Printing Control Device Ink Density Adjustment

Solution Overview

Problem

Ink jet printers face reduced printing throughput and visibility issues when printing on both sides of a sheet, especially when images with ruled lines, underlines, or strikeouts are printed with lower density, leading to prolonged drying times.

Innovation Solution

A printing control device that determines printing density based on the line width or size of image attributes, allowing for improved visibility without reducing throughput by adjusting densities for line drawing and character attributes, and rewriting attribute information to optimize ink drying times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If images including ruled lines, underlines, or strikeouts are printed with lower density to improve visibility, then visibility is improved, but ink drying time is prolonged and printing throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage visibilityVSAvoidprinting throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different printing densities to different types of image elements based on their attributes. Character information is printed with higher density while ruled lines, underlines, and strikeouts are printed with lower density. This local differentiation allows visibility improvement for line elements without requiring all elements to use low density, thus maintaining faster drying times overall and preserving printing throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the printing density parameter based on the attribute type of each image element. By identifying whether an element is character information or line drawing information, the system dynamically adjusts the printing density parameter accordingly. This parameter change allows optimized visibility for line elements while controlling ink usage and drying time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If all images are printed with high density to maintain visibility, then visibility is maintained, but ink drying time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage visibilityVSAvoidink drying time

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different printing densities to different types of image elements based on their attributes. Character information is printed with higher density while ruled lines, underlines, and strikeouts are printed with lower density. This local differentiation allows visibility improvement for line elements without requiring all elements to use low density, thus maintaining faster drying times overall and preserving printing throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the printing density parameter based on the attribute type of each image element. By identifying whether an element is character information or line drawing information, the system dynamically adjusts the printing density parameter accordingly. This parameter change allows optimized visibility for line elements while controlling ink usage and drying time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If printing is performed on both surfaces of a sheet without waiting for ink drying, then printing throughput is improved, but sheet contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting throughputVSAvoidsheet contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the printing density parameter based on the attribute type of each image element. By identifying whether an element is character information or line drawing information, the system dynamically adjusts the printing density parameter accordingly. This parameter change allows optimized visibility for line elements while controlling ink usage and drying time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by using lower density (less ink) for line drawing elements compared to character information. This partial application of ink reduces the total ink load on the sheet, enabling faster drying times that allow double-sided printing without contamination while maintaining sufficient visibility of line elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8693045B2Printing control device and printing control method

Publication Date: 2014.04.08 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A printing control device which includes a printing density determination unit which obtains attribute information of an object included in input document data, and determines a printing density for printing the object according to the line width of an image of the object for which attribute information is a line drawing attribute.