Ceramic Slab Control Coloured Areas for Quality Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large dimension ceramic slabs pose difficulties in handling, transport, and quality control due to their size, making it challenging to manually lift and compare decorations, and measure calibration targets for color management systems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating control coloured areas along the edges of the slab, which can be spectrally measured to assess the decoration's quality and printed with known ink quantities, allowing for indirect control of the decoration process and facilitating calibration target measurement without additional waste or complex operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If large dimension ceramic slabs are used to create jointless surfaces, then the aesthetic appearance and modern design requirements are improved, but the handling, transport, and quality control operations become extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the quality control task into two separate components: a small control element containing measurement data and a large decorative slab. The control element can be easily handled and measured independently, while the decorative slab maintains its large dimensions for aesthetic purposes. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing quality control of large slabs without requiring manual handling of the entire slab during measurement operations.
2Device complexity
If manual visual comparison methods are used for quality control, then the assessment process is simple, but it becomes impossible to control large dimension ceramic slabs due to their size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control element as an intermediary object that contains encoded measurement data about the slab's decoration. Instead of directly measuring the large decorative slab, the system measures the small control element which serves as a mediator, carrying information about the slab's properties. This intermediary approach enables quality control of large slabs using simple measurement devices without requiring manual handling or visual comparison of the entire slab.
3Measurement precision
If calibration targets are printed on large dimension ceramic slabs, then color management and spectral measurement are enabled, but the positioning and measurement operations become complex and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the calibration target functionality from the large decorative slab and places it in a separate, small control element. The control element contains the necessary calibration data and measurement references that can be independently measured using spectral scanners. This extraction eliminates the complexity of positioning and measuring calibration targets on large slabs, as the small control element can be easily positioned and measured without requiring complex positioning systems or large measurement devices.
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 simple quality control of large dimension ceramic slabs and efficient measurement of calibration targets, reducing manual handling challenges and maintaining compatibility with existing production processes.
Implementation Method 1
by spectrally measuring the control coloured areas printed on the slab-shaped ceramic element
Data Source
AI summary
A slab-shaped ceramic element comprises a first face which has at least a decorated zone and a second face intended to be laid in contact with a support surface. The first face is opposite the second face. The decorated zone is delimited by a plurality of edges. The first face has a plurality of control coloured areas arranged in sequence along at least one edge delimiting the decorated zone.