JP2018065605A - Ink jet printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent outflow of mixed lot of printed defective products in a printing inspection machine for ink jet printing of an exterior of a food packaging, and even a machine for discharging a defective inspection item have a risk that product defects would be mixed in product lots, in the case of defective inspection of inspection machine or defective discharge of defective product, it is possible to prevent mixed lot of printed defective product.SOLUTION: An inkjet printing system for printing on the exterior of a package includes a supply unit, an inkjet printing unit, a printed image inspection unit, a defective discharge unit, a transport unit, and a control unit. In each part, the count information output of the number of products is connected to the control part, the control unit checks the consistency of the count information of each unit. If consistency is obtained, it is normal, and if it is inconsistent, an abnormality warning is outputted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printing system for printing on a package exterior.

  High reliability is required for the print display relating to the quality by inkjet on the exterior of food packaging bags and the like. There was a need for a system that could ship product lots with no defects in inkjet printing. Therefore, automatic inspection is performed after printing, and if there is a defect, the defective piece is discharged (Patent Documents 1 and 2) and the individual identification number of the bag with the defective printing is logged (Patent Document 3). .

Japanese Patent No. 2903148 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-262489 JP 2009-137166 A

  However, in the conventional method, even if the print inspection after the ink jet printing is accurately inspected, there is a possibility of causing a problem of not discharging in the step of discharging the defect. In addition, all the numbers input to the print line cannot be inspected, and there may be a problem of inspection omission. There was no need to check the number in each process of the packaging bag to be printed between processes related to printing. Therefore, the count information such as the number of passes of the process is absorbed from each process related to printing, and consistency between various count information is taken. If consistency is obtained, the printing process is terminated normally. The purpose is to eliminate defective printing outflow by performing an abnormal process.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an inkjet printing system that prints on the exterior of a packaging bag, a supply unit that supplies the packaging bag before printing, an inkjet printing unit that prints on the exterior of the packaging bag, The print image inspection unit that inspects the print printed on the exterior of the packaging bag, the defective discharge unit that discharges the packaging bag whose printing is determined to be defective by the print image inspection unit, and the non-defective product that is determined by the print image inspection unit A delivery unit that transports the packaging bag, and a control unit to which the count information output of the packaging bag in each unit is connected, and the control unit checks the consistency of the count information output from each unit The ink jet printing system is characterized in that information indicating normality is output if the property is correct, and an abnormality alarm is output if the consistency is poor.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect a defect due to a discharge failure such as a printing failure or an inspection failure, and the printing failure is not discharged.

1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of an inkjet printing system in an embodiment of the present invention. These are the figures explaining the multitask structure which formed the task for every functional unit regarding count information test | inspection in embodiment of this invention. These are figures explaining the flow of the whole process regarding an inspection in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of an ink jet printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An inkjet printing system 100 that prints on the exterior of a packaging bag includes a supply unit 1, an alignment unit 2, an inkjet printing unit 3, a print image inspection unit 4, a transport unit 5, a defective discharge unit 6, and a delivery unit 7. The control unit 8 is configured.

  The operator 90 supplies the packaging bag to the supply unit 1 by hand.

  The packaging bag placed in the supply unit 1 includes a supply unit 1, an alignment unit 2, an inkjet printing unit 3, a print image inspection unit 4, a transport unit 5, a defective discharge unit 6, and a delivery unit 7. It is sequentially conveyed in the flow direction a in conjunction with the conveyor.

  The worker 90 supplies the packaging bag to the place where the packaging bags of the supply unit 1 are put together. When the supply unit control unit 12 receives an instruction to supply one bag from the control unit 8, the supply unit 1 supplies one bag from the packaging bag placed together in the supply unit 1 to the next process. The supply unit 1 has a supply unit sensor 11 at the outlet of the supply unit 1 and senses each packaging bag. When the supply bag sensor 11 senses the packaging bag, the signal is sent to the control unit 8 by the supply unit control unit 12.

  In the aligning unit 2, the packaging bags placed in the supplying unit 1 are aligned with an alignment tool (not shown) and sequentially conveyed. The alignment unit 2 is controlled by the alignment unit control unit 22.

  In the inkjet printing part 3, inkjet printing is performed for every packaging bag. The inkjet printing unit 3 performs inkjet printing on the packaging bag with the inkjet printing apparatus 30 and is controlled by the inkjet printing unit control unit 32. There is a printing start sensor 31 at the entrance of the ink jet printing unit 3 and senses each packaging bag. The packaging bag is sensed by the printing start sensor 31 and sends a signal to the ink jet printing unit control unit 32. Based on the signal, the inkjet printing control unit 32 issues a command to the inkjet printing apparatus 30 to perform inkjet printing such as quality display on the exterior of the packaging bag. Regarding the print contents, the contents previously input to the control unit 8 by the input unit 80 are sent from the control unit 8 to the ink jet printing unit control unit 32 at the time of production preparation.

  In the print image inspection unit 4, there is a print unit inspection start sensor 41 at the entrance of the print image inspection unit 4, and it detects each passing packaging bag, and if it detects a packaging bag, the print image inspection unit A signal is sent to the control 42, and the print image inspection unit control unit 42 takes an image of the packaging bag with the camera 40 based on the signal, and inspects the image with the existing inspection software. Judgment is made. The determination is sent to the control unit 8 one by one.

  The conveyance unit 5 is a conveyor conveyance unit in a portion from the exit of the print control unit 4 to the entrance of the defective discharge unit 6 and is controlled by the conveyance unit control unit 52 together with other conveyor conveyance units.

  The defective discharge unit 6 is a part that discharges the packaging bag determined to be defective by the print inspecting unit 42 to the defective discharge box 65 by the defective discharge mechanism 64, and is controlled by the defective discharge unit control unit 62. A defective discharge sensor 61 is installed in front of the defective discharge box 65, detects the packaging bag discharged to the defective discharge box 65, and a signal is transmitted from the defective discharge section control section 62 to the control section 8.

  The delivery unit 7 is a part where normally printed packaging bags are collected if normal, and is controlled by the delivery unit control unit 72. A delivery unit sensor 71 is provided at the entrance of the delivery unit 7 and detects each packaging bag. When a packaging bag is detected, a signal is transmitted from the delivery unit control unit 72 to the control unit 8.

  At the delivery unit 7, the operator 90 collects the packaging bag that is ink-jet printed on the exterior.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a multitask configuration in which a task is formed for each functional unit related to the counting information inspection in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Supply unit control unit 12, alignment unit control unit 22, inkjet printing unit control unit 32, print image inspection unit control unit 42, transport unit control unit 52, defective discharge unit control unit 62, and delivery unit control unit 72. Communicates with the control unit 8 and assembles count information based on signals and information obtained from each control unit and checks the consistency of each count information. If there is a problem, an abnormality alarm is output, or a re-injection instruction to the supply unit 11 is performed. These controls are performed by multitasking in which a task is formed for each functional unit and the plurality of tasks are advanced.

  In this embodiment, a mode in which ink jet printing is performed on a batch set number S of packaging bags will be described. The supply unit 1, the alignment unit 2, the inkjet printing unit 3, the print image inspection unit 4, the transport unit 5, the defective discharge unit 6, and the delivery unit 7 operate according to instructions from the control unit 8. It is carried out. Description of the operation control other than the determination / operation regarding the count information is omitted.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a system control task, which adjusts between tasks and advances the execution of each task. A signal is received from each control unit, a task in the control unit 8 is executed, and a control signal is transmitted to each control unit by the task. A control task (not shown) for operation of the inkjet printing system 100 is also under management.

  The system control task 200 includes a supply unit control unit 12, an alignment unit control unit 22, an inkjet printing unit control unit 32, a print image inspection unit control unit 42, a transport unit control unit 52, and a defective discharge unit control unit 62. Then, control is transmitted to the delivery unit control unit 72, and signals from each unit are received.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes an input task, which passes a value to the system control task 200 based on an operation of the input unit 80 and inputs data to the control unit 8.

  Reference numeral 202 denotes a display notification task, and the display notification unit 9 displays the result of the output command in the system control task 200.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a supply number M count-up task. In the supply unit 1, when the packaging bag passes through the supply unit output sensor 11, the supply unit output sensor 11 detects it. The supply unit control unit 12 is executed after transmitting a sensing signal when the packaging bag has passed to the system control task 200. The supply number M, which is the number of packaging bags output from the supply unit, is counted up.

  Reference numeral 204 denotes a printing number L / supply number M check task. The inkjet printing unit control unit 32 instructs the inkjet printing apparatus 30 to perform inkjet printing on the packaging bag that has passed the printing start sensor 31 in the inkjet unit 1. This is executed after the inkjet printing apparatus 30 completes printing on one packaging bag and transmits a signal to the system control task 200. The number of prints L is counted up and the following check is performed.

  Comparing the values of the printing number L and the supply number M, if L> M, the system control task 200 is instructed to display a printing number error error with the system stop command and the display notification unit 9 as a printing number error. put out.

  If the number of prints L and the number of supply M are compared, and L <= M, no processing is performed.

  Reference numeral 205 denotes a print image inspection management task. In the print image inspection unit 4, the packaging bag is detected by the print unit inspection start sensor 41, and a signal is sent to the print image inspection unit control unit 42. The print image inspection unit control unit 42 uses the signal to At 40, an image of the packaging bag is taken, the image is inspected, and it is determined whether the product is good or defective. The inspection number C counts the number of inspections. Here, the inspection number C is counted up. For each inspection, the print image inspection determination result signal of the print image inspection unit 4 as to whether it is a non-defective product or a defective product and the inspection number C are transmitted to the system control task 200, and the print image inspection management task 205 is executed one by one. Is done.

  If the determination result signal is a non-defective product result, the non-defective product number G is counted up. In addition, G + N is determined as the total judgment number I by calculation. Then, the execution instruction of the total judgment number I / printing number L check task 209 is transmitted to the system control task 200.

  If the result is a defective product, the number N of defective products is counted up, and the counted number is stored as the number N of defective products. In addition, G + N is determined as the total judgment number I by calculation. Then, an instruction to execute the judgment total number I / printing number L check task 209, defect judgment supply task 206, and defect removal task 207 is transmitted to the system control task 200. Then, an instruction to execute the defective discharge confirmation task 208 is transmitted to the system control task 200. Then, an instruction to execute the defective discharge confirmation task 208 is transmitted to the system control task 200.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes a defect determination supply task, which is a print image inspection management task 205. The print image inspection result determination signal of the print image inspection unit 4 is executed after the defective product result processing. This is a command for additionally supplying one bag to the supply control unit 12.

  Reference numeral 207 denotes a defect removal task, which is a print image inspection management task 205, in which a print image inspection result determination signal from the print image inspection unit 4 is executed after processing of defective product results.

  There is a defective portion discharge portion inlet sensor 61 at the inlet of the defective discharge portion 6 to count the packaging bags. When this count reaches the inspection number C when the result is a defective product, the packaging image determined to be defective by the printed image inspection unit 4 has arrived at the defective discharge unit, and time measurement is started. After a predetermined time T1, a failure discharge command by the failure discharge mechanism 64 is sent to the failure discharge unit control unit 62.

  This time T1 is the time from when the packaging bag to be discharged passes through the defective portion discharge portion inlet sensor 61 to reach the defective discharge mechanism 64. The time measured in advance is the input portion 80. Thus, the system control task 200 is input by the input task 201.

  The defective bag removal task 207 causes the defective discharge unit control unit 62 to discharge the packaging bag to the defective discharge box 65 by the defective discharge mechanism 64. A defective discharge confirmation sensor 66 is installed in front of the defective discharge box 65 to detect the packaging bag discharged to the defective discharge box 65, and a signal thereof is transmitted from the defective discharge unit control unit 62 to the system control task 200 to detect a defective bag. The removal number J is counted up. Then, the execution instruction of the defect number N / removal number J check task 210 is transmitted to the system control task 200.

  Reference numeral 208 denotes a defective discharge confirmation task, which is started when the defective product removal task 207 is executed. The defective product removal task 207 is executed, and the print image inspecting unit 4 determines that there is a defect. This is a task to check whether the discharged packaging bag has been discharged.

  When execution of the defective product removal task 207 is started and a discharge command is issued by the defective discharge mechanism 64 from the system control task 200 to the defective discharge unit control unit 62, time measurement is started and the time T1 determined in advance is started. The defective discharge confirmation sensor 66 installed in front of the defective discharge box 65 senses the packaging bag discharged into the defective discharge box 65 within a predetermined time T2, and detects defective discharge. A failure discharge signal is transmitted from the unit control unit 62 to the system control task 200 to check whether or not failure discharge is performed.

  If the defective discharge mechanism 64 does not detect that the defective discharge mechanism 64 has detected that the defective packaging bag is discharged at the printed image inspection unit 4 by the defective discharge unit 6, it is determined as a defective discharge failure. The system control task 200 is instructed to display a system stop command and the display notification unit 9 to display a defective discharge error.

  If the defective discharge confirmation sensor 66 senses that the defective packaging mechanism 64 senses that the defective packaging bag is discharged at the printed image inspection unit 4 by the defective discharge unit 6, the processing is not performed.

  This time T2 is from the time when the bag determined by the print image inspection unit control unit 42 of the print image inspection unit 4 as a defective product reaches the defect discharge unit by the defect discharge unit control unit 62 and a command to discharge is sent. A time with a certain margin, which is longer than the time T1 when the discharge by the defective discharge mechanism 64 is executed, is previously input to the system control task 200 by the input task 201 by the input unit 80.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes a determination total number I / printing number L check task, which is started after the determination total number I is calculated while the print image inspection management task 205 is being executed.

  When the total number of judgments I and the number of prints L are compared, and if I> L, an error in the number of examinations is displayed in the system control task 200 by the system stop command and the display notification unit 9 as an examination number abnormality. Give instructions.

  The total number of judgments I and the number of prints L are compared, and if I <= L, no processing is performed.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes a defect number N / removal number J check task. In accordance with a defective product removal task 205, the defect discharge unit control unit 62 causes the defect discharge mechanism 64 to discharge the packaging bag to the defect discharge box 65. A defective discharge sensor installed in front detects the packaging bag discharged into the defective discharge box 65, and the signal is transmitted from the defective discharge control unit 62 to the system control task 200, and the number J of defective removals is counted up. Later, this task is performed.

  Comparing the values of the number of defects N and the number of removal J, if N <J, the system control task 200 displays a system stop instruction and an error of the number of defects removed by the display notification unit 9 as an abnormality removal number abnormality. Give instructions to do.

  If the number of defects N and the number of removals J are compared and N> = J, no processing is performed.

211 is a delivery unit arrival number K check task. When a packaging bag enters the delivery unit 7 and passes through the delivery unit sensor 71 at the entrance, the delivery unit sensor 71 detects this and the signal is sent to the delivery unit control unit 72. To the system control task 200 and then executed.

  The system control task 200 counts up the delivery unit arrival number K based on a signal from the delivery unit control unit 72. Then do the following checks:

  The delivery unit arrival number K and non-defective product number G are compared, and if K> G, go to (Process 1), if K <G, go to (Process 2), if K = G (Process 3). Go to).

  (Processing 1) As a delivery unit arrival number abnormality, the system control task 200 is instructed to display a delivery unit arrival number abnormality error in the system stop command and the display notification unit 9.

  (Process 2) Not processed.

  (Process 3) The delivery unit arrival number K is compared with the batch setting number S. If K <S, the process proceeds to (Process 4), and if K = S, the process proceeds to (Process 5).

  (Process 4) An instruction to execute the delivery unit passage time P check task 212 is transmitted to the system control task 200.

  (Process 5) An instruction to end the batch and an instruction to display the end of the batch in the display notification unit 9 are issued to the system control task 200.

  212 is a delivery unit passage time P check task. After the passing of the packaging bag is detected by the supply unit sensor 11 and a signal is transmitted to the system control task 200, and K = G and a series of normal products all reach the delivery unit 7, K <S, that is, this This task is executed when the delivery arrival number K does not reach the batch setting number S.

  The time T is measured from the time when the delivery part passage time P check task 212 starts.

  If the delivery unit sensor 71 senses the passage of the packaging bag and the signal is not transmitted to the system control task 200 before the time T reaches a predesignated time T3, the system control task 200 is regarded as exceeding the arrival time to the delivery unit. The system stop command and the display notification unit 9 give an instruction to display an error of the arrival time excess abnormality to the delivery unit.

  If the delivery unit sensor 71 senses the passage of the packaging bag and the signal is transmitted to the system control task 200 before the time T reaches a predetermined time T3, the process is not processed.

  This time T3 is a time that allows a state in which the delivery arrival number K has not reached the batch setting number S, and is previously input to the system control task 200 by the input task 201 by the input unit 80.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the overall processing flow relating to the inspection in the embodiment of the present invention.

After the start, the count value is initialized. The counter numbers of the supply number M, the printing number L, the inspection number C, the non-defective product number G, the defective product number N, the judgment total number I, the removal number J, and the delivery unit arrival number K are set to zero.

  Perform system control tasks.

  At the initial stage of the system control task, the batch setting number S and the times T1, T2, and T3 are input by the input task 201 through the input unit 80.

  Production is started in the system control task 200, and each task is executed under the management of the system control task 200, and multitask control is executed. Each time a bag passes through various sensors, a task is executed, and if there is a flaw between the count information, an abnormal stop / abnormal display is made. When an abnormality occurs, the line stops and a countermeasure can be taken immediately by displaying an error error.

  When there is no wrinkle between the count information and there is no abnormal stop / abnormal display, the batch ends when the delivery unit arrival number K reaches the batch setting number S.

  In the example of FIG. 1, by making the conveyance unit 5 U-shaped, the supply unit and the delivery unit are positioned close to each other, so that the operator can insert the packaging bag and the packaging bag that comes out of the delivery unit. Since the collecting operation can be performed at a close position, the workability of the worker is good.

  The line as in the example of FIG. 1 may be linear instead of U-shaped.

  By the inkjet printing system for the packaging bag exterior of the present invention, it was only possible to discharge defects by the printing inspection machine, so that the printing defects due to process defects can be grasped by inspection, and the risk of passing to the next process as a product can be avoided As a result, the quality assurance of printing was ensured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Supply part 2 ... Alignment part 3 ... Inkjet printing part 4 ... Print inspection part 5 ... Conveyance part 6 ... Defect discharge part 7 ... Delivery part 8 ... Control Section 9 ... Display notification section 11 ... Supply section sensor 12 ... Supply section control section 22 ... Alignment section control section 30 ... Inkjet printer 31 ... Inkjet print start sensor 32 ... Inkjet printing unit control unit 40 ... Camera 41 ... Print image inspection start sensor 42 ... Print image inspection unit control unit 52 ... Conveying unit control unit 61 ... Defect discharge unit inlet sensor 62 ... Defect discharge unit control unit 64 ... Defect discharge mechanism 65 ... Defect discharge box 66 ... Defect discharge confirmation sensor 71 ... Delivery unit sensor 72 ... Delivery unit control unit 80 ... Input unit 90 ..Worker 10 ... ink-jet printing system
a ・ ・ ・ Direction of packaging bag flow

Claims (1)

An inkjet printing system for printing on the exterior of the packaging bag, a supply unit for supplying the packaging bag before printing;
An inkjet printing section for printing on the exterior of the packaging bag;
A print image inspection section for inspecting a print image printed on the exterior of the packaging bag;
A defective discharge unit for discharging a packaging bag whose printing is determined to be defective by the printed image inspection unit;
A delivery unit that transports packaging bags that are determined to be non-defective by the printed image inspection unit;
A control unit to which the count information output of the packaging bag in each unit is connected;
Consisting of
The control unit checks the consistency of the count information output from each of the units, outputs normal information if consistency is obtained, and outputs an abnormality alarm if consistency is found. Printing system.

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