IP Library Granted Patent US 12688387
Granted Patent B2
US 12688387 · App. 18/683,898 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Provide information according to status of detection device

Inventors: Jungkyu Park (Seongnam Si, KR); Sangcheol Kim (Seongnam Si, KR); Taewon Eom (Seongnam Si, KR); Yeontaek Jeong (Seongnam Si, KR); Jewon Jeong (Seongnam Si, KR)
Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
G06K15/4085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12688387
App. No.
18/683,898
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example image forming apparatus includes a detection device to detect loading of paper output from the image forming apparatus, a user interface device, a processor, and a memory to store instructions executable by the processor. The processor is to, by executing the instructions, detect a folded state or an unfolded state of the detection device, display state information indicating a state of the detection device on the user interface device, and control an operation of an image forming job based on the state information of the detection device and mounting information of an output option device.

Claims (49)

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:

a detection device to detect loading of paper output from the image forming apparatus;

a user interface device; a processor; and

a memory to store instructions executable by the processor, wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to:

detect a folded state or an unfolded state of the detection device, display state information indicating a state of the detection device on the user interface device,

control an operation of an image forming job based on the state information of the detection device and mounting information of an output option device;

perform a print job, corresponding to a print job request, in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the folded state and the mounting information of the output option device indicates a mounted state.

2 . The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the unfolded state and the mounting information of the output option device indicates a mounted state, is to:

display error information indicating an error state regarding the detection device or guide information to guide folding of the detection device, on the user interface device, and

perform a print job corresponding to a print job request in a case in which the detection device is detected as being in the folded state.

3 . The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, in a case in which the mounting information of the output option device indicates a mounted state and a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, is to:

detect a clearance of the paper jam, and

display mounting notification information of the output option device or guide information to guide folding of the detection device based on the state information of the detection device, on the user interface device.

4 . The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, in a case in which the mounting information of the output option device indicates a non-mounted state and a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, is to:

detect a clearance of the paper jam,

perform a print job corresponding to a print job request in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the unfolded state, and

display guide information to guide unfolding of the detection device on the user interface device in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the folded state.

5 . The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection device comprises:

an actuator to detect loading of paper output from the image forming apparatus; and

a sensor to detect an unfolded state or a folded state of the actuator.

6 . The image forming apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the detection device comprises:

a first lever coupled to the actuator to rotate and fix the actuator;

a second lever coupled to the sensor for an on or off operation of the sensor; and

a bar comprising a first portion coupled to the first lever and a second portion coupled to the second lever.

7 . The image forming apparatus of claim 5 ,

wherein the unfolded state of the detection device indicates a state in which the actuator is unfolded toward a stacker tray, and

wherein the folded state of the detection device indicates a state in which the actuator is folded away from the stacker tray.

8 . The image forming apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to detect the unfolded state or the folded state of the detection device based on a signal obtained from the sensor.

9 . The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is to:

detect whether the detection device is in an error state based on the state information of the detection device and mounting information of the output option device, and

display error information indicating the error state regarding the detection device or guide information to clear the error state, on the user interface device, in a case in which the detection device is detected as being in the error state.

10 . An operating method of an image forming apparatus, the operating method comprising:

detecting a folded state or an unfolded state of a detection device that detects loading of paper output from the image forming apparatus;

displaying state information indicating a state of the detection device; and controlling an operation of an image forming job based on the state information of the detection device and mounting information of an output option device; and

performing a print job, corresponding to a print job request, in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the folded state and the mounting information of the output option device indicates a mounted state.

11 . The operating method of claim 10 , wherein, in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the unfolded state and the mounting information of the output option device indicates a mounted state, the controlling of the operation of the image forming job comprises:

displaying one of error information indicating an error state regarding the detection device and guide information to guide folding; and

performing a print job corresponding to a print job request, in a case in which the detection device is detected as being in the folded state.

12 . The operating method of claim 10 , wherein, in a case in which the mounting information of the output option device indicates a mounted state and a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, the controlling of the operation of the image forming job comprises:

detecting clearance of the paper jam; and

displaying mounting notification information of the output option device or guide information to guide folding of the detection device based on the state information of the detection device.

13 . The operating method of claim 10 , wherein, in a case in which the mounting information of the output option device indicates a non-mounted state and a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, the controlling of the operation of the image forming job comprises:

detecting clearance of the paper jam;

performing a print job corresponding to a print job request in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the unfolded state; and

displaying guide information to guide unfolding of the detection device in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the folded state.

14 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by an image forming apparatus, the instructions comprising:

instructions to detect a folded state or an unfolded state of a detection device that detects loading of paper output from the image forming apparatus; instructions to display state information indicating a state of the detection device; and

instructions to control an operation of an image forming job based on the state information of the detection device and mounting information of an output option device; and

instructions to perform a print job, corresponding to a print job request, in a case in which the state information of the detection device indicates the folded state and the mounting information of the output option device indicates a mounted state.