Opaque White Ink Control for Printing Presses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for spectral color measurement in printing presses face challenges when dealing with darker or transparent substrates, as they require manual application of opaque white for accurate ink film thickness measurement, leading to deviations and erroneous results.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage control and measurement method using a color measuring device to apply and measure opaque white, comparing measurements to a reference value and correcting deviations to enable reliable ink control on highly reflective or dark surfaces, allowing for simultaneous control of opaque white and color inks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual application of opaque white is used to enable color measurements on dark substrates, then color measurements become possible, but measurement precision deteriorates due to deviations in opaque white application
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements of the opaque white layer before color ink application. By measuring the opaque white layer first and storing these reference values, the system can later compensate for any deviations when measuring color inks, ensuring accurate measurements even when manual opaque white application varies
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and compares measured opaque white values against reference values and automatically adjusts or compensates for deviations. This feedback mechanism allows the system to correct measurement errors caused by manual opaque white application variations, maintaining high measurement precision
2Adaptability or versatility
If opaque white is applied manually upstream to enable ink control, then ink control becomes possible on dark substrates, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to deviations between measurement strips and ink zones
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements of the opaque white layer characteristics before the actual printing process. By capturing reference data on opaque white application variations, the system can later compensate for these variations when controlling color ink application, ensuring consistent results across different measurement strips and ink zones
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from assuming uniform opaque white application to measuring and recording actual opaque white parameters (brightness, uniformity) at different locations. By using these measured parameters as correction factors, the system maintains manufacturing precision despite manual application variations
3Measurement precision
If spectral measurement is used on dark substrates, then ink thickness can be measured, but reliability deteriorates because the substrate appears brighter than the ink
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements of the dark substrate and opaque white layer to establish baseline reflectance values. By knowing these reference values, the system can accurately measure ink thickness even when the substrate appears brighter than the ink, reversing the traditional spectral measurement limitation
Solution Approach 2:
The opaque white layer serves as an intermediary that modifies the optical properties between the dark substrate and the measuring device. By measuring the opaque white layer first and using it as a reference, the system creates a reliable measurement basis that allows accurate ink thickness measurement on dark substrates
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 method ensures accurate and reliable ink control by accounting for deviations in opaque white measurements, improving precision and reducing manual errors, and enabling simultaneous control of opaque white and color inks, thus optimizing printing processes.
Implementation Method 1
In the spectral measurement process, the thickness of the ink film is determined on the basis of a measured brightness difference between the printing substrate and the applied printing ink
Implementation Method 2
Metals have reflective properties and consequently appear black to a spectral measuring device
Data Source
AI summary
An ink control method is provided for printing machines having a computer. The color areas are scanned on a surface to be printed using a color measuring device. The surface is a printing substrate coated with opaque white, and the color measuring device takes a number of opaque white color measurements. The computer compares the measured opaque white color values to each other or to a reference color value of the opaque white and stores deviations detected in the computer. The color measurement fields are printed onto the printing substrate. The color measurement fields printed onto the opaque white are measured by the color measuring device. The comparison of the measured color values of the color measurement fields under laid with opaque white and the target color values of the original for color control purposes, the computer factors in the influence of the stored detected deviations.