Fiducial Registration for Two-Sided Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large format printing, two-sided plots often become misaligned due to interruptions, media skew, or deformation, leading to poor print quality and wastage of media and consumables.
Innovation Solution
A system that prints a fiducial on one side of the media with a known identifier, allowing a sensor to detect and measure its distance for precise alignment of the second plot on the opposite side, ensuring registration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional two-sided printing is performed without registration markers, then the printing process is simple and quick, but the plots on front and back sides become misaligned due to interruptions, media skew, or deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The system prints registration markers (fiducials) on the first side of the media before printing the actual plots. These markers serve as reference points that are detected by sensors during the printing process, allowing the system to calculate and compensate for any media skew or deformation. This preliminary placement of reference markers enables precise registration of plots on both sides of the media without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces registration markers (fiducials) as intermediary elements between the printing system and the media. These markers act as mediators that carry identification information and positional reference data, allowing the sensor system to detect media characteristics and adjust printing parameters accordingly. The fiducials serve as the intermediary through which the system achieves precise registration without direct complex measurement of the entire media sheet.
2Manufacturing precision
If registration markers and sensor detection are implemented, then precise alignment of two-sided plots is achieved, but the printing process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The registration markers are printed as part of the initial setup phase before actual plot printing begins. The sensor detection and measurement of fiducial positions occur during media feeding but before the main plotting operation. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-calculate registration adjustments, ensuring that subsequent plot printing proceeds at full speed without interruption for measurements or adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the media itself and its existing feeding mechanism to present the fiducials to the sensor automatically during the normal printing process. The media feeding action serves dual purposes: transporting the media and positioning the fiducials for detection. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate measurement steps, maintaining printing speed while achieving precise registration.
3Loss of substance
If fiducials with identifiers are printed and detected by sensors, then waste of media and consumables is reduced through accurate registration, but the initial setup and processing become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fiducials serve as intermediary elements that encode registration information in a format easily detectable by sensors. By using simple geometric shapes with distinct identification features, the system achieves complex registration functionality through relatively simple marker designs. This intermediary approach reduces the need for complex measurement and calculation systems while minimizing media waste through accurate plot placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses digital representations of fiducial positions and media characteristics to calculate and apply registration corrections. Rather than requiring complex physical adjustment mechanisms, the system creates a digital model of the media based on fiducial detection and uses this copy to guide the printing process. This copying approach simplifies the physical system while achieving precise registration and reducing media waste.
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
Improves the accuracy and quality of two-sided printing, reducing waste and costs by maintaining precise alignment and registration of plots.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor to detect and measure its distance for precise alignment
Implementation Method 2
measuring a distance to the fiducial to discern a reference for printing the second plot
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a print job is received. The print job includes a first plot to be printed on a first side of a media, and a second plot to be printed on a second side of the media in registration with the first plot. The first plot and a fiducial mark are caused to print on the first side, the fiducial mark being a known distance from the first plot and including an identifier for the second plot. In response to detecting the identifier via a sensor and measuring a distance to the fiducial mark to discern a reference for printing the second plot, the second plot is caused to print on the second side in registration with the first plot.