Robot Arm Image Inspection for Print Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated print quality control systems in the printing industry struggle to simulate subjective, personal quality assessments by end customers, who inspect prints from various angles and distances, failing to account for individual expectations and varying quality requirements across different print jobs.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing a mobile robot arm with an image sensor that scans print products from multiple viewing angles and distances, allowing for a realistic simulation of end customer inspections, including movement to mimic human inspection motions, and evaluating digital prints based on quality parameters dependent on elevation, azimuth, and distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated inspection systems use a fixed camera position to record print products, then the inspection process is efficient and automated, but the system cannot simulate human inspection from various viewing angles and distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed camera position with a mobile robot arm that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. The robot arm enables the camera to move to different locations above the print product, recording images from multiple viewing angles and distances, thus simulating human inspection behavior while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dimensionality change by transitioning from a single fixed viewing point to multiple three-dimensional positions. The robot arm moves the camera along vertical and horizontal axes, enabling image capture from various elevations, azimuths, and distances, thereby adding spatial dimensions to the inspection process.
2Productivity
If a single reference image is used for comparison, then the inspection process is simple and fast, but it cannot account for quality variations when viewed from different angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating multiple reference images corresponding to different viewing angles and distances before the actual inspection. These pre-recorded reference images are stored and later used for comparison with inspection images, enabling accurate quality assessment across various viewing conditions without slowing down the inspection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the viewing parameters (elevation angle, azimuth angle, distance) when creating reference images. The system records reference images at multiple parameter settings and selects the appropriate reference image based on the current inspection viewing parameters, ensuring accurate comparison under matching conditions.
3Device complexity
If the camera remains stationary during inspection, then the system structure is simple, but it cannot replicate the human inspection motion of moving the print product or changing viewing positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of moving the print product through a fixed camera with a robotic mechanical system. The robot arm, controlled by a computer, substitutes for the stationary camera setup by actively positioning the camera to various locations, thereby replicating human inspection motions while maintaining system automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for inspecting images on print products in a printing material processing machine includes recording and digitizing produced print products using at least one image sensor in an image inspection process of a print job using an image inspection system. The recorded digital prints that have been created are compared to a digital reference image by using a computer and, if deviations are found between the recorded digital prints and the digital reference image, print products found to be defective are removed. The image sensor records the produced print products from at least two different viewing angles and/or viewing distances and the computer evaluates the at least two recorded digital prints as a function of the at least two viewing angles and/or viewing distances and assesses them in terms of deviations. A device for inspecting images on print products is also provided.