CN213426249U

CN213426249U - Scanning device

Info

Publication number: CN213426249U
Application number: CN202022232681.8U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 安东尼奥·马卡里
Original assignee: An DongniaoMakali
Current assignee: An DongniaoMakali
Priority date: 2019-10-09
Filing date: 2020-10-09
Publication date: 2021-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-09
Also published as: ES1271405Y; ES1271405U

Abstract

A scanning device, comprising: a scanning head (1) for acquiring an image of a substrate; a support (3) associated with the scanning head (1) for supporting at least one reference element (4). The support (3) is movable between an active position (P1) in which the scanning head (1) can acquire an image of the at least one reference element (4) and an inactive position (P2) in which the scanning head (1) can acquire an image of the substrate without interfering with the support (3).

Description

Scanning device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a scanning device, in particular of the spectral type, having a support adapted to support one or more reference elements that can be used for adjustment or calibration of the scanning device.

Background

Known scanning devices comprise a stationary plane adapted to stationarily receive a substrate whose image is to be acquired and a scanning head for scanning the substrate positioned on the stationary plane. The known type of scanning device further comprises a light source arranged to illuminate the substrate during scanning.

During operation of the scanning device, the light source is subject to changes, which means that the characteristics of the light emitted by the light source may change during operation. In order to prevent this from impairing the accuracy of the measurement, it is known to use a reference element, usually white, for example made of ceramic, the colorimetric characteristics of which are known. The reference element is periodically acquired by the scan head and is used to calibrate the scan head to account for and compensate for any variations in the characteristics of the light source.

In known types of scanning devices, the reference element is arranged in a fixed position, in a peripheral region with respect to the region of the resting plane where the scanning is normally performed. When the scan head is to be calibrated, the scan head is moved to the area where the reference element is located in order to acquire an image of this element.

In fact, the image of the reference element is only acquired before starting to scan a new substrate. This can be inconvenient, especially if the substrate to be scanned is of considerable size and therefore involves a considerable scanning time, for example of the order of a few hours. In this case, it may be useful to acquire an image of the reference element while scanning the substrate, in order to be able to compensate for any variations in the characteristics of the light source that may occur during scanning of the substrate. However, interrupting the scanning of the substrate to bring the scanning head to the reference element can, in addition to causing a substantial loss of time, make it difficult to reposition the scanning head at the precise point at which the scanning of the substrate has stopped.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is an object of the invention to improve a scanning device of the known type.

Another object is to improve the adjustment or calibration operations of the scanning device, in particular by making these operations easier and faster.

It is another object of the present invention to allow a scanning head included in a scanning device to easily acquire images of a reference element, such as a white reference element.

According to the utility model discloses, a scanning device is provided, include: a scan head for acquiring an image of a substrate; a support associated with the scan head for supporting the at least one reference element, wherein the support is movable between an active position in which the scan head can acquire an image of the at least one reference element and an inactive position in which the scan head can acquire an image of the substrate without interfering with the support.

Thanks to the invention, the image of the reference element can be acquired at any time required without the scanning head being displaced in the scanning plane on which the scanning head and the substrate to be scanned can move relative to each other. In order to acquire an image of the reference element, it is sufficient to move the scanning head away from the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the scanning plane, after which the support of the reference element can be displaced from its normally inactive position to an active position in which the reference element can be measured. In this way, images of the reference elements can be acquired quickly without compromising the scanning accuracy of the substrate.

In one embodiment, the at least one reference element comprises a single reference element, the image of which may be acquired to recalibrate the scan head to account for any variations in the characteristics of the light source with which the scan head has.

In one embodiment, the at least one reference element may comprise one or more color blocks, the color values of which are known, which may be acquired to perform verification or calibration of the scanning apparatus, when deemed necessary.

In one embodiment, the support member may be placed in one or more intermediate positions between the active position and the inactive position.

This allows the support to accommodate multiple reference elements. In fact, when in the active position, an image of a first reference element arranged on the support can be acquired, while in the intermediate position, an image of a second reference element also arranged on the support can be acquired.

Drawings

The invention may be better understood and put into practice with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a scan head in an active position provided with a support for a reference element, with some parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the scan head in an inactive position with a support for a reference element.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a scanning head 1 suitable for acquiring an image of a substrate. The scanning head 1 is comprised in a scanning device which is not shown in its entirety in fig. 1 and 2. In addition to the scanning head 1, the scanning device may comprise a stationary plane adapted to support a substrate whose image is to be acquired.

The substrate whose image is to be acquired may be a plate-shaped substrate, such as a marble plate, a wooden plate, or any other object whose image is to be printed. Alternatively, the substrate may be a calibration target that is capable of providing information about a particular printing process and about the colors available from that process.

In the example shown, the scanning head 1 is adapted to be positioned above a stationary plane on which a substrate to be scanned rests.

The scanning device may comprise moving means for causing relative motion between the scanning head 1 and the substrate to be scanned, so that it is possible to acquire a complete image of the substrate even if the substrate is relatively large. The moving means may be configured to move the scanning head 1 while the substrate remains stationary on a stationary plane. In this case, the moving means may comprise, for example, two motorized trolleys arranged to move the scanning head 1 along two mutually perpendicular directions.

In an alternative embodiment, the moving device may be configured to move a stationary plane on which the substrate to be scanned rests.

In any case, the scanning head 1 is movable along a direction perpendicular to the resting plane on which the substrate to be scanned rests (i.e. parallel to the axis Z shown in fig. 1), so that it is possible to scan substrates having different thicknesses from one another. The movement of the scanning head 1 parallel to the axis Z may be manual or motorized.

The scanning head 1 may comprise a camera 7 for acquiring images of the substrate. The scanning head 1 may also comprise one or more light sources, not shown, for illuminating the substrate during acquisition. For example, two light sources 8 may be provided, positioned to direct a beam of light that is inclined at 45 ° to the plane of rest onto the substrate. The light sources 8 may be arranged on opposite sides of the camera head 7 according to a symmetrical arrangement with respect to a vertical plane passing through the centre of the camera head, i.e. parallel to the axis Z.

The scanning head 1 may be mounted in a lower end region (not shown) of the frame.

The scanning head 1 may be of a linear type, i.e. it is capable of acquiring a segment of the substrate shaped like a line in a single acquisition.

The scanning device comprises a support 3, associated with the scanning head 1 and intended to support at least one reference element 4.

In the example shown, the support 3 supports a reference element 4 made of ceramic, for example shaped like a white reference element. The reference element 4 allows the scanning head 1 to be periodically calibrated in order to take into account variations in the characteristics of the light sources that may occur, for example, due to aging of the light sources.

The support 3 may have a substantially flat shape. In particular, the support 3 may be shaped like a tray or like plate on which the reference elements 4 rest. The reference element 4 may be fixed to the support 3, for example by gluing or by mechanical fastening elements (e.g. screws, hooks, etc.).

In one embodiment, the support 3 is provided with a recess in which the reference element 4 is accommodated in a form-coupling manner.

The reference elements 4 positioned on the support 3 may be different from the white reference elements described above. For example, the reference element 4 may be a calibration target on which a plurality of coloured areas of different colours are printed, adapted to allow verification of correct operation or calibration of the scanning head 1. A plurality of reference elements 4 can also be positioned on the support 3, each reference element 4 being shaped like a colored block, for example.

The support 3 is movable between an active position P1 shown in fig. 1 and an inactive position P2 shown in fig. 2. In the active position P1, the support 3 is positioned so that the reference element 4 faces the camera 7 so that the camera 7 can acquire an image of the reference element 4. In the inactive position P2, the support 3 is outside the field of view of the camera 7, so that the camera 7 can acquire an image of the substrate without interfering with the support 3 and/or the reference element 4.

The support 3 is movable between an active position P1 and an inactive position P2 by a rotary motion, for example about a rotation axis W arranged perpendicular to the Z-axis.

In the example shown, the support 3 is automatically moved between an active position P1 and an inactive position P2. In practice, at least one motor 5 is arranged to rotate the support 3 about the rotation axis W between the active position P1 and the inactive position P2.

In particular, the support 3 is provided with two appendages 6, arranged on two opposite sides of the support 3, projecting towards the scanning head 1. The appendages 6 are connected to respective pins, each extending along a rotation axis W and rotatably driven by a respective motor 5. By activating the two motors 5, the accessory 6, and thus the support 3 connected thereto, can be made to rotate.

The motor 5 may be activated on command from the operator, or it may be activated automatically according to preset criteria.

In an alternative embodiment, the support 3 is manually movable between an active position P1 and an inactive position P2.

In an alternative embodiment, the support 3 can also stop in one or more intermediate positions between the active position P1 and the inactive position P2. In the intermediate position, the support 3 is still in the field of view of the scanning head 1, so that the scanning head 1 can acquire several reference elements 4 arranged in adjacent positions on the support 3.

During operation, the support 3 is normally in the inactive position P2 so that the scan head 1 can scan a substrate without interfering with the support 3. If the scan head 1 is to be recalibrated, for example to account for any changes in the characteristics of the light source or for other reasons, the acquisition of the substrate image is stopped and the scan head 1 is moved in a direction parallel to the Z axis, moving it away from the substrate to be scanned. In this way, a space is defined between the scan head 1 and the substrate. Into this space a support 3 bearing a reference element 4 can be inserted. The support 3 can now be displaced to the active position P1. At this point, the scanning head 1 acquires an image of the reference element 4 supported by the support 3, i.e. measures the reference element 4. This produces information for calibrating the scanhead 1. Once an image of the reference element 4 is acquired, the support 3 can be returned to the inactive position P2 and scanning of the substrate can be easily resumed after bringing the scanning head 1 closer to the substrate by moving the scanning head parallel to the Z axis.

In this way, an image of the reference element 4 can be acquired whenever required without having to move the scan head 1 in a scan plane perpendicular to the Z-axis, and therefore without having to reposition the scan head 1 at a point in the scan plane where the image acquisition of the substrate has been interrupted.

The scanning device can be used in any technical field where images of flat substrates have to be acquired.

Furthermore, the scanning device can be used not only for acquiring images arranged horizontally, but also for acquiring images arranged on a vertical plane or oriented anyway, such as paintings on walls.

Claims

1. A scanning device, comprising: a scanning head (1) for acquiring an image of a substrate; -a support (3) associated with the scanning head (1) for supporting at least one reference element (4), characterized in that the support (3) is movable between an active position (P1), in which the scanning head (1) can acquire an image of the at least one reference element (4), and an inactive position (P2), in which the scanning head (1) can acquire an image of the substrate without interfering with the support (3).

2. Scanning device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the active position (P1) the support (3) is detectable by the scanning head (1) and in the inactive position (P2) the support (3) is outside the field of view of the scanning head (1).

3. The scanning device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (3) is connected to said scanning head (1) so as to be movable with respect to said scanning head (1) between said active position (P1) and said inactive position (P2).

4. Scanning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (3) is movable between the active position (P1) and the inactive position (P2) by a rotary motion.

5. A scanning device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the support (3) comprises a plate-like element provided with two side appendixes (6), said side appendixes (6) being rotatable about an axis (W) with respect to the scanning head (1).

6. Scanning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one motor (5) for moving said support (3) between said active position (P1) and said inactive position (P2).

7. Scanning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (3) is manually movable between the active position (P1) and the inactive position (P2).

8. A scanning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the support (3) supports a reference element (4) shaped like a white reference element.

9. Scanning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (3) supports a plurality of reference elements (4) shaped like color blocks.

10. Scanning device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (3) is positionable in at least one intermediate position between said active position (P1) and said inactive position (P2).

11. The scanning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scanning head (1) comprises a camera (7) for acquiring an image of the substrate or the at least one reference element (4).

12. Scanning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scanning head (1) comprises at least one light source (8) for illuminating the substrate or the at least one reference element (4).