Integrated Sensor Head for Printing Press Ink and Registration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing presses require separate and costly devices for ink supply amount adjustment and registration adjustment, leading to high operational costs and maintenance burdens.
Innovation Solution
An integrated apparatus and method using a sensor head with a spectroscopic sensor and image sensor to measure color matching data and register marks, allowing for simultaneous ink supply and registration adjustments, reducing the need for separate devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate devices are used for ink supply amount adjustment and registration adjustment, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ink supply amount adjustment function and registration adjustment function into a single integrated scanning apparatus. The scanning head includes both a spectroscopic sensor for measuring color matching data (ink supply adjustment) and an image sensor for detecting register marks (registration adjustment). This merging eliminates the need for separate devices while maintaining measurement precision for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning apparatus is designed with multi-functionality to perform both ink supply amount measurement and registration adjustment. The sensor head can measure color matching data using the spectroscopic sensor and detect register mark positions using the image sensor, allowing one device to serve multiple purposes that previously required separate specialized devices.
2Measurement precision
If separate devices are used for ink supply amount adjustment and registration adjustment, then measurement precision is improved, but operational cost and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging two separate adjustment functions into one integrated apparatus, the patent reduces the total number of devices that require operation and maintenance. The unified scanning apparatus has a single sensor head assembly that handles both spectroscopic measurement and image detection, simplifying operational procedures and reducing maintenance burden compared to managing separate devices.
3Ease of operation
If a line sensor with upward/downward dimension larger than color bar width is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor in the sensor head is designed with an upward/downward dimension larger than the color bar width, enabling it to detect the color bar's central position and facilitate automatic positioning. This multi-functional sensor serves both registration mark detection and color bar positioning purposes, improving ease of operation while the integrated design keeps overall device complexity manageable.
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 solution reduces the overall cost of the printing press and simplifies maintenance by integrating functions for ink supply and registration adjustments, improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first detector which is mounted on the sensor head, and measures color matching data of a color patch of each color in a color bar printed in a margin of the printing product
Implementation Method 2
a second detector which detects a position of a register mark of each color, which is printed in a margin of the printing product
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for controlling the ink supply amount/registration adjustment in a printing press. The apparatus includes a base (10-1), sensor head (10-3), sensor head moving unit (10-2), first detector, second detector, and control unit. The sensor head moving unit includes an upward/downward position adjusting unit which adjusts the upward/downward position of the sensor head. The second detector detects the upward/downward position of a color bar when color matching data of a color patch of each color in the color bar is measured by the first detector. The upward/downward position adjusting unit adjusts the upward/downward position of the sensor head based on the upward/downward position of the color bar, which is detected by the second detector. A method of controlling the ink supply amount/registration adjustment in a printing press is also disclosed.