JPS61133844A - Inspecting device for compressed part of terminal of terminal compressed wire - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting a terminal crimped portion of a terminal crimped electric wire in which a terminal is crimped to a terminal portion from which a coating has been peeled off.

(Description of prior art) When crimping a terminal to the end of a covered wire, the covering of the end of the covered wire is cut to a certain length and the coating is peeled off by a certain length.
A terminal of a certain shape and size is crimped onto this wire end. FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the terminal crimping part of the electric aw with the bottom of the terminal crimped, and FIG. 1B shows a plan view thereof. In terminal crimping, as shown in FIG. Part Tb must be crimped by firmly gripping the conductor (core a> part Wb) of the wire W over the entire circumference. However, if the first grip part Ta grips the conductor (core wire) part wb (so-called "hanging" defect ), the second grip part Tb grips the covering part Wa (so-called "resin grip 1 defect"),
The first gripping portion Ta may be pressed against the covering portion Wa without reliably gripping it (so-called "misalignment").

Judging the quality of terminal crimping by visual inspection is cumbersome and inaccurate, and with the automation of terminal punching machines, it requires a lot of manpower to keep up with the speed. is being automated. Also, from the pending application of the same applicant as this invention, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-802
No. 49, JP-A-57-61903, JP-A-57-14
No. 4474, JP-A-57-175942, JP-A-58
-95911 and JP-A-58-135440 have been published. However, these methods directly measure the length of the covering part that is left ungrasped by the first gripping part Ta directly from the wire end to which the terminal has been crimped. The above measurements were performed by emitting light and receiving the reflected light with a television camera or line sensor. Since it was a tangential measurement of 1-, color identification was required, and the amount of reflected light varied greatly even with slight changes in the position or posture of the wire being inspected, making it impossible to perform reliable inspections. In addition, it requires a condensing lens, making the configuration complicated and expensive. Furthermore, when conducting an inspection, it is necessary for the wire terminal to be stationary, so devices such as automatic terminal punching machines in which the *S terminal does not stand still on the path where it is supplied to or sent out to the terminal crimping section I couldn't do the test.

(Object of the Invention) This invention was made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and provides a terminal for electric wires with a terminal voltage of 1, which can be inspected with high precision with a simple structure and an optical type. The object of the present invention is to provide a crimp part inspection device.

(Structure of the Invention) According to the present invention, at least one light source and at least one m-image means are disposed facing each other across the transfer route of the terminal crimping electric wire, and the terminal crimping before and after the terminal crimping is performed. A silhouette image of the terminal crimping portion is captured in at least one state including the above. Predetermined dimensions are measured based on image data obtained from the decoy image, and the condition of the terminal crimped portion is inspected.

(Description of Embodiment) As a preferred embodiment, the terminal crimped wire end (terminal crimped portion) from which the coating has been stripped is removed by rotating an arm that is equipped with a support device for the terminal crimped wire supplied to the wire cutter and wire stripper. An embodiment of a terminal crimping device that is supplied to a terminal punching machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, an electric wire W supplied from a known electric wire supply device (not shown) is supported by a known electric wire support device 1, and its terminal end is supplied to a known wire stripper 2. The wire support device 1 is installed at the tip of the arm 3. The arm 3 rotates around a rotation shaft 4 connected to a power device (not shown), and returns the wire support device @1 to the wire stripper position and the terminal driving position. The terminal punching machine 5 is a known one that sequentially crimps continuous crimp terminals wound on a reel one by one. A known wire cutter 6 is attached to the tip of the wire stripper 2. And supply of electric wire, wire stripper 2
coating peeling operation, rotation of arm 3, terminal punching operation,
The operations of the wire cutter 6 are performed in sequence under the control of a known control device (not shown).

Then, the electric wire W is passed from the wire stripper 2 to the terminal puncher 5.
On the transfer path 7, which is transferred to and in the opposite direction,
A strobe light source 8a and a monochrome television camera 8b, which are supplied with power from a power source (not shown), are provided facing each other across the passing electric wire W, and the terminal of the electric wire W (
A photosensor 8C is provided to detect when the terminal crimping portion (terminal crimping portion) has come to this position. A light source 8a, a television camera 8b, a photosensor 8C, and a known image processing device (
FIG. 6) forms a measuring means for measuring a predetermined dimension of the terminal crimped portion of the electric wire W.

Photo sensor 8 detects that the terminal crimping part of the electric wire W has arrived
In response to the detection output of C, a strobe light emission command is input to the light source 8a, and image data is captured from the television camera 8b to the image processing device.

Next, its effect will be explained. The electric wire W supplied from the electric wire supply device (not shown) passes through the electric wire support branch @1,
When the terminal is crimped, the part of the sheath that is left ungrasped (see FIG. 1) is protruded to an appropriate length. In this state, the wire support device 1 grips the wire W, and the wire end is supplied to the wire stripper 2. Here, the blade 2a of the wire stripper 2 holds the wire W in a state where it is cut into the covering portion. Next, as the arm 3 rotates due to rotation of the rotation shaft 4 by power (not shown), the electric wire W is pulled out from the cut coating, the coating is peeled off at the terminal crimping part, and the core wire is lengthened to a predetermined length. It is stripped bare and transported along the forward path of the transport path 7 in the direction of the terminal punching machine 5. At this point, the blade 2a of the wire stripper 2 is opened. During the transfer, the terminal crimping part of the electric wire W is exposed to the light source 8a and the television camera 8b.
When the electric wire W approaches the opposing position, the photo sensor 8c detects the arrival of the electric wire W and outputs a detection signal. In response to the detection signal, the light source 8a emits strobe light, and the silhouette image data of the terminal crimping portion of the terminal of the electric wire W, which is imaged by the television camera 8b, is taken into the image processing device M (FIG. 6). At this time, the terminal crimping portion at the end of the electric wire W is as shown in Fig. 1T3A, and image data as shown in Fig. 3B is captured as a silhouette image thereof. Then, using known image recognition technology, the length 11 of the electric wire W from the reference position R (in this case, the gripping position of the electric wire support device 1) to the sheathing peeling position, and the length 11 from the sheathing peeling position to the tip position of the bare core wire are determined. At least one of the 12 lengths is determined.

Subsequently, the terminal crimping portion of the end of the electric wire W reaches the terminal punching position of the terminal punching machine 5, where the rotation of the arm 3 is stopped and the terminal punching operation is performed. When the terminal T is crimped to the terminal crimping portion of the electric wire W, the arm 3 begins to rotate in the opposite direction again, and the terminal crimped electric wire W returns to its original position on the return path of the transfer path 7. On the way, when the terminal crimping part of the electric wire W approaches a position where the light source 8a and the television camera 8b face each other, the photosensor 8C detects the arrival of the electric wire W and outputs a detection signal, and the light source 8a emits strobe light. The television camera 8b captures a silhouette image of the terminal crimping part of the terminal of the electric wire W, and the image data is sent to the image processing device (
Figure 6).

The terminal crimping portion at the end of the electric wire W at this time is as shown in FIG. 1, and image data as shown in FIG. 4 is captured as a silhouette image thereof. Then, using a known image recognition technology, the reference position R of the electric wire W (as in the above case, the electric wire support device 1
Length 13 from the gripping position) to one end and the other end of the terminal (wire gripping end and tip) and j! The length of at least one of 4 is calculated. In the case of small terminals, it may be difficult to distinguish between the gripping portion Ta and the covering portion Wa on the outline image, and in that case, finding 14 is particularly effective.

Subsequently, the arm 3 rotates back to its original position, the wire support device 1 loosens its grip, and the wire W with the terminal crimped is moved forward by a predetermined length, and the blade of the wire cutter 6 is closed and cut. . After cutting, the blade of the wire cutter 7 opens and the terminal crimping device shown in FIG. 2 returns to its initial state.

Next, with reference to Figure 5, 1 obtained as described above
An example of a method of inspecting the condition of the terminal crimp portion of the electric wire W using the length of 14 will be described. First, 11. The use of z2 will be explained. When examining defects in terminal crimping, it was found that although the length 11 from the reference position of the wire (the gripping position of the wire support device 11) to the coating peeling position was appropriate, the gripping position during crimping was incorrect (hanging). There are almost no defects (poor resin bite). In other words, the defective terminal crimping is caused by the length 11 from the reference position of the wire to the position where the coating is peeled off.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is due to a defect. The defect in the length 11 from the reference position of the wire to the sheathing peeling position is caused by the defect remaining on the wire when the wire is pulled out from the sheathing, even though the position where the wire stripper blade 2a enters is constant. This is due to the random expansion and contraction of the coating on the side where the damage is. Therefore, by measuring the above 11 immediately before crimping the terminal (at the point when the expansion and contraction of the coating has almost finished), it is possible to sufficiently predict hanging defects and resin chewing defects.In other words, when 11 is smaller than a predetermined value, hanging A defect can be predicted, and when 11 is larger than a predetermined value, a resin bite defect can be predicted.

Also, since the core wire does not expand or contract, the length l from the reference position to the core wire tip position is always constant, 1=11+12
Therefore, by measuring 12, we can indirectly calculate 11
The same effect can be obtained by measuring . Also 1, 12
If you measure both, you will be able to detect hanging defects, resin bite defects, as well as defects where the bare centering wire part is cut (
In this case, 12=O) can also be detected.

Next, the use of 1.14 will be explained. 1, l is used in combination with 1.12 above to detect hanging defects and resin gripping defects by calculating the length of the covering section Wa that is not gripped by the gripping section Ta at the joint point. . The basic formula for calculation is that the length of the terminal pressure gripping portion Ta is D.
Then, it is as follows.

1-j! 1j! 3 D Here, 1 = 1 12 and Jl3-14-IT, so the above equation can be transformed into the following three equations. However, 11 is the length of the terminal pressure.

L=1-1 -13-D L=j! , -14+IT-D I--1-12-14+11-D Now Jl, 1.0 is determined in advance depending on the type of terminal, so at least one of l, 12 and l
, 14 to indirectly obtain L by calculating the above formula, and detect hanging defects (L is smaller than a predetermined value) and resin bite defects (L is larger than a predetermined value). I can do it.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of an image processing device. In the figure, the output of a television camera 8b (FIG. 2) is connected to a binarization circuit 9. This binarization circuit 9
The output of is connected to RAM10. CPIJll is RA
Read the image data from Ml0 and set the specified dimensions (above!
RAMl
Configure with 0. Further, the CPU 11 also constitutes a comparison means for comparing the dimension data obtained by the image recognition means and the allowable range data read from the ROM 12. The ROM 12 stores programs for recognizing and comparing these images, and also stores data on the permissible range of the dimensions. RAM10. CPtJl 1,
ROMI 2 and control means C are connected by a system bus 13. The control means C includes a photosensor 8G (second
In response to the detection output shown in Figure), when the terminal crimping part of the electric iw comes to the inspection (R image) position, that is, the position where the light source 8a and the television camera 8b face each other, the light source 8a emits a strobe light, and the still image data is It is loaded into the RAM 10 and a loading completion notification signal is given to the CPU 11.

Depending on the selection in the control means C, a program corresponding to the type and size of the terminal and the type and size of the electric wire to be used may be made executable.

The CPU 11 provides the control means C with a signal indicating whether the measurement result of the required dimensions of the terminal crimping portion of the electric wire W is good or bad.

FIG. 7 shows the 70-chard during the above l and 12 measurements. In the following explanation, the reciprocating electric wire W transfer route 7
(see figure), the terminal crimping part imaging position on the outward journey is shown as the work position, and the terminal crimping part imaging position on the return journey is shown as the work position.
Shown as location.

One end of the electric wire W whose terminal coating has been stripped off by the wire stripper 2 moves to the processing position as the arm 3 rotates. When the machine reaches the work position, the light source 8a emits light based on the detection output of the photosensor 8C, and the television camera 8b receives the light.

Then, the still image data binarized by the binarization circuit 9 is loaded into the RAM 10 (step S1). This image data will be as shown in FIG. 3, as described above. Step S2) CPUII reads out this image data from the RAM 10 in response to the capture completion notification from the control means C.
, j! by known image recognition. 1(j!2) is determined (step S3). When 11 is required, the program calculates R
Data indicating the allowable range from OM12 l and l
Read step In++n 1max S4), compare with ft1 step 35), j! , 1°<11<"1maX, it is determined to be good, and otherwise it is determined to be defective (steps $6 to S8). The same goes for the case of 12. This good or bad judgment signal is sent to the control means C. The control means C performs predetermined control.For example, the operation of the terminal crimping device may be stopped to allow an operator to remove defective products, or defective products may be automatically selected.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart when calculating L by determining the above l and 14. Steps 89 to S11 up to measuring 11 (12) are the same as steps 81 to S3 in the case of FIG. 7 described above.

After 11 (12) is measured at position (3), the terminal crimping part of the electric wire W is transferred along the forward path of the transfer path 7 in the terminal driving direction 5, and after being crimped under the terminal in the terminal driving 115, it is again It is transferred on the return route of the transfer route 7 to position (3). When the camera reaches position (2), the light source 8a emits light based on the detection output of the photosensor 8C, and the light is received by the television camera 8b. Then, the still image data binarized by the binarization circuit 9 is stored in the RAM.
l0 (step 512). As mentioned above, this image data is as shown in FIG. 4, and is read out to the CPU II in response to the capture completion notification from the control means C (step 513), and 13 (14) is obtained (step 514). 11 (j!2) and j2 <1
24> is determined, the program stores the data of the length D of the grip portion Ta under the terminal (if necessary, the length l from the reference position to the core wire tip position, and the length 1□ of the terminal T) in ROM1.
2 (step 515), and from these data, the length of the covering portion Wa that is left ungrasped by the gripping portion Ta is calculated using the above-mentioned formula (step 816).

Furthermore, the data δ indicating the allowable range and the length Wn of the window below the terminal are read out from the ROM 12 (Step 317), L
(Step 518), if Roku1-<Wn-6, it is determined to be good; otherwise, it is determined to be defective (Step 8
19-21). This pass/fail judgment signal is given to the control means C, and the control means C performs the predetermined control as described above.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a system wire processor instead of the terminal crimping device shown in FIG. 2. As the image processing device, the one shown in FIG. 6 is used, similar to the terminal crimping device shown in FIG. The system wire processor has conveyor means 14 installed in the left-right direction,
The electric wire W to be processed is intermittently moved to the left in the figure every pitch S. Conveyor means 14
is provided with clamping claws 14a that open and close in the left-right direction at every pitch S, and clamps the vicinity of the leading edge of the image from which the U-shaped zsi+w coating has been peeled off in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the conveyor means 14. do. A twisting machine 15 that twists the bare core wire of the electric wire W in order from the upstream of the conveyor means 14;
Terminal punching 1116, sorting means 1 for sorting good and defective products
7 is attached, and all of the above are known configurations.

Unlike the terminal crimping device shown in FIG. 2, the system wire processor shown in FIG.
A and a television camera 18b are attached upstream of the terminal 1116 (corresponding to the above position 2) facing each other across the transfer route, and a light source 19 for measuring the above l and 14 is attached.
A and television camera 19t) are attached downstream of the terminal punching machine 16 (corresponding to the above-mentioned position 2), facing each other across the transfer route. In addition, since the electric current mw is transferred intermittently and the stationary time at the inspection (Ill image) position is sufficiently long, it is possible to eliminate the need to use a strobe light source as the light source 18a119a.
A still silhouette image of the terminal crimping part can be captured in ms. Therefore, there is no need to particularly provide a photosensor.

Note that the light source in the above embodiment may be one in which the light emitting part itself such as a lamp directly faces the television camera, or may be one as shown in FIG. 10, for example. In the example of FIG. 10A, the light emitted from the lamp house 20 of the light emitting unit is guided by the optical fiber bundle 21 of the light guiding means to a position facing the television camera (irradiation position If), and is diffused by the diffusion surface 22. irradiate the terminal crimping area. In the example of FIG. 10B, the light emitted by the lamp 23 of the light emitting part is reflected by the mirror 24 of the light guiding means and guided to a position directly facing the television camera (irradiation position), and irradiates the terminal crimping part. .

Further, in the above embodiment, silhouette images of the terminal crimping portion of the electric wire W are taken before and after the terminal crimping (T position and ■ position), but the silhouette image of the terminal crimping portion of the electric wire W is taken before and after the terminal crimping! (state of I position) only Ilmt, te11 (12
) may be measured, and in this case as well, it is possible to sufficiently predict hanging defects and resin chewing defects as described above.

The program determines various cases in which the length determined by image recognition means, the length to be read for each part of the terminal, and the data regarding the allowable range differ depending on the type and size of the electric wire and the type and size of the terminal. Then, by executing an appropriate program according to the selection in the control means C, it is possible to check whether the terminal crimping condition is good or not even in cases other than the above-mentioned embodiments.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, image processing is performed using a silhouette image using transmitted illumination, so that a sufficient light reception level can be obtained regardless of the color of the covering part of the terminal crimped electric wire. Furthermore, even if the position and orientation of the terminal crimping part change slightly, the light reception level does not change, and the quality of the terminal crimping part can be accurately and reliably inspected. Since there is no need to provide a condensing lens for roughly projecting light, and there is no need to identify colors, the configuration becomes simple. Furthermore, if a strobe light source is used as the light source, it becomes possible to inspect the terminal crimping part while it is moving.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A and 1B are a perspective view and a plan view of the terminal crimping section after terminal crimping, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of applying the present invention to a terminal crimping device, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are
The figure shows the terminal crimping part and its silhouette image before terminal crimping, Figure 4 shows the silhouette N image of the terminal crimping part after terminal crimping, and Figure 5 shows the dimensions of the terminal crimping part. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of an image processing device;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for 1.12 measurement, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for L calculation, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of applying the present invention to a system wire processor, and FIGS. 10A and 10B. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a light source. In the figure, W...Electric wire, ■...Terminal, 7...Electric wire transfer path, 8a, 18a, 19a...Light source, 8b, 18b
, 19b...TV camera.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) An inspection device for the terminal crimping part of a terminal crimping electric wire in which a terminal is crimped to the terminal part of which the core wire is exposed by peeling off the coating, and the terminal crimping part is inspected based on image data obtained by imaging the terminal crimping part. In the device for inspecting the condition of the terminal crimped portion by measuring a predetermined dimension, at least one light source for imaging is disposed on one side of a transfer path of the terminal crimped electric wire, and at least one imaging means is arranged on one side of the transfer path of the terminal crimped electric wire. A terminal crimping part inspection device for a terminal crimping electric wire, characterized in that the terminal crimping part inspection apparatus is arranged opposite to the light source on the other side across a route to capture a silhouette image of the terminal crimping part. (2) The light source is a strobe light source that emits light when the terminal crimped electric wire transported along the transport path reaches its imaging position. An apparatus for inspecting a terminal crimped part of a terminal crimped electric wire as described in 2. (3) The terminal crimp electric wire according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes a light emitting section and a light guiding means, and the light emitted by the light emitting section is guided to a predetermined irradiation position by the light guiding means. Terminal crimping part inspection device. (4) The terminal crimped portion inspection device of a terminal crimped electric wire according to claim 3, wherein the light guide means is an optical fiber. (5) The terminal crimping portion inspection device of a terminal crimping electric wire according to claim 3, wherein the light guide means is a mirror. (6) The silhouette image is captured in at least one of the states before and after terminal crimping, including before terminal crimping, and the predetermined dimensions are the reference of the terminal crimped electric wire with the coating peeled off in the state before terminal crimping. at least one of the length between the position and the sheathing removal position of the terminal crimped electric wire whose sheath has been peeled off, and the length between the reference position and the core wire tip position, and in the state after terminal crimping. 2. The terminal crimped portion inspection device of a terminal crimped electric wire according to claim 1, wherein is at least one length between the reference position and both end positions of the crimped terminal.