Inkjet Printer Page Identifier Defect Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inkjet printing apparatuses cannot detect printing defects caused by colors other than black ink, limiting their ability to identify and correct errors in color printing.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating single-color parts printed with all colors in the page identifier, allowing for quick detection of printing defects by comparing page identification results, and optionally using bar codes or changing the color of the page identifier for each page to facilitate rapid defect detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If black ink is used for printing page identifiers, then compatibility with ordinary bar code readers is improved, but detection capability for color printing defects is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with ordinary bar code readersVSAvoiddetection capability for color printing defects

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The page identifier is divided into multiple single-color parts, each printed with a different ink color. This segmentation allows the system to detect printing defects for each color separately while maintaining overall functionality with standard readers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the page identifier have different color properties. Each single-color part is printed with a specific ink color (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), creating local quality variations that enable color-specific defect detection while the overall structure remains readable by standard devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If multiple colors are used in page identifiers, then detection capability for all ink colors is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capability for all ink colorsVSAvoidcomplexity of inspection system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using complex color-discriminating readers, the system creates multiple simplified copies of the bar code in different colors. Each single-color part can be read by ordinary bar code readers, eliminating the need for complex inspection equipment while maintaining comprehensive defect detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The page identifier structure serves multiple functions: it enables defect detection for all ink colors through its multi-color composition, while simultaneously maintaining compatibility with ordinary bar code readers through the use of standard bar code formats in each single-color part.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If single-color parts with all colors are printed in the page identifier, then defect detection speed is improved, but manufacturing complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedefect detection speedVSAvoidcomplexity of printing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by printing all necessary single-color parts in the page identifier during the initial printing process. This allows for immediate defect detection without requiring additional printing steps or post-processing operations, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling rapid inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the detection of printing defects across all ink colors, allowing for swift identification of the affected ink color and ensuring consistent printing on both sides of a page.

Implementation Method 1

an image pickup part that captures images of page identifiers on a plurality of pages

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2484533B1printer

Publication Date: 2019.11.06 SCREEN HOLDINGS CO LTD

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AI summary

A printing apparatus is an apparatus that performs color printing using an inkjet system, and includes a scanning mechanism by which a printing medium is moved in a scanning direction, and an ejection unit that ejects minute ink droplets toward the printing medium that is being conveyed by the scanning mechanism. In the printing apparatus, an image capturing part captures an image of a page identifier (95) printed on each page of a printing medium, and an inspection part compares a page identification result acquired from an output of the image capturing part with page identification information included in print data. Since the page identifier (95) includes single-color parts (951a-951d) that are each printed with only an ink of a respective one of a plurality of colors used in the printing apparatus, a printing defect can be quickly detected during inspection of the first page in which the printing defect has occurred, irrespective of with which ink color out of the plurality of colors the printing defect has occurred.