Multipurpose Sensor Head for Banknote Color Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color measurement systems for commercial printing are inadequate for security printing applications, such as banknote production, as they fail to accurately measure and control the complex color patterns and security features, including invisible features under specific illumination conditions.
Innovation Solution
A device for offline inspection and color measurement featuring a multipurpose measuring apparatus with a camera and color measurement sensor on a common sensor head, capable of spectrophotometric, colorimetric, and densitometric measurements, and equipped with infrared and ultraviolet light sources, allowing detailed inspection and precise color measurement of visible and invisible features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If commercial offset printing color measurement systems are used for security printing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability are insufficient for complex color patterns and security features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement functions (spectrophotometric, colorimetric, densitometric) and multiple light sources (visible, infrared, ultraviolet) into a single integrated measuring device. This merging approach enables comprehensive measurement of both visible color patterns and invisible security features, resolving the contradiction by achieving high measurement precision through functional integration while managing device complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring device is designed with universal multi-functionality to handle diverse measurement requirements in security printing. It can perform spectrophotometric, colorimetric, and densitometric measurements across different spectral ranges (visible, infrared, ultraviolet) using a single device platform. This multi-functionality enables accurate measurement of complex color patterns and security features without requiring multiple separate devices.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate measuring devices are used for different measurement types, then the measurement precision for each function is optimized, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measuring devices into one integrated system that performs spectrophotometric, colorimetric, and densitometric measurements simultaneously. The device incorporates multiple light sources (visible, infrared, ultraviolet) and corresponding sensors in a unified structure, enabling operators to conduct comprehensive measurements without switching between separate devices, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated measuring device provides universal multi-functionality by incorporating multiple measurement capabilities and spectral ranges in a single device. This allows operators to perform diverse measurements (color, density, invisible features) using one instrument, eliminating the need to manage multiple separate devices while preserving the precision of each measurement function through dedicated sensors and light sources.
3Reliability
If comprehensive inspection of all features including invisible security elements is performed, then the measurement precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and measurement time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources (visible, infrared, ultraviolet) and measurement functions into a single integrated device that can perform comprehensive inspections simultaneously. This merging enables the system to capture both visible color patterns and invisible security features in one measurement process, improving inspection reliability while minimizing measurement time by eliminating sequential inspection steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring device is designed to perform continuous comprehensive measurements without interruption. The integrated system with multiple light sources and sensors operates simultaneously to capture all features (visible and invisible) in a single continuous measurement process, ensuring complete inspection reliability while avoiding time loss from multiple separate measurement steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables convenient, efficient, and accurate measurement and inspection of all features on printed sheets, including complex color patterns and security elements, improving printing quality and ensuring proper ink supply adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a camera for taking images of selected portions of the sample printed sheet
Implementation Method 2
a color measurement sensor for performing spectrophotometric, colorimetric, and/or densitometric measurements
Implementation Method 3
equipped with infrared and ultraviolet light sources
Implementation Method 4
equipped with infrared and ultraviolet light sources
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
AI summary
There is described a device (1) for offline inspection and color measurement of printed sheets for the production of banknotes and like printed securities, comprising (i) a console (10) having a supporting surface (10a) for supporting a sample printed sheet (S), (ii) a multipurpose measuring apparatus (20), which multipurpose measuring apparatus (20) comprises multiple sensors (22, 23) including at least one camera (22) for taking images of selected portions of the sample printed sheet (S) and a color measurement sensor (23) for performing spectrophotometric, colorimetric, and/or densitometric measurements at selected locations on the sample printed sheet (S), (iii) a display (30) for displaying the images taken by the camera (22) and the measurements performed by the color measurement sensor (23), and (iv) a control and processing unit (40) coupled to the multipurpose measuring apparatus (20) and the display (30). The device (1) comprises a moveable sensor beam (200) housing the multipurpose measuring apparatus (20), which moveable sensor beam (200) is displaceable along an x-axis over the supporting surface (10a) of the console (10) and over the entire surface of the sample printed sheet (S) located on the supporting surface (10a), the multiple sensors (22, 23) being mounted on a common sensor head (21) which is displaceable within the moveable sensor beam (200) along a y-axis so that the multipurpose measuring apparatus (20) can selectively take images of selected portions of the sample printed sheet (S) by means of the camera (22) or perform measurements at selected locations on the sample printed sheet (S) by means of the color measurement sensor (23). The control and processing unit (40) is configured to control displacement of the moveable sensor beam (200) along the x-axis and of the sensor head (21) along the y-axis.