US 12,240,221 B2
System and method to reduce the visibility of gloss differentials on printed sheets
Dara Nanette Lubin, Pittsford, NY (US); Matthew James Ochs, Webster, NY (US); Elizabeth Lee Barrese, Penfield, NY (US); Elizabeth Crossen, Churchville, NY (US); and Ron Edward Dufort, Rochester, NY (US)
Assigned to XEROX CORPORATION, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Oct. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/045,013.
Prior Publication US 2024/0116300 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. B41J 11/00 (2006.01); B41M 7/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/55 (2014.01); G01N 21/57 (2006.01); G01N 21/89 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 11/0015 (2013.01) [B41J 11/0095 (2013.01); B41M 7/00 (2013.01); G01N 21/55 (2013.01); G01N 21/57 (2013.01); G01N 21/89 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8917 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printing system for reducing the visibility of gloss differentials comprising:
at least one inline imaging unit assembly adapted to measure specular light reflected by an at least one printed sheet, incident light generated by at least one light assembly disposed at least one or more of crosswise and lengthwise to the inline imaging unit, the at least one printed sheet disposed between the at least one inline imaging unit assembly and the at least one light assembly and substantially perpendicular to the normal at the incident and specular light vertex;
at least one computer processor adapted to analyze the specular light measured by the inline imaging unit assembly, the analysis adapted to detect gloss differentials of printed ink;
at least one smoothing roller assembly, the smoothing roller assembly operationally connected to a smoothing transport subassembly of at least one sheet transport assembly; and
the at least one smoothing roller assembly adapted to selectively roll the whole length and width of at least one printed side of the at least one printed sheet or part of the length and width of the at least one printed side of the at least one printed sheet disposed along the transport subassembly, pressure generated by the smoothing roller assembly configured to reduce detected gloss differentials of the at least one printed sheet if gloss differentials fall outside an acceptable level.
 
10. A printing method for reducing the visibility of gloss differentials comprising:
generating incident light with at least one light assembly disposed crosswise to an inline imaging unit assembly;
measuring with the at least one inline imaging unit assembly specular light reflected by an at least one printed sheet disposed between the light assembly and the inline imaging unit assembly substantially perpendicular to the normal at the incident and specular light vertex;
analyzing with at least one computer processor the specular light measured by the inline imaging unit assembly, the analysis adapted to detect gloss differentials of printed ink;
if gloss differentials fall outside an acceptable level, transporting the at least one printed sheet to a smoothing roller assembly, the smoothing roller assembly selectively rolling the whole length and width of at least one printed side of the at least one printed sheet or part of the length and width of the at least one printed side of the selected at least one printed sheet; and,
generating pressure on the at least one printed sheet, reducing, therefore, the gloss differentials of the at least one printed sheet if gloss differentials fall outside an acceptable level.