Image Inspecting System for Defect Sorting and Reprinting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The decline in processing efficiency due to reprints caused by defects in recorded images on materials is not effectively addressed by existing image inspecting systems, which often result in resource wastage and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An image inspecting system that includes an image forming device, an inspection device with edge detection and image reading capabilities, and a paper accommodation device, which allows for real-time inspection, comparison of original and read image data, and efficient sorting and reprinting of defective materials, minimizing resource wastage and maintaining processing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reprint is performed when a defect occurs in an image on recording material, then image quality is ensured, but processing efficiency declines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection device performs preliminary inspection of the recorded image before the recording material proceeds to subsequent processing steps. By detecting defects early in the process flow, the system can identify problematic materials before they consume additional resources or cause downstream issues, thereby maintaining quality standards while minimizing disruption to overall processing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts defective recording materials from the main processing stream by diverting them to a separate path after inspection. This allows non-defective materials to continue through the processing flow without interruption, while only the defective portions are removed for reprinting, thus isolating the quality correction action from the main productivity flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If real-time inspection and sorting is implemented, then defective images are identified and isolated efficiently, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection device integrates multiple functions including image reading, defect detection, and sorting control into a single coordinated system. By combining these functions that could operate as separate devices, the system achieves precise defect detection and efficient sorting while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent systems working in parallel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection device serves multiple purposes: it reads the recorded image, compares it with original data, detects defects, controls sorting of recording materials, and triggers reprint operations. This multi-functional approach allows a single device to handle the entire quality control workflow, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices and simplifying the overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2784589B1Image inspecting system and recording material processing device
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • EP2784589B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2784589B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2784589B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A recording material processing device, includes: an accumulation unit that is accumulated with a plurality of recording materials each of which is a recording material formed with an image by an image forming unit and inspected by an inspection unit, in which the image forming unit that forms the image on the recording material based on original image data; and a processing unit that removes the recording material which was determined to have a defect which occurred in the image by the inspecting unit, among the plurality of recording materials and adds a new recording material on which a same image is formed by the image forming unit , to the plurality of recording materials, the same image being based on the original image data of the image formed on the defective recording material.