Printing System Inverting Control Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing systems face challenges in determining whether to invert the front and back sides of sheets during printing, especially when dealing with jobs that have a variable number of pages, leading to increased preparation time and complex control operations.

Innovation Solution

A printing system comprising a first printing unit, a first inverting unit downstream from the first printing unit, a second printing unit downstream from the first inverting unit, and a control unit that determines the need for inverting based on the second printing data indicating the front or back side of the medium, allowing for simplified control operations and reduced user burden.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the inverting apparatus always performs inverting operation, then the printing system can handle various page configurations, but the preparation time increases and control operations become complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle various page configurationsVSAvoidpreparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The second printing apparatus autonomously determines whether inversion is needed by checking its own printing data to identify if it is printing on the front or back side of the medium, eliminating the need for complex external control operations and reducing preparation time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the inverting apparatus always performs inverting operation, then the printing system can handle various page configurations, but the control operations become complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle various page configurationsVSAvoidcontrol operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second printing apparatus independently determines inversion necessity by analyzing its own printing data, eliminating the need for complex control operations from external devices while maintaining adaptability to various page configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The inversion determination function is extracted from the control apparatus and implemented directly in the second printing apparatus, simplifying the overall control system while preserving versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11711479B2Printing system

Publication Date: 2023.07.25 RISO KAGAKU CORP

AI summary

A printing system includes: a first printing unit that performs printing on a medium on the basis of first printing data; a first inventing unit that is located downstream from the first printing unit in a transportation direction specific to the medium and performs an inverting operation that is an operation of inverting front and back sides of the medium; a second printing unit that is located downstream from the first inverting unit in the transportation direction and performs printing on the medium on the basis of second printing data; and a control unit that determines whether the first inverting unit needs to perform the inverting operation, on the basis of whether the second printing data indicates a printing page for the front or back side of the medium.