Image Capturing Device for Industrial Printer Print Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current industrial printer systems rely on real-time communication between the printer and image capturing device to verify print information, which is limited by information transfer speed and prone to network delays and faults, making them less reliable for ensuring accurate and complete print verification.

Innovation Solution

The image capturing device dynamically determines part of the print information, allowing it to compute and verify the print data independently, eliminating the need for real-time communication with the printer and enhancing reliability by synchronizing with the printer's dynamic data computation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If real-time communication is used between printer and image capturing device for print verification, then the system can verify print information, but the reliability is limited by information transfer speed and network delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint verification reliabilityVSAvoidinformation transfer time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The image capturing device preliminarily determines the dynamic print information using the same algorithm as the printer before the actual printing occurs. This advance determination allows the device to have the verification data ready, eliminating the need for real-time communication during the critical verification window and thus improving reliability while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The image capturing device creates a local copy of the dynamic print information by independently computing it using the same algorithm that the printer uses. This copying approach eliminates dependency on real-time communication for data transfer, as the verification device now has its own copy of the data to compare against the actual print output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If real-time communication is used between printer and image capturing device, then print information can be transmitted, but the system is prone to network delays and faults

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint verification reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the dynamic print information determination function from the communication system and places it locally in the image capturing device. By taking out the computation capability and implementing it independently at the verification device, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time communication infrastructure while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The image capturing device serves itself by independently determining the dynamic print information it needs for verification purposes. Instead of relying on the printer to provide the data through communication channels, the verification device performs the determination autonomously using the same algorithm, thus making the system self-sufficient and reducing communication dependencies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the image capturing device determines dynamic print information independently, then real-time communication is eliminated, but the device must have computation capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint verification reliabilityVSAvoiddevice manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The image capturing device is designed with multi-functionality, combining both the image capture capability and the dynamic print information determination capability in a single device. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate communication infrastructure and reduces overall system complexity, making the device more versatile while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3381178B1Quality monitoring arrangement and method in an industrial printer system
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 DOVER EUROPE SARL
  • EP3381178B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3381178B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3381178B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by an image capturing device (105) for handling printed information on an information carrier (107).The image capturing device (105) dynamically determines at least part of print information that should be printed on the information carrier (107) by an industrial printer (101). When the print information has been printed on the information carrier (107) by the industrial printer (101), the image capturing device (105) captures an image of at least part of the print information on the information carrier (107).