Image Forming Apparatus Printing Condition Compatibility Check
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in setting proper printing conditions for image forming apparatuses when using portable terminals, as designated conditions may not be compatible, leading to cumbersome corrections and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a discrimination processor and controller that checks the compatibility of printing conditions set by a portable terminal and displays a message if they are not feasible, offering alternative settings to ensure printing can proceed without requiring users to reconfigure the conditions manually.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the portable terminal designates printing conditions through NFC communication, then the printing operation can be initiated, but the designated conditions may not be compatible with the image forming apparatus capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The discrimination processor performs preliminary verification of printing condition compatibility before the printing operation commences. By checking whether the designated printing conditions match the image forming apparatus capabilities in advance, the system prevents incompatible operations from being executed, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Loss of information
If the display panel shows a message that the printing condition cannot be set, then the user is informed of the incompatibility, but the user must manually correct the printing condition which is troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating and displaying alternative printing conditions that are compatible with the image forming apparatus capabilities. Instead of merely informing the user of incompatibility and requiring manual correction, the controller autonomously proposes suitable alternatives, thereby maintaining ease of operation while ensuring compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by displaying both the incompatibility message and the alternative printing conditions on the display panel. This feedback loop allows the user to immediately see what conditions cannot be met and what alternatives are available, eliminating the need for trial-and-error manual correction and streamlining the operation.
3Reliability
If the user manually corrects the printing condition after receiving an incompatibility message, then the proper printing condition can be set, but the operation becomes troublesome and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By performing preliminary discrimination of printing condition compatibility and automatically generating alternative conditions before the printing operation starts, the system eliminates the need for manual correction during the printing process. This preliminary action ensures both correctness of printing conditions and maintains high productivity by avoiding operational interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The image forming apparatus serves itself by automatically identifying incompatible printing conditions and generating suitable alternatives without user intervention. This self-service capability ensures printing condition correctness while preserving productivity, as the system handles the correction process autonomously without requiring troublesome manual user actions.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming assembly, a first interface, a second interface, a display, a discrimination processor, and a controller. When the discrimination processor discriminates that a set value of a printing condition, received from a portable terminal through the second interface is capable of being set by the image forming apparatus, the controller causes the image forming assembly to form an image under the printing condition depending on the set value. When the discrimination processor discriminates that the set value is not capable of being set by the image forming apparatus, the controller causes the display to display a message that the set value is not capable of being set by the image forming apparatus and a message of a printing condition based on another set value capable of being set instead of the set value by the image forming apparatus.