Printing Apparatus Adaptive Mode Switching for Print Speed

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing technologies face challenges in determining the optimal processing mode between 'Rip While Print' and 'Rip Then Print' for image data, leading to inefficiencies and user inconvenience, as the current methods do not automatically select the suitable mode for the entire print job and require manual setting for each piece of print data.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus and method that allows users to set and automatically determine the processing mode for each print job, enabling either parallel rendering and printing or sequential printing after complete rendering, based on user input and job-specific settings, thereby improving productivity and user convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If Rip While Print mode is used to reduce First Print Output Time, then FPOT is improved, but printing speed decreases when image data rendering takes long time

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveFirst Print Output TimeVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between Rip While Print mode and Rip Then Print mode based on the rendering time characteristics of image data. When rendering time is short, Rip While Print mode is used to minimize FPOT. When rendering time is long, Rip Then Print mode is used to maintain maximum printing speed, thus adaptively optimizing both time parameters according to actual conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The processing mode parameter is changed based on the rendering time parameter of image data. By monitoring and evaluating the rendering time, the system selects the appropriate processing mode (Rip While Print or Rip Then Print), effectively adjusting the system behavior to resolve the contradiction between FPOT and printing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If Rip Then Print mode is used to maintain maximum printing speed, then printing speed is improved, but First Print Output Time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidFirst Print Output Time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between Rip While Print mode and Rip Then Print mode based on the rendering time characteristics of image data. When rendering time is short, Rip While Print mode is used to minimize FPOT. When rendering time is long, Rip Then Print mode is used to maintain maximum printing speed, thus adaptively optimizing both time parameters according to actual conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The processing mode parameter is changed based on the rendering time parameter of image data. By monitoring and evaluating the rendering time, the system selects the appropriate processing mode (Rip While Print or Rip Then Print), effectively adjusting the system behavior to resolve the contradiction between FPOT and printing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual selection of processing mode is required for each print job, then processing mode adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing mode selectionVSAvoiduser setting operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines the optimal processing mode by itself based on the rendering time characteristics of the print data, eliminating the need for users to manually select between Rip While Print and Rip Then Print modes. The apparatus performs self-evaluation and self-selection, thereby maintaining high adaptability while significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system evaluates the rendering time characteristics of print data and uses this feedback information to automatically select the appropriate processing mode. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to different print jobs intelligently without requiring manual user input, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9917973B2Printing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 CANON KK

AI summary

A processing mode set for a received print job is determined, and based on the result of the determination, the print job is processed in a first processing mode in which processing for rendering from print data to image data and print processing based on the image data resulting from the rendering processing are executed in parallel, or in a second processing mode in which the print processing based on the image data is executed after the entire rendering processing for rendering from print data to image data is complete.