JPH0516510Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a colorimeter, and more specifically, to a colorimeter for determining the color of a handle of fabric, etc., which allows color measurement to be carried out very easily and accurately. I am trying to do.

Conventionally, colorimeter devices have been equipped with an integrating sphere that diffuses light from a light source, irradiates it onto a sample such as cloth, and allows the reflected light from the sample to be extracted to the outside. This integrating sphere has a lens provided on the outside of a reflected light extraction window provided to face the sample to collect reflected light from the sample. but,
According to the measurement method using such a lens, the lens must be replaced each time according to the measurement area of the object to be measured, such as a sample to be measured or a standard white plate, and as the lens is replaced, the optical path system may shift. Furthermore, surface reflection by the lens is also likely to be affected, and the adjustment work to correct this is also troublesome. In addition, the measurement part of the sample must have a minimum diameter of about 6 mm,
Anything less than that could not be measured and its use was restricted. Another problem was that the measurement sensitivity was poor, making it impossible to accurately measure reflected light.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a colorimeter that can solve the above-mentioned problems, and its configuration includes a window that allows the sample to be viewed inside, and which diffuses the light emitted from the light source. The integrating sphere is equipped with an integrating sphere that irradiates the sample facing the window, and the integrating sphere has an optical transmitter that receives and transmits the reflected light from the sample. It is inserted facing the mask member for regulating the area to be measured, and can be freely adjusted in perspective.The measurement light from the light transmission body is introduced, and the reflected light intensity of the sample is measured to determine the color of the sample. It is characterized by comprising a detection unit that discriminates.

Next, embodiments of this invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a colorimeter A according to this invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a light source such as a halogen lamp, which is attached to a condensing mirror 11. Light from this light source 1 is irradiated onto an integrating sphere 2, which will be described later, via a mirror 14. 12 is a light source chromaticity conversion filter provided in the middle of the optical path, and 13 is a cut filter for fluorescence measurement. Cut filter 1 for fluorescence measurement
3 is usually 400nm or less, 450nm or less, 500nm
Below are 4 that can cut out light of 550nm or less.
It is structured so that you can select the type.

The light source 1 described above is connected to the axis 16 along with the condensing mirror 11.
The lamp casing 15 is attached to the lamp casing 15, which is pivotally connected to the lamp casing 15, and by opening the opening/closing cover b of the exterior case a and rotating the lamp casing 15, the entire lamp casing can be taken out from the exterior of the exterior case a. (See Figures 2 and 3). In this regard, in the past, the light source, etc. was fixed, so when the lamp burned out or when replacing it with another colored lamp, it had to be replaced by hand.However, as mentioned above, the light source 1 can be taken out outside. Since it is flexible, the light source 1 can be replaced reliably and quickly while visually checking, which is very convenient.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an integrating sphere which introduces the light from the light source 1 through the shutter 21 at the top, and is formed into a spherical shape as a whole. A reflective layer 22 is formed by applying barium sulfate or the like to the inner wall surface of the integrating sphere 2.
This reflective layer 22 allows light introduced into the integrating sphere 2 to be diffused. Also integrating sphere 2
A window 23 is formed on one side wall of the sample plate as a sample measurement section for exposing the sample B to the inside of the integrating sphere 2, and a flat sample plate having a hole 31 corresponding to the window 23 is formed on the outside of the window 23. 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 5), the hole 31 of the sample plate 3 is provided with an annular mask member 32 in which a through hole 32a having a size corresponding to the measurement area is formed in the center. The light diffused by the reflective layer 22 on the inner wall of the integrating sphere 2 passes through the through hole 32a and is irradiated onto the sample B, such as cloth, held outside the mask member 32. This sample B is held between the sample holder 33 and the mask member 32, which are elastically biased by a plate spring 33a. As the mask member 32 described above, a permanent magnet 34 provided along the hole 31 of the sample plate 3 is used.
The mask member 3, which is required when converting the measurement area, is magnetically adsorbed in a detachable manner.
2 can be replaced much more easily and quickly than with conventional screw fastening (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

Reference numeral 4 denotes a light transmitting body inserted into the integrating sphere 2, and is provided so as to face substantially the center of the mask member 32 so as to be able to adjust distance relative to the mask member 32. This optical transmitter 4 is made of a material capable of transmitting light, such as an optical fiber, and is
It receives reflected light from and transmits it to a detection section 6, which will be described later. For example, if the optical transmitter 4 is brought closer to the mask member 32, that is, the sample B, the light-receiving area As the region X expands, it becomes possible to measure a wide area of about 20 mm diameter or larger, which is the standard area. Therefore, the measurement area can be easily changed without the need for conventional lens replacement, and any measurement area can be continuously selected.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an optical transmitter for monitor photometry for light source compensation, which is inserted into the integrating sphere 2 and is made of a material capable of transmitting light, such as an optical fiber, like the optical transmitter 4 for the sample. It receives the reflected light from the inner wall of the integrating sphere 2 and transmits it to the detection section 6.

The conventional method for cleaning the inside of an integrating sphere is as follows:
The entire device was tilted so that the measurement window was facing down, tweezers were inserted through the measurement window to remove dust, and air was jetted through the measurement window to remove dust. The tilting method cannot be done by one person; using tweezers may damage the barium sulfate inside the integrating sphere; and if the method uses a jet of air, dirt may adhere to the lens due to the use of a lens, making measurement difficult. There is a risk of an error. In order to prevent such inconvenience, a scavenging hole 24 is formed at the bottom of the integrating sphere 2. A cap 25 that can be removed when necessary is screwed into the scavenging hole 24, and a reflective layer 22' made of barium sulfate or the like is formed on the tip surface of the cap 25 so as not to affect the diffusion of light. has been done.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a detection unit that introduces the measurement light transmitted from the optical transmitter 4 and discriminates the color.The basic principle is the same as that of the detection unit of a conventional spectrophotometer, and the measurement light is transmitted through a lens 61 and a mirror 62. , half mirror 6
3. The grating 66 is irradiated through the slit 64 and the mirror 65, and the grating 66 separates the light into wavelengths, which is then received by the photodiode array 67 to measure the intensity of the reflected light from the sample B. The intensity of reflected light from a standard white plate measured in place of sample B is compared with the intensity of reflected light of sample B to determine the color. On the other hand, the monitor light transmitted from the optical transmitter 5 for monitor photometry is irradiated onto the photodiode array 67 through the lens 68, half mirror 63, etc., and is caused by dirt on the reflective layer 22 of the integrating sphere 2. It is used to correct measurement errors caused by changes in diffused light. Reference numeral 69 denotes a switching rotary plate for transmitting light from only one of the light transmitting body 4 for sample B and the light transmitting body 5 for monitor photometry.

Note that the colorimeter A according to this invention can be implemented with various modifications; for example, the optical fibers as the optical transmitters 4 and 5 may be made of materials such as glass, quartz, and plastic; If high accuracy is not required, the optical transmission body 5 for monitor photometry may be omitted.

According to the colorimeter of this invention constructed as described above, the integrating sphere is equipped with a light transmitting body that receives the reflected light from the sample and takes it out to the outside, so that the distance can be adjusted freely relative to the sample. The measurement area can be adjusted arbitrarily by adjusting the perspective, and even when measuring a minute area and measuring a standard area, it is very easy to handle, and compared to conventional lens exchange. This also allows for quick measurements.

In addition, it is possible to measure the size of the sample measurement part within a range of 6 mm or less, which was the conventional lower limit, and the range of its use can be expanded.

Furthermore, it is preferable that not only good measurement sensitivity can be obtained and accurate measurement can be performed, but also the conventional problem of deviation of the optical path system caused by lens exchange does not occur.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a device that is easy to measure, can perform accurate measurements, and has various excellent practical effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure shows an example of this invention.
The figure is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the colorimeter, Figure 2 is a side view, Figure 3 is a sectional view of main parts, Figure 4 is a front view, and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the colorimeter.
The figure is a sectional view of a main part taken along the line V-V in the previous figure. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Light source, 2...Integrating sphere, 23...Window part which is a sample measurement part, 24...Scavenging hole, 25...Cap, 3...Sample plate, 32...Mask member,
4... Light transmission body for sample, 5... Light transmission body for monitor photometry, 6... Detection section, A... Colorimeter, B...
...Sample, a...Outer case.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. An integrating sphere that has a window that allows the sample to face inside, and that diffuses irradiated light from a light source and irradiates the sample that faces the window, and that Inserts an optical transmitter that receives and transmits reflected light from the sample, facing the mask member attached to the window of the integrating sphere for regulating the color-measuring area of the sample, and allowing the distance to be adjusted freely. 1. A colorimeter comprising: a detecting section that introduces measurement light from the light transmission body, measures the intensity of reflected light from the sample, and determines the color of the sample. 2. The colorimeter according to claim 1, wherein the optical transmission body is an optical fiber. 3. The colorimeter according to claim 1 of the above-mentioned utility model registration claim, wherein the integrating sphere is provided with a light transmitting body for monitor photometry for light source compensation. 4. The colorimeter according to claim 1 of the above-mentioned utility model registration, wherein the integrating sphere constitutes a scavenging hole with a cap. 5. The colorimeter according to claim 1 of the above-mentioned utility model registration, wherein the light source is configured to be freely taken out to the outside of the outer case of the colorimeter. 6. The colorimeter according to claim 1, wherein the mask member for regulating the part of the sample to be measured is attached to the window of the integrating sphere by magnetic attraction.