Image Arrangement for Nesting Print Margin Minimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large-format image forming apparatuses, nesting printing often results in uneven margins due to varying image sizes, and existing techniques for automatic rotation or virtual cut sheet arrangement are inefficient without pre-determined sizes, leading to wasted space.
Innovation Solution
An image arrangement apparatus that rotates images to align either their long or short side with the main scanning direction, calculates and minimizes the margin area within a rectangular region, and selects optimal combinations to ensure efficient use of space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If images are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction with automatic rotation, then images can be contained within the printing region, but extra margins are generated in the sheet conveyance direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the image arrangement configuration changeable through rotation. The system dynamically adjusts image orientation (0 or 90 degrees) based on dimensions, and dynamically determines the sheet conveyance direction (main scanning or sub scanning) to optimize space utilization and minimize margins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by rotating images 90 degrees when dimensions don't fit, and by switching the sheet conveyance direction between main scanning and sub scanning directions. This parameter adjustment allows flexible adaptation to different image sizes and minimizes wasted margin areas.
2Productivity
If nesting printing is performed with images of different sizes, then multiple images can be printed on a sheet, but large margins are generated around the images
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects the sheet conveyance direction based on image dimensions. When images have varying sizes, the system can switch between using the main scanning direction and sub scanning direction as the conveyance direction, allowing flexible arrangement that minimizes margins while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by rotating images 90 degrees when their dimensions don't align with the printing region, and by changing the sheet conveyance direction. This allows the system to adapt to different image sizes and reduce wasted space around images.
3Ease of manufacture
If a virtual cut sheet is defined on roll paper for arrangement, then images can be organized systematically, but the size cannot be determined in advance leading to wasted margin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sheet conveyance direction changeable between main scanning and sub scanning directions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the virtual cut sheet arrangement based on actual image dimensions, reducing margin waste while maintaining systematic organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by rotating images when dimensions don't fit and by switching the sheet conveyance direction. This allows flexible adaptation of the virtual cut sheet size and orientation to match the actual images being printed, minimizing wasted margin areas.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present disclosure is an image arrangement apparatus that arranges images for nesting printing, including: an arrangement unit configured to arrange the images side by side in the main scanning direction such that either one of a long side direction and a short side direction of each image included in the images coincides with the main scanning direction in accordance with a combination of respective rotations of images and also such that the images are contained in a rectangular region defined based on the combination; a calculation unit configured to calculate an area of a margin that is a part of the rectangular region, wherein the part is where the images arranged by the arrangement unit are not present; and a selection unit configured to select one of a the combinations based on the area of the margin corresponding to each combination.