Method and device for adjusting gap dimensions and/or an offset between a vehicle hood and the remaining vehicle body

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device ( 1 ) for adjusting the gap dimensions and/or an offset between a movable hood ( 2 ) of a motor vehicle and the remaining body ( 3 ) of said motor vehicle. The hood ( 2 ) is first fitted and retained in a roughly adjusted assembly position so as to be as flush as possible with the body ( 3 ), whereupon the hood ( 2 ) is finely adjusted such that predefined values are matched as closely as possible for the gap dimensions and/or the offset. In order to be able to adjust the gap dimensions and/or the offset as simply, quickly and flexibly as possible in a contactless manner, actual values ( 21 ist) for the gap dimensions and/or the offset between the hood ( 2 ) and the remaining body ( 3 ) are optically detected for the fine adjustment. Triggering signals ( 24 ) for at least one actuating member ( 12 ) are determined in accordance with the detected actual values ( 21 ist) and predefined set point values ( 21 -soll) for the gap dimensions and/or the offset.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A method for adjusting gap dimensions and/or an offset between a movable flap of a vehicle and a remaining body of the vehicle, the flap being initially fitted and retained in a roughly adjusted installation position as flush as possible with the body and is then finely adjusted to match predetermined values for the gap dimensions and/or offset as closely as possible, the flap then being movably fixed on the body in a finely adjusted position, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) initially mounting the flap to the body in the roughly adjusted installation position for motion about an axis of rotation;    b) optically detecting actual values for the gap dimensions and/or the offset between the roughly adjusted flap and the remaining body;    c) generating, in dependence on detected actual values and specified desired values for the gap dimensions and/or offset, drive signals for at least one actuating element, the actuating element cooperating with the flap to vary, about the axis of rotation, the position and orientation of the flap relative to the remaining body; and    d) regulating the actual values of the gap dimensions and/or offset to the specified desired values through driving the at least one actuating element via the drive signals.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein desired values of the gap dimensions and/or the offset of the flap relative to the remaining body are specified in such a manner that a transition between the flap and the remaining body at a measuring location is zero.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the desired values of the gap dimensions and/or offset of the flap are specified relative to the remaining body in such a manner that a negative transition of less than zero is obtained between the flap and the remaining body at a measuring location.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein initial actual values of the gap dimensions and/or offset between the flap and the remaining body are detected at a first measuring location and approximated to specified desired values, and actual values are subsequently detected at at least one further measuring location and approximated to specified desired values.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the flap and/or the remaining body bordering the flap are plastically deformed if a deviation between the actual values, approximated to the desired values, and the specified desired values exceeds a predetermined limit value at at least one measuring location.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising issuing a request to a production line for producing further flaps and/or to an installation line for installing further flaps on the remaining body of vehicles, wherein production and/or installation parameters of the production line and the installation line are varied in dependence on the request if a deviation between the actual values, approximated to the desired values, and the specified desired values exceeds a predetermined limit value at at least one measuring location.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the actual values for the gap size and/or the displacement between the flap and the remaining body are recorded in a measuring region proximate a transition between the flap and the remaining body.  
   
   
       23 . A computer program which can be run on a computing device or on a microprocessor, wherein the computer program is structured to perform the method of  claim 16 .  
   
   
       24 . The computer program of  claim 23 , wherein the computer program is stored on a storage element, a flash storage, a random access memory, or a read only memory.  
   
   
       25 . A device for adjusting gap dimensions and/or an offset between a movable flap of a vehicle and a remaining body of the vehicle, with means for fitting and retaining the flap in a roughly adjusted installation position as flush as possible with the body as well as means for fitting the flap, in a finely adjusted installation position, in such a manner that specified values of the gap dimensions and/or the offset are matched as closely as possible, the flap being initially mounted to the body in the roughly adjusted installation position for motion about an axis of rotation, the device comprising: 
 means for optical detection of actual values of the gap dimensions and/or the offset between the roughly adjusted flap and the remaining body;    means for generating drive signals in dependence on the detected actual values and in comparison to specified desired values of the gap dimensions and/or the offset; and    at least one actuating element communicating with said generating means to accept said drive signals, wherein said actuating element acts on the flap to vary a position and an orientation of the flap about the axis of rotation and relative to the remaining body, said actuating element regulating the gap dimensions and/or offset to the specified desired values.    
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein said detection means comprise a camera laser unit having at least one illumination means or at least one laser, and with at least one image recording means, a CCD, or a CMOS camera.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein said at least one actuating element comprises an electromotor.  
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein said at least one actuating element comprises an electric step motor.  
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising an industrial robot or other manipulation device to which said detection means are mounted for moving said detection means to predetermined measuring locations to detect the actual values of the gap dimensions and/or the offset between the flap of the vehicle and the remaining body at these measuring locations.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the actual values of the gap size and/or the displacement between the flap and the remaining body are recorded at at least one measuring region proximate a transition between the flap and the remaining body.