Patent Publication Number: US-2022227130-A1

Title: Computing device and method for generating a timing signal for a printing device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102021100962.6, filed Jan. 19, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The disclosure relates to a computing device (controller) and a corresponding method for generating a timing signal, in particular a line timing, for a printing device for printing to a recording medium in the form of a belt or web. 
     Related Art 
     Printing devices, for example inkjet printing devices, may be used for printing to recording media in the form of a web, for example paper. For this purpose, one or more print heads having respectively one or more nozzles are used in order to fire ink droplets onto the recording medium and in order to thus generate a desired print image on the recording medium. During the printing operation, the recording medium is moved past the one or more print heads with a transport velocity so that the print image may be printed line by line on said recording medium. 
     The activation of the one or more print heads for printing the different lines of a print image typically takes place depending on a timing signal, in particular depending on a line timing, that depends on the transport velocity of the recording medium. The timing signal may be generated by a transducer, in particular using an encoder, which is driven by the recording medium. 
     The timing signal generated by the transducer may exhibit statistical fluctuations that may lead to corresponding statistical fluctuations of the line pitch/spacing between adjacent lines of a print image, and possibly to a negative effect on the print quality. The timing signal generated by the transducer may also for the most part not be flexibly adapted to changing print conditions, for example a change in the thickness and/or the shrinking behavior of the recording medium to be printed to. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the embodiments and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  a block diagram of an inkjet printer according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  a transducer according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3 a    a printer having a plurality of transducers according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3 b    a roller having two transducers according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  a plot of timing signals according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  a flowchart of a method for generating a timing signal for a printer. 
     
    
    
     The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements, features and components that are identical, functionally identical and have the same effect are—insofar as is not stated otherwise—respectively provided with the same reference character. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the disclosure. The connections shown in the figures between functional units or other elements can also be implemented as indirect connections, wherein a connection can be wireless or wired. Functional units can be implemented as hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. 
     An object of the present disclosure is to enable a precise and/or flexible generation of a timing signal for a printing device. 
     According to one aspect of the disclosure, a computing device (controller) for determining a timing signal for a printing device is described, wherein the printing device is designed to print to a recording medium in the form of a web or sheet. The computing device is configured to determine a first clock frequency that is generated by a first transducer driven by the recording medium or its transport device, for example a transport belt, as well as a second clock frequency that is generated by a second transducer driven by the recording medium or its transport device, for example a transport belt. Furthermore, the computing device is configured to generate the timing signal on the basis of the first clock frequency and/or on the basis of the second clock frequency. 
     According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a method is described for determining a timing signal for a printing device, wherein the printing device is designed to print to a recording medium in the form of a web or sheet. The method includes the determination of a first clock frequency that is generated by a first transducer driven by the recording medium or its transport device, for example a transport belt, as well as the determination of a second clock frequency that is generated by a second transducer driven by the recording medium or its transport device, for example a transport belt. Furthermore, the method includes the generation of the timing signal on the basis of the first clock frequency and/or on the basis of the second clock frequency. 
     The printing device (printer)  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 a    is designed for printing to a recording medium  120  in the form of a belt or web or sheet. The printing device  100  may be designed to take the recording medium  120  in the form of a web off of a roll. The recording medium  120  may be manufactured from paper, paperboard, cardboard, metal, plastic, textiles, a combination thereof, and/or other materials that are suitable and can be printed to. The recording medium  120  is transported along the transport direction  1  (represented by an arrow) through the print group  140  of the printing device  100 . 
     In the depicted example, the print group  140  of the printing device  100  comprises two print bars  102 , wherein each print bar  102  may be used for printing with ink of a defined color, for example black, cyan, magenta, and/or yellow, and if applicable MICR ink. Furthermore, the printing device  100  typically comprises at least one dryer or fixer  150  that is configured to fix a print image printed onto the recording medium  120 . 
     A print bar  102  may comprise one or more print heads  103  that are possibly arranged side by side in a plurality of rows in order to print the dots of different columns  31 ,  32  of a print image onto the recording medium  120 . In the example depicted in  FIG. 1 , a print bar  102  comprises five print heads  103 , wherein each print head  103  prints the dots of a group of columns  31 ,  32  of a print image onto the recording medium  120 . 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , each print head  103  of the print group  140  comprises a plurality of nozzles  21 ,  22 , wherein each nozzle  21 ,  22  is configured to fire or eject ink droplets onto the recording medium  120 . A print head  103  of the print group  140  may, for example, comprise multiple thousands of effectively utilized nozzles  21 ,  22  that are arranged along a plurality of rows transverse to the transport direction  1  of the recording medium  120 . By means of the nozzles  21 ,  22  of a print head  103  of the print group  140 , dots of a line of a print image may be printed onto the recording medium  120  transverse to the transport direction  1 , meaning along the width of the recording medium  120 . 
     The printing device  100  also comprises a controller  101 , for example an activation hardware and/or a processor that is configured to activate the actuators of the individual nozzles  21 ,  22  of the individual print heads  103  of the print group  140  in order to apply the print image onto the recording medium  120  depending on print data. The print data may respectively indicate whether an ink ejection should take place or not, and if applicable what ink quantity should be ejected, for each nozzle  21 ,  22 , i.e. for each column  31 ,  32  of the print image, and for each line of the print image. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller  101 / 401  includes processing circuitry  405  ( FIG. 4 ) that is configured to perform one or more functions and/or operations of the controller  101 / 401 , including activating the actuators of the individual nozzles  21 ,  22  of the individual print heads  103  of the print group  140  to apply the print image onto the recording medium  120  based on print data, processing print and/or other data, and/or controlling one or more operations of the printing device  100 . In an exemplary embodiment, the controller  101 / 401  includes an interface  404  (e.g. a wired and/or wireless input and/or output interface, transceiver, or the like) that is configured to receive or output data or information. For example, the controller  101 / 401  may receive signals generated by one or more components of the printer  100  (e.g. one or more transducers  110 ). In an exemplary embodiment, the controller  101 / 401  includes a memory configured to store data/information, and/or store executable code that is executable by the processing circuitry  405 . 
     The print group  140  of the printing device  100  thus comprises at least one print bar  102  with K nozzles  21 ,  22  that may be activated with a defined line timing signal in order to print a line with K pixels or K columns  31 ,  32 —for example with K&gt;1000—of a print image onto the recording medium  120 , said line traveling transverse to the transport direction  1  of the recording medium  120 . In the depicted example, the nozzles  21 ,  22  are installed immobile or fixed in the printing device  100 , and the recording medium  120  is directed past the stationary nozzles  21 ,  22  and/or the print heads  103  with a defined transport velocity. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the printing device  100  also comprises a rotary encoder (a transducer, for short)  110  that is configured to provide a clock frequency or a clock frequency signal for determining the line timing or the line signal for the activation of the nozzles  21 ,  22  of the printing device  100 . The transducer  110  may also referred to as an encoder. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the transducer  110  may be arranged at and/or be attached to a rotating roller that is driven by the recording medium  120  moving in the transport direction  1 , or by its transport device (transport belt), and that moves with the recording medium  120 , in particular without slippage. One revolution of the rotating roller  251  thus corresponds to a defined travel d of the recording medium  120 . The distance traveled by the recording medium  120  given one revolution of the rotating roller  251  may thereby depend on the thickness of the recording medium  120  radial to the rotating roller  251 , and/or on the shrinkage or expansion behavior of the recording medium  120  within the scope of the printing operation. 
     The rotary encoder  110  may comprise at least one rotary encoder  251  that moves together with the rotating roller  251  and that, for example, has a disc  252  provided with slits  255  that is located between at least one light emitting diode and at least one photodetector  253 . Preferably, two photodetectors  253  arranged slightly offset are present that emit two signals A and B that are electrically phase-shifted, preferably by 90°, and preferably rectangular. From these two signals, an AB counter can determine the rotation direction of the disc  252  and count the edge changes of the electrical signals of the photodetectors  253 . In total, up to four clock pulses may thus be generated per slit  255 , which clock pulses may for example, be referred to as clock frequency pulses. A sequence of clock frequency pulses may thus be generated by a rotary encoder  110 . The pitch between two adjacent clock frequency pulses thereby corresponds to a defined traveled clock frequency distance d g  of the recording medium  120 . A sequence of clock frequency pulses may consequently be generated by the exemplary transducer  110  per revolution of the rotating roller  251 . The sequence of clock frequency pulses may be referred to as a clock frequency signal or as a clock frequency. 
     The number of lines that is printed on a defined travel of the recording medium  120  in the transport direction  1  depends on the dot resolution in the transport direction  1 . Depending on the dot resolution, a line signal or a line timing with a sequence of line timing pulses may be generated on the basis of the sequence of clock frequency pulses, such that the distance between two line timing pulses corresponds to the line pitch predetermined by the dot resolution. 
     The transducer  110  thus enables a line signal depending on the transport velocity or a line timing depending on the transport velocity to be generated. This enables an undistorted print image to be printed onto the recording medium  120  even given variable transport velocity, for example given reduction of the transport velocity in preparation for a printing pause, or given increase of the transport velocity following a printing pause. 
     The line timing for a printing device  100  may in particular be generated by means of a transducer  110  attached to a deflection roller  251 . The transport velocity of the recording medium  120  as measured by the transducer  110 , and thus the number of clock pulses per length, are thereby typically dependent on the diameter of the roller  251  and/or on the thickness or gauge of the recording medium  120 . The rotating roller  251  at which the transducer  110  is arranged may have manufacturing tolerances. The printing device  100  may also be designed to print to recording media  120  of different thicknesses. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the printing device  100  may have a computing device, in particular as part of the controller  101 , which is configured to consider one or more variable boundary conditions or properties of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  in the determination of the line timing and/or in the determination of the clock frequency. In particular, the following one or more properties may be considered:
         the actual diameter of the rotating roller  251 , in order to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of said rotating roller  251 ;   the actual thickness of the recording medium  120  to be printed to, in order to be able to print to recording media  120  of different thicknesses; and/or   the actual extent of the shrinkage of the recording medium  120  within the printing device  100 , for example due to the concluding drying of the recording medium  120 .       

     The one or more properties of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  may be considered as parameter values in the determination of the line timing and/or of the clock frequency of the transducer  110 . 
     It may possibly be necessary to adapt one or more boundary conditions or properties during the running printing operation of the printing device  100 , for example because of a retooling for a recording medium  120  of different thickness during the printing operation. This is typically not possible since the transducer  110  typically generates no clock frequency during the reprogramming, i.e. during the change of a parameter value of a property. A change of the parameter values of the one or more properties may thus typically only be performed during a standstill of the printing device  100 , and thus not during the printing operation of the printing device  100 . 
     During the running printing operation, a dynamic adaptation of the shrinkage compensation is thus typically possible if the shrinkage of the recording medium  120  varies during the printing operation. Dynamic adaptations of the setting of the thickness of the recording medium  120 , and/or a change between recording media  120  of different thicknesses or gauges, are also typically not possible without interrupting the printing operation. It is also typically not possible to react to manufacturing-dependent fluctuations in the thickness of the recording medium  120  without interrupting the printing operation. 
     The clock frequency generated by the transducer  110  may also exhibit statistic fluctuations. The timing synchronization may thereby be constant, on average, over one revolution of the rotating roller  251 . On the other hand, however, the time interval between the individual clock frequency pulses may fluctuate statistically, which may lead to negative effects on the print quality given complex print images. 
       FIG. 3 a    shows a printing device  100  that has a plurality of transducers  301 ,  302 ,  110 . In the example depicted in  FIG. 3 a   , a first transducer  301  is arranged at a first roller  251 , approximately at the input of the print group  140 , and a second transducer  302  is arranged at a second roller  251 , approximately at the output of the print group  140 . Alternatively or additionally, two transducers  301 ,  302  may be arranged at different, opposite ends of a single rotating roller  251 , as depicted in  FIG. 3   b.    
     The first transducer  301  may be configured to generate a first clock frequency  311 , and the second transducer  302  may be configured to generate a second clock frequency  312 . The first and second clock frequency  311 ,  312  may be provided to a computing device, for example as part of the controller  101  of the printing device  100 . The computing device (controller  101 ) may be configured to generate a timing signal  304 , in particular a line timing, on the basis of the first and second clock frequency  311 ,  312 . The timing signal  304 , in particular the line timing, may be used in the individual controllers  303  for timing of the individual print bars  102  of the printing device  100  during the printing operation of said printing device  100 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of a first clock frequency  311  and an example of a second clock frequency  312  that respectively have a sequence of clock frequency pulses  402 . As is clear from  FIG. 4 , the chronological length  403  of the clock frequency pulses  402  of the clock frequencies  311 ,  312  respectively exhibits statistical fluctuations. In particular, the clock frequencies  311 ,  312  respectively deviate from an ideal timing  400  with a sequence of uniform and/or identical timing pulses  402 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the computing device  401  may be configured to determine a timing signal  304  with a sequence of timing signal pulses  402  on the basis of the clock frequency  311 ,  312 . The timing signal  304  may thereby be determined such that the extent of statistical fluctuations of the timing signal pulses  402 , in particular the extent of statistical fluctuations of the chronological length  403  of the timing pulses  402 , of the timing signal  304  is less than the corresponding extent of statistical fluctuations of the clock frequency pulses  402  of the clock frequencies  311 ,  312 . For example, this may be achieved via an averaging and/or via another manner of combination of the corresponding clock frequency pulses  402  of the clock frequencies  311 ,  312  to determine the corresponding timing signal pulses  402  of the timing signal  304 . 
     A timing signal  304  with an increased quality, in particular with an increased uniformity, may thus be provided, whereby the print quality of the printing device  100  may be increased. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, alternatively or additionally, the controller  101  of the printing device  100  may be configured to use the clock frequencies  311 ,  312  individually for generation of the timing signal  304 , in particular in order to enable a dynamic changing of a boundary condition for the generation of the timing signal  304  during the printing operation. In particular, the controller  101  may be configured to detect that at least one boundary condition should be changed, in particular at least one property of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120 . In reaction to this, it may be effected that the timing signal  304  is generated on the basis of the first clock frequency  311  but not on the basis of the second clock frequency  312 . A reprogramming of the second transducer  302  may thereupon be implemented without the generation of the timing signal  304  thereby being significantly negatively affected. 
     After reprogramming of the second transducer  302 , as soon as the change to the boundary condition or property is effective in the second clock frequency  312 , it may be effected that the timing signal  304  is generated on the basis of said second clock frequency  312  and not on the basis of the first clock frequency  311 . A reprogramming of the first transducer  301  may also be performed. Following this, the timing signal  304  may then again be generated with increased quality on the basis of the first and second clock frequency  311 ,  312 . 
     Two structurally identical encoders  301 ,  302 , one at each end of a shaft, may thus possibly be attached to the transducer roller  251 . The clock frequencies  311 ,  312  of the two transducers  301 ,  302  may be used for different purposes. A timing signal  304  with an increased uniformity may be generated by superimposing the two clock frequencies  311 ,  312 , in order to increase the print quality of the printing device  100 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, alternatively or additionally, a dynamic adaptation of a property—for example the shrinking and/or the thickness—of the recording medium  120  may be enabled. For this purpose, a transition to only one active transducer  301 , a subsequent reprogramming of the second transducer  302 , a switching to said second transducer  302 , and a reprogramming of the first transducer  301  may be effected. Finally, both transducer  301 ,  302  may again be actively used to generate the timing signal  304 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a workflow diagram (flowchart) of an example of a, possibly computer-implemented, method  500  for determining a timing signal  304  for a printing device  100 . The printing device  100  may be configured to print to a recording medium  120  in form of a web or sheet. The timing signal  304  may be used to clock the printing of the recording medium  120 . In particular, the line timing may be generated for the printing of successive lines of a print image onto the recording medium  120  depending on the timing signal  304 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the method  500  includes the determination  501  of a first clock frequency  311  that is generated by a first transducer  301  driven by the recording medium or its transport device  120 , for example a transport belt. Furthermore, the method  500  includes the determination  502  of a second clock frequency  312  that is generated by a second transducer  302 ,  110  of the printing device  100 , said second transducer  302 ,  110  being driven by the recording medium or its transport device  120 , for example a transport belt. The transducer  301 ,  302  may thereby be driven indirectly by the recording medium  120  via at least one rotating roller  251  of the printing device  100 , wherein the rotating roller  251  is designed to roll, in particular without slippage, on the recording medium  120  moving with a transport velocity. The first clock frequency  311  and the second clock frequency  312  respectively comprise a sequence of clock frequency pulses  402 , for example as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
     Furthermore, the method  500  includes the generation  503  of the timing signal  304  on the basis of the first clock frequency  311  and/or on the basis of the second clock frequency  312 . In particular, the timing signal  304  may be determined on the basis of both clock frequencies  311 ,  312  in order to increase the uniformity of the timing signal  304 . Alternatively, the timing signal  304  may be selectively generated on the basis of the first clock frequency  311  or on the basis of the second clock frequency  312 , for example in order to produce a dynamic alteration of a property of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  in the generation of the clock frequencies  311 ,  312  and/or of the timing signal  304 . The print quality and/or the flexibility of the printing device  100  may thus be increased. 
     In this document, a computing device  401 ,  101  is also described for determining a timing signal  304  for a printing device  100 . The computing device  101  may, for example, comprise one or more FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) or be implemented in an FPGA. The printing device  100  may be designed to print to a recording medium  120  in the form of a web or sheet, wherein the recording medium  120  may be transported with a defined transport velocity through a print group  140  of the printing device  100  during the printing operation in order to print to the recording medium  120 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the computing device  401 ,  101  may be configured to determine a first clock frequency  311  that is generated by a first transducer  301 ,  110  of the printing device  100 , said first transducer  301 ,  110  being driven by the recording medium or its transport device (for example a transport belt)  120 . The first transducer  301  and the second transducer  302  may be structurally identical. The first transducer  301  and the second transducer  302  may also be designed to generate a first clock frequency  311  or, respectively, a second clock frequency  312  that respectively comprise a sequence of clock frequency pulses  402 . The number of clock frequency pulses  402  in the first and second clock frequency  311 ,  312  may thereby be identical. The duration of the sequence of clock frequency pulses  402  for one complete revolution of the first transducer  301  and the second transducer  302  may also be identical. On the other hand, the position and/or the chronological length  403  of the clock frequency pulses  402  in the first and second clock frequency  311 ,  312  may differ from one another. 
     The first transducer  301  and the second transducer  302  may respectively be arranged at a rotating roller  251  that is driven by the recording medium or its transport device  120 , for example a transport belt. In one embodiment variant, the first transducer  301  and the second transducer  302  may be arranged at different rotating rollers  251  of the printing device  100 . For example, the first transducer  301  may be arranged at a rotating roller  251  at the input of the print group  140  of the printing device  100 , and the second transducer  302  may be arranged at a rotating roller  251  at the output of the print group  140  of the printing device  100 . An especially robust timing signal  304  may be generated via the use of different rotating rollers  251  for the different transducer  301 ,  302 . 
     Alternatively, the first transducer  301  and the second transducer  302  may be arranged at different ends of the same rotating roller  251  of the printing device  100 . An especially uniform timing signal  304  may thus be generated. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the computing device (controller)  401 ,  101  may also be configured to generate the timing signal  304  on the basis of the first clock frequency  311  and/or on the basis of the second clock frequency  312 . A combination of the first clock frequency  311  and the second clock frequency  312  may thereby take place in order to increase the quality, in particular the temporal uniformity, of the timing signal  304 . Alternatively, the two clock frequencies  311 ,  312  may be used for a flexible alteration of a property of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  during the printing operation, said property being relevant to the timing signal  304 . 
     A computing device  401  for a printing device  100  is thus described, wherein the printing device  100  comprises a first transducer  301  to generate a first clock frequency  311  and a second transducer  302  to generate a second clock frequency  312 . The computing device  401  is configured to determine the timing signal  304  for timing the printing operation of the printing device  100  on the basis of the first clock frequency  311  and/or on the basis of the second clock frequency  312 , in particular in order to increase the uniformity of the timing signal  304  and/or in order to enable a dynamic adaptation of the timing signal  304 , possibly during the printing operation, to a changing property of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  to be printed to. 
     The computing device  401 ,  101  may be configured to determine, on the basis of the timing signal  304 , a line timing that indicates the time interval for printing of directly successive lines of a print image onto the recording medium  120 . The timing signal  304  may thereby be a whole-number multiple of the line timing. The whole-number factor between line timing and timing signal  304  may depend on the dot resolution of the print image in the transport direction  1  of the recording medium  120 . The printing operation of the printing device  100 , in particular the printing operation of the one or more print heads  103 , may then be controlled depending on the line timing. 
     The computing device  401  may be configured to generate, on the basis of the first clock frequency  311  and on the basis of the second clock frequency  312 , a timing signal  304  that respectively comprises precisely one corresponding timing signal pulse  402  for every clock frequency pulse  402 . The computing device  401  may in particular be configured to determine the timing signal  304  such that the extent of temporal fluctuations of the sequence of timing signal pulses  402  is less, in particular averaged over time, than the corresponding extent of temporal fluctuations of the sequence of clock frequency pulses  402  of the first clock frequency  311  and/or of the second clock frequency  312 . The print quality of the printing device  100  may thus be increased. In particular, the precision of the placement of lines of a print image on the recording medium  120  may thus be increased. 
     The computing device  401  may be configured to induce the first transducer  301  to generate the first clock frequency  311 , and/or to induce the second transducer  302  to generate the second clock frequency  312 , depending on parameter values for one or more properties of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120 . In other words, respective parameter values of one or more properties of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  may be taken into account in the generation of the clock frequencies  311 ,  312 . 
     The one or more properties of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  may include: the diameter of the one or more rotating rollers  251  driven by the recording medium  120 , at which one or more rotating rollers  251  are arranged the first transducer  301 ,  110  and/or the second transducer  302 ,  110 ; the thickness of the recording medium  120  to be printed to; and/or the shrinkage or expansion behavior of the recording medium  120  during the printing operation of the printing device  100 . 
     An especially precise timing signal  304  may be generated by taking into account parameter values for one or more properties of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120 . 
     The computing device  401 ,  101  may be configured to determine that the parameter value of at least one property of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  should be changed from a previous parameter value to a new parameter value during the printing operation of the printing device  100 . For example, a recording medium  120  of different thickness may be changed to during the printing operation. 
     In reaction to this, it may be effected that the timing signal  304  is generated on the basis, in particular only on the basis, of the first clock frequency  311  that is generated by the first transducer  301  using the previous parameter value, and that the timing signal  304  is not generated on the basis of the second clock frequency  312 . Furthermore, it may be effected that the second transducer  302  generates the second clock frequency  312  using the new parameter value. As a result of thus, the two clock frequencies  311 ,  312  deviate from one another, in particular even averaged over time. The second transducer  302  may thereby be used to prepare the change of the parameter value of the at least one property of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120 . 
     The computing device  401 ,  101  may also be configured to have the effect, at the change point in time at which the parameter value of the at least one property of the printing device  10  and/or of the recording medium  120  is changed from the previous parameter value to the new parameter value, that the timing signal  304  is generated on the basis, possibly solely on the basis, of the second clock frequency  312  that is generated by the second transducer  302  using the new parameter value, and that the timing signal  304  is not generated on the basis of the first clock frequency  311 . A reliable changing of the parameter value of the at least one property of the printing device  100  and/or of the recording medium  120  may thus be effected. 
     Furthermore, the computing device  401 ,  101  may be configured to have the effect, at or after the change point in time, that the first transducer  301  generates the first clock frequency  311  using the new parameter value. Following this, the timing signal  304  may also be generated on the basis of the first clock frequency  311  and on the basis of the second clock frequency  312  in order to produce an increased precision and/or uniformity of the timing signal  304 . 
     Furthermore, in this document a printing device  100  is described that comprises the computing device  401  described in this document. 
     Via the measures described in this document, the quality, in particular the temporal uniformity, of the line timing of a printing device  100  may be increased, which enables an increase in the print quality of the printing device  100 , in particular given printing with multiple colors. A flexible adaptation of the printing conditions, in particular with respect to one or more properties of the recording medium  120  to be printed to, during the running printing operation is also enabled via the measures described in this document. 
     To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solution of the present disclosure, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present disclosure is described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art on the basis of the embodiments in the present disclosure without any creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. 
     It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, etc. in the description, claims and abovementioned drawings of the present disclosure are used to distinguish between similar objects, but not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that data used in this way can be interchanged as appropriate so that the embodiments of the present disclosure described here can be implemented in an order other than those shown or described here. In addition, the terms “comprise” and “have” and any variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or equipment comprising a series of steps or modules or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or modules or units which are clearly listed, but may comprise other steps or modules or units which are not clearly listed or are intrinsic to such processes, methods, products or equipment. 
     References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible, and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the specification is not meant to limit the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
     Embodiments may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuits), firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Embodiments may also be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium may include read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), and others. Further, firmware, software, routines, instructions may be described herein as performing certain actions. However, it should be appreciated that such descriptions are merely for convenience and that such actions in fact results from computing devices, processors, controllers, or other devices executing the firmware, software, routines, instructions, etc. Further, any of the implementation variations may be carried out by a general-purpose computer. 
     For the purposes of this discussion, the term “processing circuitry” shall be understood to be circuit(s) or processor(s), or a combination thereof. A circuit includes an analog circuit, a digital circuit, data processing circuit, other structural electronic hardware, or a combination thereof. A processor includes a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), central processor (CPU), application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), graphics and/or image processor, multi-core processor, or other hardware processor. The processor may be “hard-coded” with instructions to perform corresponding function(s) according to aspects described herein. Alternatively, the processor may access an internal and/or external memory to retrieve instructions stored in the memory, which when executed by the processor, perform the corresponding function(s) associated with the processor, and/or one or more functions and/or operations related to the operation of a component having the processor included therein. In one or more of the exemplary embodiments described herein, the memory is any well-known volatile and/or non-volatile memory, including, for example, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, a magnetic storage media, an optical disc, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), and programmable read only memory (PROM). The memory can be non-removable, removable, or a combination of both. 
     REFERENCE LIST 
     
         
           1  transport direction 
           21 ,  22  nozzle 
           31 ,  32  column (of a print image) 
           100  printing device 
           101  controller 
           102  print bar 
           103  print head 
           110  transducer/encoder 
           120  recording medium 
           140  print group 
           150  dryer or fixer 
           250  rotary encoder 
           251  rotating roller/deflection roller 
           252  disc 
           253  photodetector 
           254  light emitting diode 
           255  slit 
           301 ,  302  transducer 
           303  print bar controller 
           304  timing signal 
           311 ,  312  clock frequency 
           400  ideal timing 
           401  computing device (controller) 
           402  timing pulse (clock frequency pulse, timing signal pulse) 
           403  chronological length (timing pulse) 
           404  interface 
           405  processing circuitry 
           500  method for determining a timing signal 
           501 - 503  method operations