Device for application inspection, application device, and method for application inspection

Abstract

An imaging part (4) takes an image of a plate (9) on which coating beads (12A-12E) are formed by ejecting a coating material (101) by an application part (5). A control unit (7) inspects the application part (5) on the basis of the image of the plate (9) captured by the imaging part (4). The plate (9) has a reference shape (91) formed on the surface thereof. The control unit (7) determines whether the application positions are incorrect on the basis of a comparison between the center position of the reference shape (91) and the center position of the coating beads (12A-12E).

Description

Coating inspection device, coating device, and coating inspection method

[0001] The present invention relates to a coating inspection device, a coating device, and a coating inspection method.

[0002] Electric wires with terminals have been proposed for use in communication between devices mounted on vehicles and for power supply, etc. Generally, this type of electric wire with terminals has a structure in which terminals are crimped to both ends of the electric wire, and both terminals are accommodated in terminal accommodating chambers of corresponding connector housings. Each connector is then connected to a mating connector of the corresponding device, etc. Furthermore, for example, in one conventional electric wire with terminals (workpiece), the bundle of wires exposed from the end of the electric wire is covered with an anticorrosive agent (coating agent) to prevent corrosion at the crimped joint between the electric wire and the terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-129067

[0004] However, if there is a discrepancy between the desired application position of the anticorrosive agent and the actual application position, the wire bundle cannot be covered with the anticorrosive agent accurately. Conventionally, the application position of the actually manufactured electric wire (workpiece) has been inspected visually. As a result, electric wires are manufactured with the application position misaligned, resulting in wasted electric wire. Another issue is that the accuracy of the application position cannot be quantitatively determined.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a coating inspection device, a coating device, and a coating inspection method that can quantitatively determine defects in the coating position without wasting the workpiece.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the coating inspection device according to the present invention has the following features: A coating inspection device for inspecting an applicator unit that applies a coating agent, comprising: an imaging unit that images a plate onto which the coating agent has been discharged by the applicator unit and on which a coating bead has been formed; and a coating inspection unit that inspects the coating unit based on the image of the plate captured by the imaging unit, wherein a reference shape is formed on the surface of the plate, and the coating inspection unit determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape and the center position of the coating bead.

[0007] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the coating device according to the present invention is characterized as follows: The coating device includes a transport unit that transports workpieces, an imaging unit that images the workpieces transported by the transport unit, a coating unit that applies a coating agent to the workpieces transported by the transport unit, and a first coating control unit that determines a coating position for the coating agent based on the captured image of the workpiece and controls the coating unit to apply the coating agent to the determined coating position, a plate that is detachably attached to the transport unit and transported by the transport unit, a second coating control unit that, when set to an inspection mode, controls the applicator unit to discharge the coating agent to form a coating bead on the plate, a transport control unit that controls the transport unit to transport the plate on which the coating bead has been formed to the imaging unit, and a coating inspection unit that inspects the coating unit based on the image of the plate captured by the imaging unit, wherein the plate has a reference shape formed on its surface, and the coating inspection unit determines whether the coating position is defective by comparing a center position of the reference shape with a center position of the coating bead.

[0008] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the coating inspection method according to the present invention is characterized as follows: A coating inspection method for inspecting an application unit that applies a coating agent, comprising: an imaging step of imaging a plate on which a coating ball is formed by the application unit discharging the coating agent; and an inspection step of inspecting the application unit based on the image of the plate that has been captured, wherein a reference shape is formed on the surface of the plate, and in the inspection step, a defect in the coating position is determined based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape and the center position of the coating ball.

[0009] The coating inspection device, coating device, and coating inspection method according to the present invention have the advantage of being able to quantitatively determine defects in the coating position without wasting the workpiece.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a coating apparatus incorporating an application inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the conveying unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a top view of the conveying unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the imaging unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting jig shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting jig shown in FIG. 1 from below. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in an inspection mode of the control unit shown in FIG. 1 in a first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a non-defective image of a coated bead formed on a plate captured by the imaging unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a defective image of a coated bead formed on a plate captured by the imaging unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a defective image of a coated bead formed on a plate captured by the imaging unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in an inspection mode of the control unit shown in FIG. 1 in a second embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining details of S14 in FIG. 11.

[0012] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] For the sake of convenience, the following definitions are used for the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" as shown in Figures 1 to 12. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are perpendicular to one another. The "left-right direction" corresponds to the "first direction" and "side-up direction" of the present invention, and the "front-rear direction" corresponds to the "second direction" and "longitudinal direction" of the present invention.

[0014] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a coating device 1 incorporating a coating inspection device of the present invention. The coating device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a device that coats an end of a terminal-attached electric wire 10 (workpiece) with a coating material 101 made of a UV-curable resin. The terminal-attached electric wire 10 includes an electric wire 102 and a terminal 103 attached to the end of the electric wire 102. The electric wire 102 has a coating 102A stripped from the end to expose a wire bundle 102B. The terminal 103 is crimped to the coating 102A and the wire bundle 102B exposed at the end. The coating device 1 covers the wire bundle 102B exposed from the end of the electric wire 102 with the coating material 101, thereby preventing corrosion at the crimped joint between the wire bundle 102B and the terminal 103.

[0015] The coating device 1 includes a conveying unit 2, an electric wire supplying unit 3 for supplying terminal-attached electric wires 10 to the conveying unit 2, an imaging unit 4 for imaging the terminal-attached electric wires 10 conveyed by the conveying unit 2, an application unit 5 for applying coating agent 101 to the ends of the terminal-attached electric wires 10 conveyed by the conveying unit 2, a UV irradiation unit 6 for irradiating the applied coating agent 101 with UV light, a control unit 7 for controlling these units 3 to 6, and a display unit 8.

[0016] The above-described electric wire supply unit 3, imaging unit 4, coating unit 5, and UV irradiation unit 6 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, that is, from right to left, the electric wire supply unit 3, imaging unit 4, coating unit 5, and UV irradiation unit 6 are arranged in this order.

[0017] First, the configuration of the conveying unit 2 will be described. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the conveying unit 2 of this embodiment has four rear electric wire chucks 21 and four front electric wire chucks 22. The four rear electric wire chucks 21 are arranged side by side at equal intervals in the left-right direction. The four rear electric wire chucks 21 are provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction between a first position and a second position.

[0018] 2 and 3 , at the first position, the four rear electric wire chucks 21 face the electric wire supply unit 3, the imaging unit 4, the coating unit 5, and the UV irradiation unit 6 in the front-rear direction. At the second position, the rightmost rear electric wire chuck 21 faces the imaging unit 4 in the front-rear direction, the second rear electric wire chuck 21 from the left faces the UV irradiation unit 6 in the front-rear direction, and the leftmost rear electric wire chuck 21 is located to the left of the UV irradiation unit 6.

[0019] 3, the four front electric wire chucks 22 are arranged further forward in the front-rear direction than the four rear electric wire chucks 21 (on the side of the electric wire supply unit 3, the imaging unit 4, the coating unit 5, and the UV irradiation unit 6). The four front electric wire chucks 22 are arranged side by side at equal intervals in the left-right direction and face the electric wire supply unit 3, the imaging unit 4, the coating unit 5, and the UV irradiation unit 6 in the front-rear direction. The four front electric wire chucks 22 do not move in the left-right direction.

[0020] Next, the configurations of the rear electric wire chuck 21 and the front electric wire chuck 22 will be described. The four rear electric wire chucks 21 have the same configuration. Each rear electric wire chuck 21 has a cubic main body 23 and a pair of chucks 24, 24 that are attached to the main body 23 so as to be able to open and close freely and that clamp and hold the terminal-attached electric wire 10 from the left and right directions.

[0021] The chuck portion 24 has an arm 24A attached to the main body 23 so that a first end thereof is rotatable about an axis along the front-rear direction, and chuck claws 24B attached to a second end of the arm 24A. When the second ends of the pair of arms 24A are rotated so that they protrude in the left-right direction from the main body 23, the pair of chuck claws 24B open, releasing the hold of the terminal-attached electric wire 10. When the second ends of the pair of arms 24A are rotated so that they protrude upward from the main body 23, the pair of chuck claws 24B close, allowing the terminal-attached electric wire 10 to be clamped and held from the left-right direction.

[0022] The front wire chuck 22 has the same configuration as the rear wire chuck 21, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The main body 23 of the rear wire chuck 21 is attached to a cylinder (not shown) that moves in the left-right direction.

[0023] The conveying operation of the conveying unit 2 configured as described above will be described. The rightmost rear electric wire chuck 21 and front electric wire chuck 22 hold the terminal-fitted electric wire 10 (hold it in the correct position) by the electric wire supplying unit 3. Next, the front electric wire chuck 22 is opened and moved from the first position to the second position. This causes the terminal-fitted electric wire 10 to be conveyed to the imaging unit 4, where it can be held by the second front electric wire chuck 22 from the right, which is arranged opposite the imaging unit 4. Thereafter, the rear electric wire chuck 21 is opened and moved back from the second position to the first position, where it can hold the terminal-fitted electric wire 10 by the second rear electric wire chuck 21 from the right. By repeating this process, the terminal-fitted electric wire 10 can be conveyed to the electric wire supplying unit 3, the imaging unit 4, the coating unit 5, and the UV irradiation unit 6 in that order.

[0024] The wire supply unit 3 has a work setting jig (not shown). When an operator inserts an end of the terminal-fitted wire 10 into the work setting jig and the end abuts against a positioning wall within the work setting jig, the front wire chuck 22 closes. This allows the terminal 103 of the terminal-fitted wire 10 to be positioned in the front-rear direction.

[0025] 4 , the imaging unit 4 has a camera 31 and a ring-shaped illumination unit 32 arranged below the camera 31. The camera 31 is attached facing downward. When the electric wire with terminal 10 is transported to the imaging unit 4 and held by the front electric wire chuck 22 facing the imaging unit 4 in the front-rear direction, the terminal 103 comes within the imaging range of the camera 31.

[0026] The applicator 5 has a discharge nozzle (not shown) that discharges the coating material 101 and a UV light source (not shown) that provisionally irradiates the coating material 101 with UV light. The discharge nozzle is movable in the left-right and front-rear directions by a left-right cylinder and a front-rear cylinder. When the terminal-attached electric wire 10 is transported to the applicator 5 and held by the front electric wire chuck 22 that faces the applicator 5 in the front-rear direction, the terminal 103 enters the discharge range of the discharge nozzle. Furthermore, in the applicator 5, if the terminal-attached electric wire 10 cannot be transported to the UV irradiation unit 6 within a predetermined time after the coating material 101 is discharged onto the terminal-attached electric wire 10, UV light is provisionally irradiated by a UV light source (not shown) to prevent dripping of the coating material 101.

[0027] The UV irradiation unit 6 has a UV light source (not shown) that irradiates UV light. When the terminal-attached wire 10 is transported to the UV irradiation unit 6 and held by the front wire chuck 22 that faces the UV irradiation unit 6 in the front-rear direction, the terminal 103 enters the irradiation range of the UV light source.

[0028] The control unit 7, which functions as a coating inspection unit, a first coating control unit, a second coating control unit, a transport control unit, and an imaging control unit, is composed of a microcomputer that operates according to programs stored in a storage unit, and is responsible for overall control of the coating device 1. In the coating mode, the control unit 7 transports the terminal-attached electric wire 10 through the electric wire supply unit 3, the imaging unit 4, the coating unit 5, and the UV irradiation unit 6 in this order, and sequentially supplies the terminal-attached electric wire 10, applies the coating agent 101, and irradiates it with UV light. The control unit 7 also measures the terminal positions from images of the terminals 103 captured by the imaging unit 4, determines the application position of the coating agent 101 based on the measured terminal positions, and controls the movement of the discharge nozzle to apply the coating agent 101 to the determined application position (i.e., the position that covers the exposed wire bundle 102B).

[0029] In the inspection mode, the control unit 7 inspects the application position of the coating material 101 in the coating unit 5. To inspect the application position, the coating device 1 has a plate 9 and an attachment jig 11 for detachably attaching the plate 9 to the conveying unit 2, as shown in FIG.

[0030] The plate 9 is provided in an elongated shape and is attached to the conveying section 2 so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction. A reference shape 91 is formed on the upper surface of the front end of the plate 9. The reference shape 91 is formed by providing a groove on the surface of the plate 9. In this embodiment, the reference shape 91 is two perfect circles with different radii. The two perfect circles are formed so that their centers are at the same position.

[0031] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the control unit 7 controls the coating unit 5 to eject the coating material 101 onto the plate 9 to form coating beads 12A to 12E, controls the imaging unit 4 to capture an image of the plate 9 on which the coating beads 12A to 12E have been formed, and inspects the coating unit 5 based on the image of the plate 9 that has been captured.

[0032] Next, a description will be given of the mounting jig 11 that mounts the plate 9 to the transport unit 2. In this embodiment, the mounting jig 11 detachably mounts the plate 9 to the main body 23 of the rear electric wire chuck 21 (the second rear electric wire chuck 21 from the right) that faces the imaging unit 4 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 , the mounting jig 11 has a first mounting portion 111 fixed to the main body 23, and a second mounting portion 112 that is attached to the first mounting portion 111 and to which the plate 9 is fixed.

[0033] The first mounting portion 111 is generally plate-shaped and is fixed to the rear surface of the main body 23 with a screw, with its thickness oriented in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 5 , the first mounting portion 111 protrudes upward from the main body 23. A pair of positioning pins 111A (first positioning portions) are erected on the upper surface of the first mounting portion 111. The pair of positioning pins 111A are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. A guide block 111B that guides the second mounting portion 112 is also attached to the upper surface of the first mounting portion 111. The guide block 111B is elongated in the left-right direction and is located behind the pair of positioning pins 111A.

[0034] The second mounting portion 112 includes a first mounting block 112A, a second mounting block 112B, and a handle portion 112C. As shown in FIG. 6, the first mounting block 112A includes a block main body 112A-1 mounted on the upper surface of the first mounting portion 111 and a protrusion 112A-2 protruding forward from the center of the block main body 112A-1 in the left-right direction. The block main body 112A-1 accommodates a pair of metal bushes 112D aligned in the left-right direction, with the pair of metal bushes 112D exposed from the underside. Each of the pair of metal bushes 112D has a positioning hole 112E (second positioning portion) that fits into the pair of positioning pins 111A. The protrusion 112A-2 protrudes forward from the lower end of the block main body 112A-1 and protrudes lower than the block main body 112A.

[0035] The second mounting block 112B is mounted on the upper surface of the protruding portion 112A-2 and screwed to the block main body 112A-1. The plate 9 is arranged with its longitudinal direction facing the front-to-rear direction, and its rear end is mounted on the upper surface of the second mounting block 112B and fixed there with screws. The handle portion 112C is attached so as to protrude from the upper surface of the block main body 112A-1. The operator holds the handle portion 112C and moves the second mounting portion 112, to which the plate 9 is fixed, downward, bringing it closer to the first mounting portion 111. At this time, the rear surface of the block main body 112A-1 slides against the entire surface of the guide block 111B, and the rear surface of the protruding portion 112A-2 slides against the front surface of the first mounting portion 111, thereby guiding the second mounting portion 112 toward the first mounting portion 111.

[0036] In addition, the second mounting portion 112 can be attached to the first mounting portion 111 by inserting matching positioning pins 111A protruding from the first mounting portion 111 into a pair of positioning holes 112E provided in the second mounting portion 112.

[0037] Next, the operation of the coating apparatus 1 configured as described above in the inspection mode will be described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 7. For example, an operator performs a coating inspection when starting up the coating apparatus 1. First, the operator attaches the second mounting portion 112, to which the plate 9 is fixed, to the first mounting portion 111. Then, the operator operates an operation unit (not shown) to set the apparatus to the inspection mode.

[0038] When the inspection mode is set, the control unit 7 controls the transport unit 2 to transport the plate 9 to the coating unit 5 (S1). The control unit 7 controls the coating unit 5 to eject the coating material 101 onto the plate 9 to form coating beads 12A to 12E (S2). In this embodiment, five coating beads 12A to 12E are formed on the plate 9.

[0039] 8 to 10, coated balls 12A (first coated ball) are ejected at the center of reference shape 91, coated balls 12B (second coated ball) and 12C (third coated ball) are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction on either side of coated ball 12A, and coated balls 12D (fourth coated ball) and 12E (fifth coated ball) are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction on either side of coated ball 12A. Then, control unit 7 irradiates coated balls 12A-12E with UV light from a UV light source for preliminary irradiation provided in coating unit 5 (S3).

[0040] Next, the control unit 7 controls the transport unit 2 to transport the plate 9 to the imaging unit 4, which then captures an image of the plate 9 (S4, S5). The control unit 7 processes the captured image of the plate 9 to determine the center position of the reference shape 91 and the center positions of the five coated beads 12A-12E (S6, S7). The control unit 7 then determines whether the shapes of the five coated beads 12A-12E are perfect circles (S8). As shown in FIG. 9 , if any of the five coated beads 12A-12E is not perfect circle, the coated bead shape is determined to be abnormal (Y in S8), and the control unit 7 displays the defective coated shape on the display unit 8 (S9) and terminates the process.

[0041] 8, if all five coated beads 12A-12E are perfectly round and the coated beads are not abnormal (N in S8), the control unit 7 determines the amount of deviation between the center position of the reference shape 91 and the center positions of the five coated beads 12A-12E (S10). If the deviation amounts for all of the coated beads 12A-12E are within the tolerance range (N in S11), the control unit 7 determines that no positional deviation has occurred, displays "good coating" on the display unit 8 (S12), and ends the process. Note that a tolerance range is set for each of the five coated beads 12A-12E.

[0042] On the other hand, if any of the application balls 12A to 12E has a misalignment amount outside the allowable range, it is determined that a misalignment has occurred (Y in S11), and the control unit 7 displays a message indicating a poor application position on the display unit 8 (S13) and terminates the process. In S13, the control unit 7 also displays the misalignment amount calculated in S10.

[0043] Poor coating shape can be caused by problems such as air bubbles in the nozzle, foreign matter in the nozzle, abnormalities in the coating material discharge pressure, abnormalities in the coating material temperature, etc. By displaying a defective coating shape, workers can correct the problem that is causing the poor coating shape.

[0044] By displaying the coating position error and the amount of deviation, the operator can adjust the control amount of the left and right cylinders and the front and rear cylinders to adjust the position of the coating nozzle and eliminate the coating position error.

[0045] The plate 9 on which the coated beads 12A to 12E are formed can be used again to inspect the coated positions by removing the coated beads 12A to 12E. The plate 9 may be coated with a coating that makes it easier to remove the coated beads 12A to 12E.

[0046] According to the embodiment described above, the control unit 7 determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape 91 on the plate 9 and the center positions of the coating balls 12A to 12E. This makes it possible to quantitatively determine whether the coating position is defective without wasting the terminal-attached electric wire 10 (workpiece).

[0047] According to the above-described embodiment, the control unit 7 determines whether the coating shape is defective based on the shapes of the coating beads 12A to 12E captured in the image of the plate 9. This makes it possible to determine whether the coating shape is defective without wasting the terminal-attached wire 10.

[0048] According to the embodiment described above, reference shape 91 is circular. This makes it easy to determine the center position of reference shape 91. Furthermore, by forming coated beads 12A to 12E within the circular shape, if the plate is positioned so that reference shape 91 falls within the imaging range of imaging unit 4, coated beads 12A to 12E will also fall within the imaging range.

[0049] According to the above-described embodiment, the application balls 12A to 12E are arranged in the movement direction (left-right direction, front-back direction) of the discharge nozzle, so that the discharge position of the discharge nozzle can be easily corrected from the positions of the application balls 12A to 12E.

[0050] According to the embodiment described above, the coating position is inspected using the imaging unit 4 for inspecting the terminal position. As a result, by simply attaching the plate 9 to the conveying unit 2 of the existing coating device 1, it is possible to easily and inexpensively inspect for defects in the coating position.

[0051] According to the embodiment described above, the plate 9 is attached to the main body 23 so as to be disposed between the pair of open chuck portions 24, 24. This allows the plate 9 to be attached to the main body 23 without interfering with the pair of chuck portions 24, 24 of the transfer unit 2.

[0052] According to the embodiment described above, the first mounting portion 111 provided with a pair of positioning pins 111A, 111A is mounted to the main body 23, and the plate 9 is mounted to the second mounting portion 112 provided with a pair of positioning holes 111E, 111E. As a result, by fitting the positioning pin 111A of the first mounting portion 111 into the positioning hole 111E of the second mounting portion 112, the plate 9 can be mounted to the main body 23 easily and accurately in a position.

[0053] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. According to the first embodiment described above, the amount of deviation between the center position of the reference shape 91 and the center position of the coated balls 12A to 12E is calculated, and a coating position defect is determined based on each of the calculated deviation amounts. In the second embodiment, the average of the center positions of the coated balls 12A to 12E is calculated, and a coating position defect is determined based on the amount of deviation between the center position of the reference shape 91 and the average of the center positions of the coated balls 12A to 12E.

[0054] The configuration of the coating apparatus 1 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. Next, the operation of the coating apparatus 1 of the second embodiment in the inspection mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 11. In Fig. 11, parts that perform the same operations as those of the coating apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 7 already described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0055] The control unit 7 performs steps S1 to S8 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. If the control unit 7 determines that there is no abnormality in the application shape (N in S8), it calculates the average of the center positions of the application beads 12A to 12E (S14).

[0056] 12, the control unit 7 determines the center position P1 between the coated balls 12A and 12B, the center position P2 between the coated balls 12A and 12C, the center position P3 between the coated balls 12A and 12D, and the center position P4 between the coated balls 12A and 12E. Next, the control unit 7 determines a line L1 connecting the center positions P1 and P2, and a line L2 connecting the center positions P3 and P4. The control unit 7 determines the position Pa where the lines L1 and L2 intersect as the average of the center positions of the coated balls 12A to 12E.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0058] According to the above-described embodiment, the electric wire with terminal 10 is used as the workpiece, but the present invention is not limited to this. The workpiece does not have to be the electric wire with terminal 10 as long as it is coated with the coating material 101.

[0059] According to the embodiment described above, the application position of the coating material 101 is inspected using the imaging unit 4 for inspecting the terminal position, but this is not limited to this. If the coating device 1 does not have the imaging unit 4, the application position may be inspected by photographing the plate using an imaging unit separate from the coating device 1.

[0060] According to the embodiment described above, a plurality of coating beads 12A to 12E are formed on the plate 9, but the present invention is not limited to this. Only one coating bead may be formed on the plate 9.

[0061] According to the embodiment described above, the transport unit 2 has four rear wire chucks 21, but the number of rear wire chucks 21 is not limited to four.

[0062] Furthermore, after being irradiated by the UV light source for preliminary irradiation that the coating unit 5 has, the plate 9 is transported to the imaging unit 4, but this is not limited to this. After the coating balls 12A to 12E are formed on the plate 9 by the coating unit 5, the plate 9 may be transported to the UV irradiation unit 6, where it may be irradiated with UV light, and then the plate 9 may be transported to the imaging unit 4.

[0063] Here, the features of the embodiments of the coating inspection device, coating device, and coating inspection method according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [9].

[0064] [1] A coating inspection device (1) for inspecting an applicator (5) that applies a coating agent (101), comprising: an imaging unit (4) that images a plate (9) onto which the coating agent (101) has been discharged by the applicator (5) and onto which coating beads (12A to 12E) have been formed; and a coating inspection unit (7) that inspects the applicator (5) based on the image of the plate (9) captured by the imaging unit (4), wherein a reference shape (91) is formed on the surface of the plate (9), and the coating inspection unit (7) determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape (91) and the center positions of the coating beads (12A to 12E).

[0065] According to the coating inspection device (1) having the configuration [1] above, the coating inspection unit (7) determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape (91) on the plate (9) and the center position of the coating balls (12A to 12E). This makes it possible to quantitatively determine whether the coating position is defective without wasting the workpiece.

[0066] [2] The coating inspection device (1) described in [1], wherein the coating inspection unit (7) determines whether the coating shape is defective based on the shape of the coating balls (12A to 12E).

[0067] According to the coating inspection device (1) configured as described above in [2], defects in the coating shape can be determined without wasting the workpiece.

[0068] [3] In the coating and inspection device (1) described in [1], the reference shape (91) formed on the plate (9) is a circle, and the coating balls (12A to 12E) are formed within the circle.

[0069] According to the coating inspection device (1) having the configuration [3] above, by forming the reference shape (91) in a circular shape, it is easy to determine the center position of the reference shape (91). Also, by forming the coated beads (12A to 12E) within the circular shape, if the plate is positioned so that the reference shape (91) is within the imaging range of the imaging unit (4), the coated beads (12A to 12E) will also be within the imaging range.

[0070] [4] In the coating and inspection device (1) described in [1], the coating unit (5) is provided so as to be movable in a first direction (left-right direction) and a second direction (front-rear direction) intersecting the first direction, and has a discharge nozzle that discharges the coating material (101), the plate (9) is formed with a first coated ball (12A), a second coated ball (12B) and a third coated ball (12C) that are arranged in the first direction with the first coated ball (12A) sandwiched therebetween, and a fourth coated ball (12D) and a fifth coated ball (12E) that are arranged in the second direction with the first coated ball (12A) sandwiched therebetween, and the coating and inspection device (1) determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison of the center positions of the first to fifth coated balls (12A to 12E) with the center position of the reference shape (91).

[0071] According to the coating inspection device (1) having the configuration [4] above, the first to fifth coating balls (12A to 12E) are arranged in the direction of movement of the discharge nozzle, making it easier to correct the discharge position of the discharge nozzle from the positions of the first to fifth coating balls (12A to 12E).

[0072] [5] A coating device (1) including: a transport unit (2) that transports a work (10); an imaging unit (4) that images the work (10) transported by the transport unit (2); a coating unit (5) that applies a coating agent (101) to the work (10) transported by the transport unit (2); and a first coating control unit (7) that determines an application position of the coating agent (101) based on the captured image of the work (10) and controls the coating unit (5) to apply the coating agent (101) to the determined application position; a plate (9) that is detachably attached to the transport unit (2) and transported by the transport unit (2); and a second coating control unit (7) that, when set to an inspection mode, controls the coating unit (5) to discharge the coating agent (101) and form coating beads (12A to 12E) on the plate (9); The coating device (1) further comprises: a transport control unit (7) that controls the transport unit (2) to transport the plate (9) on which the coating beads (12A to 12E) are formed to the imaging unit (4); and a coating inspection unit (7) that inspects the coating unit (5) based on an image of the plate (9) captured by the imaging unit (4), wherein a reference shape (91) is formed on the surface of the plate (9), and the coating inspection unit (7) determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison between a center position (91) of the reference shape and the center positions of the coating beads (12A to 12E).

[0073] According to the coating device (1) having the configuration [5] above, defects in the coating position can be checked easily and inexpensively using an existing coating device (1).

[0074] [6] In the coating device (1) described in [5], the conveying unit (2) has a main body (23) provided so as to be freely movable in the arrangement direction of the imaging unit (4) and the coating unit (5), and a pair of chuck units (24) attached so as to be freely opened and closed relative to the main body (23) and which sandwich and hold the workpiece (10) in the arrangement direction, and the plate (9) is attached to the main body (23) so as to be positioned between the pair of open chuck units (24, 24).

[0075] According to the coating device (1) having the configuration [6] above, the plate (9) can be attached to the main body (23) without interfering with the pair of chucks (24, 24) of the conveying section (2).

[0076] [7] The coating device (1) according to [6], further comprising an attachment jig (11) for attaching the plate (9) to the main body portion (23), wherein the attachment jig (11) has: a first attachment portion (111) attached to the main body portion (23) and provided with a pair of first positioning portions (111A, 111A) aligned in the alignment direction; and a second attachment portion (112) provided with a pair of second positioning portions (112E, 112E) that fit into the pair of first positioning portions (111A, 111A), and to which the plate (9) is attached.

[0077] According to the coating device (1) having the configuration [7] above, the plate (9) can be easily and accurately attached to the main body part (23) by fitting the second positioning part (112E) of the second attachment part (112) to which the plate (9) is attached to the first positioning part (111A) provided on the first attachment part (111) attached to the main body part (23).

[0078] [8] The coating device (1) according to [5], wherein the work (10) is an electric wire (102) having a terminal (103) attached to an end thereof, and the coating unit (5) applies the coating agent (101) to the end of the electric wire (102).

[0079] According to the coating device (1) having the configuration [8] above, the electric wire (102) is not wasted.

[0080] [9] A coating inspection method for inspecting an applicator (5) that applies a coating agent (101), comprising: an imaging step of imaging a plate (9) on which coated beads (12A to 12E) are formed by discharging the coating agent (101) by the applicator (5); and an inspection step of inspecting the applicator (5) based on the image of the plate (9) that has been captured, wherein a reference shape (91) is formed on the surface of the plate (9), and in the inspection step, a defect in the coating position is determined based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape (91) and the center position of the coated beads (12A to 12E).

[0081] According to the configuration [9] above, the coating inspection unit (7) determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape (91) on the plate (9) and the center position of the coating balls (12A to 12E). This makes it possible to quantitatively determine whether the coating position is defective without wasting the workpiece.

[0082] Although the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0083] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2024-102892) filed on June 26, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0084] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a coating inspection device, a coating device, and a coating inspection method that can quantitatively determine defects in the coating position without wasting the workpiece. The present invention that achieves this effect is useful for a coating inspection device, a coating device, and a coating inspection method.

[0085] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coating device (coating inspection device) 2 Conveying section 4 Imaging section 5 Coating section 7 Control section (coating inspection section, first coating control section, second coating control section, conveying control section, imaging control section) 9 Plate 10 Electric wire with terminal (work) 102 Electric wire 103 Terminal 11 Mounting jig 12A to 12E Coating balls (first coating ball to fifth coating ball) 23 Main body section 24 Chuck section 91 Reference shape 101 Coating agent 102 Electric wire 103 Terminal 111 First mounting section 112 Second mounting section 111A Positioning pin (first positioning section) 112E Positioning hole (second positioning section)

Claims

1. A coating inspection device that inspects an application section that applies a coating agent, comprising: an imaging section that images a plate onto which the coating agent has been discharged by the application section and on which a coating bead has been formed; and a coating inspection section that inspects the application section based on the image of the plate captured by the imaging section, wherein a reference shape is formed on the surface of the plate, and the coating inspection section determines whether the application position is defective based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape and the center position of the coating bead.

2. A coating inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the coating inspection unit determines whether the coating shape is defective based on the shape of the coating ball.

3. A coating and inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the reference shape formed on the plate is a circle, and the coating ball is formed within the circle.

4. A coating and inspection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the coating section is provided so as to be movable in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, and has a discharge nozzle for discharging the coating material; the plate is formed with a first coated ball, second and third coated balls arranged in the first direction with the first coated ball sandwiched between them, and fourth and fifth coated balls arranged in the second direction with the first coated ball sandwiched between them; and the coating and inspection section determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison of the central positions of the first to fifth coated balls with the central position of the reference shape.

5. A coating device comprising: a transport unit that transports a workpiece; an imaging unit that images the workpiece transported by the transport unit; a coating unit that applies a coating agent to the workpiece transported by the transport unit; and a first coating control unit that determines a coating position for the coating agent based on the captured image of the workpiece and controls the coating unit to apply the coating agent to the determined coating position, the coating device further comprising: a plate that is detachably attached to the transport unit and transported by the transport unit; a second coating control unit that, when set to inspection mode, controls the coating unit to discharge the coating agent and form a coating ball on the plate; a transport control unit that controls the transport unit to transport the plate on which the coating ball has been formed to the imaging unit; and a coating inspection unit that inspects the coating unit based on an image of the plate captured by the imaging unit, wherein a reference shape is formed on the surface of the plate, and the coating inspection unit determines whether the coating position is defective based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape and the center position of the coating ball.

6. A coating device according to claim 5, wherein the transport unit has a main body unit that is provided so as to be freely movable in the arrangement direction of the imaging unit and the coating unit, and a pair of chuck units that are attached so as to be freely opened and closed relative to the main body unit and that sandwich and hold the workpiece in the arrangement direction, and the plate is attached to the main body unit so as to be positioned between the pair of open chuck units.

7. A coating device according to claim 6, further comprising an attachment jig for attaching the plate to the main body, the attachment jig having: a first attachment part attached to the main body and provided with a pair of first positioning parts aligned in the alignment direction; and a second attachment part provided with a pair of second positioning parts that fit into the pair of first positioning parts and to which the plate is attached.

8. A coating device according to claim 5, wherein the workpiece is an electric wire having a terminal attached to its end, and the coating unit applies the coating agent to the end of the electric wire.

9. A coating inspection method for inspecting an application unit that applies a coating agent, comprising: an imaging step of imaging a plate on which a coating ball has been formed by the application unit discharging the coating agent; and an inspection step of inspecting the application unit based on the image of the plate that has been captured, wherein a reference shape is formed on the surface of the plate, and in the inspection step, a defect in the coating position is determined based on a comparison between the center position of the reference shape and the center position of the coating ball.

Images