Imaging Device Print Engine Shutdown Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging devices experience excessive component wear due to prolonged operation with motors running, leading to premature depletion of imaging supplies and print quality issues, as they wait for image generation by the raster image processor to complete, often delayed by job complexity, network issues, or data transmission problems.
Innovation Solution
The system adjusts the printing performance of imaging devices by enabling or disabling functions such as Advanced Start and Smart Run-Out, which control when the print engine starts and remains operational, reducing unnecessary churn and extending the life of components by optimizing the printing process based on detected delays and recoveries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the print engine operates continuously while waiting for image generation by the raster image processor, then the printing performance and throughput are improved, but excessive component wear occurs and imaging supplies are depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the print engine's operational state adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically transitions between continuous operation and shutdown states based on real-time conditions. Specifically, the print engine can be configured to shut down after completing a print job if the raster image processor indicates no additional jobs are being processed, or to remain operational if jobs are queued. This dynamic state adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing high throughput when work is available while preventing excessive wear during idle waiting periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the operational parameters of the print engine based on system conditions. The key parameter changed is the shutdown threshold - the condition under which the print engine stops operation. By adjusting this parameter based on the raster image processor's job queue status, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining printing readiness (for throughput) and reducing component wear (for reliability). This parameter adjustment directly addresses the technical contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If the print engine waits for a long time for images to be generated by the raster image processor, then image quality and completeness are ensured, but excessive churn is incurred and component wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by establishing a communication loop between the raster image processor and the print engine. The raster image processor continuously monitors its image generation status and provides feedback to the print engine about whether additional images are being processed. Based on this feedback, the print engine adjusts its operational state - shutting down when no images are pending (reducing wear) while ensuring images are complete and quality is maintained when they are being generated. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction between ensuring image completeness and reducing unnecessary operation.
3Ease of operation
If the print engine is prevented from shutting down while another print job is being processed by the raster image processor, then printing readiness is maintained, but component wear and supply consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the print engine's shutdown behavior conditional rather than static. Instead of always remaining operational or always shutting down, the system dynamically adjusts based on the raster image processor's workload. When print jobs are being actively processed, the print engine maintains readiness by staying operational. When no jobs are pending, it shuts down to conserve supplies. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining printing readiness and reducing supply consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device having a controller, a print engine and a raster image processor including methods for reducing wear in one or more components of the imaging device, the raster image processor including instructions for receiving a print job, determining whether one or more function features in the imaging device is disabled prior processing the print job, adjusting a default printing performance of the imaging device upon a determination that the one or more function features in the imaging device is disabled, generating a rasterized image for each page of the print job following the adjusting, and sending each rasterized image to the print engine of the imaging device for printing, wherein the adjusting the printing performance of the imaging device reduces the component wear in the imaging device and extends an allowable life of the one or more imaging components.