JPH06316060A - Sensor for proper positioning of container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sense whether a container is positioned on a container holding section correctly or not for the purpose of avoiding the misreading of the container information. CONSTITUTION:An image sensor 37 for reading displayed images formed by letters, marks and the like written on a container positioned on a container holding section for holding the container replaceably on a given position preset for the container holding section, and the data of displayed image read by the image sensor 37 is compared with the data of comparison reference image stored in a comparison reference image data storing section 41, and the coincidence of both image data is sensed by a coincidence sensing section 43. Based on the coincidence sensing result sensed by the coincidence sensing means 43, whether the container is positioned on the correct position of the container holding section or not is identified by an identifying section 45 for identifying whether the container position is correct or not.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container placement position suitability detection device, and more particularly to a container placement position suitability detection device for ink bottles, toner bottles and the like used in printing devices, copying machines and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printing apparatus, a copying apparatus, etc., a container such as an ink bottle or a toner bottle is replaceably attached to a bottle holding portion (container holding portion) provided in the main body of the apparatus and arranged in the bottle holding portion. Printing ink and toner are supplied from the container.

[0003]

In printers, copying machines, etc., bottle-specific information such as the type, characteristics, properties, and manufacturing date of contents on the outer surface of a container such as an ink bottle or a toner bottle (hereinafter referred to as " This is referred to as bottle information) is given by letters, marks, bar codes, etc., bottle information is read by the bottle information reading means arranged in the bottle arranging section, the bottle information is displayed on the display device, or the device is displayed according to the bottle information. It is considered to automatically set the operation mode and various parameters.

In this case, if the container is not correctly placed in the bottle placement section, the bottle information may not be read correctly or the bottle information may not be read at all.

If the bottle information is not read at all, this identifies that the container is not correctly placed in the bottle arranging section, but if the bottle information is not read correctly, that is, an error occurs. In the case of reading, the machine side cannot identify that there is an error in the read bottle information, and the bottle information may be erroneously displayed, or the operation mode and various parameters of the device may be erroneously set according to the erroneously read bottle information. is there.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and it is necessary to determine whether or not the container is properly arranged in the container arranging section in order to avoid erroneous reading of container information such as bottle information. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting the appropriateness of the arrangement position of a container for detection.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned object is to read an inscription image by characters, marks or the like provided on a container arranged in a container holding portion for holding the container in a replaceable manner. Image reading means for performing a predetermined fixed position with respect to the container holding portion, a comparative reference image data storage portion storing data of a predetermined comparative reference image, and the image reading means. A matching degree detection unit that compares the data of the notation image with the comparative reference image data stored in the comparative reference image data storage unit to detect the degree of matching between both image data, and the matching degree detection result by the matching degree detection unit. A container placement position suitability detection device, comprising: a container placement position suitability identifying unit for identifying whether or not the container is located at a regular position of the container holding unit. It is achieved by.

In the container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention, the image reading means may also serve as container information reading means for reading container information such as characters, marks, and bar codes provided on the container.

[0009]

According to the above-mentioned structure, the notation image provided on the container arranged in the container holding portion is read by the image reading means, and the read notation image data and the comparison reference image data storage portion are stored. According to the comparison with the comparison reference image data, the matching degree between the two image data is detected by the matching degree detection unit, and the container is arranged at the regular position of the container holding unit according to the matching degree detection result by the matching degree detection unit. Whether or not the container is arranged is identified by the container placement position suitability identifying unit.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a printing ink supply mechanism portion of a stencil printing machine to which a container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention is applied. In these figures, reference numeral 1 indicates a cylindrical plate cylinder. The plate cylinder 1 is made of an ink-permeable material such as a porous metal plate or a mesh structure, and is rotatably supported by a support plate 3. An in-body fixed frame assembly 5 fixedly connected to the support plate 3 is arranged in the plate cylinder 1, and the in-body fixed frame assembly 5 supports a squeegee roller 7 and a doctor roller 9.

The in-body fixed frame assembly 5 has an ink bottle holding portion 13 for supporting the ink bottle 11 in a replaceable manner, and sucks printing ink from the ink bottle 11 arranged in the ink bottle holding portion 13. An ink supply pump 17 that sends the ink to the ink delivery pipe 15 and an ink supply pump drive motor 19 are supported. In addition, the ink bottle holding portion 13 is the ink bottle 11
Is configured to be positioned and supported both in the axial direction (insertion / replacement direction) and in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the outer peripheral surface of the ink bottle 11, a notation image A for detecting the arrangement position by characters, marks and the like, and a reading reference position line B indicating the reading reference position of the notation image A are shown. And a bottle information image with a bar code, cubic code, characters, marks, etc., which indicates bottle-specific information such as the type (color etc.) of the printing ink filled in the ink bottle 11, viscosity, component mixture ratio, manufacturing date, etc. C and C are provided at predetermined positions. The notation image A for arrangement position detection and the reading reference position line B have image shapes defined in advance, and the notation image A may be a product name, a manufacturer name, a trademark indicating a manufacturer, or the like.

The plate cylinder 1 is unitized in such a manner as to be rotatably supported by the support plate 3 including the support plate 3 and the in-body fixed frame assembly, and the engaging portion 21 formed on the support plate 3 is formed.
The detachable engagement with the movable plate cylinder support frame 23 provided in the main body of the stencil printing machine so as to be able to be pulled out is such that the entire unit can be exchanged with respect to the main body of the stencil printing apparatus in a pull-out manner.

A linear guide bar 25 extending in the axial direction of the ink bottle 11 held by the ink bottle holding portion 13 is fixedly mounted on the in-body fixed frame assembly 5. The linear guide bar 25 supports the sensor head 27 so as to be movable in the axial direction.
Is hung between the two pulleys 29, 31 and the motor 3
Connected to an endless feed wire 35 driven by
The motor 33 scans and feeds in the axial direction of the linear guide bar 25.

A photoelectric linear image sensor 37 such as a CCD array is attached to the sensor head 27. The linear image sensor 37 is long in the vertical direction (circumferential direction of the ink drum 11) in the figure, faces the outer peripheral surface of the ink bottle 11 held by the ink bottle holding portion 13, and is a notation given to the outer peripheral surface of the bottle. The image A, the reading reference position line B, and the bottle information image C are scanned and moved in the horizontal direction (bottle axis direction) and are read line by line.

The image reading position of the linear image sensor 37 is uniquely determined by the position of the sensor head 27 supported by the linear guide bar 25, and this image reading position is defined in advance with respect to the ink bottle holding portion 13.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention. This arrangement position suitability detection device is composed of a line memory 39 for storing the image data read by the linear image sensor 37, a ROM for storing the data of the comparative reference image defined in advance according to the notation image A as binary bit data, and the like. The comparison reference image data storage unit 41 compares the data of the notation image A read by the linear image sensor 37 with the comparison reference image data stored in the comparison reference image data storage unit 41 to determine the degree of coincidence between the two image data. The matching degree detecting section 43 for detecting and the container placement position suitability identifying section 4 for identifying whether or not the ink bottle 11 is placed at the regular position of the ink bottle holding section 13 based on the matching degree detection result by the matching degree detecting means 43.
5, and the container placement position suitability identifying section 45 indicates the identification result to the LC provided on the operation panel of the stencil printing apparatus.
It is output to the display device 47 such as D and the bottle information interpretation unit 49.

The comparison between the read image data by the linear image sensor 37 and the comparative reference image data is performed for each dot according to the image reading dot pitch (resolution) by the linear image sensor 37, and the comparative reference image data in this case. Is binary bit image data that allows only the allowable mechanical scanning position error of the linear image sensor 37.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which a container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention is embodied by a microcomputer. In this embodiment, the CPU 51
A ROM 53 storing a system program, a RAM 55 as a work memory, and a matching pattern data ROM 5 storing predetermined comparison reference image data.
7, a random number generator 59, and an address control / storage unit 61
A scan command to the image memory 63 that stores the image data read by the linear image sensor 37, the sensor interface unit 65 of the linear image sensor 37, and the motor drive unit 67 of the motor 33 that scans the sensor head 27 by the motor 33. Various signals such as a motor control interface unit 69 that outputs a signal, various switches such as a bottle set switch 71 that detects that the ink bottle 11 is set in the ink bottle holding unit 13, and signals from the sensor are input, and the stencil printing machine It has an input / output port section 73 for outputting a control signal to each section, and a display controller 77 for controlling the display on the display 75.

The CPU 51 executes the system program stored in the ROM 53, and thereby the comparison reference image data storage unit 41 and the matching pattern by the ROM storing the data of the comparison reference image defined in advance according to the notation image A. The comparison reference image data stored in the data ROM 57 is compared to detect the matching degree between both image data, and whether the ink bottle 11 is arranged at the regular position of the container holding portion 13 is determined based on the matching degree detection result. Identify and
The identification result is output to a display such as an LCD provided on the operation panel of the stencil printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows an operational flow of the container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention. The circumferential direction of the ink bottle 11 is defined as the X direction and the axial direction is defined as the Y direction.

In this operation flow, it is monitored that the state of the bottle set switch 10 is changed from OFF to ON, that is, that the ink bottle 11 is newly set in the ink bottle holding portion 13 (step 10), and the ink is set. When it is detected that the ink bottle 11 is newly set in the bottle holding portion 13, the motor 33 causes the sensor head 27 to scan and move in the axial direction of the ink bottle 11 arranged in the ink bottle holding portion 13. Start.

When the sensor head 27 starts scanning movement, the linear image sensor 37 moves the ink bottle holding unit 1.
The image reading of the outer peripheral surface of the ink bottle 11 arranged in No. 3 is started, and the linear image sensor 37 reads the read reference position line B within a predetermined time from the image reading start time, that is, the read reference position is detected. This is monitored (steps 20 and 30).

When the linear image sensor 37 does not read the reading reference position line B within a predetermined time from the start of image reading, it is determined that the ink bottle 11 is not correctly placed in the ink bottle holding portion 13, and the placement position adequacy determination processing step. Proceed to (step 130).

The suitability judgment of the bottle arrangement position based on the reading reference position line B is a pre-judgment, and the ink bottle 11
Is roughly performed in the axial direction of, and this suitability determination may be omitted.

When the linear image sensor 37 reads the read reference position line B within a predetermined time from the start of image reading, the X-direction dot counter Cxd, the X-direction error counter Cxe, the Y-direction dot counter Cyd, and the Y-direction error counter Cye are read. Reset each to 0 (Step 4
0), after the reading reference position line B is detected, the sensor head 27 scans and moves by a predetermined amount, and at the time when the linear image sensor 37 is positioned at the beginning of the written image A, the read image data of the linear image sensor 37 And the comparison reference image data are compared with each other, and the determination of comparison and collation is first made for the data at the addresses of the X-direction dot counter Cxd = 0 and the Y-direction dot counter Cyd = 0 (step 50).

In this comparison and collation, the same, that is, the determination is OK
If so, it is then determined whether or not the X-direction dot counter Cxd has reached the set value Cxdset (step 6).
0). The set value Cxdset is the linear image sensor 3
7 corresponds to the number of arranged sensor elements, and in this embodiment, Cx
d = Cxdset is the maximum value in the X direction of the notation image A and means the bottom end of the notation image A.

The X direction dot counter Cxd is set to the set value C.
Until reaching xdset, X direction dot counter Cx
Increment d (step 70). On the other hand, the X-direction dot counter Cxd shows the set value Cxdset.
Is reached, the process proceeds to step 120 described later.

If the determination is not OK in step 50,
The X-direction error counter Cxe is incremented (step 80), and it is determined whether or not the X-direction error counter Cxe has reached the error determination value Cxset (step 9).
0). The error judgment value Cxset is the set value Cxdse
It is a value corresponding to a percentage of t, and this may be set to an arbitrary value such as 80% according to the required determination accuracy.

If the X-direction error counter Cxe has not reached the error judgment value Cxset, the above step 6 is executed.
When the X-direction error counter Cxe reaches the error determination value Cxset, the Y-direction error counter Cye is incremented (step 100),
The Y direction error counter Cye indicates the error determination value Cyese.
It is determined whether or not t has been reached (step 110). The error judgment value Cyese is a value corresponding to a percentage of the set value Cydset which is the maximum value in the Y direction of the notation image A, and may be set to any value according to the required judgment accuracy. .

If the Y-direction error counter Cye has not reached the error determination value Cyeset, the process proceeds to step 120. On the other hand, if the Y-direction error counter Cye has reached the error determination value Cyeset, the placement position suitability determination processing step (step 130). ). Cye ≧ Cyes
“Et” means that the number of error vertical lines of Cxe ≧ Cxset is equal to or larger than the allowable value. In this case, a display indicating that the arrangement position of the ink bottle 11 is incorrect by executing the arrangement position suitability determination processing step. And cancel reading of bottle information thereafter.

At step 120, it is judged if the Y-direction dot counter Cyd has reached the set value Cydset. The set value Cydset is the maximum number of scanning pitches of the notation image A by the linear image sensor 37, that is, the maximum value in the Y direction of the notation image A, and means the extreme end of the notation image A. Y direction dot counter Cyd is set value Cyd
Until reaching set, the Y-direction dot counter Cy is incremented, and the X-direction dot counter Cxd and the X-direction error counter Cxe are reset to 0 (step 1
40) and returns to step 50 to repeat the comparison and collation of the next vertical line.

The Y direction dot counter Cyd is set to the set value C.
Reaching ydset (Cyd ≧ Cydset)
It means that the scanning of the notation image A is completed without Cye ≧ Cyeset, which means that the ink bottle 11 is allowed in the ink bottle holding portion 13 in both the axial direction (Y direction) and the circumferential direction (X direction). It is obtained only when the value is set within the error range within the value, and in this case, the process proceeds to the placement position appropriateness determination step (step 150).

In the placement position suitability determination step (step 150), it is displayed that the placement position of the ink bottle 11 is proper, and a command to continue reading the bottle information thereafter is output.

As a result, the sensor head 27 continues to scan and move, and the linear image sensor 37 moves to the ink bottle 1.
The reading of the bottle information image C assigned to 1 is started. The reading of the bottle information image C is performed only when the ink bottle 11 is set in the ink bottle holding portion 13 in the axial direction as well as in the circumferential direction within an error range within an allowable value. Erroneous reading of the bottle information image C due to a position error is avoided in advance.

The comparison collation between the notation image A and the comparative reference image data does not necessarily have to be performed for the entire area of the notation image A, but may be performed only for a specific portion of the notation image A. In this case, a predetermined number of times is required. Retry may be performed, and the comparison and collation location of each time may be randomly determined by the random number generated by the random number generator 59.

The notation image A may be provided by magnetic paint, and in this case, the image reading means may be constituted by a magnetic sensor. In the case of image reading by the magnetic sensor, the image reading of the written image A is performed without any trouble even if the written image A of the ink bottle 11 is contaminated by the printing ink.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the image reading means is a linear type, but it is constituted by a point type, and the image is read in a plane by scanning and moving in the X and Y directions. It may have been done.

This suitability detection may be performed even when the power source of the stencil printing apparatus is turned on.

[0041]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the container placement position suitability detecting apparatus of the present invention, the notation image provided on the container such as the ink bottle arranged in the container holding portion is read as an image. By the comparison between the read reference image data read by the means and the comparative reference image data stored in the comparative reference image data storage unit,
The matching degree between the two image data is detected by the matching degree detecting section, and the container placement position suitability identifying section determines whether or not the container is arranged at the normal vertical and horizontal positions of the container holding section based on the matching degree detection result by the matching degree detecting means. Since it is identified, erroneous reading of the container information due to the defective set position of the container is avoided by this identification.

The image reading means may also serve as container information reading means for reading the container information by characters, marks, bar codes, etc. provided on the container. In this case, the image reading means can be provided by installing only the container information reading means. In a printing device or the like that reads container information, it is not necessary to specially provide, and the appropriateness of the container arrangement position is detected without changing the hardware configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a printing ink supply mechanism portion of a stencil printing apparatus to which a container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a container (ink bottle) used in the container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention is embodied by a microcomputer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the container placement position suitability detection device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Plate cylinder 11 Ink bottle 17 Ink supply pump 27 Sensor head 37 Linear image sensor 41 Comparative reference image data storage unit 43 Matching degree detection unit 45 Container arrangement position appropriateness identification unit

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/62 400 9287-5L G06K 7/10 T 9191-5L 19/06

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reading of an inscription image by a character, a mark, etc. provided on a container arranged in a container holding portion that holds the container in a replaceable manner is performed at a predetermined fixed position with respect to the container holding portion. An image reading unit for performing, a comparison reference image data storage unit storing data of a predetermined comparison reference image, a notation image data read by the image reading unit, and a comparison reference image data storage unit stored in the comparison reference image data storage unit. Whether the container is arranged at the regular position of the container holding unit according to the match detection unit that compares the comparison reference image data and detects the match between the two image data, and the match detection result by the match detection unit. A container placement position suitability detection device, comprising: a container placement position suitability identifying unit for identifying whether or not the container is located. 2. The container arranging position according to claim 1, wherein the image reading means also serves as container information reading means for reading container information such as characters, marks, and bar codes given to the container. Compliance detection device.