Print Control Device Blank Page Overlay Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems do not guarantee the correct order of print data output, leading to potential misordering of printed results, which requires manual verification, and the insertion of blank pages to suppress overlay images on these pages causes additional issues by considering them as image-bearing.
Innovation Solution
A print control device integrates multiple print jobs into a single job, ensuring correct data ordering and using a blank page insertion process with a signal to suppress overlay images on blank pages, preventing unnecessary image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple print jobs are processed independently, then processing flexibility is maintained, but print data ordering reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple print jobs into a single integrated print job that maintains the original sequencing of multiple pages. The print control device collects page data from multiple independent print jobs and reassembles them into one unified job with preserved order, ensuring reliable print data output while managing complexity through centralized control.
2Reliability
If blank pages are inserted to suppress overlay images, then overlay image control is improved, but printing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the overlay image formation control from the general printing process by introducing a specific flag field in the page description language data. This flag selectively suppresses overlay image formation only on blank pages while preserving normal printing operations, achieving precise control without affecting overall printing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by differentiating treatment between blank pages and content pages through the overlay image suppression flag. Blank pages receive the suppression instruction while content pages maintain normal overlay image formation, ensuring localized accuracy where needed without compromising overall printing quality.
3Measurement precision
If manual verification is performed to ensure correct print order, then print order accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the print control device to automatically verify and maintain correct print data ordering through its integrated job processing mechanism. The system autonomously tracks page sequences and ensures accurate output without requiring manual verification, eliminating time loss while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A print control device includes an output unit, an adding unit, and a transmitting unit. The output unit outputs generated print data to a printing mechanism. The generated print data is generated as a result of unit print data, which includes page data of at least one page, being copied; and includes pieces of the unit print data. The adding unit adds blank page data between one piece of unit print data and another piece of unit print data to be printed next in line to the one piece of unit print data. The transmitting unit transmits, to the printing mechanism, information for causing an additional image to be formed on a medium when an image based on the page data is printed on the medium, and information for causing the additional image not to be formed on a blank page formed based on the added blank page data.