Multi-Sided Message Display for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses require users to physically visit the machine to check its status and retrieve print jobs, leading to inefficient operations and potential errors, as they cannot receive conveyed information remotely.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with message display portions on multiple sides, allowing users to remotely recognize the apparatus's state through visually recognizable messages, including operation status and general information, which can be received from a network database, eliminating the need for users to physically interact with the machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users physically visit the machine to check status and retrieve print jobs, then they can obtain conveyed information, but this leads to inefficient operations and physical wasting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a message display portion as an intermediary device that visually conveys status information from the image forming apparatus to users remotely. The display portion acts as a mediator between the apparatus state and user awareness, eliminating the need for users to physically visit the machine to check status or retrieve print jobs.
2Loss of information
If users physically visit the machine to check status, then they can obtain conveyed information, but this complicates the system with utility software installation in PC
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the information display function from the PC-based utility software system and relocates it directly to the image forming apparatus itself through the message display portion. This eliminates the need for external PC software installation and creates a self-contained information conveyance system within the apparatus.
3Ease of operation
If message display portions are provided on multiple sides of the apparatus, then users can remotely recognize apparatus state from any direction, but this increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the information display function into multiple independent message display portions positioned on different sides of the apparatus. Each display portion is a separate, modular element that can be independently implemented, allowing the system to provide multi-directional information access while maintaining modular architecture that simplifies overall system integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A message display portion (109a to 109d) is provided on each of a plurality of faces of an image forming apparatus. A state of the image forming apparatus is detected, and a message is displayed on a message display portion facing in the direction of a user to whom a notification should be given. Therefore, the state of the apparatus can be shown to each user in a user-friendly manner.