Abstract: A requester requesting the purchase of items specifies the requested person and the desired items to be purchased in a shopping request processing system (20). The request processing system (20) notifies the requested person of the details of the shopping request. This notification includes a request number identifying the request. When the requested person inputs the request number into a guide map provider (100) installed at a store (10), the provider (100) obtains a list of the requested items in the shopping request from the request processing system (20). By referring to a map information database (108) containing a department map of the store (10), the display location of each requested item is obtained and superimposed onto the department map to create a guide map, which is then printed out.

Abstract: A copying apparatus includes an automatic original conveyer, an original size detection sensor, a scanning optical system for transferring an image from an original to a photosensitive element, and a control portion for transmitting electrical command signals to the separate elements and control operation of the conveyer in accordance with an operaional program. When a smaller-size original is detected by the size detection sensor, control signals are generated to the conveyer which shorten the conveying distance and reduce the exchange time so as to copy smaller size originals more rapidly, thereby significantly improving the productivity of the copier over the prior art.