Pallet Stack Visualization for Mixed-Job Printer Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing systems lack visualization of the exact output composition on mixed jobs printed on larger pallets, leading to suboptimal stack composition and reduced productivity in printing and post-processing.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a print controller that creates and maintains pallet stack objects, displaying them on a user interface to allow users to compose and optimize stacked output, considering media properties and post-processing requirements, and schedules unloading times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If print jobs are processed in traditional queues without visualization, then the system is simple to operate, but the operator cannot optimize stack composition and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual representation (pallet stack object) that copies and visualizes the physical stack composition on the user interface. This allows operators to see and optimize stack arrangements without physically manipulating pallets, improving productivity while keeping the physical system simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The pallet stack object serves as an intermediary between the physical print jobs and the user interface. It translates complex stack composition data into visual representations that operators can understand and optimize, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and productivity.
2Productivity
If stack composition is optimized with visualization, then productivity improves, but the user interface becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface displays a visual copy of the physical stack arrangement through pallet stack objects. Operators can optimize stack composition by interacting with this visual representation, which improves post-processing productivity without requiring complex physical manipulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through the user interface showing how print jobs are grouped into stacks and pallets. This feedback mechanism allows operators to make informed decisions about stack composition, improving productivity while keeping the interface intuitive through visual rather than textual information.
3Loss of information
If pallet stack objects are visualized on user interface, then output composition becomes visible and optimizable, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of processing and displaying all raw print job data, the system creates simplified pallet stack objects that copy only the essential information about stack composition. This reduces processing requirements while maintaining full visibility of output composition for optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the necessary information about stack composition and pallet arrangement from the complete print job data. This extraction approach provides sufficient visibility for optimization without the energy cost of processing and displaying all underlying details.
Data Source
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AI summary
A printer configured to output stacks of printed print media on pallets comprises a print controller comprising a print job queue and/or a print job waiting room comprising print jobs. The print controller is configured to create and maintain a pallet stack object which represent a pallet with a stacked output. The stacked output is printed sheets related to at least one print job from the print job queue and/or a print job waiting room. The pallet stack object is displayed on dedicated user interface windows at a user interface connected to the printer. The user is allowed to compose and maintain by means of the user interface of the printer the stacked output for each pallet stack object created by the print controller.