Optical sensor apparatus and method for sensing ink errors in optical disk manufacturing
AssigneeThomson Licensing
InventorsJose Jaime Zuniga Bravo, Jesus Ledesma Pacheco
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Abstract
An apparatus, system and method for detecting ink errors in optical disk printing are provided. The apparatus, system and method include a sensor mount structure and a plurality of optical sensors mounted on the mount structure and in registration with a print table. A controller selectively activates the optical sensors in accordance with a relative motion between the optical sensors and the printing station such that the optical sensors each scan an assigned region of the print table to detect ink outside of an area where an object to be printed is placed.
Claims19
A system for detecting ink defects in an optical disk printing process, comprising:
- a printing machine for applying ink to optical disks, the printing machine including a print table;
- a sensor mount structure disposed over the print table;
- a plurality of optical sensors mounted on the mount structure and in registration with said printing table and configured to scan at least a surface of the print table;
- and
- a controller which selectively activates said optical sensors in accordance with a relative motion between said optical sensors and said printing table such that movement of the sensors relative to the print table enables said optical sensors to each scan an assigned region of said printing table to detect ink outside of an area where said optical disks to be printed are placed.
An apparatus for detecting ink defects in a printing station during a printing process of an object, comprising:
- a plurality of spaced apart optical sensors mounted above and in registration with a printing area of said printing station and configured to scan at least a surface of the printing area;
- and
- a controller which selectively activates said optical sensors in accordance with a relative motion between said optical sensors and said printing station such that movement of the sensors relative to the printing station enables said optical sensors to each scan an assigned region of said printing area to detect ink outside of an area where said object to be printed is placed.
A method for detecting ink defects in an object printing process, comprising the steps of:
- providing an array of optical sensors comprising a plurality of optical sensors mounted above a print table and configured to scan at least a surface of the print table;
- and
- selectively activating said optical sensors in the array of optical sensors disposed over the print table in accordance with a relative motion between the array of optical sensors and the print table such that movement of the sensors relative to the print table enables the optical sensors to each scan an assigned region of the print table to detect ink outside of an area where said object to be printed is placed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.