IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,535,975
Granted Patent B2
US 12,535,975 · App. 18/181,646 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Control apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium, and printer

Inventors: Kazunari Tanaka (Kanagawa, JP); Sho Nagase (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
G06F3/1222G06F3/1204G06F3/1238H04N1/32732
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,535,975
App. No.
18/181,646
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control apparatus includes a processor configured to: execute a first control if printing time is equal to or greater than predetermined reference time, the printing time being for a case of using a printer to print on basis of print instruction received from user terminal, the first control causing the printer to start printing before user reaches the printer, and causing printed material to be delivered into a locked delivery unit that requires a key for retrieval of printed material; and execute a second control if printing time is less than reference time, the second control causing the printer to start printing after the user reaches the printer, without involving an operation of giving a print instruction performed by the user on the printer, and causing the printed material to be delivered into a normal delivery unit that does not require a key for retrieval of the printed material.

Claims (27)

1 . A control apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to:

execute a first control if a printing time is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference time, the printing time being for a case of using a printer to print on a basis of a print instruction received from a user terminal, the first control causing the printer to start printing before a user reaches the printer, and causing printed material to be delivered into a locked delivery unit that requires a key for retrieval of the printed material; and

execute a second control if the printing time is less than the reference time, the second control causing the printer to start printing after the user reaches the printer, without involving an operation of giving a print instruction performed by the user on the printer, and causing the printed material to be delivered into a normal delivery unit that does not require a key for retrieval of the printed material.

2 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute, as the first control, a control that causes the printer to complete delivery of the printed material into the locked delivery unit after the user reaches the printer.

3 . The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to execute, as the first control, a control that causes the printer to delay a start of printing and to complete delivery of the printed material into the locked delivery unit before the user reaches the printer.

4 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the printer is installed in a facility; and

the processor is configured to execute, as the first control, a control that causes the printer to start printing on a basis of an entry of the user into the facility, and causes the printed material to be delivered into the locked delivery unit.

5 . The control apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to execute, as the first control, a control that causes the printer to start printing on a basis of the entry of the user into the facility, and to complete delivery of the printed material into the locked delivery unit before the user reaches the printer.

6 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

in a case of a non-executable state in which the printing time is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference time but the first control is not executable,

the processor is configured to execute, instead of the first control, a control causing the printer to start printing after the user reaches the multi-function device, without involving an operation of giving a print instruction performed by the user on the printer, and causing the printed material to be delivered into the normal delivery unit.

7 . The control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the case of the non-executable state is a case in which printing is not started before the user reaches the printer.

8 . The control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the case of the non-executable state is a case in which an empty locked delivery unit does not exist.

9 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the printer is installed in a facility, and

the processor is configured to detect an arrival of the user on a basis of detection information acquired from a detection apparatus provided in the facility.

10 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the printer is installed in a facility; and

the processor is configured to automatically settle a fee for the printed material if the user that has acquired the printed material exits the facility.

11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

executing a first control if a printing time is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference time, the printing time being for a case of using a printer to print on a basis of a print instruction received from a user terminal, the first control causing the printer to start printing before a user reaches the printer, and causing printed material to be delivered into a locked delivery unit that requires a key for retrieval of the printed material; and

executing a second control if the printing time is less than the reference time, the second control causing the printer to start printing after the user reaches the printer, without involving an operation of giving a print instruction performed by the user on the printer, and causing the printed material to be delivered into a normal delivery unit that does not require a key for retrieval of the printed material.

12 . A printer wherein:

if a printing time is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference time, the printing time being for a case of using the printer to print on a basis of a print instruction received from a user terminal, the printer starts printing before a user reaches the printer and delivers printed material into a locked delivery unit that requires a key for retrieval of the printed material; and

if the printing time is less than the reference time, the printer starts printing after the user reaches the printer, without involving an operation of giving a print instruction performed by the user on the printer, and delivers the printed material into a normal delivery unit that does not require a key for retrieval of the printed material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2023
From: TANAKA, KAZUNARI; NAGASE, SHO
To: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
Reel/Frame 062941/0647 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-140768 · Sep 5, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240078063A1 · Mar 7, 2024
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