Light Guide Member for Parallel Optical Path Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image inspection apparatuses struggle to maintain image quality due to variations in environmental conditions and material changes, as they cannot accurately assess gloss differences between similar colors, leading to issues like floating targets and inability to distinguish between glossy and matte silver, and require large sensors to read regular reflection light across the entire sheet.
Innovation Solution
An image inspection apparatus with a light guide member that redirects regular reflection light from the sheet in a direction other than the main scanning direction, allowing for parallel optical paths and enabling the use of a compact design that can measure gloss and density distributions across the entire sheet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a sensor is disposed at a distant position to read regular reflection light across the entire sheet, then the entire area of the sheet can be inspected, but the image inspection apparatus becomes too large to be mounted to the image forming apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical path configuration by introducing a light guide member that redirects regular reflection light from a distant detection position to a nearby sensor position. This dimensional transformation in light path geometry enables the sensor to be placed close to the sheet while still capturing regular reflection light from the entire inspection area, thereby reducing apparatus size without sacrificing inspection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member acts as an intermediary optical element between the distant regular reflection light paths and the nearby sensor. It captures and redirects the light, enabling the sensor to detect regular reflection light from the entire sheet area without requiring the sensor itself to be positioned at a distant location, thus solving the size contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If density is controlled to maintain image quality, then density distribution is improved, but gloss differences between similar colors cannot be detected, causing floating targets and inability to distinguish between glossy and matte silver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light detection into separate channels: one for diffuse reflection light (for density measurement) and one for regular reflection light (for gloss measurement). By using a light guide member to direct regular reflection light to a dedicated detection path, the system can independently and precisely measure both density and gloss characteristics, enabling differentiation between glossy and matte finishes even when densities are similar.
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 solution allows for the downsizing of the image inspection apparatus, enabling effective feedback for maintaining image quality by accurately assessing gloss and density distributions, thus improving image quality and allowing for proper differentiation between various finishes.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide member provided at a position where light regularly reflected by the inspection target passes
Data Source
AI summary
An image inspection apparatus includes: an illumination part that emits light on an inspection target; a reading part that is arranged with, in one or more dimensions, elements that detect light reflected by the inspection target, the reading part reading an entire width of the inspection target; and a hardware processor that inspects a characteristic of the inspection target, wherein a light guide member is provided at a position where light regularly reflected by the inspection target passes, the light guide member is arranged to allow an optical path of light incident on the reading part via the light guide member to be parallel to an optical path of light incident on the reading part without via the light guide member, and the hardware processor inspects a gloss distribution of the inspection target, and inspects a density distribution of the inspection target.