MFP Sheet Size Control for Legible Received Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
When printing received images, especially via Internet facsimile, there is a risk that important information such as transmission source details may be partially missing or illegibly reduced due to insufficient sheet size settings, leading to incomplete or unreadable output.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes a reception unit, a generation unit for received information, and a control unit to set the sheet size for printing, ensuring that the length of the character string of received information is a predetermined length or longer, thereby preventing information loss and ensuring legibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a small sheet size is set for printing received images, then the printing efficiency and paper usage are improved, but the received information cannot be included within the predetermined print area and becomes partially missing
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary calculation to determine the required sheet size before printing. It calculates the necessary sheet size based on the image data size and receives information, then selects an appropriate sheet size from predetermined sizes in advance, ensuring that received information will fit within the print area while maintaining readability.
2Quantity of substance
If a small sheet size is set for printing received images, then the paper consumption is reduced, but the character string of received information is entirely reduced and becomes illegible
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit changes the parameter of sheet size selection based on calculated requirements. Instead of using a fixed small sheet size, it dynamically selects the minimum adequate sheet size from predetermined options, adjusting the sheet size parameter to balance paper consumption with information legibility requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the sheet size is automatically selected based on image data size, then the printing process is simplified, but the received information may not be included within the print area when small sheet sizes are chosen
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary calculation considering both image data size and received information requirements before automatic sheet size selection. It calculates the necessary sheet size in advance and uses this calculated value for automatic selection, ensuring that received information is included within the print area while maintaining printing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
When receiving an electronic mail from a mail server, an MFP generates received information regarding the received electronic mail and prints an image attached to the electronic mail on a sheet together with the generated received information. A user sets in advance a sheet size used for reception print via a setting screen for a reception print size. When the sheet size is set, the MFP determines whether a length of a side parallel to an order of a character string of the received information to be printed is a predetermined length or longer and performs control to prevent a size determined as not having the predetermined length or longer from being set as a sheet size to be used for printing the image attached to the electronic mail together with the received information.