Duplex Printing Sequence Inversion to Reduce Roller Artifacts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer printers, the aggressively textured drive roller compromises the paper surface during duplex printing, leading to image artifacts and density differences, and existing compensation algorithms cannot fully mitigate these issues due to hardware and firmware limitations.
Innovation Solution
The preferred method involves starting the next two-sided print on the same thermal print head and paper side as the previous print, reducing unnecessary repositioning and contact with the drive roller's aggressive texture, thereby minimizing paper surface compromise and improving printer throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an aggressively textured drive roller is used to maintain image registration during duplex printing, then paper feed control is improved, but the paper surface becomes compromised leading to visible density differences and image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional printing sequence by printing the second page before the first page in duplex mode. This reversal allows the paper to be fed through the printer in a sequence that minimizes contact with the aggressively textured drive roller on the printed surface, thereby maintaining image registration while preventing paper surface compromise and density differences
2Manufacturing precision
If compensation algorithms are used to correct density variations, then image quality is improved, but hardware and firmware limitations prevent complete compensation of drive roller artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by changing the printing sequence before the printing process begins. By printing page 2 before page 1 in duplex mode, the system proactively prevents paper surface compromise before it occurs, eliminating the need for compensation algorithms to correct density variations caused by drive roller contact
3Adaptability or versatility
If the paper is repositioned between thermal print heads for duplex printing, then both sides can be printed, but unnecessary contact with the drive roller's aggressive texture increases, worsening paper surface quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional duplex printing sequence where page 1 is printed first followed by page 2. By printing page 2 before page 1, the system reduces unnecessary repositioning and contact with the drive roller's aggressive texture, thereby maintaining duplex printing capability while minimizing paper surface compromise
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces image artifacts, maintains proper page order in photo books, and maximizes printer throughput by minimizing the number of repositioning steps and contact with the drive roller's aggressive surface, ensuring consistent dye transfer and improved print quality.
Implementation Method 1
Dye Diffusion Thermal Transfer printers
Implementation Method 2
aggressively textured drive roller... contact with the drive roller's aggressive surface
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system having a printer comprising two printheads, sensors for determining a position of a rolled receiver media in the printer, and rollers for starting a multi-page print job using either one of the printheads based on the position of the rolled receiver media in the printer. A second page of the print job is printed before a first page of the print job in response to the position of the rolled receiver media in the printer.