Print Image Inspection Calibration for Color and Position Deviations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image inspection systems fail to predict and prevent printing abnormalities by notifying users of the need for calibration before a deviation in color value occurs, and do not account for deviations in print position, leading to continued printing with defects.
Innovation Solution
An image inspection apparatus and method that includes a scanning unit, memory devices for storing calibration data, and processors to determine and execute calibration as needed, adjusting reference and formed images based on stored data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If calibration is executed only after color value deviation is confirmed, then printing can continue without interruption, but printing abnormalities occur and quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration before actual printing by predicting color value deviations based on sheet characteristics and environmental conditions. This preliminary calibration action prevents printing abnormalities from occurring in the first place, resolving the contradiction by ensuring both continuous printing capability and high print quality through proactive rather than reactive calibration.
2Productivity
If calibration is not executed, then printing continues without interruption, but deviations in color value and print position occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration before printing based on predicted deviations from sheet characteristics and environmental conditions. This ensures that both color value and print position accuracy are maintained without interrupting printing operations, as calibration is performed proactively rather than reactively after deviations occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sheet characteristics, environmental conditions, and printing results to provide feedback for calibration adjustments. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain manufacturing precision while preserving printing continuity by dynamically adapting calibration parameters based on actual performance data.
3Reliability
If visual inspection is used, then printing abnormalities can be detected, but time and cost increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual visual inspection with automated image inspection using scanning units and image processing. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual inspection process while maintaining or improving abnormality detection accuracy through computational methods, directly resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system automatically performs quality verification without requiring human inspectors. The system self-verifies print quality by comparing scanned images against reference images and detecting abnormalities autonomously, thereby eliminating the time and cost associated with manual visual inspection while maintaining reliable abnormality detection.
Data Source
AI summary
An image inspection apparatus comprises an image inspection unit that scans, via a scanning unit, a sheet on which an image is formed conveyed from an image forming unit and detects an abnormality in a formed image via comparison with a reference image. The image inspection apparatus determines whether or not to execute calibration to adjust the reference image or the formed image used for image inspection, in a case where it is determined to execute calibration, execute calibration and store calibration data thereof in the one or more memory devices, in a case where it is determined not to execute calibration, read out calibration data from the one or more memory devices, and based on calibration data stored in the one or more memory devices or calibration data obtained by execution of the calibration, perform adjustment of the reference image or the formed image.