Sheet Printer Preview Overlay for Media Fit Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet printers lack effective feedback on the user interface to indicate which parts of an image will not fit on the media piece, leading to potential waste of media and ink due to incorrect printing.
Innovation Solution
The print controller displays a representation of the second part of the image that does not fit on the media piece using a visual parameter different from the first part, allowing the operator to distinguish between printed and non-printed areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the printer provides basic preview functionality without differentiated visual feedback, then the device complexity is low, but the operator cannot distinguish between printed and non-printed areas leading to media and ink waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the visual representation of different image parts on the preview display. The first part (printed area) is displayed with one visual parameter while the second part (non-printed area) is displayed with a different visual parameter, allowing operators to immediately distinguish between printable and non-printable regions without adding complex hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by providing real-time visual information in the preview window showing which parts of the image will be printed and which will not. This immediate feedback allows operators to detect printing errors before actual printing occurs, preventing media and ink waste while maintaining simple device architecture
2Manufacturing precision
If the operator manually measures and positions media without visual guidance, then the ease of operation is high, but the manufacturing precision of image positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating a visual representation (copy) of the media piece and the image to be printed on the preview display. This graphical copy shows the exact positioning and fit of the image on the media, eliminating the need for manual measurement while maintaining high positioning precision through visual guidance
3Loss of information
If the printer displays only the first part of the image that fits on media, then the loss of time for error detection is reduced, but the loss of information about non-printed areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the image into two distinct parts: the first part that fits on the media and the second part that does not fit. Each part is displayed with different visual parameters, allowing operators to simultaneously see both the printable and non-printable areas in one preview, eliminating the need to check separately and saving time while providing complete information
Data Source
AI summary
In a sheet printer and a method for a sheet printer, the sheet printer includes a media support plane, a print controller, a print head and a user interface including a preview window including a representation of the media support plane. The print controller is configured to receive at least one digital image intended to be printed on a media piece, to receive position information of the position of the media piece on the media support plane, to display a representation of the media piece in a preview window, to determine a first part of the at least one digital image which fits on the media piece when printed and a second part of the at least one digital image which does not fit on the media piece and will not be printed, and to display a representation the first part as an at least partial overlay on the presentation of the media piece according to at least one first visual parameter. The print controller is further configured to display a representation of the second part in the preview window according to at least one second visual parameter, which deviates from the at least one first visual parameter.