Image Inspection Apparatus Automatic Outside-of-Document Area Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image inspection methods for digital printers are inefficient in handling variable printing and require manual setting of no-inspection areas, which burdens users and reduces productivity.
Innovation Solution
An image inspection apparatus that generates a master image from print data and automatically identifies and adds an outside-of-document area to the master image, allowing for efficient comparison with read images and reducing manual operations by aligning and comparing images based on pixel values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the whole printout sheet is read including areas outside the document, then edge areas are not excluded from inspection, but the carriage belt color appears in the read image requiring manual no-inspection area setting
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies and designates outside-of-document areas without requiring manual user input. The image inspection apparatus autonomously determines which regions fall outside the actual document boundaries and excludes them from defect inspection, eliminating the need for users to manually configure no-inspection zones while maintaining accurate edge-area detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of outside-of-document areas before the actual defect inspection process. By pre-designating these regions based on document boundary detection, the system prepares the inspection parameters in advance, allowing the main inspection to proceed efficiently without real-time manual intervention
2Measurement precision
If manual selection of master images from multiple read images is performed, then quality inspection is improved, but productivity is reduced due to manual operations
Solution Approach 1:
The image inspection apparatus automatically generates master images from print data without requiring manual selection by operators. The system autonomously processes multiple read images, compares them, and generates the master image that serves as the reference standard for defect detection, thereby maintaining high inspection quality while eliminating manual workload
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of selecting and comparing multiple read images to create a master image is replaced by an automated image processing system. The apparatus uses computational algorithms to perform the selection and generation tasks that previously required human operators, significantly improving productivity while maintaining or enhancing the quality of the master image
3Adaptability or versatility
If digital printers are used for variable printing, then printing flexibility is improved, but conventional master image generation methods become inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to variable printing requirements by automatically generating master images from print data for each unique print job. Unlike conventional static methods that rely on manual creation for each variable print, the system adjusts and generates appropriate master images on-demand based on the specific print data being processed, maintaining efficiency across diverse printing scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameter of master image generation from manual selection of read images to automated generation from print data. This parameter change enables the system to efficiently handle variable printing where each copy may have different contents, as the master image is automatically created from the digital print data rather than requiring manual curation of physical samples
Data Source
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AI summary
An image inspection apparatus for checking an image printed on a recording medium comprising: a reference pixel obtaining unit configured to generate a reference image and obtain a first pixel value from the reference image; a print pixel obtaining unit configured to extract an image printed area and obtain a second pixel value from the image; an offset processing unit configured to add a non-image-printed area; and an image checking unit configured to compute a difference between the first image pixel value and the second image pixel value and detect an error when the difference is higher than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the non-image-printed area contains a third pixel value that is different from the first pixel value or the second pixel value, and the image checking unit suspends a determination whether or not there is an error in the image printed area associated with the non-image-printed area.