JP3536636B2 - Shooting assistance device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing assisting device for photographing an article such as a commodity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a supermarket, a product is advertised by photographing the product alone and placing it in an advertisement. When shooting a product that is such a subject,
A professional photographer shoots in a special studio,
Because of the high cost of photography, clerks need to be able to easily photograph products, and to meet this demand,
Conventionally, photographing assistance devices have been studied and developed.
In this type of photographing assistance device, a product is placed in the device main body, a spotlight is applied from the side of the product by a lighting device to illuminate the product, and in this state the front of the product is photographed from outside the device main body by a photographing camera. Or you are shooting the top.

[0003]

However, in this photographing assistance device, since the spotlight is applied from the side of the product, the light strongly hits the side of the product, and uneven lighting such as shine is generated, resulting in a clear image. However, there is a problem that a proper photographed image cannot be obtained. Also, in this photographing assistance device, the photographing camera is fixed with a tripod when photographing the front of the product, but when photographing the upper surface of the product, the photographer holds the photographing camera in his hand and photographs. There is also a problem that the photographing operation is troublesome because it must be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a clear photographed image with less illumination unevenness and to be able to photograph easily and easily at least two surfaces of a commercial object.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a photographing assistance device that arranges a subject in a box-shaped device main body and photographs the subject with a photographing device including a camera unit, the photographing assisting device is provided on the upper front side of the device main body and closer to the subject than the photographing device. A lighting device for illuminating the subject from above from the front side, holding means for holding the photographing device for photographing the subject mounted in the device main body in the device main body, and mounting of the subject A mirror member for reflecting an image of the upper surface of the subject toward the photographing device side via the reflection surface, including a reflection surface that is attached to the upper surface position in the apparatus main body on the side to be obliquely inclined; When the front of a subject placed in the apparatus body is photographed by the photographing device, the holding unit for holding the photographing device is moved so that the camera unit of the photographing device faces the front position of the subject. If held is moved at a first position, also to take a top image of the object by said imaging device, said holding means for holding the imaging device,
A moving unit for moving and holding the camera unit of the photographing device to a second position facing the reflection surface of the mirror member is provided. Therefore, according to the present invention, the subject can be arranged in the box-shaped apparatus main body, and the subject can be illuminated from above the front side by the illumination device located closer to the subject than the photographing device. In the case of photographing the front of the photographing device with the photographing device, the holding means for holding the photographing device is moved and held at the first position where the camera unit of the photographing device faces the front position of the subject,
When an upper surface image of the subject is photographed by the photographing device, the holding unit that holds the photographing device is moved to and held at the second position where the camera unit of the photographing device faces the reflecting surface of the mirror member. be able to.

In this case, if the moving means includes a rotating stage for mounting and rotating the subject, the moving means may photograph the front and the top of the subject and rotate the moving means. By rotating the stage, the side of the subject can be easily photographed. In particular, as described in claim 3, the moving means is a rotary stage that is mounted and rotated while the subject is tilted, and is configured to turn the subject in a tilted state with the rotation of the rotary stage. If so, the front and top surfaces of the subject can be easily and easily photographed by simply rotating the rotating stage without moving the photographing device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an illumination drive mechanism for adjusting an illumination angle of the illumination device is further provided, so that the illumination drive mechanism illuminates an object from above the front side. Can be adjusted so that when shooting the subject, there is less illumination unevenness,
A clear captured image can be obtained. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when a reflection driving mechanism for adjusting a reflection direction of a mirror member for reflecting an image of an upper surface of a subject toward the photographing device is provided, the reflection plate is provided by the reflection driving mechanism. Can be adjusted, so that the upper surface of the subject can be photographed even better.

Further, if the illuminating device irradiates the subject with the light diffused in a planar manner as described in claim 6, the subject can be illuminated almost uniformly, and a clearer photographing can be achieved. Images can be obtained. Further, if a photographing hood for blocking external light is provided between the photographing apparatus and the apparatus main body as described in claim 7, the photographing apparatus is not affected by external light during photographing, so that the subject can be improved. Can be taken.

Further, if the rotary stage has a function of lifting and lowering the object, the object can be moved to a predetermined position within the photographing area by the photographing device, regardless of whether the size of the subject is large or small. Can be set. Further, if the rotary stage has a weight measuring function, the weight of the subject can be measured.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a display unit for displaying information such as the number of images to be taken and the weight and size of a subject in the apparatus body enables the information displayed on the display unit to be taken by the image taking apparatus. If it is arranged, the information displayed on the display unit can be photographed simultaneously with the photographing of the subject.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of a photographing assistance device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway configuration view showing the entire system of the photographing assist device, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the photographing assist device, and FIG. 3 is a state where the photographing assist device is partially folded. FIG. 4 is a perspective view, and FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing a photographing state by the photographing assistance device. The photographing assistance devices shown in these figures are for photographing a product 1 (see FIG. 4) as a subject, and include a photographing box (apparatus main body) 2. The photographing box 2 has a product 1 disposed therein, and has a substantially box shape. The front (left side in FIGS. 2 and 3) 2a of the photographing box 2 is open, and a camera hood (photographing hood) 3 is detachably attached to the front 2a. The camera hood 3 is formed in a substantially conical shape with a circular end at the front end and a square at the rear end, and a photographing camera (photographing device) 4 is arranged close to the front end. The photographing camera 4 is a digital camera that receives an image of the product 1 as a subject with a charge-coupled device (light-receiving device) such as a CCD and outputs the electric signal as an electrical signal. The tripod 5 is provided with a tilting mechanism (tilting device) 6 for tilting the photographing camera 4 in the vertical direction, and is configured to be able to move the photographing camera 4 in the vertical direction and to rotate in the horizontal direction. ing.

[0012] In the bottom portion on the back side in the photographing box 2,
As shown in FIG. 1, a rotary stage 7 on which a product 1 as a subject is mounted is rotatably provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary stage 7 includes an elevating mechanism 7a and a rotating mechanism 7b. The lifting mechanism 7 a
A control case 8 is provided at the inner bottom side. An elevating shaft 9 is disposed at a substantially central portion in the control case 8 so as to be vertically movable with its upper end protruding above the control case 8. On the surface, rack teeth 9a are provided along the vertical direction. Also,
An elevating motor 10 is disposed near the elevating shaft 9 in the control case 8, and a pinion 11 is provided on an output shaft of the elevating motor 10 so as to mesh with rack teeth 9 a of the elevating shaft 9. ing. Therefore, the elevating mechanism 7a is configured such that when the pinion 11 is rotated by the elevating motor 10, the elevating shaft 9 moves up and down with this rotation.

The rotating mechanism 7b includes a rotating case 12 rotatably mounted on an upper end of a lifting shaft 9 protruding above the control case 8, and moving up and down together with the lifting shaft 9. This rotating case 12
Is provided with a gear 13 fixed to the upper end surface of the elevating shaft 9 protruding therein, and a rotation motor 14 provided inside the rotating case 12. This rotation mechanism 7b
Is a pinion 1 provided on the output shaft of the rotation motor 14.
5 meshes with the gear 13, and in this state, the rotating motor 14
As a result, the pinion 15 rotates and rolls along the outer periphery of the gear 13, so that the rotating case 12 rotates about the elevating shaft 9.

A piezoelectric element 16 for measuring the weight of the product 1 is provided on the rotating case 12, and a pedestal 17 is attached via the piezoelectric element 16. The pedestal 17 has a cylindrical side wall 17 on an outer peripheral portion of a disk 17 a larger than the outer diameter of the control case 8.
b, the lower end surface of the side wall 17b does not come into contact with the bottom surface of the photographing box 2 when the elevating shaft 9 is at the lowest position, and is located slightly above the bottom surface. In this case, the pedestal 17 is configured to have a size that can be mounted from a small product 1 such as a screw to a large product 1 such as a dog food, and accordingly, the imaging box 2 is also large enough to accommodate the product 1 such as a dock food. The piezoelectric element 16 is also configured so that it can measure the weight from a few grams of goods 1 such as a screw to a few kilograms of goods 1 such as dog food.

On the upper surface of the disk 17a of the pedestal 17, a scale 18 for indicating the mounting position of the product 1 and the size of the product 1 on the XY coordinate as shown in FIG. Is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, a white adjustment mark 19 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 17b of the pedestal 17.
Are provided at equal intervals. This white adjustment mark 19
Is used when the product 1 is photographed by the photographing camera 4.
The chromaticity of the camera 4 is adjusted, for example, when the commodity 1 is irradiated with external light other than the illumination device 25 described later. A control circuit (not shown) for driving the lifting / lowering motor 10 based on a control command from a control device 35 described later is provided in the control case 8. A control circuit (not shown) for driving the rotation motor 14 based on a control command from the device 35 and outputting the weight data of the product 1 measured by the piezoelectric element 16 to the control device 35 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front display 20 and a top display 21 are provided near the rotary stage 7, as shown in FIG. The front display 20 and the top display 21 are for displaying information such as the number of shots and the weight and size of the product 1, and are composed of a liquid crystal display device or a fluorescent display tube. The camera 4 is arranged so as to be able to shoot. That is,
As shown in FIG. 1, the front display device 20 is disposed at the upper rear portion inside the imaging box 2 with the display surface 20 a facing the imaging camera 4. The display 21 for the upper surface is arranged so that the display surface 21a is directed upward at the lower rear side in the photographing box 2, and the display surface 21a is reflected toward the photographing camera 4 via a mirror plate 31 described later. Have been.

The upper surface 2b of the photographing box 2 is shown in FIG.
And the upper surface 2b is opened as shown in FIG.
In the upper part on the front side 2a side, a lighting device 25 for illuminating the product 1 arranged on the rotary stage 7 from above the front side.
Are mounted so as to be rotatable up and down. As shown in FIG. 4, the illumination device 25 includes a plurality of fluorescent tubes 27 arranged in a plane in an illumination box 26, light from each of the fluorescent tubes 27, and a reflection sheet provided on the inner surface of the illumination box 26. The light reflected at 28 is diffused almost planarly,
The product 1 placed on the rotary stage 7 is configured to be irradiated from above the front side thereof. In this case, on the outer surface of the lighting box 26, as shown in FIGS.
An illuminance adjustment switch 29 for selecting an illuminating fluorescent tube 27 and adjusting the illuminance is provided. Lighting box 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a support arm rotatably attached to an upper portion of a rear side surface 2e of the photographing box 2 in one of a plurality of locking recesses 26a provided on a side edge thereof, as shown in FIG. The front end of the camera 30 is engaged with the camera box 2 so as to be supported at a predetermined angle.

The back surface 2 of the upper surface 2b of the photographing box 2
As shown in FIG. 4, a mirror plate (reflecting plate) 3 that reflects an image on the upper surface side of the product 1 placed on the rotary stage 7 toward the photographing camera 4 on the camera hood 3, as shown in FIG.
1 is attached so as to be rotatable up and down. This mirror plate 31 has a tip of a support arm 32 rotatably attached to an upper part of a rear side surface 2e of the photographing box 2 in one of a plurality of locking recesses 31a provided on a side edge thereof. By being engaged, it is configured to be supported on the imaging box 2 in a state of being inclined at a predetermined angle. Then, the lighting device 25 and the mirror plate 31
By releasing the engagement of the locking recesses 26a, 31a by the 0, 32, as shown in FIG.
The illumination device 25 is arranged on the upper surface 2b of the imaging box 2 in a state where the illumination device 25 partially overlaps with a part of the mirror plate 31, and is configured to be folded on the imaging box 2 by this.

At the lower part of the back surface 2c of the photographing box 2, a back plate 33 for closing the back surface 2c is attached so as to rotate to the back side by a predetermined angle. This back plate 33
The upper part is opened at a predetermined angle with respect to the photographing box 2, whereby external light is taken into the photographing box 2 to illuminate the back side of the product 1. The rear plate 33 is provided with scales (not shown) indicating the height and width of the product 1. In addition, shooting box 2
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a sliding door 34 is provided on the front side surface 2d so as to be able to slide. The inner surface of the photographing box 2 including the back plate 33, the inner surface of the camera hood 3, and the inner surface of the sliding door 34 are all formed in white. Further, a control device 35 is arranged outside the photographing box 2 as shown in FIG. The control unit 35 includes a CRT disposed on its upper surface.
Display device 36 is electrically connected, and the photographing camera 4, the rotary stage 7, and the front-side display 2
0, the upper display 21 and the lighting device 25 are electrically connected by a connection cord 37, and the keyboard 38 and the hand scanner 39 are also electrically connected by the connection cord 37.

Next, a circuit configuration of the photographing assistance device will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 40 is a RAM 4
1 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the entire system of the photographing assist device in accordance with various programs loaded in 1. The storage device 42 has a storage medium 43 in which an operating system, various control programs, data files, and the like are stored in advance, and a drive system thereof.
The storage medium 43 is fixedly provided or removably mountable, and includes a magnetic / optical recording medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, and a RAM card, and a semiconductor memory. . The programs and data in the recording medium 43 are loaded into the RAM 41 under the control of the CPU 40 as needed. Further, the CPU 40 receives a program or data transmitted from another device via a communication line or the like and stores the program or data in the recording medium 43, or stores the program or data in a recording medium provided in another device. The programs and data used can be used via a communication line or the like.

The CPU 40 is connected with its input / output peripheral devices such as a keyboard 38, a hand scanner 39, a display device 36, various devices such as the photographing camera 4 and the photographing box 2, and a printing device 44 via a bus line. The CPU 40 controls these operations according to an input / output program. The keyboard 38 inputs product data and various commands, the hand scanner 39 inputs product data such as a bar code, and the input product data is displayed on the display screen of the display device 36 or output to the RAM.
For example, it is stored in a product file 41-1 (see FIG. 8) in the storage unit 41. The display device 36 is a CRT display device in this embodiment, but may be a flat display such as a liquid crystal display device or a plasma display device capable of color display.
Various devices of the imaging box 2 include the rotating stage 7, the front display 20, the top display 21, and the lighting device 25. The printing device 44 is a color printer, and is a non-impact type such as thermal transfer or ink jet, or a dot impact type.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a main configuration of the RAM 41. Various memory areas are allocated to the RAM 41. The product file 41-1 is a memory for sequentially storing various product data, and as shown in FIG.
A JAN code, a front image, a side image, a top image, weight, dimensions, other setting data, and the like are recorded for one product 1. The display memory 41-2 is a memory that stores an image of the product 1 photographed by the photographing camera 4 as image data. The image buffer 41-3 includes a display memory 41-2.
Is a memory for temporarily storing the image data stored in the memory.
The work memory 41-4 is a work table for processing data other than images.

Next, the operation of photographing the product 1 with the photographing assistance device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Before starting this flow, the lighting device 25 is previously placed on the photographing box 2 by the support arm 30.
And the mirror plate 31
Is supported on the photographing box 2 at a predetermined angle by the support arm 32. A program for realizing each function described in this flowchart is executed by a CPU.
40 is stored in a storage medium 42 in the form of a readable program code, and its contents are loaded into the RAM 41. In this state, first, the product code of the product 1 is read by the hand scanner 39 (step S1).
The read product code is stored in the product file 41 of the RAM 41.
-1 is stored as a JAN code (step S2).
Then, the merchandise 1 from which the merchandise code has been read is placed on the rotating stage 7 in the photographing box 2, and the photographing direction of the merchandise 1 by the photographing camera 4 is designated (step S3). The shooting direction of the product 1 at this time includes the front, side,
There are three directions of imaging of the upper surface, and one of them is designated here.

That is, when photographing the front of the product 1, the rotating stage 7 is rotated by the rotating mechanism 7b with the photographing camera 4 facing the commodity 1, and the front of the commodity 1 is turned to the photographing camera 4 while rotating. The stage 7 is moved up and down by the elevating mechanism 7a to set the product 1 at a predetermined height position in the photographing area of the photographing camera 4. When photographing the side surface of the product 1, the side of the product 1 is turned to the photographing camera 4 by rotating the rotary stage 7 by the rotation mechanism 7 b in a state where the front surface of the product 1 is photographed. Further, when photographing the upper surface of the product 1, the photographing camera 4 is tilted obliquely upward by the tilting device 6 of the tripod 5 so as to face the mirror plate 31, and in this state, the rotary stage 7 is rotated by the rotating mechanism 7b to rotate the product 1. Either the front or the side faces the photographing camera 4 side. When the product 1 is placed on the rotary stage 7, the weight of the product 1 is measured by the piezoelectric element 16.

As described above, when the photographing direction of the product 1 is designated, when the photographing camera 4 designates the photographing direction in which the product 1 is designated, for example, the photographing of the front of the product 1 is designated.
Of the product 1 is captured (step S4), and the captured image of the product 1 is stored in the product file 41-1 of the RAM 41 in association with the product code.
(Step S5). When the photographed image is stored, it is determined whether the photographing of the product 1 has been completed (step S6). At this time, if it is desired to capture another image of the product 1, for example, an image of the side or top surface of the product 1, the process returns to step S <b> 3, a direction different from the previous shooting direction is designated, and the above operation is repeated. And
When the photographing of a plurality of desired directions of the product 1, for example, the front, side, and top surfaces of the product 1, is completed, the weight data of the product 1 measured by the piezoelectric element 16 of the rotary stage 7 is taken in.
Product file 41 in RAM 41 in association with product code
-1 is stored with the weight data of the product 1 (step S5),
This flow ends.

As described above, in this photographing assisting device, the commodity 1 is illuminated from above the front side by the illumination device 25 located closer to the commodity 1 than the photographing camera 4, so that when photographing the commodity 1, uneven illumination is reduced. And a clear photographed image can be obtained. In this case, the lighting device 25 includes a plurality of fluorescent tubes 27.
Are arranged in a plane and light is diffused in a planar manner to illuminate the product 1, so that the product 1 can be illuminated almost uniformly, and there is no shininess as in the conventional case, and the product 1 is further sharpened. It is possible to obtain an appropriate photographed image. In addition, shooting camera 4
The camera hood 3 that blocks external light is provided between the camera box 2 and the photographing box 2, so that the photographing camera 4 is not affected by external light at the time of photographing, so that the product 1 can be photographed favorably. Further, since the back plate 33 is attached to the back surface 2c of the shooting box 2 so as to rotate and open by a predetermined angle, when the back side of the product 1 is dark, by opening the upper portion of the back plate 33 by a predetermined angle, External light can be taken into the photographing box 2 to illuminate the back side of the product 1, and a clear photographed image can also be obtained.

In this photographing assistance device, a mirror plate 31 for reflecting an image on the upper surface of the commodity 1 toward the photographing camera 4 is provided in a photographing box 2 at a position above the commodity 1, and photographing is performed. Since the camera 4 is held on the tripod 5 via the tilting device 6, by tilting the photographing camera 4 in the vertical direction by the tilting device 6, the photographing camera 4 can be directed to the front of the product 1 or the mirror plate 31. Can,
Thereby, the front and the top of the product 1 can be easily photographed. In addition, since the rotating stage 7 has the rotating mechanism 7b for rotating the product 1 placed thereon, the rotating mechanism 7b
By rotating the rotary stage 7 by the
Can be rotated, so that the side surface of the product 1 can be easily photographed.

In this case, the rotary stage 7 includes a lifting mechanism 7a
, The product 1 can be moved in the vertical direction by the elevating mechanism 7a. Therefore, even if the size of the product 1 is large or small, the product 1 can be moved within the photographing area of the photographing camera 4. It can be set at a predetermined height position. Further, since the rotary stage 7 is provided with the piezoelectric element 16 for measuring the weight, the weight of the product 1 can be automatically measured only by placing the product 1 on the rotary stage 7. The pedestal 17 of the rotary stage 7 is provided with a scale 18 for indicating the size of the plane of the product 1, and the back plate 33 is provided with scales (not shown) for indicating the height and width of the product 1. ) Is provided,
By placing the product 1 on the rotary stage 7, the size of the product 1 can be known. Further, since the white adjustment mark 19 is provided on the side surface of the rotary stage 7, for example, in addition to illuminating the product 1 with the illumination device 25, when the product 1 is illuminated with a spotlight from the outside, the white adjustment mark 19 is provided. The chromaticity of the photographing camera 4 can be easily adjusted in accordance with the time, and a color image of a color suitable for the product 1 can be obtained.

Further, in this photographing assistance device, the image of the commodity 1 photographed by the photographing camera 4 is stored in the RAM 41 in association with the commodity code inputted in advance, so that, for example, the stored image corresponds to the commodity code. Can be displayed on the display device 36 or printed by the printing device 44, and the stored image can be easily and easily processed according to the application. In the shooting box 2, a front display 20 and a top display 21 for displaying information such as the number of shots and the weight and size of the product 1 enable the shooting camera 4 to shoot the information displayed thereon. Since they are arranged, the information displayed on the displays 20 and 21 can be photographed simultaneously with the photographing of the product 1. Further, in this photographing assistance device, when not in use, the camera hood 3 is detached from the front surface 2a of the photographing box 2, the support arm 32 of the mirror plate 31 and the support arm 30 of the lighting device 25 are turned over, and Mirror plate 31 on upper surface 2b
In addition, the lighting device 25 can be folded compactly in the photographing box 2 by folding the lighting device 25 on a part of the mirror plate 31 so that they can be conveniently stored and easily transported. You can also.

In the first embodiment, the photographing camera 4 is held by the tripod 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first modification shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B or FIG. A configuration like the second modification shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B may be adopted. That is, FIGS. 11A and 11B
The first modified example shown in FIG.
6 is provided with a through-hole 26a at the center thereof.
The camera hood 3 is detachably attached to an outer surface of the camera hood 6, and a photographing camera 4 is attached to a distal end portion of the camera hood 3 via an angle adjusting device 50. in this case,
In the angle adjusting device 50, a support shaft 52 is rotatably provided in a device main body 51, and a photographing camera 4 and a gear 53 are integrally attached to the support shaft 52. A pinion 55 is attached to the output shaft, the pinion 55 meshes with a gear 53 of the support shaft 52, and the gear 53 rotates via the pinion 55 with the rotation of the motor 54, so that the photographing camera 4 moves the support shaft 52. It is configured to rotate around the center. Also,
In this photographing assistance device, a placing table 56 for placing the product 1 on the pedestal 17 of the rotating stage 7 in the photographing box 2 is provided. The mounting table 56 mounts the product 1 in a state of being inclined by about 45 °, and has a substantially V-shape opened at an angle of about 90 °.

In the photographing assistance device of the first modified example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the commodity 1 is placed on the mounting table of the rotary stage 7 with the front of the commodity 1 facing the photographing camera 4. By mounting on the 56, the front of the product 1 can be photographed by the photographing camera 4, and when the rotary stage 7 is rotated by 180 ° in this state, as shown in FIG. Is directed to the photographing camera 4, so that the upper surface of the product 1 can be photographed. Therefore, the front and upper surfaces of the product 1 can be simply and simply rotated by rotating only the rotary stage 7 without moving the photographing camera 4. You can easily shoot. At this time, when the photographing height of the product 1 is different between the front surface and the upper surface of the product 1, as in the first embodiment, the mounting table 56 is moved up and down by the elevating mechanism 7a of the rotary stage 7, and the product 1 is moved. Can be adjusted, and the inclination of the photographing camera 4 with respect to the product 1 can be finely adjusted by the angle adjusting device 50.
The shooting angle can be set finely.

In a second modification shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a camera support arm (moving device) 57 is mounted on the outer surface of the side surface 2e of the photographing box 2 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The photographing camera 4 is rotatably mounted on the tip of the camera support arm 57, and the camera support arm 57 is tilted substantially horizontally to arrange the photographing camera 4 in front of the product 1, thereby photographing the front of the product 1. In addition, the camera support arm 57 is erected, and the photographing camera 4 is arranged above the product 1, so that the upper surface of the product 1 is photographed. In this case, a front plate 58a and an upper plate 58
When the front of the product 1 is photographed, the upper plate 58b is supported by the support arm 32 on the upper surface of the photographing box 2 as shown in FIG.
When the front plate 58a is removed from the front and the camera hood 3 is attached, and when photographing the upper surface, the front plate 58a is attached to the front of the photographing box 2 as shown in FIG. May be removed, the camera hood 3 may be attached, and the lower portion on the lighting device 25 side may be opened. In such a photographing assistance device, the camera support arm 5
By rotating the camera 7 in the vertical direction, the photographing camera 4 can be easily moved to the front side and the top side of the product 1, whereby the front and top surfaces of the product 1 can be easily photographed. .

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the photographing assistance device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 13, a camera moving mechanism (photographing moving mechanism) 60 that holds the photographing camera 4 is provided in the photographing box 2 of the photographing assistance device. The camera moving mechanism 60 includes a side surface 2 on the front surface 2 a side of the photographing box 2.
A swing arm 61 is attached to a lower portion of the swing arm 61 so as to be rotatable in a vertical direction by a first hinge mechanism 62 described later. A camera base 63 is provided on a tip end of the swing arm 61, and a photographing camera is mounted on the camera base 63. The photographing camera 4 is configured to correspond to the tip of the camera hood 3 attached to the front surface 2a of the photographing box 2 as in the first embodiment. The camera hood 3 of this embodiment is made of a flexible and elastic material such as rubber.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the camera base 64 has a cylindrical control case 64 provided on the tip of the swing arm 61. The control case 64 includes a rotating mechanism 63a and a tilting mechanism 63b. Is provided. The rotating mechanism 63a includes a rotating plate 65 at the upper end of the control case 64,
The rotary gear 65 is rotatably mounted. A cylindrical gear 66 is integrally provided on the lower surface of the rotary plate 65. A pinion 68 is mounted on an output shaft of a turning motor 67 provided in the control case 64. The rotating plate 65 is configured to rotate 360 ° by rotating while meshing with the cylindrical gear 66.

The tilting mechanism 63b includes a control case 6
A tilting motor 69 is provided substantially at the center of the motor 4, and the output shaft of the tilting motor 69 projects upward through a through hole 65b provided at the center of rotation of the rotary plate 65. Are provided, and a pair of support projections 71 are provided on the rotating plate 65 so as to face each other with the drive bevel gear 70 interposed therebetween. A support shaft 72 is provided on the pair of support projections 71. A pair of holding legs 73 for holding the photographing camera 4 are rotatably attached to 72.
A fan-shaped driven bevel gear 74 is provided on one holding leg 73,
The driven bevel gear 74 meshes with the driven bevel gear 74 and rotates so that the photographing camera 4 is tilted in the up-down direction. The turning motor 67 and the tilt motor 69 each include a position sensor such as an encoder, and are configured so that the rotational position and the tilt position of the photographing camera 4 can be detected by each position sensor.

As shown in FIG. 13, an illuminating device 25 is attached to the upper part of the front side 2a of the photographing box 2 via a second hinge mechanism (illumination driving mechanism) 75 so as to be vertically rotatable. The mirror plate 31 is attached to the upper part of the photographing box 2 on the back surface 2c side via a third hinge mechanism 76 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. further,
A rear plate 33 is attached to the upper part of the photographing box 2 on the rear surface 2c side via a fourth hinge mechanism 77 so as to be rotatable rearward. Then, the first to fourth hinge mechanisms 6
2, 75 to 77 all have the same configuration. Here, the second hinge mechanism 75 of the lighting device 25 will be described with reference to FIG. The hinge mechanism 75 includes a cylindrical fixed hinge 78 fixed on the photographing box 2,
A cylindrical movable hinge 79 is provided on the fixed hinge 78 so as to be rotatable about its cylindrical axis.

A motor 80 is provided in the fixed hinge 78, and an output shaft of the motor 80 projects along a cylindrical axis in the movable hinge 79, and a pinion 81 is attached to the protruding tip. Has been. The outer peripheral surface of the movable hinge 79 is provided on the illumination case 26 of the illumination device 25.
A ring-shaped internal gear 82 is provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof substantially corresponding to the pinion 81. An intermediate gear 83 is arranged between the internal gear 82 and the pinion 81 in a state where the intermediate gear 83 is attached to the fixed hinge 78. The intermediate gear 83 includes two gear portions, one of which meshes with the pinion 81 and the other of which meshes with the internal gear 82. Therefore, the hinge mechanism 75 transmits the rotation of the motor 80 to the intermediate gear 83 via the pinion 81, and transmits the rotation of the intermediate gear 83 to the internal gear 82, thereby moving the movable hinge 79 to the fixed hinge 78. The illumination device 25 is configured to rotate with respect to the imaging box 2. The motor 80 includes a position sensor such as an encoder, similar to the turning motor 67 and the tilting motor 69, and is configured such that the tilt position of the lighting device 25 can be detected by the position sensor.

As in the first embodiment, a rotary stage 7, a front display 20 and an upper display 21 are provided in the photographing box 2. As in the embodiment, a control device 35, a display device 36 such as a CRT, a keyboard 38, and a hand scanner 39 are arranged. A display device 36, a keyboard 38, and a hand scanner 39 are electrically connected to the control device 35, and the photographing camera 4, the rotary stage 7, the front display device 20, the top display device 21, Illumination device 25, camera stand 64, and first to fourth
The hinge mechanisms 62, 75 to 77 are each electrically connected by a connection cord.

Next, a circuit configuration of the photographing assistance device will be described with reference to FIG. This circuit configuration is
M41 is different from that of the first embodiment except that a motor drive unit 85 is added. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the motor drive unit 85. The motor drive unit 85 includes a motor drive circuit 86 and an A / D converter 87. The motor drive circuit 86
Various motors M1 to Mn are selected and controlled and driven based on a drive control command from the CPU 40. A / D converter 87
Converts the detection signals from the position sensors E1 to En that detect the respective rotational positions according to the rotation of the motors M1 to Mn driven by the motor drive circuit 86 into digital signals and outputs the digital signals to the CPU 40. In this case, the various motors M1 to Mn include the rotating stage 7, the camera base 64,
And the first to fourth hinge mechanisms 62, 75 to 77. Further, the position sensors E1 to En
Position sensors such as encoders provided in 1 to Mn.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a main configuration of the RAM 41. Similar to the first embodiment, the RAM 41 is assigned various memory areas of a product file 41-1, a display memory 41-2, an image buffer 41-3, and a work memory 41-4. Memory areas such as the classification type code memory 41-5 and the motor control data memory 41-6 are also allocated. In the photo classification type code memory 41-5, as shown in FIG. 21, the color and gloss of the container and the contents of the product 1 are classified and recorded for each material. For example, the material of the container includes paper, glass, resin, iron, and the like. When the material of the container is paper, the tint 1 of the container is transparent, the tint 2 of the container is white, the container has no shine, and the contents are not. Color 1 is transparent,
The tint 2 of the contents is classified and recorded as white, etc. When the material of the container is glass, the tint 1 of the container is translucent, the tint 2 of the container is yellow, and the gloss of the container is semi-mirror. The color tint 1 is translucent, and the color tint 2 is yellow.

The motor control data memory 41-6 includes:
As shown in FIG. 22, a product size, a photo classification type code, front photographing data, side photographing data, top photographing data, and the like are recorded for each of various commodity sizes. For example, as for the product size, the width, height, and depth are “W × T ×
D), the photo classification type code is such that the material, the tint of the container 1, 2, the shiny, the tint of the contents 1, 2 and the like are “10X”.
X3XX ", and the front, side, and top image data are the position data of the position sensors E1 to En.
Recorded as “X to Z” corresponding to each of M1 to Mn.

Next, the operation of such a photographing assistance device will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an operation flow for creating motor control data, and FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an operation flow for photographing a product based on the created motor control data. Are stored in the storage medium 42 in the form of program codes readable by the CPU 40, as in the first embodiment, and the contents are stored in the RA.
It is loaded in M41. First, an operation flow for creating the motor control data shown in FIG. 23 will be described. In this operation flow, the process is started by performing an initialization process, and an area for one recording is secured in the motor control data memory 41-6 of the RAM 41 (step S1).
0), the commodity sample to be photographed (the commodity 1 itself may be placed) is placed on the rotating stage 7 in the photographing box 2 (step S11), and the commodity size and the photo classification type code of the placed commodity sample are entered by the operator using the keyboard. 3
8 and recorded in the motor control data memory 41-6 (step S12).

Then, the positions of the motors M1 to Mn are manually controlled (step S13). At this time, the operator operates the keyboard 38 to give a drive command from the CPU 40 to the motor drive unit 85, and the motor drive circuit 86 drives each of the motors M1 to Mn based on the drive command. In this way, the lighting device 25 and the mirror plate 31 are tilted at a predetermined angle to stand up, the back plate 33 is opened at a predetermined angle as needed, and the rotating stage 7 is rotated and raised and lowered to set the direction and height of the product sample. The swing arm 61 and the camera base 6
By operating the camera 4, the photographing camera 4 is pointed at the product sample and is moved to a photographable state. At this time, one of three directions of the front, side, and top of the product sample is designated.

When each of the motors M1 to Mn is operated to designate a photographing direction, it is determined whether the operation is completed (step S14). If the operation is not completed, the process proceeds to step S14.
Returning to step 13, the process waits until the photographing direction is designated and photographing of the product sample becomes possible. When the product 1 can be photographed, the positions of the motors M1 to Mn are determined by the position sensors E.
1 to En are detected, and the detected position data is recorded in the motor control data memory 41-6 (step S15).
As a result, one of the front, side, and top position data of the product sample is recorded, and it is determined whether to end the creation of the motor control data (step S16). At this time, if it is desired to create another position data of the product sample, the process returns to step S13, specifies a different photographing direction from the previous time, and repeats the above operation. When the creation of a plurality of desired photographing directions of the product sample, for example, the position data of the front, side, and top surfaces of the product 1, is completed, this flow is finished.

Next, the photographing flow shown in FIG. 24 will be described. In this photographing flow, first, the product code of the product 1 is read by the hand
Is recorded as a JAN code in the product file 41-1 (step S20), and the size of the product 1 is stored in the keyboard 38.
And records it in the product file 41-1 of the RAM 41 (step S21). Take this product 1 in the shooting box 2
Is placed on the rotating stage 7 (step S22), and the photo classification type code is input by the keyboard 38 (step S23). Then, it is determined whether the input of the photo classification type code has been completed (step S24). If not completed, the process returns to step S23 and waits until the input is completed. When the input of the photo classification type code is completed, the product code, the product size, and the motor control data corresponding to the photo classification type code are specified.

When one of the front photographing data, the side photographing data, and the top photographing data of the designated motor control data is designated (step S25), the motor drive unit 85 causes each motor M1 to operate based on the designated data. To Mn (step S26). For example, when the front photographing data of the motor control data is designated, each of the motors M1 to Mn is driven based on the front photographing data, and the lighting device 25 and the mirror plate 31 are tilted at a predetermined angle to stand up, The face plate 33 is opened at a predetermined angle, the rotation stage 7 is rotated and moved up and down to set the direction and height of the product 1, and the swing arm 61 and the camera base 64 are operated so that the photographing camera 4 faces the front of the product 1. .

Whether or not each of the motors M1 to Mn has moved to the position of the motor control data is detected by each of the position sensors E1 to En of each of the motors M1 to Mn.
It is determined whether the operations of 1 to Mn have been completed (step S2).
7) If the operation of each of the motors M1 to Mn is not completed, the process returns to step S26 and waits until the operation of each of the motors M1 to Mn is completed. When each of the motors M1 to Mn operates at the position of the motor control data and the front of the product 1 can be photographed, the photographing camera 4 photographs the product 1 and stores the photographed image in the product file 41-1 of the RAM 41. Is recorded as front image data in association with the product code (step S28). When the image of the front of the product 1 is recorded in step S28, it is determined whether the shooting of the product 1 has been completed (step S29). At this time, if it is desired to photograph the other surface of the product 1 other than the front, data to be photographed next, for example, side photograph data or top photograph data is designated from the motor control data (step S30), and the process returns to step S26. The above operation is repeated, and step S
At 29, the image of the side or top of the product 1 is stored in the product file 4
1-1 is recorded as image data in association with the product code. When a plurality of desired photographings, for example, photographing of the top surface, side surface, and top surface of the product 1 have all been completed in step S30, the flow ends.

As described above, in this photographing assistance device, the first
In addition to the same effects as those of the embodiment, in particular, since the illumination angle of the illumination device 25 that illuminates the product 1 from above the front side can be adjusted by the second hinge mechanism 75 that is a lighting drive mechanism, the product 1 can be used. When taking a picture, it is possible to satisfactorily illuminate, to obtain a clear photographed image with less uneven lighting than in the first embodiment, and to rotate the product 1 by the rotating stage 7 and move the camera. Mechanism 6
0, the photographing camera 4 is moved with respect to the product 1, so that the front, side, and top surfaces of the product 1 can be easily and easily photographed.
The operation of the entire apparatus is controlled by the CPU 40 and the motor driving unit 85 based on the motor control data set in advance when shooting with the camera 1, so that the product 1 can be automatically shot, and Even those who do not have the skills,
The product 1 can be easily photographed, and the entire device is manually controlled to detect the operation position, thereby creating front-side photographing data, side-side photographing data, and top-side photographing data of motor control data. Therefore, motor control data can be easily created.

In the second embodiment, the first to fourth embodiments
Although the hinge mechanisms 62 and 75 to 77 transmit the rotation of the motor by the gear mechanism, the invention is not limited to this, and a cam mechanism may be used, or a link mechanism or the like that converts the rotation of the motor into linear motion and transmits it. May be. In addition, the first and second
In the embodiment, the illumination device 25 has a configuration in which the plurality of fluorescent tubes 27 are arranged in a plane. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and a flat light-emitting panel such as an electroluminescence element may be used. Further, in the first and second embodiments, the piezoelectric element 16 is provided on the rotary stage 7 and the weight of the product 1 is measured by the piezoelectric element 16.
It is not necessary to be 6, and a digital scale or the like may be used. In short, any scale that can measure the weight of the product 1 may be used.

[0050]

According to the present invention, the subject is arranged in the box-shaped apparatus main body, and the subject is illuminated from above the front side by the illumination device located closer to the subject than the photographing apparatus. In addition, when a photographing device is used for photographing the front of a subject with a photographing device by a moving device, a holding device for holding the photographing device is provided with a camera of the photographing device. When the unit is moved and held at a first position facing the front position of the subject, and when an upper surface image of the subject is photographed by a photographing device, a holding unit for holding the photographing device is provided by a holding unit of the photographing device. Since the camera section is moved and held at the second position facing the reflection surface of the mirror member, it is possible to easily and easily photograph at least two surfaces of the subject.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away configuration diagram of the entire system showing a first embodiment of a photographing assistance device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the photographing assistance device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of the photographing assistance device of FIG. 1 is folded.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing a photographing state by the photographing assistance device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the rotary stage of FIG. 1;

6A and 6B show the rotary stage of FIG. 5, wherein FIG. 6A is a plan view of the pedestal, and FIG. 6B is a side view of the pedestal.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the photographing assistance device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a RAM in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the product file of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the entire photographing assistance device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a first modification of the first embodiment, in which FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of the photographing assist device, and FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a state in which the rotation stage of the photographing assist device is rotated by 180 °. .

FIGS. 12A and 12B show a second modification of the first embodiment, in which FIG. 12A shows a state in which the front of a product is photographed by the photographing assistance device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of shooting.

FIG. 13 is a partially omitted configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the photographing assistance device of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a front sectional view of the camera base shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view of the camera base shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a rotation direction of a photographing camera by the camera stand of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a partially broken perspective view showing a main part of a second hinge mechanism of the lighting device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the photographing assistance device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing the motor drive unit of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a RAM in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a photo classification type code memory of the RAM of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a motor control data memory of the RAM in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a flow of creating motor control data of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a view showing an operation flow of photographing a product based on motor control data by the photographing assistance device of FIG. 13;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 product 2 Shooting box 3 Camera hood 4 Camera 6 Tilt mechanism 7 Rotation stage 7a Lifting mechanism 7b Rotary mechanism 16 Piezoelectric element 20 Front display 21 Top display 25 Lighting equipment 31 Mirror plate 35 Controller 40 CPU 41 RAM 50 Angle adjustment device 56 Mounting table 57 Camera support arm 60 Camera moving mechanism 75 Second hinge mechanism 76 Third hinge mechanism 85 Motor drive unit 41-1 Product file 41-5 Photo Classification Code Memory 41-6 Motor Control Data Memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 15/06 G03B 17/56

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photographing assisting device for arranging a subject in a box-shaped device main body and photographing the subject with a photographing device including a camera unit, wherein the subject side is located at an upper front side of the device main body with respect to the photographing device. And a lighting device for illuminating the subject from above from the front side, and for photographing the subject mounted in the device body.
Holding means for holding the photographing apparatus in the apparatus main body, and an upper surface position in the apparatus main body on a side on which the subject is mounted
Includes a reflective surface that is mounted at an angle to the
An image of the upper surface of the subject via the surface to the imaging device side
A mirror member for reflecting the light toward the camera;
If you want to take pictures with the camera,
Holding means, the camera unit of the photographing device is in front of the subject.
Moved and held at a first position facing the position, and
When photographing the top image of the subject with the photographing device,
The holding means for holding the photographing device,
A second position where the camera unit of the second embodiment faces the reflecting surface of the mirror member
A photographing assistance device, comprising: moving means for moving and holding the photographing device. Wherein said moving means, claims characterized in that it comprises a rotary stage for rotating <br/> rotation by placing the subject
Item 4. The photographing assistance device according to item 1 . 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the moving means is a rotary stage that mounts and rotates the subject in a tilted state, and rotates the subject in a tilted state with the rotation of the rotary stage. The photographing assistance device according to claim 1. 4. An illumination device for adjusting an illumination angle of the illumination device.
2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving mechanism.
Auxiliary equipment. 5. An image of an upper surface of the subject is taken by the photographing device.
Reflection that adjusts the reflection direction of the mirror member that reflects toward
2. The photographing device according to claim 1, further comprising a driving mechanism for use.
Shadow assist device. 6. The imaging assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination device diffuses light in a planar shape and irradiates the object with the light. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
The photographing assistance device according to claim 1, further comprising a photographing hood that blocks external light. 8. The photographing assistance device according to claim 2 , wherein said rotary stage has a lifting function. Wherein said rotating stage, imaging assist device according to claim 2, wherein a weight measuring function. 10. A display unit for displaying information such as the number of shots and the weight and size of the subject in the apparatus body so that the information displayed on the display unit can be shot by the shooting apparatus. The photographing assistance device according to claim 1, wherein: