Calibration Timing in Image Forming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses interrupt printing jobs to execute calibration, leading to prolonged job execution times, decreased productivity, and increased power consumption, while also risking degradation in picture quality by either suspending or delaying calibration.
Innovation Solution
The image forming system integrates an insertion device that inserts interleaving paper and a control device to execute calibration in parallel with the insertion process, setting the calibration start timing based on predetermined conditions relative to the previous calibration, allowing for flexible timing adjustments within permissible ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If calibration is executed by interrupting the printing job, then picture quality can be maintained through maintenance and adjustment, but job execution time is prolonged and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the calibration execution start timing in advance by calculating a predetermined time period from the previous calibration completion timing. This preliminary timing determination allows the calibration to be executed at an optimal moment without interrupting the printing job, thereby maintaining picture quality while avoiding productivity loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the calibration execution timing based on the relationship between the calculated timing and the current printing job status. When the determined timing coincides with an appropriate moment in the printing process, calibration is executed; otherwise, it is postponed to a suitable opportunity, making the calibration schedule flexible and adaptive to job requirements.
2Productivity
If calibration is postponed to avoid interrupting printing, then productivity is maintained, but picture quality may deteriorate due to delayed maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the calibration execution start timing in advance by adding a predetermined time period to the previous calibration completion timing. This preliminary determination ensures that calibration is scheduled at an appropriate moment that balances both productivity maintenance and picture quality preservation, preventing excessive delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the relationship between the determined calibration timing and the printing job status, and adjusts the execution timing based on this feedback. When the calculated timing is appropriate, calibration is executed; when not, it is postponed to the next suitable moment, ensuring that picture quality maintenance is not compromised while maintaining productivity.
3Device complexity
If calibration is executed at fixed intervals, then maintenance scheduling is simple, but it may interrupt printing jobs and increase power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic timing determination method that calculates calibration execution timing based on the previous calibration completion timing plus a predetermined period. This dynamic approach adapts to the actual printing job status and device state, avoiding fixed interval interruptions and reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining simple scheduling logic.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an insertion device. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a transport device, and a control device. The control device acts as a controller and an executer. The controller causes the image forming device to execute a printing job, and causes the insertion device to insert the interleaving paper in a printed material at an insertion start timing designated by the printing job. The executer executes calibration at an execution start timing set in advance, and sets a time point that a predetermined time has elapsed after a previous calibration to the execution start timing in advance. The executer starts to execute the calibration at the insertion start timing, when a predetermined condition is satisfied.