JP2009196134A - Inspecting method of printing state of individual recognition information and inspecting apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Characters and / or barcodes representing individual recognition information are printed on an object to be inspected, and the entire print area representing the individual recognition information is inspected for printing defects despite a low cost with a simple device. Provided is an inspection method capable of performing an accurate inspection and shortening the processing time.
An image pickup apparatus for picking up a print status confirmation line provided in the vicinity of characters and / or a bar code as individual recognition information printed on an inspection object by an inspection section, and processing the picked-up image to pick up an image. The image processing unit 21 that inspects the pixels of the image to determine whether it is acceptable or not efficiently inspects whether or not the individual recognition information is printed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing status inspection method for individual recognition information and an inspection apparatus for the same, which can determine printing defects due to dirt and fading of characters and / or barcodes by image processing.

  In recent years, various types of batteries have been used in a wide variety of environments. To prevent misuse when consumers use batteries, the battery type, delivery number, recommended expiration date, manufacturer name, etc. Is shown. In addition to these characters, barcodes are also written for use as traceability in manufacturing and distribution manufacturers. These represent individual recognition information. In particular, in a barcode, a predetermined pattern is formed by printing or the like, and this is used as information by reading it with a barcode reader. Therefore, it is necessary that the barcode pattern is correctly formed in the portion where the barcode is provided, and it is desirable that there is no dirt or fading at all. Similarly, it is necessary that characters can be read, and it is desirable that there is no dirt or fading.

  However, depending on the printing method, if a large amount of printing is performed, barcodes and characters may not be formed correctly due to defects in the printing press, faintness due to dust adhering, or lack of printing. Since individual recognition information is used everywhere such as consumers, manufacturers and distributors, it is necessary to treat print defects such as minute stains and blurring as defective, and stop the market outflow of print defects. There is.

As a method for solving such a problem, in the barcode printing defect inspection apparatus as shown in FIG. 4, the conveyance device 63 that conveys the label 64, the camera unit 61 that captures the image of the barcode area on the label 64, and the captured image The image inspection unit 62 for determining whether or not there is a print defect is input as a printed barcode or character as an image, and image processing is performed, so that a barcode or character with a print defect due to dirt or fading is generated. A method for determining pass / fail is proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-216070

  However, in the above-described prior art of Patent Document 1, since a print defect inspection is performed by image processing, the range in which a print defect due to dirt or blurring can be determined is limited, and inspection is performed only for barcodes or only characters. The device is arranged. In this inspection method, a bar code and characters are simultaneously inspected for printing defects by one inspection apparatus, and the processing time is required as the printing range becomes wider, and the inspection apparatus becomes more expensive.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems. Only the print status confirmation line of the inspection object provided with the print status confirmation line in the vicinity of the area where the individual recognition information composed of characters and / or barcodes is written is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide an individual recognition information printing status inspection method and an inspection apparatus thereof capable of inspecting printing defects in all areas in which individual recognition information is represented by imaging and inspection.

In order to achieve the above object, the character and / or barcode inspection method of the present invention is a region in which characters and / or barcodes are represented in the inspection method for inspecting characters and / or barcodes representing individual recognition information. The image pickup means for picking up a printing status confirmation line provided in the vicinity of the image processing means and the image processing means for processing the picked-up image and inspecting pixels of the picked-up image to determine pass / fail are inspected. .

  According to the present invention, an image pickup unit that picks up a print status confirmation line provided in the vicinity of a region where characters and / or barcodes are written, and image processing that processes the picked-up image and inspects pixels of the picked-up image to determine pass / fail By checking for print defects by means, it is possible to inspect for print defects in the entire print area with a simple device at a low cost, but it is possible to accurately inspect and shorten the processing time. Batteries can be efficiently supplied to the market.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, in the inspection method for inspecting characters and / or barcodes representing individual recognition information, a print status confirmation line provided in the vicinity of a region where characters and / or barcodes are represented is imaged. The image capturing means that processes the captured image and the image processing means that inspects the pixels of the captured image to determine whether it is acceptable or not, by inspecting only a print status confirmation line by inspecting for a print defect, and thereby inspecting time It is possible to shorten the length of the inspection area, and it is not necessary to change the setting of the inspection according to the contents of the print area. Thus, the workability of the inspection apparatus can be improved, and a high-quality inspection object can be efficiently supplied to the market.

  In the second invention of the present invention, as the image pickup means, a sensor for notifying that the inspection object has passed, illumination illuminated by a signal sent from the sensor, and an image pickup device for picking up an image are used to pick up the print status confirmation line. By inspecting printing defects, it is possible to stop the outflow of inspection objects having printing defects due to dirt or fading of characters and barcodes.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, the image processing means processes the captured image, obtains the number of pixels within the range of the captured image, and determines whether it is acceptable or not, thereby reducing the cost of printing. It becomes possible to inspect efficiently in a short time with the inspection device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in an inspection apparatus for inspecting characters and / or barcodes that express individual recognition information, a print status confirmation line that is provided in the vicinity of a region that indicates characters and / or barcodes is visible. An imaging unit that irradiates light and captures a print status confirmation line, an inspection unit that processes the captured image and inspects pixels of the captured image and determines pass / fail, and an object that is determined to be defective by the inspection unit Because it consists of a defective product discharge unit that automatically discharges inspection items and a warning unit that notifies the occurrence of defects, printing and print defects due to smudges or fading of characters and / or barcodes continuously in a series of production processes It is possible to determine whether or not there is any.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the inspection unit is constituted by the imaging means and the image processing means, it is possible to make a pass / fail judgment with an inexpensive image processing inspection system, and it is possible to speed up the inspection.

  In the sixth invention of the present invention, as an imaging means, a sensor for informing that an object to be inspected conveyed by a guide installed on a conveyor has passed, and an illumination for irradiating visible light by a signal sent from the sensor, Since the image pickup apparatus picks up a black and white image with 256 gradations, an accurate inspection can be performed with a simple apparatus.

  In the seventh aspect of the present invention, as the image processing means, the captured image is binarized, and the number of pixels within the range of the captured image is obtained to determine whether it is acceptable or not. Since pass / fail judgment can be made, it is possible to perform inspection at low cost and at high speed.

  In the eighth invention of the present invention, the defective product discharge section is constituted by a defective product discharge cylinder provided with a defective product discharge guide that automatically discharges the inspection object determined to be defective by the quality determination. Defective products can be automatically discharged, and the workability of the process can be improved.

  In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the warning unit is configured by a warning unit that stops the whole when a defect of the inspection object is continuously determined and notifies the occurrence of the failure with a monitor or a warning light. Since it is possible to notify the operator of the occurrence of a defect and promptly pursue the cause of the defective product, it is possible to provide an inspection object with better quality.

  Next, a method for inspecting characters and barcodes and an inspection apparatus thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the character and / or barcode inspection method according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 in which individual recognition information is provided on a battery outer package in which a plurality of batteries are combined. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery exterior body in which a print area 3 composed of a character print area 1 and a barcode print area 2 and a print status confirmation line 4 arranged in the vicinity thereof are directly printed on the battery exterior body 27.

  The battery outer body 27 shown in FIG. 1 is made of paper or cardboard in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped or a heat-shrinkable film, but the material of the battery outer body 27, the type and size of the battery, and the number of stored battery packs The pack shape is not limited to this. Next, the printing area 3 composed of the character printing area 1 and the barcode printing area 2 provided in the battery exterior body 27 described above and the printing status confirmation line 4 arranged in the vicinity thereof will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the print area 3 is created based on the character print area 1 for displaying individual recognition information such as the battery type, the delivery part number, the recommended deadline, the manufacturer name, and the battery quantity in characters, and the determined bar code. The barcode printing area 2 is a bar code printing area 2 for representing a bar code as individual recognition information.

  Next, the length and arrangement position of the printing status confirmation line 4 for the printing area 3 including the character printing area 1 and the barcode printing area 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing status confirmation line 4 is located in the vicinity of the printing area 3 and is formed with a length H equal to or greater than the distance P between the upper and lower ends of the barcode or character. The print status confirmation lines 4 are arranged at the upper and lower ends of the image. Also, the distance P between the upper and lower ends of the barcode or character is the distance P between the barcode and the left and right ends of the character that are lateral to the print area 3, and the print status confirmation line 4 is equal to or longer than the distance P. You may form and arrange | position with H. Further, the print status confirmation line 4 is arranged outside the print area 3 and in the vicinity of the print area 3, so that it is possible to perform the missing print inspection only by the print status confirmation line 4.

  Next, referring to FIG. 2, in the printing region of the battery outer body 27 on which characters and / or barcodes with printing status confirmation lines in one embodiment are printed, the characters and / or barcodes are stained and blurred. An inspection apparatus for inspecting printing defects due to image processing by image processing will be described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to these.

First, as an embodiment, an AA dry battery having a diameter of 14 mm and a length of 50 mm was formed as a rectangular parallelepiped having a length of 120 mm, a width of 280 mm, and a height of 115 mm, in which 50 packs of 6 AA batteries were stored as one pack. A battery outer package 27 was used. As shown in FIG. 2, the driving conveyor 13 is provided in the transport conveyor 12 that transports the battery outer body 27 regulated by the guide 22 from the previous process (not shown), and further, the print head 15, the printing main body section 17, and the sensor 14. And an inspection unit 20 including a sensor 18, an imaging device 29, an illumination 30, and an image processing unit 21.

  The defective product discharge unit 24 that discharges defective products determined by the inspection unit 20 includes a defective product discharge cylinder 25, a defective product discharge guide 26, and a warning unit 28. The defective product discharge guide 26 is a defective product discharge cylinder. It is arrange | positioned on the conveyance conveyor 12 in the state attached to 25 front-end | tip parts. In addition, a warning unit 28 for notifying the occurrence of a defect is also provided in the vicinity of the conveyer 12, and when two or more defects are continuously generated in the battery outer body 27, the conveyer 12 is stopped and a defect is reported to the operator. It is to inform you. The warning unit 28 may be either a monitor that displays a defect or an alarm device that notifies the defect by light and sound.

  The print head 15 and the sensor 14 of the printing unit 16 are disposed on the transport conveyor 12, and the printing main body unit 17 is connected to each of the print head 15 and the sensor 14 and transmits and receives electrical signals.

  The battery exterior body 27 transported from the previous process is transported by the transport conveyor 12 to the printing section 16 including the print head 15, the printing main body section 17, and the sensor 14. At this time, the guide 22 regulates the battery exterior body 27 so that the distance from the side surface of the battery exterior body 27 is constant with respect to the print head 15.

  When the battery exterior body 27 transported to the printing unit 16 by the transport conveyor 12 passes in front of the sensor 14 and the sensor 14 is shielded from light, an electrical signal is sent from the sensor 14 to the printing body unit 17 and received. The print body unit 17 sends a print start signal to the print head 15. Upon receiving this print start signal, the print head 15 starts printing the individual recognition information on the side surface of the battery exterior body 27 being conveyed by the conveyor 12. The battery outer body 27 on which the individual recognition information is printed is sent to the inspection unit 20 by the conveyor 12 while being regulated by the guide 22.

  Next, the inspection unit 20 includes a sensor 18, an imaging device 29, an illumination 30, and an image processing unit 21. The sensor 18, the imaging device 29 and the illumination 30 are disposed on the transport conveyor 12, and the image processing unit 21 captures the sensor 18 and the imaging unit 20. It is connected to each of the devices 19 and transmits and receives electrical signals.

  The battery outer body 27 transported from the printing unit 16 on the transport conveyor 12 while being regulated by the guide 22 so as to be parallel to the image capturing apparatus 29 and the distance between the image capturing apparatus 29 and the side surface of the battery outer body 27 being constant. However, when the sensor 18 is shielded from light by passing in front of the sensor 18 provided in the inspection unit 20, an electrical signal is sent from the sensor 18 to the imaging device 29 and the illumination 30. Upon receiving this electrical signal, the imaging device 29 and the illumination 30 image the printing status confirmation line 4 printed on the battery outer body 27. The imaged data is sent to the image processing unit 21.

  Here, the image processing unit 21 will be described in detail. First, the image data of the printing status confirmation line 4 imaged by the imaging device 29 is all gradations brighter than the threshold value determined from the black and white grayscale image of 256 gradations by the binarization process in the image processing unit 21. All white and dark gradations are processed into an image divided into two.

  Next, the black region (number of pixels) of the binarized printing status confirmation line 4 is recognized, and thereby the presence or absence of missing printing is determined. The criterion for determining the lack of printing is that the black area (number of pixels) of the binarized printing status confirmation line 4 determines that only a single unit is a non-defective product. To do. That is, if the black area (number of pixels) in the determined range is one, it is determined as a non-defective product, and if it is zero or plural, it is recognized that there is a printing defect and is determined as a defective product.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 3, a detailed description will be given of a method for performing a print defect inspection on the entire print region 3 by an image processing inspection of only the print status confirmation line 4. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are schematic diagrams of a print area 3 including a printed character print area 1 and a barcode print area 2, and a print status confirmation line 4 arranged in the vicinity thereof. FIG. 3 (a) is a schematic diagram showing normal printing, FIG. 3 (b) is a schematic diagram with printing defects that were not normally printed, and FIG. 3 (c) is not printing normally. The schematic diagram of the printing status confirmation line 4 is shown.

  First, as a printing method used as an embodiment, a method for continuously discharging ink was used, but the present invention is not limited to this. As a feature of the method of discharging ink continuously, when dust or the like adheres to the print head 15 and clogging occurs, stains or print defects may occur continuously in that portion. In addition, the same phenomenon may occur even when dust or the like adheres to the print region 3 of the battery outer package 27.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, a print defect region 11 is generated, and the print status confirmation line 4 is also printed as a broken line. The printing status confirmation line 4 is positioned in the vicinity of the printing area 3 and is formed with a length H equal to or greater than the distance P between the upper and lower ends of the bar code or character. By arranging so that the confirmation line 4 is applied, it is possible to perform a print defect inspection using only the print status confirmation line 4 without performing a print defect inspection over the entire print area 3. Inspection can be performed. Also, the distance P between the upper and lower ends of the barcode or character is the distance P between the barcode and the left and right ends of the character that are lateral to the print area 3, and the print status confirmation line 4 is equal to or longer than the distance P. You may form and arrange | position with H.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the print status confirmation line 4 is divided into a plurality of black areas such as the print status confirmation line 4 composed of 4a and 4b by the print defect area 11, it is determined as a defective product. It is done. This is because the image processing unit 21 determines that only one black area is a non-defective product. That is, in the case of zero or plural, it is determined as a defective product. For these reasons, it is possible to perform pass / fail determination without pattern matching using non-defective samples by binarizing the captured image and determining the number of pixels within the range of the captured image. It can be said that an inspection can be performed. Note that the range of the captured image can also be a bar code or a character and a print status confirmation line 4.

  Next, the defective product discharge unit 24 will be described in detail. The image processing unit 21 of the inspection unit 20 sends an electrical signal to the defective product discharge unit 24 only when there is a defect with printing failure. The battery outer body 27 subjected to the print defect inspection by the inspection unit 20 is transported to the front of the defective product discharge cylinder 25 by the transport conveyor 12, and based on the inspection judgment by the inspection unit 20, the battery outer body 27 having a defect is present. Only when the defective product discharge guide 26 is pushed out in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2, the battery outer body 27 determined to be defective is pushed out of the conveyor 12 and automatically discharged. The defective product discharging method described here is not limited to this method, and the arrangement of the inspection apparatus is not limited thereto.

  In the present invention, the entire print area 3 of a good print pattern having no printing defect is stored and used as a collation criterion for judgment, and an image captured by the imaging device 29 in the inspection unit 20 meets the collation criterion. Compared to the conventional print defect inspection in which the print area 3 is inspected by the pattern matching method of whether or not it is done, the print defect inspection can be performed only by the print status confirmation line 4, so that it is faster with a cheap and simple device. Insufficient printing inspection can be performed, and it is possible to stop the outflow of the battery outer body 27 with defective printing due to dirt and fading of characters and / or barcodes. Further, by performing a print defect inspection in the print region 3 only with the print status confirmation line 4 of the present invention, it is not necessary to create a reference for collation in advance, and the print contents and size of the battery outer body 27 are changed. Even if there is an error, it is possible to realize a print defect inspection with no switching operation without performing a product switching operation.

  The present invention is used for print defect inspection of a print area printed on an object to be inspected. The print area is obtained by inspecting only the print status confirmation line by image processing regardless of the information and range of the print area. It is possible to perform print defect inspection for the entire area, simultaneously perform print defect inspection in the printing area with very inexpensive equipment, shorten the inspection process time, and efficiently supply inspection objects with high print quality and reliability. It is possible.

The schematic diagram of the battery exterior body in one embodiment of this invention The schematic diagram of the inspection apparatus in one embodiment of this invention (A) A schematic diagram of a printing area printed normally in an embodiment of the present invention, (b) a schematic diagram showing a printing area having the same printing defect, and (c) a printing status confirmation line having the same printing defect. Schematic diagram showing Schematic diagram of a conventional print defect inspection device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Character printing area | region 2 Barcode printing area | region 3 Printing area | region 4 Printing status confirmation line 11 Printing missing area | region 12 Conveyor 13 Drive part 14 Sensor 15 Print head 16 Printing part 17 Printing main body part 18 Sensor 20 Inspection part 21 Image processing part 22 Guide 24 Defective product discharge part 25 Defective product discharge cylinder 26 Defective product discharge guide 27 Battery exterior body 28 Alarm part 29 Imaging device 30 Illumination

Claims (9)

  In an inspection method for inspecting characters and / or barcodes representing individual recognition information, an imaging means for imaging a print status confirmation line provided in the vicinity of a region where characters and / or barcodes are represented, and processing the captured image A printing status inspection method for individual recognition information, wherein an image processing unit that inspects pixels of the captured image and determines pass / fail determines the lack of printing.   As an image pickup means, a print defect confirmation line is inspected by imaging a print status confirmation line by a sensor that notifies that an inspection object has passed, illumination that is irradiated by a signal sent from the sensor, and an image pickup device that picks up an image. The printing status inspection method for individual recognition information according to claim 1.   2. The printing of individual recognition information according to claim 1, wherein as the image processing means, the picked-up image is processed, and the number of pixels within the range of the picked-up image is obtained to determine whether the print is defective or not. Status check method.   In an inspection apparatus that inspects characters and / or barcodes that represent individual recognition information, the printing state confirmation line is irradiated with visible light in the vicinity of the region that represents the characters and / or barcodes, and the printing state confirmation line is imaged. An inspection unit comprising an imaging unit for processing, a captured image and an image processing unit for inspecting pixels of the captured image to determine pass / fail, and defective product discharge for automatically discharging an inspection object determined to be defective by the inspection unit And a print status inspection device for individual recognition information, characterized by comprising a warning unit for notifying the occurrence of a defect.   The individual recognition information printing status inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inspection unit includes an imaging unit and an image processing unit.   As an image pickup means, a sensor for informing that an inspection object conveyed by a guide installed on a conveyor has passed, illumination for irradiating visible light by a signal sent from the sensor, and a black and white grayscale image with 256 gradations 6. The apparatus for inspecting the printing status of individual recognition information according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured by an imaging device for imaging.   6. The individual recognition information printing status inspection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein as the image processing means, the picked-up image is binarized and the quality is determined by obtaining the number of pixels within the range of the picked-up image.   5. The individual product according to claim 4, wherein the defective product discharge unit includes a defective product discharge cylinder provided with a defective product discharge guide that automatically discharges an object to be inspected determined to be defective by the quality determination. Recognition status printing status inspection device.   5. The individual recognition according to claim 4, wherein the warning unit comprises a warning unit that stops the whole when a defect of the object to be inspected is continuously determined and notifies the occurrence of the defect by a monitor or a warning light. Information printing status inspection device.

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