INTEGRATED IMAGING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING SYSTEMS
An integrated imaging system for a printing system that prints content on a moving print media includes a housing, an opening in the housing for receiving light reflected from the print media, a folded optical assembly in the housing that receives the reflected light and transmits the light a predetermined distance, and an image sensor within the housing that receives the light and captures one or more images of the printed content.
1 . An integrated imaging system for a printing system that prints images on a moving print media, the imaging system comprising:
a housing;
an opening in the housing for receiving light reflected from the moving print media;
a folded optical assembly in the housing that receives the reflected light and transmits the light a predetermined distance; and
an image sensor within the housing that receives the light and captures one or more images of a printed image.
2 . The integrated imaging system as in claim 1 , further comprising at least two vent openings in the housing, one vent opening for inputting tempered air and one vent opening for outputting exhaust.
3 . The integrated imaging system as in claim 1 , further comprising a light source for emitting light towards the print media.
4 . The integrated imaging system as in claim 1 , wherein the folded optical assembly comprises:
a lens; and
at least one mirror for directing the reflected light to the lens.
5 . The integrated imaging system as in claim 1 , further comprising a transparent cover over the opening in the housing.
6 . The integrated imaging system as in claim 1 , further comprising a vent opening in the housing for receiving air or gas.
7 . The integrated imaging system as in claim 6 , wherein the opening in the housing is used to output exhaust.
8 . An artifact detection system for a printing system comprising:
a processing device; and
an integrated imaging system comprising:
a housing;
an opening in the housing for receiving light reflected from a moving print media;
a folded optical assembly in the housing that receives the reflected light and transmits the light a predetermined distance; and
an image sensor within the housing that receives the light and captures one or more images of a printed image, wherein pixel data in the one or more images is transmitted to the processing device.
9 . The artifact detection system as in claim 8 , further comprising at least two vent openings in the housing, one vent opening for inputting air or gas and one vent opening for outputting exhaust.
10 . The artifact detection system as in claim 8 , further comprising a light source for emitting light towards the print media.
11 . The artifact detection system as in claim 8 , further comprising a roller for transporting the print media through the printing system.
12 . The artifact detection system of claim 11 , further comprising a motion encoder connected to the roller, wherein the motion encoder is adapted to output a signal proportional to a fixed amount of incremental motion of the print media.
13 . The artifact detection system as in claim 11 , wherein the integrated imaging system is disposed over the print media at a location where the print media is transported over the roller.
14 . The artifact detection system of claim 8 , wherein the processing device is adapted to average the pixel data to produce blur in one direction.
15 . The artifact detection system as in claim 8 , further comprising a vent opening in the housing for receiving air or gas.
16 . The artifact detection system as in claim 15 , wherein the opening in the housing is used to output exhaust.
17 . An artifact detection system in a printing system, comprising:
means for capturing one or more images of the content as the print media is moving to obtain pixel data;
means for averaging the pixel data to produce blur in a direction the print media is moving;
means for determining derivative data of the averaged pixel data; and
means for determining whether one or more peaks are present in the derivative data.
18 . The artifact detection system as in claim 15 , wherein the means averaging the pixel data to produce blur in one direction comprises means for optically averaging the pixel data to produce blur in one direction.
19 . The artifact detection system as in claim 15 , wherein the means for averaging the pixel data to produce blur in one direction comprises means for numerically averaging the pixel data to produce blur in one direction.
20 . The artifact detection system as in claim 15 , further comprising means for determining whether one or more peaks detected in the derivative data equal or exceed a threshold value.