Image Quality Maintenance Bundling for Faster Printer Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming apparatuses, particularly for business use, executing multiple image quality maintenance processes independently to address image quality deterioration is time-consuming and inefficient, often requiring repeated execution of the same process to achieve recovery.

Innovation Solution

An image forming system and a processor configured to: cause a history of an executed image quality maintenance process to be stored in a memory as history information; register a plurality of image quality maintenance processes selected from the stored history of an executed image quality maintenance processes selected from the stored history information in connection with one operation element; and when an operation element connected with a plurality of image quality maintenance processes is operated, execute the plurality of image quality maintenance processes connected with the operation element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple image quality maintenance processes are executed independently, then the user can select and execute specific processes according to image quality deterioration, but it takes a lot of time and effort for the user to select and execute multiple processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of executing maintenance processesVSAvoidtime required to select and execute maintenance processes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple image quality maintenance processes into a single bundled maintenance process. Instead of requiring users to individually select and execute multiple separate processes (density correction, cleaning, alignment correction), the system bundles them together as one integrated maintenance routine that can be executed with a single user action, thereby reducing operational complexity and time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bundled maintenance process serves multiple functions simultaneously by integrating various image quality maintenance operations into a single universal process. This multi-functional approach allows the system to address different types of image quality deterioration (density issues, contamination, alignment problems) through one consolidated execution rather than requiring separate specialized processes for each issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If each image quality maintenance process is executed independently, then the user has flexibility in selection, but the operation complexity increases requiring users to select from multiple types of processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in selecting maintenance processesVSAvoidcomplexity of selecting and executing multiple processes
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple independent maintenance process selections into a single bundled maintenance operation. The system pre-configures combinations of maintenance processes (density correction, cleaning, alignment correction) as unified bundles, eliminating the need for users to navigate complex selection interfaces for individual processes while maintaining the adaptability to address various image quality issues through the bundled routines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple image quality maintenance processes are executed independently, then specific processes can be targeted to specific deterioration types, but repeated execution of the same process is required to achieve recovery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of image quality recoveryVSAvoidefficiency of image quality recovery
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple maintenance processes into bundled routines that can be executed repeatedly as a single unit. Instead of requiring users to individually re-select and re-execute multiple separate processes when image quality deterioration recurs, the system allows repeated execution of the consolidated bundled maintenance process, improving operational efficiency while maintaining reliable image quality recovery through the comprehensive maintenance routine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4661384A1Image forming system and program
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
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AI summary

An image forming system includes a processor configured to: cause a history of an executed image quality maintenance process to be stored in a memory as history information; register a plurality of image quality maintenance processes selected from the stored history information in connection with one operation element; and when an operation element connected with a plurality of image quality maintenance processes is operated, execute the plurality of image quality maintenance processes connected with the operation element.