Image Forming Apparatus Page Segmentation Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in starting printing due to the need for complete generation of image data before commencing, leading to increased time and potential overruns during continuous printing on long media.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus comprising an image data generator, conveyor, determiner, print medium cutter, and printing controller, which allows printing to commence after conversion of print data into image data for a specified number of pages is completed, enabling timely initiation and reducing medium conveyance overruns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If printing starts only after complete generation of image data for all pages, then printing quality and completeness are ensured, but the time required before printing starts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting completenessVSAvoidtime before printing starts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary generation of image data for a specified number of pages (e.g., first N pages) before actual printing starts. This allows the printing process to begin with ready image data for initial pages while remaining image data is still being generated in the background, thus reducing the waiting time before printing starts while ensuring printing quality for the pages that are printed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the image data generation process into segments corresponding to different page ranges. Instead of generating all page image data as a single batch, the system segments it so that image data for the first specified number of pages is generated and ready for printing, while image data for subsequent pages is generated concurrently during the printing process. This segmentation enables overlapping of data generation and printing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If printing continues without stopping during image data generation, then productivity is improved, but overrun detection may occur at irrelevant positions causing errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous printing capabilityVSAvoidoverrun detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares image data for a specified number of pages in advance before printing those pages. This preliminary preparation ensures that the printing process has sufficient image data to continue without interruption for the initial pages, enabling continuous printing operation. The specified number of pages is calculated based on the printing speed and data generation speed to ensure continuous operation without overrun errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the printing speed and image data generation speed to dynamically determine the specified number of pages. By monitoring these speeds, the system can calculate how many pages of image data should be prepared in advance to maintain continuous printing without overrun, thus improving both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If image data for all pages is generated before printing, then printing errors are avoided, but the overall printing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting error avoidanceVSAvoidoverall printing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary generation of image data only for the specified number of pages needed to start printing, rather than waiting for all pages. This allows the printing process to begin sooner while image data for remaining pages continues to be generated in the background, thus reducing overall printing time while maintaining error avoidance for the pages that are printed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous useful action by overlapping the image data generation process with the printing process. While the printer is printing the first specified number of pages, the system continues to generate image data for subsequent pages in the background. This continuity ensures that printing errors are avoided while minimizing the overall printing time by eliminating idle waiting periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10564905B2Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an image data generator, a conveyor conveying a print medium, a determiner, a print medium cutter, a printing section, and a printing controller. The image data generator performs, sequentially on a page basis, conversion of print data corresponding to pages included in a print job into image data. The determiner determines a specified number of pages. The print medium cutter cuts the print medium into media for each of the specified number of pages. The printing section performs, on the print medium, printing of an image-data-based image. The printing controller causes the printing section to start the printing of the image corresponding at least to the specified number of pages, after the conversion of the print data into the image data corresponding at least to the specified number of pages and before that into the image data corresponding to all of pages.