Print Failure Prioritization in Image Inspection Workflows

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image inspection technologies in the printing industry are inefficient as they require manual judgment of print failures and do not account for the position and type of print failures, leading to decreased inspection efficiency and unnecessary reprinting.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that sets priority degrees for print failures based on their position and type, displaying them in order of priority to improve inspection efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated inspection is implemented to improve inspection efficiency, then productivity increases, but the complexity of processing and managing large numbers of read images increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection efficiencyVSAvoidimage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the inspection process into distinct stages: initial automated comparison to detect print-failure regions, followed by selective detailed inspection of only those regions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity while reducing the complexity of processing entire images, as only problematic areas require intensive analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and isolates print-failure regions from complete read images for separate processing. By separating the detection of failures from the analysis of failures, the system improves efficiency through automated initial screening while reducing complexity by focusing detailed inspection only on extracted failure regions rather than entire images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If all print-failure regions are inspected in detail to ensure quality, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint quality assuranceVSAvoidinspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different inspection depths to different regions based on their importance and failure characteristics. Critical regions with severe print failures receive detailed inspection, while minor or non-critical regions receive less intensive analysis. This local differentiation maintains manufacturing precision for important areas while reducing overall inspection time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs partial inspection rather than complete inspection of all regions. By applying automated comparison to detect failures and then performing detailed inspection only on detected failure regions rather than entire images, the system achieves sufficient quality assurance with reduced time investment, applying the appropriate level of action to each case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform rectangular images are displayed for print-failure regions, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as users must determine which portions to check with priority

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification generationVSAvoiduser judgment requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary prioritization and classification of print-failure regions before presenting them to users. The system automatically determines which regions require urgent attention based on failure characteristics, position, and severity, and pre-organizes the display accordingly. This preliminary action eliminates the need for users to independently prioritize regions, improving ease of operation while maintaining simple rectangular display formats.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that provide users with prioritized information about which print-failure regions to inspect first. The system analyzes failure characteristics and automatically ranks regions by importance, feeding this prioritization information back to users in an organized manner. This reduces the cognitive burden on users while maintaining the simplicity of rectangular image presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4235388B1Image processing apparatus, printing system, image processing method, program, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 CANON KK
  • EP4235388B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4235388B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4235388B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

There is provided with an image processing apparatus (100). A setting means (202) sets priority degrees in a printed image. A display control means (207) displays, in an order that is in accordance with the set priority degrees, print failures identified by inspecting a read image obtained by reading the printed image.