Patent ID: 7532342

Claim:
A method for minimizing the Inter-Document Zone (IDZ) in multi-pass printing system architectures, with print engines employing asynchronous paper delivery, and providing control over paper feed and imaging times comprising: a) receiving input electronic data of an image intended to be printed on a recording medium; b) inspecting said electronic data to determine a lead edge blank border of said image, the lead edge blank border being a portion of the electronic data of the image corresponding to an area located at a leading edge of the recording medium onto which no marking material is to be deposited, the lead edge blank border having a first dimension parallel to a direction the recording medium is being transported and a second dimension perpendicular to a direction the recording medium is being transported; c) determining, on a page by page basis, whether a length of the lead edge blank border, in the first dimension, exceeds a predetermined distance; and d) adjusting, on a page by page basis, imaging and paper delivery timing accordingly to increase subsequent printing speed when length of the lead edge blank border, in the first dimension, exceeds a predetermined distance.