Image forming apparatus, image forming system and image forming method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016350034-A1
Application number	US-201615158295-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 18, 2016
Priority date	May 25, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There are provided an image forming apparatus that separately outputs print products to a plurality of trays and reduces problems caused by browsing and editing of data on the use of the trays, an image forming system that utilizes the image forming apparatus through a network and an image forming method. In the image forming apparatus, one of the trays is selected, the print product is output and tray information for determining a tray with a combination between an instructor and a recipient. The tray information can be browsed and edited only by the instructor, and thus the problem is reduced. A receipt information display portion that displays a list of trays to which print products are output is included to maintain the convenience of users. An image forming system using two or more image forming apparatuses is formed with a management server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of trays; an output control circuit that selects one of the trays and outputs a print product; a storage circuit that stores tray information indicating a tray corresponding to a combination between an instructor who provides an instruction of printing and a recipient who receives the print product; and a tray determination circuit that determines, with the tray information, the tray to be selected by the output control circuit.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the tray information is classified for each of the instructors, and can be browsed and edited only by the instructor corresponding to each of the classifications.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a mail notification circuit that notifies the recipient by mail that the print product is output.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a destination setting circuit that sets the recipient specified by the instructor.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a receipt information display circuit that displays, for the recipient, a list of print products that have been output from one or two or more of the instructors and trays to which the print products are output.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the tray information is classified for each of the instructors, and can be browsed and edited only by the instructor corresponding to each of the classifications, and the image forming apparatus includes:
a mail notification circuit that notifies the recipient by mail that the print product is output;
a destination setting circuit that sets the recipient specified by the instructor; and
a receipt information display circuit that displays, for the recipient, a list of print products that have been output from one or two or more of the instructors and trays to which the print products are output.

7 . An image forming system comprising:
one or two or more image forming apparatuses; and a management server, wherein the image forming apparatus includes:
a plurality of trays; and
an output control circuit that selects one of the trays and outputs a print product,
the management server includes:
a print instruction circuit that specifies one of the image forming apparatuses and one of the trays in the one image forming apparatus and instructs the one image forming apparatus to perform printing;
a storage circuit that stores tray information that corresponds to an image forming apparatus and a tray corresponding to a combination between an instructor who provides an instruction of the printing and a recipient who receives the print product; and
a tray determination circuit that determines, with the tray information, the image forming apparatus and the tray to be specified by the print instruction circuit and
the output control circuit outputs the print product according to the instruction provided by the print instruction circuit.

8 . An image forming method in the image forming system according to claim 7 , the image forming method comprising:
using the management server to control one or two or more image forming apparatuses so as to select one of the trays and output the print product; determining the tray to be selected by the output control circuit with the tray information that indicates the image forming apparatus and the tray corresponding to the combination between the instructor who provides the instruction of the printing and the recipient who receives the print product; and outputting the print product according to the instruction provided by the print instruction circuit.

Assignees

• Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Murakami Takashi
• Nakatani Ryusuke
• Nakazato Yosuke
• Dozen Kazuki
• Kowaka Makoto

Classifications

• H04N2201/0081

  Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/1207

  resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• H04N1/00411 Primary

  the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen · CPC title

• G06F3/1205

  resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets · CPC title