Inkjet Recording Apparatus Bar Code Ink Bleeding Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining high image quality for bar codes due to ink bleeding, which causes deformation of white bar regions and reduces reflectance, leading to incorrect reading of bar codes.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a control system that adjusts the amount of ink applied to black bars based on the width of adjacent white bars, performing density correction and edge region processing to minimize ink bleeding and maintain symbol contrast and modulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ink is applied to black bars in bar code recording, then the black bar regions are formed with sufficient density, but ink bleeding occurs causing deformation of adjacent white bar regions and reduction of reflectance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different ink amounts to different regions of black bars based on their position relative to white bars. Specifically, black bars adjacent to narrow white bars receive reduced ink amounts to prevent bleeding into the white bar regions, while other black bars maintain standard ink application. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by preventing ink bleeding at critical locations while maintaining overall bar code quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination unit calculates and determines the appropriate ink amounts for each black bar region before the actual recording process. By pre-determining the ink amounts based on the measured white bar widths and predetermined relationships, the system prevents ink bleeding issues from arising during recording, rather than attempting to correct them afterward.
2Productivity
If the width of white bars is reduced in the bar code, then the bar code can be recorded with smaller dimensions, but the reflectance difference between black and white bars decreases making reading difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the ink amount parameter for black bars based on the width parameter of adjacent white bars. When white bars are narrow, the system reduces the ink amount for adjacent black bars to prevent bleeding that would otherwise reduce the reflectance difference. This parameter adjustment allows efficient recording of compact bar codes while maintaining sufficient contrast for accurate reading.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording unit, a scanning unit, an acquisition unit, and a determination unit. In the recording unit, a plurality of nozzles to apply ink is arrayed. The scanning unit is configured to perform relative scanning with the recording unit on a recording medium. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire input image data that includes a bar code including a plurality of black bars and a plurality of white bars and having a length in a first direction that is greater than a length in a second direction crossing the first direction. The determination unit is configured to determine, based on lengths of the plurality of white bars in the second direction, an amount of ink to be applied to a black bar adjacent to a corresponding white bar in the second direction.