Printing Apparatus Measurement Control for Ink Waste Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing methods for test patterns result in wastage of print sheets and print agents due to the need for test printing to measure print densities.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and method that identifies and measures print characteristics from specific colored areas on a print sheet without performing test printing, using a printing unit, discharging unit, conveying unit, measuring unit, identifying unit, and measurement control unit to prevent wastage of print sheets and agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If test printing is performed to measure print densities, then measurement accuracy is improved, but print sheet and print agent waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by printing measurement patterns at reduced resolution or in gray scale before final high-quality printing. This preliminary test printing uses minimal print agent while still providing sufficient data for density measurement and print condition calculation, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy or representation of the measurement pattern at reduced fidelity (lower resolution, gray scale) for testing purposes. This copied measurement pattern suffices for obtaining print density data without requiring full-quality color printing, thus achieving accurate measurement while minimizing print sheet and print agent consumption.
2Manufacturing precision
If measurement is performed on colored areas formed by print agent addition, then print state accuracy is improved, but print sheet consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement pattern printing at reduced resolution to establish print conditions. This preliminary action provides sufficient data for calculating print densities and adjusting print parameters without requiring extensive high-quality print sheets, thereby achieving accurate print state measurement while reducing print sheet consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes printing parameters by printing measurement patterns at reduced resolution and in gray scale rather than full color and high resolution. This parameter change maintains the ability to measure print state accuracy while significantly reducing the quantity of print sheets required for testing and measurement.
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 accurate measurement of print states without wasting print sheets and agents, ensuring efficient ink usage and precise print density control.
Implementation Method 1
a measuring unit disposed along the conveying path and configured to measure a print characteristic of the image formed by the printing unit on the print sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints an image on a print sheet with a print agent; a discharging unit; a conveying unit including a conveying path through which a print sheet is conveyed from the printing unit to the discharging unit; a measuring unit provided on the conveying path of the conveying unit to measure each colored area formed by the printing unit that adds the print agent on the print sheet from at least one of a first face and a second face opposite to the first face; an identifying unit that identifies a measurement area satisfying a certain condition from the colored areas; and a measurement control unit that performs the measurement for the identified measurement area and does not perform the measurement for the colored areas that are not identified by the identifying unit.