Composite Image Printing for Photo Product Label Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

In direct-to-product printing of personalized photo products, the increased likelihood of mislabeling occurs during mass production, as shipping labels are often incorrectly matched with products, especially when unique images are involved, due to the difficulty in tracking each individual product without detracting from the product's appearance.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where tracking labels are printed as part of a composite image with personalized images, with each label's position corresponding to a specific product on a printer tray, allowing for easy matching and reduction of mislabeling by being affixed to the product or its packaging, thereby ensuring accurate shipping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate printing processes are used for personalized images and tracking labels, then the product appearance is maintained, but the likelihood of mislabeling increases during mass production

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelabel matching accuracyVSAvoidtracking management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the printing of personalized images and tracking labels into a single integrated process. The composite image contains both the personalized image data and tracking label data, which are printed together on the same printer tray in corresponding positions. This merging eliminates the need for separate printing processes and manual matching, thereby reducing mislabeling while maintaining product appearance quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The composite image serves as an intermediary that links personalized image data with tracking label data. By embedding tracking information within the composite image structure at specific positions, the system creates a direct correspondence between products and their labels without requiring complex external tracking systems, thus improving reliability while simplifying device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If tracking labels are printed separately, then product appearance is maintained, but shipping accuracy decreases due to incorrect matching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshipping accuracyVSAvoidtime for matching labels to products

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning tracking label data within the composite image at positions that correspond to the physical arrangement of products on the printer tray. This advance preparation ensures that when the composite image is printed, each tracking label is automatically aligned with its corresponding product, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual matching during the shipping preparation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By merging the printing of personalized images and tracking labels into a single operation using composite images, the system achieves both manufacturing precision and time efficiency. The corresponding positions in the composite image ensure accurate label-product matching while the single printing process eliminates the time loss associated with separate printing and manual matching operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If multiple separate printing operations are performed, then labeling flexibility is maintained, but productivity decreases due to multiple processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass production efficiencyVSAvoidprinting process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple printing operations into a single printing process by using composite images that contain both personalized image data and tracking label data. This allows mass production of personalized products with tracking labels to be completed in one printing operation, significantly improving productivity while maintaining the flexibility to customize both images and labels through the composite image structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The composite image structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains personalized image data for product customization, tracking label data for shipping identification, and positional information for accurate alignment. This multi-functionality allows a single printing process to achieve what previously required multiple separate operations, thereby improving productivity without complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8885206B2Direct-to-product transfer of personalized images and tracking labels using a single composite image

Publication Date: 2014.11.11 FUJIFILM NORTH AMERICA CORP

AI summary

The printing tracking labels as a part of a composite image of personalized images for photo products includes receiving a plurality of personalized images and a plurality of label images, each label image including order tracking information associated with one of the plurality of personalized images. A composite image including the plurality of personalized images and the plurality of label images is generated. The position of each personalized image within the composite image corresponds to a position of a separate photo product on a printer tray and the position of each label image within the composite image corresponds to a position of a separate label on the printer tray. The composite image is printed onto the plurality of photo products and the plurality of labels.