Image Forming Apparatus Sample Sheet Display Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators face challenges in understanding the response details of an image forming apparatus, such as the time and content of a sample sheet output, which hampers convenience during printing.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus displays attributes like job ID, job name, output image, page number, and estimated ejection time of a sample sheet, ensuring that the time for printing the sample sheet does not exceed that of a standard print process, and allows operators to visually confirm the output image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus processes external events after completing the current print instruction, then the responsivity to external events is kept within a certain range, but the operator cannot grasp the details of response such as sample sheet output time and content
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the operator by displaying information about the sample sheet output process, including estimated ejection time, page number, and output tray. This allows the operator to understand what is happening during printing without interrupting the print execution, thus maintaining reliability while reducing information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the printing process and the operator. It receives the print job, manages the printing execution, and simultaneously provides information about the process status to the operator through the display unit, bridging the gap between automated processing and operator awareness.
2Productivity
If the apparatus determines maximum pages based on constant sheet transport path length, then productivity is maintained, but the operator cannot visually confirm the output image for quality checking
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the output image information and displays it on the display unit. This allows the operator to visually confirm the output image content without physically retrieving the printed sheet, maintaining productivity while improving ease of operation for quality checking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from purely physical output verification (requiring the operator to physically check printed sheets) to digital/visual verification through the display unit. This adds another dimension to the quality checking process, allowing operators to review images before physical collection.
3Extent of automation
If the sample sheet is printed as part of the normal print queue, then the printing process is automated, but the operator cannot distinguish sample sheet output from regular print output
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback information about the sample sheet output destination through the display unit, showing which tray the sample sheet will be ejected to. This maintains automation while preventing information loss about output location, allowing operators to easily identify and collect sample sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different treatment to different parts of the output process: sample sheets are directed to a specific output tray while regular prints go to their designated trays. This local differentiation in output handling, combined with display information, allows automated processing while maintaining clear identification of sample sheet outputs.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a generating unit, a print instruction providing unit, and a display. The generating unit generates print data of a sample sheet if a request for outputting the sample sheet is received while print data formed of plural pages is being generated. The print instruction providing unit provides a print instruction for the print data of the sample sheet after providing a print instruction for the print data that has been generated. The display displays, based on the print data of the sample sheet, an attribute of the sample sheet.