ISO/IEC 10561:1999

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 10561
Second edition
1999-05-01
Information technology — Office
equipment — Printing devices — Method
for measuring throughput — Class 1 and
Class 2 printers
Technologies de l'information — Équipements de bureau — Dispositifs
d'impression — Méthode de mesurage de la capacité — Imprimantes de
classes 1 et 2
Reference number
B C
Contents
1 Scope 1
2 Normative references 1
3 Conformance 1
4 Test principles 1
5 Test conditions 2
6 Letter test 3
7 Spreadsheet test 3
8 Graphics test 4
9 Test report 4
Annex A - Presentation of test results 5
Annex B - Letter test patterns 6
Annex C - Spreadsheet test pattern 9
Annex D - Graphic test pattern 11
Annex E - Classification of printers - Classes 1 and 2 12
©  ISO/IEC 1999
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
ISO/IEC Copyright Office • Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Genève 20 • Switzerland
Printed in Switzerland
ii
©
ISO/IEC
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical Commission)
form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of ISO or IEC
participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees established by the
respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC technical committees
collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
Draft International Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
International Standard ISO/IEC 10561 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information
technology Office equipment
, Subcommittee SC 28, .
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 10561:1991), which has been technically
revised.
Annexes A, B, C and D form an integral part of this International Standard. Annex E is for information only.
iii
©
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD  ISO/IEC ISO/IEC 10561:1999(E)
Information technology — Office equipment — Printing devices —
Method for measuring throughput — Class 1 and Class 2 printers
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for measuring the throughput of class 1 and class 2 printers, as
defined in ISO/IEC 11160-1. This International Standard specifies three different test patterns:
• a standard business letter;
•
a spreadsheet;
•
a graphic pattern.
In addition, this International Standard defines a method for a performance test and one for an endurance test.
These tests are intended to measure only the printer throughput for documents in the same class as the test
patterns and not to evaluate any other printer features such as character shaping, print compressions,
network/controller performance, colour, etc. The method is relevant to class 1 and class 2 printer types (e.g. dot
matrix, daisy wheel, ink jet, thermal transfer printers) and to all configurations (e.g. tractor feed, cut sheet feed,
80-column and over 132-column print width, etc.). It is not the most suitable for comparing performance of other
classes of printing devices such as high-speed page-oriented printers or color printers.
This method is intended for use by printer manufacturers and test houses so that a common form of test result
presentation shall be obtained. It will also enable a user to make a quick and easy comparison of the printing
throughput of different printers.
2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this
International Standard. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to
revision, and parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to investigate the
possibility of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated below. Members of IEC and ISO maintain
registers of currently valid International Standards.
Information techology, Office equipment - Minimum information to be included in
ISO/IEC 11160-1:1995,
specification sheets - Part 1: Class 1 and Class 2 printers.
Büro- und Datentechnik - Drucker - Ermittlung der Druckleistung bezogen auf Prüfvorlagen.
DIN 32751 -
3 Conformance
Test results claimed to be in conformance with this International Standard shall have been obtained in accordance
with the method specified in this International Standard.
4 Test principles
4.1 General
For each test the specified test pattern shall be printed a number of times on the device under test. A test shall be
performed under the conditions specified in clause 5. The initial set-up conditions for the printer shall be as
described under each individual test. Once started a test shall be performed without interruption.
The performance tests are designed to enable measurement of the printer under typical user application print tasks.
The endurance tests are designed to show any effects of extended high duty print tasks on printing throughput, due
to any limiting factors within the printer (for example, dot density limitations, temperature rises, etc.).
For both types of test the throughput unit shall be "printed pages per hour" and shall be calculated by means of the
formula:
Number of printed pages x 3600 s/h
Measured time in seconds
©
ISO/IEC
4.2 Performance test
In the performance tests the test pattern shall be transmitted from the host system five times, either as a single,
five-page document or as five, single-page documents.
The test time measurement shall start from the moment the data arrive at the printer interface. Measurement from
the moment the "start" key is depressed on the host computer is permitted, if it can be proved that this does not
affect the test time measurement by more than 1 %.
When the test is performed with cut sheet paper the test shall be started with the paper in its normal print mode. For
printers pre-loading the paper, the paper path shall be cleared before each test.
The measurement of the time required by the test shall end when the fifth sheet has been ejected.
For a printer operating with continuous paper the test shall start with the paper loaded to the top of form position.
The measurement of the time required by the test shall end after execution of the form feed at the end of printing
the fifth page.
The performance figures shall be recorded along with a reference to the matrix used.
4.3 Endurance test
In the endurance tests the test pattern shall be transmitted from the host system repeatedly for 1 h.
The test time measurement shall start from the moment the data arrive at the printer interface. Measurement from
the moment the "start" key is depressed on the host computer is permitted, if it can be proved that this does not
affect the test time measurement by more than 1 %.
When the test is performed with cut sheet paper the test shall be started with the paper in its normal print mode. For
printers pre-loading the paper, the paper path shall be cleared before each test.
For a printer operating with continuous paper the test shall start with the paper loaded to the top of form position.
The measurement of the time requested by the test shall end with the completion (ejection) of the first sheet after
1 h has elapsed (1 h and n seconds) so that a whole number of pages shall be printed.
The 1 h test time shall include any time required to reload paper, change ribbon cassette or replenish ink/toner
supplies. It is assumed that the test is commenced with new consumables, loaded to capacity.
The endurance figures shall be recorded along with a reference to the matrix used.
5 Test conditions
5.1 Test environment
The test shall be performed in the following environment.
Temperature: 18 °C to 25 °C
Relative humidity: 30 % to 70 %
The printer, fully enclosed in its normal operating cover set, shall be acclimatized in the test environment in powered
condition for at least 1 h.
5.2 Voltage
The printer shall be connected to a voltage supply which remains within ± 10 % of the nominal value of the specified
operating voltage for the printer under test.
5.3 Data input
Data shall be sent to the printer at such a rate that the printer is never waiting for data to arrive and therefore
producing a misleading (lower) throughput figure.
5.4 Test sequence
Each test sequence shall be completed without stopping.
After each test sequence the printer shall be allowed to re-stabilize (cool down) to its normal powered up ambient
state.
©
ISO/IEC
5.5 Print paper
The paper used shall have the following weight
• cut sheet: 60 g/m2 to 90 g/m2
•
fanfold single ply: 60 g/m2 to 80 g/m2
•
fanfold multiply: according to the manufacturer's specification.
For testing with fanfold multiply paper an original plus two copies shall be used. The manufacturer shall specify the
type of the paper and carbons.
A printer configured for continuous paper (tractor, pin wheel or friction feed) shall preferably be loaded with
304,8 mm (12 in) form length paper. If this is not possible any near equivalent length may be used but the test
patterns can then be printed over more than one page. Any "skip over perforation" feature in the printer shall be
disabled.
A printer configured for cut sheet paper shall be operated in automatic mode, not in manual single sheet feed mode.
A4 size paper or near equivalent shall be used. If a size other than A4 is used, the size shall be so recorded in the
test results.
The printer shall be tested with single ply paper and also with three-ply paper (original plus two copies). The multiply
test shall only apply if the printer can handle at least three-ply paper (original plus two copies, with or without carbon
interleaves).
6 Letter test
6.1 General
This test simulates a typical user application of printing a letter.
6.2 Test patterns
Two test patterns are defined in annex B. The first one (pattern A) is the standard letter defined in DIN 32751. The
second pattern (pattern B) is a letter in English to be used for printers not printing diacritical signs. The results of the
two test patterns are not comparable, and the test patterns used shall be declared in the test results.
1) 2)
The printer shall be set up for 0,4 characters per millimetre (10 cpi) and 0,24 lines per millimetre (6 lpi) operation.
If the manufacturer declares more than one print quality mode, test 1 shall be made with the printer set to the lowest
quality mode, and tests 2 and
...