JP5570177B2 - Gravure cylinder inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gravure cylinder inspection apparatus for inspecting the surface of a gravure cylinder having a concave engraving on its surface.

  In gravure printing, a metal plate is formed on a metal gravure cylinder by forming minute concave engravings (cells) according to the image, and the engraving is filled with ink and transferred to a printing material. I have to. In a gravure cylinder, generally, a cylindrical iron core or aluminum core is used as a base material, and a plurality of layers such as a base layer and a release layer are formed on the base material. A copper plating layer for image formation is formed on the substrate.

  Then, for example, a mechanical engraving device or the like is used to engrave the copper plating layer according to the pattern, and then chrome plating or the like for increasing the printing durability of the gravure cylinder is performed to complete the plate making. By the way, in the plate making process of the gravure cylinder, there is a step of inspecting whether the surface of the gravure cylinder is wrinkled during the production in order to form various metal layers.

  Therefore, conventionally, as a gravure cylinder inspection apparatus for inspecting the surface of a gravure cylinder, a gravure cylinder inspection apparatus having a supporting means for rotatably supporting the gravure cylinder in a circumferential direction and a reading means for reading the surface of the gravure cylinder is known. (For example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). And such a gravure cylinder test | inspection apparatus can detect the concave wrinkles which exist in the surface of a gravure cylinder.

JP 2002-254590 A JP-A-5-93694 JP-A-11-142342 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-201742

  By the way, the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to Patent Documents 1 to 4 detects wrinkles present on the surface of the gravure cylinder that is a flat curved surface. That is, the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to Patent Documents 1 to 4 is for inspecting the gravure cylinder before the concave engraving on the surface, and inspecting the gravure cylinder after the engraving is performed. It was not intended.

  Therefore, in view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a gravure cylinder inspection apparatus that can detect and inspect a concave engraving provided on the surface of a gravure cylinder.

A gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a support means for rotatably supporting a gravure cylinder having a concave sculpture on the surface, a reading means for reading the surface of the gravure cylinder, and a gravure cylinder from the read data. A gravure cylinder inspection apparatus comprising an inspection means for inspecting the surface of the gravure cylinder, wherein the inspection means focuses the gravure cylinder engraving on the data read by the gravure cylinder and determines the degree of dispersion of the data points. engraving detection means engraving detects the engraving is separated into a non-engraving data is data with sculpture not subjected was applied using, based on the data of the sculpture detected by engraving detection means, defects carving A defect detection means for detecting the engraving data serving as reference data and the engraving detected by the engraving detection means. Characterized in that it comprises a data comparing means for comparing the over data.

  According to the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present invention, since the support means supports the gravure cylinder and rotates in the circumferential direction, the reading means reads the surface of the gravure cylinder in the circumferential direction. Then, the engraving detection means detects the engraving based on the data that the reading means reads the gravure cylinder in a state of focusing on the gravure cylinder engraving. For example, the engraving detection unit detects the engraving based on the contrast of the data (image data) read by the reading unit.

  Then, the data comparison unit compares the engraving data serving as the reference data with the engraving data detected by the engraving detection unit. Therefore, based on the difference between the engraving data serving as the reference data and the engraving data detected by the engraving detecting means, the defect detecting means can detect the engraving defect.

  Further, in the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the reading means focuses on the gravure cylinder engraving, focusing on the first state in which the gravure cylinder is read, and the concave ridge deeper than the engraving, The gravure cylinder may be switched to a second state in which the gravure cylinder is read, and the inspection unit may further include a wrinkle detection unit that detects wrinkles based on data read by the reading unit in the second state.

  According to the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus having such a configuration, the engraving detection means detects the engraving based on the data read by the reading means by the reading means in the first state focused on the engraving of the gravure cylinder. In addition, the wrinkle detecting means detects wrinkles based on data obtained by reading the gravure cylinder in the second state in which the concave wrinkles deeper than the engraving are focused. Therefore, for example, wrinkles present in a gravure cylinder having a concave sculpture on the surface can be inspected.

  The gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present invention further includes a moving means for moving at least one of the reading means and the support means so that the reading means and the gravure cylinder are brought into contact with and separated from each other. A first position where the reading means and the gravure cylinder are separated from each other by a predetermined distance to be in the first state, and a reading means and gravure cylinder are closer than the first position to be in the second state. It may be configured to be switchable to the second position.

  According to the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus having such a configuration, the moving unit moves at least one of the reading unit and the supporting unit, whereby the reading unit and the gravure cylinder can be brought into contact with and separated from each other. Therefore, when the reading unit and the gravure cylinder are in the first position that is separated by a predetermined distance, the reading unit is in the first state, and the reading unit and the gravure cylinder are in the second position that is closer than the first position. Thus, the reading unit is in the second state.

  In the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the defect detection means is a reference data based on engraving data detected by the engraving detection means for a gravure cylinder in which a plurality of engravings of the same pattern are arranged side by side. Comparison data based on the selected reference data from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means in order to select the reference data selection means for selecting one pattern area and the comparison data to be compared with the reference data by the data comparison means And comparison data selection means for selecting each region of the remaining pattern.

  According to the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus having such a configuration, for a gravure cylinder in which a plurality of engravings of the same pattern are arranged side by side, one pattern area serving as reference data is used as a reference from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means. Let the data selection means select. Then, based on the selected reference data, the comparison data selection means selects each remaining pattern area as comparison data from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means, and then the reference data and comparison data are compared. Have them compare by means.

  As described above, the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present invention has an excellent effect that it can detect and inspect concave engravings on the surface of the gravure cylinder.

1 is a general view of a gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a perspective view. FIG. It is a whole figure of the gravure cylinder inspection device concerning the embodiment, and shows an internal perspective view. It is a general view of the gravure cylinder inspection device concerning the embodiment, and (a) and (b) show perspective views explaining operation of mounting means, respectively. It is a principal part schematic diagram of the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus concerning the embodiment, Comprising: The side view explaining operation | movement of a reading means is shown. The block diagram of the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment is shown. It is a figure explaining the inspection method of the gravure cylinder inspection device concerning the embodiment, and (a)-(c) shows a data figure, respectively. The data figure explaining the inspection method of the gravure cylinder inspection device concerning the embodiment is shown.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a support means 1 that supports a gravure cylinder X having a concave sculpture on its surface so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction, and the gravure cylinder X. A reading means 2 for reading the surface of the recording medium, and a moving means 3 for moving the reading means 2 in order to bring the reading means 2 and the gravure cylinder X into and out of contact with each other. The gravure cylinder inspection apparatus includes a mounting unit 4 on which the gravure cylinder X is mounted when the gravure cylinder X is supported by the support unit 1.

  Further, the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus includes inspection means 5 for inspecting the surface of the gravure cylinder X from data read by the reading means 2. The gravure cylinder inspection apparatus includes an input unit 6 for inputting various data and an output unit 7 for outputting various data. Note that the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus also includes control means (not shown or numbered) for controlling the entire apparatus.

  The support means 1 includes a pair of sandwiching bodies 11 and 11 that sandwich the gravure cylinder X in the longitudinal direction. Each sandwiching body 11 is formed in a tapered shape that decreases in diameter toward the tip so as to be inserted into the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the gravure cylinder X, and is supported by pressing the gravure cylinder X.

  Further, the pair of sandwiching bodies 11 and 11 are configured to be able to contact and separate from each other. Specifically, each holding body 11 is configured to be movable in a direction facing the other holding body 11. Each sandwiching body 11 is configured to be rotatable about the facing direction, and one sandwiching body 11 is rotated by driving of a driving means (not shown and numbered) and the other sandwiching body 11 is sandwiched. The body 11 rotates by receiving driving of the driving means via the gravure cylinder X that is sandwiched.

  The reading unit 2 includes light sources 21 and 21 that project light toward the gravure cylinder X, an optical system 22 that concentrates the light reflected by the gravure cylinder X, and a light receiving element 23 that receives the light concentrated by the optical system 22. With. In addition, the reading unit 2 includes a reading body 24 fixed to each light source 21, the optical system 22, and the light receiving element 23 so that the relative positions of the light sources 21, the optical system 22, and the light receiving element 23 are constant.

  Each light source 21 is formed in a long shape and is disposed along the axial direction of the gravure cylinder X. Moreover, a pair of light sources 21 and 21 are arranged in parallel along the up-down direction. Here, in FIG. 4, the optical axis (projection system optical axis) which each light source 21 projects is indicated by L1 and L1. In the present embodiment, each light source 21 is a white fluorescent lamp. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the light sources 21 may be LEDs arranged in a line shape or may project colored light. Good.

  The optical system 22 includes one or a plurality of lenses. The optical system 22 may include a mirror. Each element (lens, mirror) of the optical system 22 is fixed to the reading body 24. As a result, the optical system 22 keeps the focal length in the reading unit 2, that is, the distance between the light receiving element 23 and the focal point F constant.

  The light receiving element 23 is formed in a line shape, and is an imaging element (for example, a line CCD sensor) in the present embodiment. The light receiving element 23 receives the light reflected by the predetermined region in the axial direction on the surface of the gravure cylinder X via the optical system 22. Here, in FIG. 4, the optical axis received by the light receiving element 23, that is, the optical axis read by the reading means 2 (reading system optical axis) is indicated by L2.

  Note that the reading unit 2 reads each light source 21, the optical system 22, and the light receiving unit so that the intersection angle between each projection system optical axis L 1 and the reading system optical axis L 2 is 30 to 60 degrees in order to read a dark field. Element 23 is arranged.

  The moving unit 3 includes a first moving unit (radial direction moving unit) 31 that moves the reading unit 2 in the radial direction of the gravure cylinder X (A double arrow direction in FIG. 2). Further, the moving unit 3 includes a second moving unit (axial center moving unit) 32 that moves the reading unit 2 in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder X (the direction of the double arrow B in FIG. 2).

  The moving unit 3 includes a rotating unit 33 that rotates the reading unit 2 around the axial direction (in the direction of the double arrow E in FIG. 4). Since the reading body 24 is fixed to each light source 21, the optical system 22, and the light receiving element 23, the moving unit 3 integrally connects each light source 21, the optical system 22, and the light receiving element 23 via the reading body 24. It will be moved or rotated.

  The first moving unit 31 includes a positioning unit 311 for positioning the reading unit 2. Then, the positioning unit 311 positions the gravure cylinder X so that the engraving (surface) of the gravure cylinder X is positioned at the focal point F of the reading unit 2. In the present embodiment, the positioning unit 311 is provided in a pair of upper and lower parts (only one is shown in FIG. 4) on the reading body 24, and is projected and received according to the position of the focal point F (in the direction of arrow G in FIG. It is a transmission type sensor.

  Thereby, the first moving unit 31 can separate the reading unit 2 and the gravure cylinder X by a predetermined focal length by the positioning unit 311. That is, the first moving unit 31 moves the reading body 24 (reading means 2) so that the reading means 2 is in a first state in which the gravure cylinder X is read with the focus F on the engraving (surface) of the gravure cylinder X. It can be moved to the first position.

  In addition, the first moving unit 31 is configured such that the reading unit 2 and the gravure cylinder X approach a predetermined distance from the first position. The reading body 24 (reading means 2) can be moved to the second position so as to be in the second state in which the cylinder X is read. Accordingly, the first moving unit 31 is configured to be able to switch the reading unit 2 between the first state (first position) and the second state (second position).

  The second moving unit 32 keeps the reading body 24 along the gravure cylinder X, specifically, the separation distance between the reading means 2 and the gravure cylinder X set by the first moving unit 31 is kept constant. The reading body 24 is moved. Then, the second moving unit 32 moves the reading main body 24 so that the reading unit 2 can read over the axial direction of the gravure cylinder X.

  The rotating unit 33 rotates the reading body 24 around the focal point F. Specifically, the rotation unit 33 rotates the reading body 24 so that the reading system optical axis L2 can be changed within a range of ± 15 degrees with respect to the reference reading system optical axis L2. Therefore, the rotation unit 33 is a multi-angle mechanism that can change the reading system optical axis L2 while keeping the position of the focal point F of the reading unit 2 constant.

  The placing means 4 includes a placing portion 41 on which the gravure cylinder X is placed, and an elevating portion 42 that raises and lowers the gravure cylinder X so that the gravure cylinder X placed on the placing portion 41 can be attached to and detached from the support means 1. With. Then, the placing means 4 moves the gravure cylinder X in the horizontal direction in order to put the gravure cylinder X placed on the placing portion 41 on the lower side of the support means 1 and to take out from the lower side of the support means 1. A loading / unloading portion 43 that moves in the direction of the double arrow C in FIG.

  Further, the mounting means 4 has a mounting portion for standing the mounting portion 41 in a substantially vertical direction or tilting the mounting portion 41 in the horizontal direction (in the direction of the D double arrow in FIG. 3B). Inverted portion 44 for rotating 41 is provided. Furthermore, the placing means 4 includes a plate-like end receiving portion 45 that receives the lower end portion of the gravure cylinder X when the placing portion 41 is caused to stand in the substantially vertical direction by the inverted portion 44.

  The placement unit 41 includes a plurality of roller members 411,... That support the gravure cylinder X placed from the lower side when the placement unit 41 is tilted in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the mounting portion 41 includes a group of roller members 411,... That are separated to support each end portion of the gravure cylinder X and that can contact and separate to correspond to the length of the gravure cylinder X.

  Each roller member 411 is formed in a tapered shape so as to be in contact with only the peripheral edge of the end portion of the gravure cylinder X and prevents contact with the surface of the gravure cylinder X. Each roller member 411 is not limited to such a case. For example, each roller member 411 is not formed in a tapered shape but is formed in a columnar shape having substantially the same diameter in the axial direction, and also with respect to the axial direction of the mounted gravure cylinder X. In this case, the rotary shaft may be arranged so as to be inclined so as to be in contact with only the peripheral edge of the end portion of the gravure cylinder X.

  The inspection unit 5 includes an engraving detection unit 51 that detects engraving based on the data read by the reading unit 2 in the first state, and a defect that detects an engraving defect based on the engraving data detected by the engraving detection unit 51. Detection means 52. And the inspection means 5 is provided with the wrinkle detection means 53 which detects a wrinkle based on the data which the reading means 2 read in the 2nd state.

  The inspection unit 5 includes a diameter measuring unit 54 that measures the diameter (outer diameter) of the gravure cylinder X and a length measuring unit 55 that measures the length of the gravure cylinder X in the axial direction. Further, the inspection unit 5 includes a composite image creation unit 56 that synthesizes the data read from the plurality of gravure cylinders X to create composite image data.

  The engraving detection means 51 separates the data read by the reading means 2 in the first state into an engraved area that has been engraved and a non-engraved area that has not been engraved. For example, the engraving detection means 51 extracts a portion having a contrast in the image data, or pays attention to that the engraving (image) of the gravure cylinder X is a halftone dot, and sets each predetermined area as one block. Each point is separated into a sculpture area and a non-engraved area by using a degree of dispersion of points (high dispersion in a sculpture area and low dispersion in a non-engraved area), variation of pixel values (deviation), etc. .

  The defect detection means 52 selects a reference data area for selecting one pattern area as reference data from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means 51 for the gravure cylinder X in which a plurality of engravings of the same pattern are arranged side by side. Means 521 are provided. The defect detection unit 52 includes a reference data storage unit 522 that stores the reference data selected by the reference data selection unit 521 and the reference data input by the input unit 6.

  Further, the defect detection unit 52 includes a comparison data selection unit 523 that selects at least one region serving as comparison data based on the reference data in order to select comparison data to be compared with the reference data. The defect detection unit 52 includes a data comparison unit 524 that compares engraving data serving as reference data with engraving data serving as comparison data.

  The eyelid detection means 53 focuses the focus on the position where the reading means 2 is in the second state, that is, deeper than the engraving, and extracts a contrasted portion from the read data (image data). Thereby, the wrinkle detection means 53 can detect wrinkles (pinholes) existing in the engraving portion as well as the non-engraving portion.

  The diameter measuring unit 54 measures the diameter of the gravure cylinder X based on the position where the reading unit 2 is positioned by the positioning unit 311 of the first moving unit 31. Specifically, the diameter measuring unit 54 determines the gravure from the center position of the gravure cylinder X determined by being supported by the support unit 1 and the surface position (focal point F) of the gravure cylinder X determined by the positioning unit 311. Measure the diameter of cylinder X. The diameter measuring unit 54 can measure the diameter at an arbitrary part (point) of the gravure cylinder X by the reading unit 2 being moved by the second moving unit 32.

  The length measuring unit 55 determines the position of each end of the gravure cylinder X based on the data read by the reading unit 2 moved by the second moving unit 32 in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder X (full length). To detect. Then, the length measuring means 55 measures the length of the gravure cylinder X based on the distance between each end of the gravure cylinder X.

  The composite image creation unit 56 associates the image data of each gravure cylinder X with the color data input by the input unit 6 from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection unit 51. Then, the composite image creation unit 56 creates composite image data by combining a plurality of image data having color data.

  The output unit 7 includes a display unit 71 (a touch panel that also serves as the input unit 6 in the present embodiment) 71 that displays the results of the inspection performed by the inspection unit 5, and the defects detected by the defect detection unit 52 and the wrinkle detection unit 53. Marking means 72 for marking is provided at a portion of the gravure cylinder X corresponding to the detected wrinkle. The marking unit 72 performs oil-based marking on the surface of the gravure cylinder X by an inkjet method, and is fixed to the reading body 24 and moves integrally with the reading unit 2.

  The configuration of the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment is as described above. Next, a reading method of the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, in a state where the gravure cylinder X stands in a substantially vertical direction, the lower end portion of the gravure cylinder X is placed on the end receiving portion 45, and further, the gravure cylinder X is leaned on the mounting portion 41 that is stood in a substantially vertical direction. To support. At this time, the gravure cylinder X is supported by each roller member 411 of the placement portion 41 in contact with only the peripheral edge of the end portion.

  And when the mounting part 41 is rotated by the inversion part 43 and it falls horizontally, the gravure cylinder X supported by the mounting part 41 will also fall horizontally and will be mounted in the mounting part 41 with it. . Then, the gravure cylinder X moves to the lower side of the support means 1 by moving the mounting part 41 by the entrance / exit part 43. FIG.

  Further, the gravure cylinder X is moved to the height of the support means 1 by raising the placement portion 41 by the elevating portion 42. And each clamping body 11 is inserted in the edge part of the gravure cylinder X by moving each clamping body 11 so that it may mutually approach. Thereby, each clamping body 11 clamps and supports the gravure cylinder X.

  Then, when the reading unit 2 is brought close to the gravure cylinder X by the first moving unit 31, the positioning unit 311 positions the reading unit 2 in the first state, that is, a position focused on the engraving of the gravure cylinder X. . At this time, the diameter measuring unit 54 measures the diameter of the gravure cylinder X based on the position where the reading unit 2 is positioned.

  Next, the reading unit 2 is moved by the second moving unit 32 to a position where the reading unit 2 detects one end of the gravure cylinder X. Further, the reading unit 2 is rotated by the rotating unit 33 to set an optimum reading system optical axis L2. And while the support means 1 rotates the gravure cylinder X, the 2nd moving part 32 moves the reading means 2 along the gravure cylinder X, and the reading means 2 makes the engraving (surface) of the gravure cylinder X the circumferential direction. (Overall circumference) and read in the axial direction (full length).

  At this time, the speed at which the gravure cylinder X is rotated is determined according to the diameter of the gravure cylinder X measured by the diameter measuring means 54. Therefore, even if the diameter of the gravure cylinder X is different, the scanning speed (speed on the surface of the gravure cylinder X) read by the reading means 2 is constant.

  When the reading unit 2 detects the other end of the gravure cylinder X and the reading unit 2 finishes reading the gravure cylinder X in the first state in the axial direction, the first moving unit 31 moves the reading unit 2 over. The gravure cylinder X is brought close to a predetermined distance to be in the second state. Thereafter, the support unit 1 rotates the gravure cylinder X and the second moving unit 32 moves the reading unit 2 along the gravure cylinder X, so that the reading unit 2 moves the gravure cylinder X in the axial direction. Read in the state of 2.

  The reading method of the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment is as described above. Next, the inspection method of the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

<Defect inspection>
As shown in FIG. 6A, the data 10 read by the reading means 2 in the first state is engraved by the engraving detection means 51 and the engraving area (engraving data) engraved. Not separated into non-engraved areas (non-engraved data). In this embodiment, it is assumed that a gravure cylinder X on which a plurality of engravings of the same pattern are arranged side by side is inspected.

  Then, manually select one pattern area to be the reference data 100 s from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means 51 via the reference data selection means 521 (for example, while confirming the display unit 71, the input means 6 The reference data 100s is stored in the reference data storage means 522. 6B, the comparison data selection unit 523 performs pattern matching based on the reference data 100s, thereby selecting a plurality of areas similar to the reference data 100s as the comparison data 100r,.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the data comparison unit 524 compares the engraving data serving as the reference data 100s and the engraving data serving as the comparison data 100r. At this time, the data comparison unit 524 extracts the difference between the reference data 100s and each comparison data 100r, thereby determining that the difference is a defect and marking the corresponding part of the gravure cylinder X by the marking unit 72.

<Sputum inspection>
From the data read by the reading unit 2 in the second state, the wrinkle detecting unit 53 extracts a portion having contrast. Then, the extracted part is determined as a wrinkle, and the corresponding part of the gravure cylinder X is marked by the marking means 72. In the present embodiment, the wrinkle detection means 53 extracts a portion having a contrast in the non-engraved area from the data 10 read by the reading means 2 in the first state in order to improve the accuracy of wrinkle detection. The part which I did is judged to be a trap.

<Composite image inspection>
The reading means 2 reads cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) gravure cylinders X in the first state. Then, the engraving detection means 51 separates the engraved area into the engraved area and the non-engraved area without the engraving, and, as shown in FIG. 7, one pattern area is converted into image data 100c, 100m, Select as 100y, 100k.

  Thereafter, the composite image creating means 56 converts each image data 100c, 100m, 100y, and 100k from RGB to RGB. Then, synthesized image data 101 is created by synthesizing the converted image data. In addition to the case where a composite image is created, a case where a defect of each gravure cylinder X is inspected (comprising a composite image inspection unit) by comparing the composite image data 101 with reference image data may be used.

<Diameter inspection, length inspection>
Based on the position of the reading unit 2 positioned by the positioning unit 311, the diameter measuring unit 54 measures the diameter of each part of the gravure cylinder X. Further, based on the data read by the reading unit 2, the length measuring unit 55 detects the end of the gravure cylinder X and measures the length of the gravure cylinder X. Then, the diameter and length of the gravure cylinder X measured by the diameter measuring means 54 and the length measuring means 55 are compared with a reference value, and normal or abnormal is determined.

  As described above, according to the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, since the support means 1 supports the gravure cylinder X and rotates in the circumferential direction, the reading means 2 reads the surface of the gravure cylinder X in the circumferential direction. . Then, the engraving detection means 51 detects the engraving based on the data obtained by the reading means 2 reading the gravure cylinder X in the first state in which the engraving of the gravure cylinder X is focused. Therefore, the engraving made on the surface of the gravure cylinder X can be detected.

  Then, based on the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means 51, the comparison data selection means 523 selects each remaining pattern area to be the comparison data 100 r based on the selected reference data 100 s, and then the reference data 100 s. And the comparison data 100r are compared by the data comparison means 524. Therefore, the defect detection unit 52 can detect the engraving defect based on the engraving data detected by the engraving detection unit 51.

  Further, according to the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the wrinkle detecting means is based on the data read by the reading means 2 by the reading means 2 in the second state focused on the concave wrinkles deeper than the engraving. 53 detects wrinkles. Therefore, not only can the engraving on the surface be read, but also the wrinkles present in the gravure cylinder X with the concave engraving on the surface can be inspected.

  Further, according to the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the reading unit 2 and the gravure cylinder X can be brought into contact with and separated from each other by the first moving unit 31 of the moving unit 3 moving the reading unit 2. Therefore, when the reading unit 2 is at the first position separated from the gravure cylinder X by a predetermined distance, the reading unit 2 is in a first state in which the engraving of the gravure cylinder X is focused. By being in the second position closer to the gravure cylinder X than the first position, the reading unit 2 can be in a second state in which the focus of the gravure cylinder X is focused.

  Further, according to the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the reference data 100 s is obtained from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means 51 for the gravure cylinder X in which a plurality of engravings of the same pattern are arranged side by side. One pattern area is selected by the reference data selection means 521.

  In addition, the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, it is needless to say that configurations, methods, and the like according to various modifications described below may be arbitrarily selected and employed in the configurations, methods, and the like according to the above-described embodiments.

  For example, in the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the case where the support unit 1 includes the pair of sandwiching bodies 11 and 11 that are inserted and sandwiched at the respective end portions of the gravure cylinder X has been described. Not limited. For example, the support means may include a plurality of roller members that support and rotate the gravure cylinder X from the lower side, such as the roller members 411,.

  In the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above embodiment, the case where the reading unit 2 is switched between the first state and the second state by moving the reading unit 2 by the transfer unit 3 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the reading unit is configured such that the optical system is displaced with respect to the light receiving element, specifically, the optical system is a lens group having an autofocus mechanism, so that the first state and the second state are obtained. It may be configured to be switchable.

  Further, in the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the case where the reading unit 2 is provided with one light receiving element 23 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the light receiving element 23 is provided in the reading means, and the reading means 2 is in the first state with one light receiving element 23 and the reading means 2 is in the second state with the other light receiving element 23. As described above, the light receiving elements 23 may be arranged. According to such a configuration, the reading means 2 can read the gravure cylinder X simultaneously in the first state and the second state.

  Further, in the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the reading means 2 is moved in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder X by the second moving unit 32, so that the gravure cylinder X extends in the axial direction (the total length is increased). ) Although the case of reading has been described, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the reading unit may include a case where a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged in parallel along the axial direction of the gravure cylinder X and read the gravure cylinder X along the axial direction (full length) at a time.

  Further, in the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above embodiment, the case where the moving unit 3 moves the reading unit 2 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the moving unit may move the supporting unit to move the reading unit and the gravure cylinder X close to each other, or the moving unit moves both the supporting unit and the reading unit to read the reading unit and the gravure cylinder X. It may be in the case of contacting and separating.

  In the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above embodiment, the case where the reference data 100s is selected from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means 51 via the reference data selection means 521 has been described. Not limited. For example, an image to be printed (or image data), engraving data for the engraving apparatus (data having no defect), or the like is input via the input unit 6 so as to become reference data, and the reference data storage unit 522 is used. May be stored.

  Further, in the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the wrinkle detection unit 53 includes not only the data read by the reading unit 2 in the second state but also the data 10 read by the reading unit 2 in the first state. Of these, a case has been described in which a portion having a contrast in the non-engraved region is extracted and the extracted portion is also determined as a wrinkle. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the wrinkle detection unit 53 may detect wrinkles based only on data read by the reading unit 2 in the second state.

  In the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the marking unit 72 marks the portion of the gravure cylinder X corresponding to the defect detected by the defect detection unit 52 and the wrinkle detected by the wrinkle detection unit 53. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, a plurality of marking means may be provided and markings of different colors may be performed for each inspection content (defects, defects, etc.).

  In the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the image data 100c and 100m obtained by the reading unit 2 reading the gravure cylinders X of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). , 100y, 100k, the composite image creating means 56 creates the composite image data 101. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, image data having color data different from the four colors is synthesized. You may do it.

  Moreover, in the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to the above embodiment, the case where the gravure cylinder X in which a plurality of engravings of the same pattern are arranged side by side has been described, but this is not the case and one pattern is applied to the whole. The gravure cylinder X may be inspected, or the gravure cylinder X in which a plurality of engravings with different patterns are arranged side by side may be inspected.

  2 ... reading means, 3 ... moving means, 5 ... inspecting means, 51 ... engraving detecting means, 52 ... defect detecting means, 53 ... defect detecting means, 521 ... reference data selecting means, 523 ... comparison data selecting means, 524 ... data Comparison means, X ... gravure cylinder

Claims (4)

A support means for rotatably supporting a gravure cylinder having a concave sculpture on its surface, a reading means for reading the surface of the gravure cylinder, and an inspection means for inspecting the surface of the gravure cylinder from the read data A gravure cylinder inspection device,
The inspection means focuses on the gravure cylinder engraving and the reading means reads the gravure cylinder data, the engraving data engraved using the degree of dispersion of the data points, and the non-engraved data. Engraving detection means for detecting engraving separately from engraving data, and defect detection means for detecting engraving defects based on engraving data detected by the engraving detection means,
The gravure cylinder inspection apparatus, wherein the defect detection means includes data comparison means for comparing engraving data serving as reference data and engraving data detected by the engraving detection means. The reading means can be switched between a first state in which the gravure cylinder is engraved and the gravure cylinder is read, and a second state in which the gravure cylinder is focused by focusing on a concave ridge deeper than the engraving. Configured,
The gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inspection unit further includes a wrinkle detection unit that detects wrinkles based on data read by the reading unit in the second state. A moving means for moving at least one of the reading means and the support means to bring the reading means and the gravure cylinder into contact with and away from each other;
The moving means includes a first position where the reading means and the gravure cylinder are separated by a predetermined distance so that the reading means is in the first state, and a reading means and gravure cylinder are the first positions where the reading means is in the second state. The gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gravure cylinder inspection apparatus is configured to be switchable to a second position that is closer than the first position.   The defect detection means is a reference data selection means for selecting an area of one pattern as reference data from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means for a gravure cylinder in which a plurality of engravings of the same pattern are arranged side by side; Comparison data for selecting each area of the remaining pattern that becomes comparison data based on the selected reference data from the engraving data detected by the engraving detection means in order to select comparison data to be compared with the reference data by the data comparison means The gravure cylinder inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit.

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