Print Management Device for Real-Time Quality Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current print management systems face challenges in efficiently adjusting printing conditions to balance quality, cost, and delivery during print jobs, often requiring manual intervention and resulting in suboptimal performance and increased operator burden.

Innovation Solution

A print management device and method that acquires and evaluates print management information, including quality and evaluation indexes, to determine necessary changes in printing conditions, allowing for automatic adjustments and optimal condition setting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If printing conditions are changed based on operator knowledge, then quality can be improved, but operator burden becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinted material qualityVSAvoidoperator burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The print management device automatically monitors print job progress and evaluates printed material quality in real-time, then autonomously adjusts printing conditions without requiring operator intervention. The system serves itself by detecting quality issues and implementing corrections automatically, eliminating the burden of manual monitoring and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously evaluates printed material quality during the print job and feeds this information back to the printing condition adjustment mechanism. This closed-loop feedback enables automatic real-time optimization of printing conditions based on actual quality outcomes, replacing operator judgment with automated evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the printer is stopped for diagnosis and measurement, then quality issues can be identified, but cost and delivery are adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality defect detectionVSAvoiddelivery and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs quality evaluation and diagnosis during the printing process rather than after completion or by stopping the printer. By conducting measurements and analysis in advance and during normal operation, the system identifies quality issues without interrupting production, thereby maintaining delivery schedules and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The print management device enables continuous monitoring and adjustment of printing conditions without stopping the printer. Quality evaluation and necessary corrections are performed while the printing job continues, maintaining uninterrupted production flow and eliminating the trade-off between diagnosis and delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If the printer is controlled without stopping, then productivity is maintained, but only partial quality management (e.g., solid density) is achieved and optimal printing conditions cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous printingVSAvoidoverall quality management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The print management device performs multiple quality evaluation functions simultaneously during continuous printing, including but not limited to solid density measurement. The system comprehensively monitors various quality parameters and manages overall print quality while maintaining productivity, rather than focusing on only one aspect of quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9950548B2Print management device, print management method, and print management program

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

The print management device includes a print management information acquisition unit that acquires print management information including first information indicating quality of a printed material printed in a print job during execution and second information indicating an evaluation index of the printed material, different from the first information, in the print job during execution, a print management request acquisition unit that acquires request information indicating a request relating to print management of the printed material in the print job, a request evaluation unit that evaluates the degree of satisfaction of the printed material printed in the print job for the request relating to the print management indicated by the request information, based on the print management information, using one or more evaluation references, and a printing condition change determination unit that determines whether change in printing conditions in the print job during execution is necessary, based on an evaluation result.