Buffer unit
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorYechiam Koloditsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain examples described herein relate to a buffer unit for a printing system. In certain cases, a measurement device is used to obtain measurement data representing an optical property of a printed image on a substrate. A buffer unit receives the substrate downstream of the measurement device and places the substrate in a queue. In certain cases, a controller determines, based on the measurement data, whether the printed image comprises a defect. Responsive to determining that the printed image does not comprise a defect, the controller causes the substrate to be moved from the buffer unit to an output stack. Responsive to determining that the printed image comprises a defect, the controller causes the substrate to not be moved to the output stack.
Claims13
An apparatus comprising:
- a measurement device to obtain measurement data representing an optical property of a printed image on a first substrate;
- a buffer unit to receive the first substrate downstream of the measurement device and place the first substrate in a queue;
- and
- a controller to:
- determine, based on the measurement data, whether the printed image comprises a defect;
- responsive to determining that the printed image does not comprise a defect, cause the first substrate to be moved from the buffer unit to an output stack;
- and
- responsive to determining that the printed image comprises a defect, cause the first substrate to not be moved to the output stack.
A method comprising:
- receiving measurement data from a sensor, the measurement data indicating a measured property of a printed image on a first print medium;
- placing the first print medium in a buffer downstream of the sensor, the buffer comprising a plurality of further print media held in a queue;
- determining, based on the measurement data, whether the printed image comprises a defect;
- responsive to determining that the printed image does not comprise a defect, transferring the first print medium from the buffer to an output stack;
- and
- responsive to determining that the printed image comprises a defect, discarding the first print medium.
A buffer unit to receive items of print media, and signals indicating whether respective items of print media are defective or not, from a printing system, the buffer unit comprising:
- a media retainer to receive a first print medium comprising a printed image and hold the first print medium in a queue;
- and
- a first diverter to control a media path downstream of the media retainer, the first diverter being controllable to:
- if the printed image is defective, cause the first print medium to bypass an output stack;
- and
- if the printed image is not defective, direct the first print medium to the output stack;
- and
- a second diverter to control a media path upstream of the media retainer, the second diverter being configured to cause a second print medium comprising a re-printed image to bypass the media retainer and direct the second print medium to the first diverter, the re-printed image corresponding to a defective printed image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.