JP5680580B2 - Mark detection device for packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mark detection device in a packaging machine that detects marks attached to a film at regular intervals during film conveyance.

In a packaging machine that forms a strip-shaped film fed from a raw fabric roll into a cylindrical film, and then vertically and laterally seals and cuts the cylindrical film and wraps the contents, the strip-shaped film Marks (registration marks) printed at regular intervals are detected by a sensor, and the detected information is used as reference data for processing timing of the sealing means and the like.
In Patent Document 1, an integrated value of the number of dots of image data in a predetermined area obtained by scanning a belt-like film being conveyed for each line in a direction orthogonal to the film conveyance direction by a line sensor is set in advance. It is shown that a mark is judged by comparing with reference data.

JP 2010-228788 A

  However, when detecting a mark, for example, the amount of detected noise differs depending on the relationship between the color of the ground portion of the film and the mark, and the position and color of the printed pattern such as the pattern with respect to the mark. Reliability may be impaired.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to perform reliable mark determination based on mark detection information in a packaging machine.

In order to solve the above problems, the mark detection apparatus according to the present invention takes the following means.
First, the mark detection apparatus in the packaging machine according to the invention of claim 1 is arranged to face the belt-like film (5) in the transport path of the film (5) with marks (17) attached at regular intervals, A line sensor (11) for scanning the belt-like film (5) being conveyed in the width direction intersecting the conveyance direction, a transmission means (1) for transmitting a signal related to the film feed amount, and the line sensor A storage unit for storing each pixel data of the film (5) including the position of the mark (17) in the width direction for each line obtained by scanning according to (11) in association with the signal of the transmitting means (1) ( 14), and an upper threshold (TH2) and a lower threshold (TH1) set as ranges in which either luminance level or brightness or saturation obtained from each of the pixel data can be mark information. ) A first determination unit (18) that determines whether or not the range is within the range, and the integrated value of the pixels that are determined to be within the range in each line by the first determination unit (18) and the film feed amount A second determination unit (19) for determining whether or not the mark (17) is based on the signal, and a film image (5 ′) representing a relative position between the strip-shaped film (5) and the mark (17). And a display for displaying a region designation image having a smaller area size in both the transport direction and the width direction of the film than the mark shown in the film image from the mark (17 ') shown in the film image (5'). The region specifying image (20) is superimposed on the mark (17 ′) in the film image (5 ′) displayed on the display unit (15) and the display unit (15), and the first determination unit (18) or the first 2 Line used in the determination unit (19) A setting unit (12) that can set a range of pixel data for each of the first determination unit (18) and the second determination unit (19), both end edges of the mark (17) in the width direction. The determination is made based on the pixel data for each line corresponding to a position away from (17a, 17b) to the inside of the mark (17).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage unit (14) has the line-shaped film (5) being conveyed in the width direction of the film (5) and line-by-line scanned by the line sensor (11). Each pixel data of the film including the position of the mark (17) in the width direction is stored in association with a signal related to the film feed amount from the transmission means (1). Then, the upper limit threshold set as a range in which the luminance level or the value of brightness or saturation obtained from each of the pixel data, for example, the value of the luminance level, can be the mark information by the first determination unit (18). It is determined whether the value (TH2) is within the range of the lower threshold (TH1). Then, based on the signal related to the integrated value of the pixels determined by the second determination unit (19) and being in the range in each line by the first determination unit (18) and the film feed amount, It is determined whether or not it is a mark (17). Therefore, the mark (17) attached to the film (5) is reliably detected without being affected by the color or pattern around the mark (17). The detection of the mark (17) here is performed after it is determined that the mark (17) is attached when the integrated value of the pixels for each line determined to fall within the range that can be the mark information is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The determination is invalidated based on a signal related to the film feed amount when the mark (17) is not clearly positioned from the interval of the mark (17), or the judgment is invalid. Except for the position where the mark (17) is not clearly attached based on the signal, it is determined as a mark when the integrated value of the pixels for each line determined to fall within the range that can be the mark information is a predetermined value or more. This makes it possible to reliably detect the mark (17) that arrives during conveyance.

Further, according to the invention of claim 1, mark opposite edges (17a, 17b) from each line corresponding to a position away to the mark (17) inside (17) mark (17) detected in the width direction of the This is performed based on the pixel data. Thus, even if the film (5) is slightly shifted in the width direction during conveyance, the area of the mark (17) can be stably captured, and the mark (17) can be reliably detected.

Further, in accordance with the invention of claim 1, the range of pixel data used in the first determination section (18) or the second determining unit (19) is displayed on the display unit (15) a film image (5') The setting unit (12) can set the mark (17 ') and the area designating image (20) in a displayed range, and the area designating image (20) is set to the film image (5'). ) In the width direction is shorter than the mark (17) in FIG. Thereby, even if the film (5) is slightly shifted in the width direction during conveyance, it is possible to easily perform setting that can reliably detect pixel data corresponding to the mark (17) that arrives during conveyance.

Next, in the mark detection apparatus in the packaging machine according to the invention of claim 2, the display unit (15) is configured such that the region with respect to the film image (5 ′) is separated from the region designation image by a certain distance. A positioning image (21) that can be moved relative to the designated image (20) is displayed, and the setting unit (12) displays the position of the positioning image (21) with respect to the mark (17 ′) in the film image (5 ′). It is configured to be settable.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the positioning setting of the area designation image (20) with respect to the mark (17 ') in the film image is performed by the positioning image (21) moving together with the area designation image (20). Thereby, the position of the area designation image (20) with respect to the mark (17 ′) can be set stably without being displaced.

Next, in the mark detection apparatus in the packaging machine according to the third aspect of the present invention, the film image (5 ′) displayed on the display unit (15) is the line sensor for the belt-like film (5) being conveyed. It is an image obtained from pixel data of approximately one package obtained by scanning for each line in (11).

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the film image (5 ′) displayed on the display unit (15) is approximately one package. Thereby, it becomes possible to always grasp the state for one package by the display unit (15), and the setting relating to the mark (17 ′) becomes easy.

  According to the present invention described above, the reliability of mark determination based on mark detection information can be improved.

It is the figure which represented typically the schematic structure of the horizontal bag-making filling machine. It is a schematic control block diagram. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the strip | belt-shaped film and line sensor in about 1 packaging. The screen of a display part is shown, (A) is a figure which shows the film image for about 1 packaging, (B) is a figure which expands and shows a mark location. It is a figure which shows the screen of a display part and shows the mark location in a film image. It is a graph of luminance distribution data of pixel data.

  In a horizontal bag making and filling machine exemplified as a packaging machine for film wrapping, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, transmission means 1 (see FIG. 2) for transmitting a signal related to a film feed amount such as an encoder is attached. The driving roller 3 a in the film feeding mechanism 3 is driven by the driving means 2 such as a servo motor, and the belt-like film 5 drawn out from the original roll 4 is drawn out and guided to the bag making means 6. The cylindrical film 7 formed into a cylindrical shape is vertically sealed, and articles 8 are supplied into the cylindrical film 7 at predetermined intervals, and the cylinders 7 are each sealed by a horizontal sealing means 9 such as an end sealer. When the cylindrical film 7 is cut while the horizontal film 7 is laterally sealed, a pillow package product is obtained.

In the transport path of the belt-like film 5 from the raw fabric roll 4 to the bag making means 6, a date printing device that prints the date of manufacture or expiration date of the product on the belt-like film 5, or the belt-like film 5 On the other hand, a processing means 10 (see FIG. 2) such as a labeler for attaching labels at predetermined intervals is installed, and a line sensor 11 (see FIG. 1) in the mark detection device downstream of the processing means 10 such as a date printing device or a labeler. , 2) are arranged so as to intersect with the belt-like film 5 stretched in this conveyance path so as to be orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the belt-like film 5 as shown in FIG. The line sensor 11 scans the entire area in the width direction of the belt-like film 5 that is pulled out from the original roll 4 and being conveyed for each straight line.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the mark detection device, the transmission unit 1, the line sensor 11, and the setting unit 12 are connected to the control processing unit 13. The control processing unit 13 includes a storage unit 14, a first determination unit 18, and a second determination unit 19, and is based on information from the setting unit 12 set via the display unit 15 provided in the setting unit 12. Control processing, and various processing means 10 outputs information for performing predetermined processing.

  In the present embodiment, the predetermined processing by the various processing means 10 is performed based on the mark information obtained by the line sensor 11 in the mark detection apparatus. The predetermined processing here refers to operating the labeler or date printing device, checking whether the label by the labeler operation is in the normal position, or date printing by the date printing device operation in the normal position. Or file processing such as formation of an air vent for a bag or formation of a cut for opening or drive control of the lateral seal means 9. In checking whether the label or date print is in the correct position, whether the label sticking position or date print position is misaligned, whether the label itself is stuck, or the date itself is printed. Inspected for whether or not The opening cut refers to making a notch such as a perforation or a notch in a part of the bag in order to facilitate the opening of the bag.

    In the mark detection apparatus of the present embodiment, the servo motor 2 of the film feeding mechanism 3 is driven as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in order to capture the film used for packaging as image data before film packaging. Then, the belt-like film 5 being conveyed is scanned line by line by a line sensor 11 over several thousand pixels per line in the width direction perpendicular to the film conveying direction at a constant interval (comma number msec to several msec). . Specifically, for each pulse interval output from the encoder (transmitting means 1) attached to the servo motor 2, a mark 17 for printing alignment that becomes the start edge 5a and the end edge 5b of the film 5 for one package is provided. The licensor 11 scans the film 5 for a length exceeding one packaging length L so as to be captured, and each pixel of the film including the position of the mark 17 in the width direction for each line obtained by the scanning is obtained. Data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 14 in the control processing unit 13 shown in FIG. 2 in association with the pulse (signal) output from the encoder 1.

As described above, image processing is performed using each pixel data temporarily stored in the storage unit 14, and a film image 5 'exceeding approximately one packaging length L is generated and displayed in the display area 15A of the display unit 15. . This state is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, the display unit 15 is a touch panel system, and a part of the setting unit 12 that enables the display unit 15 to change settings such as taking data into the control processing unit 13. Function as.
A film image 5 ′ in the display area 15 </ b> A includes a film part 5 ′ f corresponding to the actual film 5, two upper and lower edges 5 ′ e and 5 ′ e corresponding to both edges of the film 5, and an edge 5 A peripheral portion 5'g corresponding to a support base (not shown) that is positioned outside 'e, 5'e and supports the film 5 at a position facing the line sensor 11 when scanned by the line sensor 11. Corresponding to the image 17 and the image showing the mark 17 'positioned at two locations in the vicinity of the upper edge 5'e, and adjusted to the left and right and up and down by the image left / right movement touch buttons 25L and 25R and the image vertical movement touch buttons 26U and 26D. It is possible.
In FIG. 4A, a frame C set so as to surround the film portion 5′f and the peripheral portion 5′g and the mark 17 ′ is displayed so as to overlap the film image 5 ′.

  The frame C is set as follows. First, the location selection 22 displayed in the touch button display area at the right position of the display unit 15 is touched. Then, two points in the display area 15 </ b> A that are separated from each other in the diagonal direction of the mark 17 from the mark 17 ′ are touched with a finger to define an approximate range of a square frame surrounding the mark 17. The fine adjustment of the size of the frame C defining the approximate range can be adjusted by the fine adjustment touch button 27 displayed in the touch button display area. For example, when it is desired to enlarge the frame C, the selection frame enlargement 29 is operated, and when it is desired to reduce the frame C, the selection frame reduction 30 is operated. Further, when it is desired to move the frame C left and right and up and down, the movement touch buttons 30L, 30R, 31U and 31D are touched. Then, after the position and size of the frame C are appropriately adjusted, the setting of the frame C is completed by operating the decision 32.

  Next, an operation of enlarging the area of the frame C for which setting has been completed and setting the position of the inspection frame 20 as the area designation image shown in FIG. 4B with respect to the mark 17 ′ will be described. First, the mark registration 23 displayed in the touch button display area at the right position shown in FIG. When the enlarged display 24 is touched in this state, the film image 5 ′ in the image display area 15A shown in FIG. 4A is switched to the display state shown in FIG. . In this state, the inspection frame 20 as an area designation image is positioned with respect to the mark.

The relative positional relationship of the inspection frame 20 (region designation image) having the above-described configuration with respect to the mark 17 ′ is set by changing the intersection point of the cross shape of the positioning image 21 that moves together with the inspection frame 20 with respect to the mark 17 ′. This is possible by setting it at a predetermined position 17 ′. The positioning image 21 is moved vertically and horizontally by operating the moving touch buttons 30L, 30R, 31U, and 31D, and the cross-shaped cursor of the positioning image 21 is aligned with the upper left corner of the mark 17 'shown in FIG. The inspection frame 20 made of symbols is set in the mark 17 '. The position of the inspection frame 20 with respect to the mark 17 ′ by this setting is stored in the storage unit 14 of the control processing unit 13 as a reference position. The size of the area of the inspection frame 20 is smaller than the size of the area of the mark 17 ′ in both the film transport direction and the width direction, and both end edges 17′a, 17 ′ of the mark 17 ′ in the width direction. Since the position is inward from b, even if a slight shift in the width direction occurs in the film being conveyed, the range of the mark 17 ′ is not deviated, and the registration mark described later is reliably detected. Can be done.
If the relative positional relationship between the mark 17 ′ and the inspection frame 20 is determined as described above, the setting is completed by touching the determination 32 displayed in the touch button display area. It should be noted that the selection location deletion 33, which is another touch button in the touch button display area, is for operation when deleting the selected frame location.

  When the frame C is set as described above, the control processing unit 13 selects the pixel data for each line scanned over one packaging length at a position corresponding to the set position of the frame C in the width direction. The maximum and minimum luminance values are obtained, the minimum luminance is set to 0 and the maximum luminance is set to 255, and the luminance of each pixel data for each line at the position corresponding to the set position of the inspection frame 20 in the width direction is obtained. Each luminance value is assigned to a level of 0 to 255, and the frequency for each luminance level is counted (integrated) to generate luminance distribution data.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the luminance distribution data. Since the brightness of the mark image in the inspection frame 20 is affected by the color and scratches around the mark and changes depending on the position in the inspection frame, for example, the statistical data tends to draw a normal distribution curve.
The storage unit 14 of the control processing unit 13 obtains and stores the lower limit threshold TH1 and the upper limit threshold TH2 in consideration of the confidence level in the curve of the graph shown in FIG. 6, and increases the upper limit from the lower limit threshold TH1. Pixels having a luminance level in the range up to the threshold value TH2 are integrated for each line, and pixels having a luminance level in the range between both threshold values TH1 and TH2 for a plurality of lines included in the region of the inspection frame 20 An integrated value (for example, 640) obtained by multiplying the integrated value (for example, 800) of the frequency by a coefficient (for example, 0.8) is stored as the mark determination value Y. These lower limit threshold value TH1, upper limit threshold value TH2, and mark determination value Y are automatically displayed on the display unit 15 (see FIG. 5). It should be noted that these lower limit threshold value TH1, upper limit threshold value TH2, and mark judgment value Y displayed on the display unit 15 shown in FIG. 5 can be rewritten by the operator and are necessary. It can be changed artificially according to the situation.
As described above, settings for mark detection are performed.

Next, the process at the time of performing film packaging etc. at the time of a normal driving | operation after performing the above setting processes is demonstrated. For each pulse interval output from the encoder 1 attached to the film drive servo motor 2, scanning is repeated line by line by the line sensor 11, and pixel data for each scanned pixel is sent from the encoder 1 to the film feed. The information is temporarily stored in each storage unit 14 in the control processing unit 13 in association with a signal related to the quantity.
The control processing unit 13 extracts only the pixel data corresponding to the setting position of the inspection frame 20 in the film width direction for each line while sequentially storing the pixel data, and sets the luminance value for each extracted pixel data as described above. Based on the maximum and minimum luminance values stored at the time of setting, the binarization process is performed in order to eliminate the pixel data at positions that are not clearly marks by assigning the luminance levels from the minimum to the maximum 255. In this binarization processing, it is determined whether or not the extracted luminance level for each pixel is a value from the lower threshold TH1 to the upper threshold TH2 stored at the time of setting as a range that can be mark information. Is. In the binarization process, the frequencies of pixel data having luminance levels in the range from the lower threshold TH1 to the upper threshold TH2 are integrated and sequentially stored in the storage unit 14 sequentially.
Then, the second determination unit 19 of the control processing unit 13 associates the film data with the film feed amount, and for each pixel data for each line at a position corresponding to the set position of the inspection frame 20, the luminance level of each pixel data is the first and first. The integrated value of the frequency of the pixels within the range of the two threshold values TH1 and TH2, and the frequency of the pixel having the luminance level within the range of the threshold values TH1 and TH2 for a plurality of lines included in the region of the inspection frame 20 Are sequentially updated, and the first determination unit 18 sequentially compares whether or not the updated integrated value for the plurality of lines exceeds the mark determination value Y stored at the time of setting. The position of the inspection frame 20 when the integrated value of the minute exceeds the mark determination value Y is determined as the mark 17.
Further, the second determination unit 19 of the control processing unit 13 sets the information of the mark 17 obtained by the first determination unit 18, the pulse signal output from the encoder 1, and the setting unit 12 in advance before film wrapping. Based on the mark information such as the rough initial position of the actual mark and the mark interval, a range that is clearly different from the position where the mark 17 is attached is processed so as not to be a mark. .
In addition, without memorizing the initial position of the mark, the position where the integrated value exceeds the mark judgment value Y is memorized for a plurality of packaging bag lengths, and the position at an interval of one packaging bag length is marked. It is possible to adopt a process in which it is determined that a position outside the interval is not determined as a mark.
Thereby, the detection of the mark position on the film can be reliably detected without being affected by the situation around the position where the mark 17 is attached, and it is involved in the determination of the processing timing of the processing means 10 such as the horizontal sealing means. A reference signal can be generated.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can be implemented with another various form.
For example, with respect to the control processing unit, various factors such as a horizontal sealing unit, a printing unit, an opening cutting unit, and the like are determined based on the relationship between the first control processing unit that detects the arrival of a mark based on each pixel data and the position of the detected mark. It is also possible to divide the control unit into a second control unit that generates, corrects, and outputs a signal related to the determination of the processing timing of each processing unit so that communication can be performed between the control processing units.
In the case of film shooting as color data, the gray scale conversion is similarly performed using the 256-step gray scale conversion formula of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). The binarization process is performed using the two threshold values TH1 and TH2, and the calculation value of the frequency of the luminance level within the range of the first and second threshold values TH1 and TH2 in the pixel data in the inspection frame is obtained. The position of the inspection frame when the mark determination value obtained in the same manner as the above-described mark determination value setting may be determined as the reference position in the mark.
Alternatively, only one of the data R, G, and B may be selected, and the reference position in the mark may be similarly determined using the luminance value included in the data.
Further, the reference position in the mark may be determined in the same manner from the brightness information or the saturation information of each pixel data.
Further, the second determination unit 19 determines whether or not the integrated value of the luminance level pixels within the threshold values TH1 and TH2 for each line of the pixels included in the inspection frame 20 exceeds a predetermined value. The mark may be determined when a plurality of lines exceeding the predetermined value are continuously arranged.
The transmission means may be any other transmission means capable of directly or indirectly detecting the film transport operation as long as it transmits a signal relating to the film feed position, and is not limited. .
The present invention is applicable to various packaging machines such as a vertical bag making and filling machine.

1 encoder (transmitting means), 5 strip-shaped film, 5 'film image,
11 line sensor, 12 setting unit, 14 storage unit, 15 display unit,
17, 17 ′ mark, 18 first determination unit, 19 second determination unit,
20 inspection frame (area designation image), 21 positioning image

Claims (3)

A line sensor that is arranged opposite to the belt-like film in the transport path of the film marked at regular intervals and scans the belt-like film being transported in the width direction intersecting the transport direction; and
A transmission means for transmitting a signal related to the film feed amount;
A storage unit for storing each pixel data of the film including the position of the mark in the width direction for each line obtained by scanning by the line sensor in association with the signal of the transmitting unit;
It is determined whether the luminance level or the value of brightness or saturation obtained from each of the pixel data is within a range between an upper threshold value and a lower threshold value set as a range that can be mark information. A first determination unit;
A second determination unit for determining whether or not the mark is based on an integrated value of pixels determined to be within the range in each line and a signal related to a film feed amount in the first determination unit;
A display in which a film image representing a relative position between the band-shaped film and the mark and a region designation image in which the size of the area is smaller in both the transport direction and the width direction of the film than the mark indicated in the film image are displayed. And
A setting unit capable of setting a range of pixel data in a line used in the first determination unit or the second determination unit by overlapping the region designation image on the mark in the film image displayed on the display unit,
The first determination unit or the second determination unit makes a determination based on pixel data for each line corresponding to a position away from both ends of the mark in the width direction to the inside of the mark. Mark detection device. The display unit displays a positioning image that can be relatively moved together with the region designation image with respect to the film image in a state separated from the region designation image by a certain distance.
The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is configured to set a position of the positioning image with respect to the mark by setting a position of the positioning image with respect to the mark in the film image. Mark detection device. The film image displayed on the display unit is an image obtained from pixel data of approximately one package obtained by scanning the belt-shaped film being conveyed for each line by the line sensor. The mark detection apparatus in the packaging machine according to claim 1 or 2.

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