JPH09101119A - Width measuring device for belt-like body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a width measuring device for belt-like body in which measurement data with high precision can be obtained through one image pickup means even if it is a wide width band-like body, and further the cost thereof is low. SOLUTION: Since the images of both end portions in the width direction of an object to be measured A are optically led to one image sensor 2 through a optical path 1, and an image signal synthesized with the respective images of both end portions in the axis direction is processed as measurement data, measurement data with high precision can be obtained by the one image sensor 2, even if it is a wide width object to be measured A, requiring no plural image pickup means. Since the image of the object to be measured A is simultaneously captured by the image sensor 2 via the optical path 1, the image pickup position of both end portions in the width direction is not allowed to dislocate in the movement direction of the object to be measured A so that the accurate measurement data can be always obtained even if the object to be measured A is moved at a high speed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a belt width measuring device for measuring the width of a belt such as a conveyor belt used to convey articles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, when manufacturing a conveyor belt used for a conveyor for conveying articles, a synthetic rubber or the like as a material is rolled into a strip shape, and then the width uniformity is inspected. There is. When measuring the width of the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt is continuously moved by moving the conveyor belt in the longitudinal direction with respect to an image pickup means such as a CCD camera fixed so that at least both widthwise end portions of the conveyor belt are imaged. The size of the width and the amount of meandering are measured while capturing images. Also, when measuring a wide conveyor belt, if the image is taken so that the entire width direction is included, the resolution will decrease and it will not be possible to obtain highly accurate measurement data.
For example, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-223528, one camera is installed at each of both ends in the width direction, and the imaging results projected by these two cameras are combined to perform measurement. ing. In this case, the image signal from each camera is subjected to combined processing by one arithmetic unit via various processing circuits provided for each camera.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned apparatus requires two cameras and a processing circuit for each camera, so that the apparatus becomes expensive and a time lag occurs in the operation of each camera. However, there is a problem in that the imaging positions of both ends of the measurement object in the width direction are displaced to cause a measurement error.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to obtain highly accurate measurement data even with a wide band-shaped body by one image pickup means. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a width measuring device for a belt-shaped body which can be constructed at low cost.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention, in claim 1, measures the width of the strip based on image data of both widthwise ends of the strip moving in the longitudinal direction. In the width measuring device for the strip-shaped body, an optical path that optically guides each image of both ends in the width direction of the measurement object to form an image on the same imaging surface, and each image of the measurement object formed on the imaging surface. And an arithmetic processing unit that calculates the width of the measurement target based on the image data captured by the imaging unit. As a result, the images at both ends in the width direction of the measurement object are optically guided to the image pickup means by the optical path, and the images at the both ends in the width direction are processed as the same image image data. Even with the object to be measured, highly accurate measurement data can be obtained with one image pickup means. Further, since the image of the measurement object is simultaneously captured by the image pickup means via the optical path, the image pickup positions at the both ends in the width direction do not shift in the moving direction of the measurement object.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the band width measuring device according to the first aspect, a part of the optical path is formed by an optical fiber. Thereby, it becomes possible to freely change each imaging position by utilizing the flexibility of the optical fiber.

[0007]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a width measuring device, and FIG.
Is an optical system configuration diagram of an optical path, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an imaging result.

This width measuring apparatus includes an optical path 1 for optically guiding the images of both ends of the object A in the width direction, an image sensor 2 for picking up an image guided to the optical path 1, and an image sensor 2.
And an arithmetic processing unit 4 for arithmetically processing the image data from.

The optical path 1 is a first optical path 1a extending in the width direction of the measuring object A, and a pair of second optical paths 1 extending downward from both ends of the first optical path 1a toward both ends of the measuring object A in the width direction.
b and the third optical path 1 extending upward from the center of the first optical path 1a
2 and the first and second lenses 1d and 1e, which are arranged to face each other in the second optical path 1b as shown in FIG. 2, and face each other between the respective second optical paths 1b and 1a. A pair of first mirrors 1f arranged in parallel with each other, and a pair of second mirrors arranged in opposite directions between the first optical path 1a and the third optical path 1c.
The mirror 1g and the 3rd lens 1h arrange | positioned in the 3rd optical path 1c are provided. That is, in the optical path 1, the measurement object A
The images at both ends in the width direction of the first optical path are the first images of the second optical paths 1b.
And the first mirror 1f through the second lenses 1d and 1e.
At 90 ° toward the first optical path 1a side and at 90 ° toward the third optical path 1c side by each second mirror 1g.
An image is formed on the image pickup surface 1i through the lens 1h. In this case, the third optical path 1c is formed to have a width enough to receive the reflected images (a) and (b) of the respective second mirrors 1g shown in FIG. 3 by half. As shown in c), the images of both ends in the width direction of the measuring object A are photographed in left and right halves, respectively.

The image sensor 2 comprises a well-known image pickup means such as a CCD image pickup sensor using a semiconductor image pickup element, and is connected to the third optical path 1c of the optical path 1. That is, the image sensor 2 takes in the image formed on the imaging surface 1i and converts it into an electrical signal. In this case, the image sensor 2 captures an image in which both widthwise end portions of the measurement target A are combined into left and right halves.

The frame memory 3 is a storage device for image signals and temporarily stores the image signals from the image sensor 2.

The arithmetic processing unit 4 is adapted to calculate the width of the measuring object A based on the image data read from the frame memory 3 and display the image data on a display or the like.

In the width measuring device constructed as described above, the widthwise both ends of the measuring object A moving in the longitudinal direction (direction orthogonal to the drawing) are imaged by the conveying device 5 such as a conveyor and the width thereof is taken. The dimensions and the amount of meandering are measured. That is, the images at both ends in the width direction of the measuring object A are combined into right and left halves via the optical path 1, converted into electric image signals by the image sensor 2 and stored in the frame memory 3, and then the arithmetic processing unit 4 The measurement process is performed by. Then, the width of the measurement object A is sequentially measured in the longitudinal direction by repeating the imaging process and the calculation process.
The arithmetic processing unit 4 stores in advance the distance between the imaging positions with respect to both ends of the measurement object A in the width direction as known data, and the width dimension of the measurement object A based on the distance between the composite image and the imaging position. Can be calculated. Further, by displaying the composite image on a display or the like, the amount of meandering can be confirmed visually.

As described above, according to the width measuring apparatus of the present embodiment, the images of the both ends of the measuring object A in the width direction are recorded on the optical path 1.
The optical signal is optically guided to one image sensor 2 by means of, and the image signal obtained by synthesizing the images of both ends in the width direction is processed as the measurement data. The image sensor 2 can obtain highly accurate measurement data. Therefore, compared to the case where two image pickup means are used as in the conventional case, the apparatus can be simplified and the cost can be reduced, and the image sensor 2 and the frame memory 3 are each one, so that the sampling time can be significantly increased. It can be shortened. Further, since the image of the measuring object A is simultaneously captured by the image sensor 2 via the optical path 1, the imaging positions at the both ends in the width direction do not shift in the moving direction of the measuring object A, and the measuring object A suddenly moves. Even if the moving speed of the measuring object A is not constant, such as moving at high speed, accurate measurement data can always be obtained.

By constructing the first optical path 1a so that it can expand and contract in the width direction of the measuring object A, it is possible to accommodate a plurality of types of measuring objects A having different width dimensions. Further, if the portion corresponding to the first optical path 1a is formed by an optical fiber, each imaging position can be freely changed by utilizing the flexibility of the optical fiber, and a plurality of types of measurement objects having different width dimensions can be obtained. It is advantageous when it corresponds to A.

4 to 8 show modified examples of the optical path, and the same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. That is, in FIG. 4, the first optical path 1a is replaced by the third optical path 1c.
And the third optical path 1c
The second mirror 1g between one end side of the first optical path 1a and the first optical path 1a.
Is disposed, and a half mirror 1j, half of which is a reflecting surface and the other half of which is a transmitting surface, is provided between the middle of the third optical path 1c and the other first optical path 1a. As a result, the image of the one first optical path 1a reflected by the second mirror 1g is transmitted through the half mirror 1j to form an image on the imaging surface 1i, and the image of the other first optical path 1a is reflected by the half mirror 1j. An image is formed on the imaging surface 1i. In addition, in FIG.
The optical path 1b and the third optical path 1c are provided in series with each other, and the half mirror 1j is provided between the first optical path 1a and the third optical path 1c communicating with the optical path 1b. Thereby, one of the second optical paths 1
The image of b is transmitted through the half mirror 1j to form an image on the imaging surface 1i, and the image of the first optical path 1a is reflected by the half mirror 1j to form an image on the imaging surface 1i. in this case,
An image of one end of the measurement object A in the width direction shown in FIG. 6 (a) and an image of the other end of the measurement object A in the width direction shown in FIG. 7 (a) are captured on the imaging surface 1i. These images are shown in Figure 8 (a).
As shown in FIG. That is, in the image on the one end side in the width direction shown in FIG. 6B, the portion of the measuring object A is dark and the other portion is brightly photographed.
In the image on the other end side in the width direction shown in (b), the measurement target A
The part is dark and the other parts are bright.
Therefore, in these combined images, by adjusting the amount of light with a diaphragm or the like, the overlapping portion of the measuring object A appears dark and the other portions appear bright as shown in FIG. 8 (b). .

[0017]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain highly accurate measurement data with a single image pickup means even for a wide measurement object. Since it is not necessary to use it, the apparatus can be simplified and the cost can be reduced, and the sampling time can be significantly shortened by processing by one imaging unit. In addition, since the imaging positions at both ends in the width direction do not shift in the moving direction of the measurement target, accurate measurement data is always obtained even if the moving speed of the measurement target is not constant, such as when the measurement target is suddenly moved at high speed. Can be obtained.

According to claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1, each image pickup position can be freely changed.
This is advantageous when dealing with a plurality of types of measurement objects having different width dimensions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a width measuring device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an optical system of an optical path.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an imaging result.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a modified example of an optical path.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a modified example of an optical path.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an imaging result and brightness of an image on one end side in the width direction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the imaging result and the brightness of the image on the other end side in the width direction.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the brightness of a composite image and an image.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Optical path, 2 ... Image sensor, 4 ... Arithmetic processing unit, 6 ...
Optical path, A ... Object to be measured.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A width measuring device for a strip, which measures the width of the strip based on image data of both ends of the strip moving in the longitudinal direction, in the width measuring device of the strip. An optical path that optically guides the light to form an image on the same image pickup surface, an image pickup unit that picks up each image of the measurement object formed on the image pickup surface as the same image, and based on image data picked up by the image pickup unit. An apparatus for measuring the width of a strip, comprising: an arithmetic processing unit for calculating the width of a measurement object. 2. The band width measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the optical path is formed by an optical fiber.