A book appearance inspection apparatus integrating synchronous transmission and image acquisition

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of integrated synchronous transmission and image acquisition's book appearance detection equipment, belong to machine vision detection equipment technical field.Equipment includes installation frame, synchronous transmission device and image acquisition device, and synchronous transmission device contains three sections conveying unit, driving mechanism and rejecting mechanism, realizes stable conveying and accurate rejection;Image acquisition device contains corresponding six sides camera unit, light supplement unit and focal length adjusting mechanism, can be fully collected imaging and adapt to different size books.Form integrated process, applicable to three side cutting after book detection, replace manual sampling inspection, meet the demand of high-speed production line, reduce the risk of missed detection and labor cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of machine vision inspection equipment, specifically relating to a book appearance inspection device that integrates synchronous transmission and image acquisition functions. Background Technology

[0002] In book post-printing binding production lines, the final appearance quality inspection after the three-sided cutting process is a crucial step in ensuring product quality, directly impacting the printing company's reputation and economic benefits. Currently, significant technical challenges remain in quality control at this stage:

[0003] In terms of testing methods, existing companies mostly rely on 1-2 workers for manual sampling. However, the production line speed can reach 15,000 books per hour. Manual inspection can only roughly identify obvious defects (such as severe dirt and large cutting deviations). The rate of missed detection for minor flaws (such as missing white space on the cover, skewed cutting, misaligned spine, missing adhesive, and paper fibers) is extremely high. Moreover, due to human fatigue, the testing stability is insufficient, making it difficult to meet the stringent quality control requirements of book and magazine companies.

[0004] From the current state of automated equipment, existing technologies have many limitations:

[0005] In the image acquisition stage, most devices can only cover the front or partial surface of the book, and cannot simultaneously acquire complete appearance information of the back, spine, top, bottom and sides of the book, making it difficult to detect edge defects such as misaligned spine and slanted bottom edges; the supplementary lighting scheme is fixed and cannot adjust the light intensity and angle according to the cover material (such as matte or glossy), which easily produces reflections or uneven lighting, affecting the image clarity of defects such as dirt and color difference; the focal length adjustment adaptability is poor. Due to the variety of book sizes, existing devices cannot quickly adjust the distance between the lens and the book surface, resulting in blurred images from fixed-focus lenses, which cannot meet the detection accuracy requirements.

[0006] In the transmission and rejection process, existing equipment lacks a synchronous transmission mechanism linked with the detection system. Books are prone to positional shifts or speed fluctuations during transmission, affecting the timing accuracy of image acquisition. At the same time, the rejection mechanism and transmission unit are functionally separate, making it impossible to accurately reject defective products while maintaining transmission synchronization. This increases the risk of defective products slipping into the next process, making it difficult to form a stable, comprehensive, and accurate integrated process.

[0007] The aforementioned problems prevent existing technologies from providing an efficient and reliable automated solution for book appearance inspection. Enterprises still need to rely on manual supplementary inspection, which increases labor costs and poses quality risks. There is an urgent need for an integrated device that combines synchronous transmission, six-sided image acquisition, and automated rejection functions to meet the precise inspection requirements of high-speed production lines for book appearance quality. Utility Model Content

[0008] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a book appearance inspection device that integrates synchronous transmission and image acquisition functions. It aims to achieve comprehensive and clear acquisition of the appearance of all six sides of the book, combining adjustable supplementary lighting and a focal length mechanism to adapt to different book sizes. Through the collaborative design of synchronous transmission and precise rejection, it forms an integrated automated inspection process of stable transmission, comprehensive acquisition, and precise rejection, replacing manual sampling inspection, reducing the risk of missed inspections and labor costs, and meeting the efficient and accurate inspection needs of book and periodical companies for the appearance quality of books. It is particularly suitable for the appearance quality inspection scenario of books after the three-sided cutting process in the post-printing binding production line, and can realize automated detection of appearance defects on all six sides of the book, covering the entire process of synchronous transmission, image acquisition, defect identification, and rejection of defective products.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a book appearance inspection device integrating synchronous transmission and image acquisition, including...

[0010] The mounting frame is used to support the various testing components;

[0011] A synchronous conveying device is installed on the mounting frame along the book conveying direction. It includes a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit, and a third conveying unit connected in sequence, a drive mechanism that drives the three conveying units to rotate synchronously, and a rejection mechanism installed on the third conveying unit. The rejection mechanism can drive the third conveying unit to tilt downward to reject unqualified books.

[0012] An image acquisition device, mounted on a mounting frame along the transmission path of the synchronous transmission device, includes:

[0013] Multiple camera units, corresponding to the front, back, spine, top, ground, and sides of the book, are used to capture images of each exterior surface of the book;

[0014] The supplementary lighting unit is set up one-to-one with each camera unit to provide a light source for image acquisition;

[0015] Three focus adjustment mechanisms are connected to the front camera unit, the spine camera unit, and the side camera unit, respectively, to adjust the distance between the corresponding camera unit and the book surface. The top camera unit, the ground camera unit, and the back camera unit are fixed.

[0016] Furthermore, the first, second, and third transmission units of the synchronous transmission device each include a corresponding supporting frame, a crossbar, a pad, and a flat belt. The flat belt is supported on the pad, and a stable transmission foundation is formed through the hierarchical cooperation of the supporting frame, crossbar, and pad. A gap is left between the first and second transmission units for the rear camera unit to collect images.

[0017] Furthermore, the drive mechanism includes a servo motor, a reducer, and a synchronous transmission assembly. The synchronous transmission assembly includes a first synchronous belt, a second synchronous belt, a third synchronous belt, and corresponding synchronous pulleys. The servo motor drives the first synchronous belt via the reducer to rotate the first active roller of the first segment conveyor unit. The first active roller drives the second active roller of the second segment conveyor unit via the second synchronous belt. The second active roller drives the synchronous shaft of the third segment conveyor unit via the third synchronous belt, thereby realizing the synchronous operation of the three segment conveyor units.

[0018] Furthermore, the rejection mechanism includes a push-pull device, a solenoid valve, and a third-section support frame with bearings. One end of the push-pull device is connected to the mounting frame, and the force output from the other end acts on the third-section conveying unit. The solenoid valve controls the extension and retraction of the push-pull device, driving the third-section conveying unit to swing around the bearing on the synchronous shaft, with an inclination angle ranging from 0° to 30°.

[0019] Furthermore, the camera unit of the image acquisition device includes:

[0020] The front-facing camera unit is positioned directly above the first transmission unit;

[0021] The rear camera unit is located below the gap between the first and second transmission units;

[0022] The spine camera unit and the side camera unit are respectively located on both sides of the first transmission unit;

[0023] The rooftop camera unit and the ground camera unit are located in the transmission path of the second transmission unit.

[0024] Furthermore, the supplementary lighting unit includes:

[0025] A rectangular surface light source, in conjunction with the front-facing camera unit, is positioned around the lens to provide uniform illumination;

[0026] The strip light source, which works in conjunction with the camera units on the back, spine, top, ground, and sides, extends along the lens acquisition direction to focus and illuminate the edge areas.

[0027] Furthermore, the shooting timing of each camera unit is linked to the synchronous transmission device:

[0028] The front, spine, and side camera units take pictures when the book is on the first conveyor unit;

[0029] The rear camera unit takes photos during the transition from the first section to the second section of the book;

[0030] The rooftop and ground-based camera units take pictures after the book is completed and enters the second transmission unit.

[0031] Furthermore, the focal length adjustment mechanism includes a hand crank, a slider, and a support assembly. The slider is slidably mounted on the hand crank, and the corresponding camera unit and supplementary lighting unit are mounted on the slider via the support assembly. The top focal length adjustment mechanism drives the slider to slide up and down via the hand crank to achieve vertical focal length adjustment of the front camera unit. The side focal length adjustment mechanisms drive the slider to slide horizontally via the hand crank to achieve horizontal focal length adjustment of the spine and side camera units.

[0032] Furthermore, the first transmission unit also includes several first guide rollers, the second transmission unit includes several second guide rollers, and the third transmission unit includes a third guide roller, which respectively cooperate with the corresponding drive roller and synchronous shaft to support the operation of the flat belt.

[0033] Furthermore, the first, second, and third synchronous belts are all toothed synchronous belts, which are driven by toothed engagement with the synchronous pulley.

[0034] The present invention, by adopting the above technical solution, has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0035] 1. This utility model integrates the synchronous conveying device and the image acquisition device into the same mounting frame, realizing a unified automated inspection process with stable conveying, comprehensive acquisition, and precise rejection, solving the problems of scattered functions and poor coordination in existing equipment. The synchronous conveying device ensures the smooth transport of books on the high-speed production line (15,000 books / hour), the image acquisition device simultaneously completes the acquisition of appearance information from all six sides, and the rejection mechanism accurately separates defective products, forming a complete inspection closed loop, effectively replacing manual sampling inspection, and significantly reducing the risk of missed inspections and labor costs.

[0036] 2. In this utility model, the image acquisition device achieves full-dimensional coverage through six camera units corresponding to different sides of the book. With the help of differentiated supplementary lighting design (the rectangular light source on the front provides uniform illumination, while the other light sources focus on edge details), it can clearly capture various defects such as cover dirt, spine misalignment, and top corner folds. The three focus adjustment mechanisms, through the cooperation of the hand crank and the slider, can flexibly adapt to books with a thickness of 2-40mm and a maximum size of 300×250mm, ensuring detection accuracy and solving the problems of incomplete imaging, poor supplementary lighting adaptability, and inconvenient focus adjustment of existing equipment.

[0037] 3. In this utility model, the synchronous transmission device adopts a three-section transmission unit and a synchronous transmission component driven by a servo motor (toothed synchronous belt + synchronous pulley) to ensure that the speed of the three transmission units is consistent, avoid positional deviation or speed fluctuation during the book transport process, and provide a stable timing reference for image acquisition; the gap design between the first and second sections, combined with the linkage shooting timing of each camera unit (front / spine / side is shot in the first section, back is shot during the transition, and top / ground is shot in the second section), realizes the complete acquisition of six-sided images under high-speed transmission.

[0038] 4. In this utility model, the rejection mechanism, through the cooperation of a push-pull device, a solenoid valve, and a third-section support frame with bearings, can drive the third-section conveying unit to tilt 0°-30° while maintaining synchronous conveying, accurately rejecting defective products. This solves the problem of functional separation between the traditional rejection mechanism and the conveying unit. The overall equipment, through modular design (synchronous conveying, image acquisition, focus adjustment, and other modules are independent yet coordinated), takes into account inspection efficiency (adapting to high-speed production lines), versatility (adapting to various book specifications), and ease of maintenance, meeting the needs of book and periodical companies for high-quality and high-efficiency appearance inspection, and helping to improve the level of intelligent post-press processing. Attached Figure Description

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model 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 this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a utility model with an installation frame;

[0041] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a utility model with a conveying device;

[0042] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a utility model image acquisition device. Figure 1 ;

[0043] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a utility model image acquisition device. Figure 2 ;

[0044] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the synchronous transmission device of this utility model;

[0045] Figure 6 This is a side view of the drive mechanism of the synchronous transmission device of this utility model;

[0046] Figure 7This is a detailed view of the drive mechanism of the synchronous transmission device of this utility model;

[0047] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of the guide rollers of the synchronous conveying device of this utility model;

[0048] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the synchronous belt distribution of the synchronous conveyor device of this utility model;

[0049] Figure 10 This is the third-stage transmission unit of the synchronous transmission device of this utility model, excluding structural details. Figure 1 ;

[0050] Figure 11 This is the third-stage transmission unit of the synchronous transmission device of this utility model, excluding structural details. Figure 2 .

[0051] In the diagram: 1. First flat belt; 2. First pad; 3. First guide roller; 4. Second flat belt; 5. Second pad; 6. Second guide roller; 7. Third flat belt; 8. Third pad; 9. Drive motor; 10. Reducer; 11. First synchronous belt; 12. First drive roller; 13. Second synchronous belt; 14. Second drive roller; 15. Third synchronous belt; 16. Synchronous shaft; 17. Synchronous pulley; 18. Bearing side plate; 19. Bearing; 20. Push-pull device; 21. Third guide roller; 22. Mounting frame; 23. Surface light source; 24. Strip light source; 25. Front camera unit; 26. Rear camera unit; 27. Spine camera unit; 28. Side camera unit; 29. ​​Top camera unit; 30. Ground camera unit; 31. First-stage conveyor unit; 32. Second-stage conveyor unit; 33. Third-stage conveyor unit; 34. Hand crank; 35. Slider; 36. Support assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0052] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, when referring to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this invention. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this invention as detailed in the appended claims.

[0053] To facilitate understanding of the technical solution of this utility model, the specific locations of the "front, back, spine, top, bottom, and sides" of the book are first defined:

[0054] Front of the book: This refers to the main cover of the book that faces the reader after it is bound (usually the side with information such as the title, author, and publisher printed on it). It is the main view of the book and is located above the first transmission unit in this device. It is the main object captured by the front camera unit.

[0055] Back of the book: The side opposite the front (usually the back of the cover, which may contain a brief description of the contents, copyright information, etc.), located at the bottom of the book, is captured by the back camera unit through the gap between the first and second transmission units in this device.

[0056] Book spine: refers to the spine of the book (the narrow side connecting the front and back, usually printed with information such as the book title and ISBN), located on one long edge of the book, perpendicular to the front and back, and captured by the spine camera unit.

[0057] Side of the book: The long edge of the side opposite the spine (the edge of the non-binding side), usually the edge formed by cutting the pages, is captured by the side camera unit.

[0058] Top edge of the book: refers to the short edge of the top side of the book along its length (i.e., the cutting surface corresponding to the "top"), which is perpendicular to the spine and sides. It is captured by the top edge camera unit after the book enters the second transmission unit.

[0059] The book's ground surface refers to the lower short edge of the book along its length (i.e., the cutting surface corresponding to the "foot"), which is opposite to the top surface and perpendicular to the spine and sides. It is captured by the ground camera unit after the book enters the second transmission unit.

[0060] The locations of defects in the finished book's appearance can be summarized as follows:

[0061] 1. Front: This area covers defects such as cover size deviation, missing white space, skewed cutting, dirt, large color difference, folded corners, damage, anti-counterfeiting position deviation, and abnormal QR code reading. It is one of the core inspection areas.

[0062] 2. Back side: This includes defects such as dirt, damage, folded corners, size deviations, anti-counterfeiting position misalignment, and abnormal QR code reading. Similar to the front side inspection, it needs to be fully covered.

[0063] 3. Spine: This mainly includes defects such as misalignment, crooked spine, damage, and skewing of the spine, and is a key inspection area for binding quality.

[0064] 4. Top surface: Concentrated on edge defects such as continuous cuts (top edge), folded corners, beveled cuts, paper fuzz, hollow ends (adhesive-backed hollow ends), and damage, which are the upper short side cut surfaces after three-sided cutting.

[0065] 5. Ground: It has defects such as beveled cuts, folded corners, paper fibers, hollow parts, and damage. It is opposite to the top surface and is the lower short side cut surface after three sides are cut.

[0066] 6. Side: Mainly inspects for defects such as paper fibers, folds, and tears. This is the long edge of the non-binding side.

[0067] The aforementioned defect locations cover all six sides of the book, which are the appearance surfaces after the three-sided cutting process. They are the core objects for achieving "full-width inspection on all six sides" in this embodiment.

[0068] Example 1

[0069] like Figures 1 to 11 As shown, this embodiment provides a book appearance inspection device integrating synchronous transmission and image acquisition, including...

[0070] Mounting frame 22 is used to support various testing components;

[0071] A synchronous conveying device is installed on the mounting frame along the book conveying direction. It includes a first conveying unit 31, a second conveying unit 32, and a third conveying unit 33 connected in sequence, a drive mechanism that drives the three conveying units to rotate synchronously, and a rejection mechanism installed on the third conveying unit. The rejection mechanism can drive the third conveying unit to tilt downward to reject unqualified books.

[0072] An image acquisition device, mounted on a mounting frame along the transmission path of the synchronous transmission device, includes:

[0073] Multiple camera units, corresponding to the front, back, spine, top, ground, and sides of the book, are used to capture images of each exterior surface of the book;

[0074] The supplementary lighting unit is set up one-to-one with each camera unit to provide a light source for image acquisition;

[0075] Three focal length adjustment mechanisms are connected to the front camera unit 25, the spine camera unit 27, and the side camera unit 28, respectively, to adjust the distance between the corresponding camera unit and the book surface. The top camera unit 29, the ground camera unit 30, and the back camera unit 26 are fixed.

[0076] As one implementation method, the first transmission unit 31, the second transmission unit 32, and the third transmission unit 33 of the synchronous transmission device in this embodiment each include a corresponding supporting frame, a crossbar, a pad, and a flat belt. The flat belt is supported on the pad, and a stable transmission foundation is formed by the hierarchical cooperation of the supporting frame, the crossbar, and the pad. A gap is left between the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit for the rear camera unit to collect images.

[0077] In one embodiment, the driving mechanism in this embodiment includes a servo motor (i.e., drive motor 9), a reducer 10, and a synchronous transmission assembly. The synchronous transmission assembly includes a first synchronous belt 11, a second synchronous belt 13, a third synchronous belt 15, and corresponding synchronous pulleys 17. The servo motor drives the first synchronous belt 11 via the reducer to rotate the first active roller 12 of the first segment conveying unit 31. The first active roller 12 drives the second active roller 14 of the second segment conveying unit 32 via the second synchronous belt 13. The second active roller 14 drives the synchronous shaft 16 of the third segment conveying unit 33 via the third synchronous belt 15, thereby realizing the synchronous operation of the three segment conveying units 33.

[0078] In one embodiment, the rejection mechanism includes a push-pull device, a solenoid valve, and a third-section support frame with bearings (the third-section support frame includes a bearing side 18). One end of the push-pull device is connected to the mounting frame, and the force output from the other end acts on the third-section conveying unit. The solenoid valve controls the extension and retraction of the push-pull device, driving the third-section conveying unit to swing around the bearing on the synchronous shaft, with an inclination angle ranging from 0° to 30°.

[0079] As one implementation method, the camera unit of the image acquisition device in this embodiment includes:

[0080] The front-facing camera, priced at 25 yuan, is positioned directly above the first transmission unit 31.

[0081] The rear camera unit 26 is located below the gap between the first and second transmission units;

[0082] The spine camera unit 27 and the side camera unit 28 are respectively located on both sides of the first transmission unit 31;

[0083] The rooftop camera unit 29 and the ground camera unit 30 are located in the transmission path of the second transmission unit.

[0084] Furthermore, the supplementary lighting unit includes:

[0085] A rectangular surface light source, in conjunction with the front-facing camera unit, is positioned around the lens to provide uniform illumination;

[0086] The strip light source, which works in conjunction with the camera units on the back, spine, top, ground, and sides, extends along the lens acquisition direction to focus and illuminate the edge areas.

[0087] In one implementation method, the shooting timing of each camera unit in this embodiment is linked to the synchronous transmission device:

[0088] The front, spine, and side camera units take pictures when the book is on the first conveyor unit;

[0089] The rear camera unit takes photos during the transition from the first section to the second section of the book;

[0090] The rooftop and ground-based camera units take pictures after the book is completed and enters the second transmission unit.

[0091] In one embodiment, the focal length adjustment mechanism includes a hand crank 34, a slider 35, and a support assembly 36. The slider is slidably mounted on the hand crank, and the corresponding camera unit and supplementary lighting unit are mounted on the slider via the support assembly. The top focal length adjustment mechanism drives the slider to slide up and down via the hand crank to achieve vertical focal length adjustment of the front camera unit. The side focal length adjustment mechanisms drive the slider to slide horizontally via the hand crank to achieve horizontal focal length adjustment of the spine and side camera units.

[0092] In one embodiment, the first segment conveying unit 31 further includes a plurality of first guide rollers 3, the second segment conveying unit 32 includes a plurality of second guide rollers 6, and the third segment conveying unit 33 includes a third guide roller 21, which respectively cooperate with the corresponding drive roller and synchronous shaft to support the operation of the flat belt.

[0093] In one implementation, the first, second, and third synchronous belts in this embodiment are all toothed synchronous belts, which are driven by toothed engagement with the synchronous pulley.

[0094] The working principle of this utility model is based on the coordinated operation of synchronous transmission and image acquisition, realizing the automated detection of appearance defects on all six sides of the book and the rejection of defective products. The specific process is as follows:

[0095] 1. Book delivery and positioning

[0096] After the three-sided cutting process, the finished books enter the first conveyor unit of the synchronous conveyor system. Driven by servo motors, the three conveyor units (first, second, and third sections) operate synchronously via toothed synchronous belts, ensuring the books move along the conveyor path at a stable speed (suitable for a 15,000 books / hour production line). The hierarchical cooperation of the supporting frame, crossbars, pads, and flat belt, along with the auxiliary support of the guide rollers, ensures that the books move without shifting or shaking during transport, providing a stable spatial reference for subsequent image acquisition.

[0097] 2. Collaborative acquisition of six-sided images

[0098] The image acquisition device completes the acquisition of images of all six sides of the book in stages along the transmission path, with each camera unit and the synchronous transmission device triggering in tandem:

[0099] When the book is located in the first conveyor unit, the front camera unit directly above captures the front image of the book under the uniform illumination of the rectangular surface light source; the spine camera units on both sides and the side camera units capture the spine and side images respectively under the focused illumination of the strip light source. At this time, the focus adjustment mechanism can adjust the lens distance according to the thickness (2-40mm) and size (maximum 300×250mm) of the book through the cooperation of the hand crank and the slider to ensure clear imaging.

[0100] When the book is transferred from the first section to the second section, the gap between the two sections provides a shooting channel for the rear camera unit. The rear camera unit uses a strip light source to supplement the light and completes the uninterrupted acquisition of the back image during the book's suspended transition.

[0101] After the book is completed and enters the second transmission unit, the rooftop camera unit and the ground camera unit, with the assistance of a strip light source, respectively acquire edge images of the upper short side (rooftop) and the lower short side (ground) to capture defects such as continuous cuts and beveled cuts.

[0102] 3. Defect identification and rejection of non-conforming products

[0103] After the collected six images are analyzed by the subsequent processing system, if the book is found to have defects (such as dirt on the front, misaligned spine, or empty top), the control signal will trigger the rejection mechanism of the third-stage conveyor unit: the solenoid valve drives the push-pull device to extend and retract, causing the third-stage support frame to swing downward around the bearing on the synchronous shaft (the tilt angle is adjustable from 0° to 30°), so that the unqualified book slides down the inclined flat belt to the waste bin; qualified books continue to be conveyed by the third-stage conveyor unit to the next process (such as packaging), realizing fully automated detection.

[0104] This utility model is applicable to the inspection of the appearance quality of finished books after the three-sided cutting process in the book post-printing binding production line, especially for finished products such as books, textbooks, and picture albums produced by perfect binding lines. Specific applications include:

[0105] Adapted to a high-speed production pace of 15,000 books per hour, it replaces traditional manual sampling inspection, solving problems such as high missed inspection rate and insufficient detection stability due to fatigue. It achieves 100% coverage inspection of defects on all six sides of the finished book (such as cover size deviation, spine misalignment, top corner fold, side paper hair, etc.), ensuring that the products leaving the factory meet quality standards.

[0106] For books of different thicknesses and sizes, the lens distance can be flexibly adjusted through the focal length adjustment mechanism, and with the addition of differentiated supplementary lighting (uniform surface light on the front and focused strip light on the edges), it can be adapted to a variety of products such as matte / gloss covers and thick / thin books, meeting the inspection needs of companies such as Xinhua Printing Factory for different books and periodicals.

[0107] The image data collected by the equipment can be linked to book batch information, providing a basis for quality traceability; at the same time, through statistical analysis of defect types (such as frequently occurring skewed cutting and missing adhesive), it helps enterprises optimize pre-processes such as three-sided cutting and perfect binding, thereby improving overall production quality.

[0108] It can be linked with the book-separating and packaging devices of the binding line, and integrated into the intelligent post-press production system to reduce manual intervention and lower labor costs. It meets the development needs of the book and periodical industry for "cost reduction and efficiency improvement, quality improvement and upgrading", and is especially suitable for batch testing of textbooks, best-selling books and other products with strict quality requirements.

[0109] Example 2

[0110] This embodiment further describes the image acquisition device:

[0111] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this embodiment provides an image acquisition device for book appearance inspection, including:

[0112] Mounting frame 22 is used to support various testing components;

[0113] Multiple camera units are sequentially set on the mounting frame 22 along the book conveying path, corresponding to the front, back, spine, top, ground and side of the book, respectively, to capture images of each exterior surface of the book;

[0114] The supplementary lighting unit is set up one-to-one with each camera unit to provide a light source for image acquisition by the camera unit;

[0115] Three focal length adjustment mechanisms are provided: the front camera unit 25, the spine camera unit 27, and the side camera unit 28 are respectively set on the corresponding focal length adjustment mechanisms. The distance between the lens of the corresponding camera unit and the surface of the book is adjusted by the focal length adjustment mechanism to adapt to the imaging needs of books of different sizes. The top camera unit 29, the ground camera unit 30, and the rear camera unit 26 are fixed.

[0116] As one implementation method, the camera unit in this embodiment includes:

[0117] The front camera unit 25 is positioned directly above the book delivery path;

[0118] The rear camera unit 26 is located directly below the book delivery path;

[0119] The spine camera unit 27 is located on one side of the book conveying path;

[0120] The rooftop camera unit 29 and the ground camera unit 30 are located in the book delivery path;

[0121] The side camera unit 28 is located on the opposite side of the spine camera unit 27 in the book delivery path.

[0122] As one implementation method, the supplementary lighting unit in this embodiment includes:

[0123] A surface light source 23, which works in conjunction with the front camera unit 25, is rectangular in structure and is arranged around the lens of the front camera unit 25 to provide uniform surface light to illuminate the front of the book.

[0124] The strip light source 24, which works in conjunction with the rear camera unit 26, the spine camera unit 27, the top camera unit 29, the ground camera unit 30, and the side camera unit 28, is used to focus light to illuminate the edges and detailed areas of the book.

[0125] As one implementation, the book delivery path in this embodiment is equipped with a synchronous delivery device, which includes at least a first delivery unit 31 and a second delivery unit 32, with a gap between the first delivery unit 31 and the second delivery unit 32.

[0126] The rear camera unit 26 is located below the gap. As the book transitions from the first conveying unit 31 to the second conveying unit 32, the rear camera unit 26 continuously takes pictures of the back of the book through the gap.

[0127] The rooftop camera unit 29 begins to photograph the rooftop of the book after it has been transferred from the first transmission unit 31 to the second transmission unit 32; the ground camera unit 30 begins to photograph the ground surface of the book after it has been transferred from the first transmission unit 31 to the second transmission unit 32.

[0128] The front camera unit 25 is positioned directly above the first conveying unit 31 and takes pictures when the book is on the first conveying unit 31.

[0129] Both the spine camera unit 27 and the side camera unit 28 take pictures when the book is on the first conveying unit 31 to capture images of the spine and sides.

[0130] In one embodiment, each of the focal length adjustment mechanisms in this embodiment includes a hand crank 34 and a slider 35, wherein the slider 35 is slidably disposed on the hand crank 34;

[0131] The front camera unit 25 is directly or indirectly disposed on the slider 35 of the top focus adjustment mechanism, the spine camera unit 27 is directly or indirectly disposed on the slider 35 of the corresponding side focus adjustment mechanism, and the side camera unit 28 is directly or indirectly disposed on the slider 35 of the other side focus adjustment mechanism.

[0132] Each of the aforementioned focal length adjustment mechanisms also includes a bracket assembly 36, which is directly or indirectly disposed on the slider 35, and the supplementary lighting unit corresponding to the camera unit is fixed on the bracket assembly 36;

[0133] The focus adjustment mechanisms located on the left and right sides drive the slider 35 to slide via the hand crank 34, which in turn drives the spine camera unit 27, the side camera unit 28 and their respective supplementary lighting units to move forward or backward in the direction of approaching or moving away from the book, so as to achieve focus adjustment in the horizontal direction.

[0134] The focal length adjustment mechanism located at the top drives the slider 35 to slide via the hand crank 34, thereby adjusting the front camera unit 25 and its corresponding fill light unit up and down along the height direction to achieve vertical focal length adjustment.

[0135] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows:

[0136] After the book undergoes a three-sided cutting process, it is received and transported forward by the first conveying unit 31 of the synchronous conveying device. When the book is on the first conveying unit 31, the front camera unit 25 directly above it captures an image of the front of the book under the uniform illumination of the rectangular surface light source 23; at the same time, the spine camera unit 27 and the side camera unit 28 located on both sides of the conveying path capture images of the spine and side surfaces respectively under the focused illumination of the corresponding light source 24, thus completing the image acquisition of the front, spine and side surfaces.

[0137] When the book transitions from the first transmission unit 31 to the second transmission unit 32, the rear camera unit 26 below the gap between the two transmission units uses a light source 24 to supplement the light and continuously take pictures of the back of the book during the suspended transition process, ensuring that no image of the back is missed.

[0138] After the book has completely entered the second transmission unit 32, the top camera unit 29 and the ground camera unit 30, with the assistance of the corresponding light source 24, respectively acquire images of the top and ground sides of the book, completing the image capture of the remaining two sides.

[0139] Throughout the acquisition process, if the book size (thickness 2-40mm, maximum size 300×250mm) changes, it can be adjusted using three focal length adjustment mechanisms: The top focal length adjustment mechanism's hand-cranked slider slides up and down, adjusting the front camera unit and surface light source along the height direction to ensure accurate front imaging focal length; the left and right focal length adjustment mechanisms' hand-cranked sliders slide horizontally, moving the spine camera unit, side camera unit, and their strip light source closer to or further away from the book, achieving focal length adaptation between the spine and sides. Each supplementary lighting unit moves synchronously with its corresponding camera unit via a support assembly, ensuring the stability of the supplementary lighting angle and intensity.

[0140] Through the aforementioned collaborative operation, the device can continuously and comprehensively acquire images of the appearance of all six sides of the finished book in a high-speed production line (up to 15,000 books / hour), providing clear and complete raw data for subsequent defect detection algorithms and meeting the automated inspection needs of book companies for the appearance quality of finished books.

[0141] Example 3

[0142] This embodiment further explains the synchronous transmission device:

[0143] like Figures 1 to 11 As shown, the synchronous transmission device in this embodiment includes a first transmission unit 31, a second transmission unit 32 and a third transmission unit 33 arranged sequentially along the book transmission direction.

[0144] A drive mechanism is used to drive the first segment conveying unit, the second segment conveying unit, and the third segment conveying unit to rotate synchronously.

[0145] The rejection mechanism is located in the third-stage conveying unit and is used to drive the third-stage conveying unit to tilt downwards while the third-stage conveying unit rotates synchronously with the first and second-stage conveying units, so that the defective books fall off.

[0146] In one implementation, the first, second, and third conveying units in this embodiment each include a first supporting frame, a second supporting frame, and a third supporting frame. First, second, and third horizontal bars are respectively provided on the first, second, and third supporting frames. A first pad 2 is provided on several first horizontal bars, a second pad 5 is provided on several second horizontal bars, and a third pad 8 is provided on several third horizontal bars. The system also includes a first flat belt 1, a second flat belt 4, and a third flat belt 7, which are respectively supported on the first pad 2, the second pad 5, and the third pad 8. Through the hierarchical cooperation of the supporting frames, horizontal bars, and pads, the weight of the books carried by the flat belt can be distributed, reducing deformation caused by uneven stress. Simultaneously, a flat and stable mounting reference surface is provided for the flat belt, ensuring that the books will not shift due to belt swaying during conveying, thus guaranteeing subsequent detection accuracy.

[0147] As one implementation method, in this embodiment, the driving mechanism includes:

[0148] Drive motor 9, whose output shaft is connected to reducer 10;

[0149] The first drive roller 12 is connected to the reducer 10 via the first synchronous belt 11;

[0150] The second drive roller 14 is connected to the first drive roller 12 via the second synchronous belt 13;

[0151] Synchronous shaft 16 is connected to the second drive roller 14 via a third synchronous belt 15, and synchronous shaft 16 drives the third section conveyor unit to rotate.

[0152] The first synchronous belt 11, the second synchronous belt 13, and the third synchronous belt 15 are respectively connected to the first drive roller 12, the second drive roller 14, and the synchronous shaft 16 via synchronous pulleys 17. The power output from the drive motor 9 is reduced and amplified by the reducer 10, and then transmitted precisely to each drive roller and synchronous shaft 16 through the toothed meshing of the synchronous belt and the synchronous pulley 17. This ensures that the three conveying units operate stably at the same speed, preventing books from getting stuck or misaligned at the joints between sections, and providing a stable book conveying rhythm for the testing equipment.

[0153] In one implementation, the first drive roller 12, the second drive roller 14, and the synchronous shaft 16 are all connected to the equipment frame at both ends via bearings 19. The drive motor 9 is a servo motor, capable of controlling the synchronous rotation speed of the first, second, and third conveying units. The bearings 19 significantly reduce frictional resistance during roller rotation, minimizing power loss and extending equipment lifespan. The servo motor 9 can precisely and in real-time adjust the rotation speed of the three conveying units according to different book specifications and testing requirements, making the device suitable for diverse production scenarios and improving equipment versatility.

[0154] As one implementation method, the rejection mechanism in this embodiment includes:

[0155] The push-pull device 20 (electric cylinder or pneumatic cylinder) has one end connected to the equipment frame and the other end acting on the third section of the conveying unit.

[0156] A solenoid valve, electrically connected to the push-pull device 20, is used to control the extension and retraction of the push-pull device 20 to adjust the tilt angle of the third transmission unit.

[0157] The third support frame of the third-section conveying unit includes a left side plate and a right side plate. One end of the left side plate and one end of the right side plate are respectively mounted on the synchronous shaft 16 via bearings 19. The outer ring of the bearing 19 is fixed to one end of the left side plate and one end of the right side plate. The synchronous shaft 16 cooperates with the inner ring of the bearing 19, allowing the third-section conveying unit to swing around the axis of the bearing 19 to achieve downward tilting. An electric cylinder or pneumatic cylinder serves as the power source, capable of quickly responding to the control signal of the solenoid valve and driving the third-section conveying unit to tilt in a very short time. The design of the bearing 19 and the synchronous shaft 16 ensures that the third-section conveying unit operates synchronously with the other two sections during normal conveying, and also provides a flexible rotation fulcrum for its tilting and rejection action, ensuring that defective books can be removed from the conveyor line in a timely and accurate manner.

[0158] In one implementation, the extension stroke of the push-pull device 20 in this embodiment is adjustable, and the tilt angle of the third-section conveying unit can be controlled to vary within the range of 0° to 30°. By adjusting the extension stroke of the push-pull device 20, it can adapt to the rejection requirements of books of different thicknesses and weights, avoid the accidental rejection of normal books or the incomplete rejection of unqualified books due to improper tilt angle, and further improve the accuracy and reliability of the rejection action.

[0159] In one embodiment, the first segment conveying unit includes a plurality of first guide rollers 3. The plurality of first guide rollers 3 are all disposed below the first flat belt 1 and together with the first drive roller 12, they constitute the support and transmission structure of the first flat belt 1. When the first drive roller 12 rotates, it drives the first flat belt 1 to circulate around the plurality of first guide rollers 3.

[0160] The second section conveying unit includes a plurality of second guide rollers 6, which are all disposed below the second flat belt 4 and together with the second drive roller 14 form the support and transmission structure of the second flat belt 4. When the second drive roller 14 rotates, it drives the second flat belt 4 to circulate around the plurality of second guide rollers 6.

[0161] The third conveying unit includes a third guide roller 21, which assists in supporting the third flat belt 7 and works in conjunction with the synchronous shaft 16 to ensure the transmission stability of the third flat belt 7. The guide roller increases the contact area between the flat belt and the roller, reduces the sag of the flat belt during operation, keeps the flat belt taut, and ensures that the book remains in a stable and uniform motion during conveying, providing stable conveying conditions for accurate detection.

[0162] In one implementation, the first synchronous belt 11, the second synchronous belt 13, and the third synchronous belt 15 in this embodiment are all toothed synchronous belts. The synchronous pulley 17 is provided with teeth adapted to the toothed synchronous belts, and synchronous transmission is achieved through tooth meshing. The meshing transmission method between the toothed synchronous belt and the pulley 17 can eliminate the slippage phenomenon existing in traditional belt drives, ensure lossless power transmission of the drive mechanism, and thus achieve high-precision synchronization of the three transmission units, meeting the stringent requirements of book appearance inspection for the stability and accuracy of the transmission device.

[0163] Working principle of this embodiment

[0164] After the drive motor 9 starts, the output power is transmitted to the reducer 10. The reducer 10 reduces the speed and increases the torque, which drives the first drive roller 12 to rotate via the first synchronous belt 11. The first drive roller 12 then drives the second drive roller 14 via the second synchronous belt 13. The second drive roller 14 further drives the synchronous shaft 16 to rotate via the third synchronous belt 15, ultimately achieving synchronous rotation of the first, second, and third conveyor units. During this process, the servo motor 9 monitors and adjusts the rotation speed of each conveyor unit in real time to ensure consistent speed.

[0165] During book transport, the first flat belt 1, the second flat belt 4, and the third flat belt 7 run on their respective pads (first pad 2, second pad 5, and third pad 8), supported and driven by guide rollers (first guide roller 3, second guide roller 6, and third guide roller) and drive rollers (first drive roller 12 and second drive roller 14) to maintain a stable transport state. After the book passes through the inspection area and completes the appearance inspection, if the inspection system determines that a book is defective, a control signal will be transmitted to the solenoid valve. Upon receiving the signal, the solenoid valve controls the push-pull device 20 (electric cylinder or pneumatic cylinder) to extend or retract, pushing the third support frame of the third section conveyor unit to tilt downwards around the axis of bearing 19. The tilt angle is adjusted within the range of 0°-30° according to a preset value. At this point, the defective books slide down the inclined third flat belt 7 under the action of gravity, completing the rejection action; while other normal books continue to be smoothly conveyed on the first and second conveyor units that are rotating synchronously and the third conveyor unit before the inclination, thereby realizing the automatic separation of qualified and defective books.

[0166] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A book appearance inspection device integrating synchronous transmission and image acquisition, characterized in that: Includes a mounting frame to support the various testing components; A synchronous conveying device is installed on the mounting frame along the book conveying direction. It includes a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit, and a third conveying unit connected in sequence, a drive mechanism that drives the three conveying units to rotate synchronously, and a rejection mechanism installed on the third conveying unit. The rejection mechanism can drive the third conveying unit to tilt downward to reject unqualified books. An image acquisition device, mounted on a mounting frame along the transmission path of the synchronous transmission device, includes: Multiple camera units, corresponding to the front, back, spine, top, ground, and sides of the book, are used to capture images of each exterior surface of the book; The supplementary lighting unit is set up one-to-one with each camera unit to provide a light source for image acquisition; Three focus adjustment mechanisms are connected to the front camera unit, the spine camera unit, and the side camera unit, respectively, to adjust the distance between the corresponding camera unit and the book surface. The top camera unit, the ground camera unit, and the back camera unit are fixed.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first, second, and third transmission units of the synchronous transmission device each include a corresponding support frame, crossbar, pad, and flat belt. The flat belt is supported on the pad, and a stable transmission foundation is formed through the hierarchical cooperation of the support frame, crossbar, and pad. A gap is left between the first and second transmission units for the rear camera unit to capture images.

3. The testing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The drive mechanism includes a servo motor, a reducer, and a synchronous transmission assembly. The synchronous transmission assembly includes a first synchronous belt, a second synchronous belt, a third synchronous belt, and corresponding synchronous pulleys. The servo motor drives the first synchronous belt via the reducer to rotate the first active roller of the first segment conveyor unit. The first active roller drives the second active roller of the second segment conveyor unit via the second synchronous belt. The second active roller drives the synchronous shaft of the third segment conveyor unit via the third synchronous belt, thereby realizing the synchronous operation of the three segment conveyor units.

4. The detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The rejection mechanism includes a push-pull device, a solenoid valve, and a third-section support frame with bearings. One end of the push-pull device is connected to the mounting frame, and the force output from the other end acts on the third-section conveying unit. The solenoid valve controls the extension and retraction of the push-pull device, driving the third-section conveying unit to swing around the bearing on the synchronous shaft, with an inclination angle ranging from 0° to 30°.

5. The detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The camera unit of the image acquisition device includes: The front-facing camera unit is positioned directly above the first transmission unit; The rear camera unit is located below the gap between the first and second transmission units; The spine camera unit and the side camera unit are respectively located on both sides of the first transmission unit; The rooftop camera unit and the ground camera unit are located in the transmission path of the second transmission unit.

6. The detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The supplementary lighting unit includes: A rectangular surface light source, in conjunction with the front-facing camera unit, is positioned around the lens to provide uniform illumination; The strip light source, which works in conjunction with the camera units on the back, spine, top, ground, and sides, extends along the lens acquisition direction to focus and illuminate the edge areas.

7. The detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The shooting timing of each camera unit is linked to the synchronous transmission device: The front, spine, and side camera units take pictures when the book is on the first conveyor unit; The rear camera unit takes photos during the transition from the first section to the second section of the book; The rooftop and ground-based camera units take pictures after the book is completed and enters the second transmission unit.

8. The testing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The focal length adjustment mechanism includes a hand crank, a slider, and a support assembly. The slider is slidably mounted on the hand crank, and the corresponding camera unit and supplementary lighting unit are mounted on the slider via the support assembly. The top focal length adjustment mechanism drives the slider to slide up and down via the hand crank to achieve vertical focal length adjustment of the front camera unit. The side focal length adjustment mechanisms drive the slider to slide horizontally via the hand crank to achieve horizontal focal length adjustment of the spine and side camera units.

9. The detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first transmission unit further includes several first guide rollers, the second transmission unit includes several second guide rollers, and the third transmission unit includes a third guide roller, which respectively cooperate with the corresponding drive roller and synchronous shaft to support the operation of the flat belt.

10. The detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first, second, and third synchronous belts are all toothed synchronous belts, which are driven by toothed engagement with the synchronous pulley.

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