Method for controlling an operating process of a printing machine

• US 7,489,425 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Original Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Inventors: Müller, Tobias
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Kimberly A
• Application Number:
  US11/048,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 358/2.1, 358/449, 358/488, 358/496, 358/494, 358/474, 358/475, 356/3.15, 356/364, 356/369, 399/370, 399/376, 382/104, 382/190, 382/209, 382/294, 382/305, 382/154, 382/155, 382/159
• US Class Current: 358/496
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/00 Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices arrangements of counting devices in platen presses B41F1/00 , B41F1/58; arrangements of counting devices in cylinder presses B41F3/84; ink supply or metering devices B41F31/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/02 indicating an entity which is controlled, adjusted or changed by a control process, i.e. output
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/03 indicating an entity which is measured, estimated, evaluated, calculated or determined but which does not constitute an entity which is adjusted or changed by the control process per se
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/20 Location in space
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/24 Irregularities, e.g. in orientation or skewness
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/42 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/46 Illumination arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/63 Optimisation, self-adjustment, self-learning processes or procedures, e.g. during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/21 Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/31 Devices located downstream of industrial printers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 43/08 Photoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10152 Varying illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20081 Training; Learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30108 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/586 from multiple light sources, e.g. photometric stereo
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/74 involving reference images or patches

Abstract

A method for controlling an operating process of a printing machine uses parameters of 3-D scenes taken with only one camera. A learning phase is performed in which the object in a non-moving state and its surroundings are illuminated from different directions by different fixed-location light sources, one after another. For each illumination scene, image signals reproducing the object and its surroundings are obtained with the image recording device. The image signals are processed and an unambiguous association between object edges and object shadows in relation to a light source in each case are determined and stored. In an operating phase, the moving object and its surroundings are illuminated simultaneously by a plurality of light sources, and, from the data stored in the learning phase and the image signals obtained continuously in the operating phase, the position of the object in space is determined.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an operating process of a printing machine, which comprises the steps of:

performing a learning phase by the steps of;

illuminating a movable object in a non-moving state and its surroundings from different directions successively by different fixed-location light sources;

obtaining first image signals reproducing the movable object and the surroundings with an image recording device for each illumination scene;

processing the first image signals for determining an unambiguous association between object edges and object shadows in relation to a respective light source resulting in learning signals; and

storing the learning signals;

performing an operating phase by the steps of;

illuminating the movable object during a moving state and the surroundings simultaneously by the different fixed-location light sources;

obtaining second image signals reproducing the movable object and the surroundings with the image recording device;

determining from the learning signals stored during the learning phase and the second image signals obtained continuously in the operating phase, a position of the movable object in space; and

processing the position of the movable object to influence the operating process as needed.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises selecting the light sources used to have different spectral emissions.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises selecting the light sources used to differ in characteristics of their three-dimensional propagation of light.

4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises selecting the light sources used to differ in a polarization direction of light emitted.

5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises selecting the image recording device to have spectral sensitivity.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises selecting the image recording device to have a sensitivity to light of a defined polarization direction.