Line Width Correction Using Printed Document Analysis

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing apparatuses require dedicated charts for line width correction, leading to waste sheets and reduced productivity in high-volume printing, and may not maintain line width accuracy when the chart output frequency is reduced.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and method that detects line images from output documents, analyzes their widths, and performs line width correction based on predetermined threshold values without using dedicated charts, allowing for continuous line width adjustment during printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If dedicated charts are output frequently for maintaining line width accuracy, then line width accuracy is improved, but waste sheet volume increases and printing productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveline width accuracyVSAvoidprinting productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the actual printed documents themselves to perform line width correction measurements, eliminating the need for separate dedicated charts. The output document serves dual purposes: as the printed product and as the measurement target, thereby eliminating waste sheets while maintaining correction accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The printed document serves multiple functions simultaneously: it is both the final printed output and the measurement target for line width correction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated charts, reducing waste while maintaining correction capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If dedicated charts are output frequently, then line width accuracy is maintained, but waste sheet generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveline width accuracyVSAvoidwaste sheet volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the actual printed documents themselves to perform line width correction measurements, eliminating the need for separate dedicated charts. The output document serves dual purposes: as the printed product and as the measurement target, thereby eliminating waste sheets while maintaining correction accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement function is extracted from a separate dedicated chart and integrated directly into the printed document itself. By removing the need for separate measurement charts, the system eliminates waste sheet generation while preserving line width correction capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the output frequency of dedicated chart is reduced for suppressing waste sheet generation, then printing productivity is improved, but line width accuracy is not maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting productivityVSAvoidline width accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs line width correction measurements continuously on every printed document without interruption or separate chart output. This continuous measurement approach maintains line width accuracy throughout high-volume printing operations while preserving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the actual printed documents themselves to perform line width correction measurements, eliminating the need for separate dedicated charts. The output document serves dual purposes: as the printed product and as the measurement target, thereby eliminating waste sheets while maintaining correction accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9973651B2Image processing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium storing program

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes an output image reading portion that reads an image of a physical document. The physical document includes a desired print image and a line image. The apparatus further includes a line image detecting portion that detects the line image at a predetermined position of the physical document using the image, a line image analyzing portion that determines a line width of the line image, a line-width correction value determining portion that compares the determined line width to a preliminarily set line-width threshold value and determines a line-width correction value based on the comparison, and a line-width correcting portion that performs line width correction on a to be formed line image based on the line-width correction value.