초록 ▼

An apparatus for verifying the installation and alignment of a moveable member of an object, such as, for example, the door of a vehicle. The final closing velocity of the moveable member is measured after the member is moved from an initial first position (e.g. opened) toward a second position (e.g

An apparatus for verifying the installation and alignment of a moveable member of an object, such as, for example, the door of a vehicle. The final closing velocity of the moveable member is measured after the member is moved from an initial first position (e.g. opened) toward a second position (e.g. closed). The apparatus controllably engages and moves the movable member from its initial first position toward the second position by temporarily applying controlled force to the movable member. The apparatus determines the orientation of the object or of the moveable member and also includes a series of platforms that may be translated, rotated and raised so that moving the movable member of the object with the controlled force occurs when the moveable member is in a predetermined spatial position and orientation. The apparatus further determines the distance to the movable member so that the final closing velocity of the moveable member may be determined. The apparatus may be used to determine whether the moveable member closed properly when subjected to a closing force and also may be configured for use with a series of objects as the objects advance in sequence (such as down an assembly line) to be proximate the apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An apparatus for determining the velocity of a movable member of an object as the movable member moves from an initial first position toward a second position with respect to a fixed point on the object, the apparatus usable with a series of objects as the objects advance in sequenc

[ I claim:] [1.] An apparatus for determining the velocity of a movable member of an object as the movable member moves from an initial first position toward a second position with respect to a fixed point on the object, the apparatus usable with a series of objects as the objects advance in sequence to be proximate the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:(a) movement means for controllably engaging and moving the movable member from its initial first position toward the second position by temporarily applying controlled force to the movable member and so that the movable member can continue to progress toward the second position after the controlled force has been applied to the movable member;(b) positioning means for positioning the movement means or the object so that moving the movable member of the object with the controlled force occurs when the movement means is in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to the movable member;(c) means for determining the orientation of the object or of the movable member with respect to the movement means and for causing the positioning means to position the movement means or the object so that the movement means is in the predetermined spatial relationship with the movable member;(d) distance sensing means for determining in timed relationship at two separate movable member positions as the movable member moves from the first position toward the second position after the controlled force has been applied to the movable member (i) the distance between the movable member and the fixed point on the object or (ii) the distance between the movable member and the distance sensing means, thereby obtaining two distance determinations for the movable member at the two separate movable member positions; and(e) velocity determination means for determining the velocity of the movable member from the two distances determined using the distance sensing means.