Variable Feeding Control for Authentication Image Anti-Counterfeiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming technologies cannot effectively prevent fake printed materials from being distributed, as the same printing apparatus can reproduce authentication images identically, making it difficult to determine authenticity.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and method that vary the feeding positions and amounts of a medium during main and sub-scanning processes to create authentication images with increased positional variations, making them harder to replicate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the same printing apparatus is used to form authentication images, then the authentication image can be formed with high precision, but the authenticity cannot be determined because the same apparatus can reproduce the image identically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the feeding amount variable rather than fixed. The control unit changes the feeding amount during the printing process, specifically when forming the authentication image, so that even the same printing apparatus produces different results each time. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by ensuring that the authentication image cannot be reproduced identically by the same apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of feeding amount to create variability in the authentication image. By controlling the feeding amount to be different when forming the authentication image compared to normal images, the system ensures that the authentication image has unique characteristics that cannot be replicated, thus solving the authenticity determination problem.
2Ease of manufacture
If the feeding amount is kept constant during printing, then the printing process is simple and stable, but the authentication image cannot provide sufficient anti-counterfeit capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic variation in the feeding amount specifically when forming the authentication image. The control unit adjusts the feeding amount based on the printing state, making it different from the constant feeding amount used for normal images. This dynamic approach maintains printing simplicity while providing strong anti-counterfeit capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the feeding amount different for the authentication image portion compared to the normal image portion. The control unit selectively changes the feeding amount only when the authentication image is being formed, while maintaining constant feeding for other parts. This localized variation provides anti-counterfeit capability without complicating the overall printing process.
3Productivity
If multiple print media are formed by the same individual printing apparatus, then the production efficiency is high, but the authenticity of the print media cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains high production efficiency by allowing the same printing apparatus to form multiple print media, but introduces dynamic variation in the feeding amount when forming authentication images. This ensures that each authentication image has unique characteristics, enabling authenticity determination while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the feeding amount parameter specifically for authentication images formed by the same printing apparatus. This parameter change creates unique authentication images that can be used for authenticity determination, resolving the contradiction between high productivity and authenticity verification.
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
The solution results in authentication images that are more difficult to copy, enhancing the ability to determine authenticity even when using the same image forming apparatus, thereby preventing counterfeit printing.
Implementation Method 1
a recording head configured to discharge a droplet onto the medium
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus that forms an output image including an authentication image for authenticity determination on a medium. The image forming apparatus includes: a recording head configured to discharge a droplet onto the medium; a drive unit configured to perform main scanning in which the recording head moves in a main scanning direction and sub scanning in which the medium is fed in a feeding direction; and a control unit configured to control, based on image formation data representing the output image, the main scanning and the sub scanning performed by the drive unit, and the discharge of the droplet performed by the recording head. The control unit performs a control to form the authentication image by a plurality of times of the main scanning in which feeding positions of the medium in the feeding direction are different, and performs a control so that at least one feeding amount of the medium in one sub scanning is different between a feeding amount at time of forming the authentication image and a feeding amount at time of forming a portion of the output image that does not include the authentication image.