IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,545,499
Granted Patent B2
US 7,545,499 · App. 11/402,788 · Granted Jun 9, 2009

Systems and methods for measuring a colored flexible material during a manufacturing process

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,545,499
App. No.
11/402,788
Granted
Jun 9, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for measuring a flexible colored material during a manufacturing process. The method includes automatically diverting the flexible material from a process path, placing the flexible material in contact with a rotatable drum, and measuring spectral data of the flexible material as the drum rotates. Measuring the spectral data includes scanning the flexible material with a line scanning detector having an array of detectors. The method also includes processing scan information to form a single image of the flexible material.

Claims (27)

1. A method for measuring a colored flexible material during a manufacturing process, the method comprising:

automatically diverting the flexible material from a process path;

placing the flexible material in contact with a rotatable drum;

measuring spectral data of the flexible material as the drum rotates, wherein the measuring comprises scanning the flexible material with a line scanning detector having an array of detectors; and processing scan information to form a single image of the flexible material.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the flexible material in contact with the rotatable drum comprises placing the flexible material in contact with a smooth black drum.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the spectral data comprises measuring a color bar on the flexible material.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the flexible material comprises scanning a portion of the flexible material.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein scanning the portion of the flexible material comprises scanning a helical-shaped portion.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein scanning the portion of the flexible material comprises scanning a cylindrical-shaped portion.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the flexible material comprises illuminating the flexible material with a switchable narrow band light source.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the flexible material comprises scanning the flexible material with a plurality of line scanning detectors.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein scanning the flexible material comprises illuminating the flexible material with a different narrow band light source for each line scanning detector.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein scanning the flexible material comprises illuminating the flexible material with white light.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the flexible material comprises:

illuminating the flexible material with white light; passing light reflected from the flexible material through a dispersive element; and detecting the passed light a two-dimensional detector.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein passing the reflected light comprises passing the reflected light through a prism.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein passing the reflected light comprises passing the reflected light through a grating.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein passing the reflected light comprises passing the reflected light through a prism and a grating.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the flexible material comprises:

projecting a line of light onto the flexible material; and detecting a line of pixels across the flexible material.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein: projecting the line of light comprises projecting a plurality of parallel lines of light; and detecting the line of pixels comprises detecting a plurality of parallel lines of pixels.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising scanning the flexible material at Least one additional time.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising predicting a final color of a portion of the flexible material.

19. A system for measuring a colored flexible material during a manufacturing process, the system comprising:

a measuring unit, including a rotatable drum, and one or more scanning detectors, each scanning detector having a measuring head; and

a scan alignment module for aligning scan information to form an image of the colored flexible material.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a dry back module for predicting a final dried color of a portion of the flexible material.

Assignments (9)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED ON REEL 026082 FRAME 0713 Recorded May 16, 2012
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: X-RITE, INC.
Reel/Frame 028218/0671 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2011
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS AGENT
To: X-RITE, INCORPORATED; OTP, INCORPORATED; MONACO ACQUISITION COMPANY; X-RITE GLOBAL, INCORPORATED; X-RITE HOLDINGS, INC.; GRETAGMACBETH, LLC; PANTONE, INC.
Reel/Frame 026149/0681 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 14, 2011
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK, AN OHIO BANKING CORPORATION, AND SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO FIFTH THIRD BANK, A MICHIGAN BANKING CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: X-RITE, INCORPORATED; OTP, INCORPORATED; MONACO ACQUISITION COMPANY; X-RITE GLOBAL, INCORPORATED; X-RITE HOLDINGS, INC.; GRETAGMACBETH LLC; PANTONE, INC.
Reel/Frame 026126/0496 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 6, 2011
From: X-RITE, INCORPORATED
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026082/0713 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Nov 8, 2007
From: X-RITE, INCORPORATED
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 020156/0569 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 5, 2007
From: X-RITE, INCORPORATED; OTP, INCORPORATED; MONACO ACQUISITION COMPANY; X-RITE GLOBAL, INCORPORATED; X-RITE HOLDINGS, INC.; GRETAGMACBETH LLC; PANTONE, INC.
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, A MICHIGAN BANKING CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 020064/0313 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) -- SUPPLEMENTAL IP Recorded Aug 4, 2006
From: X-RITE, INCORPORATED
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK
Reel/Frame 018056/0568 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN)--SUPPLEMENTAL IP Recorded Aug 4, 2006
From: X-RITE, INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
Reel/Frame 018057/0466 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2006
From: OVERBECK, JAMES L.; VAN ANDEL, RICHARD J.
To: X-RITE, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 017867/0114 →