Print Control Device for Bookbinding with Mixed Sheet Lengths

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Solution Overview

Problem

In bookbinding, existing print control systems face challenges in minimizing paper waste while maintaining the weight and workability of print sheets, as they typically require setting a single sheet length per print job, leading to either excessive blank pages or the need for redesigning imposition layouts.

Innovation Solution

A print control device and method that generate print data by determining the number of print sheets of different lengths based on imposition template information, ensuring the total number of pages is met with minimal difference between sheet types, thereby optimizing sheet length and reducing waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of stationary object

If the sheet length is increased to set a longer sheet length with more pages per print sheet, then the weight of the paper stack increases improving post-processing workability, but the number of blank pages increases resulting in paper waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of paper stackVSAvoidpaper waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the print sheets into multiple types with different sheet lengths (first type with longer length, second type with shorter length). The imposition information is segmented to assign different numbers of pages to different sheet types, allowing optimization of both weight and paper utilization by combining multiple segments rather than using a single uniform sheet length

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the print job are assigned different sheet lengths based on local requirements. The imposition information specifies that certain print sheets (first type) have a longer sheet length while others (second type) have a shorter sheet length, allowing each local region to have optimal quality characteristics for its specific page count requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of substance

If the sheet length is decreased to reduce the number of pages per print sheet, then paper waste is reduced, but the weight of the paper stack decreases reducing post-processing workability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper wasteVSAvoidweight of paper stack

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The print job is segmented into multiple types of print sheets with different lengths. By dividing the total pages into groups that can be accommodated on sheets of different sizes, the system achieves both reduced paper waste (through shorter sheets where sufficient) and maintained workability (through longer sheets where needed)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet length parameter is changed across different print sheet types rather than maintaining a single fixed value. The imposition information includes parameters specifying different sheet lengths for different types, allowing the system to adapt the physical parameters to optimize both material utilization and processing quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single sheet length is set per print job, then the imposition layout is simplified, but either paper waste increases or post-processing workability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimposition layout complexityVSAvoidpaper waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The imposition layout is segmented into multiple types corresponding to different sheet lengths. The print control device generates separate imposition information for first type print sheets (longer length) and second type print sheets (shorter length), with each segment optimized for its specific characteristics, managing complexity through structured division rather than uniform treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Weight of stationary object

If the sheet length is increased to reduce the number of print sheets, then the weight per sheet increases improving workability, but the total number of pages that can be printed decreases leaving blank pages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight per print sheetVSAvoidnumber of pages per print sheet

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The total page count is segmented and distributed across multiple print sheet types. By dividing pages into groups that fit optimally on sheets of different lengths, the system maximizes the utilization of each sheet's capacity, reducing blank pages while maintaining adequate weight through the inclusion of longer sheets in the mix

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10402134B2Print control device, print control method, and recording medium having print control program recorded thereon

Publication Date: 2019.09.03 SCREEN HOLDINGS CO LTD

AI summary

This application discloses a print control device suppressing paper waste without reducing the size of a print sheet that is to form a section upon printing for bookbinding. In one configuration example of the print control device, the numbers Np1 and Np2 of first and second print sheets to be used, which correspond to two pieces of imposition information Dfly1 and Dfly2 prepared for manuscript data Dd for a single print job, are determined so as not to waste paper, on the basis of the numbers of pages imposed on the first and second print sheets and a total page number Npg in the manuscript data Dd. On the basis of the determined numbers Np1 and Np2 and the two pieces of imposition information Dfly1 and Dfly2, overall imposition for the manuscript data Dd is determined such that, of the first and second print sheets, the shorter print sheets are sandwiched between the longer print sheets.