JPH11211605A - Water leak inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for detecting even a micro water leakage and determining the extent of water leakage. SOLUTION: The apparatus for detecting water leakage from a part 2 to be inspected, e.g. the cabin or the trunk of an automobile, comprises means for blowing water mixed with fluorescent agent from the periphery, e.g. a shower tester, a light source 3 irradiating UV-rays, a CCD camera 4, a control unit 5, a display section 6, and a robot arm 7. The CCD camera 4 picks up the image at the part 2 to be inspected. The control unit 5 is provided with a decision section 8 for determining presence of water leakage and the extent thereof based on an image data VD picked up by means of the CCD camera 4. The robot arm 7 is provided, at the forward end thereof, with the light source 3 and the CCD camera 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water leakage inspection device for inspecting the presence or absence of water leakage in a vehicle, a trunk or the like in a water leakage inspection process in an automobile assembly line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a water leak inspection process of an automobile, which has been substantially completed in an automobile assembly line, a shower tester or the like that sprays water or the like from the front, rear, left, right, or above the automobile is used. In the water leaking step, after water or the like is sprayed from the above-described direction by the shower tester, it is checked whether or not there is a water leak in the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment.

[0003] In the water leak inspection, conventionally, an operator directly touches a site to be inspected with a hand to check the degree of wetness, visually observes from a distant place, or applies ultraviolet light to water sprayed in advance by a shower tester. The presence or absence of water leakage from the inspected portion is inspected based on the light emission state using a black light that mixes a fluorescent agent that emits light and irradiates ultraviolet rays during inspection.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional water leak inspection, if the state of the water leak is inspected by manually touching the inspected part by hand or visually inspected, the degree of the water leakage is accurately determined. It cannot be grasped, and there is a large variation in the quality of the water leak detected depending on the skill level of the worker.

[0005] Further, a black light that irradiates ultraviolet rays is not preferable in terms of ensuring safety for workers, and cannot irradiate very strong ultraviolet rays. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to find a minute water leak.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a water leak inspection device capable of detecting a minute water leak and detecting the magnitude of the water leak.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a water leakage inspection apparatus according to the present invention according to the first aspect sprays a liquid mixed with a fluorescent agent onto a test object. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the irradiating means irradiates the inspected part with ultraviolet rays, and then the imaging means takes an image of the inspected part, and the image processing means detects a water leak from the image taken by the imaging means.

[0007] For this reason, when there is water leakage in the inspected part, the water leakage point emits light, and the image processing means detects this light emitting portion, so that the situation of water leakage can be easily detected. Further, since the irradiating means and the imaging means are provided on the robot arm, there is no need to manually work, and the efficiency of the inspection can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water leak inspection apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the image processing means detects a light emitting portion from the image of the inspected portion and determines that there is a water leak when the area of the light emitting portion is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. A determination means is provided for the determination. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably detect the presence or absence of water leakage,
The magnitude of the water leak can be easily detected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the image processing means detects a portion where the rate of change of light intensity exceeds a threshold from an image of the inspected portion, and detects a portion where the rate of change of light intensity exceeds the threshold. When the area of a is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, there is provided a determination means for determining that there is water leakage. For this reason, even if the light intensity of the light emitting portion in the image of the inspected part is relatively low, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of water leakage and easily detect the magnitude of the water leakage.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Water leak inspection device 1
Is provided with a liquid spraying unit such as a shower tester for spraying a liquid such as water mixed with a fluorescent agent from around a test object (for example, an automobile).

The water leak inspection apparatus 1 is configured to detect whether or not there is a water leak in a portion to be inspected 2 such as a passenger compartment and a luggage compartment of an automobile, and to detect the size of the leak if there is. Have been. The fluorescent agent is mainly composed of a diaminostilbene derivative or the like, and emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

[0012] As shown in FIG.
A light source 3 as an irradiation unit, a CCD camera 4 as an imaging unit, a control unit 5 as an image processing unit, a display unit 6, a robot arm 7, and the like are provided.

The light source 3 is provided at the tip of the robot arm 7 and has a wavelength of 1 nm to 40
It has a function of irradiating ultraviolet rays or the like in a range of 0 nm.
The light source 3 irradiates the above-described ultraviolet ray or the like into a range T surrounded by a dashed line.

It is desirable that the light source 3 emits the ultraviolet rays or the like at a cycle of 1 kHz to 10 kHz. In this case, even if the inspected part 2 is photographed by a camera (not shown) or the like, the inspected part 2 in a state where the ultraviolet ray is irradiated can be reliably photographed.

The CCD camera 4 is provided at the tip of the robot arm 7, captures an image of the inspected part 2, and outputs image data VD (an example is shown in FIG. 3) as an image to the control unit 5. It is supposed to.

The CCD camera 4 is arranged so that its field of view S (the area surrounded by the two-dot chain line in the drawing) sufficiently covers the irradiation range T of the light source 3 illuminated on the part 2 to be inspected. I have. In addition, the inspection site 2 and the CCD camera 4
A filter or the like that transmits only ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength may be provided between them.

The control unit 5 includes a well-known CP.
U, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, which is connected to the light source 3, the CCD camera 4, the display unit 6, the robot arm 7, etc., controls these operations, and controls the entire water leak inspection device 1. It is in charge of control.

The control unit 5 includes a judgment section 8 as judgment means. The determination unit 8 determines that the CC
The image data VD and VD1 as images of the inspected part 2 shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5 captured by the D camera 4 are subjected to the processing shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. When there is a water leak, the size of the water leak location is detected.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the image data VD of the inspected part 2 having the light emitting portion R0 where the fluorescent agent emits light by the ultraviolet rays from the light source 3 is inputted, as shown in FIG.
The image data VD is binarized to detect a light emitting portion R (shown in FIG. 4). In FIG. 3, portions other than the issuing portion R are hatched.

At this time, the determination section 8 calculates the area of the light emitting portion R, and determines that there is water leakage when the area is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. The determination unit 8 has a function of calculating the center of gravity and the like of the light emitting portion R when determining that there is water leakage.

In addition, when the intensity of the light emitted from the fluorescent agent is low, or when the image data VD1 in which the light emitted from the fluorescent agent has unevenness is input as shown in FIG.
It is desirable to perform the processing shown in FIG. 6 as described later.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the image data VD1 has a relatively dark light-emitting portion R1 and a relatively bright light-emitting portion R2, and does not emit a relatively bright light-emitting portion R2. The difference in light intensity from the portion R4 is small.

When the image data VD1 shown in FIG. 5 is input, the determination unit 8 calculates the rate of change of the light intensity by differentiating the light intensity. And, as shown in FIG.
A portion R3 where the rate of change in light intensity exceeds a threshold value is detected. The determination unit 8 calculates the area of the part surrounded by the outline of the part R3 or the area of the part R3 described above, and determines that there is water leakage when these areas are equal to or larger than a predetermined value. When it is determined that there is a water leak, it has a function of calculating the center of gravity of the portion R3 where the rate of change in light intensity exceeds a predetermined value.

The display unit 6 is connected to the control unit 5 and is a monitor capable of observing the image data VD, VD1 which has been imaged by the CCD camera 4 and has been subjected to the above-described processing by the determination unit 8 and the like. It is desirable to be configured with a warning means such as a siren or a red stirrup that informs the worker by sound or light when there is a warning.

The robot arm 7 is movable with respect to the object 2 to be inspected, and its operation is controlled by the control unit 5. It is directed to the site 2 to be inspected.

According to the configuration described above, the water leak inspection device 1
And spraying water or the like mixed with the fluorescent agent onto a vehicle by a liquid spraying means such as the shower tester, and inspecting a leaked part 2 to be inspected such as a passenger room and a cargo room of the sprayed vehicle or the like. First, the robot arm 7 is operated so that the light source 3 and the CC
The D camera 4 is pointed.

Thereafter, ultraviolet light is applied from the light source 3 to the portion 2 to be inspected.
Irradiate toward. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, when moisture 11 or the like due to water leakage is attached to a part of the inspection site 2, the fluorescent agent in the moisture 11 emits light due to ultraviolet rays.

For this reason, the image data VD and VD1 obtained by the CCD camera 4 correspond to the location where the moisture 11 is attached and the light emitting portion R shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, there is a relatively dark light emitting portion R1 and a relatively bright light emitting portion R2.

Then, the determination section 8 of the control unit 5 performs binarization on the image data VD as shown in FIG. 4 to detect a light emitting portion R, or converts the image data VD1 as shown in FIG. A portion R3 where the rate of change in light intensity is large is detected by differentiating or the like.

The judging section 8 calculates the area of the light emitting portion R, the area of the portion R3 having a large change rate, or the area of the portion surrounded by the outline of the portion R3. It is determined that there is a leak and displayed on the display unit 6. The determination unit 8 calculates the center of gravity of the light emitting portion R or the center of gravity of the portion R3 having a large change rate. When the above-mentioned area is smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that there is no water leakage, and the water leakage inspection device 1 proceeds to the inspection of the next inspected part 2.

When the display unit 6 is constituted by a monitor or the like, the operator can observe the state of the image processing of the determination unit 8 of the control unit 5 described above. In the case, the judgment unit 8
It is possible to confirm the calculated area of the water leaking point and the position of the center of gravity thereof.

According to the present embodiment, the light source 3 irradiates the inspected portion 2 with ultraviolet light, the CCD camera 4 captures an image of the inspected portion 2, and the determination section 8 of the control unit 5 determines
From the image data VD and VD1 captured by the CD camera 4, a light emitting portion R or a portion R3 where the rate of change in light intensity exceeds a threshold is detected.

The judging section 8 judges that there is water leakage when the area of the light-emitting portion R or the portion surrounded by the outline of the portion R3 is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. Therefore, the presence or absence of water leakage and the magnitude of the water leakage can be easily detected.

Further, the judging section 8 detects a portion R3 where the rate of change of the light intensity exceeds the threshold value from the image data VD1,
If it is determined that there is water leakage when the area of the portion surrounded by the outline of the portion R3 is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the light emitting portion R1,
Even if the intensity of the light of R2 is relatively weak, the presence or absence of water leakage can be reliably detected. For this reason, a minute water leak can be detected more reliably.

Further, since the light source 3 and the CCD camera 4 are provided at the tip of the robot arm 7, the light source 3 and the CCD camera 4 can be directed to a desired part of the object to be inspected, and there is no need to work by hand. Irradiation becomes possible. Therefore, a minute water leak can be detected.

[0036]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when there is a water leak in the inspected portion, the water leaking portion emits light, and the image processing means detects this light emitting portion. Can be detected, and the magnitude of water leakage can be detected.

Further, since the irradiating means and the imaging means are provided on the robot arm, it is not necessary to work by hand, and it is possible to irradiate stronger ultraviolet rays. Therefore, a minute water leak can be detected.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, it is determined that there is water leakage when the area of the light emitting portion of the inspected portion is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. Can be detected, and the magnitude of the water leakage can be easily detected.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, a portion where the rate of change of the light intensity of the inspected portion is large is detected, and the area of the portion where the rate of change is large is not less than a predetermined value. In this case, it is determined that there is water leakage. For this reason, even if the light intensity of the light emitting portion is relatively weak, it is possible to more reliably detect the presence or absence of water leakage and easily detect the magnitude of the water leakage. Therefore, a minute water leak can be detected more reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a water leak inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the water leakage inspection device according to the embodiment inspects a part to be inspected having a water leakage.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of image data of a region to be inspected taken by a CCD camera in the inspection shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where the image data shown in FIG. 3 is binarized.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of image data of a part to be inspected taken by a CCD camera in the inspection shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a portion where the rate of change in light intensity is large is detected from the image data shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water leak inspection apparatus 2 ... Inspection part 3 ... Light source (irradiation means) 4 ... CCD camera (imaging means) 5 ... Control unit (image processing means) 7 ... Robot arm 8 ... Judgment part (judgment means) VD, VD1 ... Image data (video) R ... Emission part R3 ... Part where the rate of change of light intensity exceeds the threshold

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liquid spraying means for spraying a liquid mixed with a fluorescent agent which emits light by irradiation of ultraviolet rays onto an object to be inspected, a robot arm movable with respect to the object to be inspected, and water provided on the robot arm and water Irradiating means for irradiating an ultraviolet ray to an inspected part to be subjected to a leak inspection; imaging means provided on the robot arm and imaging an image of the inspected part; and an image of the inspected part imaged by the imaging means. A water leak inspection device comprising: an image processing means for detecting water leak. 2. The image processing means detects a light emitting portion from the image of the inspected part imaged by the imaging means, and determines that there is water leakage when the area of the light emitting portion is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. The water leak inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising means. 3. The image processing means detects a portion where a rate of change of light intensity exceeds a threshold value from an image of a part to be inspected taken by the imaging means,
2. The water leakage inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines that there is water leakage when the area of the portion exceeding the threshold value is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.