Printing Apparatus Mark Registration for Wider Printable Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses, the need for registration correction during additional printing reduces the printable area, leading to decreased productivity due to the requirement for separate areas for reference and registration marks, which limits the width and conveyance direction of printed images.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus prints reference and registration marks at the same position in the width direction while shifting in the conveyance direction, allowing for a larger printable area by preventing erroneous detection of reference marks as registration marks and enabling simultaneous detection and correction of color registration shifts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate areas are allocated for reference marks and registration marks, then accurate registration correction can be performed, but the printable area becomes small and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reference mark and registration mark into a single integrated mark structure. The reference mark portion and registration mark portion are combined in the width direction at the same position, allowing both functions to be achieved without requiring separate areas on the sheet, thereby maintaining printable area while enabling accurate registration correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated mark serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a reference mark for position detection and a registration mark for color alignment verification. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate marks and maximizes the usable printing area.
2Reliability
If reference marks and registration marks are positioned separately in the width direction, then both marks can be detected without interference, but the printable area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by arranging the reference mark portion and registration mark portion in the width direction at the same conveyance direction position. This dimensional arrangement allows both marks to be detected by a single sensor without interference while minimizing the area consumed.
3Productivity
If the sensor detects both reference marks and registration marks simultaneously, then detection efficiency is improved, but erroneous detection may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated mark is segmented into distinct portions: a reference mark portion and a registration mark portion. Each portion has a different pattern structure that allows the sensor to distinguish between them during simultaneous detection, preventing erroneous detection while maintaining high detection efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The printing apparatus (1) comprises: a unit (8) configured to print a plurality of color planes corresponding to the image in an overlapping manner at the formation position indicated by the detected first mark and print a plurality of second marks corresponding to each of the plurality of color planes on the continuous sheet; and a unit (21) configured to adjust printing start timing of the color plane so as resolve a shift in each of the color planes based on detection results of the plurality of second marks. Then, the plurality of second marks is printed at an end portion of the continuous sheet so that at least part of the plurality of second marks overlaps the first mark in the sheet width direction.