JP3138968B2 - Automatic alignment processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus having a function of automatically aligning a plate, for example, a printing plate, and more particularly to a table having a drive system in which the position of a mark serving as a reference for positioning on the printing plate is determined. The present invention relates to a processing method that enables positioning even in an arbitrary positional relationship with respect to a moving axis of the moving object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when it is necessary to perform processing at a predetermined position on a plate or the like, a positioning process must be performed on each plate. This positioning process is often performed automatically in terms of speeding up and stability. This processing method will be described below with reference to the illustration position adjustment processing as an example. 8 to 10 are general configuration diagrams of an automatic alignment drilling device showing an example of a conventional processing method. FIG. 8 is a plan view, FIG. 9 is a front view, and FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a driving unit. 8 to 10, reference numeral 1 denotes a movable table (hereinafter simply referred to as a table) for placing an illustration, 2
Is a drive unit for moving the table, which can be translated and rotated. 3, 3 'is a camera fixed to the outer frame, 4 is an illustration to be processed, 5, 5' are alignment marks previously drawn on the illustration, 6 is a driving center point,
7, 7 'are drilling mechanisms, 8 is a monitor for capturing images of the cameras 3, 3', 9 is an operation panel, 10 is a stand, and 11 to 13 are fixed to the stand 10 by feed screw mechanisms MX, MY1, MY2. ing. 14 to 16 are receiving plates fixed to the table 1. In addition, as a table moving mechanism, the screw section moves forward and backward by giving a rotation command to the motors of the respective feed screw mechanism sections 11 to 13, and the receiving plate 14,
By pressing the buttons 15 and 16, the table 1 moves. The feed screw mechanisms 11 to 13 and the receiving plates 14 to 16 are connected by a spring (not shown), and the screw tip is constantly pressed against the receiving plates 14 to 16. Therefore, the table 1 can be returned by being pulled by the spring when the screw returns. When moving in the X direction, MX
To operate (11) and move in the Y direction, MY
1 (13) and MY2 (12) are operated by the same amount.
The rotation operation is the same size for MY1 and MY2,
This is realized by designating a reverse value.

Next, an implementation method will be described. The plate 4 to be processed is first placed on the table 1. At this time, the illustration 4 is placed so that the marks 5 and 5 ′ drawn on the illustration 4 are displayed on the monitor 8. Here, by pressing the start button on the operation panel 9, the camera 3,
From 3 ', the positions of both marks 5, 5' of the plate 4 are read into the memory based on the scale of the monitor 8. Based on this data, the computer calculates the positions of the marks 5 and 5 ', and issues a movement command to the drive unit 2 so that the marks are symmetrical with respect to the center of the cameras 5 and 5'. To move. By doing so, the positions of the drilling portions with respect to the marks 5 and 5 'are determined.
The plate 4 is perforated by 7 '. The purpose of perforation is positioning for preventing printing from shifting when performing color printing or the like. After that, the plate 4 is taken out and another plate with the same mark is drawn on the table 1.
And perform the same processing as above. By repeating this series of operations, it is possible to automatically perform the drilling process at the same position on a plurality of plates. In such an apparatus, positioning is usually performed as follows. 11 and 12 are explanatory diagrams of the alignment method.
A and B in the figure are the center positions of the cameras 3 and 3 '. In the present apparatus, since the positions of the cameras 3 and 3 'are fixed, the positions are denoted by A (a, 0) and B (b, 0). However, it is assumed that b = −a.

In FIG. 11, when the plate 4 is set on the table 1, the positions of the marks 5, 5 'are indicated by TA (AX1,
AY1) and TB (BX1, BY1). First, the table 1 is translated so that the marks 5 and 5 ′ are point-symmetric with respect to the rotation axis 0. The movement amount is easily calculated by the following equations (1) and (2). divx = {(a-AX1) + (b-BX1)} / 2}
{(1) divy =-{(AY1 + BY1)} / 2}
‥ (2) From the computer, the movement amount divx is set to the MX part, and
Instructed by the Y1 and MY2 units, di
Move vx in the Y direction.

In FIG. 12, the position after the movement is indicated by TA (AX).
2, AY2) and TB (BX2, BY2). Here, since TA and TB are point-symmetric, the following relational expressions (3) and (4) are satisfied. AX2 = −BX2 ‥‥ (3) AY2 = −BY2 ‥‥ (4) Finally, by performing rotation correction such that AY2 and BY2 become 0, TA and TB are line-symmetric with respect to the central axis Y. Becomes Therefore, in FIG.
2 is designated as BY2 to the MY2 part, and the table 1 is rotated, so that the positions of the marks 5, 5 'are TA (AX).
3, AY3) and TB (BX3, BY3). Here, the positional relationship between TA and TB is represented by the following equations (5) and (6). AX3 = −BX3 ‥‥‥ (5) AY3 = BY3 = 0 ‥‥ (6) These alignment processes are shown in FIG. By the above-described alignment processing, it is possible to automatically determine the positional relationship between the marks 5, 5 'of the plate 4 and the drilling mechanism 7, 7'.

[0006]

However, according to this method, since the camera is fixed, the area from which the mark can be read is limited. Usually, the reading area of the camera is several mm, and thus the position of the mark drawn on the plate is determined by this. Therefore, the plate size is determined by the device size, and a device capable of processing an arbitrary plate size cannot be realized. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic alignment processing method capable of automatically aligning an image of an arbitrary size with a single device. .

[0007]

Means for achieving the object is to change a camera from a fixed system to a movable system so that the camera can cope with an arbitrary plate size. However, in the case of the movable type, the amount of rotation cannot be determined when the mark is parallelized with respect to the reference point because the distance between the drive shaft and the camera is uncertain. Therefore, a first step of obtaining an actual rotation amount of the ratio of the rotation instruction value to the drive unit, and a second step of performing the rotation correction for Shi out parallel marks relative to the reference point of this original, finally And a positioning processing method including a third step of adjusting the mark to the reference point by parallel movement.

[0008] This will be described in detail, it has a mark for alignment in two places of the illustration, mounting the camera for photographing the mark on the table near the so alignment can mark, the table plane rotation and the automatic alignment device that moves in the vertical and horizontal directions, the camera is moved
It is provided movably, the first first plate is set on the table, and the two marks on the plate are the view of the camera.
The camera moves so that the inner, stores this position as the criteria position, then remove this illustration, installation the second sheet of the illustration about the same location as the first sheet of the illustration, the mark position to calculate the amount of movement as well as plane rotation amount of the table as to coincide with the reference position, by a driving means Before moving the table as a first step, mer table
Click rotates in a range present in the field of view of the camera, when the
It is rotated the amount of movement of the mark position and the amount of rotation of the drive means
Storing the mark positions after, then stored as a second step
Of mark position, amount of rotation of drive means and mark position
Based on location, the after reference position and the mark position is calculated rotation amount, such as to be parallel, the by planar rotation of the table by driving means stores mark position, then as a third step, the mark position and the reference The movement amount is calculated so that the position coincides with the position, and the table is moved in the vertical and horizontal directions by the driving means. In addition, as a plate, there is a printing plate or the like.

[0009]

The function of the present invention is that, although it has not been possible to process an arbitrary plate size in the past, the camera can be made movable by adopting the automatic alignment processing method. It is now possible to process plates with sizes of. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a driving unit, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. Are portions having the same configuration and function, and description thereof will be omitted. 1 to 3, the cameras 3 and 3 'can be freely moved in the X and Y directions by rails (arms) 17 and 17' in the X direction and rails 18 and 18 ' in the Y direction provided on the mount of the apparatus. Then, the first first plate 4 is set on the table 1 and the two marks 5 and 5 ′ of the plate 4
Cameras 3 and 3 'are moved to the center position in the field of view of 3', and this position is stored as a reference position on the monitor 8. Then, the plate 4 is removed, and the second plate is replaced by one. installation in the same location as the eyes of the illustration, the mark position in order to calculate the amount of movement as well as plane rotation amount of the table 1, such as to coincide with the reference position, moves the table 1 as a single step
Dynamic is not Ru driving means, i.e. the drive unit 2, the mark 5,
5 ′ is swung within a range existing in the field of view of the cameras 3 and 3 ′, that is, the table 1 is marked with the marks 5 and 5 ′.
It is rotated within the range existing in the field of view of 3 ', the ratio between the amount of movement of the shaken mark position and the amount of rotation of the driving means is calculated, and then the mark position is stored. After calculating the amount of rotation so that the reference position and the mark position become parallel, the driving means rotates the table 1 in a plane to store the mark position, and then, as three steps, the mark position and the reference position match. In this system, the table 1 is moved in the vertical and horizontal directions by the driving means.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the first plate 4 to be processed is placed on the table 1. At this time, the plate size may be any size as long as it does not exceed the table size. Next, camera 3, 3 '
Is moved so that both marks in the illustration are positioned relatively at the center of the monitor 8, and then the cameras 3 and 3 'are fixed. Here, the positions of the marks 5, 5 'are read from the cameras 3, 3' and stored in a memory, which is used as a reference position. Assume that the positions and coordinates of the marks 5 and 5 ′ in the field of view of the camera are PA (AX0, AY0) and PB (BX0, BY0). Therefore, subsequent plates will be automatically aligned with this reference position. Thereafter, the first plate is subjected to processing such as drilling. Next, the first plate is removed,
The next plate (having the same mark and the same size as the first plate) is set on the table 1. Thereafter, this plate is subjected to the automatic positioning process with respect to the reference positions PA and PB described above. First, FIGS. 4A and 4B
, The marks 5 and 5 'of the illustration are read. This position is referred to as QA (AX1, AY1), QB (BX1, BY
1). Next, in order to obtain a rotation ratio as a first step, an instruction value “divy” represented by the following equation (7) is given to the driving units MY1 and MY2 in the opposite direction. div = {(AY1-AY0)-(BY1-BY0)} / 2 (7) That is, MY1 is set to div and MY2 is set to (-divy).
Is performed, and a trial rotation for obtaining a rotation ratio is performed. 5A and 5B, the read positions of the marks after rotation are indicated by QA (AX2, AY2), QB (BX2,
BY2). Next, as a second step , the sum of the rotation ratio RA of QA and the rotation ratio RB of QB is calculated using divv obtained in the first step so that the Y direction becomes parallel.
The rotation ratio RT is calculated by Expression (8), and the rotation amount “divy1” required to make the rotation parallel is calculated by Expression ( 9). RT = RA + RB = (| AY2-AY1 |) / | divy | + (| BY2-BY1 |) / | divy | (8) div1 = {(AY2-AY0)-(BY2-BY0)} / RT ... (9) Therefore, MY1 is set to div1 and MY2 is set to (−divy).
By giving 1) and performing a rotational movement, the marks 5, 5 'are moved to positions parallel to the reference position.

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the read positions of the rotated marks are indicated by QA (AX3, AY3) and QB.
(BX3, BY3). Finally, as a third step, by moving the difference in the X and Y directions,
Both marks 5, 5 'can be moved to the reference position,
Alignment is that Do not completed. The amount of movement for that is given by equation (1)
0) and (11) . The divx2 = {(AX3-AX0) + (BX3-BX0)} / 2 ... (10) divy2 = {(AY3-AY0) + (BY3-BY0)} / 2 ... (11) Therefore, Divx2 in M X, Div to MY1 and MY2
The translation is performed by giving y2. By this parallel movement, both marks QA and QB can be aligned with reference positions PA and PB. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the reading positions of both marks after the parallel movement are indicated by QA (AX).
4, AY4) and QB (BX4, BY4), AX
4 = AX0, AY4 = AY0, BX4 = BX0, BY4
= BY0. This completes the alignment of the marks of the first plate and the marks of the second plate, and a process such as drilling is performed next. After this, a process such as drilling can be performed at the same position on the two plates. Further, when processing a plurality of sheets, the same processing may be repeatedly performed. Here, a method has been described in which the mark position of the first plate is set as a reference position, and the marks of the second and subsequent sheets are aligned with the reference position. However, the automatic alignment processing method according to the present invention is implemented by a normal method. The same method can be applied to a method in which the center of the camera as described above is used as a reference position and all mark marks are aligned therewith.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the absolute position of the camera with respect to the table movement axis is unknown, the camera can be aligned as long as the relative position between the reference position and the mark on the plate can be obtained. It can be freely moved, and a single device can be used to perform an arbitrary size plate and an automatic alignment with an arbitrary position mark.

[0014]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a driving unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a positioning process of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a positioning process of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a positioning process according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a positioning process of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an entire configuration diagram of an example of the related art.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a driving unit.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional alignment process.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional alignment process.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional alignment process.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional alignment process.

[0015]

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... movable table, 2 ... drive mechanism, 3, 3 '... turtle
La, 4 ... illustration, 5,5 '... mark, 6 ... drive center point,
7, 7 ': Drilling bridge structure, 8: Monitor, 9: Operation panel
, 10 ... Stand, 11-13 ... Feed screw mechanism, 14-
16 ... receiving plate, 17, 17 ', 18, 18' ... rail.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A has a mark for alignment in two places of the illustration, moving the camera for photographing the mark installed in table vicinity, such alignment of the mark can, tables in the plane rotation and vertical and horizontal directions In the automatic positioning device, the camera is provided so as to be movable, the first first plate is set on a table, and the camera is moved so that the two marks on the plate are within the field of view of the camera. , stores the position as the base reference position, then remove this illustration, installation the second sheet of the illustration about the same location as the first sheet of the illustration, the table as to match the mark position in the reference position To calculate the amount of movement and the amount of plane rotation, the first
By driving means Before moving the table in step,
Times to the extent that mark the table exists in the field of view of the camera
Then, the moving amount of the mark position at that time, the rotating amount of the driving means, and the mark position after the rotation are stored, and then the moving amount of the mark position and the turning amount of the driving means stored as the second step are stored.
After calculating a rotation amount such that the reference position and the mark position are parallel based on the shift amount and the mark position , the driving means rotates the table in a plane to store the mark position, and then, as a third step, An automatic alignment processing method, wherein a movement amount such that a mark position and a reference position coincide with each other is calculated, and the table is moved in the vertical and horizontal directions by the driving means.