Flush line generation in printing systems that utilize control marks

#The invention relates to the field of printing systems, and in particular, to generating flush lines for printing systems.

#Businesses or other entities having a need for volume printing typically purchase a production printer. A production printer is a high-speed printer used for volume printing (e.g., one hundred pages per minute or more). Production printers are typically continuous-form printers that print on webs of print media which are stored on large rolls.

#A production printer typically includes a localized print controller that controls the overall operation of the printing system, and a marking engine (sometimes referred to as an “imaging engine” or as a “print engine”). The marking engine includes one or more printhead assemblies, with each assembly including a printhead controller and a printhead (or array of printheads). An individual printhead includes multiple tiny nozzles (e.g., 360 nozzles per printhead depending on resolution) that are operable to discharge ink as controlled by the printhead controller. A printhead array is formed from multiple printheads that are spaced in series across the width of the print media.

#Some embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference number represents the same element or the same type of element on all drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system of a print shop in an exemplary embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating a printing system to generate flush lines in an exemplary embodiment.

#The figures and the following description illustrate specific exemplary embodiments of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, any examples described herein are intended to aid in understanding the principles of the invention, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments or examples described below, but by the claims and their equivalents.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system 100 of a print shop in an exemplary embodiment. Printing system 100 receives print jobs from a customer (e.g., via a client, print server, etc.) that include print data for printing. Each print job is processed by printing system 100 to generate a printed output, and this printed output is manipulated by post-processing equipment to generate a final, deliverable product. For example, the post-processing equipment may include cutters, stackers, hole-punchers, binders, perforators, and other post-printing devices.

#Printing system 100 includes print controller 110, ink flushing controller 120, and marking engine 130. Print controller 110 may perform operations such as translating Page Description Language (PDL) print jobs into a rasterized format, processing job tickets for the print job, and other functions. Print controller 110 also generates control marks that are inserted/overlaid onto print jobs from customers. The control marks, when printed onto the job, provide instructions that direct the operations of post-processing equipment in the print shop. For example, a control mark may direct a cutter to cut at a given vertical location, may instruct a stacker to start a new stack of pages at a boundary between print jobs, may instruct a hole-puncher where to punch holes, etc. Control mark 140 is an example of such a control mark. Control marks are often located at the margins of a given page (e.g., the top, bottom, or sides), or in other locations that will not draw the attention of a customer away from the content of the print job itself (e.g., billing statements, chapters of a book, etc.). While control mark 140 is illustrated as a black square, any shape, design, or color may be used to implement control marks. In one embodiment, control marks of different shapes provide different instructions to post-processing equipment.