JP4996178B2 - Laser marking method and laser marking system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser marking method and a laser marking system in a laser marking apparatus that performs marking processing by irradiating the surface of a printing object with laser light.

In this type of laser marking device, the laser beam emitted from the laser light source is scanned on the surface of the object to be printed by the optical scanning means, so that desired characters, figures, symbols, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the laser marking device) are input in advance. "Marking pattern") is processed for marking (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-292484 A

  However, in the laser marking apparatus as described above, marking processing may not be performed in accordance with a desired marking pattern due to malfunction of the optical scanning means, insufficient output of the laser light source 21, or a mistake in switching the marking data. There was a risk of producing defective products. In particular, when a large number of objects to be printed are automatically marked together, a large number of defective prints are produced.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser marking method and a laser marking system for a laser marking apparatus that can reduce the number of defective printing products. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a laser marking system that performs a marking process on a predetermined area on a print object by irradiating the print object with laser light emitted from a laser light source. of a laser marking method, prior to the official marking to the predetermined area, can be pre-Symbol preset test marked in some one of the predetermined region outside and the predetermined region on the print target The gist of the present invention is that it includes a test marking step for performing test marking for determining whether or not the marking operation is normally performed at a proper position.

In the present invention, prior to the official marking to a predetermined area on the print target, can pre-Symbol the predetermined area outside and test markings previously set in any part of the predetermined region on the print target A test marking step for performing test marking for determining whether the marking operation is normally performed at a proper position is provided. For this reason, since it can be determined whether the marking operation is normally performed by the test marking, the number of defective prints can be reduced.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the laser marking method of the first aspect, after the completion of the test marking in the test marking step, the quality of the test pattern printed by the test marking is determined by image analysis by imaging. The gist of the invention is that it includes a determination step for determination and a formal marking step for marking a predetermined area on the print object based on the good determination of the print state in the determination step.

  In the present invention, after completion of test marking in the test marking step, a determination step for determining whether the test pattern printed with the test mark is good or bad by image analysis based on imaging, and based on the good determination of the print state in this determination step. And a formal marking step for marking a predetermined area on the printing object. For this reason, it is possible to automate the marking process from the test marking to the formal marking by determining whether the test pattern is printed or not by image analysis.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the laser marking method according to the first or second aspect, the test pattern marked by the test marking is the same pattern as a marking pattern on a predetermined area on the print object That is the gist.

  In the present invention, the test pattern by the test marking is the same pattern as the marking pattern for the predetermined area on the printing object by the formal marking. For this reason, printing defects can be found.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the laser marking method according to any one of the first to third aspects, the test pattern marked by the test marking is one for the plurality of print objects. It is the gist that only marking is performed.

  In the present invention, only one test pattern marked by the test marking is marked on the plurality of print objects. For this reason, marking processing can be performed efficiently.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the laser marking method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the test pattern marked by the test marking is on an object other than the plurality of print objects. The gist of this is that only one is marked.

  In the present invention, only one test pattern marked by the test marking is marked on an object other than the plurality of print objects. For this reason, marking processing can be performed efficiently.

The invention according to claim 6 includes a laser light source that emits laser light, an optical scanning unit that scans the laser light, and a control unit that controls the operation of the laser light source and the optical scanning unit. a laser marking system for marking into a predetermined region on the indicia shaped object by scanning a laser beam to be irradiated to the object, the input of the test print trigger signal, the predetermined region before Symbol print target on A test marking means for performing a test marking for determining whether a marking operation is normally performed at a position where a predetermined test marking is possible in any of the outside and a part of the predetermined area; and the test marking means An imaging means for imaging a test pattern that has been test-marked, and a test pattern imaged by the imaging means Analyzing the image, determining means for determining the quality of the test pattern print state, stop means for stopping the marking process after the end of the test marking by the test marking means, based on the good determination of the print state by the determination means, The gist of the present invention is to provide a formal marking means for canceling the marking processing stop state by the stopping means and for marking a predetermined area on the print object.

In the present invention, the input of the test print trigger signal, before Symbol the predetermined area outside and marking operations normally line in advance configurable to test marking located in some one of the predetermined regions on the print target Test marking means for carrying out test marking for determining whether or not it is broken is provided. Further, there are provided an image pickup means for picking up an image of the test pattern test-marked by the test marking means, and a determination means for analyzing the image of the test pattern picked up by the image pickup means and determining whether the test pattern is printed or not. In addition, a stop unit for stopping the marking process after the test marking by the test marking unit is completed, and a stop state of the marking process by the stop unit is canceled based on the good determination of the print state by the determination unit, and a predetermined on the print object Formal marking means for marking the area is provided. For this reason, it is possible to automatically perform the marking process from the test marking to the determination of the test pattern and further to the formal marking, and the number of defective prints can be reduced.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the laser marking system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, based on a determination result that is not a good determination of the print state of the test pattern by the determination unit, a notification unit that notifies the determination result to the outside The gist is that

In this invention, since the notification means notifies the determination result that is not good determination of the test pattern printing state by the determination means to the outside, the determination result can be confirmed.
The gist of the invention described in claim 8 is the laser marking system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the test marking means performs retest marking based on a determination result that is not good determination by the determination means. And

  In this invention, since the test marking means performs retest marking based on the determination result that is not good determination by the determination means, it is possible to improve the certainty of determination as to whether the marking operation by the test marking is normally performed. it can.

  The invention described in claim 9 is the laser marking system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the test pattern marked by the test marking means is a pattern marked by the formal marking means. The gist of this is the same pattern.

  In the present invention, the test pattern marked by the test marking means is the same pattern as the pattern marked by the formal marking means. For this reason, printing defects can be found.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the laser marking system according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects, wherein the test marking means performs only one test marking on the plurality of print objects. Is the gist.

In this invention, since the test marking means performs only one test marking for a plurality of print objects, the test marking can be performed efficiently.
In the invention according to claim 11, in the laser marking system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, the test marking means includes only one test marking on an object other than the plurality of print objects. The gist is to do.

  In this invention, since the test marking means performs only one test marking on an object other than a plurality of print objects, the test marking can be performed efficiently.

  Therefore, according to the above described invention, the number of defective prints can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show a configuration of the laser marking system 1 of the present embodiment. The laser marking system 1 includes a laser marking device 3 that performs marking processing on a print target object 2 and an imaging device 4 connected to the laser marking device 3.

  The laser marking device 3 includes a head unit 11 and a controller unit 12 connected to the head unit 11. The head unit 11 includes a laser light source 21 that emits a laser beam L for processing. The laser light source 21 includes a laser oscillator, and its oscillation is controlled by a control unit 51 provided in the controller unit 12.

  In the middle of the optical path of the laser light L, a pair of galvanometer mirrors 22x and 22y and a converging lens 23 are disposed as optical scanning means in order from the laser light source 21 side. The galvanometer mirrors 22x and 22y are angle-controlled by the drive devices 24x and 24y based on the control of the control unit 51, and the laser light L is scanned two-dimensionally by the galvanometer mirrors 22x and 22y.

  Laser light L scanned by each galvanometer mirror 22x, 22y is incident on the converging lens 23. The converging lens 23 converges the laser light L incident on the converging lens 23 until it reaches a predetermined spot diameter on the surface of the printing object 2, and increases the energy density suitable for marking processing. The laser beam L irradiating the surface of the printing object 2 in such a converged state is scanned two-dimensionally on the surface of the printing object 2 by the galvanometer mirrors 22x and 22y so as to mark a desired marking pattern. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the controller unit 12 is electrically connected to the table control unit 31. The table control unit 31 controls the operation of the actuator 32 based on an input signal from the control unit 51 of the controller unit 12. By the operation of the actuator 32, the slide table 33 slides two-dimensionally (X direction and Y direction in FIG. 1). On the slide table 33, the printing object 2 to be marked is arranged.

  The controller unit 12 is electrically connected to the imaging device 4. The imaging device 4 includes a processing unit 41 as a determination unit and an image sensor 42 as an imaging unit. The image sensor 42 is provided so that its imaging surface faces the upper surface of the slide table 33, and the imaging area of the image sensor 42 is set to be on the slide table 33. The slide table 33 slides two-dimensionally so that an image of an arbitrary area on the print target 2 can be taken.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the laser marking system 1 of the present embodiment.
The head unit 11 and the controller unit 12 are electrically connected. The controller unit 12 includes a control unit 51 as a control unit, a test marking unit, a stop unit and a formal marking unit, an input / output device 52 as a marking pattern setting unit, a marking position setting unit and an input unit, and a memory as a storage unit. 53.

  The control unit 51 generates coordinate data necessary for marking based on data such as a marking pattern and a marking position input from the input / output device 52. The coordinate data generated by the control unit 51 is stored in the memory 53. The control unit 51 controls the laser light source 21 and the driving devices 24x and 24y for driving the galvano mirrors 22x and 22y based on the generated coordinate data, and executes test marking and formal marking.

  The formal marking is a marking process of a desired marking pattern on the printing object 2. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the formal marking area 61 for performing formal marking is an area divided into a 3 × 3 matrix squarely on the print target 2. Nine formal patterns 61a are marked by performing formal marking on each of these matrices (see FIG. 3B). Note that although all nine are formal patterns 61a, only one formal pattern 61a is labeled for convenience.

  On the other hand, the test marking area 62 for executing the test marking is, for example, a rectangular area positioned next to the formal marking area 61 on the print target 2, and the test pattern 62 a is marked in the test marking area 62. The test marking area 62 is set to an area where test marking other than the formal marking area 61 on the print object 2 is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the input / output device 52 formed of a console or the like sets the formal pattern 61 a and the test pattern 62 a and their respective marking positions, and outputs these data to the control unit 51. The input / output device 52 is provided with a display unit (not shown) as a notification means such as a display, and the set formal pattern 61a and test pattern 62a and their marking positions are confirmed on the display unit. can do.

  The control unit 51 outputs the data of the formal pattern 61 a to the processing unit 41 of the imaging device 4. The processing unit 41 converts the data of the formal pattern 61a into image data, and performs pattern matching between the image data of the formal pattern 61a and the image data of the captured test pattern 62a.

  Next, the laser marking method of the laser marking system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated. The control unit 51 of the present embodiment executes a test marking step, a determination step, and a formal marking step in chronological order.

  When a test print trigger signal is input to the control unit 51 from an input / output device 52 or a sequencer (not shown) provided outside the laser marking system 1, the laser marking device 3 is previously input by the input / output device 52. Similarly, a test pattern 62a set in advance is marked at the set test marking position. The test marking position is set in the test marking area 62. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the test pattern 62a is set to be the same as the formal pattern 61a, and both are “A”.

  When the test marking is completed, the control unit 51 stops the marking process and the determination step is executed. In the determination step, the control unit 51 of the controller unit 12 outputs data such as a test marking position to the table control unit 31. The table control unit 31 controls the actuator 32 to slide the slide table 33 so as to place the test pattern 62 a within the imaging range of the image sensor 42 of the imaging device 4. Then, the test pattern 62 a is imaged by the image sensor 42. The image sensor 42 outputs the image data of the test pattern 62a to the processing unit 41. On the other hand, the control unit 51 of the controller unit 12 outputs the formal pattern 61 a to the processing unit 41. Then, as described above, the processing unit 41 performs pattern matching between the image data of the test pattern 62a captured by the image sensor 42 and the image data of the formal pattern 61a, and determines whether the test pattern 62a is acceptable. The processing unit 41 sets the determination result to “good” when the image data of the test pattern 62a substantially matches the image data of the official pattern 61a, and sets “other” to “no”. Since the marking process is stopped by the control unit 51, the marking object 2 is not erroneously subjected to the marking process during imaging by the image sensor 42 or determination by the processing unit 41.

  Here, if the processing unit 41 gives a determination result of “No”, formal marking is not executed, and a display indicating the determination result of “No” is made on the display unit of the input / output device 52. The processing unit 41 makes a “No” determination when the test pattern 62a is blurred due to insufficient output of the laser light source 21, or when the test pattern 62a is collapsed due to malfunction of the galvanometer mirrors 22x and 22y. is there. For example, when the marking data is input to the controller unit 12 and the imaging device 4 from the outside or separately from the memory 53 and a memory (not shown) provided in the imaging device 4, the marking data The processing unit 41 also makes a determination result of “No” even when, for example, “B” is test-marked with respect to “A” of the official pattern 61a due to a switching error or the like. In this case, since the test pattern 62a and the formal pattern 61a are set to be the same, the processing unit 41 can make a pass / fail judgment.

  When the determination result of “good” is given by the processing unit 41 in the determination step, the control unit 51 cancels the marking processing stop state and the formal marking step is executed. Based on the determination result of “good”, the processing unit 41 outputs a formal marking trigger signal to the control unit 51. Then, when the formal marking trigger signal is input to the control unit 51, as shown in FIG. 3B, the laser marking device 3 performs formal marking based on the generated coordinate data.

Next, characteristic effects of the present embodiment will be described.
(1) The control unit 51 includes test marking means, and a test marking step for performing test marking on the test marking area 62 set in advance before the formal marking on the formal marking area 61 on the print object 2 is performed. Executed. For this reason, since it can be determined by the test marking whether the marking operation of the laser marking system 1 is normally performed, the number of defective prints can be reduced.

  (2) The imaging device 4 includes an image sensor 42 as an imaging unit and a processing unit 41 as a determination unit, and the control unit 51 includes a formal marking unit and a stopping unit. Then, after the test marking is completed, a determination step for determining whether or not the print state of the test pattern 62a is good by pattern matching by the processing unit 41, and the determination on the print object 2 based on the good determination of the print state in this determination step. A formal marking step for marking the formal marking area 61 is performed. For this reason, by performing the pattern matching by the processing unit 41 of the imaging device 4 to determine whether or not the test pattern 62a is printed, it is possible to automate the marking process from the test marking to the formal marking.

(3) Since the test pattern 62a is set to be the same as the formal pattern 61a, it is possible to find a printing defect.
(4) When the determination of “No” is made by the processing unit 41, a display indicating the determination result of “No” is made on the display unit of the input / output device 52. Can do.

In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.
In the above embodiment, the test marking is performed on the print object 2, but may be performed on an object other than the print object 2. For example, the printing object 2 may be placed on a tray or the like, and test marking may be performed on the tray.

  In the above-described embodiment, only one print object 2 is provided. However, the test pattern marked by the test marking may be configured to mark only one print object. Moreover, it is good also as a structure marked only on a tray other than several printing target object, for example. With these configurations, the marking process can be performed efficiently.

  In the above embodiment, the test pattern 62a is arranged in the imaging range of the image sensor 42 of the imaging device 4 by sliding the slide table 33. However, the imaging device 4 may be configured to move. In this case, the printing object 2 may be arranged on a fixed table that does not slide. Further, the image pickup device 4 is arranged obliquely in advance so as to place the position where the test pattern 62a is marked in the image pickup range of the image sensor 42, and the image data picked up by the image sensor 42 is square corrected, and then pattern matching is performed. It is good also as composition which performs.

In the above embodiment, the test pattern 62a is set to be the same as the formal pattern 61a, but the test pattern 62a may be other characters, figures, symbols, and the like.
In the above-described embodiment, the determination step and the formal marking step are executed after the test marking step is completed. However, the imaging device 4 may be omitted as a configuration in which only the test marking step is executed, and a person may make a pass / fail determination.

  In the above embodiment, the test marking area 62 is an area different from the formal marking area 61, but the test marking area 62 may be provided at a position in the formal marking area 61 where test marking is possible. In this case, the test pattern may be filled with a formal pattern.

  In the above embodiment, the formal marking area 61 is divided into a 3 × 3 matrix. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a 4 × 4 matrix or a matrix having different numbers of rows and columns. You may divide into. Further, the formal marking area 61 may be an undivided area.

  In the above embodiment, the formal marking of all nine formal patterns 61a is performed only once. However, other than this, for example, test marking is performed for each column or row of the formal pattern 61a. May be. In addition, test marking may be performed after an arbitrary number of formal patterns 61a are marked.

  In the above embodiment, when the determination of “No” is made by the processing unit 41, a display indicating the determination result of “No” is displayed on the display unit of the input / output device 52. A warning sound may be generated from the output device 52.

  In addition to the above embodiment, after the test unit 62 determines “No” for the test pattern 62a, retest marking may be performed. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the reliability of the determination as to whether the marking operation by the test marking is normally performed. The retest marking position may be the same position as the first test marking or a different position.

It is a block diagram of the laser marking system in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a laser marking system. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the marking to a printing target object.

Explanation of symbols

  L ... laser light, 1 ... laser marking system, 2 ... printing object, 4 ... imaging device, 21 ... laser light source, 22x, 22y ... galvanometer mirror as optical scanning means, 41 ... processing section as determination means, 42 ... Image sensor as imaging means, 51... Control means, test marking means, control unit as formal marking means and stop means, 52 ... input / output device as notification means, 61 ... formal marking area, 61a ... formal pattern, 62 ... Test marking area, 62a... Test pattern.

Claims (11)

A laser marking method of a laser marking system that performs a marking process on a predetermined area on a print object by irradiating the print object with laser light emitted from a laser light source,
Before formal marking to the predetermined region, before Symbol predetermined area outside and marking operations properly test marking possible positions set in advance in any part of the predetermined region on the print target A laser marking method comprising: a test marking step for performing test marking for determining whether or not it is performed. The laser marking method according to claim 1,
A determination step of determining whether or not the test pattern printed by the test marking is good or bad by image analysis by imaging after completion of the test marking in the test marking step
A laser marking method comprising: a formal marking step for marking a predetermined area on the print object based on a good judgment of a printing state in the judgment step. In the laser marking method according to claim 1 or 2,
The laser marking method, wherein a test pattern marked by the test marking is the same pattern as a marking pattern on a predetermined area on the print object. In the laser marking method of any one of Claims 1-3,
The laser marking method according to claim 1, wherein only one test pattern to be marked by the test marking is marked on the plurality of print objects. In the laser marking method of any one of Claims 1-3,
A laser marking method, wherein only one test pattern marked by the test marking is marked on an object other than the plurality of print objects. A laser light source for emitting laser light;
Optical scanning means for scanning the laser beam;
A laser marking system comprising: a laser light source and a control means for controlling the operation of the light scanning means, and scanning the laser light applied to the print object to mark a predetermined area on the print object. There,
The input of the test print trigger signal, whether pre-Symbol the predetermined area outside and marking operation which can position preset test marked in some one of the predetermined region on the print target is successful Test marking means for performing test marking for determination ;
Imaging means for imaging a test pattern test-marked by the test marking means;
Image analysis of the test pattern imaged by the imaging means, determination means for determining whether the test pattern print state is good,
Stop means for stopping the marking process after completion of the test marking by the test marking means,
And a formal marking unit that cancels the marking processing stop state by the stopping unit and performs marking on a predetermined area on the print object based on the determination of the printing state by the determining unit. Laser marking system. The laser marking system according to claim 6, wherein
A laser marking system comprising: a notifying means for notifying the determination result to the outside based on a determination result that is not a good determination of the test pattern printing state by the determination means. The laser marking system according to claim 6 or 7,
The laser marking system, wherein the test marking unit performs retest marking based on a determination result that is not good determination by the determination unit. In the laser marking system according to any one of claims 6 to 8,
The laser marking system characterized in that the test pattern marked by the test marking means is the same pattern as the pattern marked by the formal marking means. In the laser marking system according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
The laser marking system, wherein the test marking means performs only one test marking on the plurality of print objects. In the laser marking system according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
The laser marking system characterized in that the test marking means performs only one test marking on a plurality of objects other than the print object.

Images