Print Job Cut Distance Guidance for Manual Trimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual cutting of printed sheets can be challenging due to the absence of guidance for the last cut, especially when the intermediate product is a bound stack, as conventional trim marks are not sufficient to indicate the final cutting line, leading to potential errors and remnants.
Innovation Solution
The method involves modifying the print job to include numerical cut distance information items that instruct the user on the distance from a reference object or geometrical feature to perform the cut, ensuring accurate cutting even when conventional trim marks are not available, particularly for the last cutting step.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional trim marks are used to guide manual cutting, then cutting guidance is provided, but the last cutting step lacks guidance when trim marks are removed or not visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-printing cut distance information items on the print job output. These numerical indicators provide cutting guidance information that remains visible and useful throughout the entire cutting process, including the final cutting step where conventional trim marks would no longer provide guidance. The system performs the information preparation action in advance, ensuring cutting guidance is available when needed most.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If trim marks are placed far from the trim box to avoid remnants, then cutting guidance is provided, but the guidance becomes less precise for the final cut
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from graphical trim marks to numerical cut distance information items. This parameter change allows the cutting guidance to be expressed as precise numerical values (distances from reference objects) rather than graphical markers. The numerical format maintains precision regardless of position on the sheet, and the system calculates optimal positions for these numerical indicators to ensure they provide accurate guidance without creating harmful remnants.
3Productivity
If multiple cutting steps are performed manually, then the print product can be trimmed, but guidance for each intermediate state is difficult to provide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cutting process into distinct intermediate states, with each state having its own specific cut distance information items printed on the appropriate pages. The system automatically determines multiple intermediate states and generates tailored cutting guidance for each state, allowing users to perform multiple cutting steps with precise guidance for each intermediate product configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-determining all intermediate states and pre-printing the appropriate cut distance information items on each page before the cutting process begins. This advance preparation ensures that cutting guidance information is available for each intermediate state without requiring real-time calculation or additional marking during the cutting process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a method for modifying a print job to be printed onto a plurality of sheets (3) of a medium as part of creating a print product, a printing system and a software medium. In addition, or as an alternative, to conventional trim marks, numerical cut distance information items are printed onto a sheet of paper that is to be cut manually, wherein the cut distance information items tell the user how far from a specific reference geometrical feature, or reference object, the user is to perform the cut. The cut distance information items are positioned such that the user will perceive them when the respective cutting step is to be performed.