Printing Apparatus Illumination Device for Quality Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing technologies face challenges in efficiently checking the print quality of illumination advertisement media, as the visibility of printed matter is affected by internal illumination and surrounding environmental conditions, making it difficult to assess print quality accurately while considering the usage environment.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus that includes a print execution device and an illumination device, which prints an image on a print medium and irradiates it with illumination light from behind the printed face, allowing for accurate quality checking by simulating the usage environment conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If illumination light is applied manually to check print quality outside the printing apparatus, then the print quality can be checked considering usage environment, but the checking process becomes time-consuming and less efficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint quality assessment accuracyVSAvoidquality checking time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device is configured to illuminate the print medium before the quality checking process begins, and the illumination conditions are set in advance to match the intended usage environment. This preliminary preparation allows operators to immediately assess print quality under realistic conditions without time-consuming setup outside the apparatus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

An illumination device is introduced as an intermediary element within the printing apparatus to simulate the usage environment. This intermediary provides controlled illumination that mimics real-world conditions, enabling accurate quality assessment while keeping the process contained within the apparatus and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the printed print medium remains wound in a roll shape inside the printing apparatus, then the printing process is efficient, but it becomes difficult to check the print quality under actual usage conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidprint quality assessment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The printing apparatus is designed with dynamic capabilities to switch between different operational states: maintaining the print medium in a rolled configuration during printing for efficiency, and automatically unrolling and illuminating it for quality checking. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize for both productivity and measurement precision at different stages of the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If illumination device is disposed inside the image forming apparatus as in prior art, then the structure is compact, but it cannot simulate the actual usage environment of illumination advertisement media

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus structure simplicityVSAvoidusage environment simulation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device is configured with adjustable parameters including illumination direction (from behind the printed face), illumination intensity, and color temperature. These parameters can be changed to match various usage environments, allowing the compact internal structure to simulate different real-world conditions accurately without requiring external illumination setups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enhances the efficiency of checking print quality by allowing operators to assess the printed matter's appearance under illumination conditions similar to its intended usage environment, reducing errors and costs associated with reprinting due to poor quality.

Implementation Method 1

The illumination device irradiates the printed image on the print medium with illumination light from behind a printed face of the print medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP4375069A1Printing apparatus, printing system, printing method, and carrier medium
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4375069A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4375069A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4375069A1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A printing apparatus (100) includes a print execution device (1, 2, 4) and an illumination device (5). The print execution device (1, 2, 4) prints an image on a print medium based on print data. The illumination device (5) irradiates the printed image on the print medium with illumination light from behind a printed face of the print medium.