Printing Condition Prediction for Plate-Making Quality Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing systems require multiple actual printing steps to determine appropriate plate-making and printing conditions, leading to inefficiencies and increased processing time.

Innovation Solution

A prediction unit predicts printing quality based on plate-making and printing conditions, and a recommendation unit outputs recommended conditions without the need for physical printing, using a model trained on data associating these conditions with printing quality indices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If actual printing is performed multiple times to determine plate-making and printing conditions, then printing quality can be measured and adjusted, but processing time and productivity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis by predicting printing quality outcomes based on input conditions (plate-making parameters, printing parameters, anilox parameters, ink parameters) before actual printing occurs. This allows condition optimization to be done in advance, eliminating the need for multiple trial printings and thus resolving the contradiction between ensuring printing quality and maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual model of the printing process that replicates the relationship between input conditions and printing quality. Instead of physically printing multiple times to test conditions, the system uses this virtual model to predict outcomes and determine optimal conditions, thereby maintaining printing quality while significantly reducing processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple trial printings are performed to determine optimal conditions, then appropriate plate-making and printing conditions can be determined, but device complexity and operational effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplate-making condition accuracyVSAvoidoperational effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines optimal plate-making and printing conditions by processing input parameters through the prediction model. The system self-adjusts and provides recommendations without requiring manual trial-and-error operations, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining the accuracy of condition determination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where printing quality predictions are continuously refined based on the relationship between input conditions and predicted outcomes. This automated feedback loop allows the system to learn from data and improve condition determination accuracy without increasing operational effort, as the process is fully automated

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4693015A1Planning assistance device, information processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 ASAHI KASEI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • EP4693015A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4693015A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4693015A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

To provide a assistance device, an information processing method using the device, and a program with which an appropriate plate-making condition and printing condition can be grasped without performing a printing step. A assistance device including: a prediction unit that predicts printing quality information indicating printing quality in predetermined gradation of printed matter based on plate-making condition information indicating a plate-making condition for a printing plate and printing condition information indicating a printing condition for obtaining the printed matter using the printing plate manufactured under the plate-making condition; and a recommendation unit that outputs recommended condition information indicating a recommended condition for the plate-making condition or the printing condition based on the printing quality information and target quality information indicating a target index related to the printing quality.