Image Inspection System Defect Prioritization via Interleaving Code Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image inspection systems lack convenience in confirming images on recording materials post-inspection, as they do not efficiently facilitate the identification and prioritization of defective areas, making it difficult for users to quickly verify image quality without manually sorting through stacks of papers.

Innovation Solution

An image inspection system that includes a first image forming unit, an inspection unit, a stacking unit, and a second image forming unit, where the inspection unit identifies defective areas on the recording material and a sheet is stacked with it, with the second image forming unit creating corresponding images on the sheet based on positional information, enabling quick identification and prioritization of defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual inspection of recorded images is performed, then inspection accuracy can be maintained, but inspection efficiency and user convenience deteriorate due to time-consuming manual sorting through paper stacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection efficiencyVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates visual copies of defective areas by forming images on sheets that correspond to defective portions on recording materials. These sheet images serve as visual representations that can be easily reviewed without handling the original recording materials, thereby improving both inspection efficiency and user convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sheets as an intermediary medium between the inspection system and the user. The sheets carry visual information about defects and are stacked in correspondence with recording materials, allowing users to review defect information without directly examining each recording material, thus enhancing convenience and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If sheets with corresponding images are stacked with recording materials, then defect identification speed improves, but system complexity increases due to additional image forming and stacking mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect identification timeVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the image formation process with the stacking process by integrating the second image forming unit with the stacking unit. The sheets are formed and stacked in a coordinated manner with the recording materials, reducing the need for separate handling steps and minimizing additional system complexity while maintaining fast defect identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary image formation on sheets before final stacking with recording materials. The second image forming unit creates the visual representations of defects in advance, so that when stacking occurs, the sheets are already prepared with the necessary visual information, thereby reducing defect identification time without requiring complex real-time processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2782324B1Image inspection system and image inspection apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • EP2782324B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2782324B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2782324B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

When defects occur in four places of a print data region of a paper P1 as illustrated in FIG. 3A, four code images are formed on an interleaving paper P2 as illustrated in FIG. 3B, more specifically, four code images are formed on the interleaving paper P2 such that the positions of plural defect occurrence portions in the paper P1 are aligned with the positions of plural code images formed in the interleaving paper P2, respectively, and the sizes of the code images are made to be different depending on the defective degree of the defects occurring at the defect occurrence portions of the paper P1, specifically, the larger the defective degree is, the larger the code image is.