Dynamic Inspection Level Adjustment for Printing Quality and Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing companies face challenges in setting the inspection level for printed products, leading to either delayed delivery times or reduced productivity due to insufficient quality, as existing systems lack flexibility in adjusting inspection levels during the printing process.
Innovation Solution
An inspection apparatus that allows for dynamic adjustment of the inspection level during the printing process, enabling real-time changes based on estimated completion time and user input, thereby optimizing productivity and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the inspection level is set high to ensure quality, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to slower inspection speed
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection level is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system allows changing the inspection level during job execution, enabling the inspection strictness to be adjusted in real-time based on actual production needs, quality requirements, and delivery deadlines. This resolves the contradiction by allowing high inspection quality when needed while maintaining high productivity when speed is prioritized.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the inspection parameter (inspection level) on-demand. By allowing users to modify the inspection level threshold during job execution, the system can shift between strict quality control (high inspection level) and fast throughput (low inspection level), thus resolving the fixed trade-off between quality and speed.
2Productivity
If the inspection level is adjusted during job execution to prioritize delivery time, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection level becomes a dynamic parameter that can be adjusted during job execution. Users can lower the inspection level when delivery time is critical, allowing faster processing, or raise it when quality is paramount. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by making both productivity and quality controllable based on real-time priorities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates and displays the estimated completion time based on the current inspection level before the user makes a change. This allows users to predict the impact of lowering the inspection level on delivery time, enabling informed decisions about whether to reduce quality standards to meet deadlines.
3Device complexity
If a fixed inspection level is used at the start of the job, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to respond to changing delivery requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection level transitions from a static fixed value to a dynamic adjustable parameter. The system maintains simplicity in its basic operation while adding the capability to adjust the inspection level during job execution, thus achieving both low complexity and high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by calculating and displaying the estimated completion time based on the current inspection level. This feedback loop enables users to understand the relationship between inspection strictness and delivery time, allowing them to make informed adjustments to the inspection level to balance quality and speed requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An inspection apparatus includes a controller having one or more processors which executes instructions stored in one or more memories, the controller being configured to receive an inspection level that is used in an inspection process of images that have been read by a reading apparatus from images formed on sheets conveyed consecutively from an image formation apparatus by execution of a job; and execute the inspection process, wherein the controller is capable of receiving a change in the inspection level during execution of the job, and in a case where the change in the inspection level is received, the controller performs the inspection process of images formed by the job at the inspection level changed after receipt of the change.