A Universal Printer Benchmark Test Protocol

Digital printing devices (electrophotographic, inkjet, thermal) are competing fiercely in the digital fulfillment space. Image quality and cost per page are two important yardsticks helping the choice of a device for a given application. What is often overlooked is the robustness of that device under various usage conditions. This paper will discuss a universal benchmark test protocol that is robustness based, and present quantitative ranking of printers’ performance. The test can be used for benchmarking printers from several manufacturers, or benchmark new components of a particular printer for quality improvement. We will benchmark specifically several electrophotographic printers. However, the method can be applied to inkjet or thermal printers. Introduction Digital printing devices (electrophotographic, inkjet, thermal) are competing fiercely in the digital fulfillment space. Image quality and cost per page are two important yardsticks helping the choice of a device for a given application. What is often overlooked is the robustness of that device under various usage conditions. The goals of this work include: Develop a universal benchmark test for comprehensive and quantitative assessment of EP Printers. Use the developed test to establish baseline performance data for quick evaluation of new components: toner cartridges, photoconductors, fusers, writing heads, image processors, etc. The developed test is consumable-centric, sizable to printer duty cycle, robustness-based, and expandable in scope. The general philosophy of our test is summarized in the P-Diagram below.