JP2014185929A - Edge position detection device and edge position detection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow easy and accurate detection of edge positions of a light-transmissive member being transported and to allow the improvement of installation layout performance.SOLUTION: An edge position detection device 10 includes: a light projection mechanism 26 which irradiates a transparent web 14 being transported, with inspection light to propagate the inspection light along the inside of the transparent web 14; a light receiving mechanism 28 which is disposed on the outside of an irradiation area S directly irradiated with the inspection light from the light projection mechanism 26 and detects scattering light of the inspection light propagated in the transparent web 14 and scattering to the outside from an edge part 14e of the transparent web 14; and an edge position detection circuit 30 which detects the position of the edge part 14e of the transparent web 14 on the basis of the detected scattering light.

Description

  The present invention relates to an edge position detection device and an edge position detection method for detecting an edge position of a web- or sheet-like light-transmitting member being conveyed.

  Generally, a manufacturing facility using a web such as a long film or a processing facility for performing a laminating process includes a transport line for transporting the web along a predetermined transport path.

  In that case, the web conveyed along a conveyance line may shift | deviate in the width direction which cross | intersects a conveyance direction. For this reason, the web conveyed to the work station has a problem that the edge position is likely to fluctuate and a desired work cannot be performed with high accuracy. Therefore, in order to correct the edge position of the conveyed web, for example, an edge position correction device including a web edge position detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

  However, it is difficult to detect the edge position with a normal optical edge detector in a light-transmitting web such as a transparent film. Therefore, as an apparatus corresponding to the light transmissive web, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes an ultrasonic or pneumatic edge position detection apparatus.

  However, in a transmission type detection device in which a web is inserted between a projector and a light receiver, such as the edge position detection device of Patent Document 1, when the curl or the like is deformed on the edge of the web, the position of the edge is detected. There is a problem that the detection accuracy is greatly reduced. Furthermore, since the detection width is as short as several millimeters in the ultrasonic type and the pneumatic type, a moving mechanism for tracking the position of the detector corresponding to the position of the edge is necessary. Therefore, there is a problem that the entire facility becomes complicated and large.

  On the other hand, in the method for measuring the thickness of a subject disclosed in Patent Document 2, the subject whose thickness is to be measured is positioned on the protruding curved body surface, and the contact portion between the curved body and the subject in the subject. Is irradiated with illumination light having such a property that the cross section of the measurement object can be observed, and the subject is observed from the substantially tangential direction of the curved body at the contact portion, and is examined by light transmitted or reflected through the cross section of the measurement object. It is characterized by measuring body thickness.

JP 2001-226005 A JP-A-2-297007

  However, in Patent Document 2 described above, it is difficult to distinguish the boundary between the measurement object cross section and the surrounding environment, particularly when the light transmittance of the subject is high. Furthermore, there is a problem that the detection sensitivity tends to be lowered depending on the material and shape of the curved body (roller), and erroneous detection is caused.

  This type of problem is not limited to the time of transporting the transparent film, but also applies to a system for transporting a sheet-like transparent glass body or a web-like transparent glass body.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and can easily and accurately detect the edge position of the light transmissive member being conveyed, and can improve the installation layout. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible edge position detection apparatus and edge position detection method.

  An edge position detection apparatus according to the present invention includes a light projecting mechanism that irradiates a light transmitting member being conveyed with inspection light and propagates the inspection light along the inside of the light transmitting member, and the light projecting mechanism. The inspection light that is disposed outside the irradiation region directly irradiated with the inspection light from the edge of the light transmissive member is scattered from the edge portion of the light transmissive member to the outside. A light receiving mechanism for detecting, and a mechanism for detecting the position of the edge portion of the light transmissive member based on the detected scattered light.

  Further, this edge position detection device preferably includes a roller member that is curvedly conveyed in close contact with the light transmissive member when the light transmissive member is irradiated with the inspection light.

  Furthermore, in the edge position detection method according to the present invention, the step of irradiating the light transmissive member with inspection light while propagating the light transmissive member and propagating the inspection light along the inside of the light transmissive member. And the step of detecting the scattered light scattered outside from the edge portion of the light transmissive member, the inspection light propagating through the light transmissive member, and based on the detected scattered light, Detecting the position of the edge portion of the light transmissive member.

  Furthermore, in this edge position detection method, it is preferable that the light transmissive member is irradiated with inspection light while being bent and conveyed in close contact with the roller member.

  According to the present invention, for example, the inspection light irradiated on the web-like or sheet-like light transmissive member is propagated along the inside of the light transmissive member, and then from the edge portion of the light transmissive member. Scattered outside. For this reason, the light receiving mechanism can easily and accurately detect the position of the edge portion by detecting the scattered light from the edge portion.

  In addition, the edge position detection device includes a light projecting mechanism that irradiates the light transmissive member with inspection light, and a light receiving mechanism that detects scattered light scattered outside from the edge portion of the light transmissive member. Therefore, for example, by using a projector such as a fluorescent lamp or LED illumination and a light receiver such as a CCD camera (having a condensing lens), a wide range can be easily inspected. (Including the inspection width) is enlarged, and a mechanism for moving the detector following the edge position becomes unnecessary.

  In particular, even if there is no space in which the light projecting mechanism and the light receiving mechanism are arranged close to each other, the light projecting mechanism and the light receiving mechanism can be satisfactorily arranged in separate spaces apart from each other. Thereby, the edge position detection apparatus can improve the installation layout.

1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of an edge position detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the arrangement | positioning state of the light projection mechanism and light reception mechanism which comprise the said edge position detection apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the arrangement | positioning state of the said light projection mechanism. It is explanatory drawing of the inspection light which propagates the inside of a transparent web. It is explanatory drawing of the other arrangement | positioning state of the said light-receiving mechanism. It is a picked-up image by the said light-receiving mechanism. It is schematic structure explanatory drawing of the edge position detection apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is schematic structure explanatory drawing of the edge position detection apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is schematic structure explanatory drawing of the edge position detection apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the edge position detection apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a web processing system 12.

  The web processing system 12 includes a rewinding roller 16 around which a transparent web (light transmissive member) 14 which is a transparent long film is wound. The transparent web 14 to be rewound from the rewound roller 16 is passed over the first guide roller 18a and the second guide roller 18b, and then sent to the folding roller member (roller member) 20. A take-up roller 22 for winding the transparent web 14 is disposed downstream of the folding roller member 20. As the transparent web 14, for example, various synthetic resin films, glass films and the like are used in addition to a laminate film, and the higher the light transmittance, the more preferable.

  The first guide roller 18a and the second guide roller 18b are configured to be tiltable, for example, in order to adjust the position in the width direction (edge position) intersecting the transport direction of the transparent web 14. A winding motor 24 is connected to the winding roller 22.

The edge position detection device 10 irradiates the inspection light L _IN on the transported transparent web 14 and propagates the inspection light L _IN along the inside of the transparent web 14 (FIGS. 1 to 3). a reference), together with the inspection light L _iN from the light emitting mechanism 26 is arranged outside the irradiation area S to be irradiated directly, the inspection light L _iN propagates inside the said transparent web 14, the transparent web A light receiving mechanism 28 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) that detects scattered light L _OUT scattered from the edge portion 14e of the 14 and the edge portion of the transparent web 14 based on the detected scattered light L _OUT. And an edge position detection circuit (mechanism) 30 for detecting the position of 14e.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 1, the inspection light L _IN emitted from the light projecting system 26 generates a reflected light (scattered light) L _REF by reflecting by the return roller member 20 or the like. For this reason, the light receiving mechanism 28 is preferably arranged at a position where it does not receive the reflected light L _REF from the folding roller member 20 or the like.

  The light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28 may be provided corresponding to one edge portion 14e of the transparent web 14, or may be provided corresponding to the edge portions 14e, 14e on both sides of the transparent web 14. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the light projecting mechanism 26 includes a light source, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) 26a. A diffusion plate 26b and a condenser lens 26c are disposed on the optical path of the light emitting diode 26a. The light projecting mechanism 26 is inclined by a predetermined angle α1 ° with respect to the surface direction of the transparent web 14 and has a long rectangular shape in the width direction of the transparent web 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

As shown in FIG. 4, the critical angle θc of the inspection light L _IN of a transparent web within 14, when the web refractive index n1 and refractive index of air n2, the θc ° ^{= sin -1 (n2 / n1)} . When the inspection light L _IN is incident at an angle larger than the critical angle θc °, the inspection light L _IN can be totally reflected and propagated inside the transparent web 14, and the inspection light L _IN can be guided far away. become.

To propagate by total reflection of the inspection light L _IN inside the transparent web 14 (light guide), the angle α1 ° (= 90 ° -θc °) is, it is preferably less, be substantially 0 ° approximated preferable. The light projecting mechanism 26 is preferably arranged as close as possible to the irradiation surface of the transparent web 14, and the dimension W in the web width direction (see FIG. 2) is set according to the inspection width. Preferably, for example, it has an irradiation range of several hundred mm.

As shown in FIG. 3, the light projecting mechanism 26 is inclined toward the edge portion 14 e from a direction parallel to the edge portion 14 e of the transparent web 14. Inspection light L _IN from the light projecting system 26 is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle [alpha] 2 ° with respect to a direction parallel to the edge portion 14e. Inspection light L _IN derived from the light projecting system 26 is because it propagates through the transparent web 14 scattered from the edge portion 14e outward easily.

For example, a CCD camera is used as the light receiving mechanism 28, but an optical detector such as an infrared camera or a phototransistor may be used. A condensing lens 32 is disposed on the optical path of the light receiving mechanism 28, and this optical path is inclined by an angle α3 ° from a direction orthogonal to the inspection surface of the transparent web 14. In addition, the light receiving mechanism 28 can also be arrange | positioned by making an optical path correspond in the direction orthogonal to a test | inspection surface, as shown by the dashed-two dotted line in FIG. In addition, the light receiving mechanism 28 can be installed at an arbitrary position as long as it is outside the irradiation region S and avoids the position where the reflected light L _REF is received.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the light receiving mechanism 28, the optical axis is set along the edge portion 14 e of the transparent web 14. The imaging range of the light receiving mechanism 28 extends from the edge of the transparent web 14 to a part of the folding roller member 20 including the edge 14e. As shown in FIG. 5, the optical axis of the light receiving mechanism 28 may be inclined by an angle α4 ° with respect to the edge portion 14e. At this time, since the imaging surface is inclined, an image correction process is necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the edge position detection circuit 30 is provided as a function of the controller 34. The controller 34 controls the entire web processing system 12 including drive control of the winding motor 24. The controller 34 has a function as a roller tilt circuit 36, and the roller tilt circuit 36 tilts the first guide roller 18 a and the second guide roller 18 b to adjust the position of the edge portion 14 e of the transparent web 14.

  Next, the operation of the edge position detection apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described below in relation to the edge position detection method according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, after the leading end of the transparent web 14 is drawn out from the rewinding roller 16 in advance, the leading end is passed over the first guide roller 18a, the second guide roller 18b, and the folding roller member 20, and then the winding is performed. It is fixed to the take-up roller 22.

  Next, when the winding motor 24 is driven under the action of the controller 34, the winding roller 22 connected to the winding motor 24 rotates in the direction of the arrow. For this reason, the transparent web 14 whose tip is fixed to the take-up roller 22 is fed from the rewind roller 16 and taken up by the take-up roller 22.

As described above, the inspection light _LIN is irradiated from the light projecting mechanism 26 to the transparent web 14 while conveying the transparent web 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the inspection light L _IN is totally reflected and propagates (guides light) inside the transparent web 14. At that time, as shown in FIG. 3, the light projecting mechanism 26 is inclined toward the edge portion 14 e from a direction parallel to the edge portion 14 e of the transparent web 14. Accordingly, the inspection light L _IN propagating through the transparent web 14 easily travels toward the edge portion 14e, and is scattered outside from the edge portion 14e to generate scattered light L _OUT .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light receiving mechanism 28 images the examination region including the edge portion 14 e of the transparent web 14. Accordingly, the light receiving mechanism 28 images the scattered light L _OUT from the edge portion 14e, and a captured image as shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. In FIG. 6, the edge portion 14e is displayed brighter than other portions due to the scattered light L _OUT from the edge portion 14e. Therefore, the edge position detection circuit 30 can detect the position of the edge portion 14 e of the transparent web 14 based on the photographing screen of the light receiving mechanism 28. In particular, the edge position detection circuit 30 can reliably detect the edge portion 14e by searching from the outside to the inside of the transparent web 14 (in the direction of arrow M in FIG. 6).

  When the position of the edge portion 14e is detected by the edge position detection circuit 30, it is determined whether or not the position adjustment of the transparent web 14 in the width direction is necessary. When the controller 34 determines that the conveyance path correction of the transparent web 14 is necessary, the first guide roller 18a and the second guide roller 18b are tilted via the roller tilt circuit 36, and the transparent web 14 The position of the edge portion 14e is adjusted.

Thus, in the first embodiment, the inspection light L _IN irradiated to the transparent web 14, after being propagated along the inside of the transparent web 14 (see FIG. 4), the edge portion of the transparent web 14 14e is scattered outside. For this reason, since there is no object that irradiates the surrounding member with light at the inspection position (position facing the edge portion 14e) by the light receiving mechanism 28, reflected light (scattered light) from the surrounding member is not present. Absent.

Accordingly, noise signals other than the edge portion 14e of the transparent web 14 are eliminated. As a result, the light receiving mechanism 28 detects the scattered light L _OUT from the edge portion 14e, so that the light receiving mechanism 28 is not affected by the shape or material of the member around the transparent web 14, for example, the folding roller member 20. The effect that the position of the edge part 14e can be detected easily and accurately is obtained.

  On the other hand, in the detection method that does not use light propagation (light guide), the inspection light applied to the light-transmitting member from the projector is also applied to the surrounding members (for example, the curved roller in close contact) and scattered. Is received by the receiver. For this reason, noise signals other than those at the edge portions are generated, and the influence of the scattering is easily changed depending on the member.

Moreover, the inspection light L _IN can be propagated by being totally reflected inside the transparent web 14 by being incident at an angle larger than the critical angle θc °. As a result, it is possible to guide the inspection light _LIN far, and there is an advantage that a strong edge signal can be obtained.

  In particular, a high S / N ratio can be obtained even for the transparent web 14 having a very high transmittance. Therefore, there is an advantage that the stable detection process of the edge portion 14e is performed satisfactorily.

In addition, the transparent web 14 is in close contact with the folding roller member 20 when the inspection light _LIN is irradiated, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of deformation such as curling and undulation in the transparent web 14 as much as possible. It becomes possible. Moreover, the roller member 20 has a light shielding function, it is possible to inspection light L _IN is further reliably prevented from being irradiated to the light receiving mechanism 28.

  Further, the light projecting mechanism 26 uses, for example, a light emitting diode 26a as a light source, and the light receiving mechanism 28 uses, for example, a CCD camera (having a condensing lens 32). As a result, a wide range can be easily inspected, the inspection range (including the inspection distance and inspection width) is expanded, and the light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28 can be arranged apart from each other. Become.

  In particular, even if there is no space for the light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28 to be arranged close to each other, the light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28 should be spaced apart from each other and placed in separate spaces. Can do. For this reason, in the edge position detection apparatus 10, the freedom degree of installation layout improves and the effect that a space saving is achieved easily is acquired. Furthermore, the inspection range (including the inspection distance and inspection width) of the edge position can be expanded, and for example, a mechanism for moving the detector following the edge position becomes unnecessary, and the configuration is simplified and compact. Can be easily achieved.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the edge position detection device 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a web processing system 42. Note that the same components as those in the web processing system 12 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Similarly, in the third and subsequent embodiments described below, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The web processing system 42 is disposed along the conveyance path of the transparent web 14 so as to be separated from the first folding roller member (roller member) 44a and the second folding roller member (roller member) 44b. The light receiving mechanism 28 is disposed corresponding to the first folding roller member 44a, while the light projecting mechanism 26 is disposed corresponding to the second folding roller member 44b.

The light receiving mechanism 28 is disposed outside the irradiation region S where the inspection light _LIN is directly irradiated from the light projecting mechanism 26. Note that the first folding roller member 44a and the second folding roller member 44b have a light shielding function for preventing the inspection light _LIN from passing through, so that the installation position and the installation angle of the light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28 can be freely set. The degree is improved.

In the second embodiment configured as described above, the inspection light _LIN is irradiated from the light projecting mechanism 26 onto the transparent web 14 that is curved and conveyed in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second folding roller member 44b. The inspection light L _IN propagating through the transparent web 14 is scattered outside from the edge portion 14e to generate scattered light L _OUT .

  Therefore, the light receiving mechanism 28 disposed corresponding to the first folding roller member 44a determines the position of the edge portion 14e of the transparent web 14 that is curved and conveyed in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first folding roller member 44a. Can be detected. As a result, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained, such as the position of the edge portion 14e of the transparent web 14 being easily and accurately detected.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the edge position detection device 50 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a web processing system 52.

In the web processing system 52, a first pass roller member 54 and a second pass roller member 56 are disposed between the rewind roller 16 and the take-up roller 22. The light projecting mechanism 26 is disposed at a position where the inspection light _LIN is irradiated in the vicinity of the second pass roller member 56, while the light receiving mechanism 28 is in close contact with the first pass roller member 54 or the first pass roller member 54. It arrange | positions corresponding to the edge part 14e of the transparent web 14. FIG. In the third embodiment, a pass roller is not necessarily required between the light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28.

The light receiving mechanism 28 is disposed outside the irradiation region S where the inspection light _LIN is directly irradiated from the light projecting mechanism 26. Receiving mechanism 28 is disposed further position not received directly reflected reflected light L _REF in irradiated inspection light L _IN is the surface of the transparent web 14 from the light projecting system 26.

  In the third embodiment configured as described above, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments described above can be obtained, such as being able to easily and accurately detect the position of the edge portion 14e of the transparent web 14. It is done.

  As shown in FIG. 9, an edge position detection device 60 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a web processing system 62.

  The web processing system 62 includes pass roller members 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 64e, and 64f for transporting the transparent web 14 with its transport direction reversed. The light projecting mechanism 26 is disposed facing the pass roller member 64a, and the light receiving mechanism 28 is disposed facing the pass roller member 64f.

  The pass roller member 64a and the pass roller member 64f are disposed close to each other, and the light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28 are disposed therebetween. The light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28 face the transparent web 14 in opposite directions.

  In the fourth embodiment configured as described above, the light projecting mechanism 26 and the light receiving mechanism 28 are arranged in opposite directions, and the position of the edge portion 14e of the transparent web 14 can be detected easily and accurately. The same effects as those of the first to third embodiments can be obtained.

  Note that the edge position detection device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described first to fourth embodiments, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 40, 50, 60 ... Edge position detection apparatus 12, 42, 52, 62 ... Web processing system 14 ... Transparent web 14e ... Edge part 16 ... Rewinding roller 18a, 18b ... Guide roller 20, 44a, 44b ... Folding roller Member 22 ... Winding roller 24 ... Winding motor 26 ... Light projection mechanism 28 ... Light receiving mechanism 30 ... Edge position detection circuit 34 ... Controller 36 ... Roller tilt circuits 54, 56, 64a to 64f ... Pass roller member

Claims (4)

A light projecting mechanism that irradiates the light transmitting member being conveyed with inspection light and propagates the inspection light along the inside of the light transmitting member;
The inspection light, which is disposed outside the irradiation region directly irradiated with the inspection light from the light projecting mechanism, is scattered outside from the edge portion of the light transmission member. A light receiving mechanism for detecting scattered light,
A mechanism for detecting the position of the edge portion of the light transmissive member based on the detected scattered light;
An edge position detection apparatus comprising: The edge position detection apparatus according to claim 1,
An edge position detection apparatus comprising: a roller member that closely contacts and conveys the light transmissive member when the light transmissive member is irradiated with the inspection light. Irradiating the light transmissive member with inspection light while conveying the light transmissive member, and propagating the inspection light along the inside of the light transmissive member;
Detecting the scattered light scattered outside from the edge of the light transmissive member, the inspection light propagating through the light transmissive member;
Detecting the position of the edge portion of the light transmissive member based on the detected scattered light;
An edge position detection method comprising: The edge position detection method according to claim 3, wherein
An edge position detecting method, wherein the light transmitting member is irradiated with inspection light while being bent and conveyed in close contact with a roller member.

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