Double-Sided Print Orientation Inversion for Accurate Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of double-sided printing, particularly for items like greeting cards, note cards, postcards, and brochures, arises from the need to correctly orient indicia on both surfaces, especially when folding, leading to confusion in viewing and printing, especially when editing designs and reinserting sheets into printers.

Innovation Solution

A method that adjusts the view orientation of indicia on a computer screen to match the vertical orientation, ensuring they are displayed right-side up, while maintaining the correct print orientation, using a program that characterizes print orientations and adjusts view orientations accordingly, and provides graphical representations of sheets to facilitate correct printing across various printers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If indicia are printed with correct print orientation on double-sided items, then printing accuracy is improved, but view orientation on computer screen becomes mismatched and confusing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidviewing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies inversion by displaying indicia in the opposite orientation on the computer screen compared to how they will be printed. When indicia are oriented correctly for printing (e.g., upside down on the second surface), the system automatically rotates them to appear right-side up on the vertical computer screen, and vice versa. This inversion resolves the contradiction by making the displayed view intuitive for users while maintaining correct print orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the orientation parameter of indicia based on the surface being viewed. For the first surface, indicia are displayed in their print orientation, while for the second surface, indicia are rotated 180 degrees from their print orientation. This parameter change allows users to view indicia in an intuitive orientation on screen while ensuring they print in the correct orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If indicia on second surface are displayed in same orientation as first surface on screen, then viewing consistency is improved, but print orientation accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing consistencyVSAvoidprint orientation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If computer screen orientation is changed to match print orientation, then viewing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple orientation modes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing accuracyVSAvoidorientation mode complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Manufacturing precision

If double-sided printing is implemented with correct orientations, then printing quality is improved, but process complexity increases due to multiple reinsertions and orientation adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidprinting process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the correct view orientation for each indicium on each surface before the printing process begins. The system creates a mapping between print orientation and view orientation, and automatically applies the appropriate rotation when displaying each surface. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for manual orientation adjustments during printing, reducing process complexity while maintaining high printing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9875070B2Method for viewing and printing double-sided items

Publication Date: 2018.01.23 CCL LABEL INC

AI summary

A method for displaying indicia that is to be printed on a double-sided item on a computer screen. The double-sided item has first and second surfaces. The indicia has at least one print orientation when the indicia is printed on the item's first and second surfaces, and at least one view orientation when the indicia is displayed on the computer screen, which has a vertical orientation. The method includes providing information that characterizes the indicia's print orientation, using the information to compare the print orientation to the vertical orientation; and if, as a result of the comparison, the print orientation does not match the vertical orientation, adjusting the view orientation so the view orientation matches the vertical orientation while maintaining the indicia's print orientation when the indicia is printed on the item.