KR101943444B1 - Apparatus and method for coating through image processing - Google Patents

Abstract

A coating apparatus and a coating method through image processing are disclosed. A loader for loading an original printed on the surface thereof according to the first data on a table; a conveying unit for moving the table along a predetermined conveying direction; An image analyzer for processing the obtained image to derive second data and extracting a coating object area, a controller for controlling the image analyzer to eject the coating liquid onto the original plate so that the coating liquid is selectively printed on the coated area, A coating apparatus through image processing including an inkjet head unit, a hardening unit for irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light onto the original plate so as to cure the printed coating liquid, and an unloader for unloading the coated original plate, After loading the plate to be coated with the printer and scanning the printed image on the card surface, the area to be coated is automatically extracted, By spraying and curing the coating solution, the coating can be selectively applied to the card surface with a fast, consistent and good quality.

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a coating apparatus and a coating method using image processing,

The present invention relates to a coating apparatus and a coating method through image processing.

Many types and types of plastic cards have been used recently, such as credit cards, cash cards, transportation cards, membership cards, ID cards, medical consultation cards for hospitals, and USIM cards for communication companies.

Such plastic cards express offset design and silk screen printing on plastic sheet (original plate) in order to express various kinds of information such as letters, numbers and logos. Can be used.

Recently, in addition to printing on the surface of a plastic card, an area where information is to be protected (for example, a region where a number or character is printed, a region where a logo is printed, a region where a user's photo is printed, etc.) A technique for preventing an important portion from being worn out or damaged by a scratch or the like is being spotlighted by coating with a resin layer.

Conventionally, in order to selectively coat a part of the plastic card, the coating is manually performed one sheet at a time exactly where the person is to be coated, and it takes time and expense, and the reliability of the coating quality is low .

The above-described background technology is technical information that the inventor holds for the derivation of the present invention or acquired in the process of deriving the present invention, and can not necessarily be a known technology disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the present invention.

On the other hand, Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2008-0090791 discloses a technique of forming a coating layer by printing a three-dimensional pattern with UV resin on the surface of a card and then curing it with ultraviolet rays. In Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-2015-0025657, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2016-0009616 discloses a technique of scanning and reading a planar object to obtain a digital signature, and a digital signature is printed with a reference value And printing is performed on a planar object when they match.

Patent Document 1: Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2008-0090791 Patent Document 2: Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0025657 Patent Document 3: Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0009616

An object of the present invention is to provide a coating apparatus and a coating method through image processing which can perform uniform coating with high quality using a flat type printer instead of performing coating by hand.

Other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following description.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including: a loader for loading an original on a surface of which an image is printed on a surface according to first data; a conveying unit for moving the table along a predetermined conveying direction; An image analysis unit for extracting second data and processing the obtained image to extract a coating target area, and a controller for controlling the coating unit to selectively apply a coating liquid to the coating target area And an unloader for unloading the coated original plate. The inkjet head includes an inkjet head for ejecting a coating liquid onto the original plate so as to be printed on the original plate, a hardening unit for irradiating ultraviolet light onto the original plate to cure the printed coating liquid, Is provided.

The image analyzing unit extracts a coating target object from the first data, derives the extent to which the coating target object is deformed in the second data, and determines whether the coating target object is a coating target area Can be extracted. The object to be coated may be letters, numbers, logos, and the like.

The first data is configured such that a plurality of unit images are arranged at regular intervals, and the image analyzing unit acquires information on the position of each of the plurality of unit images, and the coating object is a representative of any one of the plurality of unit images And can be extracted by rearranging the unit coating object extracted from the unit image according to the information about the position of each unit image.

The degree of deformation of the object to be coated can be derived from the difference between the coordinates of the specified vertex and the slope of the straight line in comparison with the representative unit image and the portion corresponding to the representative unit image out of the second data.

The vision unit includes a line camera for preventing distortion of an outer portion of the scan object image, and the line camera can acquire an image after scanning the entire surface of the original plate.

The heater may further include a heater which is disposed in front of the hardened portion in the transport direction and heats the coating liquid sprayed on the disk to spread well.

The heater may further include a heater which is located behind the hardened portion in the transport direction and heats the surface of the original plate irradiated with UV to heat the coating liquid so as to securely cure.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of coating a designated region of an original plate while transferring the original plate on a table in the y direction, comprising the steps of: (a) (B) scanning the original at the top of the original while moving the table in the + y direction to obtain an image printed on the original, (c) returning the table in the -y direction, (D) spraying the coating liquid onto the original plate in an inkjet manner so that the coating liquid is selectively printed on the coating target area while transferring the table in the + y direction , (e) irradiating UV onto the original while moving the table in the + y direction, and curing the printed coating liquid, and (f) unloading the coated original plate. The coating method through the image processing is provided.

The step (c) includes the steps of: (c1) extracting an object to be coated from the first data, deriving a degree to which the object to be coated is deformed in the second data, And extracting the coating target area as a base.

Wherein the first data is configured such that a plurality of unit images are arranged at regular intervals, and the step (c1) acquires information on the position of each of the plurality of unit images, And a step of extracting the coating target area by rearranging the unit coating target objects extracted from the image according to the information about the position of each unit image.

Between step (d) and step (e), (g) heating the surface of the disk so that the coating liquid sprayed on the disk spreads well.

Between step (e) and step (f), (h) heating the surface of the UV irradiated disk so that the coating liquid is reliably cured.

Other aspects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following drawings, claims, and detailed description of the invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an original plate to be coated is loaded using a flat-type printer, an area to be coated is automatically extracted by scanning an image printed on the card surface, the coating liquid is sprayed onto the extracted area by an ink- , It is possible to selectively coat the card surface with a quick, consistent and excellent quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a coating apparatus through image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are views illustrating a coating target region extraction process according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a coating method through image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is capable of various modifications and various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the terms "comprises" or "having" and the like are used to specify that there is a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component or a combination thereof described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, .

FIG. 1 is a view showing a coating apparatus through image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are views illustrating a coating region extraction process according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 to 3, the image forming apparatus includes a disk 1, a table 3, a feeding unit 5, a feeding unit 7, a loading unit 9, a loader 10, a vision unit 20, The inkjet head unit 40, the hardening unit 50, the heaters 45 and 55, and the unloader 60 are shown.

This embodiment relates to a device for selectively coating a region of a plastic card such as a credit card or a membership card to protect a designated area of the surface.

That is, this apparatus is used for selectively coating only a letter portion as shown in FIG. 2 (b) on an original plate on which an image is printed as shown in FIG. 2 (a).

In this embodiment, a coating apparatus of a flat type printer type in which a desired portion is selectively and accurately coated by spraying a coating liquid by an ink jet method while transferring the original plate to be coated on a flat table is transported .

If the existing analog equipments are coated one by one exactly according to the coating position of the person, this equipment is a digital automatic coating equipment and it is possible to automatically apply the desired amount of coating to the loader .

That is, a person does not need to work on a single sheet of coating but rather automates the coating of the equipment by putting the desired quantity on the loader.

In this embodiment, after a plastic card original plate on which an image has already been printed is loaded on a flat type printer, the image is scanned by a camera, and the image is processed and analyzed. Then, a position (for example, And the coating liquid is sprayed in a modified form on the deformed image in the image printing process or the original loading process, and then the coating liquid is cured by applying UV and / or heat, To precisely and selectively perform coating at a desired position on the original image.

To this end, the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a loader 10, a transferring unit 5, a vision unit 20, an image analysis unit 30, an inkjet head unit 40, a hardening unit 50, and an unloader 60.

As described above, the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment is characterized by automation. For this purpose, the 7-axis motion, i.e., the loader 10 sideways movement, the loader 10 sideways movement, the table 3 sideways (y- The movement of the head unit 40 in the x axis direction, the movement of the UV hardening unit 50 in the x axis direction, the unloader 60 in the left and right directions, and the unloader 60 in the up and down directions. In addition, two motions (use of an elevator for the feeder 7) may be additionally applied for smooth feeding of the printing object (original plate).

The loader 10 is a component that loads the original plate 1 on which an image is printed on the surface on the table 3. [ In this embodiment, original data (first data) of a printed image is obtained in advance and scanned as described later. The original image data (first data) It can be used as reference data for contrast with images.

The table 3 is a component that performs each process (scanning, printing, curing, etc.) while moving in a predetermined transport direction (the 'y' direction in FIG. 1) in the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment. The loader 7 according to the present embodiment can be mounted on the table 3 in such a manner that a stack of the printed material 1 ) On the table (3).

Accordingly, the loader 10 according to the present embodiment may function as a picker for picking up and transferring objects, and for this purpose, a plurality of fingers for supporting the bottom surface on the side of the object, and / Or a suction hole for picking up and picking up an object, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The transfer unit 5 serves to move the table 3 on which the original plate 1 is loaded along the transfer direction (y direction). To this end, various configurations for moving the table 3 in a linear direction such as a linear motor (LM) or a ball screw coupled to the table 3 can be applied to the transfer section 5 according to the present embodiment .

The vision unit 20 is a component for acquiring image data printed on the original plate 1 by scanning the original plate 1 on the original plate 1. [ That is, the entire printed matter printed on the original plate 1 is scanned and secured as image data.

The coating apparatus according to the present embodiment accurately scans the image on the original plate 1 to reflect the deformed state of the image as it is in the coating operation as described later. When the image scanned by the vision unit 20 is distorted It is important that it is acquired correctly.

To this end, the vision unit 20 according to the present embodiment is characterized by using a line camera to prevent distortion of an outer portion of an image. As described above, by photographing the original plate 1 using a line camera, it is possible to obtain an accurate image without any distortion after scanning the entire surface of the original plate 1. [

The image analysis unit 30 performs image processing on the image obtained through the vision unit 20 to obtain image data (second data) and analyzes the image data to determine which part of the image is to be coated, And the like.

Since the image analysis unit 30 is an element for performing image processing and analysis, it may be a computing device such as a microprocessor, or may be included as a module in a computer for controlling the entire device.

Normally, on the original plate of the plastic card, as shown in Fig. 2A, the same card image of 24 (3 rows x 8 columns) can be printed on one media plate, and the size of the original plate is about 40 cm, It may be about 80cm in length.

The original plate 1 of the thick plastic card used in the present embodiment is formed into a single sheet by applying heat to a plurality of sheets of paper by applying heat. In this process, a slight deformation may occur on the sheet placed on the surface. There is also a case where the original plate 1 is slightly inclined from its position in the course of loading the card original plate 1 on the table 3. [

If the coating on the original plate 1 does not coincide with the image on the original data (first data), it may not be precisely coated at a desired position.

In order to compensate for this, the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment scans the image of the original plate 1 actually loaded through the vision camera to obtain image data (second data), and supplies the original data (first data) And the position to be coated is precisely specified in contrast to the above.

That is, the coating is performed by image processing that corrects an image to be coated using a camera.

To this end, the image analysis unit 30 according to the present embodiment extracts a coating object (letter, number, logo, and the like) from the first data, and scans the actually loaded original plate 1, If the object to be coated is deformed, its degree of deformation is derived.

Based on the derived degree of deformation, that is, the coated object is extracted based on the deformed state in the second data.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, if the character portion is to be coated on the original data (FIG. 3A), the original coated area is a rectangular shape (see P in FIG. 3) (Refer to FIG. 3) in the data (FIG. 3 (b)) obtained by scanning the original disk 1, the image of the original data Rectangle) is extended or rotated to extract the coating target area.

On the other hand, in the disk 1 according to the present embodiment, images of 24 individual cards can be repeatedly printed. After obtaining the position value of each individual card image from the scan image, Regions can be reordered according to the position of each individual card, and printing (spraying of the coating liquid) on the basis of the created image (coating target region) can accurately coat the desired position.

That is, assuming that the original image data is composed of a form (for example, 3 rows and 8 columns = 24 unit images) in which a plurality of unit images are arranged at regular intervals, position information of each unit image is obtained, The coating target object can be extracted as a whole by rearranging the unit coating target object from the representative unit image of the representative unit image and rearranging it according to the position of each unit image.

An outline or recognition mark M can be further printed between each unit image, as shown in Fig. 2A, so that position information of each unit image can be easily obtained.

Alternatively, information on how the unit images are arranged on the original data in the process of acquiring the original data and the position information of each unit image may be received together.

The degree of deformation of the object to be coated is also compared with the original data of the representative unit image and the scan data, that is, the representative unit image on the original data and the representative unit image on the scanned data are compared with each other, Can be derived from the degree of change of the slope.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the coordinates of the vertex (see 'V1' in FIG. 3) and the slope of the straight line (see 'L1' in FIG. 3) If it is different from the data b obtained by scanning the original plate 1 (refer to 'V2' and 'L2' in FIG. 3), the region P on the original data is corrected by the degree of change, .

The inkjet head portion 40 is a component that selectively performs printing by spraying the coating liquid selectively (only on the area to be coated) on the original plate 1. [

1, the printing resolution DPI of the inkjet head unit 40 can be set to 360 DPI in the x-axis direction (width direction of the original plate), and in the y-axis direction (length direction of the original plate) The DPI can vary depending on the length of the disc.

In this embodiment, since the coating liquid is sprayed by the ink-jet method, the coating thickness can be freely adjusted as desired. For example, the coating can be performed so that the thickness of the coating layer is from 5 m to a maximum thickness of 60 m.

The hardening unit 50 is a component for curing the coating liquid by irradiating ultraviolet rays, that is, UV, on the original plate 1 on which the coating liquid is printed. To this end, the coating solution (coating ink) to be sprayed through the inkjet head portion 40 in this embodiment may be UV curable ink.

That is, the coating liquid according to the present embodiment can be used as an ink which is cured by the UV curing portion 50. On the other hand, when the digital UV LED is used as the curing unit 50 according to the present embodiment, there is an advantage that power consumption is low and curing efficiency is high.

The unloader 60 is a component for unloading the coated and hardened print (original plate) from the table 3 and transferring it to the loading section 9.

On the other hand, with respect to the printing and curing quality of the coating liquid, the heating heaters 45 and 55 may further be used.

First, a heater 45 which serves to heat the coating liquid sprayed on the disk 1 well before the UV irradiation (before UV irradiation) may be used at the front end of the hardened portion 50.

Depending on the material of the original plate 1, there may be cases where the coating ink does not spread very well and is clumped. If curing proceeds in this state, quality may be deteriorated. To this end, the heater 45 may be disposed in front of the UV curing unit 50 to allow the sprayed coating ink to spread, and then the curing can be performed.

Secondly, a heater 55 may be used which heats the surface of the original plate 1 at the rear end of the hardening unit 50 (after UV irradiation) to heat the coating liquid to be surely cured.

Depending on the material of the original plate 1, the coating ink may be hardly cured only by UV irradiation. In this case, the curing can be performed in such a manner that heat is applied by the heater 55 after UV irradiation to firmly solidify the coating ink.

Either one of the two heaters 45 and 55 may be used or both may be used depending on the state of curing by UV irradiation, or the heater may be omitted if the UV irradiation sufficiently cures sufficiently.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a coating method through image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment relates to a method for selectively and accurately coating a specific area (coated area) on an original plate 1 on which 24 identical card images are arranged and printed at predetermined intervals using the above-described coating apparatus.

First, the original plate 1 on which an image is printed on the surface is loaded on the table 3 (S100). The original plate 1 on which an image is printed may be a plastic plate on which a plurality of card images are printed according to original data (first data).

The table 3 is a component that performs each process (scanning, printing, curing, etc.) while moving in the transport direction (y direction).

Next, while the table 3 is being transported in the + y direction, the original 1 is scanned at the top of the original 1 to acquire an image printed on the original 1 (S200). That is, the original plate 1 is photographed by the line camera and the image of the original plate 1 printed with the card image is read.

Next, the obtained image is processed to obtain image data (second data), and the coating target area is extracted by analyzing it (S300). That is, it performs image processing.

Analyzes the read card image, obtains accurate position information of the card image, and analyzes the degree of warping when the card image is warped during the manufacturing process or the loading process.

That is, when the coating target object (for example, a character portion) extracted from the original data is deformed in the second data, the coating target region is extracted based on the image of the state.

Meanwhile, regarding the extraction of the object to be coated, the object to be coated can be extracted by rearranging the unit coating object extracted based on one of the individual card images (representative unit image) according to the position of each card image .

During the image processing operation in the processor (image analysis unit 30), the table 3 on which the original plate 1 is loaded is moved back (-y direction) to prepare the next process.

Next, the coating liquid is sprayed by an ink jet method so that the coating liquid is selectively printed on the coating target area while transferring the table 3 in the + y direction (S400).

That is, the original plate 1 is moved in the y direction and the inkjet head unit 40 is moved in the x direction, and the coating liquid is ejected precisely at a desired position in the same manner as in the inkjet printing.

As described in step S300, the position of the area to be coated through image processing is accurately derived for each card image, and the coating solution is outputted in accordance with the accurate position information. In this process, in the case of the curved image, the curved shape reflecting the degree of curvature is output as described above.

Next, while the table 3 is transferred in the + y direction, the original 1 is irradiated with UV to cure the printed coating liquid (S500).

A step of heating using heaters 45 and 55 as necessary before and after the UV irradiation may be additionally performed.

For example, when the coating ink is not spread well but depending on the material of the original plate 1, a process of heating the surface of the original plate 1 so as to spread the sprayed coating liquid may be performed before the UV irradiation process (S450 ).

Further, for example, when the coating ink is hardly cured by only UV irradiation depending on the material of the original plate 1, a step of heating the surface of the original plate 1 is performed after the UV irradiation process so that the coating liquid is surely cured (S550).

Finally, the coated original 1 is unloaded from the table 3 and moved to the loading unit 9 (S600).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be understood that the invention may be varied and varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

1: Disc 3: Table
5: Feeder 7: Feeder
9: Loading section 10: Loader
20: vision unit 30: image analysis unit
40: inkjet head part 50: hardened part
45, 55: heater 60: unloader

Claims (13)

A loader for loading an original on the surface of which an image is printed on the surface according to the first data;
A transfer unit for moving the table along a predetermined transfer direction;
A vision unit positioned above the original plate and scanning the original plate to obtain an image printed on the original plate;
An image analyzer for processing the obtained image to derive second data and extracting a coating target area;
An inkjet head part for spraying a coating liquid onto the original plate so that a coating liquid is selectively printed on the coating area;
A curing unit for irradiating the original plate with ultraviolet (UV) light so as to cure the printed coating liquid;
And an unloader for unloading the original coated with the coating,
Wherein the image analyzing unit extracts a coating target object from the first data and derives a degree of modification of the coating target object from the second data so that the coating target object is transformed into an image Wherein the area to be coated is extracted based on the image data.
delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the object to be coated comprises at least one of letters, numbers, and logos.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first data is configured such that a plurality of unit images are arranged at regular intervals,
Wherein the image analyzing unit obtains information on the position of each of the plurality of unit images,
Wherein the coating target object is extracted by rearranging the unit coating object extracted from any one representative unit image of the plurality of unit images according to information on the position of each of the unit images. Device.
5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the deformation degree of the object to be coated is derived from a difference between a coordinate of a specified vertex and a slope of a straight line in comparison with a portion corresponding to the representative unit image out of the representative unit image and the second data. Lt; / RTI >
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the vision unit includes a line camera for preventing distortion of an outer portion of the scan object image, and the line camera scans the entire surface of the original plate to acquire the image.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a heater located in front of the hardened portion in the transport direction and heating the coating liquid sprayed on the circular plate to spread well.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a heater located behind the hardened portion in the transport direction and heating the surface of the original plate irradiated with UV to heat the coating liquid to be surely cured.
CLAIMS 1. A method of coating a designated area of a disk with a disk loaded on a table and transported in the y direction,
(a) loading the original on the table with the image printed on the surface according to the first data;
(b) scanning the original at the top of the original while moving the table in the + y direction to obtain an image printed on the original;
(c) returning the table in the -y direction, processing the obtained image to derive second data, and extracting a coating target area;
(d) jetting the coating liquid onto the original plate in an inkjet manner so that the coating liquid is selectively printed on the coating target area while transferring the table in the + y direction;
(e) irradiating UV onto the original while moving the table in the + y direction to cure the printed coating liquid; And
(f) unloading the original coated with the coating,
The step (c)
(c1) extracting a coating target object from the first data, deriving a degree to which the coating target object has been deformed in the second data, and determining whether the coating target object is based on the image Wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a coating target area on the substrate;
delete 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the first data is configured such that a plurality of unit images are arranged at regular intervals,
Wherein the step (c1) includes the steps of: acquiring information on the position of each of the plurality of unit images; and acquiring the unit coating object extracted from any one of the plurality of unit images, And extracting the coating target area by rearranging the information according to the information.
10. The method of claim 9,
Between the step (d) and the step (e)
(g) heating the surface of the disk so that the coating liquid sprayed on the disk spreads well;
10. The method of claim 9,
Between the step (e) and the step (f)
(h) heating the surface of the original plate to which UV is irradiated so that the coating liquid is reliably cured.

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