Printing Device Output Destination Switching Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Printing devices often change the output destination mid-print due to full storage capacity in one output section, disrupting the printing process.

Innovation Solution

A printing device with a control section that acquires print information and switches the output destination from a first output section to a second section only when necessary, based on the number of prints exceeding the full storage capacity, ensuring continuous printing without interruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the output destination is switched when the first output section reaches full storage capacity, then the printing device can continue outputting print products, but the printing process may be interrupted if the switch occurs halfway through printing a copy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous printing capabilityVSAvoidprinting process stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control section calculates in advance whether switching the output destination halfway through printing a copy is necessary. By performing this calculation before the printing process completes, the system can determine the optimal switching point that avoids interrupting the printing of individual copies while still managing output section capacity effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the output destination switching strategy based on real-time printing status. The control section monitors whether a copy is currently being printed and uses this information to decide whether to switch output destinations, creating a flexible adaptation to changing printing conditions that maintains both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the output destination is switched to avoid full storage capacity in the first output section, then the printing device can maintain continuous operation, but the complexity of control logic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous printing operationVSAvoidcontrol section logic

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control section performs a preliminary calculation to determine whether switching the output destination is necessary before actually executing the switch. This advance planning simplifies the control logic by making the switching decision based on clear, pre-established criteria rather than complex real-time adjustments during the printing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10817762B2Printing device and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A printing device includes: an acquisition section that acquires print information including the number of print sheets and the number of print copies relating to a print job; and a control section that performs a control to output a print product to a first output section, to switch from the first output section to a second output section using the print information if the number of prints will exceed a full storage capacity of the first output section halfway through a process from first print of a first job to Y-th copy of an X-th job, provided that X and Y are not simultaneously 1, and to output a print product to the second output section from first print of the Y-th copy of the X-th job.