Image Inspection System Interrupt Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image inspection systems are unable to quickly execute interruption jobs that occur during ongoing inspections, leading to delays and limitations in their interrupt function.

Innovation Solution

An image inspection system that includes an image former and a hardware processor capable of acquiring and inspecting read images, receiving interruption jobs, and immediately interrupting the current inspection and image formation processes when an interruption job is received.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the inspection mode remains on during job execution, then inspection quality is maintained, but interruption jobs cannot be executed promptly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection qualityVSAvoidinterruption job execution speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between inspection mode and interruption job execution mode based on real-time needs. When an interruption job is received, the system temporarily suspends inspection mode to execute the interruption job, then resumes inspection mode afterward. This dynamic state transition allows the system to balance inspection quality with rapid response to interruption jobs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the inspection process continues without interruption, then inspection completeness is ensured, but urgent interruption jobs are delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection completenessVSAvoidinterruption job delay time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares for potential interruption jobs by maintaining the capability to quickly suspend and resume inspection processes. The inspection device is designed with pre-established suspension and resumption mechanisms that allow it to pause inspection temporarily when interruption jobs arrive, execute them promptly, and then continue inspection from where it left off, minimizing overall time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the system prioritizes interruption job execution, then response speed improves, but inspection process is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterruption job response speedVSAvoidinspection process stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuity of the inspection process by suspending it temporarily during interruption job execution and then resuming it afterward. This approach ensures that the useful action of inspection is not permanently interrupted but continues in a segmented manner, maintaining both rapid response to interruption jobs and overall inspection process stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250175559A1Image inspection system, inspection device, inspection method, and computer-readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2025.05.29 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

An image inspection system includes: an image former; and a hardware processor that acquires a read image obtained by reading an image formed on the recording medium, wherein the hardware processor: inspects the read image, receives an interruption job, and interrupts inspection and image formation of the job being executed when the interruption job is received during execution of the job.