JP2003075351A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct emission and cut-off of illumination light to a photosensitive drum without turning on and off an electric power source. SOLUTION: The first lighting system 18 provided in the first inspection portion 16A of an inspection line 16 is constituted of a housing 22, a low- pressure sodium lamp 24, a shutter member 28, and a driving means 30. The shutter member 28 is constituted of a film member capable of shielding the light, and energized all the time toward a direction rolled up by a rolling-up shaft 2802. The driving means 30 is provided with an air cylinder 3002, the first cross-member 3004, a wire 3006, and the second cross-member 3008, and the shutter member 28 is attached to the second cross-member 3008. The shutter member 28 is brought into an opened/position for opening a window 26 under an extended condition of the air cylinder 3002, and brought into a shielding position under the condition where the air cylinder 3002 is contracted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating device suitable for inspecting a photosensitive drum used in an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photosensitive drum used in an electrophotographic apparatus has a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of a cylindrical material tube. Conventionally, inspection of the photosensitive drum, that is, inspection of the photosensitive layer is not performed. , Visual inspection by experienced inspectors, surface defects (scratches and foreign substances on the outermost surface of the thin film), internal defects (internal foreign substances and bubbles), uneven film thickness (uneven coating)
Appearance inspection has been done. However,
In the visual inspection by the inspector, the inspection accuracy varies due to individual differences and fatigue, and there is a limit in obtaining only high-quality photosensitive drums.

In recent years, in electrophotographic apparatuses such as high resolution printers and full color printers, shading reproducibility, color reproducibility,
High quality is required for image quality. In particular, the photosensitive drum, which is the central component of the photosensitive drum, has a great influence on the quality of the image, and therefore its inspection is becoming more important. Therefore, convey the photosensitive drum to the conveyance line,
When the photoconductor drum is located at the inspection point, illuminating light is applied,
Various attempts have been made to detect the specular reflection light or scattered reflection light with a sensor and automatically inspect the photosensitive drum based on the result of signal processing of the output of the sensor.

[0004]

By the way, when the appearance inspection of the photoconductor drum is automatically performed, the photoconductor drum is conveyed to the conveying line as described above. When the conveyance is interrupted, the photosensitive drum is continuously irradiated with the illumination light at the inspection location. Then, if the photosensitive drum is continuously irradiated with the illumination light, the photosensitive layer suffers light fatigue, resulting in a problem that the characteristics of the photosensitive body are deteriorated. When the transportation is interrupted in this way, it is possible to turn off the power source of the illumination light, but when the power source is turned off, when the light source is, for example, a low pressure sodium lamp, it takes time to start up, The inspection efficiency decreases each time the transportation is interrupted. Also, when the photosensitive layer is weak against light fatigue when automatically inspecting the photoconductor drum, or when using a light source in a wavelength range where light fatigue easily occurs, or when using a light source with high light intensity. However, the photoconductive layer of the photoconductor drum suffers light fatigue at the inspection location, resulting in a problem that the photoconductor characteristics are deteriorated. The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to perform irradiation and blocking of illumination light to an irradiation target, and therefore is suitable for use in automatic inspection of a photosensitive drum. It is to provide a lighting device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an illuminating device for irradiating an object to be irradiated with illumination light emitted from a light source, the apparatus being provided between the light source and the object to be irradiated. A shutter member capable of blocking irradiation of illumination light to the irradiation target, and the shutter member,
It is characterized by comprising a driving means for driving between an open position that allows irradiation of the illumination light to the irradiation target and a blocking position that blocks irradiation of the illumination light to the irradiation target. Further, the present invention, the photosensitive drum which is conveyed along the conveying line by the conveying system and is located at the inspection point of the conveying line, irradiates the illumination light emitted from the light source over the entire length of the photosensitive drum, and the reflected light Alternatively, there is provided a photosensitive drum inspection illuminating device which detects scattered light by a sensor and inspects the photosensitive drum based on a result of signal processing of an output of the sensor, the illumination device being provided between the light source and the photosensitive drum. A shutter member capable of blocking the irradiation of the illumination light to the photosensitive drum, an open position allowing the shutter member to irradiate the irradiation target of the illumination light, and an irradiation target of the illumination light. A drive means for driving between a shutoff position for shutting off irradiation to an object, the drive means moving the shutter member to the open position during operation of the transport system, Characterized in that it is configured to move the shutter member in stopping the serial conveying system to the blocking position. Further, according to the present invention, the drive means moves the shutter member to the open position only at the time of the inspection, and moves the shutter member to the blocking position at the time of the conveyance to inspect one photosensitive drum. It is characterized in that it is configured to irradiate and block the illumination light for each.

If the illumination device of the present invention is used in an automatic inspection device for a photosensitive drum, or according to the illumination device for inspecting a photosensitive drum of the present invention, the photosensitive drum transport system is stopped due to some trouble or the like. In some cases, when using a light source in a wavelength range that easily causes light fatigue, or even when using a light source with high light intensity, irradiation of the illumination light to the irradiation target is performed without degrading the characteristics of the photoconductor. It In addition, since it is possible to irradiate and cut off the illumination light to the photoconductor drum without turning on / off the power source of the light source, if the conveyance system of the photoconductor drum is stopped due to some trouble or the like, it is necessary to restart the automatic inspection device. At the same time, the inspection of the photosensitive drum can be restarted, which is advantageous in increasing the inspection efficiency of the photosensitive drum.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a front view of an automatic inspection device for a photosensitive drum, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a first illumination device.
(A) is a side view, (B) is a bottom view, (C) is a front view, FIG. 3 is a side view of the second lighting device, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a shutter of the second lighting device, and (A) is A side view and (B) show a front view. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic inspection device 12 for the photoconductor drum includes a conveyance line 16 (conveyance path) for the photoconductor drum 14 (corresponding to an irradiation target in the claims), and the photoconductor drum 14 is conveyed. On the line 16, a transport system (not shown) makes the longitudinal direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport line 16 and intermittently transports from upstream to downstream at a constant pitch. In addition, as such a transport system,
Various conventionally known transfer methods such as one using a belt conveyor and one using a link mechanism can be adopted.

The transfer line 16 has a first inspection point 16
A is provided, and a second inspection location 16B is provided downstream of the first inspection location 16A. The first
The inspection location 16A has a first illumination device 18 and a first camera C.
1 is arranged, and the second illumination device 20 and the second camera C2 are arranged at the second inspection place 16B. And
When the photoconductor drum 14 is located at the first inspection location 16A, the photoconductor drum 14 is rotated once in the bright field state,
The photosensitive drum 1 via the illumination device 18 and the first camera C1.
No. 4 internal defects (internal foreign matter and bubbles) and uneven film thickness (uneven coating) are inspected.

Further, the photosensitive drum 14 has the second inspection point 1
6B, the photosensitive drum 14 is rotated once by a rotation mechanism (not shown) in the dark field state, and the second illumination device 20
Then, the surface defect of the photoconductor drum 14 (scratches or foreign matter on the outermost surface of the thin film) is inspected through the second camera C2. The first
The camera C1 and the second camera C2 are one-dimensional CCD cameras incorporating a line sensor. Those cameras C1, C
2 is arranged so that an image of a linear region along a predetermined generatrix on the photoconductor drum 14 is formed on the line sensor, and specularly reflected light (first camera C1) from the linear region.
In the case of) and scattered reflected light (in the case of the second camera C2). Then, while the photoconductor drum 14 makes one rotation, the outputs sent by the cameras C1 and C2 are captured in the memory of the computer.
The entire circumference of the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is scanned. The computer program performs an image generation process on the outputs of the cameras C1 and C2, which are taken into the memory of the computer as data, to generate an image.
This image may be displayed on a display for visual inspection by an inspector, or the computer program may perform inspection based on the image (ie, based on the data representing the image). A determination process for determining the pass / fail may be executed. In the embodiment, by performing this determination process, the surface defects, internal defects, and film thickness unevenness of the photoconductor drum 14 are inspected. Note that various conventionally known methods can be adopted for the inspection of the photosensitive drum 14 as described above.

The first lighting device 18 is an automatic inspection device 1.
The upper frame member 1202 and the vertical member 1204 are suspended above the transport line 16 so that the tilt can be adjusted. As shown in FIG. 2, the first lighting device 18 includes a housing 22, a low-pressure sodium lamp 24 housed in the housing 22, and a reflector for directing the light emitted from the low-pressure sodium lamp 24 to the lower surface of the housing 22. , The window 26 formed on the lower surface of the housing 22, and the window 2
6, a light diffusing plate 27 provided on the inner surface of the housing 22, a shutter member 28 provided on the outer surface of the housing 22 for opening and closing the window 26, and a driving means 30 for driving the shutter member 28. There is. The low-pressure sodium lamp 24 is used as a linear light source capable of irradiating an elongated area. As such a linear light source, other than the low-pressure sodium lamp 24, a straight tube fluorescent lamp or the like can be used.

The low pressure sodium lamp 24 and the window 2
6 is formed in a horizontally long shape so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor drum 14 located at the first inspection location 16A, and the light emitted from the low pressure sodium lamp 24, that is, the illumination light, is a light diffusion plate 27. The entire length of the photosensitive drum 14 is irradiated through the window 26. In the present embodiment, the shutter member 28 is made of a flexible film body capable of blocking light.
As shown in (B), it is formed with a width larger than the length of the window 26, and as shown in FIG. 2 (C), the shutter member 28 is urged by the winding shaft 2802 in a direction in which it is always wound. Has been done.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the driving means 30 includes an air cylinder 3002, a first horizontal member 3004 attached to the tip of a piston rod of the air cylinder, and both ends of the first horizontal member 3004. Attached wire 3006,
The second cross member 30 attached to the tips of these wires 3006
08, the wire 3006 is routed on the bottom surface of the housing 22 so as to straddle the window 26 by the roller 3010 attached to the housing 22, and the second transverse member 3008 has the entire length in the width direction of the shutter member 28. It is attached. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, with the air cylinder 3002 extended, the shutter member 28 is retracted from the window 26 to the open position where the window 26 is opened, and the illumination light of the low-pressure sodium lamp 24 is illuminated by the window 26. Through the entire length of the photoconductor drum 14, and when the air cylinder 3002 is shortened, the window 26 is covered by the shutter member 28 and the window 26 is closed, and the low pressure sodium lamp 24 is illuminated. Irradiation of light to the photosensitive drum 14 is blocked.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second illuminating device 20 is hung from the upper frame member 1202 of the automatic inspection device 12 via the horizontal member 1206 and the vertical member 1208 above the conveying line 16 so as to be tiltable and adjustable. It has been lowered. The second
The illuminating device 18 is emitted from the housings 32 respectively disposed above both ends in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 14 located at the second inspection location 16B, the halogen lamps housed in each housing 32, and the halogen lamps. A reflector for directing light to the surfaces of the housings 32 facing each other;
A cylindrical quartz rod extending between the windows formed on the surfaces of the housings 32 facing each other and the windows of the surfaces of the housings 32 facing each other (corresponding to a light guide member in claims). 34, a shutter member 36 that opens and closes the window of each housing 32, and a shutter member 3
6 and drive means 38 for driving 6. In addition,
The halogen lamp is used as a spot-shaped light source capable of irradiating a spot area, and as such a spot-shaped light source, a xenon lamp, a metal halide lamp, an LED or the like can be used in addition to the halogen lamp.

The quartz rod 34 is horizontally long so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 14 located at the second inspection point 16B, and the upper surface of the quartz rod 34 has a white stripe over its entire length. 35 are provided. Light emitted from the halogen lamp, that is, illumination light, enters the inside of the quartz rod 34 from both end surfaces of the quartz rod 34 through the window of the housing 32, is reflected by the white stripes 35, and is directed from the outer peripheral surface of the quartz rod 34. With this, irradiation is performed over the entire length of the photoconductor drum 14. Commercially available products can be used as the housing 32, the halogen lamp, and the quartz rod. For example, a high-illuminance line type lighting device HR manufactured by Nagase & Co., Ltd.
A series can be used. The shutter member 3
In the present embodiment, 6 is composed of vertically elongated steel plates capable of blocking light, and as shown in FIG. 4B, a circular window 3602 is formed in the steel plate.

The drive means 38 is an air cylinder 38.
02. And the air cylinder 3
With the shutter 802 extended, the shutter member 36 is in the open position, the window 3602 of the shutter member 36 and the window of the housing 32 are aligned, and the illumination light of the halogen lamp enters the quartz rod 34 from both end faces of the quartz rod 34. When entering, the illumination light is radiated from the outer peripheral surface of the quartz rod 34 over the entire length of the photoconductor drum 14, and the shutter member 36 is in the blocking position with the air cylinder 3802 shortened, and the window of the housing 32 and the quartz rod 34. Both end surfaces are covered with shutter members 28 so that the irradiation of the illumination light of the halogen lamp onto the photosensitive drum 14 is blocked. The automatic inspection device 12 includes a control unit for controlling the operations of the first lighting device 18, the second lighting device 20, the driving unit 30, and the driving unit 38.
The control unit further includes a transfer system operation detection unit for detecting whether the transfer system is operating normally or has stopped operating. The transfer system operation detection unit monitors, for example, intermittent operation on the transfer line 16, and if some trouble occurs,
When the transport system continues to stop for longer than the stop time in the normal intermittent operation, this is detected. If it is detected that the transportation system is abnormally stopped, the control unit instantly receives air cylinders 3002, 3 and 3.
The air cylinders 3002 and 3802 are configured to be contracted, and the air cylinders 3002 and 3802 are configured to be expanded when the automatic inspection device 12 is started and restored from interruption.

According to the present embodiment, the automatic inspection device 12
(Or the transport system) is stopped due to some trouble or the like, the air cylinders 3002 and 3802 are reduced and the shutter members 28 and 36 are set to the blocking position, and the first illumination device 18 is located at the first inspection position 16A. The illuminating light to the photosensitive drum 14 is blocked, and the second illuminating device 20 blocks the illuminating light to the photosensitive drum 14 located at the second inspection position 16B. Therefore,
Even if the movement of the automatic inspection device 12 (or the transportation system) is interrupted due to some trouble, the photosensitive layer of the photoconductor drum 14 causes light fatigue and the photoconductor characteristics are deteriorated by continuing to be illuminated. Can be prevented. Also, when the automatic inspection device 12 returns, the air cylinder 3
002 and 3802 are extended and the shutter member 28,
36 is in the open position, and in the first illumination device 18, the irradiation of the illumination light to the photosensitive drum 14 located in the first inspection position 16A is restarted, and in the second illumination device 20, the second inspection position 16B. Since the irradiation of the illuminating light to the positioned photoconductor drum 14 is restarted, the inspection of the photoconductor drum 14 can be restarted at the same time as the return of the automatic inspection device 12 (or the transport system), and every time the automatic inspection device 12 is stopped. There is no problem that the inspection efficiency is lowered.

In the above embodiment, the illumination light from the first illumination device 18 and the second illumination device 20 is constantly emitted toward the first inspection position 16A and the second inspection position 16B.
The case has been described in which the illumination light is blocked when the transport system is stopped due to some trouble or the like. However, when the photosensitive layer of the photoconductor drum 14 is weak against light fatigue, or light fatigue easily occurs. When using a light source in the wavelength range or a light source having a high light intensity, the shutter members 28 and 36 may be opened and closed each time one photosensitive drum 14 is inspected.
In this case, the first inspection position 16A and the second inspection position 16
The shutter members 28, 36 are provided only while the photosensitive drum 14 located at B is irradiated with illumination light necessary for inspection.
Should be moved to the open position, and at other times, the shutter members 28 and 36 should be moved to the blocking position. That is, the driving means 30 and 38 are connected to the control unit of the automatic inspection device 12, and when the photoconductor drum 14 is located at the first inspection position 16A or the second inspection position 16B, the air cylinders 3002 and 3802 are extended. Then, the air cylinders 3002 and 3802 are reduced in size after a predetermined time elapses, or the air cylinders 300 are subjected to the image generation processing and the determination processing.
It may be configured such that the 2,3802 is reduced.
In the present embodiment, the illumination device is the photosensitive drum 14
Although the case where it is applied to the automatic inspection device 12 has been described, the illumination device of the present invention can of course be applied to various other uses.

[0018]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to irradiate and block the illumination light to the object to be irradiated, and when the object to be irradiated is the photosensitive drum, Irradiation light is irradiated to the irradiation target without lowering the irradiation target, and therefore, a suitable lighting device can be obtained which is used for automatic inspection of the photosensitive drum.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic inspection device for a photosensitive drum.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a first lighting device, (A) is a side view,
(B) is a bottom view and (C) is a front view.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a second lighting device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a shutter of the second lighting device, (A)
Is a side view and (B) is a front view.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 Automatic inspection device 14 photoconductor drum 16 transport lines 16A First inspection point 16B Second inspection point 18 First lighting device 20 Second lighting device 28,36 Shutter member 30, 38 Drive means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03B 15/02 G03B 15/02 Q G03G 21/00 G03G 21/00

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An illumination device for irradiating an irradiation target with illumination light emitted from a light source, the illumination device being provided between the light source and the irradiation target, and for blocking the irradiation of the illumination light to the irradiation target. A shutter member that enables the shutter light, and the shutter member is driven between an open position that allows irradiation of the illumination light to the irradiation target and a blocking position that blocks irradiation of the illumination light to the irradiation target. A lighting device comprising: 2. The light source is housed in a housing, the illumination light is applied to an irradiation target through a window formed in the housing, and the shutter member opens the window at the opening position. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is arranged so as to close the window at the blocking position. 3. The illumination light is applied to an irradiation target through a light guide member, and the shutter member is arranged between the light source and the light guide member.
Illumination device described. 4. A photosensitive drum, which is conveyed along a conveying line by a conveying system and is located at an inspection point of the conveying line, irradiates illumination light emitted from a light source over the entire length of the photosensitive drum, and specularly reflected light thereof. Alternatively, there is provided a photosensitive drum inspection illumination device that detects scattered reflected light with a sensor and inspects the photosensitive drum based on a result of signal processing of an output of the sensor, the illumination device being provided between the light source and the photosensitive drum. A shutter member capable of blocking the irradiation of the illumination light to the photosensitive drum, an open position allowing the shutter member to be irradiated to the irradiation target of the illumination light, and an exposure position of the illumination light. Driving means for driving between a blocking position for blocking irradiation to an irradiation target and the driving means for moving the shutter member to the open position during operation of the transport system. The photosensitive drum inspection illumination device is configured to move the shutter member to the blocking position when the transport system is stopped. 5. A photosensitive drum, which is conveyed along a conveying line by a conveying system and is located at an inspection point of the conveying line, irradiates illumination light emitted from a light source over the entire length of the photosensitive drum, and specularly reflected light thereof. Alternatively, there is provided a photosensitive drum inspection illumination device that detects scattered reflected light with a sensor and inspects the photosensitive drum based on a result of signal processing of an output of the sensor, the illumination device being provided between the light source and the photosensitive drum. A shutter member capable of blocking the irradiation of the illumination light to the photosensitive drum, an open position allowing the shutter member to be irradiated to the irradiation target of the illumination light, and an exposure position of the illumination light. A driving unit that drives between a blocking position that blocks irradiation to an irradiation target, and the driving unit moves the shutter member to the open position only during the inspection. A photosensitive drum inspection, wherein the shutter member is moved to the blocking position during the transportation to irradiate and block the illumination light each time one photosensitive drum is inspected. Lighting equipment. 6. The light source is a linear light source capable of illuminating an elongated area, the linear light source is housed in a housing, and the housing is provided along a longitudinal direction of a photosensitive drum located at the inspection location. A window is provided so as to extend, and the illumination light is applied to the photoconductor drum located at the inspection point of the transport line through the window over the entire length of the photoconductor drum, and the shutter member is at the open position. 5. The window is opened, and the window is closed at the shutoff position.
Alternatively, the illumination device for inspecting a photosensitive drum according to item 5. 7. The light source is a spot-shaped light source capable of irradiating a spot area, the illumination light is radiated to an object to be inspected through a light guide member, and the light guide member is a photosensitive member located at the inspection location. A quartz rod arranged so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the body drum, wherein the shutter is arranged in the vicinity of an end surface of the quartz rod facing the spot-shaped light source, and the quartz rod is in the open position. 6. The illuminating device for inspecting a photosensitive drum according to claim 4, wherein the illuminating device is opened so that the end face of the quartz rod is opened and the end face of the quartz rod is covered at the blocking position. 8. The sensor is a one-dimensional CCD camera, and the signal processing includes image processing for generating an image and determination processing for determining pass / fail of an inspection based on the image obtained by the image processing. Claim 4 or 5 characterized
An illuminating device for inspecting a photosensitive drum as described. 9. The illumination device according to claim 1, or the illumination device for inspecting a photoconductor drum according to claim 4, wherein the driving means is constituted by an air cylinder. 10. The illuminating device according to claim 1, or the illuminating device for inspecting a photoconductor drum according to claim 4, wherein the shutter member is formed of a flexible film body.