JP2812051B2 - Film inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an original film for printing, by comparing the original film before correction with the original film after correction, so that the pattern or characters of the original film after correction can be positioned at a predetermined position. The present invention relates to a film plate inspection device for inspecting whether or not a film is arranged as specified.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when preparing an original film of a printing plate of four colors, a film obtained by color separation of a picture original or several transparent films of various materials such as flat screens and characters for each color is used. And exposed to an unexposed film several times by overlapping with a light-shielding mask film or the like and developing, thereby obtaining yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and sumi (K). It is well known to make a plate original film (positive film).

[0003] On the other hand, if mistakes (erroneous characters or omissions) are found in the original film (old version) or if the designation is changed, the transparent film on which various materials are pasted is corrected, and the original film is reprinted. The original film (new edition) is created by re-exposing unexposed film.

[0004] Such a correction work is manual and complicated, so that a part other than a mistake or a designated change is erroneously corrected, or the position of the material stuck on the transparent film is shifted. Sometimes happened.

In addition, when the original film is corrected from the old version to the new version, it is necessary to inspect the new version because a new mistake may occur in the new version. This plate inspection is not only a troublesome operation, but also has the possibility that a new mistake may be missed. In particular, if there is a mistake other than the corrected portion, the possibility of oversight tends to increase.

Therefore, conventionally, a plurality of original plates for the same printed matter, for example, an old plate and a new plate are placed adjacent to each other.
By taking images with two TV cameras, overlaying the image on a TV monitor and comparing the images, the new version's patterns and characters, etc. are specified in the parts other than the corrections, whether they are the same as the old version, and the corrections are specified There is a plate inspection apparatus which makes it easy to check whether or not the correction has been made as described above (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 61-215550 and 63-228159).

The plate inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-215550 has a function of combining and displaying old and new original films in different colors on a monitor television, and replaces or overlaps the new and old plates at regular intervals. And a tilt mechanism for displaying the image.

The plate inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-228159 defines a portion of a new or old original plate film to be inspected by an address of a matrix, and photographs the original film by a TV camera according to the address. In this system, the image signals of the new and old original plates are compared for each number, the number of the mismatched portion is stored, and the mismatched number is printed out.

[0009]

By the way, such a plate detecting device, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 61-215550 discloses a technique in which two television cameras use a part of two adjacent original films. Are taken manually, and are manually moved to inspect the entire original film.
There have been problems such as that the inspector cannot leave the apparatus main body.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-228159, a mismatched portion is displayed at a matrix address, and the two images at the address are displayed on a monitor television again in a state where the two images are superimposed on each other. Since the check is performed every time, the operator is restrained for a long time when there are many changes or when the changes are made over a wide range.

In addition, both plate inspection devices allow the operator to check the image on the monitor television, and if there is an error, indicate the location of the error to the original film creator, or Since the original film is to be repaired, when there are many mistakes, there is a possibility that some of the mistakes that have been checked may be forgotten to be corrected or the mistakes may be lost on the original film.

[0012] Further, the two plate inspection devices are for placing two original films in a state of being adjacent to each other and photographing them with two TV cameras, respectively. The size of the original film is larger than the size of the original film, so if you try to project the entire original film on a monitor TV, it is not possible to check the details of the original film. The entire original film is checked by making it movable.
In addition, there is a problem that the photographing of the original film with the television camera requires a certain focal length between the television camera and the original film, so that the apparatus itself becomes large.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact film inspection apparatus capable of easily and reliably inspecting a plate. is there.

[0014]

In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides an image camera for reading images of two original films, and an image of the two original films read by the image cameras. First and second storage means for separately storing data, comparison means for comparing the image data of the two original films stored in the first and second storage means, The third and fourth storage means for separately storing the matched image data and the non-matched image data of the compared image data are different from the combined image data output from the third and fourth storage means. A gist is provided that includes a hard copy machine that synthesizes a single hard copy with colors and outputs the result.

[0015]

According to such a configuration, the images of the two original films are read by the image camera, and the image data of the two original films read by the image camera are respectively stored by the first and second storage means. Remembered separately,
The image data of the two original films stored in the first and second storage units are compared by the comparison unit, and the image data that matches the image data is stored in the third storage unit, and the image data that does not match is stored in the third storage unit. 4 is stored.

Each of the image data stored in the third and fourth storage means is output as a single hard copy in a different color for each storage means as composite image data.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

1 to 5 show a film plate inspection apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the film plate inspection apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the appearance of the film plate inspection apparatus. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the document table, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the film transport device, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of input / output images.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a film plate inspection apparatus including a main unit 20 to which a hard copy machine 11 and a TV monitor 12 are electrically connected.

The main unit 20 is disposed at a lower portion in front of the main unit 20 and has an original film 13 (old version) and an original film 14 described later.
(New edition) is supported by a pair of upper and lower slide rails 22 provided in the storage section 21 for storing a plurality of document tables 17, 18, and 19, which are supported in a state of being overlapped by the pin bar 16. Vacuum arm 23 for sucking and transporting original films 13 and 14 set on original table 17, and scanner unit 30 for reading original films 13 and 14 transported by vacuum arm 23.
And a discharge tray 24 from which the original films 13 and 14 read by the scanner unit 30 are discharged.

The slide rail 22 is extended so as to extend and contract in the width direction of the main unit 20, and is set so that the document table 17 can be pulled out to the side of the main unit 20. The slide rail 22 is, as shown in FIG.
When the original films 13 and 14 are set on the pin bar 16, the original setting surface 17a is rotatably supported by the main body device 20 by a ratchet mechanism (not shown) so that the original setting surface 17a is in a substantially horizontal state.

The vacuum arm 23 is formed in a U-shape with an open bottom, and its upper side 23a has a plurality of suction nozzles 26, which individually suction the original films 13, 14 by a suction action from a suction device 25. 26 are attached. Further, both lower end portions 2 of the vacuum arm 23 are provided.
3b (shown only on one side in FIG. 2) is supported by a pair of left and right guide grooves 27 (shown only on one side in FIG. 2) formed in the main body device 20. The vacuum arm 23 is guided along.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the vacuum arm 23 moves the original film 13 or the original film 14 sucked by the suction nozzle 26 from the original table 17 to the scanner section 30, or from the scanner section 30 to the discharge tray 24. And convey. The suction device 25 and the drive unit 28 are controlled by a drive processing unit 29.

The scanner unit 30 is mounted on the main unit 20 and is guided by a reading surface 32 made of a transparent glass or the like having a pin bar 31 and a vertically extending guide groove 33 formed on the main unit 20. Movable lighting 34
(E.g., a fluorescent lamp), a vertically extending rail 35 provided inside the main body device 20, an image camera 36 provided on the rail 35, and an inclined mirror fixed to the lens 36a side of the image camera 36. 37. It should be noted that the illumination 34 and the image camera 36 are controlled by the drive processor 29 so as to be synchronized with each other.
Driven by 39. Further, the motors 38 and 39 may be integrated into one by a drive transmission system (not shown).

The image data of the original films 13 and 14 steadily read by the image camera 36 is output to the processing section 40.

The processing section 40 converts the image data individually read into the image camera 36 from 8 bits to 10 bits.
an A / D conversion circuit 41 that outputs a digital signal of t
Old memory 4 for storing image data of original film 13
2 (first storage means), a new edition memory 43 (second storage means) for storing image data of the original film 14, A / D
A changeover switch 4 for outputting the image data of the original film 13 and the original film 14 converted by the conversion circuit 41 to either the old memory 42 or the new memory 43;
4. A comparison operation unit 45 for comparing the image data in the old version memory 42 and the new version memory 43, and an operation for controlling the comparison operation unit 45 and outputting the composite image data to the hard copy machine 11 or the TV monitor 12 via the changeover switch 46. Processing unit 4
7. Matching memory 48 (third storage means) for storing the matched image data among the image data compared by the comparison arithmetic unit 45, and storing the non-matched image data among the image data compared by the comparison arithmetic unit 45. A non-coincidence memory 49 (fourth storage means).

The image data of the original films 13 and 14 are synthesized and output to the hard copy machine 11 and the TV monitor 12.

For example, the image data of the original films 13 and 14 are combined to form a hard copy machine 11 or a TV monitor 12.
5, the combined image data output from the match memory 48 is changed to black and the mismatch memory 49 as shown in FIG.
Is output in two colors, red, by hardware.

For example, if the image data of the original film 13 is stored in magenta when stored in the old memory 42 and the image data of the original film 14 is stored in cyan when stored in the new memory 43, Memory 4
8, the composite image data is stored in purple (purple),
The non-coincidence memory 49 stores composite image data of two colors, magenta and cyan.

As a result, the composite image 12 'on the screen is displayed.
In the image data, the matched images of the original films 13 and 14 are output in purple, and among the image data that does not match the original films 13 and 14, the image data unique to the original film 13 is output in magenta in the composite image 12 '. Image data unique to the film 14 is output in cyan in the composite image 12 '.

That is, on the composite image 12 ′, “○” and “KU” indicate image data unique to the original film 13,
Can be confirmed at a glance that the original image data of the original film 14 and the other images are all image data shared by the original films 13 and 14. Original film 14
If the original film 14 is changed to "□", it can be easily confirmed that the original film 14 was created in a state where "KU" was missing due to some mistake when the new version was created from the old version.

The original films 13 and 14 are generally black and white positive plates serving as original plates of four printing plates prepared in correspondence with four color inks (Y, M, C and K) at the time of printing. In the case of a film, a portion of the printing plate on a transparent film that requires ink has a portion exposed to black. Therefore, the image camera 36 is for black and white, and outputs image data as black and white gradation data.

The black and white gradation of the two image data is
There are some errors due to the exposure condition of the original films 13 and 14 and the brightness at the time of reading by the image camera 36. Therefore, when comparing two image data,
Only the upper 4 bits or 5 bits of the 8-bit to 10-bit image data are compared. With such a configuration, even if there is a slight error in the gradation of the image data to be compared, it is ignored.
Needless to say, the comparison accuracy of how many bits are compared from the top can be appropriately changed depending on the inspection object.

The hard copy machine 11 is a well-known type, and the type thereof is not particularly limited. If the type can output at least two colors of ink, for example, a thermal transfer system, an ink jet system, a laser electrostatic system, etc. Anything is fine. When the above-described three-color output is performed, a device that can output three or more colors of ink is used. Also, the hard copy machine 11 is used for the original film 1.
It is preferable to use paper that can use papers having substantially the same size as that of papers 3 and 14. The TV monitor 12 capable of color output is used.

In the above configuration, in order to compare the new and old original films 13 and 14, first, the original table 17 is pulled out to the side of the main unit 20 by extending the slide rails 22 and 22, and then the original table 17 is pulled out. The document table 17 is rotated so that the document placement surface 17a of the document table 17 is substantially horizontal.

Next, the original films 13 and 14 are supported by the pin bar 16 with the original setting surfaces 17a being superposed on each other, and the original table 17 is rotated again to the original state. The document table 17 is positioned in the storage section 21 by the contraction of the document 22.

At this time, the pair of original films 13 and 14 set on the document table 17 is not limited to one set, but a plurality of sets (corresponding to Y, M, C and K) are set. However, the following description will be made on the assumption that a set of the original films 13 and 14 is set on the document table 17. The original tables 18 and 19 are for performing an interrupt process for setting another original film during the reading operation of the original films 13 and 14, and are provided for the original films 13 and 14 set on the original table 17. When the reading is completed, it is possible to check whether or not the original film is set on the next manuscript tables 18 and 19, and to perform the operation of reading the original film.

When the main unit 20 is driven by operating a main switch (not shown), the driving unit 28 is driven in conjunction with the driving, and the vacuum arm 23 is rotated. In addition, the suction device 25 is operated to suck the original film 14 by the suction force of the suction nozzle 26 and remove the original film 14 from the pin bar 16.

From this state, the main unit 20 is lifted while the vacuum arm 23 is lifted up along the guide groove 27.
The original film 14 is set on the pin bar 31 of the reading surface 32 by being displaced from the front to the rear (see locus A in FIG. 4).

Further, when the set state is reached, the illumination 34 and the image camera 35 are displaced downward while being synchronized by the rotational driving of the motor 38 and the motor 39. At this time, the tilt mirror 37 is also displaced downward together with the image camera 35, and the original film 1 is illuminated by the illumination light of the illumination 34.
After the image of the original film 14 that has passed through 4 and the mounting surface 32 is reflected by the tilt mirror 37, it is scanned by the image camera 36.

The image of the original film 14 read by the image camera 36 is stored as image data in the new version memory 43 via the A / D conversion circuit 41 and the changeover switch 44.

Further, when the illumination 34 and the image camera 35 are displaced upward while being synchronized by the rotational driving of the motor 38 and the motor 39 in the reverse direction, and return to the original position (the position shown in FIG. 2), While the original film 14 is being removed from the pin bar 31 by the suction of the suction nozzle 26, the vacuum arm 23 is displaced from the rear to the front of the main unit 20 (see locus B in FIG. 4), and the discharge tray 24 is moved.
The suction of the suction nozzle 26 is released on the discharge tray 24 to release the original film 14.
Is discharged.

From this state, the original film 13 on the document table 17 is subjected to the same work processing as described above. At this time, the image data of the original film 13 is stored in the old memory 42.

The old version memory 42 and the new version memory 43
The old and new image data stored separately are output to the comparison arithmetic unit 45, and the data which matches each image data by the comparison arithmetic unit 45 is stored in the matching memory 48 and the respective image data does not match. The data is input to the mismatch memory 49, respectively.

Then, on the hard copy machine 11 or the TV monitor 12, the composite image data output from the coincidence memory 48 is displayed in black, and the composite image data output from the mismatch memory 49 is displayed in red. The colors displayed on the hard copy machine 11 or the TV monitor 12 can be freely set. For example, the comparison between the first edition and the reprint is made with black and red, and the reprint and the reprint are made with red and blue. As described above, it is also possible to perform business management by adopting color settings according to the situation.

By repeating such operations, original films set on the original tables 17, 18, and 19 are sequentially processed. At this time, the original film set on the original tables 17, 18, 19 is transferred to the hard copy machine 11 or the T.
Before outputting to the V monitor 12, the data may be stored in the old version memory 42 and the new version memory 43, or in the coincidence memory 48 and the non-coincidence memory 49.
It is also possible to read the next platen while outputting to the V monitor 12.

As described above, according to the film inspection apparatus of the present embodiment, different patterns, characters, and the like are synthesized and outputted in different colors between the old original film 13 and the new original film 14. In addition, the difference between the two original films 13 and 14 can be easily and reliably confirmed, and a check can be made without missing any mistake when the original films 13 and 14 are changed.

Further, since the composite output can be performed by the hard copy machine 11, when an error is found in the paper (not shown) printed on the hard copy machine 11, the mistake is directly made on the paper with a writing tool. Since the mark can be added, it is possible to confirm that the check has been completed, and it is possible to surely confirm the position of the mistake when the original plate 14 is further corrected, thereby preventing a new mistake.

Then, the original films 13, 1 are placed on the platen 1.
After setting 4 and operating the image camera 36, the operator can check the output composite image or paper during the idle time of the operator without being particularly restricted by the operator. In addition, the time required for plate inspection can be reduced.

Further, the image camera 3 is provided with a correction circuit.
6 for correcting the position of the two image data read from each other, and providing the TV monitor 12 with an enlargement function.
It is also possible to enlarge and output the area specified by.

[0051]

As described above, in the film plate inspection apparatus of the present invention, an image camera for reading images of two original films and the two original plates read by the image cameras are provided. First and second storage means for separately storing film image data, comparison means for comparing the image data of the two original films stored in the first and second storage means, Third and fourth storage means for separately storing matched image data and mismatched image data of the image data compared by the comparison means, and a composite image output from the third and fourth storage means It is equipped with a hard copy machine that combines data into a single hard copy in different colors and outputs it. Rukoto can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a film plate inspection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of a film plate inspection apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the operation of the document table.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation of the film transport device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an input / output image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Film inspection apparatus 11 ... Hard copy machine 13 ... Original film (old version) 14 ... Original film (new edition) 36 ... Image camera 42 ... Old edition memory (first storage means) 43 ... New edition memory (second storage means) 45: comparison arithmetic unit 48: coincidence memory (third storage means) 49: non-coincidence memory (fourth storage means)

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03F 1/00 G06T 7/00 H04N 1/04 107 H04N 1/21 H04N 1/405

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image camera for reading images of two original films, and first and second storage means for separately storing image data of the two original films read by the image cameras. Comparing means for comparing the image data of the two original films stored in the first and second storage means, and image data which is inconsistent with the image data which has been compared by the comparing means. And fourth storage means for separately storing the image data, and a hard copy for synthesizing the composite image data output from the third and fourth storage means into one hard copy with different colors and outputting the same. A film inspection apparatus, comprising: