Printing Station Registration via Chromatic Image Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing press systems require registration marks or targets to align printing stations, which can be cumbersome and may not accurately register pantone colors, leading to incorrect image positioning on the web.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for registering printing stations without registration marks or targets by chromatically or spatially separating color images printed on the web, using an imager and processor to determine pixel locations in a color space, project onto a color projection plane, and transform into a two-dimensional color separation space to register monochrome images, thereby aligning printing stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If registration marks or targets are used to align printing stations, then the printing stations can be registered, but the process becomes cumbersome and accuracy is compromised especially for pantone colors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes registration marks or targets from the printing process entirely. Instead of using external reference markers, the system extracts and uses the printed color images themselves as registration references by analyzing their chromatic properties and spatial relationships
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the printed color images through the imager, then processes this copy to determine registration status. The processor analyzes the captured image data to generate registration error signals without requiring physical registration marks
2Manufacturing precision
If registration marks are used for alignment, then printing stations can be registered, but pantone colors cannot be accurately registered leading to incorrect image positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the chromatic properties of the printed color images themselves for registration. By analyzing color information in the captured images and transforming it into color separation space, the system achieves accurate registration of pantone colors without relying on traditional registration marks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of registration marks with a digital image processing system. The processor analyzes color data from the imager and generates registration error signals through computational methods rather than physical mark detection
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for registering a printing press, said printing press including a plurality of printing stations each for printing a respective color-image on a web, each said printing stations being associated with a respective different color, at least two pairs of said printing stations being un-registered, the method includes the procedures of identifying at least two regions-of-interest in the image to be printed, each including a respective different pair of two partially overlapping color-images, acquiring an image of the common area on the web, for each region-of-interest, chromatically separating the acquired image to determine two monochrome images respective of each region-of-interest, for each region-of-interest registering the two monochrome images respective thereof, registering a monochrome image respective of one region-of-interest with a monochrome image respective of another region-of-interest and determining a registration correction for each printing station according to the registration between the monochrome images.