Print Order System

Abstract

A print order system includes: a print forming unit that forms prints according to an order of a customer; a print delivery unit for delivering the prints to the customer that includes a plurality of storage portions wherein the prints outputted from the print forming unit can be stored; and a management unit that manages information representative of the status of each of the storage portions and the status of the prints stored therein, wherein the management unit changes the information when the prints are removed from a corresponding storage portion after a reserve period of the prints in the print delivery unit elapses, and the print delivery unit includes a notification means for enabling the customer to be notified based on the changed information in response to a print pick-up request of the customer after the reserve period elapses.

1 . A print order system comprising: a print forming unit that forms prints according to an order of a customer; a print delivery unit for delivering the prints to the customer that includes a plurality of storage portions in which the prints outputted from the print forming unit can be stored; and a management unit that manages information representative of the status of each of the storage portions and the status of the prints stored therein, wherein the management unit changes the information when the prints are removed from a corresponding storage portion after a reserve period of the prints in the print delivery unit elapses, and the print delivery unit includes a notification means for enabling the customer to be notified based on the changed information in response to a print pick-up request of the customer after the reserve period elapses. 
   
   
       2 . The print order system according to  claim 1 , further comprising another notification means for notification to a system manager when the notification to the customer has been made. 
   
   
       3 . The print order system according to  claim 1 , wherein the notification means provide audible or visible notification. 
   
   
       4 . A print order system comprising: a print forming unit that forms prints according to an order of a customer; a print delivery unit for delivering the prints to the customer that includes a plurality of storage portions in which the prints outputted from the print forming unit can be stored; and a management unit that manages storage and print information representative of the status of each of the storage portions and the status of prints stored therein, wherein when the prints have been removed from a corresponding storage portion after a reserve period of the prints in the print delivery unit elapses, the management unit changes the content of the storage and print information so sa to reflect the fact that the prints have been removed from the corresponding storage portion; the management unit transmits an electronic mail to a customer, who reserves the prints in the print delivery unit, before the reserve period elapses, so that the customer can send a reply mail to the management unit to extend the reserve period of the prints, and the management unit thus rewrites the recovery and print information with a newly extended reserve period when receiving the reply mail within a predetermined period. 
   
   
       5 . The print order system according to  claim 2 , wherein the notification means provide audible or visible notification.