Concurrent Monochromatic and Color Digital Printing with Buffer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital printing systems face reduced production rates and increased equipment size when handling print jobs with both monochromatic and multicolorant images, due to the slower production rate of multicolorant digital image marking engines and the need for separate engines, which leads to delays and inefficiencies in sequencing and space utilization.

Innovation Solution

The arrangement of separate multicolorant and monochromatic digital image marking engines with a storage buffer that allows concurrent printing of color images in batches, minimizing the need for repeated startup and shutdown cycles of the multicolorant engine and optimizing equipment layout to reduce space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate multicolorant and monochromatic marking engines are used, then printing capability for both color and monochromatic images is improved, but production rate is reduced due to sequencing delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting capabilityVSAvoidproduction rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The multicolorant marking engine prints all color pages in advance and stores them in a buffer before the monochromatic engine completes its printing. This preliminary action allows the slower multicolorant engine to operate independently without causing sequencing delays, as its output is buffered and ready for integration with the monochromatic pages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A buffer is introduced as an intermediary between the multicolorant and monochromatic marking engines. This buffer temporarily stores the printed color pages, allowing the two engines to operate at different speeds without interfering with each other's production rate. The buffer mediates the timing difference between the two engines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate multicolorant and monochromatic marking engines are used, then printing capability for both color and monochromatic images is improved, but equipment size and floor space are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting capabilityVSAvoidfloor space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a horizontal arrangement of separate engines occupying additional floor space to a vertical stacking arrangement where the multicolorant engine is positioned above the monochromatic engine. This dimensional change allows both engines to share the same footprint, eliminating the need for additional floor space while maintaining the capability to print both color and monochromatic images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The multicolorant marking engine is vertically stacked above the monochromatic marking engine, creating a nested-like configuration where one engine is positioned within the vertical space above the other. This arrangement allows both engines to occupy the same horizontal footprint, effectively nesting their spatial requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Stability of the object's composition

If multicolorant engine prints color pages in sequence, then proper document sequencing is maintained, but production rate is slowed due to repeated cycle up and cycle down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument sequencingVSAvoidproduction rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The multicolorant engine prints all color pages in advance and stores them in a buffer before the monochromatic engine completes its printing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated cycle up and cycle down operations, as the multicolorant engine operates continuously in one batch rather than intermittently sequencing through the document.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The multicolorant marking engine performs continuous printing of all color pages in a single batch operation rather than alternating between printing and idle states. This continuous operation eliminates the productivity loss associated with repeated startup and shutdown cycles, while the buffer ensures proper sequencing is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS8284416B2Digital image printing a job including monochromatic and color images

Publication Date: 2012.10.09 XEROX CORP

AI summary

Separate multicolorant and monochromatic digital image marking engines are operated concurrently for print jobs having both monochromatic and color images. The marked multicolorant image sheets are batch printed and held in a sheet buffer and interspersed in sequence with the monochromatic marked sheets without interrupting the faster monochromatic marking engine or requiring multiple unnecessary run cost increasing start up and shut down cycles of the multicolorant marking engine.