Master Printer Data Entry for Portable Printing Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for entering print data for printing identification or marking plates are cumbersome, especially in mobile applications, as they require manual selection and input on limited portable printer interfaces, which increases user effort and reduces convenience.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a 'master' printer with a larger input and display device selects and transmits print data to either itself or an external 'slave' printer, allowing for convenient data entry and printing across multiple printers without the need for external computers, using a touchscreen interface and optical sensors for automatic object recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If print data is entered manually on portable printers with limited interfaces, then printing can be done in mobile applications, but user effort increases and convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A master printer serves as an intermediary device between the user and the printing system. The master printer has a large touchscreen interface that simplifies data entry, while it can transmit the prepared print data to slave printers (including portable printers) for actual printing. This mediator approach allows users to benefit from the simplified interface of the master printer while maintaining the mobility advantage of portable slave printers.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing system is segmented into a master printer that handles data input and preparation, and slave printers that handle actual printing execution. This segmentation allows the master printer to have a sophisticated interface for ease of operation, while slave printers can be portable and simple, with the system as a whole providing both mobile capability and user convenience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a printer is designed to print on various objects with different dimensions, then versatility is improved, but the complexity of selecting and configuring print parameters increases
Solution Approach 1:
Optical sensors on the master printer automatically detect and read markings on inserted printing objects. This feedback mechanism provides information about the object type, which the control unit uses to automatically select appropriate print parameters and templates. This eliminates the need for manual configuration and reduces complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic object recognition and parameter selection without requiring user intervention. The master printer autonomously identifies the printing object through optical sensors and configures the appropriate print settings, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring complex user configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple printers are used with different printing processes, then printing capability on various materials is improved, but the effort to manage and transfer print data between printers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master printer serves multiple functions: it acts as a control unit for selecting print parameters, a data input device for entering print data, and a transmission device for sending data to slave printers. This multi-functionality consolidates data management operations in one place, reducing the effort required to manage multiple printers with different capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The master printer acts as an intermediary that centralizes print data management. Instead of managing data separately for each printer, the user enters data once on the master printer, which then automatically transmits it to the appropriate slave printer. This mediator role simplifies data management across multiple printers with different printing processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the input of print data for both card and roll formats, reducing user effort and enabling efficient printing across various objects, even with portable printers, by allowing data entry on a single device and direct transmission to external printers, thus enhancing usability and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical sensor for detecting a marking arranged on the object is provided in the printer housing
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for inputting print data for printing on a print object (6, 16) by means of a printer (1), comprising the following steps: displaying a printer selection window (21) on the input and display device (10) and evaluating a performed selection of a printer (1, 11), selecting a print-object selection window (22, 22') by means of the control and evaluation unit (7) on the basis of the evaluated selection of the printer (1, 11), displaying the selected print-object selection window (22, 22') having at least one print object (6, 16) that can be printed on by the selected printer (1, 11), and evaluating a performed selection of the print object (6, 16), selecting and displaying an input screen (23, 23') by means of the control and evaluation unit (7) on the basis of the evaluated selection of the print object (6, 16), transferring the print data that are input into the input screen (23, 23') to the printing device (4) of the printer (1) or, by means of the data communication interface (8) of the printer (1), to an external printer (11).