Image Processing Apparatus Maintenance Screen Preview

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming apparatuses require a maintenance event to occur before users can view maintenance instructions through moving images, leading to wasteful consumption of resources and labor during demonstrations or explanations, and inefficient use of time when explaining consumable replenishment operations.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus with a detection unit for maintenance events, a reception unit for display instructions, and a display control unit to show maintenance methods via moving images both during and outside of maintenance events, allowing users to optionally view maintenance procedures without actual events occurring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the system only displays maintenance instructions when a maintenance event occurs, then the system ensures that maintenance information is provided only when necessary, but the user cannot learn or review maintenance procedures in advance, leading to wasteful consumption of resources during demonstrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance procedure informationVSAvoidtoner and sheet consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores maintenance instruction moving images in advance in storage unit 111, associating them with maintenance event types. This preliminary preparation allows the reproduction unit 114 to display instructions immediately when needed, without requiring actual maintenance events to occur during demonstrations, thus preventing wasteful consumption of toner and sheets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and stores copied versions of maintenance procedures as moving images (e.g., video recordings of maintenance operations) in the storage unit. These copies can be reproduced and displayed multiple times without consuming physical resources like toner or sheets, allowing users to learn maintenance procedures in advance or review them whenever needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If the system requires actual maintenance events to trigger instruction display, then the system maintains operational simplicity, but the installation contractor cannot efficiently explain maintenance operations to clients without intentionally generating maintenance events

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance instruction display operationVSAvoidtime required for consumable consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Maintenance instruction moving images are pre-recorded and stored in the storage unit 111, associated with corresponding maintenance event types. When the reproduction unit 114 receives a display instruction, it immediately retrieves and plays the appropriate pre-prepared video, eliminating the need to wait for actual maintenance events to occur during client demonstrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reproduction unit 114 acts as an intermediary between the user's display instruction and the maintenance information. Instead of requiring actual maintenance events, the reproduction unit retrieves pre-stored moving images from storage unit 111 and displays them, serving as a mediator that provides maintenance instructions on demand without requiring physical maintenance events to trigger the display

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If the system provides maintenance instructions only through combined moving images of multiple operation contents, then the system provides comprehensive maintenance guidance, but the user cannot optionally check specific maintenance methods without a maintenance event occurring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance operation contentVSAvoidoptional maintenance check capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance instruction system is segmented into distinct moving images, each corresponding to a specific maintenance event type (e.g., paper jam clearance, toner replacement). The storage unit 111 stores these segmented videos with associations to their respective maintenance events, allowing the reproduction unit 114 to selectively display only the specific maintenance procedure the user needs to review, rather than requiring all operations to be demonstrated through actual events

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates copied versions of specific maintenance procedures as individual moving images stored in storage unit 111. These copies can be selectively reproduced based on user needs, allowing optional review of specific maintenance methods without requiring actual maintenance events to occur, thus enhancing adaptability while maintaining comprehensive information availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10334127B2Image processing apparatus, control method and storage medium for enabling a user to check a maintenance method corresponding to a maintenance event through a moving image

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 CANON KK

AI summary

An image processing apparatus displays, based on detection of a maintenance event, a first maintenance screen including a moving image illustrating a maintenance method corresponding to the maintenance event, and displays a second maintenance screen including the moving image illustrating the maintenance method based on receipt of a display instruction to display the maintenance method in a state where the maintenance event is not detected.