Color Chart Data Generation for Printing Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses, the prolonged time required for colorimetry of multiple color patches can lead to the printed medium being damaged by heat, causing wrinkles or stretching, which deteriorates the quality of the printed material due to the patches being held in the drying furnace for excessive time.
Innovation Solution
A control unit generates color chart data to print a number of colorimetric patches that is measurable within the drying holding time, ensuring the patches are not held in the drying unit for longer than necessary, and adjusts the drying holding time based on the type of printing medium to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple colorimetric patches are measured sequentially, then comprehensive color data is obtained, but the printing medium is held in the drying furnace for excessive time causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating the color-measurable patch number based on drying holding time and colorimetry speed before actual printing. This allows the system to determine in advance how many patches can be measured within the safe drying time window, preventing excessive holding time before the measurement process even begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the number of colorimetric patches variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the patch count based on the calculated color-measurable patch number, which depends on drying holding time and colorimetry measurement speed. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal balance between measurement completeness and preventing heat damage.
2Productivity
If the number of colorimetric patches is increased, then more spot colors are evaluated, but the drying holding time is exceeded causing wrinkles and stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the number of colorimetric patches printed based on calculated parameters (drying holding time and colorimetry speed). The control unit changes this parameter dynamically to ensure that productivity (number of spot colors evaluated) does not exceed what can be measured within the safe drying time window, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision and preventing quality degradation.
3Loss of information
If colorimetry is performed on all printed patches, then complete color data is obtained, but excessive time is required causing the patches to be held in drying furnace beyond safe time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by measuring only a calculated subset (color-measurable patch number) of the printed colorimetric patches rather than all patches. This partial measurement approach ensures that the necessary color data is obtained within the safe drying holding time window, preventing time loss that would lead to excessive heating and damage to the printing medium.
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 prevents damage to the printed medium by ensuring the patches are dried and color-measured within the safe holding time, maintaining the quality of the printed material and providing reliable colorimetric values.
Implementation Method 1
a drying unit (19) configured to dry the processing unit region in which the colorimetric patches are printed
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a control unit configured to generate color chart data, a transport unit configured to intermittently transport a medium, a printing unit configured to print a colorimetric patches on a processing unit region, a drying unit configured to dry the processing unit region, and a colorimetric unit configured to measure a color of the colorimetric patches in the processing unit region subjected to the drying, wherein the control unit is configured to acquire, based on a printing setting, a drying holding time during which the processing unit region is held at the drying unit, calculate a color-measurable patch number which is measurable by the colorimetric unit within the drying holding time, and generate the color chart data for printing a number of the colorimetric patches in the processing unit region, the number being less than or equal to the color-measurable patch number.