Printing Apparatus Color Measurement Patch Width Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face issues with increased ink loss and prolonged printing times when measuring patch colors, as they require multiple prints of patches in varying sizes to determine the optimal patch size for accurate color measurement.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a color measurement portion that uses a carriage to move relative to the color chart, calculating the optimal patch width using expressions that minimize ink loss and printing time, and employing a wavelength variable interference filter to control light reflection and transmission for efficient color measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the size of patch is small, then ink loss is reduced and printing time is shortened, but it is not easy to purely obtain only the color of the patch as a target to be measured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent determines the optimal patch size by establishing a mathematical relationship between patch size and measurement accuracy, then selecting the smallest patch size that satisfies the accuracy requirement. This transforms the qualitative problem of 'appropriate size' into a quantitative parameter optimization problem, allowing selection of minimal patch size that still achieves pure color measurement.
2Measurement precision
If patches having various sizes are printed many times to determine the optimum size, then the most appropriate patch size can be found, but the loss amount of ink is increased and printing takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of the optimal patch size through theoretical calculation or single-instance experimentation before actual color measurement. By establishing the optimal size in advance, subsequent color chart printing can directly use this predetermined size without repeated trial prints, thus eliminating the time and ink waste associated with iterative size determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical trial-and-error process of printing multiple patches of various sizes with a mathematical or computational determination method. Instead of physically printing and measuring multiple patches to find the optimal size, the system uses calculations or algorithms to determine the optimal size directly, substituting physical iteration with computational efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If the size of patch is large, then pure color measurement can be obtained, but printing of the color chart takes a long time and loss of ink or paper is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the patch size parameter to find the minimum size that still achieves accurate color measurement. By treating patch size as an adjustable parameter rather than a fixed value, the system identifies the threshold where measurement accuracy is sufficient, thereby minimizing patch size and consequently reducing the total area that needs to be printed while maintaining measurement quality.
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
This approach reduces ink loss and minimizes manufacturing time by eliminating the need for measuring patch widths based on actual color results, while allowing for accurate color measurement with minimal deviation and efficient light reception.
Implementation Method 1
a color measurement portion that applies a spot of light to the color chart, and measures a color of each of the plurality of patches using reflected light from the spot
Implementation Method 2
the color measurement portion may include a wavelength variable interference filter which controls a gap between reflection films facing each other in Q stages (Q is multiple number)
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a color measurement portion which applies a spot of light to a color chart in which a plurality of patches are arranged in the X direction and in the Y direction, and measures a color of each of the plurality of patches using reflected light from the spot, a carriage that includes the color measurement portion mounted thereon, and a moving mechanism which relatively moves the carriage with respect to the color chart in the X direction, and a width of each of the plurality of patches in the X direction is obtained using a predetermined expression.