Dynamic imposition identifier for items cut from sheets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10353652-B2
Application number	US-201715678270-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2017
Priority date	Aug 16, 2017
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A job includes pages that have multiple items positioned according to coordinates. A sheet coordinate location identifier for each of the items (that corresponds to the coordinates for the items) is added to the job. The job is printed to produce printed sheets of items (printed items) printed according to the coordinates. A cutting device cuts the printed sheets, according to the coordinates, into individually cut items. Each of the cut items includes the sheet coordinate location identifier printed thereon, and this identifies the pre-cutting locations of the cut items within the uncut sheets of print media. The cut items are inspected for cutting defects to identify defective items. Pre-cutting locations of the defective items are identified using only the sheet coordinate location identifier printed on the defective items. A repair recommendation for the cutting device is based on the most common pre-cutting location of the defective items.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving printing and sheet cutting information into a printing system;
automatically combining, by a processor of said printing system, said printing and sheet cutting information, to produce a print and cut job that includes pages, each of said pages includes multiple items positioned according to coordinates;
automatically adding, by said processor, a sheet coordinate location identifier that corresponds to said coordinates for said items to each of said items in said print and cut job;
automatically printing said print and cut job on sheets of print media using a printing device of said printing system, to produce printed sheets of said items printed as printed items on said printed sheets according to said coordinates;
automatically cutting said printed sheet using an automated cutting device of said printing system to separate said printed sheet, according to said coordinates, into individually cut items, each of said cut items includes said sheet coordinate location identifier printed thereon, each said sheet coordinate location identifier contains printed data that uniquely identifies a different one of multiple pre-cutting locations of said cut items, each of said pre-cutting locations of said cut items is a different location within said sheets of print media before said sheets of print media were cut by said automated cutting device, and said sheet coordinate location identifier remains on said cut items after said printed sheet has been cut and said cut items have been separated from said printed sheet;
inspecting said cut items for defects to identify defective items;
automatically identifying said pre-cutting locations of said defective items, using only said sheet coordinate location identifier;
automatically maintaining statistics of said pre-cutting locations of said defective items to identify a most common pre-cutting location of said defective items; and
automatically producing a repair recommendation for said printing system based on said most common pre-cutting location of said defective items.

2. The method according to claim 1 , said sheet coordinate location identifier comprises a two-dimensional grid location within said printed sheets.

3. The method according to claim 1 , said printed items include printed graphics, and said sheet coordinate location identifier comprises a hidden feature within said printed graphics.

4. The method according to claim 1 , said sheet coordinate location identifier comprises micro-printing on said printed items.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising mounting said cut items in a holder, and said sheet coordinate location identifier is hidden by said holder when said cut items are mounted in said holder.

6. The method according to claim 1 , said combining comprises using a variable information print job to merge said printing and sheet cutting information into said print and cut job.

7. The method according to claim 1 , said printed items contain different printing within each of said printed sheets.

8. A method comprising:
receiving printing and sheet cutting information into a printing system;
automatically combining, by a processor of said printing system, said printing and sheet cutting information, to produce a print and cut job that includes pages, each of said pages includes multiple items positioned according to coordinates;
automatically adding, by said processor, a sheet coordinate location identifier that corresponds to said coordinates for said items to each of said items in said print and cut job;
automatically printing said print and cut job on sheets of print media using a printing device of said printing system, to produce printed sheets of said items printed as printed items on said printed sheets according to said coordinates;
automatically cutting said printed sheet using an automated cutting device of said printing system to separate said printed sheet, according to said coordinates, into individually cut items, each of said cut items includes said sheet coordinate location identifier printed thereon, each said sheet coordinate location identifier contains printed data that uniquely identifies a different one of multiple pre-cutting locations of said cut items, each of said pre-cutting locations of said cut items is a different location within said sheets of print media before said sheets of print media were cut by said automated cutting device, and said sheet coordinate location identifier remains on said cut items after said printed sheet has been cut and said cut items have been separated from said printed sheet;
inspecting said cut items for cutting defects to identify defective items;
automatically identifying said pre-cutting locations of said defective items, using only said sheet coordinate location identifier;
automatically maintaining statistics of said pre-cutting locations of said defective items to identify a most common pre-cutting location of said defective items; and
automatically producing a repair recommendation for said automated cutting device based on said most common pre-cutting location of said defective items.

9. The method according to claim 8 , said sheet coordinate location identifier comprises a two-dimensional grid location within said printed sheets.

10. The method according to claim 8 , said printed items include printed graphics, and said sheet coordinate location identifier comprises a hidden feature within said printed graphics.

11. The method according to claim 8 , said sheet coordinate location identifier comprises micro-printing on said printed items.

12. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising mounting said cut items in a holder, and said sheet coordinate location identifier is hidden by said holder when said cut items are mounted in said holder.

13. The method according to claim 8 , said combining comprises using a variable information print job to merge said printing and sheet cutting information into said print and cut job.

14. The method according to claim 8 , said printed items contain different printing within each of said printed sheets.

15. A printing system comprising:
a processor, said processor is capable of using printing and sheet cutting information to automatically produce a print and cut job that includes pages, each of said pages includes multiple items positioned according to coordinates, and said processor automatically adds a sheet coordinate location identifier that corresponds to said coordinates for said items to each of said items in said print and cut job;
a printing device, said printing device is capable of automatically printing said print and cut job on sheets of print media to produce printed sheets of said items, printed as printed items on said printed sheets according to said coordinates; and
an automated cutting device, said automated cutting device is capable of automatically cutting said printed sheet to separate said printed sheet, according to said coordinates, into individually cut items,
each of said cut items includes said sheet coordinate location identifier printed thereon, each said sheet coordinate location identifier contains printed data that uniquely identifies a different one of multiple pre-cutting locations of said cut items, each of said pre-cutting locations of said cut items is a different location within said sheets of print media before said sheets of print media were cut by said automated cutting device, and said sheet coordinate location identifier remains on said cut items after said printed sheet has been cut and said cut items have been separated from said pr

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Herrmann Douglas K
• Mchugh Daniel M
• Kelley Timothy J
• Case Hans F

Classifications

• H04N1/32203

  Spatial or amplitude domain methods (H04N1/32309 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/00567 Primary

  Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking · CPC title

• B26D7/32

  for conveying or stacking cut product (means for removing cut-out material or waste B26D7/18) · CPC title

• H04N1/32352

  Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers (for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/00676

  Cutting · CPC title