Method for adjusting drive roller linefeed distance

A method for determining a normal value for a linefeed error adjustment parameter of a printer, comprising the steps of:

• printing on a media a test plot having a plurality of non-overlapping areas, each area being a common image printed using a different value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• receiving an input indicating which one area of the plurality of areas has a highest print quality as perceived by a person viewing the media;
• and
• setting the normal value of the linefeed error adjustment parameter to the value corresponding to the indicated one area;
• and
• in which the varying the linefeed error adjustment parameter value is automatically varied in correspondence with a schedule life cycle of roller wear the printer.

An apparatus which prints a test plot onto a media sheet to calibrate a normal value for a linefeed error adjustment parameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a drive motor;
• a drive shaft driven by the drive motor;
• a roller coupled to the drive shaft which moves with the drive shaft;
• an encoder which generates a first signal corresponding to position of the drive shaft;
• a print controller which receives the first signal and in response generates a second signal fed to the drive motor for controlling the drive motor;
• memory which stores a test pattern and a range of adjustments for the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a print source which during calibration of the linefeed error adjustment parameter prints the test plot, the test plot having a plurality of non-overlapping areas, each area including the stored test pattern printed with a different value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter, wherein the different values are based upon the stored range of adjustments of the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a user interface at which a user generates an input indicating one area of the plurality of areas;
• and
• processing means which receives the input and in response sets the normal value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter to be the value corresponding to the indicated one area of the plurality of areas of the test plot;
• wherein the drive motor, drive shaft, roller, encoder and print controller are part of a printer, the apparatus further comprising:
• means for tracking the use of the printer, and wherein the processing means varies the normal value of the linefeed error parameter value as a function of the tracked usage of the printer.

An apparatus which prints a test plot onto a media sheet to calibrate a normal value for a linefeed error adjustment parameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a drive motor;
• a drive shaft driven by the drive motor;
• a roller coupled to the drive shaft which moves with the drive shaft;
• an encoder which generates a first signal corresponding to position of the drive shaft;
• a print controller which receives the first signal and in response generates a second signal fed to the drive motor for controlling the drive motor;
• memory which stores a test pattern and a range of adjustments for the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a print source which during calibration of the linefeed error adjustment parameter prints the test plot, the test plot having a plurality of non-overlapping areas, each area including the stored test pattern printed with a different value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter, wherein he different values are based upon the stored range of adjustments of the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a user interface at which a user generates an input indicating one area of the plurality of areas;
• and
• processing means which receives the input and in response sets the normal value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter to be the value corresponding to the indicated one area of the plurality of areas of the test plot;
• wherein the drive motor, drive shaft, roller, encoder and print controller are part of a printer, and wherein the apparatus further comprises, a host computer, the host computer sending to the printer a command indicating media type for an ensuring print job, the apparatus further comprising:
• means for deriving a temporary linefeed error parameter value for use in printing said ensuring print job which is derived as a function of the normal value of the linefeed error adjustment parameter and the indicated media type.

An apparatus which prints a test plot onto a media sheet to calibrate a normal value for a linefeed error adjustment parameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a drive motor;
• a drive shaft driven by the drive motor;
• a roller coupled to the drive shaft which moves with the drive shaft;
• an encoder which generates a first signal corresponding to position of the drive shaft;
• a print controller which receives the first signal and in response generates a second signal fed to the drive motor for controlling the drive motor;
• memory which stores a test pattern and a range of adjustments for the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a print source which during calibration of the linefeed error adjustment parameter prints the test plot, the test plot having a plurality of non-overlapping areas, each area including the stored test pattern printed with a different value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter, wherein the different values are based upon the stored range of adjustments of the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a user interface at which a user generates an input indicating one area of the plurality of areas;
• and
• processing means which receives the input and in response sets the normal value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter to be the value corresponding to the indicated one area of the plurality of areas of the test plot;
• wherein the memory stores adjustment factors corresponding to different media types and wherein the processing means adjust the linefeed error adjustment parameter for a given print job based upon the media type for said print job.

An apparatus which prints a test plot onto a media sheet to calibrate a normal value for a linefeed error adjustment parameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a drive motor;
• a drive shaft driven by the drive motor;
• a roller coupled to the drive shaft which moves with the drive shaft;
• an encoder which generates a first signal corresponding to position of the drive shaft;
• a print controller which receives the first signal and in response generates a second signal fed to the drive motor for controlling the drive motor;
• memory which stores a test pattern and a range of adjustments for the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a print source which during calibration of the linefeed error adjustment parameter prints the test plot, the test plot having a plurality of non-overlapping areas, each area including the stored test pattern printed with a different value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter, wherein the different values are based upon the stored range of adjustments of the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a user interface at which a user generates an input indicating one area of the plurality of areas;
• and
• processing means which receives the input and in response sets the normal value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter to be the value corresponding to the indicated one area of the plurality of areas of the test plot;
• wherein the memory stores adjustment factors corresponding to different media stocks and wherein the processing means adjusts the linefeed error adjustment parameter for a given print job based upon the media stock for said print job.

An apparatus which prints a test plot onto a media sheet to calibrate a normal value for a linefeed error adjustment parameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a drive motor;
• a drive shaft driven by the drive motor;
• a roller coupled to the drive shaft which moves within the drive shaft;
• an encoder which generates a first signal corresponding to position of the drive shaft;
• a print controller which receives the first signal and in response generates a second signal fed to the drive motor for controlling the drive motor;
• memory which stores a test pattern and a range of adjustments for the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a print source which during calibration of the linefeed error adjustment parameter prints the test plot, the test plot having a plurality of non-overlapping areas, each area including the stored test pattern printed with a different value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter, wherein the different values are based upon the stored range of adjustments of the linefeed error adjustment parameter;
• a user interface at which a user generates an input indicating one area of the plurality of areas;
• and
• processing means which receives the input and in response sets the normal value for the linefeed error adjustment parameter to be the value corresponding to the indicated one area of the plurality of areas of the test plot;
• wherein the memory stores adjustment factors corresponding to different media finishes and wherein the processing means adjusts the linefeed error adjustment parameter for a given print job based upon the media finish for said print job

A method for determining a value for a linefeed error adjustment parameter of a printer, comprising the steps of:

• varying the linefeed error adjustment parameter value automatically in correspondence with a life cycle of the printer by establishing and storing a factor relating to the life cycle of the printer and using the factor for automatically varying the value;
• periodically updating the factor in relation to a prescribed measure of the life cycle of the printer;
• and
• tracking the measure during the life of the printer.

A method of updating the value of a linefeed error adjustment parameter for a printer, comprising:

• empirically deriving a factor relating to the life cycle of the printer;
• associating the factor with the printer;
• automatically periodically updating the factor;
• and
• applying the factor to change the value.