Inkjet Printer Origin Point Adjustment via Checking Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink-jet printers require a complex procedure for adjusting printing and cutting origin points, involving manual misalignment checks and repeated operations, which is time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A method that prints an origin point adjusting image with checking blocks on the medium, allowing for simultaneous printing and cutting while shifting the cutting position by predetermined dimensions, enabling easy calculation and correction of misalignment between printing and cutting positions, and inputting these corrections to a controller for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual misalignment checking and repeated operations are performed to adjust printing and cutting origin points, then alignment accuracy can be achieved, but the procedure becomes very complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The origin point adjusting image is divided into multiple checking blocks arranged in a matrix pattern, with each block containing a predetermined number of checking points. This segmentation allows the system to automatically detect misalignment in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction by analyzing the relative positions of checking points across different blocks, thereby simplifying the adjustment procedure while maintaining high alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically calculates the amount of misalignment between printing and cutting positions by analyzing the positions of checking blocks and checking points in the origin point adjusting image. This automated feedback mechanism eliminates manual visual inspection and repeated adjustments, reducing procedure complexity while ensuring precise alignment through computational determination of misalignment amounts.
2Measurement precision
If manual visual checking and repeated operations are performed to adjust origin points, then alignment precision can be achieved, but the operation time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical adjustment operations with an automated image processing system. The system captures images of checking blocks, automatically calculates misalignment amounts through computational algorithms, and determines correction values without human intervention. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with automated systems significantly reduces adjustment operation time while maintaining high alignment precision through accurate image analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The origin point adjusting image is pre-configured with multiple checking blocks and checking points at predetermined positions before the actual printing and cutting operations. This preliminary arrangement of reference markers enables automatic misalignment detection and correction calculation to be performed efficiently during the adjustment process, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual repeated operations while ensuring precise alignment results.
3Measurement precision
If checking blocks are arranged to enable automatic misalignment detection in multiple directions, then adjustment accuracy is improved, but the image complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The checking block arrangement is segmented into a systematic matrix pattern with checking blocks positioned at regular intervals in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction. Each block contains a predetermined number of checking points arranged in a specific pattern. This segmented, regular arrangement enables automatic misalignment detection in multiple directions through standardized image processing algorithms, achieving high detection accuracy without excessive image complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes predetermined positional relationships and geometric patterns of checking blocks and checking points to encode alignment information. By changing the spatial parameters and arrangement patterns of checking blocks, the system can detect misalignment amounts in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction. This parameter-based encoding approach maintains relatively simple image structure while enabling accurate multi-directional misalignment detection through mathematical analysis of positional deviations.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing position and cutting position adjusting method includes: printing on a medium an origin point adjusting image having multiple checking blocks using an ink-jet head; cutting the medium using a cutting head along a contour of the origin point adjusting image; removing a part of the medium cut by the cutting head from the medium; and inputting an amount of misalignment between a position at which the image is printed on the medium and a position at which the medium is cut to a controller. The amount of misalignment is inputted as a correction value between the printing position and the cutting position. The printing of the origin point adjusting image or the cutting of the medium includes a check process of producing a position shift per a predetermined dimension by each checking block in a main scanning direction or a sub scanning direction of the ink-jet head.