Inkjet Printer Time Synchronization via Main Control Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers struggle with maintaining time synchronization when printing multiple items on the same object, leading to inconsistencies between set and printed dates and times, particularly when printing expiration dates and production times.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printer configuration with a main control unit and auxiliary control units connected through communication means, which derives and corrects the relationship between set and printed times using a dual port communication interface and time update control unit to ensure synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple auxiliary control units operate independently with their own RTC, then each nozzle can print autonomously, but time inconsistency occurs between print items on the same printing object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the time management function of multiple auxiliary control units into a single main control unit. The main control unit serves as a common time source that distributes synchronized time information to all auxiliary control units, ensuring that while each nozzle operates autonomously, they all reference the same time baseline, thereby preventing time inconsistency between print items.
Solution Approach 2:
The main control unit acts as an intermediary between the RTC and multiple auxiliary control units. It receives time information from the RTC and redistributes it to all auxiliary control units, ensuring consistent time distribution. This intermediary role resolves the contradiction by maintaining centralized time authority while preserving distributed printing autonomy.
2Device complexity
If printing start preparation time is not controlled, then printing process is simple, but inconsistency occurs between set time and printed time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the main control unit calculate and determine the printing start preparation time before actual printing begins. This pre-calculated time information is then distributed to auxiliary control units, allowing them to compensate for the preparation time delay and ensure that the printed time accurately reflects the set time, thus maintaining time accuracy without significantly complicating the printing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual time synchronization is performed, then time consistency can be achieved, but labor requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the main control unit to automatically synchronize time information to all auxiliary control units without requiring manual intervention. The system performs time distribution and synchronization autonomously, eliminating the need for operators to manually adjust times on each device, thus achieving both time consistency and operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where auxiliary control units report their status and time information back to the main control unit, which then adjusts and redistributes time information as needed. This automated feedback loop ensures continuous time synchronization across all printing devices without requiring manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between time consistency and ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
When printing on the same printing object with multiple print nozzles in the past, consideration was not given to cases in which the time relationships of the set times and times-to-be-printed become mismatched between the respective print items of the print nozzles. To solve said problem, the present invention is an inkjet printer for printing on a conveyed printing object and having multiple print nozzles, multiple auxiliary control units for controlling the printing performed by the multiple print nozzles, and a common main control unit connected to the multiple auxiliary control units via communication means. The main control unit is configured to be equipped with: an extracting function for extracting the time relationship of the set times and the time relationship of the times-to-be-printed between the items to be printed by the respective print nozzles of the multiple print nozzles; and a revising function for revising the print data so as to preserve the time relationship of the set times.