Patent ID: 7995936
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An optical measurement system for determining a wear level of one or more printer components, comprising: at least one distinct tag/trace molecule applied on at least one paper sheet and adapted to be transferred to printer components during printer operation; an ultraviolet light source for illuminating tag/trace molecules transferred from the at least one paper sheet to a printer component with an intensity near ultraviolet range, wherein said ultraviolet light source produces light exclusively in a range of black light; a photo detector adapted for capturing a two-dimensional, digital image of at least one fluorescence pattern on the surface of said printer components under black light illumination; and an image processor with at least one parameterized model for measuring changes in said at least one fluorescence pattern on the surface of said printer component by analyzing said two-dimensional, digital image in order to determine a level of wear on said printer components.