Automated print engine speed control

Abstract

SOLUTION: A processor of a printing apparatus obtains and maintains the media type of print media located in a media storage component of the printing apparatus. The processor also accesses a reference file containing different printing speed limits for different media types. The reference file can be maintained in an electronic storage component of the printing apparatus. The processor uses the reference file to determine an appropriate printing speed limit for a printing engine of the printing apparatus that corresponds to the media type of the print media in the media storage component. Further, a user interface of the printing apparatus can display an overspeed indicator, and / or the processor can stop execution of the printing, based on a job-set printing speed of the printing engine being above the printing speed limit.EFFECT: The invention helps save time and cost, and minimize waste by not allowing printing jobs to run at a wrong print speed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Background Art

[0001] The systems and methods herein generally relate to printing devices and their use, and more specifically to the control of the printing speed of a printing device.

[0002] Modern printing devices operate at various speeds, and various trade-offs occur as the printing speed increases. Some low-cost printers can only print at a single relatively slower speed. Users who desire a printer that operates faster usually pay a premium for such a faster device. In addition, faster printing devices can operate at different speeds, and print quality generally decreases as the speed increases.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The various printing devices herein include (among other components) a print engine, an electronic memory component, a media memory component, a user interface, etc., all of which are operably (either directly or indirectly) connected to at least one processor. The processor is adapted to manually or automatically supply and maintain the media type of the printing media within the media memory component (e.g., indicating the physical characteristics of the media). Different media types can be based on media weight, media coating, etc.

[0004] The processor is also adapted to access a reference file that includes different printing speed limits for different media types. For example, the reference file can be maintained within the electronic memory component, and the reference file can include, for example, at least three different speeds for different media types. Along with this, the processor is adapted to use the reference file to automatically determine the appropriate printing speed limit of the print engine corresponding to the media type of the printing media within the media memory component.

[0005] The user interface is adapted to display an overspeed indicator based on the print engine's job-configured print speed exceeding the print speed limit, and / or the processor is adapted to stop printing based on the print engine's job-configured print speed exceeding the print speed limit. Such an overspeed indicator may indicate that the job-configured print speed exceeds the print speed limit. The overspeed indicator may also display a variety of user-selectable options, which may include the option to operate the print engine at the job-configured print speed or at a speed below the job-configured print speed (e.g., at the print speed limit).

[0006] In other embodiments, the processor may be adapted to automatically reduce the print engine speed from the job-configured print speed to the print speed limit based on the job-configured print speed exceeding the print speed limit. In such embodiments, an overspeed indicator displayed on the user interface may indicate that the print engine speed has been automatically reduced.

[0007] Various methods described herein retrieve and maintain the media type of printing media placed within the media storage component of a printing apparatus (using the printer's processor). Different media types may be based on media weight, media coating, etc. These methods also access (using the processor) a reference file containing different printing speed limits for different media types. The reference file may be maintained in the printer's electronic storage component.

[0008] The method described herein uses a reference file to determine (using a processor) an appropriate print speed limit for the printer's print engine corresponding to the media type of the print medium in the media storage component. Furthermore, such a method may display an overspeed indicator (using the printer's user interface) and / or stop printing using a processor based on the print engine's job-configured print speed exceeding the print speed limit.

[0009] The process that displays the overspeed indicator may indicate that the job-configured print speed exceeds the print speed limit, and / or this process may display user-selectable options, including the option to operate the print engine at the job-configured print speed or at a speed below the job-configured print speed.

[0010] In other embodiments, these methods can automatically reduce the print engine speed from the job-configured print speed to the print speed limit (using a processor) based on the job-configured print speed exceeding the print speed limit. These methods allow the process displaying the overspeed indicator to show that the print engine speed has been automatically reduced.

[0011] These and other features are described in or are evident from the following detailed description. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] Various exemplary systems and methods are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. [Figure 1] This is a flowchart illustrating the various methods described herein. [Figure 2] This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of the methods and devices described herein. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the system described herein. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the device described herein. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the device described herein. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the device described herein. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the device described herein. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] As mentioned above, trade-offs arise as the printing speed of a printer increases. One trade-off relates to the cost of the printer, with faster printers generally being more expensive. Another trade-off relates to image quality, which may decrease as the printing speed increases.

[0014] For example, as printing speed increases, the time it takes for any liquid ink to dry and / or be absorbed into the printing medium decreases. This can result in smearing with undried or unabsorbed ink, or forming unwanted marks, which reduces print image quality. In printers that fix markings onto a sheet, the time allocated to such a fixing process also decreases, potentially resulting in incomplete fixing and areas that are not printed. Generally, each printer has a maximum printing speed at which it can produce prints while still maintaining image quality above a minimum image quality threshold.

[0015] The inventors noted that the type of medium used during printing also affects how quickly a particular printer can print before image quality defects exceed an acceptable defect threshold. Specifically, heavier coated printing media take longer to form a bond with the marking material, and heavier and / or glossy printing media, for example, may take longer to absorb the liquid ink, which reduces the speed at which printing can be performed while still maintaining a minimum image quality standard (compared to lighter, non-glossy media).

[0016] Taking these issues into consideration, the systems and methods of this specification automatically determine the print speed limit of each printer based on the capabilities of the printer and the type of printing medium used. Accordingly, depending on the type of printing medium used, the print speed limit can be automatically increased and decreased by the printing device while maintaining image quality above a minimum image quality threshold.

[0017] As mentioned above, some printing devices have adjustable print speeds. This allows the user to select a print speed. However, often the user selects a print speed that is too fast to maintain printing above a minimum image quality threshold. Taking this into consideration, the systems and methods herein determine the print speed limit of each printer based on the printer's capabilities and the type of printing medium used. The systems and methods herein can generate a warning if the user's selected print speed is too high, stop printing, or automatically reduce the print speed if the user's selected print speed exceeds the print speed limit determined by the printer. This helps save time and money and minimize waste by ensuring that print jobs are not executed at the wrong print speed.

[0018] Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method described herein. In item 100, these methods acquire and maintain the media type of a printing medium loaded into the media storage component of the printing device (using the printer's processor). Different media types may be based on media weight, media coating, etc. For example, when paper or other printing medium is loaded into the printer's print tray, the person loading the printing medium can input (in a field provided on the user interface) what type of printing medium is loaded, or the printer can automatically determine what type of printing medium is loaded using sensors, scanners, etc. Thus, the printer 304 acquires and maintains (using the processor and memory) the media type of a printing medium located in the printing device's media storage component (e.g., paper tray).

[0019] As shown in item 102, these methods also access (using a processor) a reference file that includes different printing speed limits for different media types. The reference file can be maintained within an electronic storage component of the printing device or within another computer device such as a network-connected computer server.

[0020] Accessing the reference file in item 102 enables the method of this specification to determine (using a processor) the appropriate printing speed limit of the printing engine of the printing device, as shown in item 104. Specifically, in item 104, the processor reads from the reference file the printer-specific printing speed limit corresponding to the media type of the printing medium within the media storage component to be used for the print job.

[0021] As shown in item 106, these methods determine whether the job-set printing speed exceeds the printing speed limit determined in item 104. If the job-set printing speed does not exceed the printing speed limit, the process proceeds to item 114 and the print job proceeds without being changed.

[0022] However, as shown in item 108, such methods can stop the execution of printing based on the fact that the job-set printing speed of the printing engine exceeds the printing speed limit determined in item 106. In other embodiments, as shown in item 110, these methods can automatically reduce (using a processor) the speed of the printing engine from the job-set printing speed to the printing speed limit based on the fact that the job-set printing speed exceeds the printing speed limit in item 106.

[0023] In addition to or as an alternative to the foregoing steps, at item 112, these methods can (using the user interface of the printing device) display a warning or an overspeed indicator that the job setting print speed of the print engine exceeds the print speed limit while still executing the print job at the unadjusted job setting print speed as shown at item 106. In this example, the process of displaying the overspeed indicator at item 112 can display text that the job setting print speed exceeds the print speed limit on the user interface of the printing device.

[0024] As another option, at item 112, the process can display user-selectable options on the user interface of the printing device. One such menu option is the option to operate the print engine at the job setting print speed even if it exceeds the print speed limit. This can result in print quality that is below acceptable quality. However, if the user values speed over quality, such may be acceptable to the user. Another menu option is to operate the print engine at a speed below the job setting print speed, which can reduce the job setting print speed closer to the print speed limit, or reduce the job setting print speed to the print speed limit, or reduce the job setting print speed to a speed below the print speed limit. If any of these options is selected, the process can proceed to item 114, where the print job is executed at the unmodified job setting print speed or at the reduced speed, depending on the option selected by the user.

[0025] Also, if the print engine is stopped at item 108, these methods can display a warning overspeed indicator that the print engine was stopped because the job setting print speed of the print engine exceeded the print speed limit. This enables the user to manually adjust the job setting print speed if desired.

[0026] Furthermore, if the engine speed is automatically reduced in item 110, the process of displaying the overspeed indicator in item 112 may display text indicating that the print engine speed has been automatically reduced, while proceeding to execute the print job at the automatically reduced job setting print speed, as shown in item 114.

[0027] Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing that in item 200, user 202 can supply a print job to printer 304 (or printer system). This print job 200 can specify the print speed (e.g., pages per minute, or other scales such as high, medium, low) and the type of media to be used for the print job.

[0028] When paper or other printing media is loaded into the printer 304's print tray, the person loading the media can specify the type of printing media being loaded, or the printer 304 can automatically determine the type of printing media loaded. Therefore, the printer 304 retrieves and maintains the media type of the printing media placed in the media storage component of the printer (using the printer 304's processor). Different media types may be based on media weight, media coating, etc.

[0029] As shown in item 210, potentially, in response to a user supplying a print job 200 or a user loading print media, the processor of the printer 304 can access the reference file 220. As stated above, the reference file 220 includes printer-specific print speed limits for different media types. The reference file 220 can be prepared automatically or manually in advance based on empirical testing and / or modeling. As seen in the non-limiting example of the reference file 220 shown in Figure 2, different printer models (e.g., 0003, 0006, 0020, 0080, etc.) can each print on different media types (e.g., uncoated media, coated light media, coated heavy media, etc.). Therefore, different printer models may exhibit different print quality degradations as the speed increases, and this change in image quality is further influenced by the media type.

[0030] The reference file 220 shown in Figure 2 demonstrates that different combinations of printer models and media types can result in different print speed limits (e.g., 10 pages / minute (ppm) to 45 ppm in the example shown). The reference file 220 may be stored in the electronic storage components of the printer 304 or in a remote location accessed by the printer 304 (e.g., a remote server).

[0031] By accessing the reference file 220, in item 212, the printer 304 uses the reference file 220 to determine (using the processor) the appropriate print speed limit for the printer's print engine corresponding to the media type of the print medium in the media storage component. For example, the printer uses the corresponding printer model and media type combination to identify the print speed limit in the reference file 220.

[0032] As shown in item 214, the printer 304 may (using the processor) stop printing if the job-configured print speed of the print engine exceeds the print speed limit. Alternatively, as in item 214, the printer 304 may (using the processor) automatically reduce the speed of the print engine from the job-configured print speed to the print speed limit if the job-configured print speed exceeds the print speed limit.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in item 204, such a method may display an overspeed indicator (using the printer's user interface) indicating that the print engine's job-configured print speed exceeds the print speed limit, and, in some cases, that the print engine has been stopped due to this situation. In item 204, the user interface may further display user-selectable options, including the option to operate the print engine at the job-configured print speed or at a speed below the job-configured print speed. Item 204 may also indicate that the print engine speed has been automatically reduced if that action occurred in item 214.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3, the exemplary systems and methods of this specification include various computer devices 300, 304 located in different physical locations 306. The computer devices 300, 304 may include print servers, printing devices, personal computers, etc., and communicate (operably connected to one another) over a local or wide-area (wired or wireless) network 302.

[0035] Figure 4 illustrates a computer device 300, which can be used with the systems and methods described herein and may include, for example, a print server, a personal computer, a portable computing device, and the like. The computer device 300 includes a controller / tangible processor 316 and wireless communication ports (input / output) 314 operably connected to a computer network 302 outside the tangible processor 316 and the computer device 300. The computer device 300 may also include at least one accessory functional component, such as a user interface (UI) assembly 312. The user may receive overspeed indicators, commands, and menu options from the user interface or control panel 312 and input commands through them.

[0036] The input / output device 314 is used for communication to and from the computer device 300 and comprises a wired or wireless device (in any form, whether currently known or to be developed in the future). The tangible processor 316 controls various operations of the computer device. A non-temporary and tangible computer storage medium device 310 (which may be optical, magnetic, capacitor-based, etc., and is different from a temporary signal) is readable by the tangible processor 316 and stores instructions to be executed by the tangible processor 316, enabling the computer device to perform various functions such as those described herein. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, the main housing has one or more functional components that operate on power supplied by a power supply unit 318 from an alternating current (AC) source 320. The power supply unit 318 may include a common power conversion unit, a power storage element (e.g., a battery), etc.

[0037] Figure 5 illustrates a computer device which is a printing device 304, which can be used with the systems and methods herein and may include, for example, a printer, copier, multifunction machine, multifunction device (MFD), etc. The printing device 304 includes many of the components mentioned above, as well as at least one marking device (printing engine) 340 operably connected to a dedicated image processor 324 (which may differ from a general-purpose computer as it is specialized for processing image data), a media path 336 positioned to supply continuous or sheet media from a sheet supply unit 330 to the marking device 340, etc. After receiving various markings from the printing engine 340, the sheet media may optionally pass through a finisher 334 which can fold, staple, rearrange, etc., various printed sheets. The printing device 304 may also include at least one accessory functional component (for example, a scanner / document handler 332 (automatic document feeder, ADF)) that operates on power supplied from an external power source 320 (via the power supply unit 318).

[0038] Accordingly, the various printing apparatuses described herein include (among other components) a printing engine 340, an electronic storage component 310, a media storage component 330, a user interface 312, etc., all of which are operably connected (directly or indirectly) to at least one processor 324. The processor 324 is adapted to manually or automatically supply and maintain the media type (e.g., indicating the physical characteristics of the media) of the printing media in the media storage component 330. Different media types may be based on media weight, media coating, etc.

[0039] The processor 324 is also adapted to access a reference file containing different engine 340 speed limits for different media types. For example, the reference file may be maintained within the electronic storage component 310, and the reference file may contain, for example, at least three different speeds for different media types. In conjunction with this, the processor 324 is adapted to use the reference file to automatically determine the appropriate engine 340 speed limit for the printing engine 340 corresponding to the media type of the printing media in the media storage component 330.

[0040] The user interface 312 is adapted to display an overspeed indicator based on the speed of the print engine 340 exceeding the speed limit of the engine 340, and / or the processor 324 is adapted to stop the operation of the print engine 340 based on the current speed of the engine 340 exceeding the speed limit of the engine 340. Such an overspeed indicator may indicate that the current speed of the engine 340 exceeds the speed limit of the engine 340. The overspeed indicator may also display a variety of user-selectable options, which may include the option to operate the print engine 340 at the current speed of the engine 340, or the option to operate the print engine 340 at a speed lower than the current speed of the engine 340 (for example, below the speed limit of the engine 340).

[0041] In other embodiments, the processor 324 may be adapted to automatically reduce the speed of the print engine 340 from the current speed of the engine 340 to the speed limit of the engine 340 based on the fact that the current speed of the engine 340 exceeds the speed limit of the engine 340. In such embodiments, an overspeed indicator displayed on the user interface 312 may indicate that the speed of the print engine 340 has been automatically reduced.

[0042] One or more printing engines 340 are intended to illustrate any marking device that applies marking material (such as toner or ink) to a continuous medium or a medium sheet, whether currently known or to be developed in the future, and may include, for example, a device using an inkjet imaging system as shown in Figure 6 or a high-speed aqueous imaging system as shown in Figure 7.

[0043] More specifically, Figure 6 illustrates an example of a printing engine 380 referred to as an inkjet imaging system. In this example, the imaging device 380 is in the form of an inkjet printer using one or more inkjet printheads, each inkjet printhead having an associated solid or liquid ink source (342A-342D). The exemplary direct-to-sheet phase-change inkjet imaging system 380 includes a media supply and processing system 330 configured to supply a medium (e.g., paper, plastic, or other printable material), a media conditioner 360, a printed sheet conditioner 344, a coating station 364, and a finisher 334.

[0044] The medium is propelled by a sheet transport unit 362, which may include various motors that rotate one or more rollers. In double-sided operation, an inverter 366 may be used to flip the sheet over, presenting the second side of the medium to the print heads 342A-342D.

[0045] The medium conditioner 360 includes, for example, a preheater. The preheater brings the medium to an initial predetermined temperature selected for desired image characteristics corresponding to the type of medium to be printed on and the type, color, and number of inks used. The preheater may bring the medium to a target preheat temperature using contact heat, radiant heat, conductive heat, or convective heat.

[0046] The medium is transported through a printing station containing a series of color printheads 342A-342D, each color unit effectively extending across the width of the medium, allowing ink to be placed directly (i.e., without the use of intermediate or offset members) onto the moving medium. As is commonly known, each printhead can eject a single color of ink, with one printhead corresponding to each of the colors typically used in color printing, namely cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). Controller 324 generates timing signals to activate the inkjet ejectors in printheads 342A-342D in synchronization with the passage of the medium, enabling the ejection of four colors with reliable accuracy for the alignment of different color patterns to form four primary color images on the medium. The inkjet ejectors are activated by the ejection signals to correspond to image data processed by Controller 324, which may be sent to the printer, generated by a scanner (not shown), a component of the printer, or otherwise generated and sent to the printer. In various possible embodiments, a color unit for each primary color may include one or more printheads, or multiple printheads within a color unit may be formed in a single or multi-row array, or printheads in a multi-row array may be arranged alternately, or a printhead may be capable of printing two or more colors, or a printhead or part of a color unit may be mounted to be movable in a direction across the processing direction for applications such as spot color printing.

[0047] Each of the color printheads 342A-342D may include at least one actuator configured to adjust the printhead in each printhead module in the cross-processing direction across the media web. In a typical embodiment, each motor is an electromechanical device such as a stepper motor. In a practical embodiment, a print bar actuator is connected to a print bar containing two or more printheads and is configured to reposition the print bar by sliding the print bar along the cross-processing axis of the media web. In an alternative embodiment, an actuator system may be used that does not physically move the printheads but redirects image data to different injectors within each head to change the head position.

[0048] A printer may use liquid ink or “phase-change ink,” meaning that the ink is substantially solid at room temperature and substantially liquid when heated to the phase-change ink melting temperature for spraying onto an image-receiving surface. The phase-change ink melting temperature may be any temperature at which solid phase-change ink can be melted into a liquid or molten form. As used herein, liquid ink refers to molten solid or liquid ink, heated gel ink, or other known forms of ink such as aqueous ink, ink emulsion, ink suspension, or ink solution.

[0049] Each color unit is associated with a backing member, typically in the form of a bar or roll, which is positioned substantially opposite the color unit on the back side of the medium. Each backing member is used to position the medium at a predetermined distance from the print head, which is opposite the backing member. Each backing member may be configured to release thermal energy to heat the medium to a predetermined temperature.

[0050] Following the printing zone along the media path are one or more “intermediate heaters” 344. The intermediate heaters 344 control the temperature of the media using contact heat, radiant heat, conductive heat, and / or convective heat, and in particular, can bring the media to a temperature suitable for desired properties as it passes through the spreader 346. Fixing assemblies in the form of a “spreader” 346 are configured to fix an image to the media by applying heat and / or pressure to it. The function of the spreader 346 is to take what is essentially droplets of ink, rows of ink droplets, or lines of ink on a sheet and spread them by pressure and, in some systems, by heat, so that the spaces between adjacent droplets are filled and the image solid becomes uniform. The spreader 346 may include rollers such as an image-side roller 352 and a pressure roller 350 for applying heat and pressure to the media, either of which may include a heating element such as a heating element 348 for bringing the media to a predetermined temperature. The spreader 346 may also include a cleaning / oiling station 354 associated with the image-side roller 352. The station 354 cleans the roller surface and / or applies a layer of some release agent or other material to the roller surface. A coating station 364 applies clear ink to the printed medium to correct gloss and / or help protect the printed medium from dirt or other environmental degradation after it is removed from the printer.

[0051] The operation and control of various subsystems, components, and functions of the imaging system are performed with the assistance of the controller 324. The controller 324 may be implemented using a general-purpose or dedicated programmable processor that executes programmed instructions. The controller 324 may be operably coupled to the print bar and print head actuators of the color print heads 342A-342D to adjust the position of the print bar and print head along the cross processing axis of the media web. In particular, the controller may be operable to shift one or more or all of the color units laterally or across the processing direction.

[0052] The imaging system may also include an optical imaging system 356 configured similarly to one for creating an image to be transferred to the web. The optical imaging system is configured, for example, to detect the presence, intensity, and / or location of ink droplets ejected onto a receiving member by the inkjet of the printhead assembly. The imaging system may incorporate various light sources capable of illuminating the printed web sufficiently to detect printing errors that may be caused by a faulty or defective inkjet or printhead. The imaging system 356 further includes an array of photodetectors or optical sensors that sense the image reflected from the printed web before ejection. The controller 324 analyzes the information from the imaging system 356 to determine, among other things, whether a fault or malfunction of the inkjet or printhead has occurred. The location of the defective printing element is identified and made available to maintenance technicians during the diagnostic procedure. The controller 324 may also use the data obtained from the imaging system 356 to adjust the alignment of the color unit, for example, by moving the color unit or one or more printheads. This image data may also be used for color control.

[0053] Figure 7 illustrates an inkjet or aqueous ink printer system 400, which is one of the printers 304 discussed above. Specifically, Figure 7 illustrates a high-speed inkjet or aqueous ink image generation machine or printer 400. The printer 400 includes a media supply unit 410, a pre-processing unit 420, a printing unit 430, a dryer 440, and a sheet stacker 450. The media supply unit 410 stores multiple media sheets 412 for printing by the printer 400.

[0054] The pre-processing unit 420 includes at least one pre-processing device 422 and a transport belt 424. The pre-processing unit 420 receives media sheets from the media supply unit 410 and transports the media sheets through the pre-processing unit 420 in the processing direction (block arrow in Figure 7). The pre-processing device 422 prepares the media sheets for printing in the printing unit 430. The pre-processing unit 420 may include, for example, a coating device for applying a coating to the media sheets, a drying device for drying the media sheets, and / or a heating device for heating the media sheets to a predetermined temperature. In some embodiments, the printer 400 does not include the pre-processing unit 420, and the media sheets are fed directly from the media supply unit 410 to the printing unit 430. In other embodiments, the printer 400 may include two or more pre-processing units.

[0055] The printing unit 430 includes at least one marking unit transport belt 432 that receives media sheets from the pre-processing unit 420 or media supply unit 410 and transports the media sheets through the printing unit 430. The printing unit 430 further includes at least one printhead (labeled CMYK in Figure 7 to represent standard cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color printheads, but any color printhead may be used). The printheads (CMYK) eject aqueous inks onto the media sheet as the media sheet is transported through the printing unit 430. In the illustrated embodiment, the printing unit 430 includes four printheads (CMYK), each ejecting one of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks onto the media sheet. However, readers should understand that other embodiments may include other printhead arrangements, which may include more or fewer printheads, arrays of printheads, and so on.

[0056] The dryer 440 includes a heater 442 and a vacuum drying belt 444 for receiving media sheets from the printing unit 430. The vacuum plenum 446 is connected to a vacuum blower or piping connected to a vacuum blower on one side in the cross processing direction. The sheet stacker 450 receives and stacks the printed sheets 452.

[0057] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate four marking stations 342, 350 adjacent to or in contact with a rotating belt (348, 360), which are useful for systems marking in four different colors such as red, green, blue (RGB) and black, or cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK), and as will be understood by those skilled in the art, such a device may use a single marking station (e.g., black) or any number of marking stations (e.g., 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, etc.).

[0058] Next, the printed material is transported by the sheet output transport unit 336 to an output tray or multi-function finishing station 334 that performs different desired operations such as stapling, punching, and C or Z folding, or a modular booklet maker. Those skilled in the art will understand that the finisher / output tray 334 may be equipped with any functional units.

[0059] As those skilled in the art will understand, the printing device illustrated herein is merely one embodiment, and the systems and methods herein are equally applicable to other types of printing devices that may include fewer or more components. For example, although a limited number of print engines and paper paths are illustrated, those skilled in the art will understand that more paper paths and additional print engines may be included in any printing device used with the systems and methods herein.

[0060] Many computer devices are considered above. Computer devices, including chip-based central processing units (CPUs) and input / output devices (including graphic user interfaces (GUIs), memory, comparators, tangible processors, etc.), are well-known and readily available devices manufactured by companies such as Dell Computers (Round Rock TX, USA) and Apple Computer Co. (Cupertino CA, USA). Such computerized devices generally include input / output devices, power supplies, tangible processors, electronic memory, wiring, etc., and these details are omitted herein to allow the reader to focus on prominent aspects of the systems and methods described herein. Similarly, printers, copiers, scanners, and other similar peripherals are available from Xerox Corporation (Norwalk, CT, USA), and details of such devices are not considered herein for the sake of brevity and the reader's focus.

[0061] As used herein, the term printer or printing device encompasses any device, such as a digital copier, bookbinding machine, facsimile machine, or multifunction machine, that performs a print output function for any purpose. Details of printers, printing engines, etc., are well known and are not described in detail herein in order to maintain the focus of this disclosure on the distinguishing features presented. The systems and methods herein may encompass systems and methods that print in color or monochrome, or that handle color or monochrome image data. All of the aforementioned systems and methods are specifically applicable to electrostatic and / or dry copying machines and / or processes.

[0062] Furthermore, the terms “automated” or “automatically” mean that once a process is initiated (by a machine or user), one or more machines will execute the process without any further input from any user. In addition, terms such as “configured to ~” mean that a device is specifically designed to have special internal or external components that automatically perform a particular action or function at a particular point in the processing described herein, and such special components are physically shaped and positioned to perform the specified action / function at the processing point shown herein (in some cases without any input or action from the operator). In the drawings herein, the same identification number identifies the same or similar items.

[0063] While several exemplary structures are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the drawings are simplified schematic illustrations and that the claims presented below include many more (potentially not many) features commonly used with such devices and systems, although these are not illustrated. Therefore, the applicant does not intend for the claims presented below to be limited by the accompanying drawings, which are instead provided merely to illustrate several ways in which the claimed features can be implemented.

[0064] It will be understood that the features and functions disclosed above and other features and functions, or their substitutes, may be desirablely combined in other different systems or applications. Various currently unforeseen or unprecedented substitutes, modifications, variations, or improvements may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art, and these are also intended to be covered by the following claims. Unless specifically defined in a particular claim itself, the steps or components of the systems and methods herein cannot be implied or introduced from any of the above embodiments to be limited to any particular order, number, position, size, shape, angle, color, or material.

Claims

1. a processor; a print engine operatively connected to the processor; a media storage component operably connected to the processor; a user interface operatively connected to the processor; Equipped with the processor is adapted to maintain a media type of print media in the media storage component; the processor is adapted to access a reference file containing different print speed limits for different media types; the processor is adapted to use the reference file to determine a print speed limit of the print engine that corresponds to the media type of the print media in the media storage component; the user interface is adapted to display an overspeed indicator based on a job-set print speed of the print engine exceeding the print speed limit; an overspeed indicator indicating that the job set print speed exceeds the print speed limit, the overspeed indicator comprising: operating the print engine at the job set print speed; and operating the print engine at a speed below the job set print speed. Printing device.

2. 2. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to automatically reduce a speed of the print engine from the job setting print speed to the print speed limit based on the job setting print speed being above the print speed limit.

3. 3. The printing device of claim 2, wherein the overspeed indicator indicates that the speed of the print engine has been automatically reduced.

4. The printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the different media types are based on media weight, media coating, or the like.

5. The printing device of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic storage component operatively connected to said processor, said file-of-reference being maintained within said electronic storage component.

6. The printing device of claim 1 , wherein the different print speed limits include at least three different speeds.

7. a processor; a print engine operatively connected to the processor; a media storage component operably connected to the processor; a user interface operatively connected to the processor; Equipped with the processor is adapted to maintain a media type of print media in the media storage component; the processor is adapted to access a reference file containing different print speed limits for different media types; the processor is adapted to use the reference file to determine a print speed limit of the print engine that corresponds to the media type of the print media in the media storage component; the processor is adapted to stop the printing execution based on a job setting print speed of the print engine exceeding the print speed limit; the user interface is adapted to display an overspeed indicator based on the job setting print speed of the print engine exceeding the print speed limit; an overspeed indicator indicating that the job set print speed exceeds the print speed limit, the overspeed indicator comprising: operating the print engine at the job set print speed; operating the print engine at a speed below the job set print speed; Displaying user-selectable options, including Printing device.

8. 8. The printing device of claim 7, wherein the processor is adapted to automatically reduce a speed of the print engine from the job setting print speed to the print speed limit based on the job setting print speed being above the print speed limit.

9. 9. The printing device of claim 8, wherein the overspeed indicator indicates that the speed of the print engine has been automatically reduced.

10. The printing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the different media types are based on media weight, media coating, or the like.

11. The printing device of claim 7 , further comprising an electronic storage component operatively connected to said processor, said file-of-reference being maintained within said electronic storage component.

12. 8. The printing device of claim 7, wherein the different print speed limits include at least three different speeds.

13. maintaining, by a processor of the printing device, a media type of print media in a media storage component of the printing device; accessing, by said processor, a reference file containing different print speed limits for different media types; determining, by the processor, a print speed limit of a print engine of the printing device that corresponds to the media type of the print media in the media storage component using the reference file; displaying, via a user interface of the printing device, an overspeed indicator based on the job-set print speed of the print engine exceeding the print speed limit; Including, Displaying the overspeed indicator indicates that the job set print speed exceeds the print speed limit, and displaying the overspeed indicator operating the print engine at the job set print speed; operating the print engine at a speed below the job set print speed; Displaying user-selectable options, including method.

14. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically changing, by the processor, a speed of the print engine from the job set print speed to the print speed limit based on the job set print speed being above the print speed limit.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying the overspeed indicator indicates that the speed of the print engine has been automatically reduced.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the different media types are based on media weight, media coating, or the like.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising maintaining the file-of-reference by an electronic storage component of the printing device.

Images