Image Forming Apparatus Job Identification Rear Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

In shared printers, users face difficulties in distinguishing their printed sheets from those of other users, leading to wasted sheets as existing solutions require printing job identification information on separate slip sheets.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus that includes an image forming unit and a control unit to print user and job information on the rear surface of the recording medium, specifically on the first or last page, using different colors, designs, or individual names to easily identify and separate jobs without using additional slip sheets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If job identification information is printed on a separate slip sheet for each job, then users can easily identify their own job among mixed sheets, but recording medium (sheets) are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of job identificationVSAvoidwaste of recording medium

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the job identification function with the actual job output sheets by printing identification information on the rear surface of the last page of each job. This combines two previously separate functions (job output and job identification) into a single integrated solution, eliminating the need for separate slip sheets while maintaining ease of job identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the rear surface of the sheet as an additional dimension for information placement. By printing job identification information on the back side of the last page rather than using a separate slip sheet, it effectively adds a new spatial dimension for carrying identification data, thereby eliminating waste of recording medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of substance

If users check printed content of the last sheet to distinguish their job, then no additional sheets are needed, but it is difficult to use and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveno waste of sheetsVSAvoidease of job distinction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs color changes as a visual indicator system by printing job identification information in different colors on the rear surface of sheets. This allows users to quickly distinguish their own job from others by color recognition rather than having to read and check printed content, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining sheet efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Loss of substance

If job identification information is printed on the rear surface of the last page, then sheets are not wasted, but the information must be visible after ejection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelimination of sheet wasteVSAvoidvisibility of identification information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing job identification information on the rear surface of the last page rather than on the front surface or on separate slip sheets. This inversion allows the identification information to be visible after ejection when users flip through the sheets, eliminating sheet waste while maintaining information visibility through the reversed placement strategy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS7529496B2Image forming apparatus with job identification feature

Publication Date: 2009.05.05 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on both surfaces of a recording medium; and a control unit that controls the image forming unit to form an image so that the image expresses information of a user who uses the image forming apparatus or a job, on a rear surface of a recording medium that includes an image of a first page or a last page of the user's job.