Color Chart for Transparent Coating Thickness Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in accurately measuring the thickness of transparent material layers on paper substrates during printed-surface finishing, which is difficult due to transparency, leading to errors in material application and quality control of print products, especially as it affects optical dot gain and color tone changes.
Innovation Solution
A printing system comprising a printer, a finisher, and a colorimeter that uses a color chart with specific patches to measure and calculate tone values or dot gains, allowing for the determination of print and surface conditions by comparing these values with reference values, thereby separating physical and optical dot gains and optimizing material application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transparent material is applied onto printed surfaces to protect and enhance print products, then surface protection and visual effect are improved, but measurement of material thickness becomes difficult due to transparency, leading to errors in application control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (opaque material such as ink or tone-adjusting agent) between the transparent material and the printed surface. This intermediary allows the colorimeter to measure optical properties that correlate with transparent material thickness, solving the measurement problem caused by transparency while maintaining surface protection quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct physical thickness measurement (mechanical method) with optical measurement using a colorimeter. By measuring color tone changes caused by light scattering and absorption through the transparent material layer, the system indirectly determines thickness without direct contact or mechanical intervention
2Reliability
If application amount of transparent material is increased to ensure surface protection, then protection quality is improved, but material consumption increases and cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the colorimeter measures the optical properties of the printed surface after transparent material application, and the controller adjusts subsequent application parameters based on these measurements. This closed-loop feedback enables precise control of material thickness, ensuring adequate protection while minimizing material consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct thickness measurement to optical property measurement (color tone, L*a*b* values). By monitoring optical changes and correlating them with thickness, the system can precisely control material application amount, reducing waste while maintaining protection quality
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurement points are taken to ensure accurate assessment of transparent material application, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement to a single representative point on the printed surface rather than requiring multiple measurement points. By measuring the color tone at one location and using it to infer overall application quality, the system reduces measurement time while maintaining sufficient accuracy for process control
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
This approach enables precise management of print product quality with fewer measurements, reducing material consumption and improving productivity by ensuring uniform transparent material layers and stable print conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a colorimeter configured to measure color of the first patch, the second patch and the plurality of comparative patches in the color chart finished with the transparent material
Implementation Method 2
Optical dot gain is generally comprehended as apparent growth of halftone dots, which originates from scattering of light within a paper substrate and absorption by a printed halftone dot of scattered light that entered the paper substrate
Implementation Method 3
absorption by a printed halftone dot of scattered light that entered the paper substrate even around the perimeter of the printed halftone dot
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a controller, a color chart and a non-transitory recording medium. The color chart includes a first patch that is a halftone patch of first color, a second patch that is the halftone patch of the first color underlaid with a solid base of second color, and comparative patches prepared by increasing and decreasing the tone of the first color of the first patch and second patch, where the printed surface of the color chart is finished with transparent material. The controller calculates tone values or dot gains of the first patch and second patch based on the measured color values of the patches in the color chart, and determines the current condition of print and the current condition of a finished surface by using a comparison result of the tone values or dot gains of the first patch and second patch with respective reference values.