Image Forming Apparatus Tray Status LEDs and Batch Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, particularly in pharmacies, there is a challenge in accurately identifying and collecting output material sets for patients, which includes multiple types of printed materials on different papers, leading to misidentification and increased time and effort for receptionists.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with an acquisition unit for receiving image information and identifiers for each output material type, a controller to manage the printing process, and LEDs to indicate the status of paper feed trays, ensuring that output material sets are correctly identified and printed for each patient, reducing misidentification and streamlining the collection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If output is performed every time that each of jobs regarding a plurality of output materials is received, then the printing speed is improved, but misidentification occurs between different output material sets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by waiting until all image information for an entire output material set is ready before initiating printing. The controller stores incoming image information in memory and only starts printing when the complete set is assembled, preventing misidentification while maintaining efficiency through batch processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of output materials are printed separately, then the versatility is improved, but the collection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the printing process by forming all images of an output material set in one continuous printing operation. The controller manages multiple image information streams and prints them sequentially on appropriate papers without stopping, reducing collection time while maintaining versatility for different material types.
3Ease of operation
If LEDs are used to indicate paper feed tray status, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes in LEDs to convey different status information about paper feed trays. Different colors indicate different states (e.g., paper available, paper exhausted, printing in progress), providing intuitive visual feedback without requiring complex notification interfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces misidentification and collection time by using identifiers and LEDs to manage the printing and status indication, allowing for efficient preparation and delivery of output material sets, even when multiple types of printed materials are involved.
Implementation Method 1
an LED lamp configuring the display provided at the selected paper feed cassette is turned on
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an acquisition unit, and a controller. The image forming unit forms images of an output material set including multiple types of output materials. The acquisition unit acquires image information of the output material set transmitted from a terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus provides an identifier for identifying the output material set to each of the multiple types of output materials included in the output material set and transmits image information of each of the multiple types of output materials. The controller controls, in a case where the image information of the multiple types of output materials for each output material set is ready, the image forming unit to form the images of the output material set.