressing reaction force.

3. The pressing support mechanism moves the pressing element in a trajectory such that the pressing reaction force is constant. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device measures the indentation position.

4. The pressing element has a tip portion that is movable while in contact with the outer surface of the foamed molded product, The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing support mechanism supports the pressing element such that the tip portion moves while being pressed against the outer surface of the foamed molded product.

5. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of voids inside the foamed molded product from the measurement results of the measuring device, and determines that the foamed molded product having the voids is a defective product.

6. A method for manufacturing a foamed molded product, comprising an inspection step of determining whether the foamed molded product is a defective product using the inspection apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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