Printer Controller Interrupts Printing for Cut Position Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printers, interruptions in conveyance and printing due to data shortages can lead to positional displacement and distortion of images on the print medium, especially when the next cut target is close to the cutting position, resulting in inaccurate conveyance distances and short resumption times.
Innovation Solution
A printer system that includes a conveyor, print head, cutter, and controller, which interrupts the printing process when the distance to the next cut target is within a certain range, allowing the print medium to be stopped at precise positions for cutting, and resumes printing after ensuring a minimum conveyance distance is maintained to prevent image distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printer interrupts conveyance and printing when print data is insufficient, then the printer can maintain proper data buffering, but the conveyance distance becomes extremely short causing motor step-out and image positional displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit predicts the timing of the next interruption (either due to data shortage or cut target arrival) before it occurs. By calculating the conveyance distance to the next interruption point in advance, the system can determine whether to interrupt printing now or delay interruption, thereby preventing motor step-out and image displacement while maintaining proper data buffering.
2Measurement precision
If the printer interrupts printing when the next cut target is close to the cutting position, then cutting precision is improved, but the conveyance distance becomes too short causing motor step-out
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit calculates the conveyance distance to the next cut target in advance and compares it with the predetermined threshold. When the distance is sufficient, the printer interrupts printing at the cut target position to ensure cutting precision. When the distance is insufficient, the printer delays interruption to maintain minimum conveyance distance and prevent motor step-out, thus resolving the contradiction between cut position accuracy and image position accuracy.
3Productivity
If the printer resumes printing immediately after data shortage is resolved, then productivity is improved, but the conveyance distance is too short causing image distortion
Solution Approach 1:
Before resuming printing after an interruption, the control unit predicts the timing of the next interruption and calculates the resulting conveyance distance. Only when the predicted conveyance distance meets the minimum requirement does the system resume printing. This preliminary prediction ensures that productivity is maintained while preventing image distortion caused by insufficient conveyance distance.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a controller configured to execute a printing process including sequentially printing a plurality of page images on a print medium based on print data while conveying the print medium in a conveyance direction, execute a first interruption process including, when a next cut distance is equal to or less than a printable distance, interrupting the printing process and stopping the print medium such that the next cut position coincides with a cutter position, and cutting the print medium, and execute a second interruption process including, when the next cut distance is more than the printable distance, interrupting the printing process and stopping the print medium such that the next cut position coincides with a position that is located an offset upstream of the cutter position in the conveyance direction.