Adjustment Chart Color Range for Multi-Ink Detection in Printers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses struggle to simultaneously and easily detect multiple coloring materials during image adjustment, particularly in visual recognition of different color inks formed on a second color ink, leading to incomplete detection of color unevenness and ejection failures.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus that calculates a common chromaticity range with a color difference not less than a setting value for multiple coloring materials, forming an adjustment chart with a base color range that facilitates simultaneous and easy detection of all coloring materials, including a base-color-range calculator to determine this range and a control method to form adjustment charts on suitable media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If adjustment charts with multiple coloring materials are formed simultaneously, then image adjustment efficiency is improved, but visual recognition of different color inks becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage adjustment efficiencyVSAvoidvisual recognition of color inks
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different base color regions for different coloring materials. Each coloring material is formed on a base with a specific color range that provides optimal contrast for detecting that particular material. This allows multiple coloring materials to be adjusted simultaneously while maintaining clear visual recognition of each one through its distinct base color context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If coloring materials with similar colors are placed adjacent to each other, then space utilization is improved, but detection of color difference becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidcolor difference detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes color changes by establishing base color ranges that are deliberately different from the coloring materials being tested. By selecting bases with color differences of at least a threshold value, the system maintains clear visual distinction even when coloring materials have similar colors, enabling accurate detection while maintaining compact chart design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3895900B1Image forming apparatus, control method in image forming apparatus, and control program in image forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP3895900B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3895900B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3895900B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

There is provided an image forming apparatus (1) capable of image adjustment due to certain simultaneous and easy detection of all of respective coloring materials, in image adjustment with an adjustment chart with the plurality of coloring materials. An image forming apparatus (1) forms an image with a plurality of coloring materials on a recording medium, and the image forming apparatus (1) includes: a base-color-range calculator (53a) that calculates a chromaticity range having a color difference not less than a setting value to respective chromaticities of the plurality of coloring materials for use in formation of the image, as a base color range common between the plurality of coloring materials.