Automatic load balancer for presses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for load balancing presses, comprising:
- identifying a highest priority print job in a post-raster image processor (RIP) queue;
determining a required option for the identified highest priority print job;
determining whether a press of a set of available presses is specified for the required option for the highest priority print job;
in response to determining that no press is specified for the required option for the highest priority print job,identifying an additional set of the available presses specified as default for unspecified options;
identifying a least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses; and
allocating the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses, wherein the highest print job is moved from the post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses; and
printing, by the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses, the highest priority print job.
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Abstract
A press load balancer automatically balances the printing load over a number of presses by taking into account the load on each press and the substrates (i.e., paper types) and inks installed on the presses to improve throughput while minimizing load on the press operators.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for load balancing presses, comprising:
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identifying a highest priority print job in a post-raster image processor (RIP) queue; determining a required option for the identified highest priority print job; determining whether a press of a set of available presses is specified for the required option for the highest priority print job; in response to determining that no press is specified for the required option for the highest priority print job, identifying an additional set of the available presses specified as default for unspecified options; identifying a least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses; and allocating the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses, wherein the highest print job is moved from the post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses; and printing, by the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses, the highest priority print job. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions for execution by a processor to load balance presses, wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to:
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identify a highest priority print job in post-raster mage processor (RIP) queue; determine a required option for the identified highest priority print job; determine whether a press of a set of available presses is specified for the required option for the highest priority print job; in response to a determination that no press is specified for the required option for the highest priority print job, identify an additional set of the available presses specified s defaults for unspecified options; determine identify a least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses; and allocate the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses, wherein the highest print job is moved from the post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses; and print, by the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses, the highest priority print job. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus to load balance presses, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory on which is stored machine readable instructions that are to cause the processor to; identify a highest priority print job in a post-raster image processor (RIP) queue; determine a required option for the identified highest priority print job; determine whether a press of a set of available presses specified for the required option for the highest priority print job; in response to a determination that no press is specified for the required option for the highest priority print job, identify an additional set of the available presses specified as defaults for unspecified options; determine identify a least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses; and allocate the highest priority print job to the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses, wherein the highest print job is moved from the post-RIP queue to a press loader queue for the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses; and print, by the least loaded press from the additional set of the available presses, the highest priority print job. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification