Adaptive Printing via Optical Shape and Rotation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing systems require precise rotation and positioning of items, which can be costly and inflexible, leading to inefficiencies and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for specialized equipment and limited configurability.

Innovation Solution

A versatile printing system equipped with a computing device and camera that scans items to identify their shape, rotation, and position, allowing for adaptive printing on items at any rotation, position, or shape, without the need for specialized rotation and positioning equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If specialized rotation and positioning equipment is used to achieve precise item alignment, then printing accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidspecialized equipment requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical rotation and positioning equipment with an optical scanning system using cameras and image processing. The system captures images of items on the conveyor, processes the images to determine item orientation and position, and uses this information to control the printing process, eliminating the need for complex mechanical alignment devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses optical copies (images) of the physical items to determine their orientation and position. By creating and analyzing digital representations of items through camera scanning and image processing, the system can identify item characteristics without physical contact or mechanical intervention, replacing the need for specialized positioning equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If specialized rotation and positioning equipment is used to achieve precise item alignment, then printing accuracy is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive mechanical rotation and positioning equipment with more cost-effective optical scanning and image processing systems. This substitution significantly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining or improving printing accuracy through software-based item identification and alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses disposable or low-cost camera sensors and optical components instead of expensive, durable mechanical positioning equipment. The optical system can be easily replaced or upgraded without significant investment, making the overall system more cost-effective for achieving precise printing alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Manufacturing precision

If specialized equipment is used for precise item positioning, then printing accuracy is improved, but system adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidsystem configurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fixed mechanical positioning equipment with a flexible optical scanning and image processing system that can adapt to various item types, shapes, and orientations through software algorithms, significantly enhancing system versatility while maintaining printing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal printing system that can handle multiple item types, orientations, and positions using a single optical scanning and image processing platform. The system's software can be configured to recognize and process various item characteristics, eliminating the need for specialized equipment for each item type and enabling greater system adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12319074B2Identifying object shape, rotation, and position for printing and quality control

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 OPTOMATIC LLC

AI summary

A method for printing on an item, that includes generating a scanned shape of the item, performing a lookup of the scanned shape in a shape database, making a determination that the scanned shape matches a saved shape in the shape database, and based on the determination, measuring an item rotation of the item, generating a transformed print image based on the item rotation, causing a printhead to print on the item using the transformed print image.