External Memory Interrupt Button for Printing Suspension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in intuitively stopping direct printing in image forming apparatuses due to the non-intuitive location of the interrupt key, making it challenging to immediately suspend printing processes.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a connector unit for external memory devices, a detecting unit to monitor connection states, and a suspending unit that suspends printing operations when the external memory is removed, allowing for intuitive operation through visual cues and user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an interrupt key is provided on the operation panel to stop direct printing, then the printing can be suspended, but the operation becomes non-intuitive and difficult for users to locate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting suspension capabilityVSAvoidinterrupt key location

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The interrupt key is extracted from the operation panel and relocated to the external memory device itself. Specifically, when a memory card is inserted, an interrupt button appears on the memory card's display, allowing users to suspend printing by pressing a button directly on the memory card rather than searching through the operation panel keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The external memory device serves as an intermediary carrier for the interrupt function. The memory card's display unit acts as a mediator to present the interrupt button to the user, bridging the gap between the printing system and the user's intent to suspend printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the interrupt key is provided outside the operation panel, then it might be more visible, but users still cannot instantaneously determine its location since they expect operation keys on the operation panel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterrupt key visibilityVSAvoidtime to locate interrupt key

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the interrupt key on the operation panel and expecting users to find it, the solution inverts the approach by placing the interrupt button directly on the external memory device. This reverses the traditional control interface paradigm, making the interrupt function immediately accessible at the source of the printing data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The external memory device becomes self-sufficient by incorporating its own interrupt button and display. The memory card can independently present the interrupt function to the user without requiring the user to interact with the printer's operation panel, enabling immediate suspension of printing by pressing a button on the memory card itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8503022B2Restarting interrupted printing from external memory

Publication Date: 2013.08.06 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes: a connector unit to which an external memory device is connected; a detecting unit configured to detect whether the external memory device is connected to the connector unit or not and output a detection result indicating that the connector unit is in a connected state or an unconnected state; a printing unit configured to execute a printing according to data from the external memory device connected to the connector unit; and a suspending unit configured to suspend operation of the printing unit according to a predetermined timing in response to a change in the detection result from the connected state to the unconnected state.