Printer Controller Buffering for Thermal Line Head Banding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing devices face challenges in maintaining print quality due to temporary stopping of printing, which can result in white lines or banding, especially when resuming printing after a pause, requiring complex control mechanisms to manage printhead timing and data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A printing device with a controller that stores image data upon receiving a first command and prints based on stored data when a second command is received, using a simple control method to prevent temporary stopping and maintain print quality, including modes for normal and batch printing to manage data storage and printing efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printing device uses complex control mechanisms to manage printhead timing and data transmission when resuming printing, then print quality can be maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stores image data in advance in the storage device before actual printing occurs. When a pause is detected, the printed line count is stored, and upon resumption, the controller retrieves the stored image data and continues printing from the stored pause position without complex timing control. This preliminary data storage eliminates the need for complex real-time synchronization mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the image data in the storage device (separate from the printer buffer) before printing. This copy allows the printing process to resume without retransmitting data or complex coordination, as the stored image data can be directly fed to the printhead from the storage device, simplifying the control mechanism.
2Productivity
If the printing device pauses to resume printing after temporary stopping, then data transmission can be managed, but white lines or banding occur reducing print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stores the number of printed lines in the storage device before pausing. Upon resumption, it retrieves this stored line count and continues printing from that position using stored image data, ensuring continuous printing without pauses that would cause white lines or banding.
Solution Approach 2:
By storing image data in advance and using the stored printed line count to resume printing, the system maintains continuous printing action without interruption. The printhead operates continuously without stopping, eliminating the harmful effect of white lines or banding that occur when printing resumes after pauses.
3Reliability
If the controller stores image data in advance and uses stored printed line count to resume printing, then continuous printing is maintained, but storage device requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device stores only specific critical data (image data and printed line count) rather than all printing data. This selective local storage of essential information maintains printing continuity while minimizing the storage capacity required, as only the data necessary for resumption is retained.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer having a printer communicator for receiving commands; a thermal line head that prints in line units on thermal roll paper; a multiple line buffer; and a printer controller that controls the thermal line head to print. When the printer communicator receives an image printing command instructing image printing, the printer controller stores the image data specified by the image printing command in the multiple line buffer. When the printer communicator receives a non-image data definition command, the printer controller prints an image on the thermal roll paper by the thermal line head based on the image data stored in the multiple line buffer.