Digital Textile Printing Pattern Alignment via Strip Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital textile printing, large patterns on fabrics experience distortion during transport, leading to reduced pattern extraction accuracy and increased shifts between the printed image and the fabric pattern, which can result in inefficiencies and delays in the printing process due to the need to slow down or stop fabric transport for data processing.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a control unit that includes an imaging unit to capture fabric patterns, a pattern registration unit to register and divide pattern image data, a pattern extracting unit to extract partial pattern regions from imaging data, and a printing image generation unit to correct and arrange printing data to match the extracted patterns, allowing for continuous fabric transport and improved alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the fabric transport velocity is reduced or transport is temporarily stopped to complete pattern extraction and printing data generation, then the extraction accuracy and printing precision are improved, but the printing efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric width direction is divided into multiple strip regions, and pattern extraction is performed independently for each strip. This segmentation allows the system to process smaller regions sequentially while the fabric continues to transport, maintaining both extraction accuracy and printing efficiency without requiring complete fabric stops
Solution Approach 2:
Pattern extraction and printing data generation are performed in advance for each strip region before the fabric reaches the printing position. By preparing the printing data beforehand during fabric transport, the system eliminates waiting time and maintains continuous operation, improving overall printing efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If the fabric transport velocity is reduced or transport is temporarily stopped to complete pattern extraction and printing data generation, then the printing precision is improved, but the printing efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric is divided into multiple strip regions along the width direction, allowing printing precision to be maintained for each strip through careful processing while the overall fabric transport continues uninterrupted, thus maintaining printing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Printing data for each strip region is generated in advance before the fabric reaches the printing position. This preliminary data preparation ensures high printing precision while allowing continuous fabric transport, avoiding efficiency losses from stops or slowdowns
3Area of stationary object
If the size of one pattern is large, then the pattern covers a larger area of the fabric, but the extraction accuracy from captured image is reduced and processing time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Large patterns are divided into multiple smaller strip regions along the fabric width direction. Each strip is extracted and processed independently, maintaining high extraction accuracy for each segment while collectively covering the entire large pattern area. This segmentation makes the extraction process more manageable and accurate
4Area of stationary object
If the size of one pattern is large, then the pattern covers a larger area of the fabric, but the processing time for extraction and data generation is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The large pattern area is segmented into multiple smaller strip regions that can be processed in parallel or sequentially during fabric transport. This reduces the processing time for each individual extraction task while maintaining coverage of the entire pattern area
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric transport continues continuously while pattern extraction and data generation are performed for each strip region during transit. This eliminates idle time and ensures that processing occurs concurrently with transport, reducing total processing time while maintaining complete pattern coverage
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a pattern extracting unit for, based on a comparison between first image data representing a pattern and second image data generated by imaging a fabric transported, extracting a pattern region from the second image data, a printing image generation unit for arranging third image data representing an image to be printed overlaid on the pattern so that the third image data matches the pattern region to generate printing image data, and a printing control unit for causing a printing unit to print the printing image data on the fabric transported, wherein the pattern extracting unit compares each of a plurality of divided pieces of first image data obtained by dividing the first image data with the second image data, to extract a partial pattern region from the second image data, and the printing image generation unit arranges each of a plurality of divided pieces of third image data obtained by dividing the third image data in accordance with the partial pattern region to generate the printing image data.