Print Head Height Adjustment for Mixed Media Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers face productivity losses due to frequent height adjustments of the print head when handling mixed sequences of media sheets with different specifications, especially in duplex printing, as each adjustment requires time and can lead to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method that adjusts the print head to a height value within the overlap of admissible ranges for all sheets, if available, to minimize adjustments, and includes optional routines for handling incompatible ranges, such as alerting users to productivity losses, proposing media type changes, or dividing print sequences to reduce the number of adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the print head height is adjusted frequently to accommodate different media types, then print quality is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the height parameter of the print head dynamically based on the media type being printed. By adjusting the height to match specific media requirements, the system maintains optimal print quality for each media type while minimizing unnecessary adjustments through intelligent scheduling
2Productivity
If the print head height is kept constant, then productivity is improved, but print quality deteriorates for certain media types
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the print job to identify sequences of media types that can be printed with a constant print head height. By pre-planning the printing sequence and grouping compatible media types together, the system maintains high productivity while ensuring print quality requirements are met for each media type
3Manufacturing precision
If the print head height is adjusted to the lower limit for each media type, then print quality is optimized, but the complexity of height adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from media type specifications and admissible height ranges to automatically determine the optimal print head height. By receiving feedback about the current media type and its requirements, the system can make intelligent height adjustments without requiring complex manual intervention or trial-and-error adjustments
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of printing on a mixed sequence of media sheets (16), using a printer (10) with a print head (12) that is adjustable in height relative to a print surface (14) that supports the media (16) using printing, wherein the media (16) differ in their specifications that define an admissible range (R) for the height (h) of the print head, characterised by the steps of: (a) retrieving admissible height ranges for a plurality of media sheets (16) that are scheduled for printing, (b) searching for a height value that is contained in the admissible range of all scheduled sheets, (c1) if such a height value is found, adjusting the print head (12) to that height value, (c2) if not, proceeding to a problem handling routine.