Print Drying Temperature Control for Interrupted Job Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing temperature adjustments and job interruptions during ink drying processes, leading to prolonged waiting times and potential quality issues due to mismatched target temperatures.
Innovation Solution
An image formation control method that includes setting target temperatures for each job, executing test print processes or interrupt jobs by adjusting heater power through feedback control, and implementing insertion and interrupt controls to minimize waiting times and maintain image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the printing device executes a test print process or interrupt job while a target job is being executed, then the responsiveness to new jobs is improved, but the waiting time increases due to temperature adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-heating the drying device to the target temperature of the interrupt job before the interrupt job actually starts. When an interrupt job is received, if the drying device is already at or near the required temperature, the job can start immediately without waiting for heating, thus reducing the waiting time while maintaining responsiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the drying device temperature based on the job being executed. When switching from a target job to an interrupt job, the temperature is adjusted to match the interrupt job's requirements. The system also dynamically manages job queues and temperature settings to minimize waiting time while maintaining operational flexibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If the target temperature is changed frequently to accommodate interrupt jobs, then the adaptability to different jobs is improved, but the temperature stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control by continuously monitoring the drying device temperature and comparing it with the target temperature. When the detected temperature deviates from the target, the system adjusts the heater power to bring the temperature back to the desired level. This feedback mechanism maintains temperature stability even when target temperatures change between jobs
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary temperature adjustments in advance when switching between jobs. By predicting the temperature change needed for an interrupt job and starting the adjustment before the job actually begins, the system minimizes the disruption to temperature stability while maintaining adaptability to different job requirements
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
The method effectively reduces waiting times and ensures consistent ink drying performance by dynamically adjusting temperatures and prioritizing test print processes or interrupt jobs, thereby enhancing overall printing efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
a drying device configured to dry the ink on the sheet by the heater
Implementation Method 2
a temperature detection device that detects the temperature of the heater or the air heated by the heater
Data Source
AI summary
When an insertion event occurs while a printing device is executing a job, a control device causes the printing device to interrupt a target job which is the job being executed, causes the printing device to execute a test print process without changing a target temperature of a drying device, and then causing the printing device to execute a remaining process of the target job. When an interrupt event occurs while the target job is being executed, the control device causes the printing device to interrupt the target job, changes the target temperature to a temperature corresponding to the interrupt job, and causes the printing device to execute the interrupt job, and then returning the target temperature to the temperature corresponding to the target job, and causes the printing device to execute the remaining process of the target job.