Printing Device Processing Assembly Blank Sheet Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing production printing systems face productivity losses due to setup times caused by switches in print settings, which can be minimized by reducing the number of occurrences or the duration of these setup times.
Innovation Solution
A method for handling sheets in a printing device involves determining if a sequence of sheets is to remain blank and controlling the processing assembly to apply the processing parameter only to the sheets that are to be printed upon, while ignoring the processing parameter for the blank sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the processing assembly applies processing parameters to all sheets including blank sheets, then print quality is maintained for all media types, but setup time increases due to parameter changes
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet sequence is segmented into printed sheets and blank sheets. The control unit identifies blank sheets and excludes them from processing parameter changes, thereby isolating the parameter application to only where needed (printed sheets) and eliminating unnecessary setup time for blank sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying processing parameters to all sheets (excessive action), the system applies parameters only to printed sheets (partial action). This partial application eliminates redundant parameter changes for blank sheets, reducing setup time without compromising print quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If the printer changes processing parameters for each media type switch, then proper toner fixation is achieved, but productivity decreases due to frequent setup times
Solution Approach 1:
The print job is segmented into sequences of printed and blank sheets. The control unit processes parameter changes only at transitions involving printed sheets, not for every sheet type change. This segmentation reduces the frequency of setup operations while maintaining fixation quality for printed sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards (skips) processing parameter changes for blank sheets, recovering lost time. By identifying and skipping unnecessary parameter changes for blank sheets, the system recovers setup time that would otherwise be wasted, thereby increasing overall productivity.
3Temperature
If the printer schedules pause times for fuser temperature adjustments, then proper temperature reach is ensured, but the printing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature adjustments and pause scheduling are applied only partially - specifically for sequences containing printed sheets where quality matters. For sequences of only blank sheets, temperature adjustments are skipped, eliminating unnecessary pauses and maintaining higher printing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the temperature parameter based on the sheet sequence content. When blank sheets are detected in a sequence, the temperature parameter is held constant and no pause is scheduled, allowing continuous operation at higher speed without compromising printed sheet quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of handling sheets in a printing device including a processing assembly that processes passing sheets by applying a processing parameter that is associated with a media type of each passing sheet, includes determining that a sequence of at least one sheet that is to pass through the processing assembly is to remain blank and that the sequence is preceded or followed by a sheet that is to be printed upon, controlling the processing assembly to apply the processing parameter for the sheet to be printed upon to this sheet to be printed upon during the passage of this sheet through the processing assembly, and for the sequence of at least one sheet that is to remain blank, controlling the processing assembly to ignore the processing parameter during the passage of the sequence through the processing assembly.