Image-Formed Product Ordering System with Secure Ejector
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process of ordering image-formed products, where printing is requested from a print shop and delivery is handled by a separate company, complicates contracts and increases the management load for both the orderer and the printing company, as confidentiality agreements and strict management are often required.
Innovation Solution
An image-formed product ordering system that includes a management server, orderer terminal, image forming apparatus, and deliverer terminal, which acquires and manages image forming job information, forms images on a recording medium, and ejects the products, allowing only the associated deliverer to receive the image-formed products, thus streamlining the delivery process and reducing contractual complexities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate delivery company is used to deliver printed products, then delivery service is provided, but contract complexity and management load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the printing service and delivery service into a single integrated system. The printing apparatus automatically generates and ejects the printed product directly to the delivery destination without requiring a separate delivery company, thereby simplifying contracts and reducing management load while maintaining delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing apparatus performs the delivery function autonomously through its ejector mechanism. The system automatically handles the entire process from printing to delivery without requiring external delivery companies, making the system self-sufficient and reducing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If confidentiality contracts are made with printing companies, then product security is ensured, but contract complexity increases for orderers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the confidentiality protection function from contractual agreements and implements it through technical means. The ejector mechanism physically isolates the printed product and delivers it directly to the designated location, ensuring security without requiring confidentiality contracts between orderers and printing companies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the legal/m contractual system with a mechanical/electronic system. Instead of using contracts to ensure confidentiality, the system uses an automated ejector mechanism with controlled access and direct delivery, achieving the same security goal through physical and electronic controls rather than legal agreements.
3Reliability
If strict management is implemented by printing companies, then product security is maintained, but management load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing apparatus performs security functions autonomously through its integrated ejector system. The system automatically controls product ejection and delivery without requiring external management intervention, thereby maintaining product security while eliminating the management load associated with strict supervision and control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image-formed product ordering system including: a first hardware processor that acquires image forming job information from an orderer terminal of an orderer of an image-formed product; an image former that generates the image-formed product by forming an image on a recording medium, based on the received image forming job information; and an ejector that ejects the image-formed product. Only a deliverer associated with the image-formed product is able to receive the image-formed product ejected from the ejector.