Printing Press Ink Density Plausibility Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing press technologies face challenges in ensuring the plausibility of measured values for color density, which can lead to unstable control behavior and poor print quality due to singular disturbances or disruptive influences during the printing process.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented where the control device continuously checks the plausibility of measured values by comparing color densities across adjacent ink zones and using only plausible values for color control, with parameters set before the printing process to determine when active automatic color control is appropriate, thus preventing unnecessary interruptions and maintaining stable control behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic color control is continuously active during the printing process, then print quality can be maintained, but control behavior becomes unstable due to singular disturbances or disruptive influences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol behavior stabilityVSAvoidprint quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by defining plausibility criteria and relationship thresholds before the printing process begins. The control device stores predefined relationships between measured values from different color zones and determines whether automatic color control should be active based on these pre-established criteria. This allows the system to filter out singular disturbances that occur during printing by comparing actual measurements against pre-defined plausible ranges, thereby maintaining stable control behavior while ensuring print quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If measured values from all ink zones are used for color control, then color accuracy can be maintained, but control stability deteriorates due to disruptive influences in individual zones

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by evaluating the plausibility of measured values from individual ink zones separately before incorporating them into color control. The control device checks whether measured values from specific color zones conform to predefined relationships with other zones. Only measured values that meet the plausibility criteria in their local context are used for color control, allowing the system to maintain color accuracy from valid zones while excluding disruptive influences from problematic zones, thus preserving control stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If automatic color control is activated during start-up phase, then early print quality issues can be detected, but control behavior becomes unstable due to transient disturbances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveearly quality detectionVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining conditions under which automatic color control should remain inactive, including the start-up phase. The control device is programmed to recognize transient disturbances characteristic of start-up operations and to suspend automatic color control during these periods. This allows early quality issues to be detected through monitoring without activating full color control, thereby avoiding instability from transient disturbances while maintaining the ability to detect quality problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures high-quality printed products by stabilizing the control behavior of the printing press, reducing the risk of destabilization from short-term disturbances and maintaining cost-effectiveness by avoiding unnecessary interruptions.

Implementation Method 1

at least one measured value indicating a color density of a printing ink applied to a printing material being detected by a detection device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentEP2313271B1Method for assessing the plausibility of at least one measured value determined in a printing press
Publication Date: 2013.06.12 KOENIG & BAUER AG
  • EP2313271B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2313271B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2313271B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for assessing the plausibility of at least one measured value that is determined in a printing press and indicates a density of an ink applied to a stock (09) which is conveyed through the printing press, said ink being applied to the stock (09) in several inking zones (22; 22A; 22B; 22C; 22D). In said method, a relation is formed between the measured ink density value determined for a specific ink in a selected inking zone (22; 22B) and a measured ink density value determined for the same ink in at least one other inking zone (22; 22A; 22C). The measured ink density value determined for the specific ink in the selected inking zone (22; 22B) is rejected as being implausible and is not used for automatically regulating the ink in the printing press if the relation between said measured value and the measured value determined for the same ink in the at least one other inking zone (22) inadmissibly exceeds or lies below at least one predefined threshold value.