Efficiently detecting print defects in ceramic tiles
In the ceramic tile industry design application is crucial. Furthermore since the production line is automated, time and energy should not be spent on continuing production tests to validate the product. It is much more cost-effective to recover defective products early in the line process. The current inspection products on the market can only be installed after flatbed machines, and the algorithms they contain are not enough advanced so as to inspect multiple layers of print. In this light, an inspection machine has been designed which can detect print flaws and tonality deviation prior to the firing stage. By so doing, defective tiles can be taken away and recycled so that both energy and raw material costs can be saved. The new system operates via processing algorithms which can detect print defects brought forth by various print machines. These include silk-screen printing, rotary screen, rotary photogravure and ink jet. Furthermore, it can be incorporated with other sensors on-line creating a process control loop that can adapt line settings to uphold tile print quality. The machine has many key features which include the top quality of colour images of tiles prior to firing, an immense inspection range and two inspection heads on each side of the print machine. Additionally, the system is robust and environmentally protected as well as small, compact and versatile. The prototype which was delivered and installed in factory for testing has satisfactorily met user stipulations.
