Embedding Cassette Printing With Readability Verification and Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing embedding cassette printing systems suffer from errors in readability and handling inefficiencies, leading to time loss and potential sample tracing issues, with a significant portion of printed cassettes not reaching storage facilities.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a printer with integrated verification means, such as a camera or barcode scanner, to ensure print correctness and readability, along with a storage facility that tracks and alerts for missing cassettes, ensuring accurate data transfer and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual verification of printed cassettes is performed, then errors in readability can be detected, but time loss and handling inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual verification with an automated optical verification system using a camera and image processing. The camera captures images of printed cassettes and automatically verifies print quality, replacing the mechanical human eye and hand verification process. This substitution eliminates time loss while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification system performs self-verification of print quality without requiring external manual intervention. The automated camera-based system continuously monitors and verifies printed cassettes as they pass through the printing station, enabling the system to self-correct and self-validate without human involvement.
2Productivity
If automated verification system is implemented, then handling efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The verification camera serves multiple functions: it captures images for quality verification, identifies cassette colors, and tracks printed items. By making the verification system multi-functional, the patent increases productivity without proportionally increasing complexity, as a single device performs multiple verification tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that manages the verification process, image processing, and communication with the storage facility. This centralized control approach simplifies the overall system architecture by coordinating multiple functions through a single intelligent unit rather than requiring complex direct connections between all components.
3Measurement precision
If tracking system is implemented to monitor cassettes from printing to storage, then sample tracing accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based tracking system where the verification camera continuously monitors cassette movement from printing to storage. The system compares expected cassette flow with actual flow, automatically identifying and alerting about missing cassettes. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures high tracing accuracy while keeping the system relatively simple through automated anomaly detection.
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
Reduces errors and enhances handling efficiency by verifying print quality and tracking cassettes from printing to storage, minimizing losses and improving sample tracing.
Implementation Method 1
laser printing is taking the place of ink printing
Implementation Method 2
laser printing head (110)
Implementation Method 3
at least one means (120) to verify the correctness and the readability of the print job, wherein the means (120) to verify the correctness and the readability of the print job is selected from a camera or a barcode scanner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Apparatus and method for printing and controlling embedding cassettes The present invention is directed to an embedding cassette printer comprising: at least one hub for feeding at least one printing position; conveyor means to transport the cassettes from the hub to the at least one printing position; at least one printing head (110); at least one mean (120) to verify the correctness and the readability of the print job; release means (140) to discard the cassette if the print job is not correct or readable, or to convoy it to make it available to an operator. The present invention is also directed to a system for tracing embedding cassettes, which system comprises a printer as above defined and a storage facility, wherein the storage facility comprises verification means which reads the information printed on the cassette and saves it, wherein the system is capable of comparing the content of the database with the data of the printer and, if a cassette which was printed is not stored within a predetermined period of time, alerts the user of the missing cassettes. The invention is also directed to a method for using the above defined printer which method comprises the following steps: submit a cassette to a print job on at least one face of the cassette, preferably the slanted face; submit the print job to verification of the readability and correctness thereof by a verification mean (120); if the print job is readable and correct, release the cassette; if the print job is not readable or incorrect, discard the cassette and proceed with printing a new cassette with the identical information of the discarded cassette.