Image Forming Apparatus Non-Printed File Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses with direct print functions require extra effort to identify and print only non-printed files from an external storage medium, as they often include already printed files and do not efficiently extract files based on date ranges or file name conditions.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a judging part to determine non-printed files, an extracting part to extract files based on set conditions such as file format, name, or date, and a printing part to execute direct print processing on the extracted files, allowing for efficient direct printing of non-printed files from an external storage medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional direct print function extracts all image files from storage medium, then all files are available for printing, but already printed files are included requiring extra user effort to identify and exclude them
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary extraction of non-print status information from the storage medium before the print operation. By reading the print status flag stored in the external storage medium in advance, the system prepares a filtered list of only non-printed files, so users don't need to manually identify which files have already been printed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the storage medium about which files have been printed (via print status flags) to automatically filter and present only non-printed files to the user. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually track which files have been printed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional direct print function allows broad file selection, then users can print any file, but extracting desired files based on specific conditions is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different extraction criteria to different files based on their attributes. Instead of treating all files uniformly, it extracts only those files that match specific conditions (date range, file name patterns, file type) from the external storage medium, making the extraction process more targeted and efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the extraction parameters dynamically based on user input. By allowing users to specify date ranges, file name patterns, and other criteria, the system adjusts its file extraction behavior to match the desired parameters, improving both versatility and efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present invention can include an image forming apparatus including an external storage medium, a judging part configured to determine whether or not the storage medium contains non-printed file, an extracting part configured to extract the non-printed file as a print target from the storage medium if the judging part determines that the non-printed file is present, and a printing part configured to execute print processing on the non-printed file extracted by the extracting part.