JP2004161419A - Method and device for detecting residual amount and residual end of rolled film - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for detecting, with less errors, the residual amount and residual end of a laminated film. <P>SOLUTION: The residual amount of the laminated film is detected by utilizing the attenuation of light when the light passes through the film. Also, the residual end thereof can be detected with high accuracy by utilizing both film transmission light and film reflected light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to detecting the remaining amount of a transparent film wound in a roll shape.
[0002]
The roll-shaped transparent film is, for example, a laminated film of a laminator device of a printed output, but it is sufficient if there is a partially transparent portion, so that it can be used for an opaque one such as an ink ribbon of a sublimation printer. It is possible.
[0003]
[Prior art]
As a method for measuring the remaining amount or the end of the roll shape, a method of detecting the length of the diameter of the roll shape by a mechanical link mechanism, or measuring the weight of the roll shape object to determine the usage amount and the remaining amount. There are methods. In addition, there is a method of determining the remaining amount based on whether the number of rotations of the roll-shaped object is large or small when the roll-shaped object is pulled out.
[0004]
That is, the diameter is shorter when the amount of rotation is large when the same amount of drawing is performed. Therefore, the remaining amount is determined by applying this principle.
[0005]
The disadvantages of the prior art as described above are:
{Circle around (1)} The accuracy of detecting the remaining amount is only rough.
[0006]
If the thickness of the film is large or the weight is heavy, relatively high accuracy can be detected regardless of the diameter, weight, or rotation amount, but in reality, the film is often thin and light, Only insensitive detection is possible for the amount used.
[0007]
{Circle around (2)} Terminal end cannot be detected.
[0008]
Although this problem is the same as (1) in content, it is particularly problematic in the sense of end detection.
[0009]
In the case of remaining amount detection, depending on the case, a rough detection such as 20% use, 40% use, 60% use, and 80% use may be permitted if it can be roughly detected.
[0010]
However, in the case of the end detection, the film remaining due to the detection error is discarded as it is unused.
[0011]
Even if the detection accuracy is 5%, a film of about 50 meters would be discarded while leaving a film of about 2.5 meters.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to improve the disadvantages of the conventional example as described above.
[0013]
In order to achieve this object, the detection method uses a light emitting element that irradiates a focused light beam through a transparent film wound around a specific position of a paper tube at the center where the film is wound. And a detecting means for detecting the amount of light received by the light receiving element, which is disposed at a regular reflection position of the position of the paper tube to which the light has been irradiated. Attenuating at a predetermined attenuation rate by transmitting through a transparent film, the remaining amount can be detected by detecting the amount of received light, and the remaining amount can be detected sensitively. Because both the light transmitted through the light and the light reflected on the film surface are received, the light intensity received at the light receiving section is further increased. It can have the function of such end detection.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention can solve the above problem by providing the following configuration.
[0015]
(1) The transparent film wound in a roll is squeezed through a transparent film wound around a specific position of a paper tube at the center where the film is wound. A light-emitting element that irradiates a light beam, the position of the paper tube where the light was irradiated, and the specular position with respect to the irradiating light. A method for detecting the remaining end of a roll film, comprising a light receiving element having the light receiving element and a detecting means for detecting an amount of light received by the light receiving element, wherein the irradiated light passes through a transparent film wound in a roll shape. A method for detecting the end of the remaining amount of a roll film, wherein the wavelength has a characteristic such that the amount of light attenuates at a predetermined attenuation rate.
[0016]
(2) A device for detecting the end of the remaining amount of a rolled film, which is equipped with the method for detecting the remaining amount of a rolled film according to the above (1).
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Description of FIG. 1 FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a detection state when the remaining amount of the roll film is sufficient.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, 1 is an LED as a light emitting source, 2 is a phototransistor as a light receiving section, 3 is a resistor, 4 is a collector of the voltage detecting section phototransistor 2 and one end of the resistor 3 are connected. Is connected to a power supply.
[0019]
The light quantity voltage conversion circuit is configured by the above configuration. The detection voltage decreases when the amount of received light is large, and increases when the amount of received light is small.
[0020]
Reference numeral 5 denotes an outer peripheral portion of the roll film, 6 denotes a paper tube portion, and 7 denotes a light beam emitted from the LED 1.
[0021]
The light emitted from the light emitting source 7 is a light beam focused by a not-shown condenser lens or a slit.
[0022]
Numeral 8 indicates a light beam in which light emitted from the LED 1 is reflected on the surface of the roll film. This reflected light does not enter the phototransistor 2 but travels in a completely unrelated direction.
[0023]
Reference numeral 9 denotes a light beam reflected by the light emitted from the LED 1 hitting the paper tube at the center of the roll film. This reflected light travels toward the light receiving section of the phototransistor 2. The light flux 9 is attenuated when passing through the inside of the roll-shaped film, and the light intensity is extremely small.
[0024]
Numeral 10 indicates a light beam that finally passes through the film and reaches the phototransistor. Since the detected light is small, the detected voltage is detected to be high.
[0025]
Description of FIG. 2 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detection state when the remaining amount of the roll film is approximately half.
[0026]
The components are the same as those in FIG. 1 and have the same numbers as in FIG.
[0027]
8 also shows a light beam in which light emitted from the LED 1 is reflected on the surface of the roll-shaped film as in FIG.
[0028]
As in the case of FIG. 1, this reflected light does not enter the phototransistor 2 but travels in a direction that has nothing to do with it.
[0029]
9, light emitted from the LED 1 hits the paper tube portion at the center of the roll-shaped film and reflects the light flux.
[0030]
This reflected light travels in the direction of the light receiving portion of the phototransistor 2 as in FIG.
[0031]
The light beam 9 is attenuated at the stage of passing through the inside of the roll film, and the light intensity is low. However, since the thickness of the film is smaller than in the case of FIG. 1, the amount of light attenuated is smaller than in the case of FIG.
[0032]
Numeral 10 indicates a light beam that finally passes through the film and reaches the phototransistor. Since the detected light amount is medium, the detected voltage is also detected at medium level.
[0033]
Description of FIG. 3 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detection state immediately before the remaining or exhausted roll film.
[0034]
The components are the same as those in FIG. 1 and have the same numbers as in FIG.
[0035]
8 also shows a light beam in which light emitted from the LED 1 is reflected on the surface of the roll-shaped film as in FIG.
[0036]
Unlike the case of FIG. 1, since the reflected position is very close to the paper tube, the reflected light travels in the direction of input to the phototransistor 2.
[0037]
9, light emitted from the LED 1 hits the paper tube portion at the center of the roll-shaped film and reflects the light flux.
[0038]
This reflected light travels in the direction of the light receiving portion of the phototransistor 2 as in FIG.
[0039]
When there is almost no remaining amount of the roll-shaped film, the light beam 9 is received by the phototransistor without attenuating at the stage of passing through the inside thereof and with a large light amount.
[0040]
Numeral 10 indicates a light beam that finally passes through the film and reaches the phototransistor.
[0041]
In addition to 10, the reflected light beam 8 reflected on the surface 5 of the film roll is also input to the light receiving unit, so that an extremely large amount of light is received, and the detected voltage drops sharply compared to before. This enables sharp end detection.
[0042]
Description of FIG. 4 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the detection voltage of the voltage detection unit 4 and the remaining amount.
[0043]
The position indicated by A in FIG. 4 is a case where the remaining amount is relatively large, and corresponds to the state shown in FIG.
[0044]
The position indicated by B in FIG. 4 is a case where the remaining amount is about half, and corresponds to the state shown in FIG.
[0045]
The position indicated by C in FIG. 4 is a case where there is almost no remaining amount, and corresponds to the state shown in FIG.
[0046]
In FIG. 4, the remaining amount of the roll film is exhausted, and as shown in FIG. 3, when the amount of light received by the phototransistor increases rapidly, the detection voltage drops sharply, and it is possible to see a structure in which erroneous detection hardly occurs.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the above description, the light emitting element that irradiates the light flux narrowed through the transparent film wound around the specific position of the paper tube at the center where the film is wound, and the light irradiation The irradiated light is transmitted through a transparent film wound in a roll by using a detection method which is arranged at a regular reflection position of the position of the drawn paper tube and which detects the amount of light received by the light receiving element. As a result, since the light is attenuated at a predetermined attenuation rate, the remaining amount can be detected by detecting the amount of the received light, and the remaining amount can be detected sensitively. By receiving both light reflected on the film surface and receiving a stronger light quantity at the light receiving part, the amount of light received at the end part is sharp, so a reliable end detection function It has become clear that it is possible to have.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a detection state when the remaining amount of a roll film is sufficient.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a detection state when the remaining amount of the roll film is approximately half.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a detection state immediately before a roll film has no or no remaining amount.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a detection voltage of a voltage detection unit 4 and a remaining amount.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 LED as a light source
2 Phototransistor 3 as light receiving unit 3 Resistor 4 Voltage detector 5 Outer peripheral portion of roll film 6 Paper tube portion 7 Light flux emitted from LED 1 8 Light flux emitted from LED 1 reflected on the surface of roll film 9 Light flux emitted from the LED 1 hits the paper tube at the center of the roll-shaped film and is reflected. 10 Light flux finally reaching the phototransistor through the film.

Claims (2)

For a transparent film wound in a roll,
A light-emitting element for irradiating a luminous flux squeezed through a transparent film wound on a specific position of the paper tube in the center where the film is wound,
It is placed at the position of the paper tube where the light was irradiated and at the specular reflection position for the irradiation light,
A method for detecting the remaining end of a roll film, comprising: a light receiving element having a highly sensitive sensitivity characteristic of directivity with respect to a position of a paper tube to be irradiated with light; and detecting means for detecting an amount of light received by the light receiving element. ,
The end of the remaining amount of the roll film is characterized in that the emitted light has a characteristic such that the amount of light attenuates at a predetermined attenuation rate by transmitting through a transparent film wound in a roll shape. Method. An apparatus for detecting the end of the remaining amount of a roll film, comprising the method for detecting the remaining amount of a roll film according to claim 1.

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