JP2013003105A - Inspection method and device for surface printing of electric wire and cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection method and device for inspecting a surface printing of an electric wire and cable that can check the surface printing of a whole length of an electric wire and cable without limitation of wire length and extrusion speed and preventing overlooking of a defective printing portion.SOLUTION: The inspection method of the surface printing of an electric wire and cable inspects defects of a surface printing 3 of an electric wire and cable 2. In the inspection method, the surface printing 3 of the travelling electric wire and cable 2 is sequentially photographed with a camera 4, the images photographed with the camera 4 are stored, combined images 10 formed by lining up a plurality of the stored images are generated, and the combined images 10 are sequentially displayed on a monitor, so that the inspection of the defects of the surface printing 3 is performed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric wire / cable surface printing inspection method and apparatus for visually checking electric wire / cable surface printing.

  When manufacturing electric wires / cables, surface printing is performed on the surface of the outermost jacket (sheath) of the electric wires / cables to print the product name, product type, manufacturer name, year of manufacture, etc., and then surface printing inspection is performed. It is common to do.

As a conventional surface print inspection method for electric wires and cables,
(1) A method for visually confirming the surface printing of the entire length of the wire / cable,
(2) A method of visually checking the surface printing at the beginning and end of the wire / cable extrusion operation, (3) A method of determining that there is no problem with surface printing by confirming that there are no defects in the printing equipment,
Etc. are known.

  In addition, there exists patent documents 1-5 as prior art document information relevant to invention of this application.

JP-A-5-338907 JP-A-9-161572 JP 9-147108 A JP 2006-47078 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-159097

  However, the method of visually confirming the surface printing of the entire length of the wire / cable of (1) takes a long time for the inspection in order to visually confirm the entire length in the case of a long product, and is actually very inefficient. It is difficult to apply to the production line. In the case of a short product, it is possible to cope with it, but in the first place, it is necessary to visually check the surface of the traveling electric wire / cable, so that there is a possibility that a defective part may be missed.

  In the method of checking only the surface printing at the beginning and end of the wire / cable extruding operation in (2), if there is a defective part other than the end of the electric wire / cable, there is a possibility of overlooking the defective part. There is a problem that there is.

  In the method of checking the printing equipment in (3), since the actual surface printing of the electric wires / cables is not checked, there is a problem that even if there is a defective part, it is not known.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a method of displaying an instantaneous image captured by a video camera as a still image on a television screen when a product reaches an inspection position.

  However, in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that, in the case of a long product, it takes time to inspect, as in the method for visually confirming the entire length described above.

  Moreover, in patent document 1, when a manufacturing speed (line speed, extrusion speed) is high, an operator's judgment cannot catch up and there exists a possibility of overlooking a malfunction location.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to check the entire length of the surface printing of the electric wires / cables without restriction of the length of the electric wires / cables and the extrusion speed, thereby suppressing the oversight of the printing defects. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire / cable surface printing inspection method and apparatus.

  The present invention was devised to achieve the above object, and is a method for inspecting surface printing of electric wires / cables for inspecting defects in surface printing of electric wires / cables. In addition, the images taken by the camera are stored in advance, a composite image in which a plurality of the stored images are arranged is generated, and the composite image is sequentially displayed on the monitor, thereby enabling surface printing. This is a method for surface printing inspection of electric wires and cables for inspecting defects.

  Only the periphery of the surface print of the image photographed by the camera may be trimmed, and a plurality of the trimmed images may be arranged to generate the composite image.

  The present invention also relates to an electric wire / cable surface printing inspection apparatus for inspecting defects in electric wire / cable surface printing, a camera for sequentially photographing the electric wire / cable surface printing during traveling, and the camera A storage unit that stores the images captured in step S1, an image processing unit that generates a composite image in which a plurality of images stored in the storage unit are arranged, and an output control that sequentially displays the composite image generated by the image processing unit on a monitor A surface printing inspection apparatus for electric wires and cables.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to check the surface printing of electric wires / cables without restricting the length of the electric wires / cables and the extrusion speed, and to suppress overlooking of defective printing portions. And a device can be provided.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the surface printing inspection apparatus of the electric wire and cable used for the surface printing inspection method of the electric wire and cable which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining image processing (trimming) in an image processing section 6 in the electric wire / cable surface printing inspection apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite image displayed on a monitor in the electric wire / cable surface printing inspection apparatus of FIG. 1, (a) is a normal composite image without a defective portion, and (b) is a defective portion. It is a figure which shows an example of the composite image at the time of a certain abnormality.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, an electric wire / cable surface printing inspection apparatus used in the electric wire / cable surface printing inspection method according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the surface printing inspection apparatus 1 for electric wires / cables is for inspecting defects (printing defects) in surface printing 3 of electric wires / cables 2. A camera 4 that sequentially captures the print 3, a storage unit 5 that stores images captured by the camera 4, an image processing unit 6 that generates a composite image 10 in which a plurality of images stored in the storage unit 5 are arranged, and an image processing unit 6 includes an output control unit 7 that sequentially displays the composite image 10 generated in 6 on a monitor (print confirmation monitor) 9, and a camera control unit 8 that controls the camera 4.

  The storage unit 5, the image processing unit 6, the output control unit 7, and the camera control unit 8 are mounted on a control device 11 such as a personal computer, and are realized by appropriately combining a CPU, memory, software, an I / O interface, and the like. .

  The camera 4 is arranged to face the printing position of the surface printing 3 of the electric wire / cable 2. Although the case where three cameras 4 are provided is shown here, the number of cameras 4 is not limited to this, and may be one or more. In addition, when the extrusion speed of the electric wire / cable 2 is slow, even one camera 4 can cope. However, when the extrusion speed is fast, the acquisition of images cannot be performed in time with one camera 4, What is necessary is just to respond by increasing the number. The arrangement interval of the cameras 4 is adjusted so as to be approximately equal to the printing pitch of the surface printing 3.

  Each camera 4 is connected to the control device 11 by a connection cable 4a, and outputs data of a photographed image to the control device 11 via the connection cable 4a, and is controlled via the connection cable 4a. A control signal is input from the device 11 (camera control unit 8).

  In the present embodiment, a digital camera that captures a still image is used as the camera 4. However, it is naturally possible to use a video camera as the camera 4.

  FIG. 1 shows a case where the surface printing 3 is printed by the printing roll 12. In this case, the camera 4 is controlled by the camera control unit 8 so as to photograph the front surface print 3 in accordance with the rotation timing of the printing roll 12. Here, since three cameras 4 are provided, the camera control unit 8 causes each camera 4 to simultaneously shoot with three cameras 4 every time three surface prints 3 are printed by the printing roll 12. Will be controlled. Note that the printing method of the front surface printing 3 is not limited to this. For example, when ink jet printing is employed, the photographing timing of the camera 4 may be set for each printing timing.

  The storage unit 5 stores image data input from each camera 4 to the control device 11 via the connection cable 4a.

  The image processing unit 6 generates a composite image 10 in which a plurality of images stored in the storage unit 5 are arranged. Here, as an example, the case where the image processing unit 6 generates a composite image 10 in which four images are arranged in the vertical direction will be described. The number of images constituting the composite image 10 and the arrangement pattern of the images are as follows. There is no particular limitation. However, the number of images constituting the composite image 10 is desirably set to such a number that the operator can determine the defective part at a glance, that is, the operator can instantaneously confirm the abnormality from the composite image 10.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the image processing unit 6 trims only the periphery of the surface print 3 of the image 21 photographed by the camera 4 (the portion surrounded by the broken line in the drawing) and trims the trimmed image. A plurality of images are arranged to generate the composite image 10.

  Since the image 21 photographed by the camera 4 includes a portion unnecessary for print determination, image processing (trimming) is performed by a known image processing technique, and only the peripheral portion of the surface print 3 necessary for inspection is cut out. By performing such processing, it is possible to enlarge the surface print 3 in the composite image 10 to make it easier to confirm the surface print 3, reduce the burden on the operator, and suppress oversight of the defective portion. Become. Further, it is possible to increase the number of images (printed portions) constituting the composite image 10 while reducing the burden on the operator, leading to a reduction in inspection time.

  The output control unit 7 displays the composite image 10 generated by the image processing unit 6 on the monitor 9 sequentially. The operator inspects the surface print 3 while visually confirming the composite images 10 sequentially displayed on the monitor 9.

  Here, the output control unit 7 is configured to sequentially switch the composite image 10 generated by the image processing unit 6 at a predetermined time interval and continuously reproduce the frame image by frame advance. Note that it is desirable that the playback speed (switching speed of the composite image 10) can be adjusted by the operator. In addition, when an operator finds a defective part, it is desirable to install a reverse reproduction function and a manual switching function of the composite image 10 so that continuous reproduction can be stopped and the defective part can be identified.

  Next, a method for inspecting the surface printing of electric wires and cables according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the electric wire / cable surface printing inspection method according to the present embodiment, first, the surface printing 3 of the running electric wire / cable 2 is sequentially photographed by the camera 4 and the image photographed by the camera 4 is stored in the storage unit 5. Keep it.

  After manufacturing the electric wire / cable 2, an operator checks the image. In the present embodiment, the image processing unit 6 generates a composite image 10 in which a plurality of images (images captured by the camera 4) stored in the storage unit 5 are arranged, and the output control unit 7 generates the generated composite image 10. The information is sequentially displayed on the monitor 9. At this time, the image processing unit 6 trims only the periphery of the surface print 3 of the image photographed by the camera 4, and generates a composite image 10 by arranging a plurality of the trimmed images.

  An example of the composite image 10 displayed on the monitor 9 is shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is an example of a composite image 10 in a normal state without a defective part, and FIG. 3B is an example of a composite image 10 in an abnormal state with a defective part. The operator confirms the composite image 10 sequentially displayed on the monitor 9 (reproduced continuously by frame advance) by visual observation, that is, confirming that there is no defective portion as shown in FIG. Inspect for defects in surface printing 3. Note that there are various types of defects, and in addition to the case where printing is lost as shown in FIG. 3B, there are protrusions due to bleeding.

  When a defect is found, the location where the failure is found (failure location) is recorded, and the wire / cable 2 at the failure location is later removed as a defective product. At this time, the distance from the head of the composite image 10 being displayed (or the number of the printed portion from the head) may be displayed together on the monitor 9 so that the troubled portion can be easily identified. .

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the surface print 3 of the traveling electric wire / cable 2 is sequentially photographed by the camera 4, and the images photographed by the camera 4 are stored, and a plurality of stored images are arranged. In addition, the composite image 10 is generated, and the composite image 10 is sequentially displayed on the monitor 9 to inspect the defect of the surface printing 3.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, inspection is performed by displaying a plurality of print locations on the monitor 9 at a time, thereby making it possible to greatly reduce the inspection time and printing the surface of the electric wire / cable 2. 3 can be confirmed in full length without restriction of the length of the wire / cable 2 or the extrusion speed.

  For example, the time required for inspection with a 1000 m wire / cable 2 is as follows. However, it is assumed that the screen switching time of the monitor 9 is 0.1 second. In this case, the number of screen switching times per second is 10.

  When the printing roll 12 having a diameter of 10 cm is used for printing, the printing pitch of the surface printing 3 is about 0.3 m. Here, assuming that four prints are displayed on one screen (assuming that four images are arranged to generate the composite image 10), the length of the strip that can be confirmed in one second is 0.3 (m) × 4 (location). Since × 10 (times) = 12 m, the time required to confirm 1000 m is about 84 seconds, and the inspection can be performed in a very short time.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the surface of the traveling electric wire / cable 2 is not visually inspected as in the prior art, it is possible to suppress oversight of a printing defect portion.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image confirmation operation is performed after the manufacture of the electric wire / cable 2 has been described. However, it is of course possible to perform the image confirmation operation in real time during the manufacture of the electric wire / cable 2. is there. In this case, the image processing unit 6 is configured to generate the composite image 10 each time the number of images (four in this case) that can generate the composite image 10 is accumulated in the storage unit 5, and the output control unit 7. May be configured to sequentially display the composite image 10 generated by the image processing unit 6 on the monitor 9.

  In this case, since the inspection must be continued in real time during manufacture of the electric wire / cable 2, there is a problem that if the electric wire / cable 2 is long, the inspection takes time. By displaying a plurality of print locations on the screen and performing the inspection, it is possible to delay the switching of the screens and prevent the failure location from being overlooked. That is, according to the present invention, even when the extrusion speed is high, it is possible to suppress the operator from overlooking the defective part without being able to cope with the screen change, and to obtain the operational effect that the oversight of the defect can be suppressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Surface printing inspection apparatus of electric wire and cable 2 Electric wire and cable 3 Surface printing 4 Camera 5 Memory | storage part 6 Image processing part 7 Output control part 8 Camera control part 9 Monitor 10 Composite image 11 Control apparatus 12 Printing roll

Claims (3)

A method for inspecting the surface printing of electric wires and cables for inspecting defects in the surface printing of electric wires and cables,
The surface printing of the electric wire / cable while traveling is taken sequentially with a camera, and the images taken with the camera are stored,
An electric wire / cable surface print inspection method comprising: generating a composite image in which a plurality of the stored images are arranged and sequentially displaying the composite image on a monitor to inspect surface printing defects. The method for inspecting the surface printing of electric wires and cables according to claim 1, wherein only the periphery of the surface printing of the image photographed by the camera is trimmed, and the composite image is generated by arranging a plurality of trimmed images. A wire / cable surface printing inspection device for inspecting defects in surface printing of wires / cables,
A camera that sequentially shoots the surface printing of the wire / cable while running;
A storage unit for storing images taken by the camera;
An image processing unit for generating a composite image in which a plurality of images stored in the storage unit are arranged;
An output control unit for sequentially displaying the composite image generated by the image processing unit on a monitor;
A surface printing inspection device for electric wires and cables.