Print Job Sorting by Sheet Type and Fixing Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face downtime due to sheet replacements when handling multiple sheet types, which affects the processing speed of print jobs.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus that analyzes print jobs to identify sheet types and required fixing temperatures, sorting jobs to ensure same sheet types are processed sequentially and fixing temperatures are ordered accordingly, minimizing sheet replacements and reducing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the printing apparatus supports multiple sheet types with different fixing temperatures, then the versatility of the printing apparatus is improved, but the processing speed deteriorates due to frequent sheet replacements and temperature adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting unit pre-sorts print jobs in the standby state according to sheet type and fixing temperature before execution. By analyzing job information in advance and arranging jobs with the same sheet type and similar temperature requirements consecutively, the system minimizes sheet replacements and temperature adjustments during printing, thus maintaining high processing speed while supporting multiple sheet types
2Adaptability or versatility
If sheet replacements are performed to handle different sheet types, then the adaptability to various sheet types is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to downtime during sheet replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting unit performs preliminary sorting of print jobs by sheet type before execution. By grouping jobs requiring the same sheet type together, the system reduces the frequency of sheet replacements during the printing process, thereby minimizing downtime and maintaining high productivity while still supporting multiple sheet types
Solution Approach 2:
The sorting unit arranges print jobs to maintain continuous printing operations with the same sheet type. By ensuring that jobs are executed in sequences that minimize sheet type changes, the system keeps the printing process continuously productive rather than interrupting it frequently for sheet replacements
3Manufacturing precision
If fixing temperatures are adjusted for different sheet types, then the manufacturing precision of the printing process is improved, but the processing speed deteriorates due to temperature adjustment time
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting unit pre-analyzes print job information and sorts jobs according to their fixing temperature requirements. By arranging jobs with similar temperature needs consecutively, the system minimizes the frequency and total time of temperature adjustments, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing the impact on processing speed
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
This approach enhances the processing speed of print jobs by reducing the frequency of sheet replacements and optimizing temperature adjustments, thereby shortening overall processing time.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit configured to heat a printed sheet to fix a printing material on the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus compares, while a given print job is executed, a temperature of a heating unit with fixing temperatures corresponding to a plurality of print jobs to be sorted, and performs, based on a comparison result, the sorting so that a predetermined order is descending order or ascending order of the fixing temperature. The sorting is performed so the predetermined order is ascending order of the fixing temperature in a case where the fixing temperatures corresponding the print jobs to be sorted are higher than the temperature of the heating unit and so the predetermined order is descending order of the fixing temperature in a case where the fixing temperatures corresponding the print jobs to be sorted are lower than the temperature of the heating unit.