JP3966948B2 - Printed material inspection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention belongs to the technical field of printing. In particular, the present invention relates to a printed matter inspection apparatus that performs inspection based on image data obtained by imaging a printed matter.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The width of the web paper used for printing in the printing machine varies depending on the print item. In the inspection on the printing press, the printed matter sent from the final printing unit is imaged by a line sensor camera or the like. Usually, the width of the imaging range of the imaging camera used in the inspection is fixed to be wider than the maximum paper width. Accordingly, a range that is not an object to be inspected when the paper is not at the maximum width is also included in the imaging range. Therefore, an inspection region in the width direction (perpendicular to the web transfer direction) is set in consideration of the width of the sheet.
[0003]
The inspection area is set, for example, by displaying the image data obtained by imaging on the monitor screen so that the transfer direction is the top-and-bottom direction, and the operator confirming it. In other words, the inspection area is set by the operator specifying the left and right boundary lines on the monitor screen image on the setting panel.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a conventional method for setting an inspection region. As shown in FIG. 3 , the operator operates the left shift button (←) and the right shift button (→) on the left line on the inspection area setting key on the setting panel to display the left border line of the monitor screen image. Specify the position. Similarly, the position of the right border line of the image on the monitor screen is designated by operating the left move button (←) and the right move button (→) on the right line. When the designation is performed, an area sandwiched between the left border line of the image and the right border line of the image becomes the inspection area.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the work load for setting the inspection area in this way is not necessarily small for the operator of the printing press. In particular, the amount of work that must be performed by the operator in the preparation stage for starting printing is large. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to make an accurate determination while confirming the display image on the monitor screen and to appropriately set the inspection region, and it is likely that an inappropriate setting is made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus in which the setting operation is a simple operation that does not require the operator's judgment and an appropriate setting of the inspection area can be easily performed.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object is achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention is a printed matter inspection apparatus that inspects the presence or absence of defects in a printed matter based on a captured image obtained by imaging the printed matter, and performs an operation based on the following equations 1 and 2 to A printed matter inspection apparatus comprising inspection region setting means for setting an inspection region.
Equation 1: P1 = (a × x / c) + y
Formula 2: Wd = (b × x / c) −2 × y
However, when it does not become an integer value by the calculation of Equations 1 and 2, it is set to an integer value by an appropriate method such as rounding off or rounding up.
P1: The position of the left end of the inspection area in the captured image that matches the width of the cylinder portion of the plate cylinder
Wd: width of the inspection area in the captured image
a: Distance between the left end of the cylinder portion of the plate cylinder and the left end of the pressed portion of the impression cylinder
b: Width of printing paper
c: Left end of the pressed part of the impression cylinder
x: Number of pixels in the width direction (bit) in the captured image that matches the width of the cylinder portion of the plate cylinder
y: the number of pixels (bit) that makes the inspection area narrower than the width of the printing paper ”. According to the present invention, the inspection area is set by the calculation based on the equations 1 and 2 by the inspection area setting means. The numerical values assigned to Equations 1 and 2 are quantities that can be obtained as objective numerical data. Therefore, the setting work can be a simple work that does not require the operator's judgment, and an appropriate setting of the inspection area can be easily performed.
[0006]
Further, the present invention is “a printed matter inspection apparatus in which the inspection area setting means inputs the impression cylinder size of the impression cylinder and the width of the paper output by the production management means”. According to the present invention, the inspection area setting means inputs the impression cylinder size and the paper width included in the data output from the production management means in order to set the operating conditions of the printing machine in accordance with the print item. . Therefore, the setting of the inspection area is completely automated. The present invention is also “a printed matter inspection apparatus in which the inspection area setting means inputs an impression cylinder size of the impression cylinder and a width of the paper specified by an operator from an operation panel”. According to the present invention, the inspection area setting means inputs the impression cylinder size of the impression cylinder and the width of the paper specified by the operator from the operation panel. Therefore, the inspection area can be set manually.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of setting an inspection area in the printed material inspection apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printed material printed on a web printing paper, 2 denotes a plate cylinder, 3 denotes an impression cylinder having a pressing portion having the same width as the printing paper, 4 denotes a camera which is an imaging means of the inspection apparatus, 5 Is a guide roller for guiding the web, 6 is a processing unit that performs data processing for inspection region setting and pass / fail judgment data, 7 is a display unit that displays imaging data (camera input image), and 8 is a left boundary of the inspection region. A left line 9 indicates a right line indicating a right boundary of the inspection region.
[0008]
The plate cylinder 2 and the impression cylinder 3 are supported by a frame (not shown) of the final printing unit of the printing press. The camera 4 is, for example, a line sensor camera, which captures an image of the printed matter 1 on the web that has been printed and outputs image data. The imaging data is image data of the imaging range of the camera 4 and is set so as to be able to handle the maximum inspection area, that is, the maximum paper width. Therefore, the imaging data is the same as or larger than the image data in the inspection area.
[0009]
The processing unit (main body) 6 of the printed matter inspection apparatus inputs the imaged data and performs data processing such as processing for determining the quality of the printed matter, processing for setting an inspection area, and the like. The processing unit 6 can be realized by a data processing device including a dedicated image processing unit (image processing board or the like), a microcomputer, a personal computer, and the like. An input unit including a keyboard and a mouse, a display, and the like The output part which consists of.
The processing unit 6 includes an inspection region setting unit, and performs processing for setting an inspection region from the impression cylinder size of the impression cylinder used for printing and the width of the paper used for printing, which are input by the operator at the input unit. The inspection area setting means can be realized by the hardware and software of the processing unit 6.
[0010]
The imaging data and the set inspection region can be displayed on the display (display unit 7). Although this display function can be omitted, it is easy to confirm whether or not the operator has made an appropriate input by performing this display. The display screen shown in the display unit 7 of FIG. 1 shows an example of the display. On the display screen, a left line 8 indicating the position of the left boundary line of the inspection area and a right line 9 indicating the position of the right boundary line of the inspection area are displayed together with the image of the captured data.
[0011]
Before describing the details of the operation of the inspection area setting means, the impression cylinder will be described. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an impression cylinder used in a printing machine to which the printed matter inspection apparatus of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 2, the left side is the operation side (MS), and the right side is the machine side (GS). 2 (A) and 2 (B) show an impression cylinder called “7 scale” having the same impression cylinder size, but FIG. 2 (A) shows a pressure applied to an original fabric width (web width to be printed) of 2100 mm. FIG. 2 (B) shows an impression cylinder that is applied to an original fabric width of 1500 mm. 2 (C) and 2 (D) show an impression cylinder called “5 scale” having the same impression cylinder size, but FIG. 2 (C) shows an impression cylinder applied to an original fabric width of 1500 mm. D) is an impression cylinder applied to an original fabric width of 1000 mm. The impression cylinder size “7” and the impression cylinder size “5” represent the maximum effective width which is the maximum width of the impression cylinder as a pressing portion in the specification.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2, the impression cylinder used in the printing press is selected so that the width (effective width) of the portion to be pressed by the impression cylinder coincides with the original fabric width. Further, in the impression cylinders having different raw fabric widths, in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the position of the portion to be pressed by the impression cylinder is determined in alignment with the reference position (leftmost end) on the operation side. 2 (C) and 2 (D), the position of the portion to be pressed by the impression cylinder is determined by aligning it with a predetermined distance determined by the impression cylinder dimensions from the printing press from the reference position on the operation side. Is done.
[0013]
The position of the pressing portion of the impression cylinder is the position in the width direction (perpendicular to the transfer direction) of the path in which the printing paper of the web is transferred in the printing machine. Width), that is, a predetermined position is determined by the impression cylinder size. Therefore, when the impression cylinder size of the impression cylinder and the width of the printing paper used in a specific printing machine are determined, the position in the width direction of the path through which the printing paper is transferred is determined.
[0014]
Now, returning to FIG. 1, the details of the operation of the inspection area setting means will be described. As described above, the imaging range (image input range) of the camera 4 (line sensor camera) is set so as to be compatible with the maximum inspection area, so that the imaging range of the camera 4 is substantially the same as the width of the plate cylinder 2. Set to Here, it is assumed that the imaging range of the camera 4 and the width of the plate cylinder 2 coincide. Further, it is assumed that the reference position on the operation side coincides with the left end of the cylinder portion of the plate cylinder 2. If they do not match, you can take that into account in the following description, and the basic idea is the same.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the distance between the reference position on the operation side (the left end of the cylinder portion of the plate cylinder 2) and the left end of the portion pressed by the impression cylinder is defined as a (mm). This a is determined by the size of the impression cylinder as described above. The width of the printing paper is b (mm). This b coincides with the width of the pressed portion of the impression cylinder as described above. The imaging range (image input range) of the camera 4 is assumed to be c (mm). Further, the number of pixels in the width direction of the imaging data (camera input image) of the camera 4 is assumed to be x (bit). The inspection area is narrower than the width of the printing paper and is located inside y (bit) from the edge (left and right edges) in the width direction of the printing paper in terms of the number of pixels.
[0016]
In the imaging data (camera input image) of the camera 4, the position Pl (bit) at the left end of the inspection area is a position calculated by the following equation 1 from the position at the left end of the imaging data. Further, the width Wd (bit) of the inspection area is a width calculated by the following equation 2. However, when it does not become an integer value by the calculation of Equations 1 and 2, it is set to an integer value by an appropriate method such as rounding off or rounding up.
[Expression 1]
Pl = (a × x / c) + y
[Expression 2]
Wd = (b × x / c) −2 × y
[0017]
Thus, the inspection area can be set by determining the position Pl (bit) of the left end of the inspection area and the width Wd (bit) of the inspection area in the imaging data of the camera 4.
It should be noted that the mathematical formulas shown in Equations 1 and 2 clearly have different parameters depending on the type of printing press and the type of inspection device that are not determined only by the impression cylinder size and the width of the printing paper. Since the inspection apparatus is installed in the printing press, the parameters are uniquely determined when the printing press is specified. Therefore, in correspondence with a specific printing machine, mathematical formulas dedicated to the printing press, such as the mathematical formulas shown as an example in Formulas 1 and 2, can be determined. The inspection area setting means can calculate the inspection area of the specific printing machine based on the mathematical formula.
[0018]
Further, when a printing press is specified, a mathematical formula for calculating the left end position Pl (bit) of the inspection area of the printing press and the width Wd (bit) of the inspection area is determined. By substituting parameters determined by the impression cylinder dimensions and the width of the printing paper into the formula, the inspection area of the printing press can be set. The impression cylinder size and the width of the printing paper are uniquely determined by the printing item, and data relating to the printing item can be output by the production management system. The production management system is a system that supplies data related to a printing item to a printing machine at an appropriate time before the printing item starts printing, and inputs and tabulates the production status as a result from the printing machine. Therefore, the inspection area setting can be completely automated by the inspection area means inputting the impression cylinder dimensions and the printing paper width included in the data output from the production management system.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printed matter inspection apparatus that makes the setting operation a simple operation that does not require the operator's judgment and can easily set the inspection area appropriately.
Further, according to the present invention in which the inspection area setting means calculates the inspection area based on the arithmetic expression corresponding to the printing press, it can be applied to various printing machines by selecting the arithmetic expression or assembling the arithmetic expression.
Further, according to the present invention in which the inspection area setting means inputs the impression cylinder size and the paper width output from the production management means, the setting of the inspection area is completely automated.
Further, according to the present invention in which the inspection area setting means inputs the impression cylinder size of the impression cylinder and the width of the paper designated by the operator from the operation panel, the inspection area can be set manually.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of setting an inspection area in a printed material inspection apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an impression cylinder used in a printing machine to which the printed matter inspection apparatus of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional method of setting an inspection area.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Print 2 Plate cylinder 3 Impression cylinder 4 Camera 5 Guide roller 6 Processing section 7 Display section 8 Left line 9 Right line

Claims (3)

A printed matter inspection apparatus for inspecting the presence or absence of defects in a printed matter based on a picked-up image obtained by picking up an image of the printed matter, and performing an operation based on the following equations 1 and 2 to set an inspection region in the captured image A printed matter inspection apparatus comprising an area setting means.
Equation 1: P1 = (a × x / c) + y
Formula 2: Wd = (b × x / c) −2 × y
However, when it does not become an integer value by the calculation of Equations 1 and 2, it is set to an integer value by an appropriate method such as rounding off or rounding up.
P1: The position of the left end of the inspection area in the captured image that matches the width of the cylinder portion of the plate cylinder
Wd: width of the inspection area in the captured image
a: Distance between the left end of the cylinder portion of the plate cylinder and the left end of the pressed portion of the impression cylinder
b: Width of printing paper
c: Left end of the pressed part of the impression cylinder
x: Number of pixels in the width direction (bit) in the captured image that matches the width of the cylinder portion of the plate cylinder
y: Number of pixels (bit) that makes the inspection area narrower than the width of the printing paper The printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inspection area setting unit inputs an impression cylinder size of the impression cylinder and a width of the paper output by a production management unit. 3. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inspection area setting means inputs an impression cylinder size of the impression cylinder and a width of the paper designated by an operator from an operation panel.

Images