Print Inspection Using Pre/Post Sheet Baselines

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming systems struggle to accurately detect abnormalities in recording media, particularly when using embossed paper, due to toner scattering which complicates differentiation between sheet unevenness and toner distribution.

Innovation Solution

An inspection apparatus and method that acquires pre-printing and post-printing base information of the recording medium, comparing color distribution ranges in a Lab color space to determine abnormalities based on deviations in color information before and after printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If embossed paper is used as a recording medium, then the sheet can be used for printing, but toner scattering occurs in the base region making it difficult to distinguish between sheet unevenness and toner distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecording medium usageVSAvoidabnormality detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by capturing pre-printing base information of the recording medium before printing occurs. This allows the system to establish a baseline of the sheet's inherent unevenness before toner is applied, enabling later differentiation between pre-existing sheet characteristics and post-printing abnormalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by capturing post-printing base information after printing and comparing it with the pre-printing base information. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect changes in the base region caused by toner scattering, thereby identifying abnormalities that were not present before printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If pre-printing base information is captured to distinguish sheet unevenness from toner scattering, then abnormality detection accuracy improves, but the inspection process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormality detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reading apparatus captures pre-printing base information as a preliminary action before the printing process. This pre-capture of baseline sheet characteristics simplifies the subsequent inspection process by providing reference data that enables automatic differentiation between sheet unevenness and toner scattering abnormalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the pre-printing base information and compares it with post-printing base information. This copying approach allows the inspection apparatus to detect abnormalities by identifying differences between the two states, thereby improving detection accuracy without requiring complex real-time analysis during printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250343863A1Inspection apparatus, image forming system, abnormality detection method, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

Provided is an inspection apparatus that includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor acquires pre-printing base information of a recording medium before printing and post-printing base information of the recording medium after the printing, and determines based on the pre-printing base information and the post-printing base information whether there is an abnormality in the recording media after the printing.