Printing apparatus, learning device, and learning method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11142000-B2
Application number	US-202016743144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2020
Priority date	Jan 18, 2019
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A printing apparatus provided with a transportation mechanism for a printing medium includes: a storage configured to store a machine-learned model that outputs a setting value of the transportation mechanism for causing, based on state variables including a print length as a length of a print product printed on the printing medium, the print length to be close to a reference; and a processor configured to perform printing by controlling the transportation mechanism in accordance with the setting value acquired based on the machine-learned model.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A printing apparatus including a transportation mechanism for a printing medium, the apparatus comprising:
a storage configured to store a machine-learned model that outputs a setting value of the transportation mechanism for causing, based on state variables including a print length as a length of a print product printed on the printing medium, the print length to be close to a reference; and
a processor configured to perform printing by controlling the transportation mechanism in accordance with the setting value acquired based on the machine-learned model,
wherein the learning of the machine-learned model is carried out in a manner in which, based on a reward which becomes larger as the shift of the print length from the reference is smaller, the setting values are optimized by iterating an observation of the state variables, the determination of an action for changing the setting value in accordance with the state variables, and evaluation of the reward obtained by the action.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
learning of the machine-learned model is carried out in a manner in which the state variables including the print length are observed,
the action for changing the setting values including at least one of values of a pressure for pinching the printing medium with a transportation roller configured to pinch and transport the printing medium, a tensile force to be applied to the printing medium transported by the transportation mechanism, a frequency of detection of the tensile force performed for controlling the tensile force, and an attachment force of an attachment unit for attaching the printing medium to a predetermined position, is determined based on the observed state variables, and
the setting values are optimized based on a shift of the print length from the reference.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the state variables include at least one of temperature and humidity around the printing apparatus.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the machine-learned model is learned for each type of the printing medium.

5. A learning device of a machine-learned model referred to in a printing apparatus provided with a transportation mechanism for a printing medium, the device comprising:
a learning unit configured to acquire a model, as the machine-learned model, that outputs a setting value of the transportation mechanism for causing, based on state variables including a print length as a length of a print product printed on the printing medium, the print length to be close to a reference,
wherein the learning of the machine-learned model is carried out in a manner in which, based on a reward which becomes larger as the shift of the print length from the reference is smaller, the setting values are optimized by iterating an observation of the state variables, the determination of an action for changing the setting value in accordance with the state variables, and evaluation of the reward obtained by the action.

6. A learning method for a machine-learned model referred to in a printing apparatus that is provided with a transportation mechanism for a printing medium, the method comprising:
acquiring, as the machine-learned model, a model configured to output a setting value of the transportation mechanism for causing, based on state variable including a print length as a length of a print product printed on the printing medium, the print length to be close to a reference,
wherein the learning of the machine-learned model is carried out in a manner in which, based on a reward which becomes larger as the shift of the print length from the reference is smaller, the setting values are optimized by iterating an observation of the state variables, the determination of an action for changing the setting value in accordance with the state variables, and evaluation of the reward obtained by the action.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Gunji Hiroyuki

Classifications

• B41J11/425

  for a variable printing material feed amount · CPC title

• B41J11/00 Primary

  Devices or arrangements  {of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers,} for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form (script supports connected to the typewriter or printer B41J29/15) · CPC title

• B41J29/38

  Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism · CPC title

• B41J11/42 Primary

  Controlling {printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering} · CPC title

• B41J13/0009 Primary

  control of the transport of the copy material · CPC title