Line-scan camera for printing tests

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of camera-based print signal testing technology, and provides a line scan camera for print testing, including a camera body and an encoder assembly. The camera body is mounted on one side of the printer to sense the image of the printed paper and obtain a printed image. The encoder assembly is mounted on the camera body and contacts the printer's print shaft. It rotates with the print shaft as it rotates to sense the printing state during shaft rotation and transmits this information to the camera body. The camera body senses the image of the printed paper based on the printing state to obtain a printed image. With the line scan camera for print testing proposed in this invention, since the encoder assembly is mounted on the camera body and forms an integral part of the camera host, the camera host takes an image of the printed paper, and the encoder assembly contacts the print shaft on one side and senses the printing state during shaft rotation. This eliminates installation difficulties and provides high testing accuracy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of camera-based printing signal testing, and particularly relates to a line scan camera for printing tests. Background Art

[0002] The quality of printing often determines whether a printer is qualified or not. In the prior art, analyzing the image printed by a printer is a commonly used method for judging printing quality. Currently, the technology for judging the printing quality of the printed image is mainly the automated shooting, uploading, and comparison judging method. The automated shooting, uploading, and comparison judging method mainly involves installing a camera on the paper output side of the printer and sleeving an encoder on the printing shaft of the printer. After the printing shaft ejects the printing paper, since the encoder rotates as the printing shaft rotates, the printing state of the printing shaft can be obtained and transmitted to the camera, and the camera is controlled to shoot the ejected printing paper. Since the encoder needs to be sleeved on the printing shaft, this solution of sleeving the encoder on the printing shaft is also called the coaxial solution. In the specific implementation of the coaxial solution, the installation position provided by the printing shaft in the printer is very small, so there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to directly sleeve the encoder on the printing shaft. To solve this problem of great installation difficulty, an indirect installation method of installing the encoder on the driving shaft of the printing shaft has been proposed in the prior art, but the indirect installation reduces the accuracy of the printing state of the printing shaft collected by the encoder.

[0003] In summary, the existing camera-based printing test technology has technical problems such as great installation difficulty and low test accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to at least to some extent solve the deficiencies in the prior art, and provide a line scan camera for printing tests to reduce the installation difficulty, improve the convenience of use, and improve the test accuracy.

[0005] The line scan camera for printing tests proposed by the present invention includes a camera body and an encoder assembly; the camera body is used to be arranged on one side of the printer to sense the image of the printing paper after the printer prints to obtain a printed image; the encoder assembly is assembled on the camera body and contacts the printing shaft of the printer, and is used to rotate with the printing shaft when the printing shaft rotates to sense the printing state during the rotation of the printing shaft and transmit it to the camera body; the camera body senses the image of the printing paper according to the printing state to obtain a printed image.

[0006] Furthermore, an encoder installation space is provided inside the camera body, and the encoder installation space is connected to the outside of the camera body; the encoder assembly is assembled inside the encoder installation space and exposes the rotatable part structure to the outside of the camera body to contact the printing shaft.

[0007] Furthermore, the encoder assembly includes an encoder wheel and an encoder body; the encoder wheel is connected to the encoder body and is assembled together with the encoder body in the encoder mounting space, and the encoder wheel is a rotatable structural part.

[0008] Furthermore, a motion control component is installed inside the camera body; the motion control component and the encoder mounting space are located in the vertical direction of the printing axis; the encoder body is movably connected to the motion control component and moves along the vertical direction of the printing axis under the adjustment and control of the motion control component.

[0009] Furthermore, the motion control component includes a base and an adjusting member; the base is provided with an adjusting through hole and a guide hole; the encoder body includes an encoder, an encoder bracket, an elastic member, and a guide rod; the elastic member and the guide rod are installed on one side of the encoder bracket; the encoder is installed on the encoder bracket, and the guide rod extends into the guide hole to movably connect the encoder body with the base; the adjusting member includes a main body, an adjusting end, and a contact end, the main body passes through the adjusting through hole, the adjusting end protrudes outside the camera body, and the contact end contacts the elastic member.

[0010] Furthermore, the base includes a base plate and an upright plate, with the upright plate set on the base plate; adjustment through holes are set on the upright plate, and guide holes are set on the base plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the camera body includes a sensing component and a control component; the sensing component is rotatably connected to the control component via a pivot, and rotates around the pivot to fit against or move away from the surface of the control component; when the sensing component fits against the surface of the control component, it together with the surface of the control component forms a first paper feed gap; when the printing paper passes through the first paper feed gap, it is flattened and guided by the surfaces of the control component and the sensing component.

[0012] Furthermore, the printing state sensed by the encoder assembly during the rotation of the printing shaft is transmitted to the control assembly. The control assembly analyzes the printing state to obtain a shooting control signal, which is transmitted to the sensing assembly. The sensing assembly then takes a picture of the printing paper passing through the first paper feed gap according to the shooting control signal to obtain a printed image.

[0013] Furthermore, the sensing component includes a sensor and a sensing bracket; the sensor is assembled inside the sensing bracket, one end of the sensing bracket is provided with a limit cylinder, and the rotating shaft passes through the limit cylinder and is rotatably connected to the control component.

[0014] Furthermore, the control component includes a lower cover, an upper cover, and a data acquisition card located on the data acquisition card holder; the upper cover is mounted on the lower cover, and the data acquisition card holder is mounted in the cavity formed by the lower cover and the upper cover; the outer surface of the upper cover and the surface of the sensing component together form the first paper feed gap; the printing state when the print shaft rotates, sensed by the encoder component, is transmitted to the data acquisition card, and the data acquisition card analyzes the printing state to obtain the shooting control signal, which is then transmitted to the sensing component.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0016] The line scan camera for printing testing proposed in this invention includes a camera body and an encoder assembly. The camera body is mounted on one side of the printer to sense the image of the printed paper and obtain a printed image. The encoder assembly is mounted on the camera body and contacts the printer's print shaft. It rotates with the print shaft as it rotates to sense the printing state during shaft rotation and transmits this information to the camera body. The camera body then senses the image of the printed paper based on this printing state to obtain a printed image. With this line scan camera for printing testing, since the encoder assembly is integrated with the camera body, the camera body, located on one side of the printer, captures images of the printed paper pushed out by the print shaft. The encoder assembly contacts the print shaft on one side and senses the printing state during shaft rotation, transmitting this information to the camera body. The camera body then senses the image of the printed paper based on this printing state to obtain a printed image. This eliminates installation difficulties and provides high testing accuracy. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the line scanning camera installed on one side of the printer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an assembly structure of a line scan camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another assembly structure of the line scan camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of a line scan camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a partial structural diagram of the camera body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another partial structure of the camera body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another partial structure of the camera body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the encoder assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 9 This is another structural schematic diagram of the encoder component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] In the accompanying drawings, the reference numerals indicate:

[0028] 1. Camera body; 10. Camera bracket; 11. Encoder mounting space; 12. Motion control component; 120. Base; 1200. Adjustment through hole; 1201. Guide hole; 1202. Base plate; 1203. Vertical plate; 121. Adjustment component; 1210. Main body; 1211. Adjustment end; 13. Sensing component; 130. Sensor; 131. Sensing bracket; 132. Limiting cylinder; 133. Rotating shaft; 14. Control component; 140. Lower cover; 141. Upper cover; 142. Data acquisition card bracket; 143. Data acquisition card; 144. Switch; 15. First paper feed gap; 16. Paper guide adjustment plate; 160. Adjustment hole; 17. Second paper feed gap;

[0029] 2. Encoder assembly; 20. Encoder wheel; 21. Encoder body; 210. Encoder; 211. Elastic element; 212. Guide rod; 213. Encoder bracket;

[0030] 3. Printer; 30. Printer shaft; 31. Printer stand. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar methods or methods having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] Please see Figure 1-9The line scan camera for printing testing proposed in this invention includes a camera body 1 and an encoder assembly 2. The camera body 1 is mounted on one side of a printer 3 to sense the image of the printed paper after printing by the printer 3, thereby obtaining a printed image. The encoder assembly 2 is mounted on the camera body 1 and contacts the print shaft 30 of the printer 3. It rotates with the print shaft 30 when the print shaft 30 rotates to sense the printing state of the print shaft 30 during rotation and transmits it to the camera body 1. The camera body 1 senses the image of the printed paper based on the printing state to obtain a printed image. With the line scan camera for printing testing proposed in this invention, since the encoder assembly 2 is mounted on the camera body 1 and forms an integral part with the camera host, the camera host is located on one side of the printer 3 to photograph the printed paper pushed out by the friction of the print shaft 30. The encoder assembly 2 contacts the print shaft 30 on one side and senses the printing state of the print shaft 30 during rotation, transmitting it to the camera body 1. The camera body 1 senses the image of the printed paper based on the printing state to obtain a printed image. This eliminates installation difficulties and provides high testing accuracy.

[0033] It should be noted that in the prior art, the encoder 210 needs to be fitted onto the print shaft 30 and coaxial with it. However, the installation space provided by the print shaft 30 in the printer 3 is very small, making it difficult to directly fit the encoder 210 onto the print shaft 30. To solve this problem, the prior art proposes an indirect installation method, mounting the encoder 210 on the drive shaft of the print shaft 30. However, this indirect installation reduces the accuracy of the printing status of the print shaft 30 captured by the encoder 210. It should also be noted that in the prior art, the camera and encoder 210 are separate. When the coaxial encoder 210 on the print shaft 30 needs to send the printing status of the print shaft 30's rotation to the camera, it still needs to use a signal transmission medium such as a data cable for transmission, making the overall testing of the printer 3's print quality more complex. In this embodiment, since the encoder assembly 2 is mounted on the camera body 1 and is an integral part of the camera, the sensed printing status can be transmitted to the camera body 1 through an internal signal cable connection. This results in a simple and compact structure, convenient use, and cost savings. Furthermore, since the encoder assembly 2 contacts the print shaft 30 of the printer 3 and rotates with the print shaft 30 as it rotates, it can generate different pulse signals based on the rotation of the print shaft 30. These pulse signals reflect the printing status of the printer 3, and after decoding by the camera body 1, a shooting state corresponding to the printing status of the print shaft 30 can be obtained, thus achieving accurate testing. Simultaneously, since the encoder assembly 2 is mounted on the camera body 1, forming a single unit with the camera, and the camera body 1 is located on one side of the printer 3, for example, fixed to one side of the printer 3, the encoder assembly 2 is stably fixed without shaking, thereby sensing the accurate printing status.

[0034] In some preferred embodiments, the camera body 1 can be detachably mounted and fixed to the printer bracket 31 via the camera bracket 10, making the disassembly and installation of the line scanner camera very convenient. Since the encoder assembly 2 and the print shaft 30 are connected by contact, the line scanner camera can be disassembled at any time to test the print quality of different printers 3, achieving the technical effect of universal testing. Users who need to test printing only need one line scanner camera as described in this embodiment to test different printers 3, greatly reducing testing costs.

[0035] In some improved embodiments, an encoder mounting space 11 is provided inside the camera body 1, and the encoder mounting space 11 communicates with the outside of the camera body 1; the encoder assembly 2 is assembled inside the encoder mounting space 11 and exposes a rotatable part of its structure to the outside of the camera body 1, which contacts the printing shaft 30. Specifically, the encoder assembly 2 may include an encoder wheel 20 and an encoder body 21; the encoder wheel 20 is connected to the encoder body 21 and is assembled together with the encoder body 21 in the encoder mounting space 11, and the encoder wheel 20 is a rotatable part of its structure.

[0036] In some improved embodiments, a motion control component 12 is provided inside the camera body 1; the motion control component 12 and the encoder mounting space 11 are located in the vertical direction of the printing axis 30; the encoder body 21 is movably connected to the motion control component 12 and moves along the vertical direction of the printing axis 30 under the adjustment control of the motion control component 12. Furthermore, the motion control assembly 12 includes a base 120 and an adjusting member 121; the base 120 is provided with an adjusting through hole 1200 and a guide hole 1201; the encoder body 21 includes an encoder 210, an encoder bracket 213, an elastic member 211, and a guide rod 212; the elastic member 211 and the guide rod 212 are installed on one side of the encoder bracket 213; the encoder 210 is installed on the encoder bracket 213, and the guide rod 212 extends into the guide hole 1201 so that the encoder body 21 is movably connected to the base 120; the adjusting member 121 includes a main body portion 1210, an adjusting end 1211, and a contact end, the main body portion 1210 passes through the adjusting through hole 1200, the adjusting end 1211 protrudes outside the camera body 1, and the contact end contacts the elastic member 211. Furthermore, the base 120 includes a base plate 1202 and an upright plate 1203, with the upright plate 1203 disposed on the base plate 1202; an adjustment through hole 1200 is disposed on the upright plate 1203, and a guide hole 1201 is disposed on the base plate 1202.

[0037] It should be noted that, since a motion control component 12 is installed inside the camera body 1, and the motion control component 12 and the encoder mounting space 11 are located in the vertical direction of the print shaft 30, the encoder body 21 is movably connected to the motion control component 12. Under the adjustment and control of the motion control component 12, it moves along the vertical direction of the print shaft 30. Therefore, the motion control component 12 can adjust and control the encoder body 21 to move along the vertical direction of the print shaft 30, thereby driving the encoder wheel 20 to move. This adjusts the tightness of the contact between the encoder wheel 20 and the print shaft 30, achieving the optimal contact tightness, thus enabling the encoder assembly 2 to sense the accurate printing state. In addition, the guide rod 212 extends into the guide hole 1201 to movably connect the encoder body 21 to the base 120. This not only keeps the encoder body 21 and the base 120 movably connected, but also the cooperation between the guide rod 212 and the guide hole 1201 can limit the encoder body 21, preventing the encoder body 21 from shaking and reducing the sensing accuracy of the encoder assembly 2. In addition, since the main body 1210 of the adjusting member 121 passes through the adjusting through hole 1200, the adjusting end 1211 protrudes outside the camera body 1, and the contact end contacts the elastic member 211, the tightness of the contact between the encoder wheel 20 and the printing shaft 30 can be adjusted to achieve the best contact tightness, thereby enabling the encoder assembly 2 to sense the accurate printing status.

[0038] In some improved embodiments, the adjusting through hole 1200, the adjusting member 121 and the elastic member 211 are kept on the same straight line. When the encoder body 21 is driven to move, it is ensured that the encoder wheel 20 and the printing shaft 30 are in tangential contact and will not tilt. This makes it easy to adjust the tightness of the contact between the encoder wheel 20 and the printing shaft 30 to obtain the best contact tightness, so that the encoder assembly 2 can sense the accurate printing status.

[0039] In some improved embodiments, the camera body 1 includes a sensing component 13 and a control component 14. The sensing component 13 is rotatably connected to the control component 14 via a rotating shaft 133, and rotates around the rotating shaft 133 to conform to or move away from the surface of the control component 14. When the sensing component 13 conforms to the surface of the control component 14, it forms a first paper feed gap 15 together with the surface of the control component 14. When the printing paper passes through the first paper feed gap 15, it is flattened and guided by the surfaces of the control component 14 and the sensing component 13. Further, the printing state of the printing shaft 30 when it rotates, sensed by the encoder component 2, is transmitted to the control component 14. The control component 14 analyzes the printing state to obtain a shooting control signal, which is transmitted to the sensing component 13. The sensing component 13 then takes a picture of the printing paper passing through the first paper feed gap 15 according to the shooting control signal to obtain a printed image. Furthermore, the sensing component 13 includes a sensor 130 and a sensing bracket 131; the sensor 130 is mounted inside the sensing bracket 131, and a limiting cylinder 132 is provided at one end of the sensing bracket 131. The rotating shaft 133 passes through the limiting cylinder 132 and is rotatably connected to the control component 14. Furthermore, the control component 14 includes a lower cover 140, an upper cover 141, and a data acquisition card 143 located on the data acquisition card bracket 142; the upper cover 141 is mounted on the lower cover 140, and the data acquisition card bracket 142 is mounted in the cavity formed by the lower cover 140 and the upper cover 141; the outer surface of the upper cover 141 and the surface of the sensing component 13 together form a first paper feed gap 15; the printing state of the printing shaft 30 when it rotates, sensed by the encoder component 2, is transmitted to the data acquisition card 143, and the data acquisition card 143 analyzes the printing state to obtain a shooting control signal, which is then transmitted to the sensing component 13. Additionally, the control component 14 may also include a switch 144, which is located at one end of the lower cover 140 and is used to control the power on / off of the line scan camera.

[0040] It should be noted that in the camera body 1, the sensing component 13 is a vision component with shooting function. Since the printing paper is guided smoothly by both the surface of the control component 14 and the surface of the sensing component 13 as it passes through the first paper feed gap 15, the vision component can capture a clearer image for print quality assessment. Furthermore, since the sensing component 13 is rotatably connected to the control component 14 via a pivot 133, it can rotate around the pivot 133 to conform to or move away from the surface of the control component 14, thus facilitating lifting or pressing down the sensing component 13.

[0041] In a further improved embodiment, the camera body 1 also includes a paper guide adjustment plate 16; the paper guide adjustment plate 16 is disposed on one side of the sensing component 13, and the bottom of the paper guide adjustment plate 16 forms a second paper feed gap 17 with the outer surface of the control component 14. The printing paper passes through the second paper feed gap 17 and then through the first paper feed gap 15; the paper guide adjustment plate 16 can move up and down relative to the sensing component 13 to change the width of the second paper feed gap 17. Further, the paper guide adjustment plate 16 includes an adjustment hole 160, and the paper guide adjustment plate 16 is connected to the sensing component 13 through the adjustment hole 160. By adjusting the position of the paper guide adjustment plate 16 in the adjustment hole 160, the second paper feed gap 17 widens or narrows. The paper guide adjustment plate 16 can be made of steel plate.

[0042] It should be noted that, since the camera body 1 also includes a paper guide adjustment plate 16, the bottom of the paper guide adjustment plate 16 and the outer surface of the control component 14 form a second paper feed gap 17. The printing paper passes through the second paper feed gap 17 and then through the first paper feed gap 15. The paper guide adjustment plate 16 can move up and down relative to the sensing component 13 to change the width of the second paper feed gap 17. When high-definition shooting is required, the second paper feed gap 17 can be narrowed to further guide the printing paper flat and achieve high-definition shooting.

[0043] Furthermore, without contradicting each other, those skilled in the art can combine the above embodiments in any way to form different implementation methods.

[0044] The above is a description of the technical solution provided by the present invention. For those skilled in the art, based on the ideas of the embodiments of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

Claims

1. A line scan camera for printing testing, characterized in that, include: The camera body is set on one side of the printer to sense the image of the printed paper after printing and obtain the printed image; The camera body includes a sensing component and a control component; the sensing component is rotatably connected to the control component via a rotating shaft, and rotates around the rotating shaft to fit against or move away from the surface of the control component; when the sensing component fits against the surface of the control component, it forms a first paper passage gap together with the surface of the control component. When the printing paper passes through the first paper feed gap, it is flattened and guided by the surface of the control component and the surface of the sensing component. An encoder assembly, mounted on the camera body and in contact with the printer's print shaft, is used to rotate with the print shaft as it rotates, thereby sensing the printing status during the print shaft's rotation and transmitting it to the camera body; the camera body performs image sensing on the printing paper based on the printing status to obtain the printed image.

2. The line scan camera for printing testing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The camera body has an encoder mounting space inside, which is connected to the outside of the camera body; the encoder assembly is assembled in the encoder mounting space and has a rotatable part exposed to the outside of the camera body, which contacts the printing shaft.

3. The line scan camera for printing testing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The encoder assembly includes an encoder wheel and an encoder body; the encoder wheel is connected to the encoder body and is assembled together with the encoder body in the encoder mounting space, and the encoder wheel is the rotatable part structure.

4. The line scan camera for printing testing according to claim 3, characterized in that, A motion control component is provided inside the camera body; the motion control component and the encoder mounting space are located in the vertical direction of the printing axis; the encoder body is movably connected to the motion control component and moves along the vertical direction of the printing axis under the adjustment and control of the motion control component.

5. The line scan camera for printing testing according to claim 4, characterized in that, The motion control assembly includes a base and an adjusting member; the base is provided with an adjusting through hole and a guide hole; the encoder body includes an encoder, an encoder bracket, an elastic member, and a guide rod; the elastic member and the guide rod are installed on one side of the encoder, and the encoder is installed on the encoder bracket; the guide rod extends into the guide hole to allow the encoder body to be movably connected to the base; the adjusting member includes a main body, an adjusting end, and a contact end, the main body passes through the adjusting through hole, the adjusting end protrudes outside the camera body, and the contact end contacts the elastic member.

6. The line scan camera for printing testing according to claim 5, characterized in that, The base includes a base plate and an upright plate, with the upright plate disposed on the base plate; the adjustment through hole is disposed on the upright plate, and the guide hole is disposed on the base plate.

7. The line scan camera for printing testing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The encoder component senses the printing state when the print shaft rotates and transmits it to the control component. The control component analyzes the printing state to obtain a shooting control signal and transmits it to the sensing component. The sensing component takes a picture of the printing paper passing through the first paper feed gap according to the shooting control signal to obtain the printed image.

8. The line scan camera for printing testing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing component includes a sensor and a sensing bracket; the sensor is assembled inside the sensing bracket, one end of the sensing bracket is provided with a limiting cylinder, and the rotating shaft passes through the limiting cylinder and is rotatably connected to the control component.

9. The line scan camera for printing testing according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control component includes a lower cover, an upper cover, and a data acquisition card located on a data acquisition card holder; the upper cover is mounted on the lower cover, and the data acquisition card holder is mounted in the cavity formed by the lower cover and the upper cover; the outer surface of the upper cover and the surface of the sensing component together form the first paper passage gap; The printing state sensed by the encoder component when the printing shaft rotates is transmitted to the acquisition card, and the acquisition card analyzes the printing state to obtain a shooting control signal, which is then transmitted to the sensing component.

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