Print Workflow Emissions Calculation Across Postprocessing Stages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques fail to calculate the total greenhouse gas emissions from both image formation and postprocessing operations in image forming apparatuses, such as printers, which emit greenhouse gases during processes like lamination or cutting.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system comprising an image forming apparatus, postprocessing apparatuses (surface treatment and cutting/bookbinding), and an environmental load calculation server that communicate via a network to calculate the total greenhouse gas emissions from these processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only image formation environmental load is calculated, then the calculation system remains simple, but the total environmental impact including postprocessing is not captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the environmental load calculation functions of the image forming apparatus and postprocessing apparatus into a unified system. The management apparatus integrates data from both apparatus types to calculate total environmental load, combining previously separate calculation systems into one comprehensive solution that captures the complete environmental impact from printing through postprocessing.
Solution Approach 2:
The management apparatus is designed with multi-functionality to handle environmental load calculations for both image formation and diverse postprocessing operations. It can manage different apparatus types (surface treatment, cutting, bookbinding) through a universal interface and calculation framework, allowing one system to serve multiple environmental assessment purposes.
2Loss of information
If separate calculation systems are used for image formation and postprocessing, then each system remains simple, but integrated environmental assessment is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The management apparatus implements feedback mechanisms where environmental load data from both image forming and postprocessing apparatuses is collected, processed, and fed back to provide comprehensive emission information. This feedback loop ensures that total emission data is continuously updated and made available for complete environmental assessment across the entire document processing workflow.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive environmental load calculation is implemented, then total emission information is obtained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management apparatus serves as an intermediary between the image forming apparatus and postprocessing apparatuses. It mediates the data exchange and coordination required for comprehensive environmental load calculation, handling the complexity of integrating multiple apparatus types while providing a unified calculation interface that simplifies the overall system interaction.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An information processing system (1) has a memory device (492) that stores instructions, and a processor (491) that executes the instructions to obtain first information (600a to 600f) related to a process until a primary product, which is a printed matter obtained by an image forming apparatus (101), is output, obtain second information (610a to 610e, 620a to 620e) related to a process until a second product, which is obtained by a postprocessing apparatus (102, 103) processing the primary product, is output, calculate (S906) a CO2 emission emitted from the image forming apparatus based on the first information, calculate (S908, S910) a CO2 emission emitted from the postprocessing apparatus based on the second information, and calculate (S912) a total CO2 emission based on the CO2 emission emitted from the image forming apparatus and the CO2 emission emitted from the postprocessing apparatus.