JPH095163A - Spectrophotometric colorimetry apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a spectrophotometric colorimetry apparatus which enables accurate positioning or any minor sample color while measuring color very simply. CONSTITUTION: In the colorimetry of a sample, firstly, a base 10 is placed on the surface of a colorimetric sample and a part desired to measure color as target is searched watching through a hole of the base 10 to stop the base 10 at a point where the part desired to measure color coincides with the hole. Then, an optical fiber bundle 8 is fixed in the hole of the base 10 thereby enabling catching of the part desired to measure color being measured accurately. Thus, direct measurement of color is made possible by use of irradiation- receiving fibers 1 and 2, thereby allowing colorimetry of the part desired to measure color seen through the hole with a very small diameter.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illumination / light receiving optical system, and more particularly to a spectrocolorimeter for measuring the color of a sample.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, metallic coatings found on feathers of birds and insects, and industrial products are subtly changed in color depending on the relationship between light rays and the viewing angle. The cause of such a color change caused by the difference in the observation conditions is mostly due to the problem of gloss that changes depending on the smoothness of the surface, the material, and the texture caused by the surface structure.

Under these conditions, a very complicated process is required to accurately determine the color of the painted surface, and the integrating sphere 01 is used as a device capable of simultaneously converting each geometric condition into data.
There is a spectrocolorimeter etc. As shown in FIG. 9, the light B from the light source is diffused and reflected by the inner wall surface 02 of the integrating sphere 01 to uniformly illuminate the measurement sample surface C, and the sample surface C out of the light reflected by the measurement sample surface C. This is a structure in which light in a direction that forms an angle of, for example, 8 ° with the axis perpendicular to is extracted from the light receiver 05 as data.

[0004]

However, although this device is capable of highly accurate color measurement, the diameter of the measuring window 03 of the integrating sphere 01 which is brought into contact with the sample surface C is about 8 m / m, and In order to maintain accuracy, it is impossible to reduce the diameter below 3 m / m. Therefore, when it is desired to measure the color of a minute character sample or ruled line, it is practically impossible to measure the sample colors of these minute shapes because the mount color of the sample exists in the measurement window 03. .

When the color of the sample surface is measured using such a spectrophotometer, the sample surface having a large size does not pose any problem, but when the color is extremely small, the measurement window 03 accurately measures the sample. It was not possible to confirm whether or not it was located on the surface, and there were often measurement errors.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a spectral colorimetry device which can perform accurate positioning even with a small sample color and can perform colorimetry very easily.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the spectral colorimetric apparatus of the present invention has a base having a hole penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface, and the center of the hole substantially coincides with that of the base. It consists of an optical fiber bundle that can be attached and detached as
This bundle of optical fibers is characterized by comprising an illuminating optical fiber and a light receiving fiber.

In the spectral colorimetric apparatus of the present invention, a coating case is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the optical fiber bundle, and the optical fiber bundle can be mounted on the base using the coating case. preferable.

In the spectrocolorimeter of the present invention, a selfoc microlens can be attached to the tip of the optical fiber bundle.

[0010]

[Function] When measuring the color of a sample, first place the base on the surface of the color measurement sample, look into the hole in the base to find the target color measurement area, and then match the hole with the color measurement area. Stop the base at the point where you want to do it. Then, by fixing the optical fiber bundle to the hole of the base, the colorimetric site to be measured can be reliably grasped. Furthermore, since the color measurement can be performed directly with the light receiving and receiving fiber, it is possible to measure the color of the color measurement portion that can be seen from the hole having an extremely small diameter.

If the optical fiber bundle is fixed to the base by using the covering case of the optical fiber bundle,
The optical fiber bundle can be firmly fixed to the base, and color measurement error can be minimized.

By mounting a SELFOC microlens on the tip of the optical fiber bundle, it is possible to prevent the illumination light from diffusing from the optical fiber bundle, so that highly accurate color measurement can be performed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a colorimetric colorimetric apparatus of the present invention. The base is made of a material having a large constant specific gravity. An insertion hole 11 is formed in the substantially central portion of the base, and a bottom plate 12 forming a predetermined friction surface such as a rubber material is attached to the lower surface of the base. The bottom plate 12 is provided with a detection hole 111 having a diameter of, for example, about 1 m / m. The base 10 and the bottom plate 12 can be integrally molded using the same material.

Reference numeral 9 in FIG. 1 is a cover case for covering the optical fiber bundle 8 having the functions of illuminating and receiving light and the protective tube 3 thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical fiber bundle 8 includes a central illuminating optical fiber 2 and a plurality of light receiving fibers 1 surrounding the illuminating optical fiber 2. As shown in FIG. The reflected light 7 is reflected on the light receiving fiber 1 and is sent to a measuring device (not shown) installed at the base of the optical fiber bundle 8 to measure the colorimetric part 6 based on the wavelength data. Is supposed to do color. Further, the position of the tip of the fiber bundle 8 in FIG. 2 can be arbitrarily set at a distance from the colorimetric part as needed. At this time, the characteristics of the inner surface of the cover case 9 in which the protective tube 3 and the cover case 9 of FIG. 1 are in contact can be selected according to the purpose.

When the color measurement of the color measurement portion 6 as a specific sample is performed, first, the detection hole 111 of the base 10 is looked into and the detection hole 111 is aligned with the color measurement portion serving as a target. In this state, the base 10 is not moved and the optical fiber bundle 8, that is, the covering case 9 is fitted into the insertion hole 11 and is inserted into the bottom plate 12 that functions as a stopper.

In this state, the center of the optical fiber bundle 8 and the center of the detection hole 6 substantially coincide with each other, and the color measurement is possible. In this case, it is preferable that the diameter of the optical fiber bundle 8 is not larger than the diameter of the detection hole 6. Further, if the diameter of the covering case 9 and the diameter of the insertion hole 11 are made substantially equal to each other and the covering case 9 is fitted in the insertion hole 11 so as to be fitted thereinto, it is possible to prevent light from entering from the outside.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, by sending light 5 from the illuminating optical fiber 2 to illuminate the colorimetric part 6,
The reflected light 7 is incident on the light receiving fiber 1, and as described above, the received light data is sent to the color measurement device, and accurate color measurement of the color measurement site becomes possible. In the present embodiment, the tip of the light receiving fiber 1 is cut obliquely, but this is for more reliable light collection, and these shapes have a colorimetric portion 6
It is possible to take various types according to the material and shape of, and is not particularly limited to this shape.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention, which is characterized by the connection between the cover case 9 and the base 10. Although 10 is a base similar to the above, a hollow cylinder 13 is previously extended and temporarily fixed to the base 10 above the base 10. The hollow cylinder 13 has a central portion up to the color measurement portion 6. A detection hole 111 that extends is provided. Also,
A male screw 15 is screwed on the upper end of the hollow cylinder 13. Further, 16 is a flange portion provided at the tip of the covering case 9, and 14 is a female nut.

When the color measurement of the color measurement portion 6 as the specific sample is performed, first, the detection hole 111 is aligned with the target color measurement portion 6 while looking into the detection hole 111 of the base. In this state, the base 10 is kept stationary, the flange portion 16 of the covering case 9 is applied to the upper end of the hollow cylinder 13, and the female nut 14 is rotated so as to cover the male screw 15 of the hollow cylinder 13. As shown in 8
Coincides with the detection hole 111, and both are fixed in the light-shielded state. The subsequent color measurement process is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention,
A selfoc micro lens 17 is attached to the tip of the optical fiber bundle 8. Reference numeral 18 is a stopper for defining the insertion stroke of the SELFOC microlens 17.

Here, the SELFOC micro lens 17
Is a cylindrical optical glass body whose refractive index is distributed in a parabolic shape from the center toward the outer periphery, and is used for optical coupling, parallel beam formation, focusing, etc., and in the present embodiment, The light emitted from the illumination optical fiber is converted into a parallel beam, which is used to accurately irradiate the detection hole 111 having a predetermined size. Further, by utilizing this SELFOC microlens for condensing, it is possible to measure the color of the colorimetric portion 6 through the extremely minute detection hole 111. The illumination light can also be condensed by adjusting the length of the SELFOC lens and the distance between the colorimetric portion.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the insertion of the optical fiber bundle 8 is regulated by a stopper 18 and separated from the detection hole 111. By doing so, the illumination light from the illumination optical fiber is diffused, so that it is possible to perform color measurement using a larger color measurement site, that is, the detection hole 111.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and even if there are changes and additions without departing from the gist of the present invention. Included in the invention.

For example, if the base 10 itself has a light shielding property, the bottom plate 12 and the like are unnecessary. It is also possible to increase the number of optical fibers for receiving and receiving light to tens or hundreds.
In such a case, the insertion hole 11 and the detection hole 111 may have the same diameter. Further, the side portion of the detection hole 111 can be variously changed depending on conditions such as a mirror surface or black with a reflectance of 0. Furthermore, it is also possible to reverse the positions of the respective fibers for illumination and reception.

[0025]

The present invention has the following effects.

(A) According to the first aspect of the invention, when the color measurement of the sample is performed, first, the base is placed on the surface of the color measurement sample and the target color measurement is performed while looking through the hole of the base. Find the part and stop the base at the point where the hole and the colorimetric part match.
Then, by fixing the optical fiber bundle to the hole of the base, the colorimetric site to be measured can be reliably grasped. Furthermore, since the color measurement can be performed directly with the light receiving and receiving fiber, it is possible to measure the color of the color measurement portion that can be seen from the hole having an extremely small diameter.

(B) According to the invention of claim 2, if the optical fiber bundle is fixed to the base by using the covering case of the optical fiber bundle, the optical fiber bundle is firmly fixed to the base. The color measurement error can be minimized.

(C) According to the third aspect of the present invention, if the SELFOC microlens is attached to the tip of the optical fiber bundle, it is possible to prevent the illumination light from diffusing from the optical fiber bundle. It can be performed.

[0029]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spectrocolorimeter of a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA after connection in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the optical fiber bundle of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a spectrocolorimeter of a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB after the connection of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a spectrocolorimeter of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a spectrocolorimeter of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a conventional spectrocolorimeter using an integrating sphere.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 light receiving fiber 2 illumination optical fiber 3 protective tube 5 light 6 colorimetric part 7 reflected light 8 optical fiber bundle 9 coating case 10 base 11 insertion hole 111 detection hole 12 bottom plate 13 hollow cylinder 14 female nut 15 male screw 16 Flange 17 SELFOC Micro Lens 18 Stopper

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A base comprising a hole penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface, and an optical fiber bundle detachable so that the center of the hole is substantially aligned with the hole of the base. A spectrocolorimeter that is composed of an optical fiber and a light receiving fiber. 2. A cover case is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the optical fiber bundle, and the cover case can be used to mount the optical fiber bundle on the base.
The spectrocolorimeter described in. 3. The spectrocolorimeter according to claim 1, wherein a selfoc micro lens is attached to the tip of the optical fiber bundle.