Method and apparatus for visually inspecting a substrate on a printing press

• US 20040051061A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baldwin Americas Corporation (Forsyth Baldwin LLC)
• Original Assignee: Quad/Tech Incorporated
• Inventors: Warner, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,867,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/559.44
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/0036 Devices for scanning or checking the printed matter for quality control

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of printing presses, and specifically to a method and apparatus for visually inspecting a web moving on a printing press using a CMOS based image recording device and preferably a LED light source.

Claims

1. A visual inspection system configured to be in optical communication with a substrate of a printing press, said visual inspection system comprising:

a CMOS image recording device configured to record images printed on the substrate, and

a processing unit coupled to the recording device, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate an output, and wherein the output includes information regarding adjustment of the position of the substrate.

2. The visual inspection system of claim 1 and further including an illumination system.

3. The visual inspection system of claim 1 wherein said illumination system is of the non-strobe, non-incandescent type.

4. The visual inspection system of claim 2 wherein said illumination system includes a plurality of high intensity LEDs.

5. The visual inspection system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of LEDs are in a circular configuration.

6. The visual inspection system of claim 5 where said circular configuration surrounds said recording device.

7. The visual inspection system of claim 1 wherein said position includes the lateral position of the substrate.

8. The visual inspection system of claim 1 wherein said position includes the longitudinal position of the substrate.

9. A visual inspection system configured to be in optical communication with the substrate of a printing press, said visual inspection system comprising:

a CMOS image recording device configured to record images from the substrate, and

a control system coupled to said recording device, wherein the control system uses the recorded image of the substrate to control operation of the printing press.

10. The visual inspection system of claim 9 and further including an illuminator of the non-strobe, non-incandescent type.

11. The visual inspection system of claim 10 wherein said illuminator includes a plurality of LEDs.

12. The visual inspection system of claim 11 wherein said LEDs are of the high intensity type.

13. The visual inspection system of claim 11 wherein said LEDs are arranged in one of a rectangular and a circular configuration.

14. The visual inspection system of claim 13 wherein said configuration surrounds said recording device.

15. The visual inspection system of claim 9 wherein said control system is a cutoff control system.

16. The visual inspection system of claim 9 wherein said control system is a color control system.

17. The visual inspection system of claim 9 wherein said control system is a registration control system.

18. The visual inspection system of claim 9 wherein said control system is a web inspection control system.

19. The visual inspection system of claim 9 wherein said recording device is stationary.

20. The visual inspection system of claim 9 wherein said recording device is fixed relative to the printing press.

21. A visual inspection system configured to be in optical communication with a substrate of a printing press, said visual inspection system comprising:

a CMOS image recording device configured to record images printed on the substrate;

a control system coupled to said recording device, wherein the control system uses the recorded image to control operation of the printing press; and

an illumination system including a plurality of high intensity LED arranged in a configuration surrounding said recording device.

22. A visual inspection system configured to be in optical communication with a web of a web offset printing press, said visual inspection system comprising:

a CMOS image recording device configured to record images printed on the web;

a control system coupled to said recording device, wherein the control system uses the recorded image to control operation of the printing press; and

an illumination system including a plurality of high intensity LEDs arranged in a configuration surrounding said recording device.

23. A visual inspection system configured to be in optical communication with a substrate of a printing press, said visual inspection system comprising:

a CMOS image recording device configured to record images printed on the substrate; and

a plurality of high intensity LEDs adjacent said recording device and positioned to illuminate the substrate.

24. The visual inspection system of claim 23 wherein said recording device includes a lens and wherein said LEDs are arranged in a circular orientation surrounding said lens.

25. A method of visually inspecting a substrate of a printing press, the method comprising:

providing a camera assembly including a CMOS image recording device configured to record images printed on the substrate;

recording at least one image using the CMOS image recording device; and

generating an output.

26. The method of claim 25 and further including the step of illuminating the substrate.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the substrate is illuminated with a light source of the non-strobe, non-incandescent type.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the web is illuminated using LEDs.

29. The method of claim 25 and further including the step of controlling an aspect of the printing press in response to said output.

30. A method of visually inspecting a web of a web offset printing press, the method comprising:

providing a camera assembly including a CMOS image recording device configured to record images printed on the web;

illuminating the web with a plurality of LEDs;

recording at least one image using the CMOS image recording device;

generating an output; and

controlling an aspect of the printing press in response to said output.

31. An illumination arrangement for an image recording device on a printing press, said illumination arrangement adapted to illuminate the substrate of the printing press and comprising:

a plurality of high intensity LEDs arranged in a circular configuration surrounding the recording device.

32. A visual inspection system configured to be in optical communication with a substrate of a printing press, said visual inspection system comprising:

a plurality of CMOS image recording devices configured to record images printed on the substrate; and

a processing unit coupled to each of said plurality of recording devices and adapted to process the recorded images.

33. The visual inspection system of claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of recording devices is fixed relative to the printing press.

34. A visual inspection system configured to be in optical communication with a substrate of a printing press, the substrate having thereon repeated iterations, said visual inspection system comprising:

a CMOS image recording device configured to record an image of every repeated iteration printed on the substrate; and

a processing unit coupled to said recording device and adapted to process the recorded images.