Printed document and method of determining the print quality of a printed document
First Claim
1. A printed document including a print quality indicator on a print surface of the document in a primary printing area, comprising:
- a document substrate defining a print surface, print images printed on the print surface, and a print quality indicator printed on the print surface in the primary printing area, the image of the print quality indicator comprising a plurality of printed targets, each of the targets defining an unprinted area, dimensions of the unprinted areas of the targets varying among the targets, wherein the print quality of the printed document may be determined by noting which of the unprinted areas in the print quality indicator printed on the document are not clearly free of ink upon close visual inspection of the document.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A printed document includes a print quality indicator on the print surface of the document in the primary printing area. The image of the print quality indicator has a plurality of printed targets, each of the targets defining an unprinted area. The dimensions of the unprinted areas of the targets varying among the targets. The print quality of the printed document is determined by noting which of the unprinted areas in the print quality indicator printed on the document are not clearly free of ink upon close visual inspection of the document. Each target is made up of a printed circle, having a specified outer diameter, a specified line weight, and a specified inner diameter, and a printed circular dot, having a specified diameter, positioned centrally within the printed circle. The specified diameter of the printed circular dot is less than the specified inner diameter of the printed circle such that the printed circular dot and the printed circle define an annular unprinted area there between.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A printed document including a print quality indicator on a print surface of the document in a primary printing area, comprising:
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a document substrate defining a print surface, print images printed on the print surface, and a print quality indicator printed on the print surface in the primary printing area, the image of the print quality indicator comprising a plurality of printed targets, each of the targets defining an unprinted area, dimensions of the unprinted areas of the targets varying among the targets, wherein the print quality of the printed document may be determined by noting which of the unprinted areas in the print quality indicator printed on the document are not clearly free of ink upon close visual inspection of the document. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
a printed circle having a specified outer diameter, a specified line weight, and a specified inner diameter, and a printed circular dot having a specified diameter positioned centrally within the printed circle, the specified diameter of the printed circular dot being less than the specified inner diameter of the printed circle such that the printed circular dot and the printed circle define there between an unprinted area, the unprinted area being generally annular in shape.
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3. A printed document according to claim 2 in which the specified outer diameter of each printed circle is substantially 0.010 inch, and in which the specified inner diameter of each printed circle is substantially 0.006 inch.
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4. The printed document according to claim 3 in which the image of the print quality indicator comprises nine targets, the targets having printed circular dots of substantially the following diameters:
- 0.0038 inch, 0.0035 inch, 0.0032 inch, 0.0028 inch, 0.0025 inch, 0.0022 inch, 0.0019 inch, 0.0016 inch, and 0.0013 inch, whereby the identity of the target having the largest printed circular dot in which the unprinted area is free of ink on the printed document provides an objective indication of the sharpness or print quality of the print images printed on the print surface.
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5. The printed document according to claim 4 in which the targets on the printed document are observed under substantially 30×
- magnification to determine the identity of the target having the largest printed circular dot in which the unprinted area is free of ink.
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6. The printed document according to claim 1 in which the targets on the printed document are arranged in a single row and intermingled with the images printed on the print surface.
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7. The printed document according to claim 1 in which the targets on the printed document are arranged in rows and columns forming a generally rectangular array and intermingled with the images printed on the print surface.
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8. The printed document according to claim 1 in which the print quality indicator comprises nine targets, and in which the nine targets are arranged in a row, surrounded by the print images on the print surface.
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9. The printed document according to claim 8 in which the nine targets occupy an area approximately 0.010 inch by 0.090 inch.
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10. The printed document according to claim 1 in which the targets are sufficiently small so as not to be readily apparent upon casual inspection of the print surface without the aid of magnification.
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11. A printed document including a print quality indicator on a print surface of the document in a primary printing area, comprising:
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a document substrate defining a print surface, print images printed on the print surface, and a print quality indicator printed on the print surface in the primary printing area, the image of the print quality indicator comprising a plurality of printed targets, the targets defining generally annular unprinted areas of varying dimensions, wherein the print quality of the printed document may be determined by noting which of the annular unprinted areas in the print quality indicator printed on the document are not clearly free of ink upon close visual inspection of the document. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of determining the print quality of a printed document, comprising the steps of:
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providing a print quality indicator image including a plurality of printed targets, each of the targets defining an unprinted area, dimensions of the unprinted areas of the targets varying among the targets, providing a document substrate defining a print surface, printing print images on the print surface in a primary printing area, and printing the print quality indicator image on the print surface in the primary printing area, and visually inspecting the document and noting which of the unprinted areas in the print quality indicator printed on the document are not clearly free of ink. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification