JP2008224557A - Inspection method and inspection device of infrared absorption print area printed in infrared absorption ink - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection method and an inspection device of an infrared absorption print area printed in an infrared absorption ink on a base material. <P>SOLUTION: An area including the infrared absorption print area is irradiated with a beam including an infrared ray from a vertical direction by the first illumination means. The area including the infrared absorption print area is irradiated by the second illumination means with the beam including the infrared ray from a direction having a prescribed angle with respect to the vertical direction wherein the beam is irradiated from the first illumination means, and image data of the area including the infrared absorption print area are acquired aiming at a wavelength in an infrared light region by an imaging means. Reference infrared absorption print area image data or the like in a reference infrared region are stored beforehand by a storage means, and the image data are compared with the reference infrared absorption print area image data or the like, and the quality of at least one of the shape, the area and the position of the infrared absorption print area is determined based on the comparison result by an image processing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is an inspection of an infrared absorbing printing area printed with infrared absorbing ink on a base material of banknotes, securities, passports, stamps, gift certificates, stock certificates, cards or sheets (hereinafter referred to as “precious goods”). The present invention relates to a method and an inspection apparatus.

  A valuable element is difficult to be counterfeited or altered due to its nature, and a technical element that can determine whether the valuable item is genuine is required.

  In recent years, color copiers, color printers, and the like have a price that can be easily purchased at ordinary homes, and the reproducibility of copies by the devices is much better than before. Therefore, there is a risk that counterfeiting of valuables by color copiers, color printers, etc. will increase.

  On the other hand, for valuables, use of magnetic ink, functional ink, OVD and the like is intended to prevent forgery of color copiers or color printers. Forgery prevention measures using magnetic ink, the authenticity determination is performed by extracting the waveform of the area printed with magnetic ink. In anti-counterfeiting of functional ink, authenticity determination is performed by extracting a waveform or an image of a region printed with ink having different characteristics in the infrared region.

  Ink having different characteristics in the infrared region is used to give valuables or the like as a means for reading information into a machine. As the ink, there are known an infrared transmitting ink that transmits infrared rays, an infrared absorbing ink that absorbs infrared rays, and an infrared reflecting ink that reflects infrared rays.

  Infrared transmitting ink includes ink having a property of transmitting infrared rays in the ink composition. When this infrared transmission ink is irradiated with infrared rays on a printed matter printed on a paper medium or a plastic medium, the infrared rays are transmitted through the ink, and depending on the characteristics of the base material of the printed matter, the amount of reflected infrared rays is different, Infrared light is reflected by the substrate, passes through the infrared transmitting ink again, and the irradiated infrared light returns.

  Infrared absorbing ink includes ink having a property of absorbing infrared rays in the ink composition. When this infrared absorbing ink is irradiated with infrared rays on a printed matter printed on a paper medium or a plastic medium, the ink absorbs the infrared rays, and the irradiated infrared rays do not return.

  Infrared reflective ink includes an ink composition having a property of reflecting infrared rays. When this infrared reflective ink is irradiated with infrared rays on a printed matter printed on a paper medium or a plastic medium, the ink reflects the infrared rays, and the irradiated infrared rays are reflected.

  Inks having different characteristics in infrared rays have such characteristics. For example, a pattern such as a pattern consisting of a plurality of fine lines, a bar code pattern, a QR code is formed, and a base such as paper is used. By printing on the material, when the pattern on the substrate is irradiated with infrared rays, the amount of reflection of infrared rays is detected, and information is reproduced by each infrared characteristic such as transmission, absorption or reflection, thereby preventing counterfeiting It is used as a machine authentication means.

  When printing using inks having different characteristics in the infrared region, in addition to the infrared transmission ink, infrared absorption ink or infrared reflection ink described above, offset ink, flexo ink, gravure, etc., depending on the printing method. It is used as machine authentication means by appropriately selecting from ink, screen ink, intaglio ink, etc. and forming a pattern pattern, bar code pattern, QR code, etc. by combining a plurality of them.

  Prints made using such inks are difficult to identify visually because the parts printed with inks having different characteristics in the infrared region have the same color tone in the visible region. The quality control of the printed material was very difficult.

  As such a printed matter inspection means, a printed matter inspection apparatus for inspecting the quality of a printed matter is known. This printed matter inspection device irradiates the printed matter to be inspected with infrared light or a light source containing infrared light, and separates the reflected light into light in the visible region and light in the infrared region by an optical filter. And the light in the infrared region are converted into electric signals, respectively, and the obtained electric signals are visualized, and the print quality is determined based on this (see Patent Document 1).

  Furthermore, as an apparatus that can be applied to quality control in the printing process or inspection process of printed matter using infrared ink, an inspection apparatus for printed matter using infrared reflection absorbing ink has been proposed. This inspection device for printed matter using infrared reflection / absorption ink uses ink whose ink properties reflect and absorb infrared rays, and irradiates the securities printing products printed by the printing press with infrared rays. Then, an image is acquired by a contact type line sensor or an area sensor, a reference image and an inspection image are compared by calculation, and a pass / fail determination is performed according to an allowable value based on the result (see Patent Document 2).

  Also, a method and apparatus for observing a printed matter using ink having different characteristics in the infrared region and embedding confidential information that can be read by a machine has been proposed. In the visible region, the printed matter is observed as a printed pattern of the same color, but in the infrared region, it is impossible to observe in the visible region by effectively combining the ink characteristics of infrared transmitting ink, infrared absorbing ink and infrared reflecting ink. Pattern printing or concealment information can be concealed, and advanced security printed matter can be produced.

  In addition, for items that can be inspected for each printed matter, the image information obtained by photographing the standard printed matter is compared as reference image data, and the image information obtained by photographing the printed matter to be inspected is compared as inspection image data. There is known a printed matter inspection method and a printed matter inspection apparatus for inspecting the quality state of the printed matter (see Patent Document 3).

  In addition, as a technique for forming a printing pattern with two types of printing inks having different absorption characteristics in the infrared region, for example, a printed material that has been subjected to a printing region detected by an infrared sensor, and the printed material has infrared absorption characteristics. An infrared-absorbing printed material in which a printing region is formed with different printing inks is disclosed (see Patent Document 4).

  The present applicant also relates to a technique for inspecting the quality state of a printed matter by a printing apparatus, and in particular, a method for inspecting a printed matter printed with ink having different characteristics in an infrared region used for a printed matter of confidential information readable by infrared rays. And an inspection device have already been filed (see Patent Document 5).

  Further, the applicant assigns a plurality of sets of one first region and one second region adjacent to the first region, and each of the second regions has a plurality of the first regions. The first region has a larger area than the second region, and the second region includes a second a region configured using black ink containing an infrared absorbing dye. 2b, which is a black system composed of ink that does not contain an infrared absorbing pigment, and the ratio of the 2a region to the 2b region in each of the second regions Accordingly, there has also been filed a halftone dot printed matter in which a gradation image is constituted by the 2a region of a plurality of the second regions (see Patent Document 6).

  The applicant has already filed an application for the authentication system for printed matter described in Patent Document 6 and the like. In this case, when authenticating a printed matter in which a two-dimensional barcode or the like is embedded using black ink containing an infrared-absorbing dye, the two-dimensional barcode read by infrared light is converted into a two-dimensional barcode by total reflection of illumination light. The problem that a part of the code cannot be read and the code cannot be reproduced can be reproduced by improving contrast and S / N using software for the input image taken in the infrared light region. . Furthermore, in the infrared light region, code reproduction is possible by installing an optical filter such as a diffusing plate or diffuser in the printed material installation section so that illumination unevenness does not occur during shooting, and acquiring the input image by diffusing illumination light. A method for authenticating a concealed image or concealment information and an authentication system for the concealed image or concealment information that can authenticate a two-dimensional barcode embedded in the printed material are disclosed (see Patent Document 7).

  Next, OVD (Optical Variable Device) is a foil in which a metal is deposited on a relief diffraction grating, and has a unique optical change function such as the appearance of a stereoscopic image and color shift. Or metal foil. There are a sheet type for punching and applying a sheet-like material, a patch type formed in a shape given in advance, a linear thread type, and the like. These OVD foils are applied to a part or the entire surface of valuables as one of the anti-counterfeiting techniques because of the advanced manufacturing method.

  Manufacture of printed matter provided with OVD foil is performed by applying a sheet-type or patch-type hologram sheet to a substrate by transfer or pressure bonding. In addition, the thread type is applied to the inside or the surface of the paper by see-through, transfer or pressure bonding to the base material.

  Furthermore, overprinting of printed image lines and the like on the OVD foil is intended to improve forgery prevention. For example, a thin piece is attached to a predetermined location on a valuable document, and at least one anti-counterfeit mark having a fine structure that acts diffractively on the thin piece is provided, and at least a part of any of the anti-counterfeit marks is provided. In a document having a structure for improving the forgery safety of a valuable document, a part of the uneven structure for preventing forgery is later stamped on the surface, the uneven structure for preventing forgery is formed by a printing method generally used for manufacturing banknotes, An anti-counterfeit concavo-convex structure is formed by a concavo-convex line and a gap extending in between and substantially parallel to the surface of the valuable document, and at least a part of the gap is covered by a part of the anti-counterfeit mark. Is at least partly curved, and when light is applied to the forgery-preventing uneven structure, the reflection of the light can be visually recognized. When removing the anti-counterfeiting mark from the valuable document, a crease is formed in the anti-counterfeit mark and the portion covering the gap of the anti-counterfeit mark is significantly deformed. A document having a structure for improving the forgery safety of a valuable document characterized by being detected is disclosed (see Patent Document 8).

  In addition, as an apparatus for inspecting the OVD foil and the print area, the hologram layer included in the inspection object is irradiated with light so as to be incident at a predetermined inclination angle (θ1), and a hologram reproduction image recorded on the hologram layer is obtained. A light source for giving a photographing camera and a light source for irradiating a printing surface and a base other than the hologram layer so as to be incident at an inclination angle (θ2) different from the inclination angle, and giving a reflection image of the printing surface and the base to the photographing camera And a quality inspection apparatus that includes determination means for simultaneously determining the quality of the hologram layer, the printing surface, and the background (see Patent Document 9).

  An ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light toward the hologram when the first synchronization signal is output; and a visible light source that emits visible light toward the hologram when the second synchronization signal is output. When the first synchronization signal is output, the first image data is acquired by photographing the hologram irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and when the second synchronization signal is output, the hologram irradiated with visible light is acquired. A camera that captures and acquires second image data, a first synchronization signal that is simultaneously output to the ultraviolet light source and the camera, and a second synchronization signal that is simultaneously output to the visible light source and the camera. A hologram inspection apparatus and inspection method comprising a synchronization signal output unit for output and a display unit for displaying first and second image data acquired by a camera, the transparent pattern printed on the hologram pattern Positional relationships and layers, techniques for detecting defects in transparent pattern layer is disclosed (see Patent Document 10).

  The OVD is an anti-counterfeiting element having high visibility, and is designed so that the pattern of the OVD changes significantly when observed or photographed in the visible light region. In other words, the diffraction grating constituting the OVD changes the pattern of the OVD with a slight change in the incident angle due to the dependency of the light wavelength and the incident angle in the visible light region. In photographing, it was difficult to realize a quality inspection of a printed pattern on a stable OVD foil. Therefore, the applicant of the present invention is obtained by irradiating illumination means for irradiating a visible light source from a direction coaxial with the observation direction of the imaging means, and illumination means for irradiating a visible light source from the diffusion direction with respect to the observation direction of the imaging means. The OVD visible image has been filed for a technology that can prevent the reproduction of the OVD pattern and extract only the printed pattern (see Patent Document 11).

JP-A-5-162294 (page 1-4, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-337935 (page 1-5, FIG. 1-7) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-195878 (page 1-11, FIG. 1-8) JP-A-63-307996 (page 1-12, FIG. 1-5) JP 2006-226857 A (page 1-10, FIG. 1-9) Japanese Patent No. 3544536 (page 1-10, FIG. 1-9) Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-072412 Japanese Patent No. 3053209 (page 1-8, Fig. 1-6) Japanese Patent No. 3339426 (page 1-4, Fig. 1-4) JP 2004-150885 A (page 1-20, FIG. 1-10) Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-074922

  When the infrared absorption print area embedded in the printed matter described in Patent Document 6 is read with infrared rays, generally, the illumination angle, the type of optical filter, and the like are selected depending on the substrate such as paper, plastic, or sheet, and infrared absorption is performed. It took time to find the conditions for obtaining the print area image data. Glossy paper, coated paper, film sheet, or plastic card with high smoothness of the base material itself causes uneven illumination or flickering on a part of the surface of the base material due to slight differences in illumination intensity or direction. However, it is difficult to stably input the infrared absorption printing area image data, and the quality inspection accuracy of the infrared absorption printing area and the reading accuracy from the infrared absorption printing area to the code information are not sufficient. Patent Document 7 is a technique for solving the above-described problem, but it has been necessary to install contrast enhancement on software and an S / N setting, and an optical filter such as a diffusion plate or a diffuser.

  Further, in Patent Documents 9, 10 and 11, there is no description about the inspection of a printed pattern having an infrared absorption printing region and an infrared transmission printing region. When inspected, the printed pattern can be inspected, but the image of the infrared absorption printing area embedded in the printed pattern cannot be inspected.

  Furthermore, Patent Documents 9 and 10 are inspection methods and apparatuses in which the hologram region and the print region are provided in different regions as the inspection method of the OVD foil, and the printed pattern is superimposed on at least a part of the region on the OVD foil. It was not an inspection method and inspection apparatus for printed patterns on printed media.

  When a medium on which an OVD is pasted and an infrared absorption printing area is overprinted on at least a part of the OVD is input in the infrared area, the pattern of the OVD foil changes significantly. Both the reproduced image and the infrared absorption printing area were reproduced, and it was difficult to stably extract only the infrared absorption printing area, and the quality of the infrared absorption printing area could not be inspected with high accuracy. Moreover, as a technique for suppressing the pattern change of the OVD foil, no effective quality control technique for the infrared absorption printing area on the OVD foil has been found. Furthermore, when the substrate to which the OVD foil is attached is a flexible medium, and the medium is inspected while being transported at a high speed, the state of transport of the medium becomes unstable due to the floating of the medium, and the pattern of the OVD foil changes significantly. For this reason, it has been difficult to stably extract the infrared absorption printing region on the OVD foil.

  The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and it is not necessary to make settings for enhancing contrast and improving S / N on software, and it is also possible to use a diffusion plate, a diffuser, or the like. There is no need to install an optical filter. Furthermore, when trying to acquire infrared absorption print area image data of infrared absorption print area printed with infrared absorption ink formed on a substrate with high smoothness, the occurrence of uneven illumination and flickering is suppressed, and infrared absorption is achieved. The print area image data can be stably input, and the reading accuracy from the infrared absorption print area image data to the code information does not deteriorate. In addition, light that irradiates the illumination light of the OVD foil in a direction coaxial with the observation direction (coaxial light: light that is coaxial with the observation direction of the imaging means. For example, the imaging means is perpendicular to the object to be inspected. When installed at the position, the coaxial light becomes the light in the vertical direction) and the light that diffuses in the observation direction (diffuse light: illumination is evenly arranged based on the irradiated position) at the same time Thus, it is possible to suppress the reproduced image of the OVD foil in the image taken in the infrared region, and the infrared absorbing print region image data of the infrared absorbing print region on the OVD foil can be stably extracted. Furthermore, the base material to which the OVD foil is attached is a flexible medium such as paper, and when the medium is inspected while being conveyed at high speed, even if the flexible medium such as paper is lifted or fluttered, the OVD foil Infrared rays that can stably shoot the infrared absorption print area on the OVD foil without a reproducible image, and can check the quality of whether the infrared absorption print area is normally printed based on the photographed image data. An object of the present invention is to propose an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with absorption ink.

  The present invention is an inspection method for an infrared absorption printing area printed with an infrared absorption ink on a substrate using an inspection apparatus including two illumination means, an imaging means, a storage means, and an image processing means. Of the two illuminating means, the first illuminating means irradiates the region including the infrared absorption printing area with the infrared ray or the light beam including the infrared rays from the vertical direction, and the second illuminating means causes the first illuminating means to From the direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction of irradiating the light from the infrared ray, the region including the infrared absorption printing region is irradiated with the infrared ray or the ray containing the infrared ray, and the infrared ray is applied to the wavelength of the infrared light region by the photographing means The infrared absorption printing area image data of the area including the absorption printing area is acquired, and the reference infrared absorption printing area image data or the reference infrared absorption printing area of the reference infrared area is stored by the storage means. Reference position data indicating the reference position of the image data and the reference infrared absorption print area is stored in advance, and the image processing means compares the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data, or absorbs infrared rays. The print area image data is compared with the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the reference position data, and at least one of the shape, area, and position of the infrared absorption print area is determined based on the comparison result. This is an inspection method of an infrared absorption printing area printed with infrared absorption ink.

  The present invention also provides infrared absorption printing printed on a substrate with infrared absorbing ink using an inspection apparatus comprising a plurality of illumination means, reflection means, photographing means, storage means, and image processing means. A method for inspecting an area, wherein an infrared ray or a light beam containing infrared rays is irradiated from a plurality of illumination means to an infrared absorption printing area through a reflection means, and infrared rays are absorbed by the imaging means for the wavelength of the infrared light area. The infrared absorption printing area image data of the area including the printing area is obtained, and the reference infrared absorption printing area image data of the reference infrared area or the reference infrared absorption printing area image data and the reference infrared absorption printing area of the area including the printing area are acquired by the storage unit. Reference position data indicating the reference position is stored in advance, and infrared absorption print area image data and reference infrared absorption print area image data are stored by image processing means. Or comparing the infrared absorption printing area image data with the reference infrared absorption printing area image data and the reference position data, and determining the quality of at least one of the shape, area and position of the infrared absorption printing area based on the comparison result. It is an inspection method of an infrared ray absorbing print area printed with an infrared ray absorbing ink characterized by determining.

  The present invention also provides an infrared absorption printed on a substrate with an infrared absorbing ink using an inspection device comprising two illumination means, a photographing means, a storage means, a decoding processing means, and an image processing means. A method for inspecting a print area, wherein the first illumination means of the two illumination means irradiates the area including the infrared absorption print area with a light beam including infrared rays or infrared rays from the vertical direction, and the second illumination means. By irradiating the region including the infrared absorption printing region with the infrared ray or the infrared ray from the direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction in which the light is emitted from the first illumination unit, Infrared absorption print area image data of the area including the infrared absorption print area is acquired for the wavelength of the area, the reference code information is stored in advance by the storage means, and the decode processing means Code information is generated from the infrared absorption print area image data, and the code information generated from the infrared absorption print area image data is compared with the reference code information by the image processing means, and the infrared absorption print area is determined based on the comparison result. Is a method for inspecting an infrared-absorbing print area printed with infrared-absorbing ink.

  In addition, the present invention uses an inspection apparatus including a plurality of illumination means, reflection means, photographing means, storage means, decoding processing means, and image processing means, and prints with infrared absorbing ink on a substrate. A method of inspecting an infrared absorption printing area, wherein the infrared absorption printing area is irradiated from a plurality of illumination means to the infrared absorption printing area via a reflection means, and the wavelength of the infrared light area is determined by an imaging means. Infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area is obtained, reference code information is stored in advance by the storage means, and code information is generated from the infrared absorption print area image data by the decoding processing means. The code information generated from the infrared absorption print area image data is compared with the reference code information by the image processing means, and the infrared ray is based on the comparison result. It is a test method of the infrared absorbing printing area printed with the infrared absorbing ink and judging the quality of the code information formed by Osamu print area.

  In the present invention, the second illuminating unit is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the position where the first illuminating unit irradiates infrared rays or rays containing infrared rays from a direction perpendicular to the region including the infrared absorption printing region. Infrared absorption characterized by irradiating infrared rays or rays containing infrared rays to a region including an infrared ray absorption printing region from a plurality of second illumination means arranged at a predetermined angle and having a predetermined angle. It is an inspection method of an infrared absorption printing area printed with ink.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inspection method for an infrared absorbing print area printed with an infrared absorbing ink, wherein the acquired infrared absorbing print area image data is binarized by an image processing means.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for inspecting an infrared absorbing print area printed with an infrared absorbing ink, wherein the storage means stores in advance the reference infrared absorbing print area image data binarized.

  The present invention is also an inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with infrared absorption ink on a substrate, and irradiates the area including the infrared absorption printing area with infrared rays or rays containing infrared rays from the vertical direction. The first irradiation unit and the first irradiation unit irradiate the region including the infrared absorption print region with the infrared ray or the light beam including the infrared ray from a direction having a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical direction in which the light beam is irradiated from the first illumination unit Illuminating means having two irradiating means, imaging means for acquiring infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area, and reference infrared absorption printing of the infrared area as a reference Storage means for previously storing area image data or reference infrared absorption printing area image data and reference position data indicating a reference position of a reference infrared absorption printing area Compare infrared absorption print area image data with reference infrared absorption print area image data, or compare infrared absorption print area image data with reference infrared absorption print area image data and reference position data, and based on the comparison result An inspection apparatus for an infrared-absorbing print area printed with infrared-absorbing ink, comprising image processing means for determining at least one of the shape, area and position of the infrared-absorbing print area.

  Further, the present invention is an inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with an infrared absorption ink on a substrate, and a plurality of irradiations for indirectly irradiating the infrared absorption printing area with infrared rays or light beams including infrared rays. Means, one or a plurality of reflecting means for reflecting infrared rays or rays including infrared rays from a plurality of irradiating means and irradiating the infrared absorbing printing area, and an area including the infrared absorbing printing area for the wavelength of the infrared light area Photographing means for acquiring the infrared absorption print area image data of the image, and the reference infrared absorption print area image data of the reference infrared area or the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the reference position indicating the reference position of the reference infrared absorption print area Compare the storage means for storing data in advance, the infrared absorption print area image data and the reference infrared absorption print area image data, or infrared From the image processing means for comparing the collected print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the reference position data and determining at least one quality of the shape, area and position of the infrared absorption print area based on the comparison result It is the inspection apparatus of the infrared absorption printing area | region printed with the infrared absorption ink which consists of.

  The present invention is also an inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with infrared absorption ink on a substrate, and irradiates the area including the infrared absorption printing area with infrared rays or rays containing infrared rays from the vertical direction. The first irradiation unit and the first irradiation unit irradiate the region including the infrared absorption print region with the infrared ray or the light beam including the infrared ray from a direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction in which the light beam is irradiated from the first illumination unit. Illuminating means having two irradiating means, imaging means for acquiring infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area, and storage means for storing reference code information in advance Decoding processing means for generating code information from the infrared absorption print area image data; code information generated from the infrared absorption print area image data; An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink, comprising image processing means for comparing information and determining the quality of code information formed by the infrared absorbing print area based on the comparison result It is.

  Further, the present invention is an inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with an infrared absorption ink on a substrate, and a plurality of irradiations for indirectly irradiating the infrared absorption printing area with infrared rays or light beams including infrared rays. Means, one or a plurality of reflecting means for reflecting infrared rays or rays including infrared rays from a plurality of irradiating means and irradiating the infrared absorbing printing area, and an area including the infrared absorbing printing area for the wavelength of the infrared light area Image capturing means for acquiring infrared absorption print area image data, storage means for storing reference code information in advance, decoding processing means for generating code information from infrared absorption print area image data, and generation from infrared absorption print area image data Code information formed by the infrared absorption printing area based on the comparison result Quality is an inspection apparatus of the infrared absorbing printing area printed with the infrared absorbing ink, characterized by comprising an image processing means for determining.

  Further, the second illumination means of the present invention is directed to the vertical direction centering on the position where the first illumination means irradiates the infrared ray or the light ray including the infrared ray from the vertical direction with respect to the region including the infrared absorption print area. This is an inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with an infrared absorption ink having a predetermined angle and being uniformly arranged.

  The image processing means of the present invention is an infrared absorption printing area inspection apparatus printed with infrared absorption ink, characterized by binarizing the infrared absorption printing area image data acquired by the photographing means.

  Further, the image processing means of the present invention provides a comparison between the infrared absorption printing area image data acquired by the imaging means and the reference infrared absorption printing area image data stored in advance, or the infrared absorption printing area image acquired by the imaging means. A calculation unit that compares the data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data and reference position data stored in advance, and determination for determining at least one of the shape, area, and position of the infrared absorption print area based on the comparison result 1 is an inspection device for an infrared absorption printing area printed with an infrared absorption ink having a portion.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption print area printed with infrared absorption ink, wherein the storage means stores the binarized reference infrared absorption print area image data.

  The infrared absorption printing area inspection method and inspection apparatus according to the present invention include code information from the image of the infrared absorption printing area as well as the quality inspection of the image of the infrared absorption printing area in the conveying process or stationary state of the printing machine. It is also possible to perform quality inspections suitable for conversion to. Further, it can be used as a simple authenticity discrimination device in the distribution stage of valuables.

  In addition, the infrared absorption printing region inspection method and inspection apparatus of the present invention is an image of the infrared absorption printing region printed on glossy paper, coated paper, film sheet, plastic card, or the like where the substrate itself has high smoothness. Illumination unevenness and flickering can be suppressed, and a clear input image can be obtained.

  In addition, since the infrared absorption printing region inspection method and inspection apparatus of the present invention can obtain a stable input image having reproducibility in the inspection processing, a part of image processing such as contrast and enhancement can be omitted. Simplification, image quality inspection and reading accuracy of the infrared absorption printing area are improved. Accordingly, it is possible to confirm the quality state in the printing process of each of these media, to perform more accurate printing quality inspection, and to authenticate the conversion from the image in the infrared absorption printing area to the code information.

  Further, when a medium in which an image of an infrared absorption printing area is overprinted on at least a partial area of the OVD foil is photographed in the infrared region, the pattern of the OVD foil is not changed or hardly changed, and the photographed image The image of the infrared absorption print area on the OVD foil is stably photographed and photographed because the image of the infrared absorption print area is photographed without taking the OVD reproduction image or difficult to photograph. It is possible to inspect whether or not the image of the infrared absorption printing area is normally printed on the substrate based on the image data thus obtained.

  Furthermore, when the substrate to which the OVD is attached is a flexible medium such as paper, and the medium is inspected while being conveyed by a high-speed machine, even if a fluttering due to the floating of the flexible medium occurs, the captured image has an OVD. Since only the image of the infrared absorption printing area is taken without taking the reproduction image of the foil, the image of the infrared absorption printing area on the OVD foil is stably taken, and the infrared absorption printing area image data thus taken is captured. Based on the above, it is possible to inspect whether the image of the infrared absorption printing area is normally printed on the substrate. Therefore, 100% inspection on the machine is possible. In addition, even in the stationary state, a stable image can be obtained and quality inspection can be performed in the same manner. Therefore, in the printing process, it is possible to confirm the quality of the image in the infrared absorption printing area on the OVD foil and perform high-precision printing quality inspection. it can.

  Furthermore, because of the input method in the infrared light region, the infrared absorption print region printed on the base material portion having infrared transmission characteristics is not affected by the design and color characteristics of the infrared absorption print region, and is made of infrared absorption ink. Inspection of the area printed on the substrate is possible.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the best mode for carrying out the invention described below, and includes various other embodiments within the scope of the technical idea described in the scope of claims.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described. First, FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are used as an example of a print medium to be inspected in an inspection method and inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing region such as a printed matter printed on a substrate with the infrared absorption ink of the present invention. I will explain.

  In FIG. 1, an infrared absorption printing region 2 printed with an infrared absorption ink is formed on a substrate 1. The infrared absorption print area 2 in FIG. 1 (a) is a print medium A1 on which characters are formed, and the infrared absorption print area 2 in FIG. 1 (b) is a print medium A2 on which a line drawing line is formed. The infrared absorption printing area 2 in FIG. 1C is a circular print medium A3 in which an infrared transmission printing area 2b printed with infrared transmission ink is formed around the infrared absorption printing area 2. The infrared absorption print area 2 and the infrared transmission print area 2b of the print medium A3 may have the same, substantially the same, or different colors in the visible light area. Further, the infrared absorption print area 2 and the infrared transmission print area 2b are adjacent to each other, the infrared absorption print area 2 surrounds the infrared transmission print area 2b, or the infrared transmission print area 2b surrounds the infrared absorption print area 2. It may be a form of hair removal. Instead of the infrared transmission printing area 2b printed with the infrared transmission ink shown in FIG. 1C, an infrared reflection printing area printed with the infrared reflection ink may be used. The present invention is an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for the infrared absorption printing region 2 shown in FIG. The shapes of the infrared absorption printing area 2, the infrared transmission printing area 2b, and the infrared reflection printing area are not particularly limited.

  Next, an example of a print medium in which the infrared absorption print area 2 cannot be recognized with the naked eye is shown. In FIG. 2, a plurality of sets of one first region 3a which is an infrared transmission printing region and one second region 3b adjacent to the first region 3a are arranged, and the periphery of the second region 3b is The first region 3a is surrounded by a plurality of first regions 3a, and the first region 3a has a larger area than the second region 3b. Further, the third region 3c is formed by hair removal in the second region 3b. Print medium A4. The first area 3a is printed with, for example, infrared transmissive ink such as cyan, magenta, and yellow, and the second area 3b is printed with black made of mixed infrared transmissive ink of cyan, magenta, and yellow. The area 3c is printed with black made of infrared absorbing ink. The third area 3c becomes the infrared absorption printing area 2. In the printed pattern P shown in FIG. 2, an infrared absorption printing area 2 (two-dimensional barcode) printed with infrared absorption ink composed of a third area 3c that cannot be recognized with the naked eye is embedded. The present invention is an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for the infrared absorption printing region 2 shown in FIG. Also, it is possible to inspect digital watermark information that can be confirmed by frequency analysis formed in the infrared absorption printing region 2. The shape of the infrared absorption printing region 2 is not particularly limited. When the infrared absorption print area 2 is code information such as a two-dimensional bar code, it is possible to check whether or not encoding can be performed by decoding after reading the infrared absorption print area 2.

  Next, an example of a print medium in which the infrared absorption print area 2 is printed on the OVD 4 is shown. The print medium A5 on which the infrared absorption printing region 2 is printed on the thread type OVD foil 4 as shown in FIG. 3A, and the infrared ray on the window-open thread type OVD foil 4 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3C, the print medium A6 on which the absorption print area 2 is printed, the infrared absorption print area 2 and the infrared transmission print area 2b are formed on the patch-type OVD foil 4 applied on the substrate 1. This is a printed print medium A7. Instead of the infrared transmission printing area 2b printed with the infrared transmission ink shown in FIG. 3C, an infrared reflection printing area printed with the infrared reflection ink may be used. The present invention is an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for the infrared absorption printing region 2 shown in FIG. The shapes of the infrared absorption printing area 2, the infrared transmission printing area 2b, the infrared reflection printing area, and the OVD foil are not particularly limited. Further, it is possible to inspect the infrared absorption printing region 2 in which the printed matter shown in FIG. 2 is overprinted on the OVD foil.

  The infrared absorption printing region 2 includes letters, numbers, symbols, designs, patterns, and the like, and is not particularly limited. The infrared absorbing ink is not particularly limited, such as offset printing ink, gravure printing ink, screen printing ink, intaglio printing ink, ink jet printing ink or toner. The base material 1 is not particularly limited, such as glossy paper having high smoothness, coated paper, synthetic paper, film sheet, plastic card, etc., but is not limited to banknote paper, general paper, glossy paper, coated paper, card, A film sheet or a plastic sheet can be used.

  The inspection apparatus for the infrared absorption print area 2 of the print media A1 to A4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the inspection device 11a for inspecting the infrared absorption printing area 2 printed on the substrate 1 includes an illumination unit 12, an image input unit 15 including an imaging unit 13 and an input unit 14, and a storage unit. 16 and image processing means 17 and notification means 22.

  The illuminating unit 12 irradiates the region including the infrared absorption printing region 2 applied to the substrate 1 with a light beam 18 a including an infrared ray from a direction coaxial with the observation direction of the photographing unit 13. A light ray 18a including an infrared ray from the coaxial direction is light in a direction coaxial with the observation direction of the photographing means, and in FIG. 4, the photographing means 13 is installed at a position perpendicular to the print medium A3. The coaxial light becomes light in the vertical direction. By irradiating the region including the infrared absorption printing region 2 imparted to the substrate 1 with the light beam 18a including the infrared ray from the coaxial direction with the observation direction of the photographing means 13, the substrate 1 has high smoothness. Even in the case of glossy paper, coated paper, synthetic paper, film sheet or plastic card paper, only the infrared absorption printing area 2 is photographed without causing uneven illumination and flickering. You can shoot stably. What is necessary is just to irradiate light, such as an infrared lamp, a halogen lamp, an incandescent lamp, or infrared LED, as a light source of the illumination means 12. The region including the infrared absorption printing region described above includes an infrared absorption printing region only region, an infrared absorption printing region which will be described later, and an infrared transmission printing region or an infrared reflection printing region adjacent to or adjacent to the infrared absorption printing region. A region including the infrared absorption printing region and a reference mark.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the inspection apparatus 11b for the infrared absorption printing area 2 according to the present embodiment includes a first illumination unit 12a, a second illumination unit 12b, an imaging unit 13, and an input unit 14. Image input means 15, storage means 16, image processing means 17, and notification means 22.

  The 1st illumination means 12a irradiates the light ray 18a containing the infrared rays from the coaxial direction with the observation direction of the imaging | photography means 13 with respect to the area | region containing the infrared absorption printing area | region 2 provided to the base material 1, and 2nd illumination The means 12b irradiates the imaging means 13 with a light ray 18b including infrared rays from the diffusion direction with respect to the observation direction. The first illuminating means 12a is light coaxial with the observation direction of the photographing means. In FIG. 5A, the photographing means 13 is installed at a position perpendicular to the print medium A3. Becomes vertical light. The first illuminating means 12a and the second illuminating means 12b are preferably shadowless illumination that can uniformly and uniformly irradiate the photographing means 13 simultaneously with the same axis and diffused irradiation. For the region including the infrared absorption printing region 2 printed on the base material 1, a light beam 18 a including infrared rays from the coaxial direction with the observation direction of the photographing unit 13 and an infrared ray from the diffusion direction with respect to the observation unit 13. By irradiating the light beam 18b containing the infrared rays without causing uneven illumination and flickering even if the substrate 1 is glossy paper, coated paper, synthetic paper, film sheet or plastic card paper having high smoothness. Since only the absorption printing area 2 is imaged, the infrared absorption printing area 2 can be imaged stably. What is necessary is just to irradiate light, such as an infrared lamp, a halogen lamp, an incandescent lamp, or infrared LED, as a light source of the illumination means 12.

  The second illumination means 12b has at least two illuminations. For example, when there are two illuminations, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the second illumination means 12b are equal to each other so that they can be illuminated from two directions with reference to the illuminated position. Need to be placed in. The number of irradiation directions of the second illuminating unit 12b is not limited to two directions, and can be appropriately selected from three directions, four directions, and the like.

  Furthermore, the infrared absorption printing area can be stably extracted by the illumination means described below.

  The reflecting means 20 and the diffusing means 21 have at least two or more reflecting means and diffusing means. In the illuminating means, the photographing means 13 is applied to an area including the infrared absorption printing area 2 applied to the substrate 1. The light beam 18a including the infrared light beam from the observation direction and the coaxial direction and the light beam 18b including the infrared light beam from the diffusing direction are irradiated to the photographing unit 13, and the second light beam is irradiated as in the inspection apparatus 11c shown in FIG. When there are two illumination means 12b, the reflection means 20 and the diffusion means 21 are provided. The illuminating unit 12b directly irradiates the reflecting unit 20 with a light beam including infrared rays and reflects the light beam including infrared rays. The reflected light beam including infrared rays is applied to the diffusion means 21 to diffuse the light beam including infrared rays. The first illumination unit 12a irradiates light including infrared rays from the same direction as the photographing unit. The first illuminating means 12a is light that is coaxial with the observation direction of the photographing means. In FIG. 6, since the photographing means 13 is installed at a vertical position with respect to the print medium A3, the coaxial light is in the vertical direction. Of light. The light ray 18a including infrared rays from the coaxial direction with respect to the photographing unit 13 and the light ray including diffused infrared rays become light rays 18b including infrared rays from the diffusion direction with respect to the photographing unit 13, and includes at least the infrared absorption printing region 2. Irradiating the area, the imaging means 13 acquires infrared absorption printing area imaging data of an area including at least the infrared absorption printing area 2 for the wavelength of the infrared region. The material of the reflecting means 20 is formed of a metal layer such as nickel or chrome, and is a plate shape in FIG. 6, but may be a curved shape or a dome shape. The surface shape of the reflecting means is not limited to a mirror body, and may be an uneven shape or a non-uniform shape. Further, the number of the reflection means 20 is not necessarily the same as the number of illuminations, and a plurality of reflection means may be arranged for one illumination. The diffusing means 21 is formed of diffusing optical glass, a diffusing optical filter, or the like, and has a plate shape in FIG. 6, but may have a curved shape or a dome shape. As described above, even in such a form, it is preferable that the illuminating unit 12 is a shadowless illumination that can uniformly irradiate the photographing unit 13 with coaxial and diffuse irradiation simultaneously.

  For example, when the print medium A3 shown in FIG. 1C is inspected, the infrared absorption printing shown in FIG. 7B is obtained from the infrared absorption printing area shooting data 5 shown in FIG. It is converted into area image data 6.

  However, when the base material 1 is glossy paper, coated paper, synthetic paper, film sheet, or plastic card paper having high smoothness, the photographing means 13 is used for the region including the infrared absorption printing region printed on the base material 1. Infrared absorption printing area photographing data 5 and infrared absorption printing area image data of the infrared absorption printing area 2 printed on the substrate 1 at an illumination position where only the light ray 18b including infrared rays from the diffusion direction is irradiated to the observation direction. When trying to acquire 6, as shown in FIG. 8, uneven illumination and flickering occur due to the base material 1, and the infrared absorption print area cannot be extracted.

  The photographing means acquires photographing data under a light ray region including infrared rays, and the type thereof is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a CCD line sensor camera, a CCD area sensor camera, and a CMOS camera. As shown in FIG. 9, the CCD line sensor camera is suitable for acquiring photographing data of the infrared absorption printing area 2 when the print medium A8 is conveyed by the inspection cylinder, and the photographing means of the inspection apparatus 11d. Used for. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the CCD area sensor camera and the CMOS camera are suitable for acquiring shooting data of the infrared absorption printing area 2 in a state where the printing medium A3 is stationary, and are used as shooting means of the inspection apparatus 11e. Used.

  The camera of the photographing means is desirably arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the print medium so that the reflectance of the base material 1 does not increase.

  In the storage unit 16, as shown in FIG. 11, the reference infrared absorption printing area image data 31 of the infrared absorption printing area serving as a reference or the reference infrared absorption printing area image data 31 of the infrared absorption printing area serving as a reference, as shown in FIG. In addition, reference position data 33 indicating the reference position of the infrared absorption print area serving as a reference is stored in advance. The reference infrared absorption print area image data 31 of the reference infrared absorption print area may be used as the reference infrared absorption print area image data 32 obtained by the binarization process. In this case, the calculation speed is improved at the stage of comparison.

  The input infrared absorption print area image data 6 is temporarily stored in the storage means 16.

  The image processing unit 17 can perform binarization processing on the infrared absorption print area image data 6. FIG. 12 is infrared absorption print area image data 7 obtained by binarizing the infrared absorption print area image data 6 of FIG. Binarization is a method in which an object is cut out from an image in order to analyze the characteristics of the image, and a background and a figure are separated. An image represented by two values of 0 and 1 from a grayscale image having a density value. Is to convert to With this binarization processing, if the bright part is white and the dark part is black, the result is as shown in FIG.

  Further, the calculation unit of the image processing unit 17 determines at least one of the shape, area, and position of the infrared absorption print region 2. The comparison method necessary for the determination is as follows, and may be selected as appropriate. (1) The input infrared absorption print area image data 6 and the reference infrared absorption print area image data 31 are compared. (2) The infrared absorption print area image data 6 is compared with the reference infrared absorption print area image data 31 and the reference position data 33. (3) Infrared absorption print area image data 7 obtained by binarizing the infrared absorption print area image data 6 by the image processing means, and reference infrared absorption print area image data 32 obtained by binarization processing; Compare. (4) Infrared absorption print area image data 7 obtained by binarizing the infrared absorption print area image data 6 by the image processing means, and reference infrared absorption print area image data 32 obtained by binarization processing And the reference position data 33 are compared.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the storage means 16 stores reference outline data 34 indicating the outline of the reference infrared absorption print area in advance, and the image processing means 17 stores the input infrared absorption print area image data 6 in the input infrared absorption print area image data 6. By performing binarization processing, the infrared absorption print region contour data 8 is extracted from the binarized infrared absorption print region image data 7, and the infrared absorption print region contour data 8 and the reference contour data 34 are compared. It is also possible to determine whether the shape of the infrared absorption printing region 2 is good or bad based on the comparison result.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the storage means 16 prestores reference area data 35 indicating the area value of the reference infrared absorbing print area, and the image processing means 17 inputs the inputted infrared absorbing print area image data 6. The binarization process is performed to calculate the area value 9 of the infrared absorption print area from the binarized infrared absorption print area image data 7, and the area value 9 of the infrared absorption print area is compared with the reference area data 35. And it is also possible to determine the quality of the printing state of the infrared absorption printing area 2 based on the comparison result.

  Further, in the storage means 16, as shown in FIG. 11, the coordinates 36 representing the position of the infrared absorbing print area serving as a reference when the infrared absorbing print area is printed on the substrate and the infrared absorbing print area serving as the reference are displayed. Coordinates 37 indicating a reference position for position detection are stored in advance, and the image processing means performs binarization processing on the input infrared absorption print region image data 6 to perform binarization processing of the infrared absorption print region image. Infrared absorbing print area printed on the substrate by calculating coordinates representing the position of the infrared absorbing print area printed on the substrate from data 7 and coordinates indicating the reference position for detecting the position of the infrared absorbing print area And the coordinates indicating the reference position for detecting the position of the infrared absorption print area, the coordinates 36 representing the position of the infrared absorption print area as a reference, and the reference. Comparing the coordinates 37 indicating a reference position for position detection of the infrared absorbing printing area, it is possible to determine the quality of the position of the infrared absorbing printing area 2 based on the comparison result.

  The coordinates 37 indicating the reference position for detecting the position of the reference infrared absorption print region are coordinates representing the reference mark and the base material, and the reference mark is formed by printing or filling, and represents the base material. Examples of the coordinates to be performed include the coordinates of the end portion of the substrate. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to photograph the area including at least the infrared absorption printing area and the reference mark by the photographing means. In addition, it is necessary to photograph at least the region including the infrared absorption printing region and the end portion of the substrate with the photographing unit.

  The calculation unit of the image processing unit 17 compares the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the like by a comparison determination method represented by pattern matching or image processing, a feature point extraction method, or the like.

  By inspection of the infrared absorption printing area, if it is within the allowable value range, it is determined as normal and treated as a normal product, and if it is outside the allowable value range, it is determined as a defect and discarded as an abnormal product. Furthermore, the comparison result can be notified by image display, determination display, sound, printing, and the like by the notification means. The display can be displayed on a display or a liquid crystal screen, and the output may be printed with a symbol or the like on the abnormal product.

  A method for inspecting the infrared absorbing print area 2 such as the print media A1 to A4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 25, in the first step, the illumination unit irradiates a region including at least the infrared absorption printing region with a light beam including infrared rays from a direction coaxial with the observation direction of the photographing unit.

  In the second step, the region including the infrared absorption print region irradiated with the light including infrared rays is an infrared region relative to the region including the infrared absorption print region applied to the substrate by the image input unit including the photographing unit. The infrared absorption print area image data that has been imaged is converted into infrared absorption print area image data and input.

  In a third step, at least one of the shape, area, and position of the infrared absorption printing region is determined by the calculation unit of the image processing means. The comparison method necessary for the determination is as follows, and may be selected as appropriate. (1) The reference infrared absorption print area image data stored in advance in the storage means of the computer is acquired, and the infrared absorption print area image data input in step 4 is compared with the read reference infrared absorption print area image data. . (2) The infrared absorption print area image data is compared with the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the reference position data. (3) Compare the infrared absorption print area image data obtained by binarizing the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data obtained by the binarization process. (4) Infrared absorption print area image data obtained by binarizing the infrared absorption print area image data by the image processing means, reference infrared absorption print area image data and reference position obtained by binarization processing Compare the data.

  Further, in the third and fourth steps, the storage means stores in advance reference outline data indicating the outline of the reference infrared absorbing print area, and the image processing means binarizes the inputted infrared absorbing print area image data 6. Processing, extracting the infrared absorption print area contour data from the binarized infrared absorption print area image data, comparing the infrared absorption print area outline data with the reference outline data, and based on the comparison result It is also possible to determine whether the shape of the infrared absorption printing area is good or bad.

  In the third and fourth steps, the storage means stores in advance reference area data indicating the area value of the infrared absorbing print area as a reference, and the image processing means binarizes the input infrared absorbing print area image data. Processing, calculating the area value of the infrared absorption print area from the binarized infrared absorption print area image data, comparing the area value of the infrared absorption print area with the reference area data, and based on the comparison result It is also possible to determine whether the print state of the infrared absorption print area is good or bad.

  Further, in the third and fourth steps, the storage means has coordinates representing the position of the infrared absorbing print area serving as a reference when the infrared absorbing print area is printed on the substrate and the position of the infrared absorbing print area serving as the reference. The coordinates indicating the reference position for detection are stored in advance, and the image processing means performs binarization processing on the input infrared absorption print area image data, and based on the binarized infrared absorption print area image data. Calculate the coordinates representing the position of the infrared absorbing print area printed on the material and the coordinates indicating the reference position for detecting the position of the infrared absorbing print area, and represent the position of the infrared absorbing print area printed on the substrate. And the coordinates indicating the reference position for detecting the position of the infrared absorption print area, the coordinates representative of the position of the infrared absorption print area serving as the reference, and the infrared absorption serving as the reference Comparing the coordinates indicating a reference position for position detection of the printing area, it is possible to determine the quality of the position of the infrared absorbing printing area based on the comparison result.

  The coordinates indicating the reference position for detecting the position of the reference infrared absorption printing area are coordinates representing the reference mark and the base material, and the reference mark is formed by printing or filling, and represents the base material. As for the coordinate, the coordinate of the edge part of a base material is mentioned. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to photograph the area including at least the infrared absorption printing area and the reference mark by the photographing means. It is also necessary to photograph at least the region including the infrared absorption printing region and the end of the substrate with the photographing means.

  The calculation unit of the image processing unit compares the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the like by pattern matching, a comparison determination method represented by image processing, a feature point extraction method, and the like.

  Furthermore, this method can also be used for inspection of film scratches and stains in the infrared region even for photosensitive film sheets that cannot be inspected for quality by visible light.

  When code information such as a two-dimensional barcode as shown in FIG. 2 is embedded in the print medium A4 as an infrared absorption print area, an inspection is performed as to whether or not the two-dimensional barcode can be normally converted into code information. The process and the processing device up to the acquisition of the absorption print area image data are the same as those in Step 1 and Step 2 of the inspection method of the infrared absorption print area (image) of the print media A1 to A4 shown in FIG.

  After the acquisition of the infrared absorption print area image data, as shown in FIG. 26, code information is generated from the infrared absorption print area image data by the decoding processing means in step 3, and the reference code information is obtained by the storage means in step 4. Reference code information stored in advance is acquired. In step 5, the image processing means compares the code information generated from the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference code information read from the storage means, and based on the comparison result. The quality of the code information formed by the infrared absorption printing area is determined.

  An inspection apparatus for the infrared absorption print region 2 printed on the OVD foil such as the print media A5 to A7 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The inspection apparatus for inspecting the infrared absorption print area 2 on the OVD foil 2 applied to the substrate 1 is an inspection apparatus for the infrared absorption print area (image) of the print media A1 to A4 described above (FIGS. 4 and 5). , FIG. 9, FIG. 9 or FIG. 10) can be inspected by the same inspection apparatus.

  By the illumination means shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, the pattern of the OVD foil is not changed, and the reproduced image of the OVD foil is not photographed on the photographed image. Since only the infrared absorption printing area is imaged, the infrared absorption printing area on the OVD foil can be stably imaged.

  In the case of the inspection apparatus 11d of FIG. 9, it is desirable to arrange the photographing means (camera) in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the print medium so that the reproduced image of the OVD foil is not reproduced.

  The image processing unit 17 can perform binarization processing on the infrared absorption print area image data 6. Even if the image of the OVD foil and the image of the contour portion of the OVD foil remain somewhat in the infrared absorption print area image data 6 as shown in FIG. 13A, the image of the OVD foil is determined by binarization processing by setting a certain threshold value. In addition, the image of removing the contour image of the OVD foil can be removed, and the binarized infrared absorption printing area in which the image of the OVD foil and the contour portion of the OVD foil are not reproduced as shown in FIG. Image data 7 is obtained.

  The inspection method of the infrared absorption print area 2 printed on the OVD foil such as the print media A5 to A7 shown in FIG. 3 is the same as the inspection method of the infrared absorption print area (image) of the print media A1 to A4. It can be inspected in the steps.

  Hereinafter, examples of an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing region printed with the infrared absorption ink of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the contents of the present invention are limited to these examples. It is not a thing.

(Example 1)
A star-shaped infrared absorbing printing region 2 was printed on an intaglio printing machine using infrared absorbing intaglio ink (color: black) on a cord paper 1 as a sheet as shown in FIG. 14 to produce a printing medium B1. . Further, the reference mark 10a was printed in the vicinity of the infrared absorption printing region 2 with infrared absorption intaglio ink (color: black).

  When the infrared absorption print area of the print medium B1 is in a stationary state, the quality inspection of the print pattern in the infrared absorption print area offline is performed in order to inspect the infrared absorption print area 2 printed on the print medium B1, as shown in FIG. The inspection apparatus 11f includes a surface emitting flat dome illumination provided with an infrared LED illumination means as the illumination means 12, an image input means 15 including an imaging means 13 and an input section 14, a storage means 16, and an image including a calculation section. The processing means 17 and the alerting | reporting means 22 are provided.

  The light beam including the infrared rays from the illuminating unit 12 imparts to the base material 1 the light beam 18a including the infrared rays from the observation direction of the photographing unit 13 and the coaxial direction and the light beam 18b including the infrared rays from the diffusion direction to the photographing unit 13. Irradiation was performed on the infrared absorption printing region 2 including the reference mark 10a. In the image input means 15, the infrared absorption printing area imaging data including the reference mark for the wavelength in the infrared region is acquired by the imaging means 13, and the infrared absorption printing area 2 applied to the base material from the infrared absorption printing area imaging data. The input unit 14 acquires the infrared absorption print area image data including the reference mark of the two-dimensional image with respect to the wavelength of the infrared area.

  The input infrared absorption print area image data including the reference mark is binarized by the image processing means 17 and the infrared absorption including the reference mark subjected to the binarization process is performed. Print area image data was generated.

  The binarized infrared absorption print area image data was compared with the binarized reference infrared absorption print area image data previously stored in the storage means of the computer by the arithmetic unit of the image processing means.

  In this comparison process, two image data of the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the binarized infrared absorption print area image data 7 to be inspected are each n × m pixels (n and m are integers of 1 or more). The shape was inspected by pattern matching. A determination was made for each target pixel, and a match rate of 90% or more was determined to be acceptable. The matching rate and the area per pixel unit may be determined as appropriate.

  Further, the infrared absorption print area image data including the binarized reference mark is processed by the calculation unit of the image processing means, with coordinates representing the reference mark with respect to the reference mark and coordinates of the center of gravity of the infrared absorption print area. Asked. The coordinates representing the reference mark and the coordinates of the center of gravity of the infrared absorption printing area with respect to the reference mark are the coordinates and reference representing the position of the reference infrared absorption printing area, which is stored in advance in the storage means of the computer. Compared with the coordinates representing the reference mark for detecting the position of the infrared absorption printing area.

  For the measurement of the position of the infrared absorption printing area, representative coordinates t of the reference mark 10a with respect to the reference mark 10a are obtained from the infrared absorption printing area image data including the binarized reference mark shown in FIG. . Here, the coordinates representing the reference mark 10a may be coordinates that can specify the reference mark 10a, and are not particularly limited. Therefore, the coordinates may be the center of gravity. In FIG. Yes. Subsequently, the infrared absorption print area is calculated from the infrared absorption print area image data including the reference mark extracted as described above, and the center of gravity O is similarly calculated and obtained. Using the coordinates t (X0, Y0) representing the reference mark 10a obtained by this calculation as a base point, and extracting the center of gravity O (X1, Y1) of the infrared absorption print area calculated by the same calculation, the reference mark 10a is extracted. X1-X0 and Y1-Y0 are obtained and calculated from the coordinate t representing the center of gravity and the coordinate value of the barycentric point O of the infrared absorption printing area, and the position is measured from the numerical values. For the presence / absence measurement of the infrared absorption printing area, the center of gravity is calculated from the image data obtained by extracting the infrared absorption printing area, the area of the target infrared absorption printing area is calculated, and the presence / absence of the infrared absorption printing area is measured. . As described above, the inspection of the infrared absorption printing area is performed with respect to the quality and position of the printing state. The shape or size of the reference mark is not particularly limited. In addition to printing, the corners of the substrate may be used as a reference.

  In this way, quality inspections such as shape inspection and position inspection of the infrared absorption printing region are performed by pattern matching, and the image processing means determines whether the damage is correct or not according to the result. When the result of the shape inspection is a loss based on these two determination results, a display and a warning by a speaker are sounded on the liquid crystal monitor of the notification means 22. Furthermore, a print of a loss print (reason for loss: misalignment, etc.) may be printed in the vicinity of the print of the loss.

(Example 2)
A star-shaped infrared absorbing printing region 2 was printed with an infrared absorbing ink (black) on a coated paper 1 as a web as shown in FIG. Further, the reference mark 10b was printed with the infrared absorbing ink near the infrared absorbing printing region 2. In this case, it is an inspection on the production line, and is an on-line quality inspection of the infrared absorption printing area 2 in the conveyance state of the print medium B2. As shown in FIG. 17, the print medium B2 is conveyed by the inspection cylinder. At this time, as a conveyance type of the inspection cylinder, a known type such as a gripper or a suction type may be appropriately used. In this embodiment, the coated paper 1 is held with a gripper and the rear portion (relative to the transport direction) of the paper is fixed by a suction method. Further, when not using the inspection cylinder, the infrared absorption printing region 2 of the inspection object can be inspected online during the conveyance on the production line by using a sheet conveyance method such as a belt conveyance or a chain gripper. In this case, it is desirable to suppress the lifting of the paper as much as possible.

  In the state in which the infrared absorption print area of the print medium B2 is being conveyed, online quality inspection of the infrared absorption print area is performed by inspecting the infrared absorption print area 2 printed on the print medium B2 as in the inspection apparatus 11g shown in FIG. Therefore, the surface emitting flat dome illumination provided with the infrared LED illumination means as the illumination means 12, the image input means 15 including the photographing means 13 and the input section 14, the storage means 16, the image processing means 17 including the calculation section, and And an informing means 22.

  The infrared light source from the illuminating unit 12 is provided with a light beam 18 a including infrared rays from the direction coaxial with the observation direction of the photographing unit 13 and a light beam 18 b including infrared rays from the diffusing direction with respect to the photographing unit 13. Irradiation was performed on the infrared absorption printing region 2 including the reference mark 10b. In the image input means 15, the imaging means 13 acquires infrared absorption printing area imaging data including a reference mark for the wavelength of the infrared region, and the infrared absorption printing area 2 applied to the substrate from the infrared absorption printing area imaging data. The input unit 14 acquires the infrared absorption print area image data including the reference mark of the two-dimensional image with respect to the wavelength of the infrared area.

  The input infrared absorption print area image data including the reference mark is binarized by the image processing means 17 and the infrared absorption including the reference mark subjected to the binarization process is performed. Print area image data was generated.

  The binarized infrared absorption print area image data was compared with the binarized reference infrared absorption print area image data previously stored in the storage means of the computer by the arithmetic unit of the image processing means.

  In this comparison processing, two image data of the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the binarized infrared absorption print area image data to be inspected are each n × m pixels (n and m are integers of 1 or more). Divided and compared, shape check was performed by pattern matching. A determination was made for each target pixel, and a match rate of 90% or more was determined to be acceptable. The matching rate and the area per pixel unit may be determined as appropriate.

  For measuring the position of the infrared absorption printing area, coordinates t representing the reference mark 10b with respect to the reference mark 10b are obtained from the infrared absorption printing area image data including the binarized reference mark shown in FIG. Here, the coordinates representing the reference mark 10b may be any coordinates that can identify the reference mark 10b, and are not particularly limited. In FIG. Subsequently, the infrared absorption print area 2 is calculated from the infrared absorption print area image data including the reference mark extracted as described above, and the center of gravity O is similarly calculated and obtained. Using the coordinates t (X0, Y0) representing the reference mark 10b obtained by this calculation as a base point, and extracting the center of gravity O (X1, Y1) of the infrared absorption printing area calculated by the same calculation, the reference mark 10b X1-X0 and Y1-Y0 are obtained and calculated from the coordinate t representing the center of gravity and the coordinate value of the barycentric point O of the infrared absorption printing area, and the position is measured from the numerical values. For the presence / absence measurement of the infrared absorption printing area, the center of gravity is calculated from the image data obtained by extracting the infrared absorption printing area, the area of the target infrared absorption printing area is calculated, and the presence / absence of the infrared absorption printing area is measured. . As described above, the inspection of the infrared absorption printing area is performed with respect to the quality and position of the printing state. Note that the shape and size of the reference mark are not particularly limited. In addition to printing, the corners of the substrate may be used as a reference.

  In this way, quality inspections such as shape inspection and position inspection of the infrared absorption printing region are performed by pattern matching, and the image processing means determines whether the damage is correct or not according to the result. When the result of the shape inspection is a loss based on these two determination results, a display and a warning by a speaker are sounded on the liquid crystal monitor of the notification means 22. Furthermore, a print of a loss print (reason for loss: misalignment, etc.) may be printed in the vicinity of the print of the loss.

  In addition, the print medium B2 conveyed in the inspection cylinder in the online inspection may be slightly lifted from the inspection cylinder or paper flickering and swell may occur. However, in carrying out the present invention, the printing medium B2 is always stable. The infrared absorption printing area image data can be photographed and input, and the quality inspection of the infrared absorption printing area can be accurately extracted.

(Example 3)
An infrared ray absorbing printing area 2 is printed on the coated paper 1 as shown in FIG. 19 with an infrared ray absorbing ink (black) with an offset printing machine, and an infrared ray transmitting ink (adjacent to the infrared ray absorbing printing area 2) Infrared transmission printing region 2b was printed with an offset printing machine using a mixed color of cyan, magenta, and yellow to produce print medium B3. Further, the reference mark 10c was printed with the infrared absorbing ink near the infrared absorbing printing region 2. The print medium B3 was inspected by the inspection device 11f of Example 1. The quality inspection of the infrared absorption printing area 2 could be extracted accurately.

Example 4
An infrared ray absorbing printing area 2 is printed with an infrared ray absorbing ink (black) on the coated paper 1 as a web as shown in FIG. 20 by an offset printing machine, and an infrared ray transmissive ink (cyan, cyan) is adjacent to the infrared ray absorbing printing area 2. The infrared transmissive printing area 2b was printed with an offset printing machine using a mixed color of magenta and yellow to produce a printing medium B4. Further, the reference mark 10d was printed with the infrared absorbing ink near the infrared absorbing printing area 2. The print medium B4 was inspected by the inspection apparatus 11g of Example 2. The quality inspection of the infrared absorption printing area 2 could be extracted accurately.

(Example 5)
The OVD 4 is pasted on the coated paper 1 which is a sheet as shown in FIG. 21, the infrared absorbing printing area 2 is printed on the OVD 4 with an infrared absorbing ink (black) by an offset printing machine, and further the infrared absorbing printing area 2 Next, an infrared transmission printing region 2b was printed with an offset printing machine with an infrared transmission ink (mixed color of cyan, magenta, and yellow) to produce a print medium B5. Furthermore, the reference mark 10e was printed with the infrared absorbing ink near the infrared absorbing printing area 2. The print medium B5 was inspected by the inspection device 11f of Example 1. The quality inspection of the infrared absorption printing area 2 could be extracted accurately.

(Example 6)
The OVD 4 is pasted on the coated paper 1 which is a web as shown in FIG. 22, and the infrared absorbing printing area 2 is printed on the OVD 4 with an infrared absorbing ink (black) by an offset printing machine, and further adjacent to the infrared absorbing printing area 2 Then, the infrared transmission printing region 2b was printed with an infrared transmission ink (mixed color of cyan, magenta, and yellow) with an offset printing machine to produce a print medium B6. Further, the reference mark 10f was printed with the infrared absorbing ink near the infrared absorbing printing region 2. The print medium B6 was inspected by the inspection apparatus 11g of Example 2. The quality inspection of the infrared absorption printing area 2 could be extracted accurately.

(Example 7)
A plurality of sets of one first area 3a which is an infrared transmission printing area and one second area 3b which is adjacent to the first area 3a are arranged on the coated paper 1 which is a sheet as shown in FIG. The second region 3b is surrounded by a plurality of first regions 3a. The first region 3a has a larger area than the second region 3b, and the second region 3b includes a second region 3b. 3 region 3c is formed by hair removal, the first region 3a is printed with a female pattern with cyan, magenta and yellow inkjet inks, and the second region 3b is a mixed color (black) of cyan, magenta and yellow. A two-dimensional barcode camouflage pattern was printed with inkjet ink, and the third region 3c was printed with a two-dimensional barcode with black inkjet ink to obtain a printing medium B7. The third area 3c is an infrared absorption printing area 2 in which a two-dimensional barcode is embedded. And the code | cord | chord information reading appropriateness from the two-dimensional barcode which is the infrared rays absorption printing area | region 2 was test | inspected. The process and the processing device up to the acquisition of the infrared absorption print area image data in the print medium B7 are the same as the above-described inspection of the print medium B1.

  After acquiring the infrared absorption print area image data, the storage means stores the reference code information in advance, the decode processing means generates code information from the infrared absorption print area image data, and the image processing means generates the infrared absorption print area. The code information generated from the image data was compared with the reference code information, and the quality of the code information formed by the infrared absorption printing area was determined based on the comparison result. The code information could be read from the two-dimensional barcode in the infrared absorption printing area 2.

(Example 8)
An OVD 4 is pasted on the coated paper 1 which is a sheet as shown in FIG. 24, one first area 3a which is an infrared transmission printing area on the OVD 4 and one second which is adjacent to the first area 3a. And a plurality of first regions 3b are surrounded by a plurality of first regions 3a. The first region 3a has a larger area than the second region 3b, and A third region 3c is formed by hair removal in the second region 3b, the first region 3a is printed with a female design with cyan, magenta, and yellow ink-jet inks, and the second region 3b is cyan. A two-dimensional barcode camouflage pattern is printed with magenta and yellow mixed ink (black) inkjet ink, and the third area 3c is printed with a black inkjet ink to print a two-dimensional barcode. It was obtained. The third area 3c is an infrared absorption printing area 2 in which a two-dimensional barcode is embedded. The code information read from the two-dimensional barcode which is the infrared absorption printing region 2 was inspected. The process and the processing device up to the acquisition of the infrared absorption print area image data in the print medium B8 are the same as the above-described inspection of the print medium B1.

  After acquiring the infrared absorption print area image data, the storage means stores the reference code information in advance, the decode processing means generates code information from the infrared absorption print area image data, and the image processing means generates the infrared absorption print area. The code information generated from the image data was compared with the reference code information, and the quality of the code information formed by the infrared absorption printing area was determined based on the comparison result. The code information could be read from the two-dimensional barcode in the infrared absorption printing area 2.

It is a figure which shows an example of the printing medium used as the test | inspection object by the inspection method and inspection apparatus of the area | region printed with the infrared rays absorption ink of this invention. It is a figure which shows another printing medium used as the test object with the inspection method and inspection apparatus of the area | region printed with the infrared rays absorption ink of this invention. It is a figure which shows another printing medium used as the test object with the inspection method and inspection apparatus of the area | region printed with the infrared rays absorption ink of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which one illuminating unit is provided in a direction perpendicular to a base material 1 in the inspection apparatus for infrared absorption printing region 2 in the present invention. It is a figure explaining the structure with which the illumination means was provided in the orthogonal | vertical direction and the spreading | diffusion direction with respect to the base material 1 in the inspection apparatus of the infrared rays absorption printing area | region 2 in this invention. It is a figure explaining the structure with which the illumination means was provided in the spreading | diffusion direction through the perpendicular | vertical direction and the reflection means with respect to the base material 1 in the inspection apparatus of the infrared rays absorption printing area | region 2 in this invention. It is a figure which shows the example converted into the infrared absorption printing area | region image data 6 from the infrared absorption printing area imaging | photography data 5. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which illumination nonuniformity, flickering, etc. generate | occur | produce and it becomes impossible to extract a part of infrared rays absorption printing area | region. It is explanatory drawing of the test | inspection apparatus which test | inspects the infrared rays absorption printing area | region 2 when a printing medium is conveyed by the test | inspection cylinder. This is an inspection device that inspects the infrared absorption print area 2 while the print medium A3 is stationary. It is explanatory drawing of a memory | storage means. It is a figure which shows the infrared absorption printing area image data 7 obtained by binarizing the infrared absorption printing area image data 6. It is explanatory drawing of the infrared absorption printing area image data 7 obtained by binarizing the infrared absorption printing area image data 6. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print medium B1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print medium B1 and an inspection device 11f according to the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which detects the position of an infrared rays absorption printing area | region from the specific coordinate of a reference | standard mark. It is a figure which shows printing medium B2 and Example 11g of Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which detects the position of the infrared rays absorption printing area | region from the gravity center coordinate of a reference | standard mark. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print medium B3 of Example 3. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print medium B4 according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print medium B5 of Example 5. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print medium B6 of Example 6. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print medium B7 of Example 7. FIG. 10 illustrates a print medium B8 according to an eighth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart in the 1st test | inspection method of an infrared rays absorption printing area | region. It is a figure which shows the flowchart in the 2nd test | inspection method of an infrared rays absorption printing area | region.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base material 2 Infrared absorption printing area | region 2b Infrared transmission printing area | region 3a 1st area | region 3b 2nd area | region 3c 3rd area | region 4 OVD
5 Infrared Absorbing Print Area Imaging Data 6 Infrared Absorbing Print Area Image Data 7 Binarized Infrared Absorbing Print Area Image Data 8 Infrared Absorbing Print Area Contour Data 9 Area Value of Infrared Absorbing Print Area 10a, 10b Reference Mark 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Inspection device 12 Illuminating means 12a First illuminating means 12b Second illuminating means 13 Imaging means 14 Input unit 15 Image input means 16 Storage means 17 Image processing means 18, 18a, 18b Infrared light source 19 Transparent Base material 20 Reflecting means 21 Diffusing means 22 Notifying means 31 Reference infrared absorbing print area image data of a reference infrared absorbing print area 32 Reference infrared absorbing print area image data obtained by binarization processing 33 Infrared absorption as a reference Reference position data indicating the reference position of the print area 34 Infrared as a reference Reference outline data indicating the outline of the absorption print area 35 Reference area data indicating the area value of the reference infrared absorption print area 36 Coordinates representative of the position of the reference infrared absorption print area 37 Reference of the infrared absorption print area Coordinates indicating reference positions for position detection A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8 Print medium P Print pattern t Coordinate O Center of gravity point

Claims (15)

An inspection method for an infrared absorbing printing area printed with an infrared absorbing ink on a substrate using an inspection device comprising two illumination means, a photographing means, a storage means, and an image processing means,
Of the two illuminating means, the first illuminating means irradiates the area including the infrared absorption printing area with an infrared ray or a light beam including infrared rays from the vertical direction, and the second illuminating means irradiates the first illumination. From a direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction of irradiating light from the means, irradiating the region including the infrared absorption printing region with a light beam including infrared rays or infrared rays,
Infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area is acquired by the photographing unit,
The storage means stores in advance reference infrared absorption print area image data of a reference infrared area or reference position data indicating a reference position of the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the reference infrared absorption print area;
The image processing means compares the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data, or the infrared absorption print area image data, the reference infrared absorption print area image data, and the reference position data. And determining the quality of at least one of the shape, area, and position of the infrared absorbing print area based on the comparison result, an inspection method for an infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink. An inspection method for an infrared absorption printing area printed with an infrared absorption ink on a substrate using an inspection apparatus comprising a plurality of illumination means, reflection means, photographing means, storage means, and image processing means. And
From the plurality of illuminating means, irradiate the infrared ray absorbing print area via the reflecting means with infrared rays or rays containing infrared rays,
The imaging means obtains infrared absorption print area image data of the area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area,
The storage means stores in advance reference infrared absorption print area image data of a reference infrared area or reference position data indicating a reference position of the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the reference infrared absorption print area;
The image processing means compares the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data, or the infrared absorption print area image data, the reference infrared absorption print area image data, and the reference position data. And determining the quality of at least one of the shape, area, and position of the infrared absorbing print area based on the comparison result, an inspection method for an infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink. An inspection method for an infrared-absorbing print area printed with an infrared-absorbing ink on a substrate using an inspection apparatus comprising two illumination means, a photographing means, a storage means, a decoding processing means, and an image processing means. There,
Of the two illuminating means, the first illuminating means irradiates the area including the infrared absorption printing area with an infrared ray or a light beam including infrared rays from the vertical direction, and the second illuminating means irradiates the first illumination. From a direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction of irradiating light from the means, irradiating the region including the infrared absorption printing region with a light beam including infrared rays or infrared rays,
Infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area is acquired by the photographing unit,
Reference code information is stored in advance by the storage means,
The decode processing means generates code information from the infrared absorption print area image data,
Compared with the code information generated from the infrared absorption print area image data by the image processing means, the reference code information,
An inspection method for an infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink, wherein the quality of code information formed by the infrared absorbing print area is determined based on the comparison result. Infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink on a substrate using an inspection apparatus comprising a plurality of illumination means, reflecting means, photographing means, storage means, decoding processing means, and image processing means The inspection method of
From the plurality of illuminating means, irradiate the infrared ray absorbing print area via the reflecting means with infrared rays or rays containing infrared rays,
The imaging means obtains infrared absorption print area image data of the area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area,
Reference code information is stored in advance by the storage means,
The decode processing means generates code information from the infrared absorption print area image data,
Compared with the code information generated from the infrared absorption print area image data by the image processing means, the reference code information,
An inspection method for an infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink, wherein the quality of code information formed by the infrared absorbing print area is determined based on the comparison result. The second illuminating means is predetermined with respect to the vertical direction around a position where the first illuminating means irradiates an infrared ray or a light ray including infrared rays from a direction perpendicular to the area including the infrared absorption printing area. And a plurality of second illumination means arranged to irradiate an area including the infrared absorption printing area with an infrared ray or a light beam including an infrared ray. A method for inspecting an infrared absorption printing area printed with the infrared absorption ink according to 1 or 3. 6. The infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink according to claim 1, wherein the acquired infrared absorbing print area image data is binarized by the image processing means. Inspection method. 7. The infrared ray absorbing ink according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the storage means stores the binarized reference infrared ray absorbing print area image data in advance. Inspection method of infrared absorption printing area. An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with infrared absorption ink on a substrate,
A first irradiating unit that irradiates infrared rays or light beams including infrared rays from a vertical direction with respect to a region including the infrared absorption printing region, and a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical direction in which light rays are radiated from the first illumination unit. Illuminating means having a second irradiating means for irradiating the region including the infrared absorption printing region with the infrared ray or the light ray including the infrared ray from the direction having the infrared ray;
Imaging means for acquiring infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area;
Storage means for preliminarily storing reference infrared absorption print area image data of a reference infrared area or reference infrared absorption print area image data and reference position data indicating a reference position of the reference infrared absorption print area;
Compare the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data, or compare the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the reference position data, and compare them. An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink, comprising image processing means for determining at least one of the shape, area and position of the infrared absorbing print area based on the result. An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with infrared absorption ink on a substrate,
A plurality of irradiation means for indirectly irradiating infrared rays or light rays including infrared rays with respect to the infrared absorption printing region,
One or a plurality of reflecting means for reflecting infrared rays or light rays including infrared rays from the plurality of irradiating means and irradiating the infrared absorption printing region;
Imaging means for acquiring infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area;
Storage means for preliminarily storing reference infrared absorption print area image data of a reference infrared area or reference infrared absorption print area image data and reference position data indicating a reference position of the reference infrared absorption print area;
Compare the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data, or compare the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference infrared absorption print area image data and the reference position data, and compare them. An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink, comprising image processing means for determining at least one of the shape, area and position of the infrared absorbing print area based on the result. An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with infrared absorption ink on a substrate,
A first irradiating unit that irradiates infrared rays or light beams including infrared rays from a vertical direction with respect to a region including the infrared absorption printing region, and a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical direction in which light rays are radiated from the first illumination unit. Illuminating means having a second irradiating means for irradiating the region including the infrared absorption printing region with an infrared ray or a light beam including the infrared ray from a direction having
Imaging means for acquiring infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area;
Storage means for storing reference code information in advance;
Decoding processing means for generating code information from the infrared absorption printing area image data;
Comprising image processing means for comparing the code information generated from the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference code information and determining the quality of the code information formed by the infrared absorption print area based on the comparison result. Infrared absorbing printing area inspection device printed with infrared absorbing ink. An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with infrared absorption ink on a substrate,
A plurality of irradiation means for indirectly irradiating infrared rays or light rays including infrared rays with respect to the infrared absorption printing region,
One or a plurality of reflecting means for reflecting infrared rays or light rays including infrared rays from the plurality of irradiating means and irradiating the infrared absorption printing region;
Imaging means for acquiring infrared absorption print area image data of an area including the infrared absorption print area for the wavelength of the infrared light area;
Storage means for storing reference code information in advance;
Decoding processing means for generating code information from the infrared absorption printing area image data;
Comprising image processing means for comparing the code information generated from the infrared absorption print area image data with the reference code information and determining the quality of the code information formed by the infrared absorption print area based on the comparison result. Infrared absorbing printing area inspection device printed with infrared absorbing ink. The second illuminating means is predetermined with respect to the vertical direction centering on a position where the first illuminating means irradiates an infrared ray or a light beam including infrared rays from a direction perpendicular to the area including the infrared absorption print area. 11. An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorbing printing area printed with the infrared absorbing ink according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the infrared absorbing inks are uniformly arranged with an angle of. 13. The infrared ray absorbing ink according to claim 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the image processing means binarizes the infrared absorbing print area image data acquired by the photographing means. Inspection device for infrared absorption printing area. The image processing means compares the infrared absorption print area image data acquired by the imaging means with the reference infrared absorption print area image data stored in advance or the infrared absorption print area image data acquired by the imaging means. And a pre-stored reference infrared absorption print area image data and reference position data, and based on the comparison result, at least one of the shape, area and position of the infrared absorption print area is determined. 10. An inspection apparatus for an infrared absorption printing area printed with infrared absorption ink according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a determination unit. 10. The inspection apparatus for an infrared absorbing print area printed with infrared absorbing ink according to claim 8, wherein the storage means stores reference infrared absorbing print area image data that has been binarized.

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