Printing Information Carriers with Reference-Based Data Fetching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for printing large numbers of information carriers with individual sets of information lack efficient referencing processing, leading to suboptimal throughput and flexibility, as they often require reloading or queuing of information, which can result in slower processing speeds and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a storage device for individual sets of information, a printing device, and a processor that fetches and arranges the information within a predefined period, allowing for database-supported inserting and verification of printed tickets using barcode readers, enabling real-time processing and merging of information carriers with delivery notes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If information carriers are fed individually to a printing device and printed one at a time, then each carrier receives individual processing, but the throughput and processing speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing all information carriers in advance and preparing their corresponding data sets before printing begins. The processor retrieves references and arranges complete information sets for multiple carriers ahead of time, so that when printing occurs, all data is ready to be transferred immediately, eliminating waiting time and increasing throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the information handling process into distinct phases: storage of carriers, retrieval of references, arrangement of information sets, and printing execution. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently and enables parallel processing of multiple carriers during the arrangement phase, improving overall productivity
2Extent of automation
If information is stored in a queue for continuous printing, then automation is improved, but the slowest component determines the processing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary arrangement of all information sets for multiple carriers before printing begins. The processor retrieves references and organizes complete data sets in advance, so that during the printing phase, all information is ready for immediate transfer. This eliminates the bottleneck where the system waits for data preparation during printing, thereby increasing processing speed while maintaining automation
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous useful action by having the processor retrieve and arrange information sets for multiple carriers in parallel during the printing of previous carriers. This overlapping of operations eliminates idle waiting time and maintains continuous productive activity throughout the printing process
3Productivity
If referencing processing is implemented to improve throughput, then flexibility and efficiency increase, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary storage layer that holds references to information sets rather than storing complete data for each carrier. The processor acts as a mediator that retrieves references from the storage device, looks up the corresponding information sets, and arranges them for printing. This intermediary approach reduces memory requirements while enabling flexible referencing processing, improving throughput without proportionally increasing system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method, a system and a computer program product for printing an individual set of information on a multiplicity of information storage media. A method aspect comprises the following steps: an individual set of information is stored for each individual one of the multiplicity of information storage media, and a sequence of elements is stored for each individual one of the multiplicity of information storage media, wherein each sequence has a reference to the relevant individual set of information, within a predefined period of time: - the relevant reference is fetched, for an individual information storage medium, from the memory apparatus, - the relevant set of information is fetched and arranged, for the individual information storage medium, from the memory device by means of the reference, - a printing apparatus is instructed to print the fetched and arranged set of information on the individual information storage medium, and - completion of the printing process is awaited.