IBM InfoPrint Color 100, Introduction And Planning Manual

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The RIP controller contains the operating system and controlling software for the primary graphical user
interface. Printer operation, monitor, and control tools are presented the operator through the RIP
controller operating environment. The RIP controller contains prepress disk drive space to store jobs
before they are RIPed and printed. The RIP controller also provides the network communication platform
for downloading jobs from up to five prepress graphic workstations at one time.
The RIP controller has the following hard drives and hard drive options:
v
Internal 2GB Iomega Jaz drive (standard)
v
9.1GB hard drive for data storage (standard)
v
9.1GB hard drive (optional)
v
18.2GB hard drive (optional)
LAN Attachment
The RIP controller attaches to a LAN through an Ethernet or Token Ring device. See “Network Protocols”
on page 33 for information about supported protocols.
Collator
The electronic collator consists of a high-speed disk array that can store individual page images, which
allows printing of large collated documents. Collated documents, with each page entirely different, can be
printed at the high InfoPrint Color 100 print speeds. Multiple copies of a book can be printed so that the
pages of each copy are printed in collated order. The first collated set is available before the second is
started.
The collator provides the capability of storing up to 64GB of compressed, rasterized data. This is
equivalent to about 1000 pages of a typical magazine with a data depth of 2 bits per spot (BPS). For pure
text, the collator can store from 10 000 to 20 000 pages.
The collator provides virtually unlimited flexibility for variable data applications. It provides the capability to
merge fixed and variable data onto pages as jobs are printed.
The collator allows electronic page-picking of non-variable jobs for custom book generation by selecting
different page images for each book. Page images are stored on the collator, and printed as a customized
book on demand. This provides a significant time savings because the page images do not have to be
rasterized again.
In addition, the collator:
v
Provides 2 bits per spot capability
v
Provides failure monitoring and diagnostics
The collator stores rasterized image data for all colors on both sides of the page (8 sets total) on a 64GB
disk array. Individual 8GB disk arrays are provided for each of the 8 image data sets, combining to form a
64GB array. Each of these arrays is controlled and managed by its own high performance RIP controller
and DRAM image data buffers. Normally, large amounts of volatile DRAM are required to support the high
sustained data rates that must be supplied to the LED printheads of the InfoPrint Color 100 print engine.
However, the distributed 8GB disk array design, coupled with the high speed data paths of the RIP
controller, enables the use of smaller DRAM buffers to maintain the necessary data bandwidth to the LED
printheads.
The 64GB of the DASD (disk) storage allows virtually unlimited variable data, and also makes possible the
retention of Rasterized Image Processor (RIP) images. The rasterized image data stored on the collator
can be quickly directed to the print engine an unlimited number of times. RIPed images on the 64GB disk
Chapter 1. Printer Description
3