Printing System Color Stabilization Measurement Patch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing systems face inefficiencies due to prolonged waiting times for color material stabilization, which are influenced by variations in print content and conditions, leading to potential errors in stabilization time determination and increased waiting times.
Innovation Solution
A printing system that includes a printer and a colorimeter, where the printer prints a measurement patch alongside the printed product, and the colorimeter measures the color of the patch to determine if the color material has stabilized, based on the amount of change in the patch's color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If colorimetry is performed on all printed products after a uniform stabilization time determined by preliminary verification, then the color material stabilization can be determined, but the waiting time becomes longer than necessary due to not considering differences in print content and printing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printed product into a measurement patch (for stabilization determination) and the actual printed content. By separating the measurement function from the content, the system can quickly assess stabilization using a standardized patch while the actual print content varies, thus reducing waiting time without sacrificing measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement patch is printed simultaneously with the printed product in advance, before colorimetry is performed. This preliminary action allows the colorimetry to start immediately after printing without additional preparation time, enabling faster stabilization determination while maintaining accuracy through the dedicated measurement patch.
2Measurement precision
If a long stabilization time is used for UV ink containing photopolymerization initiator, then accurate colorimetric values can be obtained, but the waiting time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement patch is printed in advance together with the printed product, allowing colorimetry to begin immediately. This preliminary action eliminates additional preparation time and enables the system to monitor color stabilization in real-time from the moment of printing, reducing excessive waiting time while ensuring accurate colorimetric values are obtained when stabilization is actually achieved.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs repeated colorimetry measurements and compares the results to determine when color stabilization has been achieved. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically adjust the measurement process, stopping when accurate colorimetric values are obtained rather than using a fixed excessive waiting time, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and time efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system includes: a printer that prints an arbitrary printed product on a printing medium; and a colorimeter that measures a color of the printed product, in which the printer includes a printing part, and a colorimetry controller that causes the printing part to print, based on information on the printed product, a measurement patch to be used for measurement of stabilization of a color material of the printed product and the printed product on the printing medium, and the colorimeter includes a colorimetry part, and a colorimetry controller that causes the colorimetry part to measure the color of the measurement patch and determines, based on an amount of change in the color of the measurement patch, whether the color material of the printed product has been stabilized.