Label Printer Raster Control for Faster Printing With Less Memory

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Solution Overview

Problem

Label printers in the related art are limited by slow printing speeds due to the need to convert print data from a traditional and slow communication interface, and they require significant memory capacity to store font data.

Innovation Solution

An image forming system that includes a host computer generating raster data and auxiliary data for a label printer, which directly controls the printer's mechanical operations through optimized drive signals and thermal management, eliminating the need for on-board font data storage and local signal calculation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the label printer uses print control language from traditional communication interfaces, then communication compatibility is maintained, but printing speed is limited due to data conversion requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication compatibilityVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The host computer acts as an intermediary that receives print control language data, converts it to raster data, and transmits the converted data to the label printer. This mediator approach allows the printer to maintain compatibility with traditional communication interfaces while eliminating the bottleneck of on-device data conversion, thereby improving printing speed without sacrificing communication adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the label printer stores font data in flash memory, then print control language compatibility is achieved, but memory capacity requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint control language supportVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The font data and print control language interpretation capabilities are extracted from the label printer and relocated to the host computer. The printer only receives pre-converted raster data, eliminating the need for large flash memory storage on the printer side while maintaining full print control language compatibility through the host computer's processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the label printer performs local signal calculation and processing, then autonomous operation is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous operationVSAvoidprocessing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The host computer serves as an intermediary that performs all complex signal calculation and processing tasks before transmitting simplified control commands to the printer. This approach maintains the printer's operational simplicity and reduces its processing complexity while enabling autonomous operation through centralized control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260023515A1Image forming system and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

According to an embodiment, an image forming system includes a host computer and an image forming apparatus. The host computer above transmits to the image forming apparatus print information including raster data of an image to be printed by the image forming apparatus and auxiliary data used for print control apparatus. The image forming apparatus holds the raster data included in the print information and controls the driving of the print device based on the raster data and the auxiliary data.