Print Medium Division Control for Higher Printing Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses lack effective methods to improve throughput during the dividing process of a print medium into two sheets without reducing printing performance.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus is equipped with a conveyor, print engine, and divider, controlled by a controller to manage conveyance and division of print media, ensuring optimal positioning and subsequent printing on divided sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the print medium is conveyed to a dividing position for division downstream of the print engine, then the printing performance is maintained, but the throughput is reduced due to the additional conveyance distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the division process before the printing process. The controller divides the print medium into first and second sheets at a first dividing position upstream of the print engine, then conveys only the first sheet to the printing position. This eliminates the need to convey the entire print medium through the print engine, thereby maintaining printing performance while improving throughput by reducing conveyance distance and time.
2Productivity
If the print medium is divided into two sheets before printing, then the throughput is improved by reducing conveyance distance, but the printing performance may be reduced due to positioning and alignment challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the division operation in advance before the printing process. The controller divides the print medium at a first dividing position upstream of the print engine, then precisely conveys the first sheet to the printing position using the conveyor system. This preliminary division allows the system to optimize the conveyance path and maintain precise positioning at the printing position, thereby improving throughput without compromising printing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through the controller that monitors and adjusts the conveyance position of the divided first sheet. The controller receives information about the position of the first sheet and dynamically adjusts the conveyance amount to ensure accurate positioning at the printing position. This feedback control maintains printing performance despite the preliminary division operation.
3Ease of operation
If the conveyor conveys the print medium by a larger conveyance amount to reach the dividing position, then the division process is simplified, but the time required for conveyance increases, reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conveyance process into two distinct stages: first, conveying the print medium to the dividing position for division into first and second sheets; second, conveying only the first sheet to the printing position. This segmentation allows the system to optimize each conveyance stage independently, reducing the total conveyance distance and time compared to conveying the entire print medium through the print engine, thereby improving throughput while maintaining operational simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances throughput by strategically controlling conveyance and division processes, maintaining printing performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid ejection head is configured to eject liquid from at least one of the plurality of nozzles onto the print medium
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a divider disposed downstream of a print engine in a conveyance direction, and a controller. The controller causes a conveyor to convey a print medium until a planned dividing position of the print medium reaches a dividing position of the divider, when a first conveyance amount is larger than a second conveyance amount. The first conveyance amount corresponds to a print width for a printing process by the print engine. The second conveyance amount is calculated using a distance between a reference position and the dividing position and a distance between the reference position and the planned dividing position. After the planned dividing position of the print medium reaches the dividing position, the controller causes the divider to divide the print medium into first and second print media. The controller causes the conveyor to convey the second sheet to a printing position.