Print Position Compensation Using Media Edge Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers often experience errors due to misprinting data at incorrect locations on print media, leading to wasteful resource expenditure and material waste, primarily caused by slippage of the print media resulting in print position drift over time.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of print position compensation methods that utilize sensors to determine edge position distances and timestamps during media output and retraction phases, generating compensation to offset print position drift, ensuring accurate printing by adjusting the print operation based on these measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If print position compensation is not implemented, then the printer operation is simple, but print accuracy deteriorates due to media slippage and position drift
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements during media output and retraction phases to determine edge position distances before printing. These preliminary actions allow the system to calculate compensation values in advance, ensuring print accuracy is maintained without adding complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during the actual printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by measuring actual media position through sensor detection of edge positions during output and retraction phases. These measurements are fed back to calculate compensation values that adjust the print head positioning, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains print accuracy despite media slippage.
2Manufacturing precision
If print position compensation is implemented, then print accuracy is improved, but resource expenditure increases due to additional measurement and calculation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the printer's existing media transport mechanism to perform dual-purpose functions: both transporting media for printing and providing the motion necessary for edge position measurements. This self-service approach allows compensation measurements to be taken during normal operation without requiring separate measurement systems or additional energy-consuming components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously performs measurements during media output and retraction phases, utilizing the continuous motion of media through the printer. This continuous action allows compensation values to be updated regularly without interrupting the printing workflow, maintaining accuracy while minimizing additional resource expenditure by using existing media movement.
3Measurement precision
If edge position measurements are taken during both output and retraction phases, then compensation accuracy is improved, but measurement time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs measurements during continuous media output and retraction operations without stopping the printing process. By utilizing the natural back-and-forth motion of media transport, the system gathers measurement data continuously during phases that would occur anyway in normal printing operations, avoiding additional time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Measurements are taken preliminarily during media output and retraction phases before the actual printing phase begins. This preliminary measurement approach allows compensation values to be calculated in advance, ensuring accurate printing without requiring time-consuming measurements during the critical printing phase itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure provide for improved print position compensation, for example to improve accuracy of print job(s) performed by a printer. The print position compensation enables an offset of the time until printing occurs on a print media to account for changes and/or erroneous movement in a print media, such as due to slippage and/or other results of a force applied to the print media. Particular embodiments determine data values derived both for an output phase and a retraction phase of the printer's operation. Various embodiments generate a print position compensation based on sensor-based edge position distances determined during each of a media output phase and a media retraction phase. Alternatively or additionally various embodiments generate a print position compensation based on sensor-based media movement phase timestamp differentials determined during each of a media output phase and a media retraction phase.