Printing Apparatus Startup Processing for Waiting Print Jobs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face inefficiencies in startup processing due to differing maintenance times for color ink and white ink units, leading to prolonged readiness times for printing.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus determines if there are waiting print jobs that can be executed using only the color unit without the white unit, and initiates printing for those jobs once the color unit's startup processing is complete, even if the white unit's startup is ongoing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printing apparatus waits for both color unit and white unit startup processing to complete before executing any printing, then all printing jobs can be executed with full functionality, but the startup time and readiness period are prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The printing apparatus segments the printing units into color unit and white unit, allowing independent startup processing. The control unit determines which unit(s) need to complete startup based on the specific print job requirements, enabling selective execution rather than waiting for all units to initialize.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the startup completion criterion based on the print job characteristics. If a print job can be executed using only the color unit, the system allows printing to proceed once the color unit startup is complete, without requiring the white unit to finish startup, thus reducing the readiness time dynamically.
2Loss of time
If the printing apparatus enables printing as soon as the color unit startup is complete (when white unit startup is ongoing), then the startup time is reduced, but printing functionality is limited to jobs executable without the white unit
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different startup completion criteria to different printing units based on local requirements. For print jobs that can use only the color unit, the system accepts printing after color unit startup completes. For jobs requiring white unit, the system waits for white unit startup completion. This localized approach maintains functionality where needed while optimizing time where possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial startup action by allowing printing to proceed with only the necessary units initialized. Instead of requiring full startup of all units, the system enables printing with partial unit initialization (color unit only) when the print job can be executed without the white unit, thus reducing startup time while maintaining adequate functionality.
3Productivity
If the printing apparatus requires both color unit and white unit to complete startup processing, then all printing jobs can be executed, but the work efficiency of the user is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary determination of whether a print job can be executed using only the color unit before requiring both units to complete startup. This preliminary check allows the system to optimize the startup completion requirement, enabling printing to proceed sooner when possible and thus improving work efficiency without compromising functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus performs startup processing of a first unit and a second unit that are configured to perform printing,, determines, in a case where the printing apparatus has one or more waiting print jobs, whether a first print job, from among the one or more waiting print jobs, executable using the first unit without using the second unit exists in the one or more waiting print jobs, and executes, in the case where it is determined that the first print job executable using the first unit without using the second unit exists, printing for the first print job in response to completion of the startup processing of the first unit even if the startup processing of the second unit is ongoing.