Printer Pallet Stack Composition for Mixed-Job Output Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current printing systems lack visualization of the exact output composition on mixed jobs printed on larger pallets, leading to inefficiencies in optimizing the composition of print stacks and impacting productivity.

Innovation Solution

A printer with a print controller that creates and maintains pallet stack objects, displaying them on a user interface to allow users to compose and optimize the stacked output, considering media properties and post-processing requirements, and schedules unloading times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If print jobs are processed in traditional queues without visualization, then the system is simple to operate, but the operator cannot optimize the composition of output stacks on pallets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of printer and post-processing devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of print controller and user interface

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the print job queue into individual pallet stack objects, each representing a specific pallet with its designated stack of printed sheets. This segmentation allows the operator to visualize and optimize the composition of each stack independently, enabling better productivity improvement without overwhelming complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the physical pallet stacks in the user interface through pallet stack objects. This digital representation allows the operator to plan and optimize stack composition without directly manipulating physical pallets, reducing operational complexity while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If the operator manually composes stacks without automated tools, then the system requires less automation, but the optimization of stack composition is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptimization efficiency of stack compositionVSAvoidautomation level of print controller

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The print controller provides self-service automation by automatically creating pallet stack objects and enabling the operator to compose and optimize stacks through the user interface. The system serves itself by automatically tracking print jobs and their corresponding pallet assignments, reducing the need for manual intervention while maintaining optimization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the unloading schedule is not visualized, then the system is simpler, but the operator cannot optimally pick up printer output

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of output collectionVSAvoidease of monitoring and scheduling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by displaying the scheduled unloading time of each pallet in the user interface. This visual feedback allows the operator to monitor when each pallet will be ready for collection, enabling optimal timing for output pickup without requiring complex scheduling systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a temporal dimension to the pallet stack representation by including scheduled unloading times. This transforms the static pallet concept into a dynamic object with time-based information, enabling the operator to plan output collection efficiently without complicating the basic operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Productivity

If mixed print jobs are processed without stack visualization, then the printing process is simpler, but the physical appearance and composition of output stacks cannot be planned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of printing and post-processingVSAvoidcomplexity of stack composition management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments mixed print jobs into distinct pallet stack objects, each with its own composition plan. This allows the operator to visualize and manage the physical appearance of each stack independently, even when processing diverse print jobs, thereby improving productivity without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pallet stack object serves multiple functions: it represents the physical pallet, tracks the composition of printed sheets, schedules unloading, and provides visual representation in the user interface. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple management tasks into a single object, improving productivity while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250335138A1Printer configured to output stacks on pallets and a method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 CANON PRODN PRINTING HLDG BV

AI summary

A printer configured to output stacks of printed print media on pallets comprises a print controller comprising a print job queue and/or a print job waiting room comprising print jobs. The print controller is configured to create and maintain a pallet stack object which represent a pallet with a stacked output. The stacked output is printed sheets related to at least one print job from the print job queue and/or a print job waiting room. The pallet stack object is displayed on dedicated user interface windows at a user interface connected to the printer. The user is allowed to compose and maintain by means of the user interface of the printer the stacked output for each pallet stack object created by the print controller.