Timing Signal Generation for Printing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing devices, such as inkjet printers, face challenges in generating precise and flexible timing signals for printing on web or sheet media, leading to statistical fluctuations in line pitch and negative effects on print quality due to varying transport velocities and media properties like thickness and shrinkage.
Innovation Solution
A computing device or controller is used to determine and generate a timing signal based on multiple clock frequencies from transducers driven by the transport belt, allowing for dynamic adaptation to changing conditions and reducing statistical fluctuations, thereby enhancing print quality and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single transducer is used to generate the timing signal, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision of line pitch deteriorates due to statistical fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transducers (at least two) to generate multiple clock frequencies, which are then merged through a computing device to produce a composite timing signal. This merging approach reduces statistical fluctuations and improves line pitch precision while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing device processes clock frequencies from multiple transducers and uses statistical analysis to generate an optimized timing signal. This feedback mechanism compensates for individual transducer variations and reduces overall statistical fluctuations in the timing signal.
2Device complexity
If a fixed timing signal generation method is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to changing print conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic timing signal generation system where the computing device continuously processes clock frequencies from multiple transducers and adjusts the timing signal based on current operating conditions. This allows adaptation to changing print conditions such as media thickness variations and shrinkage behavior while maintaining manageable device complexity through software-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters of the timing signal based on processed clock frequencies from multiple transducers, allowing dynamic adaptation to different print conditions. The computing device adjusts timing parameters in response to detected variations in transport velocity and media properties, providing versatility without requiring complex hardware reconfiguration.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple transducers are used to reduce statistical fluctuations, then the manufacturing precision of line pitch is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device serves as an intermediary that processes clock frequencies from multiple transducers and generates the final timing signal. This intermediary approach allows the system to benefit from multiple transducers for improved precision while managing complexity through centralized software-based processing rather than complex hardware circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical timing mechanisms with a computing device that processes electrical clock frequencies from transducers. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while achieving improved line pitch precision through digital signal processing and statistical analysis of multiple transducer outputs.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device for a printing device may include a first transducer for generating a first clock frequency and a second transducer for generating a second clock frequency. The computing device may determine the timing signal for clocking the printing operation of the printing device on the basis of the first clock frequency and/or on the basis of the second clock frequency, in particular to increase the uniformity of the timing signal and/or in order to enable a dynamic adaptation of the timing signal to a changing property of the printing device and/or of the recording medium to be printed to.