Inline Color Sensing for Print Job Quality Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current color printing systems face challenges in maintaining color fidelity due to variations over time and environmental conditions, requiring time-consuming and costly visual inspections and offline measurements to ensure high color quality, especially in print shops that demand high color fidelity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for monitoring critical color quality in print jobs using an embedded color sensing device to measure critical color test patterns inserted within the print job, allowing users to select and interact with specific colors, generate test patterns, and automatically measure printed colors, thereby enabling real-time quality assessment and corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual inspections and offline measurement devices are used to monitor color quality, then color fidelity can be ensured, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and offline measurement devices with an automated inline color sensing device that continuously monitors print quality. The sensor system with multiple detectors automatically measures color values of test patterns printed on the photoreceptor belt, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual inspection while maintaining color fidelity through real-time data collection and analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary color measurement by printing test patterns on the photoreceptor belt before the actual print job is completed. This allows color quality to be assessed in advance, enabling corrective actions to be taken before production prints are affected, thus reducing rework time and ensuring color fidelity
2Reliability
If visual inspection methods are used to monitor color quality, then color fidelity can be assessed, but the process requires stopping the printing to take remedial action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated sensor system that continuously monitors color quality without requiring printing to stop. The inline color sensing device reads test patterns in real-time during printing operations, allowing operators to assess color fidelity and take remedial actions while the printing process continues uninterrupted
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous color monitoring by integrating the color sensing device into the printing workflow. Test patterns are printed and measured continuously during normal operation, maintaining uninterrupted printing while ensuring color quality through ongoing automated assessment, thus preserving productivity
3Extent of automation
If inline measurement devices are used with color patterns on photoreceptor belt, then real-time monitoring is enabled, but the patterns are trimmed or hidden from final customer document
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the customer-visible document by placing test patterns on the photoreceptor belt where they serve solely as measurement targets. These patterns are used for real-time color monitoring but are trimmed away or hidden before the final customer document is produced, thus enabling automated real-time monitoring without compromising customer document integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the printing process into measurement and production phases. Test patterns are printed as separate measurement elements on the photoreceptor belt that are distinct from the customer document content. This segmentation allows the measurement patterns to be used for real-time monitoring while being excluded from the final deliverable, maintaining both automation capability and document integrity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for real-time monitoring and automatic assessment of critical colors, reducing the need for manual inspections and ensuring consistent color quality across print jobs, improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness by integrating color sensing technology directly into the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
a color sensing device to measure the at least one printed critical color test pattern
Data Source
AI summary
Applications, systems and methods for identifying and monitoring critical colors in a print job and using an embedded color sensing device to measure critical color test patterns inserted in the print job are disclosed. The applications permits the user to interact with a print job and select of one or more critical colors from within the print job. In one embodiment, an application is configured to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to facilitate the user in selecting critical colors. A printing system and method are disclosed for automatically monitoring critical colors in a print job and using an embedded color sensing device to measure critical color test patterns inserted in the print job. In one embodiment, printed critical color test patterns are separated from the printed customer documents and direct to a color sensing device for measurement.