Mixed Paper Size Printing Tray Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Printers face challenges in efficiently handling mixed paper sizes and orientations, leading to increased print processing time and manual labor, particularly in high-volume operations, as they struggle to align long edges of sheets correctly in output documents.

Innovation Solution

A printer system with trays configured for letter-sized paper in both long edge feed (LEF) and short edge feed (SEF) directions and legal-sized paper in SEF direction, along with a computer program that automatically selects the appropriate tray based on print job settings and orientations, minimizing manual intervention by aligning long edges of all pages in output documents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the printer uses multiple trays with different paper sizes and orientations to handle mixed print jobs, then the printer's adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle mixed paper sizesVSAvoidnumber of trays and configurations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The printer divides paper storage into multiple segmented trays (first tray for letter-sized LEF, second tray for letter-sized SEF, third tray for legal-sized SEF), allowing each tray to be optimized for specific paper size and orientation requirements. This segmentation enables the printer to handle mixed print jobs efficiently while maintaining clear organization of different media types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the printer automatically selects trays based on print job settings, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic tray selectionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The printer's control system automatically detects print job requirements (paper size, orientation) and self-selects the appropriate tray without user intervention. The system evaluates available trays and autonomously determines the best match, reducing manual操作步骤 while managing complexity through automated decision-making logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If the printer aligns long edges of all pages in output documents, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment of long edgesVSAvoidprint processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The printer performs preliminary orientation assessment during print job processing, determining the required long-edge alignment before actual printing begins. By pre-planning the tray selection and orientation configuration, the system avoids time-consuming adjustments during printing, thus maintaining high precision while minimizing processing time delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9898237B1System and method of printing using mixed paper sizes

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 KONICA MINOLTA SYSTEMS LABORATORY INC

AI summary

A system and method of printing involves the use of mixed paper sizes in which the orientation of printing media can be selected to avoid a mixture of paper sheet orientations in the output document when auto tray selection has been selected by a user.