Image Forming System Control Device for Sheet Discharge Destination Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming systems with multiple sheet discharge apparatuses, operators face difficulties in identifying the correct discharge destination for sheets corresponding to specific image forming jobs due to unclear display of stacking states and mixed display of completed and uncompleted sheets, leading to inefficiencies in sheet retrieval.

Innovation Solution

A control device that stores sheet stacking information and taking out completion status, generates a sheet bundle image, and combines it with system configuration images to filter and display only unremoved sheets, ensuring accurate recognition of removable sheets and updating information in real time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sheets are discharged to multiple stacking trays in divided manner, then productivity is improved by continuous image formation, but ease of operation deteriorates as operators cannot easily identify correct discharge destination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous image formationVSAvoididentification of discharge destination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display information is segmented into two distinct layers: system configuration image showing tray locations and sheet bundle image showing sheet stacking positions. This segmentation allows operators to separately view discharge destination information without being overwhelmed by complete sheet discharge status, enabling quick identification of correct trays while maintaining continuous productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet bundle image acts as an intermediary visual representation between the physical sheet discharge system and the operator. It provides intermediate information about stacking positions and takes out completion status, bridging the gap between multiple discharge destinations and operator understanding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If all processed image forming jobs are displayed, then completeness of information is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in identifying unremoved sheets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of sheet discharge informationVSAvoididentification of unremoved sheets

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet bundle image extracts and highlights only the critical information about unremoved sheets and their stacking positions from the complete job list. By taking out only the relevant discharge destination information and taking out completion status, operators can quickly identify which sheets need to be removed without being distracted by completed jobs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Different visual representations (such as different display patterns or highlights) are used to distinguish between sheets that have been taken out and those that remain. This visual differentiation allows operators to rapidly identify unremoved sheets among all processed jobs without reading detailed information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of operation

If discharge destination information is displayed for selected job only, then ease of operation is improved for that job, but reliability deteriorates as current stacking state cannot be correctly recognized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge destination checkingVSAvoidrecognition of stacking state

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges two types of information into a unified display: system configuration image showing tray arrangement and sheet bundle image showing actual stacking positions and taking out completion status. This combination provides both discharge destination guidance and accurate current state information simultaneously, ensuring reliability while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10416934B2Control device for controlling an image forming system, image forming system and storage medium

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 CANON KK

AI summary

A control device to control an image forming system having an image forming apparatus and a sheet discharge apparatus and includes a storage, a generator, and a controller. The storage stores sheet stacking information and taking out completion information. The generator generates a sheet bundle image representing a sheet bundle stacked on each of plural stacking trays based on the stored sheet stacking information. The controller combines the sheet bundle image with a system configuration image to display a combination on a display. The controller filters, from a list of processed image forming jobs, an image forming job for which sheets are not taken out to display the filtered image forming job on the display, and updates the sheet stacking information and the taking out completion information where the controller controls to determine that the sheet bundle stacked on any one of the plural stacking trays is taken out.