Imposition Layout Optimization for Print Job Blank Page Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing systems for printing multiple print jobs often result in unnecessary blank pages and require complex sorting processes due to differences in the number of pages across print jobs, leading to inefficiencies in paper usage and post-processing.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a storage unit and hardware processor that analyzes print jobs, calculates optimal imposition layouts to minimize blank pages, and displays these layouts for user selection, ensuring each print job is placed on separate positions without sharing, thus reducing blank pages and simplifying the sorting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If multiple print jobs with different page counts are imposed using conventional methods, then paper utilization improves, but blank pages increase and sorting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments print jobs by their page count characteristics, grouping jobs with the same number of pages together. This segmentation allows each group to be imposed independently with optimized layouts, reducing blank pages while maintaining simple sorting processes for each group.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of print job page counts before imposition, pre-grouping jobs by their page characteristics. This preliminary action enables the selection of optimal imposition layouts that minimize blank pages while ensuring that jobs within each group have compatible sorting requirements.
2Loss of substance
If print jobs are combined into one job for imposition, then blank pages are reduced, but sorting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of combining all print jobs into one, the patent segments them into multiple groups based on page count. Each group is then imposed separately with its own optimized layout, reducing blank pages within each group while keeping the sorting process simple for each group.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the imposition parameter by creating multiple imposition layouts corresponding to different page count groups. Each layout is optimized for its specific group, achieving reduced blank pages without requiring complex cross-group sorting.
3Ease of operation
If conventional imposition methods are used for jobs with different page counts, then processing simplicity is maintained, but paper waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary classification of print jobs by page count before the imposition process. This preliminary action organizes jobs into groups that can be imposed with simple, standardized layouts, maintaining operational simplicity while significantly reducing paper waste through optimized page utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the imposition parameter by selecting different layout configurations based on the page count of each job group. This parameter adaptation allows simple imposition processes for each group while optimizing paper usage, avoiding the complexity of handling mixed-page-count jobs together.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an image processing apparatus, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an imposition control program, and an imposition control method. The hardware processor of the image processing apparatus is configured to impose plural print jobs. When imposing plural print jobs, the hardware processor extracts plural job-imposition layouts suitable for imposing the print jobs from a table stored in a storage unit. The hardware processor calculates the number of blank pages to be given after laying out pages of the print jobs with each of the job-imposition layouts extracted, and determines specific job-imposition layouts with which a smaller number of blank pages are given among the job-imposition layouts extracted. The hardware processor uses a display unit to display the specific job-imposition layouts so as to allow a user to choose a job-imposition layout to be used for imposing the print jobs.