Printer Controller Combination Recording for Long Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current printers struggle to record images with a long length in the conveyance direction when a general-purpose printer driver is installed in the external apparatus, lacking the capability for large-sized printing without specific driver support.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus with a conveyance mechanism and a recorder that determines whether to perform combination-recording of multiple images aligned in the conveyance direction on a single sheet-shaped medium, allowing for long-length image recording regardless of the driver type in the external apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a general-purpose printer driver is installed in the external apparatus, then the printer can operate with standard drivers, but it cannot record images with long length in the conveyance direction
Solution Approach 1:
The image data is segmented into multiple separate image units that can be independently processed. The controller divides the long-image data into plurality of images, allowing each to be handled as a discrete unit that can then be combined during recording, enabling long-length imaging without requiring special driver capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-dimension approach (one image per sheet) to a multi-dimensional approach by aligning and combining multiple images in the conveyance direction. This dimensional change allows the system to achieve long-length recording capability through spatial arrangement of multiple standard-sized images rather than requiring a single large-image capability.
2Length of moving object
If a printer driver with enlarging processing is installed, then large-sized printing is enabled, but the system requires specific driver installation and lacks universality
Solution Approach 1:
The printer controller is designed to universally handle both single-image and multi-image data formats. By incorporating the combination-recording determination function and automatic alignment capability, the printer can process standard driver output (multiple separate images) just as effectively as specialized driver output (single large image), making the system universally compatible with different driver types while achieving the same long-length recording capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The printer system performs self-service by automatically determining whether combination-recording is needed and executing the alignment and combination of multiple images without requiring external software processing. The controller autonomously handles the transformation of multiple separate images into a long-length recorded output, eliminating the need for specialized printer drivers to perform enlarging processing.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple images are recorded on separate sheets, then each image is recorded with high quality, but the conveyance direction length is limited to single sheet dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separately recorded images are merged in the conveyance direction to form a single continuous long-length image. The controller aligns the plurality of images along the conveyance direction and combines them during the recording process, effectively merging multiple standard-quality recordings into one extended high-quality output without compromising the quality of individual image segments.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes a conveyance mechanism conveying a sheet-shaped medium in a conveyance direction, a recorder recording an image on the sheet-shaped medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism, and a controller. The controller receives image data including one or a plurality of images, each of the images being to be recorded on one page, from an external apparatus, and determines whether to perform a combination-recording in which a plurality of images are aligned in the conveyance direction and recorded on a single sheet-shaped medium. In a case where image data including the plurality of images is received and it is determined that the combination-recording is to be performed, the controller causes the conveyance mechanism to convey a single sheet-shaped medium, and causes the recorder to record a plurality of images aligned in the conveyance direction on the single sheet-shaped medium.