JPH0435979A - Detecting device for defective part of tape-like member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect correctly and easily a damaged part on a tape-like member by comparing output signals from sensors set at identical positions in the width direction of the tape-like member and judging that the part detected is a defective part only when the output signals differ from each other. CONSTITUTION:An output signal from each photo transistor 1a of one light detection unit 5 is combined with an output signal from each photo transistor 1a of the other light detection unit 5, the light detection units 5 being opposed to each other at identical positions in the width direction of an ink ribbon R, and the combinations of the output signals from the corresponding photo transistors are simultaneously turned on/off in sequence on the bases of an output from a control circuit 6. The combination of these output signals is compared by an Ex-OR circuit 7 functioning as a comparing means. In the case where both output signals are identical, a discrimination circuit 8 judges, based on the compared result, that there exists no hole part B on the ink ribbon or that it is a result detected by the phototransistors 1a opposed to each other at a position deviated from the width of the ink ribbon R. In the case where both output signals differ from each other, it is judged that there exists the holed part B, and the switch 4a of the electric motor 4 is turned off.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of sensors for reading information on the appearance of the tape-like body are arranged in parallel in the tape width direction beside the transport path of the tape-like body. The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a defective part of a tape-shaped body, which is configured to detect a defective part of the tape-shaped body based on an output signal from the sensor.

[Conventional technology]

As an example of the device for detecting defective parts of the tape-like body mentioned above, an ink ribbon that detects damaged parts of the ink ribbon caused by repeated hits of a print head as defective parts while transporting the ink ribbon stored in an ink ribbon cassette etc. There is a damage detection device.

Conventionally, a plurality of sensors consisting of a light emitting part and a light receiving part are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the ink ribbon, corresponding to the width of one type of ink ribbon planned to be used, and the ink ribbon is Based on the output signal of the light receiving section that detects the transmitted light from the damaged location as information on the appearance of the ribbon, the installation of the light receiving section detects that damage has occurred at the detection target location on the ink ribbon corresponding to the position. A detection circuit is provided for detection.

When the detection circuit detects a damaged part of the ink ribbon, for example, the display means or the ribbon transfer stop means is activated based on the output signal from the detection circuit, or the display means and the ribbon transfer stop means are activated. operate the
The detected damaged parts of the ink ribbon are repaired.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned ink ribbon damage detection device, since multiple sensors are arranged in parallel within the width of one type of ink ribbon, it is difficult to detect ink ribbons of other types between the ink ribbons than the ink ribbons that are planned to be used. When attempting to detect the presence or absence of damage to the ink ribbon, the light receiving section of the sensor that is outside the width of the interposed ink ribbon constantly detects the irradiation light from the light emitting section paired with it.

As a result, among the output signals of the light receiving sections located outside the width of the ink ribbon and the output signals of the light receiving sections located within the width of the ink ribbon,
Since the output signal of the light receiving unit that detects the transmitted light from the damaged part of the ink ribbon is the same, the detection circuit cannot distinguish between the two, and this detection circuit outputs the same signal as when the damage was detected. This will continue to be the case. Therefore, there is a problem in that the ink ribbon can only be used with one type of width that is planned to be used.

In order to overcome this drawback, it is conceivable to change the detection area using the photoreceptor according to the width of the ink ribbon. so as not to be detected,
It is necessary to block the irradiation light from the paired light emitting section, or to change the mounting pitch of the plurality of pairs of light emitting sections and light receiving sections while maintaining them in a predetermined correspondence relationship. In either case, a new problem arises that requires a lot of effort to change the detection area.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to accurately and easily detect the presence or absence of defective parts such as damaged parts in multiple types of tape-shaped bodies having different widths, without adding any special operations. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting defective parts of tape-like objects.

[Means to solve the problem]

The characteristic configuration of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is that, in the above-mentioned defect detection device for a tape-like object, a plurality of information reading sections each having a plurality of sensors arranged in parallel in the width direction of the tape as a set are provided. The sets are arranged in parallel at intervals in the transport direction of the tape-like body, and among the sensors of each information reading section, the output signals of the sensors installed at the same position in the width direction of the tape-like body are mutually transmitted. Comparing means for making a comparison, and determining means for determining that a detection target location on the tape-like body is a defective location only when the output signals of the sensors at the same position are different as a result of the comparison by the comparing means. This configuration has the following effects.

[For production]

When detecting a defective part of a tape-like object while transporting the tape-like object, a problem is detected in the detection target part of the tape-like object corresponding to each sensor of multiple sets of information reading sections arranged in parallel in the tape-like object's transport direction. If there is no such location, the output signals of the sensors arranged at the same position in the tape width direction will be the same.

In addition, when a position corresponding to either the defective part of the tape-like object or the sensor of the information reading section on the upper side in the transport direction is reached, the output signal of the sensor at this position and the information on the lower side in the transport direction are added. Output signals of the sensors of the reading section disposed at the same position in the tape width direction are different.

Furthermore, in the case of a narrow tape-like object, some of the sensors in each information reading section will be located outside the width of the tape-like object, but even in this case, they are arranged at the same position in the tape width direction. The output signals of the sensors will be the same.

Therefore, in the comparison means and the discrimination means, the output signals of the light receiving parts arranged at the same position in the width direction of the tape-like body among the sensors of each of the information reading parts are compared with each other, and whether they are the same or the same is determined. It is possible to determine whether there is a defective part in the tape-like body by whether or not the tape-like body has a defective part.

Therefore, by comparing the output signals of sensors arranged at the same position in the width direction of the tape-like body, it is possible to detect the true defective location regardless of the width of the tape-like body. Therefore, the complicated operation of changing and setting the detection area of the sensor one by one according to the width of the tape-like object, as in the past, is no longer necessary, and the presence or absence of a defective part of the tape-like object can be accurately and easily detected. I was able to do it.

In particular, when the reading area of the information reading unit in the tape width direction is configured to be wider than the tape width of the tape-shaped body, even if the transport height position of the tape-shaped body differs depending on the tape-shaped body, Faulty locations can be detected without any problems.

[First example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a photo sensor, which is an example of a sensor, is placed beside the transport path of an endless ink ribbon (R), which is an example of a tape-like material that is fed out from an ink ribbon cartridge (A) by driving an electric motor (4). Transistor (l
A plurality of optical sensors (3) consisting of a combination of a) and an infrared light emitting diode (2a) are arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch in the width direction of the ink ribbon (R), and a phototransistor (1a) and an infrared light emitting diode An ink ribbon (R) is connected between the diode (2a)
) is configured to run.

The plurality of pairs of phototransistors (Ia) and light emitting diodes (2a) are used to detect light transmitted from the defective hole (B) of the ink ribbon (R) that is transported by the drive of the electric motor (4). the ink ribbon (
A light detection unit (5) is configured as an information reading unit that reads information on the appearance of R), and this light detection unit (5)
) are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval in the transport direction of the ink ribbon (R), and further includes a control circuit (6) for controlling the operation of both light detection sections (5), and a control circuit (6) for controlling the operation of both light detection sections (5). Detection part (5), (
A comparison circuit (7) that compares the detection results from 5) and a perforated portion (B) of the ink ribbon are detected based on the comparison results from the comparison circuit (7), and the drive of the electric motor (4) is stopped. A detection circuit (8) is provided to constitute an ink ribbon damage detection device as an example of a defect point detection device for a tape-shaped body.

The light sensors (3) provided in each of the light detection units (5), (5) correspond to the same position in the width direction of the ink ribbon (R), that is, the detection positions with respect to the ink ribbon (R) are set at the same position in the width direction of the ink ribbon (R). The light detection parts (5), (5) are arranged in correspondence so that they are at the same position.

Figure 2 shows the electrical circuit of the damage detection device, and shows the control circuit (6
), the output signal of the phototransistor (1a) of one photodetector (5) corresponding to the same position across the width of the ink ribbon (R) and the output signal of the phototransistor (1a) of the other photodetector (5) are detected. The combinations of the output signals of the phototransistor (1a) are sequentially turned on and off at the same time, and the combinations of these output signals are compared by the Ex-OR circuit (7) as comparison means.
Based on the comparison result by the OR circuit (7), if both output signals are the same, the phototransistor corresponding to the perforated area (B) or the position that does not exist or is out of the width of the ink ribbon (R) (1a), and when both output signals are different from each other, a determination circuit (8) determines that a hole (B) exists and turns off the switch (4a) of the drive motor (4). This is provided.

The control circuit (6) transmits the pulse signal output from the pulse generation circuit (9) to each photodetector (5).

Regarding (5), the analog switch (
8c), and the output signal of the phototransistor (1a) is sequentially turned on and off.

According to the damage detection device, the position of the seam (C) of the endless ink ribbon (R) where holes are most likely to occur due to repeated use can be easily detected and repaired quickly.

[Second Embodiment] In place of the electric circuit of the damage detection device in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. The combinations of the output signal of the phototransistor (la) of 5) and the output signal of the phototransistor (1a) of the other photodetector (5) are
- A comparison circuit (7) is provided for constant comparison using the OR circuit (7a), and the signals output as the comparison results from each Ex-OR circuit (7a) are combined two by two and repeatedly input to the OR circuit (8a). However, in any of the combinations of the optical sensors (3) and (3) that correspond to each other, both the optical sensors (3).

A discriminating circuit (8) may be provided to determine that a perforated portion (B) exists and turn off the switch (4a) of the drive motor (4) when the output signals from (3) are different from each other.

In the case of this embodiment, there is no need to sequentially and simultaneously turn on and off the combinations of output signals of the corresponding optical sensors (3) and (3) as in the first embodiment, and the pulse generation circuit (9) and the control circuit ( 6) can be omitted to simplify the circuit configuration.

The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

[Another example]

B In the first and second embodiments, whether the light detecting section detects that the light emitting section and the light receiving section are provided on the same side of the ink ribbon and the light from the light emitting section is reflected by the ink ribbon. The structure may be such that the perforation location is detected based on the .

(b) The reading means of the sensor that reads information on the surface of the tape-like object may be a contact type or a non-contact type.

In addition to the optical sensors shown in the first and second embodiments, non-contact sensors include ultrasonic sensors, magnetic sensors, and the like.

C. The device for detecting defects in a tape-like body according to the present invention includes:
By appropriately selecting a sensor, a comparing means, and a determining means corresponding to the sensor, the present invention can be carried out regardless of whether the tape-shaped body is transparent or not.

(ii) The device for detecting defects in a tape-like body according to the present invention includes:
In addition to tape-shaped objects that are uniform or nearly homogeneous along the longitudinal direction, such as ink ribbons, resins, metals,
A tape-like object in which a single color is applied to a film-like material such as paper or cloth, or a tape-like object in which a pattern that changes in the width direction of the film-like material is continuous along the longitudinal direction. It may also be something that detects a defective location.

E The device for detecting defects in a tape-like body according to the present invention includes:
Further, a tape-shaped body is provided with a striped pattern that changes regularly at a constant pitch along the longitudinal direction, a tape-shaped body on which a constant image is regularly and repeatedly formed at a constant pitch along the longitudinal direction, A tape-shaped object whose shape changes regularly at a constant pitch along the longitudinal direction, such as photographic film or roll paper for printing, in which through-holes for feeding are formed at a constant pitch along the longitudinal direction. It may be.

In this case, a plurality of sets of information reading sections can be arranged in parallel at intervals equal to a constant pitch at which striped patterns, images, through holes, etc. are to be formed, or an integral multiple thereof.

The device for detecting defects in a tape-shaped body according to the present invention includes:
In addition to holes and damaged parts of the tape-like body, places where dirt, oil, and other substances that should not be attached to the tape-like body have been adhered to, defective places such as striped patterns or images formed on the tape-like body, and places where the tape-like body has defects such as striped patterns or images formed on the tape-like body. It is also possible to detect defects in the shape and arrangement of through holes, etc., as defective points.

Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the device for detecting defective parts of a tape-like body according to the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a block diagram and FIG. 2 being an electric circuit diagram. FIG. 3 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of another embodiment. (3)...Sensor, (5) Information reading section, (7
)...Comparison means, (8)...Discrimination means, (B)...Problem location, (R)...
Tape-shaped body.

Claims (1)

[Claims] The tape-shaped body (R) is placed beside the transfer path of the tape-shaped body (R).
) A plurality of sensors (3) are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the tape to read information on the appearance of the tape-like body (R), and based on the output signal from the sensor (3), a defective location (
B) In the defect detection device for a tape-shaped body configured to detect A plurality of sets are arranged in parallel at intervals in the transport direction of the tape-shaped body (R), and each of the information reading units (5)
Of the sensors (3), (3), the tape-shaped body (R
) Sensor (3) installed at the same position in the width direction of (
3) Comparison means (7) that compares the output signals of the two sensors with each other, and the comparison means (7) determines that only when the output signals of the sensors (3) at the same position are different. A defective point detection device for a tape-like object, characterized in that it is provided with a discriminating means (8) for determining that a detection target point of the tape-like object (R) is a defective point (B).