JP2000153961A - Folding offset monitoring device for impression paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To monitor the folding offset of impression paper in a relatively simple and inexpensive method. SOLUTION: The folding offset of paper Pb, formed in folding the impression paper Pa, is monitored. When the ends of the folded paper Pb being transferred via a transfer belt 54 are detected by a position sensor 3 including a photoelectric cell, an image pickup device picks up an image of preset portions of the folded paper Pb in accordance with detection signals and enlarges and displays the image as a static image on an screen of an image display 4. As a light emitter 2 is disposed opposite to the image pickup device 1, the image picked up by the image pickup device 1 is put into the condition that light from the light emitter 2 is transmitted therethrough and so the picked-up image is displayed with overlapped pages printed in superposed relation. If these portions are page number portions showing the numbers of the pages, the offset of the numbers is identified by the image and monitored therethrough.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention is one of the bookbinding processes.
Monitors the folding status of signatures during the folding of printed paper,
The present invention relates to a device for preventing misalignment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a folding process, which is one of the bookbinding processes, signatures of continuous pages are formed by folding a printing sheet, which is a sheet of paper on which a plurality of pages are printed on both sides, a predetermined number of times. For example, thin paper (Indian paper) or the like used for a dictionary or the like has a large number of folds, and 16 folds in which a small number of sheets, that is, a signature of 32 pages are formed in many cases.

First, a specific example of the folding step will be described with reference to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows a signature forming method by mechanical folding using a knife type folding machine.
The printing paper Pa in the figure is transported in the direction A from the left side of the figure, and its leading edge abuts against the backing plate Pa. In this state, the knife-shaped metal member 56 descends, depresses the printing paper 50 located below, and the depressed printing paper Pa is lowered by the guide rolls 52a and 52b, and furthermore, by the pressing roller 53 and the transfer belt 54 (shown in FIG. ) Or a pair of opposed pressure contact rolls (not shown) to be pressed and bent. In this case, since the position of the backing plate 51 is determined so that the lowering position of the knife-shaped metal member 56 is located at the center of the printing paper Pa, the printing paper Pa is folded in half, and the first bending ( Large folding) is performed.

A transfer belt 55 is provided at an end (right side in the figure) of the transfer belt 54 so as to be orthogonal to the transfer belt 54.
Is placed, and the printing paper Pa transferred by the transfer belt 55 after the completion of the large folding is further folded in half so that the folded portion is formed orthogonally to the folded portion of the large folding. By repeating this work, the printing paper is folded in four,
The fold is folded to a preset number of folds, such as eight folds or sixteen folds, to form a signature.

In the above-mentioned folding step, the guide roll 52
a, the respective folded portions of the final signature are set by a slight shift of the printing paper Pa sent to the a and 52b and a slight shift when the folded printing paper Pa shifts to the next folding step. It may deviate from a proper bent portion. In this case, the printing position of each page printed on the signature is shifted, and when such a signature is bound, a book as a final product becomes unsightly. In particular, in a language-related dictionary such as English, marks (indexes) for headings are printed on each page, and even when the book is closed, these marks are arranged in a fore-edge portion of the book in order. For example, if it is an English-Japanese dictionary, each character A, B, C ...
It is well known that each time a mark is in a predetermined position, and the dictionary user can quickly look up a predetermined word by the position of the mark.

[0006] In the above case, if the signatures constituting the book are misaligned, the positions of the marks are also irregular, making it difficult to see and lowering the commercial value of the book. In addition, even in the case of a normal book without a mark, the misalignment lowers the commercial value of the book.

[0007] From the above viewpoint, an operation for previously removing a signature with a misalignment at the stage of the folding process is performed. Normally, this work is not mechanized and is performed exclusively by hand. That is, in the inspection of the folding misalignment, the operator appropriately selects a signature for inspection from the signatures discharged from the folding machine and checks the folding accuracy of the signature. They are half-open, or they are closed together to see through with light, that is, each worker is doing it according to their own style. For this reason, there is a problem that the folding accuracy inspection tends to vary from person to person, and even if the same person, the condition at that time affects the inspection. Furthermore, this inspection basically relies on human visual acuity and imposes a heavy burden on workers.

[0008] In addition, when a misalignment occurs, the edges of the signatures are not arranged in a regular manner and are not aligned. Therefore, a method of finding the misalignment by finding the irregular state may be considered. It is not practical for the following reasons.
Large sheets may have a size variation of about 1 to several mm at the time of cutting. When printing a plurality of pages on this sheet to form a printing sheet, the printing position is determined based on two adjacent sides of the sheet, so the distance between the printed portion and the edge of the sheet is The sheet is displaced by the size variation of the sheet. Therefore, even if the printing paper itself is correctly folded, the printing position is displaced by the variation in the size of the printing paper, so that the printing position of each page is accurately positioned with the accuracy of the folding of the printing paper. It does not prove that.

[0009]

From the above viewpoints, the present inventors have previously proposed "a folding accuracy inspection method and an apparatus for implementing the method" (Japanese Patent No. 2530271). According to the present invention, when folding a printing paper, a marker is previously formed at a position where each page is overlapped when folded so that each page is correctly positioned, and folding accuracy is detected by detecting the overlapping state of the markers. ing. In this method, folding accuracy can be determined extremely accurately by detecting the overlap of the markers, and automatic detection by a machine can be easily performed. As described above, the above-described invention has been highly evaluated in the industry as an automatic detection device having the highest accuracy in detecting folding accuracy.

Although the above-mentioned invention exhibits a high effect and can provide an apparatus relatively inexpensively, it requires a burden of printing a marker in addition to printing of each page when printing a printing paper. Here, a bookbinding process of turning printing paper into one book through various processes and a process of printing the printing paper are usually performed by different organizations (enterprises). That is, although the formation of the marker is extremely effective in the bookbinding process, there is no advantage in the printing process even though the load is increased only in the printing process. For this reason, although the detection of the folding accuracy using the marker is quite popular in expensive books used over a long period of time, such as dictionaries, the fact is that the price tends to plateau mainly in low-cost books.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is an apparatus capable of detecting folding misalignment with high accuracy without performing special printing on printing paper. An imaging means for detecting a specific portion of the folded printing paper as an image, a light emitting means arranged at a position facing the imaging means via the printing paper, and a predetermined position for detecting the position of the printing paper. A folding position monitoring device, comprising: a position sensor that issues a signal so that the imaging unit captures an image of the specific part; and an image display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The following equipment is arranged for at least some of the folding steps of a folding machine configured to diffract printing paper a plurality of times. First, in a portion where the folded printing paper (hereinafter also referred to as “origami” in the middle of the folding including the embodiment) moves to the next folding step, an imaging for imaging the printing surface of the folding paper is provided. The device is arranged. A light emitting unit is disposed at a position facing the image pickup device via the origami, and the light of the light emitting unit passes through the origami, so that the printing of the folded portion of the origami is imaged in a superimposed manner by the image pickup device. The displayed image is displayed on the image display device. The display image is usually displayed as a still image.

The position where the image is picked up by the image pickup device is determined by a signal from a sensor for detecting the position of the origami. For example, the sensor detects the end of the origami that is moving, and outputs this detection signal as an operation signal of the imaging device. The imaging device is arranged in advance on a portion of the origami printing surface to be imaged when a signal from the sensor is input.

It is desirable that the position of the imaging device is set so as to capture an image of a portion common to each printed page, in particular, a portion displaying the number of pages of each page. That is, when the signal from the sensor is received, the imaging device is set in advance at a position where the portion displaying the number of pages can be imaged. Since the print position of the number indicating each page is the same in any book, if the print position of the number indicating this page is duplicated for each page, there is no deviation in the printed portion of each page of origami Will be. That is,
Since the light of the light emitting means is transmitted through each page number display portion of the origami, the image display device displays the overlapping state of the page number display portion imaged by the imaging device in a superimposed manner. Monitoring.

For example, an image of a portion having a diameter of several centimeters centered on a page number printing portion is taken, and this portion is enlarged and displayed as a still image on a large-size image display means, so that the degree of overlap of the page number printing portion can be identified well. can do.

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an imaging device. Since this imaging device is configured to be able to output image information as an electrical output to a display device described below, it is preferable to use an imaging device using a CCD (charge coupled device). This imaging device 1
Are arranged such that the imaging direction is orthogonal to the origami transfer surface of the transfer belt 54.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a light-emitting device, which is disposed so as to face the image pickup device 1 so that emitted light is directed to the image pickup direction of the image pickup device 1. Since the transfer belt 54 has a structure in which a plurality of belts or thinner cords are arranged in parallel with a certain gap therebetween, the light emitting device 2 and the imaging device 1 are arranged in such a manner. The light emitting unit and the imaging direction of the device are arranged so as to be located in the gap.

Next, a pair of sensors 3a and 3b
Is a sensor configured to detect the leading end of the transferred origami (indicated by the symbol Pb) in the transfer direction. In the illustrated configuration, the sensor 3 is formed by a photoelectric tube. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image display device that displays an image captured by the imaging device 1, and is configured by a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal. The folding misalignment monitoring device is basically constituted by the above devices. In this apparatus, the light emitted from the light-emitting device 2 is transmitted through the origami, and each print on the front and back of the origami is superimposedly imaged by the imaging device 1 and the image is enlarged and displayed on the image display device. The arrangement is such that the displacement of the printed portion of each page is monitored by looking at the enlarged still image, and the folding deviation is thereby monitored.

The configuration shown in FIG. 1 shows a state in which the apparatus is arranged in the step of folding the printing paper Pa in the first step, that is, the step of folding (large folding) in two steps. In contrast, this device is appropriately arranged for each folding step. For example, in the case where there are four folding steps, a configuration in which the above-described apparatus is disposed in the second and third folding steps or in the first and fourth folding steps can be considered. By the way, it is possible to arrange the devices in each stage, but in this case, the burden of the monitoring work by the image display device 4 becomes large. Therefore, it is practical to select and arrange the stages in which the devices are arranged as appropriate. It is a target. However, it is naturally possible to adopt a method of dividing and displaying images from the imaging devices arranged in a plurality of stages on one image display device.

Next, as a specific example of the monitoring of the skew, a portion of the origami suitable for imaging by the image pickup apparatus will be described using a specific example of the printing paper and the origami obtained by folding the same printing paper. First, FIG.
(A) and (B) show a printing paper Pa in which one signature is completed by two-fold folding for easy explanation. (A)
Indicates the front surface of the printing paper Pa, (B) indicates the back surface of the printing paper Pa, reference numerals 1 ′ and 1 ″ indicate folds, solid lines indicate mountain folds, and broken lines indicate valley folds. The mountain fold and the valley fold are reversed on the front and back of the printing paper Pa. 1A showing each page of the printing paper
8A indicates the printing direction on the page, and the printed surface is printed in the same direction when the signature is completed.
The small (1A), (8A) or the like displayed adjacent to each page display section on the back surface of the printing paper Pa in (B) indicates printing on the front surface corresponding to each page. For example, a small (8A) display below the printing surface of 7A indicates that the back surface of the printing surface of 8A on the surface of the printing paper is 7A.

The folded paper 1b is formed by folding 1 'on the printing paper Pa (see FIG. 4). The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is configured to monitor the misalignment of the origami paper Pb. It should be noted that the folding deviation is monitored by checking the positional relationship of a portion (hereinafter referred to as a “page number portion”) Pn in which a page number printed in advance on each page is always located at the same position after an accurate signature is formed. Is displayed as an image. For example, in the origami paper Pb in FIG. 4, when the apparatus is set to monitor the page number portion Pn of the printing surface 5A on the front side, six pages are printed on the back of the page number portion indicating five pages. Since the printing of the page number portion of page 6 and the printing of page 5 have a front-to-back relationship on the printing paper Pa, they are printed in advance at the same position on the front and back. The arrow A1 in the figure indicates the imaging direction of the imaging device 1, and the arrow A2 indicates the emission direction of the light emitting device 4.

When a misalignment occurs, the page numbers of the seven pages printed on the opposite side of the printing paper Pa via the fold line 1 'and the eight pages on the back are shown on the screen of the image display device 4 in FIG. As a result, the image is displayed in a position shifted from the position of the page number portion of pages 5 and 6. The operator confirms the state of the displacement on the image cover and confirms whether there is a folding displacement.

FIG. 3 shows the operating position of the sensor 3 and the imaging device 1.
Shows the relationship with the imaging range. When detecting the fold line 1 'portion, which is the leading end of the printing paper Pb traveling in the direction of the arrow, the imaging device 1 captures an image of a certain range around the page number portion Pn. Reference numeral 1PA indicates a range in which the imaging device 1 captures an image. That is, the positional relationship between the sensor 3 and the imaging device 1 is determined so that the imaging device 1 can image a portion centered on the page number portion Pn when the sensor 3 detects the origami paper Pb.

The sensor 3 adjusts the position in the X1-Y1 direction along the traveling direction of the origami paper Pb, and the imaging device 1 adjusts the position in the X2-Y2 direction orthogonal to this direction. The appropriate imaging position of the imaging device 1 can be adjusted. In the illustrated case, the misalignment is detected based on the page number portion always displayed in each book. However, when an index is formed in the fore-edge portion as in a dictionary, the index portion is detected. It is also possible to configure to capture the shift. However, in the case of IDEX, if the first letter of a word printed on each page is different, the index position also moves. Therefore, when monitoring origami with a different index position, the image is taken in accordance with the index position. It is necessary to move the position 1PA.

In the above configuration, the range imaged by the imaging apparatus 1 is a range of several centimeters in diameter with the page number portion Pn as the center, and a captured image in this range is a large image of more than 10 inches or 20 inches or more as a still image. Is displayed on the screen of the image display device, and the state of the position of the page number portion of each page which is slightly blurred through a plurality of origami papers can be seen at a glance.

The inventors conducted an experiment for confirming whether or not the misalignment can be easily determined from the displayed image.
The test was carried out using a prototype device that was configured in accordance with the specifications to be used as a practical machine in the future. The imaging range was about 3 cm in diameter centered on the page number part, and the image display device displayed the image on a CRT screen of inches. The printing paper was Indian paper. As a result of this experiment, front and back 8 pages (4 sheets / in the case of signature Pc in FIG. 2C), front and back 16 pages (8
Until the sheet passing, the positional relationship of each page number part could be easily recognized on the screen without any problem. In addition, front and back 32 pages (1
(6 passes) could be handled by increasing the light amount of the light emitting device, but the reliability of the confirmation was slightly reduced.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation state of the above-described misalignment monitoring apparatus. First, in the operation of the apparatus, the position of the sensor 3 is adjusted (S1), and at the time when the sensor detects the origami, a portion to be imaged (usually the page number portion Pn as described above) on the printing surface of the origami is detected. The position of the imaging device 1 is adjusted so that an image can be accurately captured (S
2). In this state, the light source of the light emitting device 2 disposed at a position facing the imaging device 1 is turned on (S3). Note that the light emitting device 2 normally keeps on during the folding operation, but it is of course possible to turn on the light only while the imaging device 1 captures an image.

The leading end of the origami paper that has moved (S4) is detected by the sensor 3, and the sensor is turned on (S5).
In response to the ON signal, the image capturing apparatus 1 captures an image of a predetermined portion such as a page number portion of the origami (S6), and this image is displayed as a still image on the screen of the image display device 4 (S7). This screen is used to monitor the presence / absence of a folding deviation (S8). If there is no folding deviation, the next sensor O
The next origami is imaged by N and displayed on the screen to sequentially monitor the origami folding state.

On the other hand, if a misalignment is found, the state of the misalignment is checked on the screen to determine whether the misalignment is within an allowable range (S9). By adjusting the position of the support plate 51 of the machine, the folding is performed at a more appropriate folding position (S1).
0). In this case, since the folding deviation is within the allowable range, the adjustment is performed while the operation of the folding machine is continued.

On the other hand, if the misalignment is out of the allowable range, the quality of the folded folded sheet itself deteriorates and cannot be used for the collating process. In this case, the folding operation is temporarily interrupted. (S11), and its cause is clarified and removed.

It should be noted that some folding machines to which the present invention is applied have a mechanism for removing a particular signature depending on the type. With a folding machine having this mechanism, it is possible to remove a fold that has been misaligned when the origami sheet in which the misalignment is found is discharged as a signature. In addition, an allowable value of the folding deviation is set in advance as a threshold value, and when the deviation exceeds the threshold value, a signal is sent to the discharge mechanism so that the signature with the folding deviation is automatically eliminated. It is basically possible to configure.

[0032]

As described above, the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments. In the present invention, an image of a portion of a printing paper where folding misalignment is easily detected, particularly a superposed portion of a page number portion, is taken. By displaying this on a large screen, the state of folding misalignment can be easily monitored, and a marker and the like can be easily monitored without using a marker, etc., in advance. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing a first-stage folding portion of a folding machine in which the present invention apparatus is installed.

2 (A) and 2 (B) show printed paper, (A) shows the surface of the printed paper, (B) shows the back surface of the printed paper, and (C) shows the folded paper formed into a signature. Indicates the status.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the origami showing a position of a sensor with respect to the origami and an imaging position of the imaging device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of origami conceptually showing a detection state of a sensor and an imaging state of an imaging device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation state of the apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 imaging device 1 PA imaging range of imaging device 2 light emitting device 3 sensor 4 image display device 51 backing plate (of folding machine) Pa printing paper Pb origami Pc origami (signature) Pn page number part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus which is installed in an apparatus for forming a signature by folding a plurality of steps of printing paper and configured to monitor a folding displacement of the origami in each step, wherein a sensor for detecting a position of the origami; A light-emitting device, an imaging device, and an image display device that displays an image captured by the imaging device,
The imaging device takes an image of a predetermined position of each folded origami page by light transmitted from the light emitting device and transmitted through the origami according to a signal of the sensor, and the image display device prints the folded paper by the imaging device. A printing paper folding deviation monitoring apparatus characterized in that a superimposed image is displayed on a part and a monitor monitors the folding state of the origami paper based on the superimposed image deviation. 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is disposed so that an imaging direction is orthogonal to a printing surface of the origami, and the light emitting device is disposed to face the imaging device via the origami. Monitor for misalignment of printed paper. 3. The sensor for detecting the position of the origami is a sensor for detecting a leading end of the origami in a direction in which the origami proceeds, and the imaging device performs an imaging operation based on a detection signal of the sensor. Claim 1.
Or the printing paper misalignment monitoring device according to 2. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup device is arranged at a position for picking up an image of a page number portion on a printing surface of the print sheet. . 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position of the image pickup apparatus is adjustable in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the origami paper, and the position of the sensor is adjustable in the direction of movement of the printing paper. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a position of the origami is adjusted by adjusting the position of the origami and the sensor.