JP2012225735A - Mark detection device, mark detection method, and image creation and cutout apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mark detection device and a mark detection method capable of automatically adjusting sensitivity of a sensor by a simple configuration without increasing cost, and to provide an image creation and cutout apparatus.SOLUTION: The mark detection device including a sensor for receiving reflected light of light projected from light projection means by light receiving means and outputting a detection voltage corresponding to received light quantity and capable of detecting a mark formed on a medium by comparing the detection voltage detected by the sensor with a reference voltage includes: reference voltage output means capable of setting the reference voltage of the sensor and outputting the set reference voltage; and potential difference output means for amplifying and outputting a difference between the reference voltage outputted by the reference voltage output means and the detection voltage outputted to the sensor.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mark detection device, a mark detection method, and an image creation and clipping device, and more particularly to a mark detection device and a mark detection method that optically detect the position of a mark, and an image creation and clipping device.

  Conventionally, the entire operation is controlled by a microcomputer, and as a medium, for example, the width direction of a recording sheet on a recording sheet supplied by a paper feeding device (in this specification, the width direction of the recording sheet is An ink jet printer is known that uses an ink head that moves in the “main scanning direction” as appropriate, and performs predetermined printing on a recording sheet by an ink jet method.

  In this specification, the term “medium” refers to various recording media made of paper such as plain paper, various materials such as resin materials such as PVC and polyester, and materials such as aluminum, iron, and wood. Media consisting of materials shall be included.

  Further, in the present specification, the “inkjet method” means various conventionally known methods, including various continuous methods such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, and various on-demand methods such as a thermal method or a piezoelectric element method. This means a printing method based on an inkjet technique based on the above method.

  In the above-described ink jet printer, an apparatus equipped with a cutting function for cutting out an image printed on a recording paper in addition to an image creating function for creating an image on the recording paper has been proposed.

  In an inkjet printer having such an image creation function and a cutting function (hereinafter, an “inkjet printer having an image creation function and a cutting function” will be referred to as an “image creation and clipping device”), image data. Ink head for realizing an image creation function for creating an image by printing on a recording paper based on the image, and a cutter as a configuration for realizing a cutting function for cutting the recording paper based on the image data A head device including a cutting head is disposed.

  Then, in order to match the printing position where the image is printed by the ink head and the clipping position where the image is cut out by the cutting head, the cross-shaped image printed on the recording paper is manually operated by the operator. The center of the cutter attached to the cutting head was aligned with the center.

  However, if it is performed manually by the operator's visual inspection, an adjustment work that aligns the center of the cross-shaped image with the center of the cutter is performed accurately by an operator who is not familiar with such adjustment work. However, it has been pointed out that the position cannot be adjusted and the print position and the cutout position do not coincide with each other.

  As a technique for solving such problems, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

  Hereinafter, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration perspective view of an image creation and clipping device according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1. In FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows an enlarged explanatory diagram in which the main part in FIG. 1 is enlarged.

  FIG. 3 is a front view in which a part of the cutting head cover of FIG. 2 is omitted.

  In the image creating and cutting apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, a recording paper 200 having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction which is a width direction as a medium is fed as a medium by a paper feeding device (not shown). The recording paper 200 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, that is, the longitudinal direction of the recording paper 200.

  Such an image creation and cropping device 100 includes a fixed base member 104 that is supported by a base member 102 and extends in the main scanning direction, and is arranged at right and left ends of the base member 104 at right angles to the base member 104. The side members 106L and 106R provided, the side unit 108 disposed on the side member 106 side, the central wall 110 connecting the two left and right side members 106L and 106R, and the wall surface of the central wall 110 A guide rail 112 extended in the main scanning direction, a guide rail 114 arranged in parallel with the guide rail 112 (see FIG. 2), and a main scanning direction along the wall surface of the central wall 110 (See FIG. 2), the drive belt 116 is fixedly disposed, and faces the recording paper 200 on the base member 104. Thus, the cutting head 118 slidably disposed on the guide rails 112, 114 and the guide rails 112, 114 slidably disposed so as to face the recording paper 200 on the base member 104. And an ink head 120.

  Note that the overall operation of the image creation and cropping apparatus 100 is controlled by a microcomputer (not shown).

  In addition, an operation panel 122 is provided above the side unit 108 in order to instruct the operation of the image creation and cropping apparatus 100 and the control processing. The operation panel 122 includes a display unit for displaying an operation state, keys for specifying the positions of the cutting head 118 and the ink head 120, and a key for starting creation or clipping of an image based on a signal such as image data. Etc. are arranged.

  The cutting head 118 is a head device that cuts the recording paper 200 into a desired shape by the cutter 128, and the cutter 128 is disposed on the left side via the holder 126, and at the lower end of the cutter 128. A cutter blade 130 is attached.

  Further, a sensor unit 132 is disposed below the cutting head 118. The sensor unit 132 includes a sensor 134 serving as a projector and a light receiver, and a sensor board 136 on which the sensor 134 is mounted. (See FIG. 3).

  The ink head 120 is a head device that prints a desired image on the recording paper 200 with ink, and an ink jet nozzle (not shown) is provided on the lower surface. A guide tube 138 containing an ink tube (not shown) for supplying ink to the ink head 120 is connected to the upper side of the ink head 120.

  The cutting head 118 and the ink head 120 are connected by a connecting member 124, and the connecting member 124 connects the cutting head 118 and the ink head 120 with a mechanism (not shown) or releases the connected state.

  Further, when the driving belt 116 is driven by driving of a driving unit (not shown), the cutting head 118 fixedly disposed on the driving belt 116 moves along the guide rails 112 and 114 in the main scanning direction. It is made to do.

  Therefore, when the cutting head 118 and the ink head 120 are not connected by the connecting member 124, only the cutting head 118 moves in the main scanning direction along the guide rails 112 and 114 by driving the drive belt 116. It becomes.

  On the other hand, when the cutting head 118 and the ink head 120 are connected by the connecting member 124, the driving head 116 drives the cutting head 118 and the ink head 120 in the main scanning direction along the guide rails 112 and 114. Will move.

  In such a configuration, the position of the cutting head 118 or the ink head is corrected so as not to cause a shift between the cutting position cut by the cutter 128 provided in the cutting head 118 and the printing position printed by the ink head 120. In order to calculate the correction value, first, correction value calculation processing is executed.

  In this correction value calculation process, first, a mark (hereinafter referred to as “crop mark”) formed on the test sheet material set on the base member 104 by being cut by the cutting head 118 at the origin position of the cutter 128. , And a cut center position that is the center position of the crop mark is detected by the sensor 134.

  Next, a cutting sheet material is set on the base member, and a crop mark formed by printing with the ink head 120 at the origin position of the ink head 120 on the cutting sheet material is created. The print center position, which is the center position of the mark, is detected.

  Thereafter, the deviation of the origin of the cutter 128 and the deviation of the origin of the ink head 120 in the image creation and cutting apparatus 100 are detected from the detected cut center position and print center position.

  Note that the detected cut center position is the positional relationship between the origin position of the cutter 128 and the position of the sensor 134 (hereinafter referred to as “the positional relationship between the origin position of the cutter 128 and the position of the sensor 134”). This is equivalent to "."

  The detected print center position is the positional relationship between the origin position of the ink head 120 and the position of the sensor 134 (hereinafter referred to as “positional relationship between the origin position of the ink head 120 and the position of the sensor 134”). This is equivalent to “positional relationship”.

  Then, based on the cutter-sensor positional relationship and the ink head-sensor positional relationship, positional information about the deviation of the origin of the cutter 128 and the deviation of the origin of the printing unit 120 is calculated.

  Thereafter, the positional information about the deviation is stored as a correction value of the position of the cutter 128 with respect to the ink head 120, and the correction value calculation process ends.

  Then, based on the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation process, the position of the ink head 120 is corrected at the time of printing by the ink head 120, or the printing process is performed, or the position of the cutting head 118 at the time of cutting by the cutting head 118 is changed. The cutout process is performed after correction.

  Thereby, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the position adjustment of the ink head 120 or the cutting head 118 can be automatically performed, and the printing position and the cutout can be easily performed even by an operator who is not skilled in the work. It is supposed that the position can be matched.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, the sensor 134 for optically detecting such a mark such as a crop mark is integrally formed with a light emitting diode 142 serving as a projector and a phototransistor 144 serving as a light receiver. Is provided.

  Then, the light L1 emitted from the light emitting diode 142 is irradiated onto the surface of the medium provided with the predetermined mark (mark), and the reflected light L2 reflected is received by the phototransistor 144.

  Specifically, when the cut center position and the print center position are detected, a square crop mark that is a position detection mark is detected, and the center position of the crop mark is detected.

  In other words, when a crop mark is printed on a white recording paper, when the light is emitted from the light emitting diode 142 to the portion where the crop mark is printed by the sensor 134, the reflected light is reduced and the phototransistor 144 is reduced. The amount of received light decreases and the detection voltage increases.

  On the other hand, when light is emitted from the light emitting diode 142 to a portion where the crop mark is not printed, the amount of reflected light increases, the amount of light received by the phototransistor 144 increases, and the detection voltage decreases.

  In this way, the sensor 134 prints the crop mark printed portion and the crop mark by comparing the detection voltage obtained from the portion where the crop mark is printed and the portion where the crop mark is not printed. It was trying to detect the boundary with the part that was not.

  Thereby, the position of the outer shape of the crop mark is detected, and the center position of the crop mark is detected from the detected outer shape of the crop mark.

  In addition, since the sensitivity of such a sensor 134 varies due to production reasons, the sensitivity is adjusted by using a variable resistor or an electronic volume (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). .)

  That is, the image creation and cropping apparatus 100 outputs the sensor 134, the sensitivity adjustment unit 146 that adjusts the sensitivity of the detection voltage detected by the sensor 134, and the detection voltage in which the sensitivity variation is absorbed by the sensitivity adjustment unit 146. The mark detection device 160 is configured by the A / D converter 148.

  As the A / D converter 138, for example, a built-in CPU in a microcomputer (not shown) can be used. Based on the detection voltage input to the A / D converter 148 in the microcomputer. The boundary between the portion where the crop mark is printed and the portion where the crop mark is not printed is detected, the outer shape of the crop mark is detected, and the center position of the crop mark is detected.

  However, when a variable resistor is used as the sensitivity adjustment unit 146, the configuration is simple and inexpensive, but manual adjustment is necessary, and such adjustment work is troublesome.

  Further, when an electronic volume is used as the sensitivity adjustment unit 146, automatic adjustment is possible. However, depending on the required performance, the electronic volume becomes expensive, and as a result, the mark detection device 160 is manufactured. The high cost was invited above.

  For this reason, there has been a demand for a mark detection device that can automatically adjust the sensitivity of a sensor with a simple configuration without using a variable resistor or an electronic volume, and without incurring high costs.

JP 2001-233538 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described demands of the prior art, and its object is to automatically increase the sensitivity of the sensor with a simple configuration without incurring high costs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mark detection device, a mark detection method, and an image creation and clipping device that can be adjusted.

  In order to achieve the above object, a mark detection device according to the present invention includes a sensor that receives reflected light of light projected from a light projecting unit by a light receiving unit and outputs a detection voltage corresponding to the amount of received light. In the mark detection device that detects the mark formed on the medium by comparing the detection voltage detected by the sensor with the reference voltage, the reference voltage for the sensor can be set and the set reference voltage Reference voltage output means for outputting, and potential difference output means for amplifying and outputting the difference between the reference voltage output from the reference voltage output means and the detection voltage output to the sensor. .

  In the mark detection device according to the present invention, the potential difference output means amplifies the detection voltage output from the sensor and amplifies the reference voltage output from the reference voltage output means. A circuit unit, a differential amplifier circuit unit that amplifies a difference between a detection voltage amplified in the non-inverting amplifier circuit unit and a reference voltage, and a voltage amplified in the differential amplifier circuit unit exceeds a certain voltage value. The voltage clip circuit unit that suppresses the amplified voltage to a voltage value equal to or lower than the certain voltage value only in the case where the amplified voltage is included.

  In the mark detection device according to the present invention, in the above invention, in the reference voltage output means, the voltage value is gradually increased from 0 V in a state where the detection voltage is detected in the portion where the mark is not formed by the sensor. The reference voltage when the output voltage output from the potential difference output means becomes smaller than the threshold value is used as the detection voltage in the portion where no mark is formed, and the detection voltage in the portion where the mark is formed by the sensor. In the detected state, the voltage value is gradually increased from 0V, and the reference voltage at the time when the output voltage output from the potential difference output means becomes smaller than the threshold value is set as the detection voltage in the portion where the mark is formed. The detection voltage at the part where the mark is not formed and the detection voltage at the part where the mark is formed The voltage value is obtained so as to set the reference voltage in the sensor.

  In addition, the mark detection method according to the present invention includes a sensor that receives reflected light of light projected from the light projecting unit by the light receiving unit and outputs a detection voltage corresponding to the amount of received light, and the detection voltage detected by the sensor. In a mark detection method for detecting a mark formed on a medium by comparing a reference voltage with a reference voltage, a reference voltage output step for setting a reference voltage for the sensor and outputting the set reference voltage, and the reference voltage output And a potential difference output step of amplifying and outputting a difference between the reference voltage output in the step and the detection voltage output to the sensor.

  In the mark detection method according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, the potential difference output step amplifies the detection voltage output from the sensor, amplifies the reference voltage output from the reference voltage output means, and the amplification When the voltage value of the difference between the detected voltage and the amplified reference voltage is amplified and the voltage value of the amplified difference exceeds a certain voltage value, the voltage value of the amplified difference Is suppressed to a voltage value equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage value.

  In the mark detection method according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, in the reference voltage output step, the voltage value is gradually increased from 0 V in a state in which the detection voltage is detected at a portion where no mark is formed by the sensor. Let the reference voltage when the output voltage output in the potential difference output step becomes smaller than the threshold be the detection voltage in the portion where no mark is formed, and the detection voltage in the portion where the mark is formed by the sensor. In the detected state, the voltage value is gradually increased from 0V, and the reference voltage at the time when the output voltage output in the potential difference output step becomes smaller than the threshold value is set as the detection voltage in the portion where the mark is formed. Between the detection voltage at the part where no mark is formed and the detection voltage at the part where the mark is formed The pressure value is obtained so as to set the reference voltage in the sensor.

  An image creation and cropping apparatus according to the present invention is an image creation and cropping apparatus for creating a desired image and cropping a desired image. The image creation means for creating a desired image on a medium; Cutout means that is detachably disposed and cuts out the medium, mark detection means that detects the position of each mark created by the image creation means and the cutout means, and each detected by the mark detection means From the position of the mark, position information about the deviation of the origin of the image creation means and the deviation of the origin of the clipping means is calculated, and the positional information about the deviation is calculated as the position of the clipping means relative to the image creation means. A correction value, and based on the correction value, the image creation position by the image creation means or the clipping hand And a correcting means for correcting a cut-out position by said mark detection means is obtained as is the mark detecting apparatus of the invention described above.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has an excellent effect that the sensitivity of the sensor can be automatically adjusted with a simple configuration without incurring high costs.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of a schematic configuration showing an image creation and clipping device provided with a mark detection device according to the prior art. FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view in which the main part of FIG. 1 is enlarged. FIG. 3 is a front view in which a cover of the cutting head of FIG. 2 is partially omitted. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration explanatory view showing a sensor used in the mark detection apparatus. FIG. 5A is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional mark detection apparatus, and FIG. 5B is a circuit diagram of a sensor and a sensitivity adjustment unit. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mark detection apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the potential difference output unit. FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the sensor has moved on the crop mark, and FIG. 8B shows detection voltages Va_h and Va_l corresponding to FIG. 8A and the set reference. FIG. 8C is an explanatory diagram showing the voltage Vb, and FIG. 8C is an explanatory diagram showing the voltage Vc output from the potential difference output unit corresponding to FIGS. 8A and 8B. FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram for explaining that the voltage value Vd is increased with respect to the detection voltages Va_h and Va_l detected in the portion where the crop mark is printed and the portion where the crop mark is not printed. FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram showing a change in the voltage Vc output from the potential difference output unit when the voltage value Vd is increased, and FIG. 9C is obtained when the reference voltage is set. It is explanatory drawing which shows the reference voltage Vb set based on the detected voltages Va_h and Va_l and the detected voltages Va_h and Va_l.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a mark detection device, a mark detection method, and an image creation and clipping device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the following description, the same or equivalent configuration as the image creation and clipping device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 is indicated by using the same reference numerals as those used above. A detailed description of the configuration and operational effects will be omitted as appropriate.

  First, a mark detection device, a mark detection method, and an image creation and clipping device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mark adjusting apparatus according to the present invention.

  FIG. 7 shows a circuit diagram of the potential difference output unit.

  The mark detection device 10 shown in FIG. 6 is provided in the above-described image creation and clipping device 100 in place of the conventional mark detection device 160, and is used when adjusting the positions of the cutting head and the ink head. This is used when detecting a crop mark to be displayed.

  That is, the mark detection apparatus 10 includes a sensor 134, a D / A converter 12 that outputs a reference voltage Vb output from a reference voltage output unit 16 (described later) to a potential difference output unit 14 (described later), and a sensor. A potential difference output unit 14 that amplifies the potential difference between the detection voltage Va output from 134 and the reference voltage Vb output from the D / A converter 12 and outputs the amplified voltage Vc to the A / D converter 148; A reference voltage Vb for the detection voltage Va output from the reference voltage Vb, a reference voltage output unit 16 for outputting the set reference voltage Vb to the potential difference output unit 14 via the D / A converter 12, and an output from the potential difference output unit 14 And an A / D converter 148 that outputs the output voltage Vc.

  More specifically, the potential difference output unit 14 is an adjustment circuit combining a non-inverting amplifier circuit using a four-circuit operational amplifier and a differential amplifier circuit.

  That is, the potential difference output unit 14 amplifies and outputs the detection voltage Va output from the sensor 134 and amplifies and outputs the reference voltage Vb output from the reference voltage output unit 16 via the D / A converter 12. A non-inverting amplifier circuit 22 for performing amplification, a differential amplifier circuit section 24 for amplifying a difference between the detection voltage Va amplified by the non-inverting amplifier circuit section 22 and the reference voltage Vb, and outputting the amplified voltage, and differential amplification The voltage clip circuit unit 26 is configured to suppress the voltage output from the circuit unit 24 to a constant voltage value and output the voltage Vc suppressed to the constant voltage value.

  Here, the non-inverting amplifier circuit unit 22 includes an operational amplifier 32 to which the detection voltage Va from the sensor 134 is input, a resistor 34, and a resistor 36, and amplifies the detection voltage Va from the sensor 134. 22-1 and a non-inverting amplifier circuit 22-2 configured by an operational amplifier 42 to which the basic voltage Vb from the reference voltage output unit 16 is input, a resistor 44, and a resistor 46 and amplifying the reference voltage Vb. ing.

  Further, the differential amplifier circuit unit 24 includes an operational amplifier 52, a resistor 54, a resistor 56, a resistor 58, and a resistor 60 to which the amplified reference voltage Vb output from the non-inverting amplifier circuit 22-2 is input. An operational amplifier that receives the amplified detection voltage Va output from the non-inverting circuit 22-1 and the reference voltage Vb output through the operational amplifier 52 and amplifies the difference between the detection voltage Va and the reference voltage Vb. 62.

  The voltage clip circuit unit 26 includes a resistor 72 and a Zener diode 74.

  Here, in the previous stage of the differential amplifier circuit unit 24, the detection voltage Va output from the sensor 134 and the reference voltage Vb output from the reference voltage output unit 16 via the D / A converter 12 are non-inverting amplifier circuits. Although it is used for amplification in the part 22, this is to widen the voltage range so that there is a margin when taking the difference between the detection voltage Va and the reference voltage Vb. The reason why the reference voltage Vb is amplified is to match the amplified detection voltage Va.

  Further, the voltage clip circuit unit 26 suppresses the voltage output from the differential amplifier circuit unit 24 to a constant voltage value by the Zener diode 74 based on the rated voltage of the A / D converter 148.

  As the D / A converter 12 and the A / D converter 148, for example, those incorporated in a CPU in a microcomputer (not shown) can be used.

  In the above configuration, when the crop mark printed on the white recording paper 200 is detected by the mark detection apparatus 10, the reference voltage Vb is first set.

  In the setting of the reference voltage Vb, the detection voltage Va_l detected by the sensor 134 in the portion where the crop mark is not printed and the detection voltage Va_h detected by the sensor 134 in the portion where the crop mark is printed. The reference voltage Vb is set as the potential.

  After that, when the cutting head 118 mounted with the sensor unit 132 moves from the right side to the left side in the main scanning direction on the recording paper 200 and passes over the crop mark, in the portion where the crop mark is not printed. The detected voltage Va_l detected has a voltage value lower than the reference voltage Vb. On the other hand, the detection voltage Va_h detected in the portion where the crop mark is printed has a voltage value higher than the reference voltage Vb (see FIGS. 8A and 8B).

  Here, in the non-inverting amplifier circuit unit 22, when the positive power supply V2 is set to 24V, the non-inverting amplifier circuit 22-1 amplifies the detection voltage Va of 0 to 3.3V to 0 to 20V and performs non-inverting amplification. In the circuit 22-2, the reference voltage Vb of 0 to 5V is amplified to 0 to 20V.

  At this time, when the detection voltage Va_l detected at the portion where the crop mark is not printed and the reference voltage Vb are input to the potential difference output unit 14, the potential difference output unit 14 detects the detection voltage at the differential amplifier circuit unit 24. The difference between Va_l and the reference voltage Vb is amplified to 0 V, and this voltage value is output to the A / D converter 148 through the voltage clip circuit unit 26.

  That is, in this case, since the voltage value output from the differential amplifier circuit unit 24 is 0 V, the voltage clip circuit unit 26 outputs the voltage as it is without being suppressed to the rated voltage. The voltage Vc output from the circuit unit 26 is 0V.

  Further, when the detection voltage Va_h detected at the portion where the crop mark is printed and the reference voltage Vb are input to the potential difference output unit 14, the potential difference output unit 14 detects the detection voltage Va_h at the differential amplifier circuit unit 24. The difference from the reference voltage Vb is amplified to 20 V, and this voltage value is output to the voltage clip circuit unit 26.

  In the voltage clip circuit unit 26, assuming that the rated voltage of the A / D converter 148 is 5V, the output value output from the differential amplifier circuit unit 24 is 20V. The voltage Vc output from the voltage clip circuit unit 26 is suppressed to a voltage, which is not more than the rated voltage of the A / D converter 148, that is, not more than 5V.

  Thus, the voltage Vc output from the potential difference output unit 14 is 0 V or 5 V between the portion where the crop mark is printed and the portion where the crop mark is not printed, and a clear potential difference is provided (FIG. 8 ( c)).

  Thus, by providing a clear potential difference between the portion where the crop mark is printed and the portion where the crop mark is not printed, the boundary between the crop marks can be clearly detected.

  Thereafter, in the image creation and cropping device provided with the mark detection device 10, the outer shape of the crop mark is detected, and the center position of the crop mark (that is, the print center position) is detected from the detected outer shape of the crop mark. To do.

  Similarly, the outer shape of the crop mark is detected by detecting the boundary of the crop mark formed by cutting with the cutting head 118 on the test sheet material from which the crop mark has been cut out, and the center position of the crop mark is detected. (That is, the cut center position) is detected.

  At this time, as described in Patent Document 1, the sheet portion of the black test sheet material is cut by the cutting head 118 to form a white crop mark, and the crop mark is detected. Become. The sensor 134 detects a detection voltage Va_h that is a high voltage value in a portion where no crop mark is formed, and detects a detection voltage Va_l that is a low voltage value in a portion where no crop mark is formed. It will be.

  Then, a correction value is calculated from the print center position and the cut center position in the same manner as the image creating and cutting apparatus 100 including the mark detection device 160 according to the conventional technique, and the ink head 120 is based on the calculated correction value. The printing process is performed by correcting the position of the ink head 120 at the time of printing, or the cutting process is performed by correcting the position of the cutting head 118 at the time of cutting by the cutting head 118.

  Next, a method for setting the reference voltage Vb will be described. Such setting of the reference voltage Vb can be performed before factory shipment of the image creation and clipping device including the mark detection device 10 and can be arbitrarily set by the operator after shipment from the factory. .

  In setting the reference voltage, first, the sensor 134 is moved to a portion of the recording paper 200 where the crop mark is not printed, and the detection voltage Va_l in the portion where the crop mark is not printed is detected by the sensor 134. Thus, the voltage value Vd is gradually increased from 0 V (see FIG. 9A).

  At this time, when the detection voltage Va_l is larger than the voltage value Vd, the voltage Vc output from the potential difference output unit 14 is almost the rated voltage value (that is, a value suppressed by the voltage clip circuit unit 26). When the voltage value Vd approaches the detection voltage Va_l, the voltage value Vc output from the potential difference output unit 14 starts to decrease (see FIG. 9B).

  Then, the voltage value Vd at the time when the voltage Vc decreases and becomes smaller than the threshold value is set and stored as the detection voltage Va_l in the portion where the crop mark is not printed.

  Next, the sensor 134 is moved to the portion of the recording paper 200 where the crop mark is printed, and the voltage value Vd is changed from 0V in a state where the detection voltage Va_h is detected in the portion where the crop mark is printed by the sensor 134. The temperature is gradually raised (see FIG. 9A).

  At this time, when the detection voltage Va_h is larger than the voltage value Vd, the voltage Vc output from the potential difference output unit 14 is almost a rated voltage value (that is, a value suppressed in the voltage clip circuit unit 26). When the voltage value Vd approaches the detection voltage Va_h, the voltage Vc output from the potential difference output unit 14 starts to decrease (see FIG. 9B).

  Then, the voltage value Vd at the time when the voltage Vc increases and becomes smaller than the threshold value is set and stored as the detection voltage Va_h in the portion where the crop mark is printed.

Thereafter, a voltage value located between the set detection voltages Va_l and Va_h is set as the reference voltage Vb (see FIG. 9C). Specifically, it is calculated by the following equation (1).
Vb = Va_l + (Va_h−Va_l) (1)

  Note that the threshold value may be appropriately set according to the amplification value in the potential difference output unit and the resolution of the A / D converter used.

  In setting the reference voltage Vb in the reference voltage output unit 16, software or the like that can automatically execute the above operation is input to the reference voltage output unit 16 in advance, so that the reference voltage is automatically set. Vb can be set.

  As described above, the mark detection device 10 amplifies the difference between the detection voltage Va output from the sensor 134 and the reference voltage Vb output from the reference voltage output unit 16 via the D / A converter 12. A potential difference output unit 14 is provided.

  The potential difference output unit 14 is configured by an adjustment circuit in which a non-inverting amplifier circuit unit 22 and a differential amplifier circuit unit 24 using an operational amplifier including four circuits and a voltage clip circuit unit 26 are combined.

  Further, the reference voltage output unit 16 increases the voltage value Vd in a state where the sensor 134 detects the detection voltage Va_h in the portion where the crop mark is printed and the detection voltage Va_l in the portion where the crop mark is not printed. Thus, the detection voltages Va_h and Va_l at the crop mark 134 are determined, and an intermediate potential between the determined detection voltages Va_h and Va_l is set as the reference voltage Vb.

  Thereby, in the mark detection apparatus 10, it is possible to set the reference voltage Vb unique to the sensor 134, and it is possible to set the reference voltage Vb according to the sensitivity of the sensor 134.

  The embodiment described above may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (3).

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the mark detection device 10 is provided in the image creation and clipping device including the cutting head 118 and the ink head 120. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, instead of the ink head 120, the mark detection device 10 may be provided in an image creation and clipping device provided with a marking head, and the positions of the marking head and the cutting head 118 may be adjusted.

  That is, in this case, an image is created by the stamping head.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the reference voltage Vb is set using the recording paper 200 on which the crop mark is printed. However, the reference voltage is used using the test sheet material on which the crop mark is formed. Of course, Vb may be set.

  (3) You may make it combine the above-mentioned embodiment and the modification shown in above-mentioned (1) and (2) suitably.

  The present invention is suitable for use in detecting a mark provided on a medium.

  10, 160 Mark detection device, 14 Potential difference output unit, 16 Reference voltage output unit, 22 Non-inverting amplifier circuit unit, 24 Differential amplification circuit unit, 26 Voltage clip circuit unit, 134 Sensor, 100 Image creation and cropping device, 118 Cutting Head, 120 ink head

Claims (7)

A sensor that receives reflected light of the light projected from the light projecting unit by the light receiving unit and outputs a detection voltage corresponding to the amount of received light, compares the detection voltage detected by the sensor with a reference voltage, In the mark detection device for detecting the mark formed on the top,
It is possible to set a reference voltage for the sensor, and a reference voltage output means for outputting the set reference voltage;
A mark detection apparatus comprising: potential difference output means for amplifying and outputting a difference between a reference voltage output from the reference voltage output means and a detection voltage output to the sensor. The mark detection apparatus according to claim 1,
The potential difference output means includes
A non-inverting amplifier circuit unit that amplifies the detection voltage output from the sensor and amplifies the reference voltage output from the reference voltage output unit;
A differential amplifier circuit section for amplifying a difference between a detection voltage amplified in the non-inverting amplifier circuit section and a reference voltage;
And a voltage clip circuit unit that suppresses the amplified voltage to a voltage value equal to or lower than the certain voltage value only when the voltage amplified in the differential amplifier circuit unit exceeds a certain voltage value. A mark detection device characterized by that. In the mark detection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
In the reference voltage output means,
A reference voltage when the output voltage output from the potential difference output means is smaller than a threshold value by gradually increasing the voltage value from 0V in a state in which the detection voltage is detected at a portion where no mark is formed by the sensor. Is the detection voltage at the part where the mark is not formed,
Reference voltage at the time when the output voltage output from the potential difference output means becomes smaller than a threshold value by gradually increasing the voltage value from 0V in a state where the detection voltage is detected in the portion where the mark is formed by the sensor. Is the detection voltage at the part where the mark is formed,
A mark detection device characterized in that an intermediate voltage value between a detection voltage in a portion where no mark is formed and a detection voltage in a portion where a mark is formed is set as a reference voltage in the sensor. A sensor that receives reflected light of the light projected from the light projecting unit by the light receiving unit and outputs a detection voltage corresponding to the amount of received light, compares the detection voltage detected by the sensor with a reference voltage, In the mark detection method for detecting the mark formed on the top,
A reference voltage output step for setting a reference voltage for the sensor and outputting the set reference voltage;
A mark detection method comprising: a potential difference output step of amplifying and outputting a difference between the reference voltage output in the reference voltage output step and the detection voltage output to the sensor. The mark detection method according to claim 4,
The potential difference output step includes
Amplifying the detection voltage output from the sensor, amplifying the reference voltage output from the reference voltage output means,
Amplifying the voltage value of the difference between the amplified detection voltage and the amplified reference voltage;
When the amplified differential voltage value exceeds a certain voltage value, the amplified differential voltage value is suppressed to a voltage value equal to or lower than the certain voltage value. . In the mark detection method according to any one of claims 4 and 5,
In the reference voltage output step,
The reference voltage when the output voltage output in the potential difference output step is lower than the threshold value by gradually increasing the voltage value from 0V while detecting the detection voltage in the portion where the mark is not formed by the sensor. Is the detection voltage at the part where the mark is not formed,
The reference voltage when the output voltage output in the potential difference output step is lower than the threshold value by gradually increasing the voltage value from 0V in the state where the detection voltage is detected in the portion where the mark is formed by the sensor. Is the detection voltage at the part where the mark is formed,
A mark detection method characterized in that an intermediate voltage value between a detection voltage in a portion where no mark is formed and a detection voltage in a portion where a mark is formed is set as a reference voltage in the sensor. In an image creation and cropping device for creating a desired image and cropping a desired image,
Image creating means for creating a desired image on a medium;
A cutting means that is detachably attached to the image creating means and cuts the medium;
Mark detection means for detecting the position of each mark created by the image creation means and the cutout means;
Based on the position of each mark detected by the mark detection means, position information about the origin deviation of the image creation means and the origin deviation of the clipping means is calculated, and the position information about the deviation is calculated as the image information. A correction value for the position of the clipping means relative to the creation means, and based on the correction value, an image creation position by the image creation means or a correction means for correcting the clipping position by the clipping means,
The image detection and clipping device according to claim 1, wherein the mark detection means is the mark detection device according to claim 1.

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