Print Management Device Continuous Job Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems face inefficiencies in mass production due to complex user operations and reduced production efficiency, as they require frequent manual intervention to manage continuous printing and replace printing materials, especially when producing multiple print products sequentially.
Innovation Solution
A printing system with a print management device that creates job lists including continuous printing information, allowing the printer to determine whether to continue or pause printing jobs based on this information, enabling combined transmission of print jobs and reducing user burden by allowing continuous execution or suspension of printing processes as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous printing is set on to execute all print jobs continuously, then productivity is improved, but the user cannot replace the target printing material at appropriate timings and operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The job list is segmented into multiple groups, where each group contains print jobs that can be continuously executed without requiring material replacement. The segmentation is based on identifying which jobs require material replacement and grouping them separately, allowing automated continuous printing within groups while enabling material replacement between groups.
Solution Approach 2:
A print management device is introduced as an intermediary between the user and the printer. This device automatically analyzes the job list, determines appropriate grouping, and controls the printing process without requiring direct user intervention. The management device acts as a mediator that handles the complexity of continuous printing control while maintaining simplicity for the user.
2Ease of operation
If the job list is divided into multiple separate transmissions to ensure material replacement timings, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity decreases due to repeated transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The job list is segmented into multiple groups internally by the print management device, but all groups are transmitted to the printer in a single transmission. The segmentation is used only for controlling continuous printing execution, not for dividing the transmission itself, thus maintaining high productivity while ensuring proper material replacement timings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by transmitting the entire job list in one go and then using automated grouping control to manage material replacement timings. This avoids the interruption and repetition caused by multiple separate transmissions, keeping the printing process continuous and efficient.
3Reliability
If the user stays near the printer to manually resume printing after each job, then printing control precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to inability to leave
Solution Approach 1:
The print management device provides self-service functionality by automatically analyzing the job list, determining continuous printing groups, and controlling the printing process without requiring user presence. The system serves itself by making autonomous decisions about when to continue printing and when to pause for material replacement, eliminating the need for user intervention and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the job list analysis to automatically adjust printing execution. The print management device receives information about the job list, analyzes it to determine material replacement requirements, and then controls continuous printing accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that maintains reliability without requiring user presence.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system includes a print manager that creates a job list and a printer that preforms printing on a target printing material, based on the job list. The print manager includes a continuous printing information provider that gives continuous printing information to each of print jobs. The printer includes a continuous printing determiner to continuously start, if specified by the continuous print information of the print job to perform continuous printing, printing of a next one of the print jobs, and, not to start, if specified by the continuous print information of the print job not to perform continuous printing, printing of the next one of the print jobs.