Adjusting tone reproduction curve and belt tension to control printing errors

摘要

When performing a printing operation, methods and devices automatically increase a marking material quantity setting when an excessive speed variation condition of a transfer surface is present and an excessive background marking condition is absent. Alternatively, the methods and devices automatically increase tension of the transfer surface and decrease a marking material quantity setting when the excessive speed variation condition is present and the excessive background marking condition is also present. Otherwise, these methods and devices automatically provide a message on the graphic user interface of a printing device when the excessive speed variation condition is present, the marking material quantity setting is at a marking material quantity maximum setting, and the tension of the transfer surface is at a tension maximum. The message provides instructions to use a different type media or initiate a service call.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
automatically monitoring variation of movement speed of a transfer surface within a printing device performing a printing activity using a processor of said printing device, said printing activity comprising forming marks on sheets of print media, said transfer surface transferring patterned marking material onto imaged areas of said sheets of print media and not transferring marking material onto non-imaged areas of said sheets of print media; automatically monitoring an amount of marking material being transferred to said non-imaged areas of said sheets of print media during said printing activity using said processor; automatically determining if said variation of movement speed of said transfer surface exceeds a predetermined speed variation limit to identify an excessive speed variation condition using said processor; automatically determining if said amount of said marking material being transferred to said non-imaged areas of said sheets of print media exceeds a perceptibility threshold to identify an excessive background marking condition using said processor; automatically increasing a marking material quantity setting based on said excessive speed variation condition being present and said excessive background marking condition being absent using said processor, said increasing said marking material quantity setting being performed in increments up to a marking material quantity maximum setting; automatically increasing tension of said transfer surface and decreasing said marking material quantity setting based on said excessive speed variation condition being present and said excessive background marking condition being present using said processor, said increasing tension of said transfer surface being performed in increments up to a tension maximum; and automatically providing a message on a graphic user interface of said printing device based on said excessive speed variation condition being present, said marking material quantity setting being at said marking material quantity maximum setting, and said tension of said transfer surface being at said tension maximum, said message providing instructions to one of use a different type media and initiate a service call.