Optical checking apparatus and method of using same

Apparatus for optically inspecting the position of two surfaces relative to each other, said surfaces being spaced apart to define a gap therebetween, comprising:

• a hand held, portable assembly adapted to be supported on said workpiece surfaces, said assembly including
• a base plate having a surface engagable with each of said surfaces,
• a plurality of stops mounted on said base for engaging edges of said surfaces and holding said base plate in a preselected position relative to said surfaces,
• a source of collimated light,
• means for directing collimated light from said source onto said workpiece surfaces,
• means for receiving light reflected from said workpiece surfaces and originating from said source,
• means for converting the reflected light received by said receiving means to electrical signals;
• means for converting said electrical signals into data representing the positions of said surfaces relative to each other.

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

• said source includes a laser,
• said converting means includes an array of photosenitive electrically responsive elements each outputting an electrical signal upon receipt thereto of light reflected from said surfaces,
• said receiving means includes an optical element for directing said reflected light onto said array, and
• said assembly includes means for mounting said laser and said receiving means on said base plate.

Apparatus for successively checking the surface flushness and/or gap between a plurality of pairs of spaced apart surfaces, comprising:

• a hand held optical checking fixture having surfaces for engaging edge portions of said surfaces to orient said fixture in a preselection position relative to said gap;
• a pair of handles for shifting said fixture toward and away from said surfaces,
• means carried by said fixture for directing a line of collimated light onto said part surfaces and across said gap;
• means carried by said fixture for receiving the light reflected from said surfaces originating from said directing means, the angle of reflection of said reflected light and the width of said reflected light on opposite edges of said gap being respectively related to the flushness and size of said gap;
• and
• means for converting said reflected light into data corresponding to the degree of said flushness and/or magnitude of said gap includes a programmed computer and display means for displaying said data, said display means and said computer being mounted stationarily relative to said fixture.

For use in assembling a vehicle having a hood or the like positioned between and slightly spaced from a pair of fenders or the like, apparatus for checking the fit between said fenders and said hood, comprising:

• first and second optical checking fixtures respectively movable into contact with said fenders and portions of said hood for checking the size of the gap between said hood and the corresponding fender and the degree of surface flushness between said hood and the corresponding fender,
• each of said checking fixtures including means for directing collimated light onto a portion of the surface of said hood and the corresponding fender, means for receiving light reflected from said hood surface and corresponding fender, and means for generating said electrical signals corresponding to position on said surface from which the light is reflected using said reflected light, each of said fixtures includes means for locating the corresponding fixture in a preselected location relative to said hood and the associated fender, said locating means includes at least a pair of stops for respectively engaging an edge of said hood and an edge of the corresponding fender;
• and
• means for converting the electrical signals from each of said checking fixtures into data corresponding to the size of said gap and said degree of surface flushness between said hood and each of said fenders.