JPH0340077A - Sensor head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely detect the mark recorded in a carried long size body by providing a first optical fiber for leading a light beam reflected onto the long size body to a photodetector, and a second optical fiber whose diameter dimension is larger than that of a first optical fiber and which leads a light beam passing through the long size body. CONSTITUTION:The subject sensor head is provided with a first optical fiber 58A in which a reflected light is made incident on a mark exposed and recorded on a long size body and which leads this incident light to a photodetector 62, and a second optical fiber 58B in which the incident surface is placed in a position being more distant from the surface of the long size body than this first optical fiber 58A, and also, a light beam which passes through a hole-like mark provided on the long size body whose diameter dimension is larger than that of a first optical fiber 58A is made incident, and which leads this incident light to the detector 62. In such a way, the mark recorded in the carried long size body can be detected surely.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention detects marks by irradiating light onto marks recorded on a conveyed elongated body and detecting the reflected light and transmitted light. Regarding the sensor head.

[Prior Art] On the widthwise end of a long piece of photographic paper, for example, there are cut marks that are cut at each front or prints that are cut at each corner, corresponding to the images recorded on the photographic paper. Sort marks used when sorting paper are recorded.

The marks recorded on the photographic paper are detected by a sensor head fixed to a printing device or the like.

Some types of marks include those in which small holes are provided on the sides in the width direction, and those in which a slit-shaped image is exposed on the surface of the photographic paper. When detecting a small hole mark, a light source such as an LED is placed below the photographic paper, and a photodetector is placed above the photographic paper.When light passes through the small hole, the photodetector is detected. Light enters the detection surface and detects the mark.

When detecting a slit-like mark exposed on photographic paper, a light source is placed above the photographic paper, a detector is placed above the photographic paper, and the light from the light source is constantly placed on the surface of the photographic paper. The reflected light is incident on the detection surface of the detector. Since the amount of reflected light reflected from the exposed slit-shaped mark decreases, the presence of the mark is detected based on the change in the amount of light.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the conveyed photographic paper moves in a meandering manner in the width direction, reflected light and transmitted light may not be incident on the detection surface of the detector. In this case, the mark may be misread.

Furthermore, since there are variations in the positions of marks recorded on photographic paper, reflected light and transmitted light may not be incident on the detector. In this case as well, misreading of the mark occurs.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned facts, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a sensor head that can reliably detect marks recorded on a conveyed elongated body.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In the invention of claim (1), reflected light reflected from a mark exposed and recorded on a long body is incident, and the incident light is guided to a photodetector. A second optical fiber is provided on the elongated body, with the entrance surface being located at a position farther from the surface of the elongated body than the first optical fiber, and having a diameter larger than that of the first optical fiber. The device is characterized in that it includes a second optical fiber into which light that has passed through the hole-shaped mark is incident and which guides the incident light to the detector.

In the invention of claim (2), there is provided a first optical fiber that receives the light that has passed through the hole-like mark and guides the light that is incident on the photodetector, and a body whose entrance surface is longer than the first optical fiber. is located far from the surface of the first
A second optical fiber enters the light that has passed through a hole-shaped mark that is larger than the optical fiber and guides it to the photodetector, and the light guided by the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber is added. and a control means for determining whether the added light amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[Function] In the invention of claim (1), when detecting a slit-shaped mark recorded by exposure on the surface of a long body, the surface of the long body is irradiated with light to detect the long body. Marks are detected by detecting the light reflected by the mark. In this case, the reflected light is made to enter the first optical fiber, and this light is guided to a photodetector and detected.

In the case of a small hole-shaped mark provided on a long body, the light transmitted through the small hole is incident on a second optical fiber installed on the top of the long body, and this light is sent to a photodetector. Detect marks by guiding and detecting.

In this case, the second optical fiber has an incident surface farther from the surface of the elongated body than the first optical fiber, and has a larger diameter, so its detection range is wide, especially when detecting hole-shaped marks. is suitable because the positional deviation from the widthwise end of the elongated body is large.

In the invention of claim (2), when detecting a hole-like mark, light is irradiated from the back side of the elongated body being conveyed, and the light that has passed through the mark is incident on the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber. These optical fibers are used to guide the light to a photodetector for detection. The sum of the amounts of light detected by the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber is added by the control means, and it is determined whether this value exceeds a predetermined value.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the inventions of claims (1) and (2) described above, it is possible to obtain a sensor head that can reliably detect marks recorded on a conveyed elongated body. You can get excellent results.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 8 show an embodiment of a printing machine 10 to which a sensor head according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a printing machine 10. As shown in FIG.

The printing machine 10 is a device that prints an image every -m and prints each frame number of the photographic paper 12 wound into a roll on the back side of the photographic paper 12.

The printing of the frame number on the back side of the photographic paper 12 is done after the photographic paper 12 has been cut in batches, and the sorting operation is facilitated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing machine 10 is provided with an operation unit 14 at the upper front side for controlling the operation of the printing machine IO, and a central part for loading photographic paper 12 wound into a roll. A reel 16 and a take-up reel 18 for winding up the photographic paper 12 fed out from the reel 16 are provided.

Further, a plurality of rollers 20 and 21 are arranged on the front surface of the printing machine 10 to guide and convey the photographic paper 12 fed out from the reel 16 to the take-up reel 18.

A printing device 22 is disposed in the middle of the photographic paper transport path between the operating section 14 and the take-up reel 18, and prints a frame number on the back side of the photographic paper 12.

Further, in the lower part of the operation unit 14 and in the middle of the transport path of the photographic paper 12, there is a sensor head 24 that detects marks 23 (see FIG. 3) recorded between image frames of the photographic paper 12.
is located. When the mark on the photographic paper 12 is detected by the sensor head 24, the printing section 22 is activated to print a frame number on the back side of the photographic paper 12.

A sensor head 24 is shown in FIGS. 2-5. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor head 24, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sensor head seen from above, FIG. 4 is a sectional view, and FIG. be.

The sensor head 24 is arranged on one side of the photographic paper conveyance path. Further, a guide means (not shown) is disposed on the other side of the photographic paper transport path, and the photographic paper is held between the sensor head 24 and the guide means.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor head 24 is provided with a base 26 having an abbreviated cross-sectional shape. The base 26 is supported by a frame (not shown) of the printing machine 10, and the sensor head 24 is disposed on the side of the conveyance path of the photographic paper 12.

A support portion 28C of a bracket 28 is fixed to the base 26 with bolts 27. The bracket 28 is bent from the base 28A at a substantially right angle in a direction in which both ends thereof touch each other to form a rotating shaft support portion 28B.

A through hole 28D is provided in the rotating shaft support portion 28B. A rotary shaft 30 is mounted between these through holes 28D with a rotary bearing 3.
It is supported through 2. One end of an arm 34 is supported on this rotating shaft 30. An arm support section 36 is formed in the middle of the rotating shaft 30 , and the arm 34 is placed on this arm support section 36 and fixed with bolts 35 .

A support ring 38 is attached to the lower part of the arm support part 36. This support ring 38 is provided with two screw holes 38A in the radial direction. The support ring 38 is fixed to the rotating shaft 30 by threading a bolt 39 into the screw hole 38A.

Also, the rotating shaft support part 28 located at the lower part of the support ring 38
A torsion coil spring 40 is interposed between it and B. One end of this torsion coil spring 40 is fixed to the stopper hole 28E of the rotary shaft support portion 28B, and the other end is fixed to the support ring 38. Torsion coil spring 4
0 urges the arm 34 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 about the rotating shaft 30. Further, the arm 34 is biased counterclockwise by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 40, and when it is not in contact with one side of the photographic paper 12, the side portion 34A is in contact with the base portion 28A.

The arm 34 is formed in an oval shape, and its tip protrudes into the transport path of the photographic paper 12, as shown in FIG. A grooved bearing 42 is pivotally supported by a pin 44 on the lower surface of the distal end portion which protrudes into the transport path of the photographic paper. This grooved bearing 4
2 is a groove 42 serving as a regulating means along the outer circumference in the axially intermediate portion.
A is formed, and the sides of the photographic paper 12 in the width direction come into contact with each other to restrict movement of the photographic paper in the thickness direction.

Further, an upper tip portion of the pin 44 projects upward from the arm 34, and an intermediate portion of a light source support plate 46 is supported at the tip portion.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light source support plate 46 is formed long along the conveyance direction of the photographic paper 12, and both ends in the conveyance direction are inclined downward and provided with light source support portions 46A, respectively. This light source support part 46A has an LED 4
8 are disposed with their light emitting surfaces facing diagonally downward, and are attached so that the light emitted from each one crosses each other. L
ED48 is the photographic paper 1 conveyed as shown in FIG.
Light is irradiated toward the width direction side part of 2.

In addition, a lower light source support plate 50 is provided at the middle part of the arm 34.
One end is supported by a bolt 51. At the other end of this lower light source support plate 50 is a lower part L.
The ED52 is attached with its light emitting surface facing upward.

As shown in FIG. 5, this LED 52 emits light toward the widthwise side of the back side of the photographic paper 12 being conveyed. The position where this LED 52 emits light corresponds to the position of the mark recorded on the photographic paper 12 being conveyed.

Further, a sensor 54 is attached to the most distal end of the arm 34. As shown in FIG. 6, this sensor 54 has a cylindrical head 54A and is inserted into one tip of a tube 56 made of transparent resin.

As shown in FIG. 6, a recess 54B is provided at the opposite end of the head 54A. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, four through holes 54C are formed along the axial direction of the sensor 54 at equal intervals along the axial center and the circumferential direction thereof, and the end surfaces thereof are opened within the recess 54B. are doing.

The tip of the optical fiber 58A is inserted into the through hole 54C provided at the center of the shaft. Furthermore, an optical fiber 58B is inserted into another through hole 54C. The distal end surface of the optical fiber 58B is located further inside the recess 54B than the distal end surface of the fiber 58A. Furthermore, Hikari Raiba 5
The diameter of the optical fiber 8B is set larger than the diameter of the optical fiber 58A. Therefore, since the angle of incidence α (see FIG. 10) on these optical fibers 58A and 58B is constant at about 30 degrees,
Optical fiber 58 located far away from photographic paper 12
The range of light that can enter B is wider than the detection range of optical fiber 58A. The light reflected from the slit-shaped mark 23 (see FIG. 3), which is exposed and recorded on the photographic paper 12, is mainly incident on the optical fiber 58A. Also, a small hole-shaped mark 21
In the case of detection, the light transmitted through the small hole is transmitted through the optical fiber 58A.
, 58B, these optical fibers 58A15
The small hole-shaped mark 21 is detected by the sum of the amounts of light incident on the inside 8B. That is, optical fibers 58A, 58B
The detection areas detected by and are at different positions as shown in FIG. Optical fibers 58A and 358B are arranged so that the ends of these detection areas overlap, and when the amount of light detected by these optical fibers (light output) is added, the optical output is shown by the dotted line in Figure 11. As a result, the detection area S of the mark 21
is widened, and even if the position of the mark is shifted in the width direction of the photographic paper 12, it can be reliably detected.

Although the slit-like mark 23 and the hole-like mark 21 are shown on the same photographic paper in FIG. 3, normally one of them is recorded on the photographic paper 12.

The optical fibers 5sA, 5sf> are housed in the tube 56. A bifurcated connecting tube 60 is connected to the tube 56, and optical fibers 58A and 58B are pulled out from one side of the bifurcated connecting tube 60, and the other side is communicated with an air supply device 61 through a conduit 63. There is. Therefore, air is supplied into the tube 56 by the air supply device 61, and the air is discharged from the through hole 54C provided along the circumferential direction. This ejected air blows away dust and the like adhering to the photographic paper 12.
4 Misreading is prevented when detecting marks recorded on the mark. Also, since the optical fibers 58A and 58B are inserted into the tube 56, the optical fibers 58A and 58B
58B is protected. In addition, these optical fibers 58
Since the optical fibers A and 58B are relatively small, the sensor 5 into which these optical fibers 58A and 58B are inserted
4 can be made small. For this reason, arm 34
This makes it easy to follow the meandering of the photographic paper 12.

Optical fibers 58A, 58B are also housed within tube 56 to form photodetectors 62, 64 as shown in FIG.
The reflected light and transmitted light are guided to the detection surface. These photodetectors 62, 64 are connected to a control device 66 provided in the printing machine 10.

As shown in No. 125A, the control device 66 includes an adder 6
8 and a comparator 70 are provided. A comparator 72 is connected to a photodetector 64 that detects the light guided by the optical fiber 58B.

An electrical signal converted by the photodetector 64 is input to the comparator 72 . This electrical signal corresponds to the amount of light detected.

Further, the light guided by the optical fiber 58A is transmitted to the photodetector 6.
Detected by 2. A comparator 74 is also connected to this photodetector 62, and the electrical signal converted by the photodetector is input manually.

This electrical signal corresponds to the amount of light detected by optical fiber 58A. A comparator 76, which is an adder, is connected to the comparators 72 and 74. Electric signals corresponding to the light detected by the optical fibers 58A and 58B are input to the comparator 76 and added.

The added light is input to the comparator 70 and compared with a predetermined value. If the light input to the comparator 70 exceeds a predetermined value, a signal indicating the presence of a mark is output. Further, if the predetermined value is not exceeded, no signal is output.

The mark detected here is a small hole-shaped mark 21,
As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 9, this small hole-shaped mark 21 causes an error in positioning when it is recorded on the photographic paper 12. Therefore, the light emitted by the lower LED 52 and transmitted through the mark 21 may deviate from the detection range of the optical fiber 58B. However, in this embodiment, the light that has passed through the small hole-like mark 21 is made to enter the optical fiber 58A, into which the light reflected from the slit-like mark exposed and recorded on the photographic paper 12 is made to enter the optical fiber 58A. The small hole-shaped mark 21 is detected by adding the emitted light and the light incident on the optical fiber 58B.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the range for detecting the light transmitted through the small hole-shaped mark 21 is widened, and even if the position of the mark 21 is shifted in the width direction of the photographic paper 12, the mark 21 can be detected. The transmitted light can be detected reliably.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Photographic paper 12, on which images are recorded one by one and wound into a roll, is set in a printing machine 10. A league connected to the leading end of the photographic paper 12 is wound around a take-up reel 18, and the first bite of the image recorded on the photographic paper 12 is positioned below the sensor head 24.

When a start switch (not shown) is turned on, the take-up reel 8 begins to wind up the photographic paper 12, and the sensor head 24 begins to detect marks recorded on the photographic paper 12 at the same time as the conveyance of the photographic paper 12 is started. Based on this detection result, the printing section 22 starts printing the frame number on the back side of the photographic paper 12. This operation is repeated for each frame, and the frame number is printed on the back side of the photographic paper 12 wound into a roll. By printing this frame number, it becomes easier to sort the photographic paper 12 after it has been cut one by one.

When the sensor head 24 starts operating, the LEDs 48 and 52, which are light sources, start emitting light and irradiate the mark position on the widthwise side of the photographic paper 2 being conveyed. LED
48 irradiates light from the top of the photographic paper 12 to the sides of the photographic paper 12, and the LED 52 irradiates light from the back side of the photographic paper 12.

For example, when detecting a slit-shaped mark 23 printed and recorded on the side of the photographic paper 12 in the width direction, L
The reflected light of the light irradiated from the ED 48 is detected by the fiber 58A. In this case, a fringe is formed on the widthwise side of the photographic paper 12, and the reflected light is always incident on the optical fiber 58A. . When light is irradiated on the slit-shaped mark 23,
The amount of reflected light decreases, and the amount of light incident into fiber 58B decreases. Due to this change in the amount of light, the mark 2
3 can be detected. In this case, if the position of the slit-shaped mark 23 deviates from a predetermined position, the amount of light incident on the optical fiber 58A and the amount of light incident on the optical fiber 58B are added together. Since the amount of light is reduced, the mark 23 can be detected reliably.

In addition, in the case of a small hole-shaped mark 21, the light emitted from the lower LED 52 to the back side of the photographic paper 12 is reflected and does not enter the optical fiber 58B at a position other than the mark position; When the light reaches the small hole, the light passes through the small hole and enters the optical fiber 58B. Furthermore, optical fiber 58
The light that has passed through the mark 21 is also incident on the inside A. These lights are guided to photodetectors 62, 64 and detected, and then added by the control device 66. If the added amount of light exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the mark 21 exists. Mark 21 is detected. In this case, even if the position of the small hole deviates from a predetermined position in the width direction of the photographic paper 12, the mark 21 can be reliably detected because it is configured and detected as described above. Therefore, there is no need to arrange photodetectors over the entire width of the photographic paper 12, and there is no need to use expensive detectors such as CCD line sensors or photodiode arrays.

Furthermore, a through hole 54 provided in the head 54A of the sensor 54
Air supplied by the air supply device 61 is discharged from C onto the surface of the photographic paper 12, and dust etc. adhering to the surface of the photographic paper 12 are blown away, thereby preventing misreading of the marks. Ru.

Although the present embodiment describes a sensor head disposed on one widthwise side of the photographic paper 12, the sensor head is not limited to this, and may be disposed on the other widthwise side, or even on both widthwise sides. It may be arranged.

Furthermore, although the present embodiment has been described using photographic paper as an example of the elongated body, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to any elongated body on which marks are recorded.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a general configuration of a printing machine to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a sensor head,
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sensor head seen from above, Fig. 4 is a side view of the sensor head seen from below Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-■ in Fig. 3. , Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the sensor, Fig. 7 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing the inside of the sensor, Fig. 8 is a bottom view showing the bottom of the sensor, and Fig. 9 is recorded on photographic paper. Fig. 10 is a side view showing the detection range of the optical fiber, Fig. 11 is a line diagram showing the detected light output and detection range, and Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram showing the control device. It is. 12... Photographic paper, 21.23... Mark, 24... Sensor head, 58A, 58B... Optical fiber, 1 62.64... Photodetector, 66... Control device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A sensor head that detects marks recorded on the elongated object by irradiating light onto the elongated object being conveyed and detecting the light with a photodetector, the sensor head reflecting the light onto the elongated object. a first optical fiber into which the incident light enters and guides the incident light to the photodetector; a second optical fiber that is larger than the first optical fiber, into which light that has passed through the elongated body is incident, and which guides the incident light to the detector. (2) A sensor head that detects a mark by irradiating light from a light source onto a hole-shaped mark provided on a long body and detecting the light that has passed through the mark with a photodetector, the sensor head detecting the mark by a first optical fiber that guides the light that has passed through the shaped mark and is incident on the photodetector; and a second optical fiber having a diameter larger than that of the first optical fiber, into which the light passing through the hole-shaped mark is incident and guided to the photodetector; a control means that adds the light guided through the optical fiber and determines whether the added amount of light is equal to or greater than a predetermined value;
A sensor head characterized by having.