Dynamic Media Feed Rate Adjustment for Printing Queue Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Printing devices experience repetitive disengagement and re-engagement cycles due to speed differentials between imaging and printing components, leading to observable pauses, wear, and potential premature degradation, while attempts to synchronize speeds either increase costs or reduce printing performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a processor and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium to determine if the print queue will be depleted before an imaging operation completes, and adjusting the media feed rate of the printing component accordingly to maintain a rapid first page out speed and minimize unnecessary cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the printing component operates at a higher speed than the imaging component, then printing productivity is improved, but the print queue becomes depleted causing repetitive disengagement and re-engagement cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the media feed rate adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the media feed rate based on real-time monitoring of print queue depth, transitioning between faster rates when the queue is adequate and slower rates when the queue is depleting. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing high productivity when possible while maintaining operational stability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the depth of the print queue and using this information to adjust the media feed rate. The system measures the current state (print queue depth), compares it against thresholds, and adjusts the media feed rate accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism prevents the print queue from depleting while maintaining optimal printing speed, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
2Speed
If the media feed rate is increased to maintain rapid first page out speed, then printing performance is improved, but wear on printing components increases due to unnecessary cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the media feed rate based on print queue conditions rather than operating at a constantly high rate. This allows the system to achieve rapid first page out speed when the print queue is adequately filled, while reducing the media feed rate when the queue is depleting to prevent unnecessary disengagement/re-engagement cycles. This dynamic approach reduces component wear while maintaining high speed performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (media feed rate) based on system state (print queue depth). By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between speed and component wear. The media feed rate is changed from a fixed high value to a variable parameter that adapts to current conditions, reducing harmful wear effects while preserving rapid printing capability.
3Reliability
If attempts are made to synchronize imaging and printing speeds, then operational stability is improved, but device complexity or cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by autonomously monitoring its own print queue depth and automatically adjusting the media feed rate without requiring external intervention or complex synchronization mechanisms. The printing device itself generates and acts on the control signals needed to prevent queue depletion, eliminating the need for additional synchronization hardware or complex coordination systems between imaging and printing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from the print queue depth to automatically adjust the media feed rate, creating a self-regulating system. This feedback mechanism provides operational stability without requiring complex synchronization between imaging and printing speeds. The system responds to actual queue conditions rather than attempting pre-coordination, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An example system may include a processor and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the processor to determine, during an imaging operation by an imaging component of a printing device, whether a print queue, supplied by the imaging component, will be depleted by a printing component of the printing device prior to a completion of the imaging operation; and adjust, based on the determination, a media feed rate of the printing component.