Digital Printer Proof Sheet Insertion via Print Buffer Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital printers face interruptions and spoilage when inserting proof jobs into long-running copy print jobs, leading to increased printing time and waste, as existing systems lack efficient methods to manage proof printing within ongoing high-volume print jobs.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that allow for the insertion of proof sheets into a digital printer's print buffer at strategic times, ensuring that the buffer remains filled with copy print sheets during the provisioning time for proof raster data, thereby minimizing interruptions and spoilage. This involves providing first and second raster data at specific points in time and using dedicated interfaces and raster image processors to manage print jobs without affecting ongoing copy print jobs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proof sheets are inserted into a running copy print job, then color and content verification is enabled, but printer interruption and spoilage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating the required number of copies to buffer before the proof job starts, and pre-filling the print buffer with sufficient copies of the print sheet. This ensures that when the proof job is inserted, the printer can continue printing copies from the buffer without interruption, while the proof is processed separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The print job is segmented into two independent streams: one for producing copies of the print sheet (which continues in the background using buffered data) and one for producing the proof sheet (which is processed separately). This segmentation allows the proof job to be inserted without stopping the copy printing process, thus maintaining productivity while enabling verification.
2Reliability
If proof sheets are inserted into a running copy print job, then color and content verification is enabled, but spoilage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates in advance the minimum number of copies that must be buffered to cover the proof provisioning time, and prepares this buffer before the proof job is inserted. This preliminary preparation prevents printer interruptions that would otherwise cause spoilage, while still enabling the proof verification function.
3Productivity
If the print buffer is filled with enough copies to cover proof provisioning time, then continuous printing is maintained, but buffer management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates the required buffer size based on the proof provisioning time and inserts the appropriate number of copies into the buffer without manual intervention. The buffer management is handled self-service by the controller, which monitors the buffer level and automatically refills it when needed, reducing the perceived complexity for the user while maintaining continuous printing.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method or controller to execute a proof job of a copy print job, the proof job including a printing of a proof sheet, at a first point in time first raster data for the print sheet of the copy print job is provided. After expiration of a first provisioning time period at least one first job is inserted for printing a plurality of copies of the print sheet into a print buffer. A second point in time is determined at which the print buffer includes a first number of copies of the print sheet that are to be printed, the first number being such that a time period for printing of the first number of copies is greater than or equal to a second provisioning time period for providing of second raster data for the proof sheet of the proof job. After expiration of the second provisioning time period a second job is inserted to print the proof sheet into the print buffer so that copies of the print sheet and the proof sheet are printed according to an order of the first and the second jobs in the print buffer.