JPH07271009A - Plate inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The present invention makes it possible to easily confirm the discrepancy of each original film. [Structure] Two original films (40, 4 before and after correction)
When inspecting the match / mismatch by reading the images in 1) and comparing them, the original film (40, 4
The non-matching part of 1) is marked with a color and shape corresponding to the size of the non-matching part to indicate the non-matching part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plate inspection apparatus for inspecting a corrected portion such as a pattern or a character by comparing an original before correction and an original after correction used in a printing machine, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in the case of producing each original film which is an original of a four-color printing plate, each film is obtained by color-separating a pattern original or various materials such as a flat screen and letters for each color. It is stuck on several transparent films, and it is developed by exposing it to an unexposed film several times by overlapping it with a light-shielding mask film etc., and thereby developing yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C). , Sumi (K) 4th edition original film (positive film) is prepared.

On the other hand, when an error such as a typographical error or a missing character is found in such an original film (old version), or when a designated change is made, the transparent film on which various materials are stuck is corrected. The original film (new edition) is newly made by exposing the unexposed film again.

Since such correction work is manual and complicated, mistakes or mistakes may be made in the portions other than the designated change portion, or the position of the material stuck on the transparent film may be shifted. It may be lost.

Moreover, when the original film is modified from the old edition to the new edition, a new mistake may occur in the new edition, so that it is necessary to inspect the new edition. This plate inspection is not only a labor-intensive operation, but it may miss a new mistake, and especially if there is a mistake other than the correction, there is a tendency that the mistake is missed.

Under the circumstances, the following respective plate inspections are performed.

The first technique is to photograph new and old original films by a television camera (TV camera), and monitor each image obtained by these TV cameras.
By overlaying the images on top of each other, the plate inspection is facilitated.

The second technique is to transfer the old and new original films to T
The video signal is taken by a V camera, the video signal is stored for each address of each of the old and new original films, the address of the non-matching portion of each inspection film is stored, and these addresses are printed out.

The third technique is to transfer the old and new original films to T
It is provided with a hard copy machine that compares image data obtained by shooting with a V camera and synthesizes data of only unmatched portions (or only matched portions) in different colors into one hard copy and outputs the hard copy.

The fourth technique is to transfer the old and new original films to T
The image data obtained by photographing with the V camera are compared with each other, and a warning mark is marked on a mismatched portion on the original film.

[0011]

However, in the technique of displaying the image on the TV monitor in an overlapping manner, the plate inspection operator is restrained by the plate inspection device, and there is a problem that it is difficult to handle.

Under these circumstances, a technique for printing out / hard copying the above-mentioned address / image data, etc. has been proposed. Among them, in the technique for printing out, two images at the address are superposed again on the monitor. It will be displayed on the TV and the plate inspection operator will check each address.

Therefore, the problem that the plate inspection operator is restrained by the plate inspection apparatus has not been solved at all. For example, there may be only one unmatched address, but when there are many unmatched addresses,
Alternatively, in a wide range, the plate inspection operator is bound by the plate inspection device.

The hard copy technique can solve the problem that the plate inspection operator is restricted by the plate inspection apparatus, but has the following problems. That is, (a) when a commercially available hard copy machine (generally A3 size) is used,
The output size is very limited.

(B) As a large-size hard copy machine, an inkjet type hard copy machine is manufactured for a specific purpose / business, but it is expensive. Even when a hard copy machine dedicated to a plate inspection machine is designed / manufactured by using a laser electrostatic method or the like, the cost becomes unrealistic.

(C) In order to detect a finer portion of a plate inspection machine, for example, character marking, line breaks, etc., the resolution (or feed pitch) of the photographing camera is increased to increase the read image data amount, Moreover, the output resolution of the hard copy machine must be increased accordingly.

However, when the amount of image data is increased, the data processing time for storage, display, output, etc. becomes longer,
Along with this, a large capacity storage medium is required.

Further, in order to output a ruled line having a thickness of, for example, about 0.1 mm by a hard copy machine, an output resolution of about 1000 dpi is required, but this also becomes expensive.
It is not practical as a hard copy machine for a plate inspection device.

(D) Further, since the discrepancy information is output on a separate sheet, in order to specify which portion on the original film is inconsistent, for example, two original films and an output sheet are positioned. It is necessary to match and overlap.

In order to solve the above problems, a technique of marking a warning mark on a mismatched portion on the original film has been proposed, but this technique also has the following problems. That is, (a) in terms of plate-making work, there is a possibility that even a completely matched portion may be judged as a mismatch by comparing the extracted image signals. For example, if the resolution of the inspection is increased in order to inspect even a minute portion such as a small character, a deviation or an error in a pixel unit is likely to occur when comparing the extracted image signals. The causes of this are: a, expansion and contraction of the original film, and positional deviation during partial correction of the original film. C) When aligning the origins of two original films, if the alignment accuracy commensurate with the inspection resolution is not obtained, a shift or error in pixel units may occur.

When it is determined that they do not match each other, a warning mark is put on all the places. Therefore, the plate inspection operator must pay attention to all the warning mark parts including the matched parts.

(B) Further, in the technique of marking a warning mark, specifically, the optical sensor is scanned in the main scanning direction, a warning mark is marked when a mismatched portion is matched, and the scanning in the main scanning direction is completed. After that, the scanning line is sent in the sub-scanning direction, and scanning is started again in the main scanning direction.

Therefore, in such a technique, there is a mismatched portion over a wide area or a large image,
For example, even if characters, line drawings, etc. have disappeared and they do not match, a warning mark is printed at the feeding interval in the sub-scanning direction.

That is, even if only one character does not match, the entire text does not match, or the lines of the illustration or the like do not match the image, the content of the mismatch and the degree of the mismatch are not reflected at all in the inspection result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a plate inspection device capable of easily confirming the mismatch of each original film.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plate inspection apparatus capable of easily confirming the discrepancy of each original film together with the contents of the discrepancy.

[0027]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate inspection apparatus for inspecting a match / mismatch by reading images of at least two originals and comparing them with each other.
The plate inspection apparatus is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object by providing marking means for marking the non-coincidence portion of each document with the non-coincidence portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the images of at least two originals are read, and the images are compared to obtain a match.
A plate inspection device for inspecting for inconsistency is provided with marking means for performing various markings on the inconsistent portion of each original according to the degree of inconsistency, thereby achieving the above object.

According to the third aspect, each image data of each original is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the respective similarities are compared,
The degree of agreement / disagreement is determined within each block.

According to the fourth aspect, the marking means performs marking of each color according to the degree of non-coincidence.

According to the fifth aspect, the marking means performs marking with each marking shape according to the size of the range of the non-coincidence portion.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the images of at least two originals are read and compared to each other to check the match / mismatch, the mismatched portions of the document are marked to show the mismatch.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the images of at least two originals are read, and the images are compared to obtain a match.
When inspecting for inconsistency, various markings according to the degree of inconsistency are made on the inconsistency portion of the document to indicate the inconsistency portion and its contents.

According to the third aspect, the degree of coincidence / non-coincidence is determined by dividing each image data of each original into a plurality of blocks and comparing the respective similarities.

According to the fourth aspect, marking of each color is performed on the original according to the degree of non-coincidence.

According to the fifth aspect, the original is marked with each marking shape according to the size of the range of the non-matching portion.

[0037]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of the plate inspection apparatus. Two plotters 2 and 3 are connected to the terminal device 1, and each CCD (solid-state image sensor) on these plotters 2 and 3 is connected.
The cameras 4 and 5 are connected via CCD drive control devices 6 and 7, respectively.

The plotters 2 and 3 are provided with arms 8 and 9 provided so as to be movable in the y direction, and the CCD cameras 4 and 5 are mounted on the rails of the arms 8 and 9 in the x direction. It is provided to be movable.

Also, on the rails of these arms 8 and 9,
Each pen mechanism 1 is integrated with each CCD camera 4, 5.
0 and 11 are provided and movable in the x direction.

The pen mechanisms 10 and 11 are provided with pens of a plurality of colors, for example, green and red, and have a function of selecting and printing one of the pens of one color in response to a command from the terminal device 1. ing.

An image processing device 12 is connected to the terminal device 1, and a CRT display 13 is connected to the image processing device 12.

On the other hand, a concrete block diagram of such a device is shown in FIG.

The terminal device 1 includes a main control unit 20 including a central processing unit (CPU) and a program memory. A keyboard 22 and a mouse 23 are connected to the main control unit 20 via an operation input unit 21.

The image processing device 12 includes an image memory 24,
A marking memory 25 and an image control unit 26 are provided.

In the image memory 24, each CCD camera 4,
Image signals output from the CCD camera 5 are stored as image data for each imaging range (referred to as a block: for example, about 3 × 3 mm square) of the CCD cameras 4 and 5.

In the marking memory 25, each pen mechanism 1
When marking is performed with 0 or 11, data of each marking color corresponding to the degree of mismatch, which is the inspection result of the plate inspection, and data of each marking shape corresponding to the size of the range of the mismatch are stored in advance. .

In response to a command from the main controller 20, the image controller 26 has a function of displaying the image data stored in the image memory 24 on the CRT display 13 and displaying the inspection result of the plate inspection. Have

The main controller 20 has the following functions.

First, a CCD drive command is issued to each CCD drive control device 6, 7 and each CCD camera 4, 5
The image memory 24 has a function of storing each image signal output from the image memory 24 as each image data.

Secondly, a plotter drive command is issued to the plotter drive controller 27 to move the CCD cameras 4 and 5 and the pen mechanisms 10 and 11 of the plotters 2 and 3 integrally on the xy plane. These functions, especially at the time of plate inspection, these CCD cameras 4, 5 and each pen mechanism 1
0 and 11 are moved in the x direction at full scale, then finely moved in the y direction, that is, moved by a distance within the imaging range of the CCD cameras 4 and 5, and then moved in the x direction at full scale, and this movement is repeated. It has the function of scanning the entire surface of the original film.

Thirdly, it has a function of sending to the pen control device 28 the data of the marking color and the marking shape according to the plate inspection result.

Further, the main control section 20 has respective functions of the match / mismatch determination means 30 and the marking means 31 by executing the plate inspection program stored in the program memory.

The coincidence / non-coincidence judging means 30 has a function of comparing the image data of each original film with respect to each block and judging the degree of coincidence / non-coincidence in these blocks.

Here, the calculation of the degree of similarity is performed by a normalized correlation calculation, which is one of the pattern matching methods.

The marking means 31 receives the degree of matching / mismatching obtained by the matching / mismatching judging means 30,
It has a function of reading the data stored in the marking memory 25, determining the marking color according to the degree of mismatch, and determining the marking shape according to the size of the range of the mismatched portion.

For example, when the area ratio of each part of matching and non-matching is larger than about 7: 3, that is, when the degree of non-matching is relatively large, the green marking is selected, and vice versa. Choose the red marking for smaller cases.

Further, for example, when the range of disagreement is large,
For example, if the block is many,
A shape for marking the outer periphery of the range is selected, and when the blocks are continuously arranged in a line, linear marking is selected.

Next, the operation of the device configured as described above will be described.

The original film 40 before correction is placed on one of the plotters 2, and the original film 4 after correction is carried out.
1 is placed on the other plotter 3.

At this time, the fact that the original film 40 before correction is placed on one plotter 2 from the keyboard 22 and the original film 41 after correction is placed on the other plotter 3 is keyed in, and the main control unit is operated. 20 recognizes that the original film is placed.

Next, the main controller 20 causes the plotter drive controller 27 to connect each CCD camera to each original film 4.
It issues a command to place the marks above the register marks 0 and 41.

In response to this command, each plotter 2, 3
Respectively, the respective arms 8 and 9 move in the y direction and the respective CCD cameras 10 and 11 move in the x direction to photograph the register marks on the original films 40 and 41, respectively.

The image processing device 12 includes the CCD cameras 1
The image signals output from 0 and 11 are respectively stored in the image memory 24 as image data, and these register mark images are displayed on the CRT display 13.

Here, the registration marks images displayed on the CRT display 13 align the respective original films 40 and 41.

Next, the main controller 20 issues a command to the plotter drive controller 27 to cause the CCD cameras 4, 5 to scan the original films 40, 41, respectively.

In response to this command, the plotters 2 and 3 have CCD cameras 10 and 11 and pen mechanisms 10 and 1, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image pickup device 1 moves in the x direction at full scale, and then in the y direction, the imaging range S of the CCD cameras 4 and 5.
Of the original film 40 and 41 by repeating the movement in the x direction in full scale in the reverse direction to the above.

In this scanning state, each CCD camera 4, 5
Respectively captures the original films 40 and 41 for each block of the imaging range S and outputs the respective image signals.

The image processing device 12 stores the image signals output from the CCD cameras 10 and 11 in the image memory 24 as the image data of each block S.

When the image data of each block S of the CCD cameras 4 and 5 are sequentially stored in the image memory 24 in this way, the main control section 20 determines that the match / mismatch determination means 30 is present.
Operate.

The main controller 20 controls each original film 4
If there is a slight misalignment due to expansion or contraction of 0 or 41, the position is corrected, and the coincidence / non-coincidence judging means 30 is operated thereafter.

The coincidence / non-coincidence judging means 30 reads out each image data of each original film stored in the image memory 24 for each block S and performs a normalized correlation operation for each block to obtain a similarity. , The degree of matching / mismatching in these blocks is judged.

Here, in the comparison of the degree of similarity, 100% means that the image data match, and 0% means that all the image data do not match (in the negative-positive inverted image, the matching image data), and what ratio between them is set. Is calculated and digitized.

Then, the digitized similarity is divided by a predetermined threshold value to determine a match / mismatch portion in the block.

The coincidence / non-coincidence portion and the degree of the non-coincidence obtained here are stored in the internal memory.

Thereafter, the coincidence / non-coincidence portion and the degree of the non-coincidence are obtained for each of the photographing blocks S sequentially scanned by the CCD cameras 4 and 6, and are stored in the internal memory.

Next, the main controller 20 controls each original film 4
When the scanning of the entire surface of 0 and 41 is completed and the determination of the coincidence / non-coincidence portion and the degree of the non-coincidence is completed, the marking means 31 is operated thereafter.

The marking means 31 reads the mismatched portion and the degree of the mismatch stored in the internal memory, and also reads the data stored in the marking memory 25 to judge the marking color according to the mismatched degree.

For example, in one block, when the area ratio of each part of matching and non-matching is larger than around 7 to 3, that is, when one character or the like does not match and the degree of non-matching is relatively large, green marking is performed. On the contrary, if there is a slight disagreement, for example, dust is mixed, the red marking is selected.

Further, the marking means 31 judges the size of the range of the non-coincidence portion and judges the marking shape according to this size.

For example, when the range of non-coincidence is large, for example, when several blocks of 3 × 3 mm are accumulated, a shape for marking the outer periphery of the range is selected,
If the blocks are continuously arranged in a line, straight marking is selected.

Next, when the marking color and its marking shape are selected, the main controller 20 sends the data of these colors and shapes to the pen controller 28, and the position data of the inconsistent portion to the plotter drive controller 27. send.

As a result, the pen mechanism 11 moves to a position above the mismatched portion on the corrected original film 41 by the operation of the plotter 3, and in this state, for example, when the degree of mismatching is small, the red pen is selected.

When the shape of the outer peripheral marking is selected, the pen mechanism 11 draws the outer peripheral marking "○" as shown in FIG. 4 on the unmatched portion on the original film 41 with the green or red pen.

Thereafter, similarly, marking is performed on the non-matching portion with a color according to the degree of non-matching and a shape according to the size.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, when the images of the original films 40 and 41 before and after the correction are read and compared to check the match / mismatch, the mismatched portions of the original film 41 are Since the marking is performed in the color according to the degree of disagreement and the shape according to the size, it is necessary to extract different parts such as patterns and characters in the original films 40 and 41 before and after the correction. It is possible to check at a glance whether or not the original design with a complicated design has changed the designated parts and the other parts are the same as the original version before modification.

Since the marking is made on the original film, if the contents of the mismatch are checked and then checked with a writing instrument or the like, it is possible to know whether or not the checking is completed, and the checking of the contents of the mismatch can be prevented. Also, for people other than plate inspection
You can check the plate by the plate inspection device and check the mismatched part.

Since the original film 41 is marked with each color particularly according to the degree of mismatch, the size of the mismatch can be confirmed by looking at the marking color.

For example, when the characters or the design itself do not match, the marking is made in green, and when the characters or the design are not mistaken and dust is mixed in, this can be marked in red.

Therefore, in the case of producing each original film of the four-color printing plate, each film obtained by color-separating the pattern original,
Alternatively, various materials such as a flat screen and letters are stuck on several transparent films for each color, and the unexposed film is exposed and developed several times by overlapping with a light-shielding mask film and the like.
As a result, a four-edition original film of Y, M, C, and K is prepared, but at this time, dust may be mixed in. Conventionally, this dust is detected as a non-matching portion, but with the device of the present invention, it is possible to clearly mark the dust, and the work of confirming by the plate inspector is further facilitated.

Further, since the original film is marked with each marking shape according to the size of the range of the non-matching portion,
The size of the disagreement is also obvious.

Further, since the original films 40 and 41 are aligned with the registration mark images, the plate inspection accuracy can be substantially increased.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but may be modified as follows.

For example, in the above-mentioned one embodiment, the two plotters 2 and 3 are easily prepared and each original film 4 before / after correction is performed.
Although the plate inspections 0 and 41 are performed, a plurality of plotters may be prepared and the plate inspection may be performed on a plurality of original films.

If the marking colors are set in a plurality of colors according to the degree of non-coincidence, it is possible to easily confirm whether only the characters do not coincide, the lines in the text do not coincide, or the lines are caused by dust.

As the original, a positive or negative film which is an original film, a printing plate such as a PS plate, a copy such as eye print, a printing paper, and a simple plain paper such as a color film can be used.

[0097]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a plate inspection apparatus capable of easily confirming the discrepancy of each original film.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a plate inspection apparatus capable of easily confirming the discrepancy of each original film together with the content of the discrepancy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a plate inspection apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the plate inspection apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing scanning by a CCD camera.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of marking.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Terminal device, 2, 3 ... Plotter, 4, 5 ... CCD camera, 6, 7 ... CCD drive control device, 8, 9 ... Arm,
10, 11 ... Pen mechanism, 12 ... Image processing device, 13 ... C
RT display, 20 ... Main control unit, 21 ... Operation input unit, 22 ... Keyboard, 23 ... Mouse, 24 ... Image memory, 25 ... Marking memory, 26 ... Image control unit, 27
... Plotter drive controller, 28 ... Pen controller, 30 ...
Match / mismatch determination means, 31 ... Marking means.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plate inspection apparatus for inspecting a match / mismatch by reading images of at least two originals and comparing the images with each other, and a marking means for marking the non-matching portions of the respective originals with each other. A plate inspection device characterized in that 2. A plate inspection device for inspecting a match / mismatch by reading images of at least two originals and comparing the images with each other, and marking means for performing various markings on the mismatched portions of each original according to the degree of the mismatch. A plate inspection device characterized by being provided with. 3. The inspection according to claim 2, wherein each image data of each original is divided into a plurality of blocks, the respective similarities are compared, and the degree of coincidence / non-coincidence in each of the blocks is judged. Plate equipment. 4. The plate inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the marking means performs marking of each color according to the degree of mismatch. 5. The plate inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the marking means performs marking with each marking shape according to the size of the range of the non-matching portion.