JP2006231537A - Printed matter detection mechanism and printing system using this mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printed matter detection mechanism which can certainly detect a printed matter reject while reducing a load on an operator and prevent the printed matter reject from getting included into a regular finished product of printed matter, and a printing system using this mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: This printed matter detection mechanism comprises the following components: (1) a sheet where a specified seal is printed, (2) an inkjet which prints an identification number to the sheet, (3) a CCD camera which picks up a whole image of a region including the seal from the sheet, (4) a judgement processing part of a computer which extracts display data of the seal from picked-up image data acquired by the CCD camera and judges whether the display data is a reject, and a memory unit of the computer which at least stores an identification symbol of the sheet judged as a reject by the judgement processing part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printed matter detection mechanism for detecting defective printed matter and a printing system using the same.

Conventionally, various methods have been studied in order to detect defective printed matter such as smudges, uneven color, shading, water dripping, oil dripping, white spots, and ink skipping, which occurred in a printing process such as offset printing.
For example, when printing a pattern for a label on a paper sheet of a predetermined size, a printing operator first prints out a printed material in advance, and a computer that uses a printed material that is within an allowable range such as hue and positional accuracy as a reference printed material. Register in the memory. Next, print image data of each image recognized by the CCD camera is compared with the reference print product, and if there is a difference, a buzzer warns as a defective print product, and the delivery unit reports the defective print product in the stack. An identification tape is affixed by a tape insertion machine, and defective printed matter to which the identification tape is attached is removed in a later process.

Further, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for an apparatus that can mark a registration defect mark on a registration defect margin during printing and display the number of registration defects.
Further, Patent Document 2 proposes a technique for an apparatus in which marking is performed on a blank portion of a sheet, and a printed operator is selected as a defective product from the marked pattern.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-27364 JP 59-14959 A

However, the conventional techniques have the following problems.
In other words, regarding the technology for applying a discriminating tape by a tape insertion machine to a defective printed matter determined to be defective, the defective printed matter is removed if the tape is peeled off from the defective printed matter before the defective printed matter is removed. Otherwise, the process proceeds to the subsequent manufacturing process, and as a result, the defective printed matter may not be removed and may be mixed in the product. In addition, once the tape falls off, it is extremely difficult to determine the defective printed matter to which the tape has been attached, and there is a problem that it takes a lot of time for the work.

  In addition, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, with regard to a technique for marking a printed product margin and allowing an operator to extract it in a later process, the worker is required when there is a large amount of printed material. However, there is a possibility that an operator's extraction mistake may occur, which is not sufficient in terms of reliability.

  Therefore, the present invention uses a printed matter detection mechanism that can prevent the defective printed matter from being mixed into the regular product of the printed matter by detecting the defective printed matter more reliably while reducing the burden on the operator, and the same. An object is to provide a printing system.

  In the invention according to claim 1, an identification symbol (for example, a printed sheet (for example, the printing sheet 2 in the embodiment)) on which a predetermined printing pattern (for example, the label 3 and the box-shaped product 9 in the embodiment) is printed. An identification symbol assigning unit (for example, an inkjet nozzle 6 in the embodiment) for assigning an identification number 4 in the embodiment, and an image pickup unit (for example, a CCD in the embodiment) for imaging a predetermined area including a print pattern in the printed matter Camera 7) and determination means for extracting print pattern display data from the image data captured by the image capturing means and determining whether the display data is good or bad (for example, the comparison determination unit 13 of the computer 10 in the embodiment) Storage means for storing an identification symbol of the defective printed matter determined to be defective by the determination means (for example, in the embodiment) Kicking characterized in that it comprises a memory 12) and the computer 10.

  According to this invention, when the defective printed matter is removed, it is easily determined whether or not the printed matter is to be removed by referring to the identification symbol of the defective printed matter determined to be defective stored in the storage unit. can do. Even if the printed matter is transferred to another place or is subjected to another processing, there is no possibility that the tape will peel off and become unidentifiable as in the case of the conventional technology with a tape attached. The defective printed matter can be removed without any trouble. Further, if the identification symbol of the defective printed matter determined to be defective is stored, the defective printed matter determined to be defective can be removed, so that it is not necessary to store the image data of the printed matter. Therefore, the capacity required for the storage means can be reduced, the system can be miniaturized, and the cost increase can be suppressed. As described above, the defective printed material can be more reliably detected while reducing the burden on the operator, thereby preventing the defective printed material from being mixed into the regular product.

A second aspect of the present invention is the printed matter detection mechanism according to the first aspect, wherein the identification symbol assigning unit assigns the identification symbol for each print pattern.
According to this invention, when a plurality of print patterns are printed in the printed matter and each print pattern becomes a product, the product yield can be improved. That is, in the technique of applying a tape or marking as described above, even if there is a defect only in a part of the print pattern in the defective print and other print patterns are printed normally, Since the defective printed matter is removed, the normal print pattern that can be used is discarded wastefully, which is not preferable in terms of manufacturing yield. On the other hand, according to the present invention, when only some of the print patterns in the defective printed matter are defective and the other print patterns are printed normally, only the print patterns determined to be defective are removed. Therefore, the product yield can be improved.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the printed matter detection mechanism according to claim 2, wherein when the printed pattern is a material of a planar product (for example, label 3 in the embodiment), the identification symbol is given. The means is characterized in that the identification symbol is given to a portion corresponding to a blank portion outside the print pattern (for example, a blank portion 8 in the embodiment). Here, the margin part is an area that is outside the print pattern when the printed matter is divided for each print pattern. The planar product is a product that has a substantially planar shape when the printed pattern becomes a product.

  According to this invention, it is possible to determine whether the printed material is good or defective even after the printed material is divided for each of the printed patterns by adding the identification symbol to the margin of the printed pattern. Become. And since the margin part of the printed pattern is a part that is removed when the product becomes a product, the identification symbol can be deleted when the printed pattern becomes a product, which impairs the appearance of the product. This can be prevented and the product quality can be improved.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the printed matter detection mechanism according to claim 2, wherein when the print pattern is a material of a box-shaped product, the identification symbol providing means The identification symbol is given to a portion corresponding to the inner surface or the rear surface. Here, the box-shaped product is a product that has a substantially box shape when the printed pattern is processed into a three-dimensional product through processing steps such as cutting and bending.

  According to this invention, even if the printed matter is divided into the print patterns by giving the identification symbol to a portion corresponding to the inner surface or the rear surface of the box-shaped product, the printed matter is good or bad. Can be determined. And since the said part is a part which is not visually recognized from the outside when it becomes a product, when the said printing pattern becomes a product, it can prevent impairing the appearance of a product, and can improve merchantability.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is a printing system using the printed matter detection mechanism according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the recognition unit recognizes an identification symbol of the printed matter (for example, in the embodiment). An identification number reading device 21), and when the identification symbol recognized by the recognition means is an identification symbol of a defective printed matter determined to be defective stored in the storage means, the defective printed matter (for example, implementation It is characterized by comprising a removing means (for example, the removing device 22 in the embodiment) for removing the printed sheet 2 and the label 3) in the embodiment.

  According to this invention, when the printed matter is removed by the removing unit, the identification symbol given to the printed matter is recognized by the recognizing unit, and the defective printed matter determined as the defect stored in the storage unit. By referring to the identification symbol, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the printed material is a removal target. Also, even when the printed matter is transferred to another place or is subjected to another processing, there is no risk that the tape will be peeled off and cannot be identified as in the case of a technique with a conventional tape. The defective printed matter determined to be defective can be removed. Furthermore, the capacity required for the storage means can be reduced, the system can be miniaturized, and the cost increase can be suppressed. In this way, it is possible to prevent the defective printed matter from being mixed into the regular product of the printed matter by more reliably detecting the defective printed matter while reducing the burden on the operator.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a printing system using the printed matter detection mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a recognition unit that recognizes an identification symbol of the printed pattern of the printed matter. When the identification symbol recognized by the recognition device is an identification symbol of a print pattern determined to be defective stored in the storage unit, the printed matter is determined to be defective after being divided for each print pattern. And removing means for removing the printed pattern.

  According to the present invention, when only a part of the printed pattern in the defective printed material is defective and the other printed patterns are printed normally, the printed material is divided into each printed pattern, Whether or not the print pattern is to be removed by recognizing the identification symbol given to the print pattern by the recognition unit and referring to the print pattern identification symbol determined to be defective stored in the storage unit Can be easily determined, and control can be performed so as to remove only the print pattern determined to be defective, so that the product yield can be improved.

According to the first and fifth aspects of the invention, it is possible to prevent defective products from being manufactured by more reliably detecting defective sheets while reducing the burden on the operator. According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since it is possible to control to remove only the print pattern determined to be defective, it is possible to improve the product yield.
According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, when the printed pattern becomes a product, the identification symbol can be deleted, the appearance of the product can be prevented from being impaired, and the merchantability can be improved.

Hereinafter, a printed matter detection mechanism and a printing system for producing a printed product using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the inspection object and the manufacturing object of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a print sheet 2 partitioned into a predetermined shape is used as a printed matter (see FIG. 4A). For example, a plurality of labels 3 are printed on the printing sheet 2 by a printing machine (not shown). In the present embodiment, a print inspection process by a printed matter detection mechanism is performed for each label 3 printed on the print sheet 2 to determine whether each label 3 is good or bad. Then, after dividing | segmenting for every label material 17 which consists of the label 3 and its margin part 8, the label material 17 containing the label 3 determined to be defective is removed by the removal means of a defective printed matter. As another form different from the present embodiment, the identification number 4 is assigned to each print sheet 2 without being divided into the label material 17, the identification number 4 given to the margin 8 is read, and the print sheet 2. It can also be removed as a defective printed matter.

Next, the printed matter detection mechanism and the printing system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printed matter detection mechanism and a printing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the print sheet 2 is conveyed on the conveyance path 5 from the left side to the right side. In other words, in the figure, the left side is upstream and the right side is downstream.
The printed matter detection mechanism according to the present embodiment includes an inkjet nozzle 6 that assigns an identification number to each label 3 of the print sheet 2, a CCD camera 7 that images the label material 17 of the print sheet 2, and whether each label 3 is good or bad. And a computer 10 for determining whether or not from the upstream side of the transport path 5.
In addition to the configuration of the printed matter detection mechanism, the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an identification number reading device (scanner) 21 that reads the identification number 4, and a removal device 22 that removes an object determined to be defective. Is provided downstream of the transport path 5. In this case, the identification number 4 can be read by the computer 10 without providing the identification number reading device 21 in the printing system of the present invention.

Hereinafter, each structure of embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. First, the inkjet nozzle 6 is for assigning an identification number 4 to each label 3 of the printing sheet 2. Here, in the present embodiment, the identification number 4 is assigned to the blank portion 8 of the label material 17 (see FIG. 4B). The margin 8 is a region outside the label 3 in the label material 17 divided from the print sheet 2.
The CCD camera 7 is for imaging each label material 17 of the printing sheet 2. In the present embodiment, the predetermined area imaged by the CCD camera 7 is set to an area including the blank portion 8 where each label material 17 is imaged.

  The computer 10 determines the quality of each print label 3 on the print sheet 2 based on the image data captured by the CCD camera 7. This configuration will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the computer 10 is connected to a CCD camera 7 and an identification number reading device 21 to be described later, and removes defective printed matter in a subsequent process. Then, the computer 10 extracts the display data of the label 3 by extracting the display data of the label 3 from the input unit 11 for inputting the imaging data and the like of the CCD camera 7, the memory 12 for storing the identification number 4 and the reference data, and the imaging data. Comparison determination unit 13 that determines a defect, determination processing unit 14 that stores identification number 4 based on the determination result, output unit 15 that outputs to the outside, and control that controls these units 11 to 15 Part 16.

  The identification number reading device 21 is a device that reads the identification number 4 after the print sheet 2 is divided for each label material 17. Then, the subsequent process as the defective printed matter removing means is judged as defective by the reading mechanism attached to the labeling machine, the manufacturing apparatus and the die cutting apparatus based on the information as digital data transmitted from the output unit 15. Remove defective prints.

  Next, the effect | action in embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. First, as shown in step S12, reference data is registered in the memory 12. This reference data is an image of the label 3 of the print sheet 2 that is recognized as a non-defective product by the operator at the initial stage when the printing process is started. Next, at the time of actual printing, in step S <b> 14, imaging data of the label material 17 including the blank portion 8 imaged by the CCD camera 7 is input to the input unit 11. Next, in step S16, the determination processing unit 13 performs a process such as masking on the label material 17, and extracts a determination area (an imaging area of the label 3) corresponding to the registered reference data from the imaging data. By this processing, the identification number 4 assigned to the blank portion 8 of each label material 17 is excluded from the determination area. This is because the identification number 4 is given a different number for each label 3, so that the influence on the determination result due to the different identification number 4 is avoided. In step S18, the comparison / determination unit 13 compares the imaged data of the label 3 with the reference data to determine whether or not the label 3 to be determined is printed. Here, when it is determined that the printing of the label 3 is defective, all defects that affect the reflected light from the printed matter, such as dirt, color unevenness, density fluctuation, dripping, oil dripping, white spot, and ink skipping of the label 3 Is included. If this determination result is YES, the process of this flowchart is terminated as it is, and if the determination result is NO, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the identification number 4 of the label 3 determined to be defective is stored in the memory 12 together with the image, and the processing of this flowchart ends.

After performing the print quality judgment of each label 3 by this processing, each label material 17 is extracted from the print sheet 2 by a not-shown, for example, punching device and divided. Then, the process which removes what contains the label 3 determined to be defective among each label material 17 is performed.
This removal process will be described. First, the reading device 21 recognizes the identification number 4 assigned to each label material 17. The identification number 4 recognized by the reading device 21 is input to the input unit 11 of the computer 10 and the comparison / determination unit 14 determines whether or not it matches the identification number 4 stored in the memory 12. If the identification number 4 matches the identification number 4 stored in the memory 12, it can be recognized that the target label 3 is defective. Therefore, the control unit 16 controls information to be transmitted to the removing means.
After this process, the blank portion 8 is removed from each label material 17 in a cutting process of the blank portion 8 generated in each label material 17 and the like, and the product is produced for each label 3.

  Next, another application example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a case where the printing pattern printed on the printing sheet 2 is the material of the box-shaped product 9. In such a case, as shown in the figure, it is preferable to assign the identification number 4 to a portion corresponding to the inner surface or the rear surface of the box-shaped product 9 by the inkjet nozzle 6. By giving the identification number 4 to such a part, it is possible to determine whether the print sheet 2 is good or bad even after the print sheet 2 is divided for each box-shaped product 9. Become. In this case, the defective printed matter determined to be defective can be removed by, for example, a box making apparatus in a subsequent process. And since the said part is a part which is not visually recognized from the outside when it becomes a product, when the said box-shaped product 9 becomes a product, it can prevent impairing the appearance of a product, and can improve merchantability. .

  Although the contents of the present invention have been described above by way of embodiments, it is needless to say that the contents of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments. For example, in the embodiment, the case where a sheet having a predetermined shape is used as the printed material has been described, but roll paper before being cut into a sheet may be used. Further, the material of the printed material may not be paper, and may be other materials such as plastic. Further, the identification number may not be a number as long as it can identify each printed matter or each printing pattern, and may be a barcode, alphabet, Greek letter, pictogram, symbol, or the like. The good / bad determination may be performed by binarization processing or gray scale processing. In removing defective products, removal means in-line or offline (post-process) of the printing press is applied. Further, as in the embodiment, it is preferable to give an identification number for each pattern in terms of yield, but the application target of the present invention is not limited to this, and an identification number may be given to each sheet.

It is a schematic diagram of a printed matter detection mechanism and a printed matter manufacturing apparatus using the same in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the printed matter quality detection mechanism and printed matter manufacturing apparatus using the same in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the processing content of the printed matter quality detection mechanism and printed matter manufacturing apparatus using the same in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the sheet | seat used for the printed matter quality detection mechanism and printed matter manufacturing apparatus using the same in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the sheet | seat used for the printed matter quality detection mechanism and printed matter manufacturing apparatus using the same in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1. Printing system 2. Printing sheet (printed material)
3. Label (print pattern)
4 ... Identification number (identification symbol)
5 ... transport path 6 ... inkjet nozzle (identification symbol applying means)
7. CCD camera (imaging means)
8 ... margin part 10 ... computer 11 ... input part 12 ... memory (storage means)
13: Comparison determination unit (determination means)
14 ... Determination processing unit 15 ... Data output unit 16 ... Control unit 21 ... Identification number reading device (recognition means)
22 ... Removal device (removal means)

Claims (6)

An identification symbol giving means for giving an identification symbol to a printed matter on which a predetermined printing pattern is printed;
Imaging means for imaging a predetermined area including a print pattern in the printed matter;
Determination means for extracting print pattern display data from the image data captured by the imaging means and determining whether the display data is good or bad;
A printed matter detection mechanism comprising: storage means for storing an identification symbol of a defective printed matter determined to be defective by the determination means.   The printed matter detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the identification symbol assigning unit assigns the identification symbol for each print pattern.   The said identification symbol provision means provides the said identification symbol to the site | part corresponded to the blank part outside the said printing pattern, when the said printing pattern is the material of a planar shape product. Printed matter detection mechanism.   The said identification symbol provision means provides the said identification symbol to the site | part corresponded to the inner surface or the back surface of the said box shape product, when the said printing pattern is the material of a box shape product. 2. A printed matter detection mechanism according to 2. A printing system using the printed matter detection mechanism according to claim 1,
Recognizing means for recognizing the identification symbol of the printed matter,
A printing system comprising: a removing unit that removes the defective printed material when the identification symbol recognized by the recognizing unit is an identification symbol of a defective printed material determined to be defective stored in the storage unit. A printing system using the printed matter detection mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
Recognizing means for recognizing an identification symbol of the printed pattern of the printed matter;
When the identification symbol recognized by the recognition device is the identification symbol of the print pattern determined to be defective stored in the storage unit,
A printing system comprising: removal means for removing the print pattern determined to be defective after the printed matter is divided for each print pattern.

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