JP2002283637A - Device and method for controlling feeding of paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feed controller which enables recording to be executed by an optimum throughput at all times by executing feeding recording papers by an optimum paper feed interval in accordance with a recording execution form, and to provide a recorder with the paper feed controller. SOLUTION: A paper feed operation for the recording paper P is carried out (step S1). A recording operation is carried out (step S2). A value obtained by adding a transfer amount a to a transfer amount integrated value N is compared with a recording paper length (step S3). When the value obtained by adding the transfer amount α to the transfer amount integrated value N exceeds the recording paper length (Yes in the step S3), the presence/absence of a next page is confirmed (step S7). When the next page is present (Yes in the step S7), the paper feed operation in the step S1 is returned and a next recording paper P is fed. The paper feed interval at this time is set in accordance with the recording execution form by a paper feed interval-setting means, and the next recording paper P is fed by a timing by which the set paper feed interval is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet type provided with an automatic paper feeder having a configuration capable of automatically feeding a plurality of recording papers stacked on a paper feed tray one by one toward a recording execution area. The present invention relates to a paper feed control device and a paper feed control method for a printing device such as a printing device, and a printing device provided with the paper feed control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus has an automatic recording apparatus having a configuration in which a plurality of recording sheets stacked on a sheet feed tray can be automatically fed one by one toward a recording execution area. A paper feeder is mounted. In general, a recording apparatus is provided with a paper detection device according to a known technique in a paper supply path between an automatic paper supply device and a recording execution area. However, it is configured to be able to detect that it has passed the position where the paper detection device is provided.

In such a recording apparatus, when the recording paper is continuously fed from the automatic paper feeder, the paper feed start timing is determined when the end of the recording paper is detected by the paper detection apparatus. Is usually started, and the recording paper is always fed only at a constant feeding interval.

[0004]

By the way, with the recent increase in image quality of the recording apparatus and the need for higher-speed recording, there is an urgent need to further improve the recording execution throughput of the recording apparatus. In such a situation, as one of the means for improving the throughput of the recording apparatus in executing the recording, the end of the recording sheet when the recording paper is continuously fed from the automatic paper feeder and the start of the next recording sheet to be fed next. By reducing the interval as much as possible and reducing the time loss during the interval, it is possible to improve the throughput of recording execution. Therefore, if the recording paper is fed in a state where there is almost no paper feeding interval, it can be said that it is most effective in terms of improving the throughput of the recording execution. For example, in the case of a recording execution format in which the recording time per recording sheet is short, such as printing text data on plain paper, a large number of sheets can be printed in a short time. The effect of improving the throughput by reducing the interval is great.

However, such paper feed control in which the paper feed interval is made as small as possible has the effect of improving the throughput of printing execution, but on the other hand, the paper feed start timing from the logical end position of the paper. Is determined, and the paper feed control is executed by physically detecting the end position of the recording paper by the paper detection device to execute the paper feed control. Paper jams and the like are more likely to occur than in the case of. Also, for example, in the case of a recording execution format in which the printing time per recording sheet is long, such as high-quality printing of image data on photo paper, the recording execution time is longer than the recording paper feeding time. Since it is overwhelmingly long, it can be said that the throughput improvement effect is small even if the sheet feeding interval is shortened and the sheet feeding time is shortened. Therefore, in the recording execution format in which the effect of improving the throughput by making the sheet feeding interval as small as possible is small, the paper jam or the like is more improved than the effect of improving the throughput by executing the recording with the sheet feeding interval as small as possible. There is a possibility that the disadvantage that the occurrence of the phenomenon easily occurs becomes larger.

[0006] Further, depending on the recording execution format, it may be assumed that a certain recording paper feed interval is required. For example, when recording is performed without margins at the start and end of the recording paper, the recording paper paper is required. There is a need for a space for discarding ink at the end of recording. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a paper feed interval having a space necessary for discarding ink, and if printing is performed without a margin at a paper feed interval as small as possible,
There is a possibility that the ink to be discarded adheres to the adjacent recording paper and stains the adjacent recording paper.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and its object is to always supply the recording paper at an optimum paper supply interval in accordance with the recording execution format, thereby to achieve an optimum recording paper supply. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feed control device capable of executing printing at a throughput, and a recording device provided with the paper feed control device.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of recording sheets stacked on a sheet feed tray are automatically fed one by one toward a recording execution area. An automatic paper feeder having a configuration capable of feeding paper, a recording paper transporting means for intermittently transporting the recording paper fed to the print execution area in a sub-scanning direction, the automatic paper feeder and the print execution area And a paper detection device disposed between the recording paper and the start and end of the recording paper,
A paper feed control device for controlling a paper feed operation of the recording paper by the automatic paper feeder, wherein a recording paper transport amount detecting means for detecting a unit transport amount of the recording paper by the recording paper transport means for each intermittent operation of the recording paper And from the point in time at which the start of the recording paper is detected by the paper detection device, the unit transport amount of the recording paper detected by the recording paper transport amount detection means is integrated, and the logical end position of the recording paper is calculated. Recording paper end position calculating means, paper feeding interval setting means capable of arbitrarily setting the paper feeding interval of the recording paper, logical end position of the recording paper obtained by the recording paper end position calculating means, A paper feed control is performed on the automatic paper feeder at a paper feed start timing at which an interval between the recording paper to be fed and a start end of the paper becomes a paper feed interval set by the paper feed interval setting means. One sheet feeding control means. A feed control apparatus characterized.

As described above, since the logical end position of the recording paper being conveyed by the recording paper conveying means is obtained by the recording paper end position calculating means, it is disposed between the automatic paper feeder and the recording execution area. This makes it possible to detect the end position of the recording paper being transported before detecting the end of the recording paper. By determining the feed start timing of the next recording sheet from the logical end position of the recording sheet, it is possible to continuously feed the recording sheet with almost no sheet feeding interval. Become. In addition, the interval between the end of the recording paper being conveyed and the beginning of the recording paper to be fed next is set to the paper feeding interval set by the paper feeding interval setting means, and the paper feeding start timing is set. In this case, the paper feed control is executed, and the paper feed interval setting means automatically sets the optimal paper feed interval corresponding to the recording execution format for each recording execution format, so that the optimum paper feed interval is always maintained. Enables the recording paper to be fed. Further, a configuration may be employed in which the optimum paper feed interval is manually set for each recording execution format.

Thus, according to the paper feed control apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the optimum paper feed interval corresponding to the print execution format is set for each print execution format, so that the optimal feed is always achieved. Since the recording paper is fed at the paper interval, it is possible to always execute the recording at the optimum throughput.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the paper feed control device controls the automatic paper feed device at a timing when the end of the recording paper is detected by the paper detection device. Second paper feed control means for executing paper feed control;
According to the recording execution format in the recording device, the first
And a paper feed control means for selecting and executing either the paper feed control means of the second paper feed control means or the second paper feed control means.

As described above, in the recording execution format in which the effect of improving the throughput by making the paper feed interval as small as possible is small, the printing is executed at the paper feed interval as small as possible to improve the throughput. There is a possibility that the disadvantage that paper jams and the like are likely to occur is larger than the effect. For this reason, at the time of performing printing in such a print execution format, paper feed control is performed on the automatic paper feeder after the physical end position of the recording paper being transported is detected by the paper detection device.

Therefore, an optimum paper feed interval is set for each recording execution format according to the logical end position of the recording paper.
A first sheet feeding control unit for executing sheet feeding control; and a second sheet feeding control unit for executing sheet feeding control after detecting a physical end of the recording sheet by a sheet detecting device. By performing selection and execution in accordance with the execution format, it becomes possible to execute optimal paper feed control for each recording execution format.

Thus, according to the paper feed control apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation and effect of the first aspect of the present invention, a paper feed control means suitable for a recording execution format is provided. Since the selection and execution are performed, the operation and effect that the recording can be executed at the optimum throughput according to the recording execution format can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the first paper feed control means includes a logical end position of the recording paper acquired by the recording paper end position calculating means. Comparing the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device with the logical end position of the recording paper and the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device. The paper feed control device further comprises a recording paper end position comparing means for executing error processing when the deviation amount exceeds a predetermined allowable deviation amount.

As described above, by comparing the logical end position of the recording paper with the actual physical end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detecting device, the transport of the recording paper from the starting end position of the recording paper is performed. The deviation between the logical end position of the recording paper obtained by integrating the amounts and the physical end position of the actual recording paper can be obtained. If the deviation exceeds a certain value, error processing is performed. This occurs when the logical end position of the recording paper is significantly deviated from the actual physical end position of the recording paper. It is possible to prevent a problem such as a paper jam that may occur.

Thus, according to the paper feed control device according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation and effect according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, a logical end position of the recording paper is set. In addition, there is an operational effect that it is possible to prevent a recording execution problem when the recording paper is greatly deviated from the actual end position of the recording paper.

[0018] The invention described in claim 4 of the present application relates to claims 1 to
3. In any one of the items 3,
A paper feed control device, wherein a paper feed interval is set according to a margin width at the start and end of the recording paper.

In the case of the recording execution format in which recording is performed on the four sides of the recording paper without any blank space, a space for discarding ink when recording is performed on the edge of the recording paper is required. If the size is small, the ink to be discarded may adhere to the adjacent recording paper and stain the adjacent recording paper.
Therefore, since the paper feed interval is set according to the margin width at the beginning and end of the recording paper, in the case of a recording execution format in which recording is performed without margins on the four sides of the recording paper, the paper feed interval having a space where ink is discarded is provided. Can be set.

Thus, according to the paper feed control apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the functions and effects according to the first aspect of the present invention, the starting end of the recording paper is provided. Since the paper feed interval is set according to the margin width at the end of the recording paper, when performing recording in a recording execution format in which recording is performed on the four sides of the recording paper without margins, ink that is discarded when recording at the end of the recording paper is used. The effect that the adjacent recording paper can be prevented from being stained can be obtained.

[0021] The invention described in claim 5 of the present application is claim 2 to claim 2.
5. The paper feed control device according to claim 4, wherein the paper feed control means selecting means selects the first paper feed control means when performing recording on plain paper. is there.

At the time of recording in a recording execution format requiring high-quality image data such as high-resolution image data, it is general that plain paper for which it is difficult to obtain high-quality image is not used. Normally, plain paper is used for recording in a recording execution format that does not require high-quality image data such as text data. In such a recording execution format, the recording execution time per recording sheet is relatively short. Therefore, when recording is continuously performed on a plurality of recording sheets, the time of the recording sheet feeding interval is reduced. As a result, the recording execution throughput is greatly improved.

As described above, when recording is performed on plain paper, the paper feed interval is made as small as possible.
Since the throughput of printing is greatly improved, it can be said that the shortest possible paper feeding interval is the optimum paper feeding interval when printing plain paper. Therefore, when recording is performed on plain paper, the paper feed control is executed by the first paper feed control unit that executes the paper feed control based on the logical end position of the recording paper. Paper can be fed at as small a feed interval as possible.

Thus, according to the sheet feeding control apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation and effect according to the second aspect of the present invention, recording on plain paper is performed. The effect of this is that the throughput of recording execution can be greatly improved when executing.

[0025] The invention described in claim 6 of the present application provides claims 1 to
5. The recording paper end position calculating means according to claim 5, wherein the recording paper end position calculating means detects the start end of the recording paper by the paper detecting device, and detects a unit transport amount of the recording paper detected by the recording paper transport amount detecting means. The paper feed control device is characterized in that a logical end position of the recording paper is obtained by comparing and calculating an integrated value obtained by accumulating the above and recording paper length information of the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction.

According to the paper feed control device of the present invention, the integrated value obtained by integrating the unit transport amount is compared with the information on the recording paper length in the sub-scanning direction of the recording paper. By finding the logical end position of
The operation and effect of the invention described in any one of the fifth to fifth aspects can be obtained.

[0027] The invention described in claim 7 of the present application relates to claims 1 to
6. In any one of the above 6, when the paper feed control device performs paper feed control on the automatic paper feed device, and when recording is not performed on the fed recording paper for a fixed time, A sheet feeding control device, wherein the fed recording sheet is sent backward to the sheet feeding tray.

As described above, the recording paper fed for a certain period of time
When recording is not performed, the fed recording paper is fed back to the paper feed tray, so that the recording paper remains in the recording apparatus for a long time while the recording paper is fed. Can be prevented. In addition, the system is configured to always stand by with the recording paper fed, and when recording is not performed for a certain period of time, the fed recording paper is fed back to the paper feed tray, so that the first recording at the start of recording is started. When recording is performed, recording can be started immediately on the supplied recording paper.

Thus, according to the sheet feeding control device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the functions and effects of the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide It is possible to prevent the recording paper from remaining for a long time and to start recording immediately on the fed recording paper at the time of the first recording, thereby improving the throughput of the recording. Will be possible.

The invention described in claim 8 of the present application provides
7. A recording apparatus comprising the sheet feed control device according to any one of 7. According to the recording apparatus of the invention described in claim 8 of the present application, in the recording apparatus, the above-described claims 1 to 7 of the present application are used.
The operation and effect according to the invention described in any one of the above items can be obtained.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic sheet feeding apparatus having a configuration capable of automatically feeding a plurality of recording sheets stacked on a sheet feeding tray one by one toward a recording execution area, and A recording paper transporting means for intermittently transporting the recording paper fed to the recording execution area in the sub-scanning direction, and a recording paper conveyance means disposed between the automatic paper feeding device and the recording execution area; And a paper detection device capable of detecting the end of the recording paper, wherein the paper detection device controls the paper feeding operation of the recording paper by the automatic paper feeding device, wherein the paper detection device detects the recording paper. The interval between the logical end position of the recording paper obtained by integrating the unit transport amount for each intermittent operation of the recording paper from the time when the start end is detected and the start end of the recording paper to be fed is arbitrarily set. At the paper feed start timing that is the set paper feed interval, the automatic paper feed First executing the paper feed control for location
And a paper feed control method. According to the sheet feeding control method according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effects as those of the first aspect of the present invention.

The invention described in claim 10 of the present application is directed to claim 9
Wherein the paper feed control method includes a second paper feed control method for executing paper feed control on the automatic paper feeder at a timing when the end of the recording paper is detected by the paper detection device. And selecting and executing one of the first paper feed control method and the second paper feed control method in accordance with a print execution format in the printing apparatus. This is a paper control method. According to the sheet feeding control method according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned second aspect of the present invention is described.
The same operation and effect as the invention described in (1) can be obtained.

[0033] The invention described in claim 11 of the present application is directed to claim 9.
Or 10, wherein the first paper feed control method comprises: a logical end position of the recording paper acquired by the recording paper end position calculating means; and an end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device. To determine the amount of deviation between the logical end position of the recording paper and the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device, and when the amount of deviation exceeds a predetermined allowable amount of deviation, Is a sheet feeding control method characterized by executing an error process. According to the sheet feeding control method according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effects as those of the third aspect of the present invention.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of recording papers stacked on a paper feed tray are directed toward a recording execution area by one.
An automatic sheet feeding device having a configuration capable of automatically feeding sheets one by one, a recording sheet conveyance unit for intermittently conveying the recording sheet fed to the recording execution area in a sub-scanning direction, and the automatic sheet feeding device. A paper detection device disposed between the recording execution region and the recording paper, the paper detection device being capable of detecting a start end and an end of the recording paper; and controlling a paper feeding operation of the recording paper by the automatic paper feeding device. A sheet feed control program for detecting a unit transport amount of the recording sheet by the recording sheet transport unit for each intermittent operation; and a step of detecting a start end of the recording sheet by the sheet detection device. A procedure of integrating a unit transport amount and calculating a logical end position of the recording paper; a procedure of arbitrarily setting a paper feed interval of the recording paper; a logical end position of the recording paper; The distance from the start edge of the recording paper In the sheet feed start timing to be the sheet feed interval, and a first paper feed control procedure for executing paper feed control on the automatic paper feeder, it is the paper feed control program characterized.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the first aspect of the present invention, and execute the sheet feeding control program. The same operation and effect as the above-described invention according to claim 1 of the present invention can be provided to any recording device that can perform the same.

The invention described in claim 13 of the present application is the invention of claim 1
2, the paper feed control program executes a second paper feed control procedure for performing paper feed control on the automatic paper feeder at a timing when the end of the recording paper is detected by the paper detection device; A step of selecting and executing either the first paper feed control procedure or the second paper feed control procedure in accordance with a print execution format in the printing apparatus. This is a paper feed control program.

According to the paper feed control program of the present invention, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described invention can be obtained, and this paper feed control program is executed. The same operation and effect as the above-described invention described in claim 2 of the present invention can be provided to any recording apparatus that can perform the above-described operations.

The invention described in claim 14 of the present application is the invention of claim 1
In 2 or 13, the first paper feed control procedure compares the logical end position of the recording paper with the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device, and A procedure is performed to determine the amount of deviation between the logical end position and the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device, and execute an error process when the amount of deviation exceeds a predetermined allowable deviation amount. A sheet feeding control program characterized by having:

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the third aspect of the present invention can be obtained, and this paper feed control program is executed. The same operation and effect as the above-described invention according to claim 3 of the present invention can be provided to any recording apparatus that can perform the above-described operations.

[0040]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a paper feed control device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

The ink jet recording apparatus 50 is provided with a carriage 61 which is supported by a carriage guide shaft 51 and moves in the main scanning direction X as recording means for executing recording on the recording paper P. The carriage 61 is driven and controlled in the main scanning direction X by a rotational driving force source via an endless belt (not shown). The recording paper P
A recording head 62 that performs recording by discharging ink is mounted. The recording head 62 faces the recording head 62.
A platen 52 for defining a gap between the recording head P and the recording paper P is provided. Then, the recording head 62 ejects ink onto the recording paper P while transporting the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X, and intermittently transporting the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y between the carriage 61 and the platen 52. The recording is performed on the recording paper P.

The ink jet recording apparatus 50 includes:
For example, an automatic paper feeder (ASF: Auto Sheet Paper) having a configuration capable of automatically feeding recording paper P such as plain paper or photo paper.
Feeder) is provided. The ASF has two paper feed rollers 57, one of which is disposed on one side of a paper feed tray 58, and the other of which is a recording paper guide 59. The recording paper guide 59 is attached to the paper supply tray 58 so as to be slidable in the direction of the arrow indicated by the symbol A in accordance with the width of the recording paper P. When the two paper feed rollers 57 are driven and rotated, the plurality of recording papers P stacked on the paper feed tray 58 are automatically and automatically fed one by one.

Then, the recording paper P automatically fed by the ASF is moved by a recording paper conveying means disposed downstream of the paper feed roller 57 in the sub-scanning direction Y, in the sub-scanning direction Y on the recording execution area side. The paper is intermittently conveyed toward the downstream side by a predetermined paper feed amount.

As a recording paper conveying means for intermittently conveying the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y, a paper feed drive roller 53 and a paper feed driven roller 54 are provided. The rotation of the paper feed drive roller 53 is controlled by a rotation driving force source, and the recording paper P is transported in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the paper feed drive roller 53. A plurality of paper feed driven rollers 54 are provided, each of which is individually urged by the paper feed drive roller 53,
When the recording paper P is conveyed by the rotation of the paper feed drive roller 53, the recording paper P rotates following the conveyance of the recording paper P while being in contact with the recording paper P.

The surface of the paper feed drive roller 53 is provided with a film having high frictional resistance. Paper feed driven roller 5
4, the recording paper P pressed against the surface of the paper feed drive roller 53 comes into close contact with the surface of the paper feed drive roller 53 due to the frictional resistance of the surface, and is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the rotation of the paper feed drive roller 53. You.

Further, between the paper feed roller 57 and the paper feed drive roller 53, there is provided a paper detector 63 by a technique known in the prior art. The paper detector 63 is provided with a self-returning habit of returning to a standing position, and has a lever pivotally supported so as to be able to rotate only in the recording paper transport direction into a transport path of the recording paper P. This is a detector having a configuration in which the lever is rotated by the tip of the lever being pressed against the recording paper P, whereby the recording paper P is detected. The paper detector 63 detects the start position and the end position of the recording paper P fed from the paper feed roller 57, determines a recording area in accordance with the detected positions, and executes recording.

On the other hand, a discharge drive roller 55 and a discharge driven roller 56 are provided as means for discharging the recorded recording paper P. The rotation of the discharge drive roller 55 is controlled by a rotation driving force source, and the rotation of the discharge drive roller 55 causes
The recording paper P is discharged in the sub-scanning direction Y. The paper discharge driven roller 56 has a plurality of teeth around it, and the leading end of each tooth is a recording paper P.
Is a toothed roller which is sharply pointed so as to make point contact with the recording surface. The plurality of paper discharge driven rollers 56 are individually urged by the paper discharge drive roller 55, and the recording paper P
When the sheet is ejected by the rotation of the sheet ejection drive roller 55, the sheet contacts the recording sheet P and rotates following the ejection of the recording sheet P.

A rotation driving force source (not shown) for driving the paper feed roller 57, the paper feed drive roller 53, and the paper discharge drive roller 55, and a drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X are shown. The rotation of the rotational driving force source is controlled by the control unit 1. In this embodiment, the paper feed roller 57, the paper feed drive roller 53, and the paper discharge drive roller 55 are driven and controlled by the same stepping motor.
It is of course possible to control the drive with a motor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus 50 according to the present invention. The control unit 1 controls various recording processes. In the control unit 1, the central processing unit MPU 24 performs various types of processing.
The ROM 21 stores software programs and data necessary for the arithmetic processing of the MPU 11 in advance. The RAM 22 is used as a temporary storage area for software programs, a work area for the MPU 24, and the like. In addition, a nonvolatile storage medium 23 such as a flash memory
Is configured to store predetermined data as a result of the arithmetic processing in the MPU 24, and to hold the data even when the power of the inkjet recording apparatus 50 is turned off.

Further, the control unit 1 is connected to an information processing device such as a personal computer (not shown) via an interface unit 27 having an interface function with an external device. It is configured to be able to input and output various information and data. The I / O 25 performs output control on the various motor control units 31 and the recording head driver 33 via the input / output unit 26 based on the calculation processing result in the MPU 24, and inputs information from the various sensors 32. Enter

The various motor control units 31 include a paper feed roller 57
, A stepping motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the paper feed drive roller 53 and the paper discharge drive roller 55, and a carriage drive motor (not shown) that drives the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X. This is a drive circuit, and is rotationally controlled by the control unit 1. The recording head driver 33 is a driver that is connected to a recording head 62 that performs a recording process on recording paper and controls the recording process for the recording head 62. In addition, various sensors 32
Detects various state information of the inkjet recording device 50,
Output to the I / O 25 via the input / output unit 26.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the paper feed control according to the present invention. First, the sheet feeding operation of the recording sheet P is performed, and the uppermost recording sheet P of the plurality of recording sheets P stacked on the sheet feeding tray 58 is fed toward the recording execution area (step S1). . When the paper is fed, the paper detection device 63
When the start of the fed recording paper P is detected, the integration of the unit transport amount for each intermittent operation of the recording paper P is started. The unit transport amount of the recording paper P is detected by the recording paper transport amount detecting means. Specifically, the paper feed roller 57 is driven from the time when the paper detecting device 63 detects the leading end of the fed recording paper P. The number of rotation steps of the rotating stepping motor is counted for each intermittent operation. Further, the detected transport amount of the unit recording paper P is integrated by the recording paper end position calculating means. Here, the integrated value of the integrated transport amount will be described below as a transport amount integrated value N.

Subsequently, a recording operation is executed (step S2), and the fed recording paper P is intermittently fed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the driving rotation of the paper feed driving roller 53 in the recording execution area. Then, ink is ejected from a recording head 62 mounted on a carriage 61 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction X, and recording is performed on the recording surface of the recording paper P.
At this time, the unit transport amount for each intermittent operation of the recording paper P by the paper feed drive roller 53 is integrated into the transport amount integrated value N. Specifically, the number of rotation steps of the stepping motor that drives and rotates the paper feed driving roller 53 is counted, and the counted number is added to the integrated transport amount N.

In this embodiment, since the paper feed roller 57 and the paper feed drive roller 53 are driven and rotated by the same stepping motor, the number of rotation steps of the same stepping motor continues from the paper feeding operation. I just need to count.

Subsequently, the value obtained by adding the carry amount α to the carry amount integrated value N is compared with the recording paper length of the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y (hereinafter simply referred to as the recording paper length) (step S).
3).

Here, the carry amount α will be described. The conveyance amount integrated value N is obtained by accumulating the unit conveyance amount for each intermittent operation from the time when the paper detecting device 63 detects the leading end of the recording paper P. Therefore, the conveyance amount integrated value N and the recording paper length become the same value when the paper detection device 63 detects the physical end of the recording paper P. Therefore, the conveyance amount integrated value N to which the conveyance amount α is added in advance is compared with the recording paper length, and when the value of the conveyance amount integration value N to which the conveyance amount α is added exceeds the recording paper length, the next recording paper By starting the feeding operation of the recording paper P, the physical end of the recording paper P being conveyed is determined by the paper detecting device 63.
, The next sheet feeding operation can be started.
By setting the value of the transport amount α in accordance with the paper feed interval set according to the print execution format, by the paper feed interval setting means capable of arbitrarily setting the paper feed interval of the recording paper, Paper can be fed at a paper feed timing that is a paper feed interval set according to the recording execution format.

The recording paper length is a personal computer (not shown) connected to the ink jet recording apparatus 50.
It is obtained from recording paper size information sent together with recording data from an information processing device such as a computer. Or
The ink jet recording apparatus 50 may be configured to include a unit that can set the recording paper size, and the recording paper length may be obtained from the recording paper size.

The value obtained by adding the transport amount α to the integrated transport amount N and the recording paper length are compared. If the value obtained by adding the transport amount α to the integrated transport amount N is equal to or smaller than the recording paper length (step S3). And N
o), the presence or absence of recording data to be recorded on the recording paper is checked, and it is determined whether or not recording on the recording paper is completed (step S4).

There is recording data to be recorded on the recording paper,
If the recording on the recording paper has not been completed (No in Step S4), the process returns to Step S2, and the recording operation is continuously performed. Each time the recording sheet P during the printing operation is intermittently conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by a unit conveyance amount, the unit conveyance amount N is accumulated. On the other hand, if there is no recording data and the recording on the recording sheet has been completed (Yes in step S4), it is confirmed whether or not there is recording data to be recorded on the recording sheet of the next page (step S5). If there is no record data to be recorded on the next page (No in step S5), the paper discharge operation is executed (step S6). The driving rotation of the discharge drive roller 55 causes
The recording paper P is discharged. At this time, the number of rotation steps of the stepping motor that drives and rotates the discharge drive roller 55 is counted and integrated into the transport amount integrated value N.

In this embodiment, the paper discharge drive roller 55 is composed of the paper feed roller 57 and the paper feed drive roller 5.
Since the motor is driven and rotated by the same stepping motor as in No. 3, the number of rotation steps of the same stepping motor may be counted continuously from the time of the recording operation.

If the recording on the recording paper is completed and there is recording data to be recorded on the next page (Y in step S5)
es), a paper feeding operation of the recording paper on which recording has been completed is executed (step S7). The paper feed operation is performed by the integrated transport amount N
Is compared with the recording paper length (step S8). If the value obtained by adding the conveyance amount α to the conveyance amount integrated value N is equal to or smaller than the recording paper length (No in step S8), Continue the paper feed operation. When the value obtained by adding the carry amount α to the carry amount integrated value N exceeds the recording paper length (Yes in step S8), the process returns to the sheet feeding operation in step S1, and
The feeding of the next recording paper P is started. The paper feed interval at that time
As described above, the next recording paper P is fed at a timing that is set by the paper feed interval setting means in accordance with the recording execution format and at the set paper feed interval.

On the other hand, in step S3, the value obtained by adding the transport amount α to the transport amount integrated value N is compared with the recording paper length, and the value obtained by adding the transport amount α to the transport amount integrated value N exceeds the recording paper length. If there is (YES in step S3), it is checked whether or not there is recording data to be recorded on the recording paper of the next page (step S3).
9). If there is no recording data to be recorded on the next page (No in step S9), the process proceeds to step S4, and the above-described procedure is executed. If there is print data to be printed on the next page (Yes in step S9), the flow returns to the paper feeding operation in step S1, and the next printing paper P is fed. As described above, the paper feed interval at that time is set by the paper feed interval setting means in accordance with the recording execution format, and the next recording paper P is fed at a timing corresponding to the set paper feed interval.

In the present embodiment, for example, in a recording execution format for printing text data on plain paper, a large number of prints can be executed in a short time, so that the throughput due to a short recording paper feeding interval is reduced. Since the improvement effect is great, the paper feed interval is set as small as possible by the paper feed interval setting means. Further, in a recording execution format for printing large-capacity image data on photo paper or the like capable of high-quality recording, the recording time per recording paper P is long,
The effect of improving the throughput due to the reduced paper feed interval is small. Therefore, instead of performing the paper feeding with the paper feeding interval reduced, the physical end of the recording paper P is reliably detected by the paper detecting device 63 as in the related art, and then the next recording paper P is fed. To perform recording. Further, since the paper feed interval is set in accordance with the margins of the recording provided at the start and end of the recording paper P, for example, in a recording execution format in which the four sides of the recording paper P are printed without margins, the start and end of the recording paper P A paper feed interval having a certain interval is set so that ink discarded when printing is performed in the vicinity does not adhere to the adjacent recording paper P.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the flow of paper feed control according to the present invention. In FIG.
Shows the state of the carriage driving motor that reciprocates the carriage 62 in the main scanning direction X. PF is
The state of the stepping motor that drives and rotates the paper feed roller 57, the paper feed drive roller 53, and the paper discharge drive roller 55 is shown. Both CR and PF indicate that the motor is rotating when it is at the H level. PE indicates the recording paper detection state of the paper detection device 63, and indicates the state in which the recording paper P is detected at the H level. Hereinafter, the flow from when recording is performed on the recording paper P to when the next recording paper P is fed will be described in order.

First, the stepping motor rotates and the paper feed roller 57 rotates, and the first recording paper is fed, so that the PF is at the H level during the paper feeding. Then, at the time indicated by the symbol C, the sheet feeding and the cueing of the recording sheet P are completed, and the stepping motor temporarily stops.
At the time indicated by reference numeral B1 during paper feeding, the paper detecting device 6
3 detects the start end of the recording paper P, and the paper detection device 63 is in a state of detecting the recording paper P until the physical end of the recording paper P passes.

Subsequently, the carriage 62 reciprocates in the main scanning direction X by the rotation of the carriage driving motor. In addition, the rotation of the stepping motor causes the paper feed roller 53 to rotate intermittently, whereby the recording paper P
Is transported in the sub-scanning direction Y. During the printing operation in the drawing, the reciprocating movement of the carriage 62 in the main scanning direction X and the conveyance of the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y are alternately and repeatedly performed. Each time the recording paper P reciprocates, the recording paper P is transported in the sub-scanning direction Y by a unit transport amount.

As described above, from the time (B1) when the paper detecting device 63 detects the start end of the recording paper P by the recording paper transporting amount integrating means, the recording paper P intermittently becomes the integrated value of the recording paper transporting amount N. The unit transport amount for each operation is accumulated. More specifically, this is realized by counting the number of rotation steps of the stepping motor, and the PF of the timing chart shown in the figure is changed from the time (B1) after the paper detecting device 63 detects the leading end of the recording paper P. The number of rotation steps of the stepping motor during the H level is integrated.

Subsequently, the conveyance amount integrated value N obtained by adding the above-mentioned conveyance amount α exceeds the recording paper length, that is, from the time when the physical end position of the recording paper P passes through the paper detecting device 63. At the position rearward by the amount α, the feeding operation of the next recording paper P is started. In the drawing, this is the time indicated by the reference symbol D. At this time, by starting the paper feeding operation of the next recording paper P, paper feeding is performed at the paper feeding interval set by the paper feeding interval setting means. . Accordingly, the paper feed drive roller 53 is driven and rotated by the rotation of the stepping motor during the period indicated by the reference numeral E thereafter. At the same time, the paper feed roller 57 is also driven and rotated, and the recording paper P
The recording paper P fed next at the same time as the conveyance for each intermittent operation
Is also performed. After the time indicated by the reference symbol D, the recording paper P is fed and
Are simultaneously performed.

Then, the recording paper P having finished recording on the recording surface
Is discharged, the discharge drive roller 55 is driven to rotate by the rotation of the stepping motor during the discharge operation of the recording paper P indicated by the reference numeral F. At the same time, the paper feed roller 57 is also driven and rotated, and simultaneously with the operation of discharging the recording paper P after recording is performed, the operation of feeding the next recording paper P to be fed is continuously performed. Subsequently, from the time when the paper detecting device 63 detects the leading edge of the next fed recording paper P (at the time indicated by reference numeral B2), the recording paper P intermittent operation is again set as the recording paper transport amount integrated value N. The unit transport amount for each is accumulated.

As described above, it is possible to perform the sheet feeding control capable of executing the continuous sheet feeding in which the sheet feeding interval is optimally set according to the recording execution format. Thus, recording can be executed at an optimum throughput for each recording execution format.

The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
As described in the embodiment, the present invention can be implemented as a software program, which can be realized by executing the software program by the MPU 24 of the control unit 1, or by providing a hardware circuit in the control unit 1, It can also be realized by the hardware circuit.

As another embodiment, there can be mentioned a configuration in which the sheet feeding operation is not performed during the recording in the above embodiment. FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing a flow of the sheet feeding control in which the sheet feeding operation is not performed during the printing in the sheet feeding control according to the present invention. still,
The description of the same parts as those in FIG. 5 is omitted.

In this embodiment, the conveyance amount α is set so that the timing for starting the feeding of the next recording paper P indicated by the reference D is after the execution of the recording. Therefore, during the operation of discharging the recording value P, only the discharging operation of the recording paper P after the recording is performed is performed during the period indicated by the reference symbol G.
By the rotation of the stepping motor, only the discharge drive roller 55 is driven and rotated. Then, while the time indicated by reference numeral D, which is the feed start timing of the next recording paper P, is indicated by reference numeral F after the lapse of time, the recording paper P after the execution of recording is continuously performed.
In addition to the paper discharging operation, the paper feeding operation of the next recording paper P is executed. Therefore, by the rotation of the stepping motor,
The paper discharge drive roller 55 and the paper feed roller 57 are driven and rotated.

As described above, the present invention can be implemented even if the sheet feeding operation is not performed during recording.
The operation and effect of the present invention can be obtained. This eliminates the need for a rotation mechanism for simultaneously driving and rotating the paper feed drive roller 53 and the paper feed roller 57 with the rotation of one stepping motor, and can simplify the rotation transmission mechanism of the stepping motor. .

Further, as another embodiment, in addition to the above-described embodiment, the physical end position of the recording paper P detected by the paper detecting device 63 and the recording paper P And performs error processing based on the amount of deviation between the two.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the flow of paper feed control when the physical end position of the recording paper P is shorter than the logical end position in the paper feed control according to the present invention. The description of the same parts as in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be omitted.

As described above, during the recording, the paper detecting device 6
3 detects the physical end position of the recording paper P, first, performs recording up to the physical end position. Subsequently, the remaining recording is executed on the next recording paper P without executing the recording that protrudes from the physical end position of the recording paper P. Alternatively, the recording data that protrudes from the physical end position of the recording paper P may be discarded. Then, the sheet discharging operation of the recording sheet P is performed (while indicated by reference numeral G), and the conveyance amount integrated value N obtained by adding the above-described conveyance amount α during that time exceeds the recording sheet length (as indicated by reference numeral D). At the same time), the recording paper P is discharged simultaneously with the next recording paper P
Is performed (while indicated by reference F).

Therefore, when the physical end position of the recording paper P is shorter than the logical end position, the recording that protrudes from the physical end position of the recording paper P is not executed. You can continue.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the flow of paper feed control when the physical end position of the recording paper P is longer than the logical end position in the paper feed control according to the present invention. The description of the same parts as in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be omitted.

After the recording operation on the recording paper P is performed, the discharging operation of the recording paper P is performed (for the period indicated by reference character G), and the conveyance amount integrated value obtained by adding the above-mentioned conveyance amount α during that period. When N exceeds the length of the recording paper (time indicated by reference D)
Then, at the same time as the discharging operation of the recording paper P, the feeding operation of the next recording paper P is executed (while indicated by reference F).

Originally, the operation of discharging the recording paper P,
While the paper feeding operation of the next recording paper P is being performed, the paper detection device 63 detects the physical end position of the recording paper P, and the PE should be at the L level as shown by the dashed line. . This timing can be specified from the transport amount integrated value N which is the integrated value of the unit transport amount for each intermittent operation of the recording paper P. That is, the conveyance amount integrated value N is calculated from the time when the paper detecting device 63 detects the start end position of the recording paper P (the time indicated by reference numeral B1).
Since the unit transport amount for each intermittent operation is integrated, the physical end of the recording paper P should pass through the paper detection device 63 when the integrated transport amount N reaches the recording paper length. That's why.

From this, when the value of the transport amount integrated value N reaches the recording paper length, that is, the timing when the logical end position of the recording paper P passes through the paper detecting device 63 and the actual recording paper P By comparing the timing at which the physical end position passes through the paper detection device 63, the amount of deviation between the logical end position of the recording sheet P and the physical end position of the recording sheet P can be obtained. Then, from the timing when the logical end position of the recording paper P passes through the paper detection device 63, the paper detection device 63 determines the physical end position of the recording paper P even if the recording paper P is conveyed by a predetermined conveyance amount. If not detected, it can be said that there is a possibility that some abnormality has occurred. For example, it is assumed that a recording sheet P having a size larger than that of the recording sheet P on which recording is to be performed is set on the sheet feeding tray 58, or that a paper jam has occurred. Therefore, from the timing when the logical end position of the recording paper P passes through the paper detection device 63, at the time when the recording paper P is conveyed by a predetermined conveyance amount (at the time indicated by the symbol H), some sort of paper jam or the like occurs. Execute error processing assuming that an error has occurred.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to being able to execute printing at an optimum throughput for each printing execution format, in addition to paper jams and the like,
When a deviation between the physical end position and the logical end position of the recording paper P occurs, it is possible to detect the occurrence of any abnormality and execute the error processing. Can be prevented.

Further, in another embodiment, the recording paper P is always kept in a standby state in a state where the recording paper P is fed, and when the recording is not executed for a predetermined time, the fed recording paper P is fed to a paper feeding tray. 58.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, it is confirmed whether or not there is recording data to be recorded on the recording paper P of the next page (step S5). If there is no recording data to be recorded on the next page (No in step S5), the feeding is performed. After the paper operation is performed, a recording execution standby state is set and the processing is terminated. When the recording is not performed on the fed recording paper P for a certain period of time after the recording execution standby state, the fed recording paper P is fed back to the paper feed tray 58. This makes it possible to prevent the recording paper P from remaining in the ink jet recording apparatus 50 for a long time while the recording paper P is fed. Further, at the time of the first printing execution at the time of starting the printing, the printing can be started immediately on the fed recording paper P, so that the throughput of the printing execution can be improved.

The invention of the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, which are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say,

[0087]

According to the present invention, a paper feed control apparatus which always performs a print at an optimum throughput by executing a paper feed at an optimum paper feed interval according to a print execution format. , And a recording apparatus provided with the paper feed control device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a paper feed control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a paper feed control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of sheet feed control according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing a flow of sheet feed control according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing a flow of sheet feeding control in which sheet feeding is not performed during recording in sheet feeding control according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a flow of sheet feed control when the physical end position of the recording sheet P is shorter than the logical end position in the sheet feed control according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing a flow of sheet feed control when the physical end position of the recording paper P is longer than the logical end position in the sheet feed control according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Unit 24 MPU 50 Inkjet Recording Device 53 Paper Feed Drive Roller 54 Paper Feed Follower Roller 55 Paper Discharge Drive Roller 56 Paper Discharge Follower Roller 57 Feed Roller 58 Paper Feed Tray 61 Recording Head 62 Carriage 63 Paper Detection Device P Recording Paper

Claims (14)

[Claims] An automatic sheet feeder configured to automatically feed a plurality of recording sheets stacked on a sheet feed tray one by one toward a recording execution area; A recording paper transporting means for intermittently transporting the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction, and a paper detection device disposed between the automatic paper feeding device and the recording execution area and capable of detecting the start and end of the recording paper. A sheet feeding control device for controlling a sheet feeding operation of the recording sheet by the automatic sheet feeding device, wherein a unit conveyance amount for each intermittent operation of the recording sheet by the recording sheet conveying means. Recording paper transport amount detecting means for detecting the start of the recording paper by the paper detecting device, and integrating the unit transport amount of the recording paper detected by the recording paper transport amount detecting means, Recording paper that calculates the logical end position of paper Edge position calculating means, paper feeding interval setting means capable of arbitrarily setting the paper feeding interval of the recording paper, logical end position of the recording paper obtained by the recording paper end position calculating means, and paper feeding The first sheet feeding control for executing the sheet feeding control to the automatic sheet feeding device at the sheet feeding start timing at which the interval from the start end of the recording sheet becomes the sheet feeding interval set by the sheet feeding interval setting means. A paper feed control device, comprising: paper control means. 2. The paper feed control device according to claim 1, wherein the paper feed control device executes a paper feed control for the automatic paper feed device at a timing when the end of the recording paper is detected by the paper detection device. Paper supply control means, and a paper supply control means for selecting and executing either the first paper supply control means or the second paper supply control means in accordance with a printing execution format in the printing apparatus. A paper feed control device comprising: paper control means selecting means. 3. The paper feed control device according to claim 1, wherein the first paper feed control means detects the logical end position of the recording paper acquired by the recording paper end position calculation means and the paper detection device. The deviation between the logical end position of the recording paper and the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device is determined by comparing the end position of the recording paper with the end position of the recording paper. A sheet feed control device comprising a recording sheet end position comparing means for executing an error process when an allowable deviation amount is exceeded. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The paper feed control device according to claim 1, wherein the paper feed interval setting means sets a paper feed interval according to a margin width at a start end and an end of the recording paper. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein
The paper feed control device according to claim 1, wherein said paper feed control means selecting means selects said first paper feed control means when performing recording on plain paper. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The recording paper end position calculating means calculates an integrated value obtained by integrating a unit transport amount of the recording paper detected by the recording paper transport amount detecting means from a point in time when the starting end of the recording paper is detected by the paper detecting device; A sheet feed control device for calculating a logical end position of the recording sheet by comparing the recording sheet length information of the recording sheet in the sub-scanning direction; 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The paper feed control device executes the paper feed control for the automatic paper feeder, and when the recording is not performed on the fed recording paper for a certain period of time, the paper feed control device removes the fed recording paper. A sheet feeding control device, wherein the sheet is fed backward to the sheet feeding tray. 8. A recording apparatus comprising the paper feed control device according to claim 1. 9. An automatic paper feeder having a configuration capable of automatically feeding a plurality of recording papers stacked on a paper feed tray one by one toward a recording execution area, and feeding the recording paper to the recording execution area. A recording paper transporting means for intermittently transporting the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction, and a paper detection device disposed between the automatic paper feeding device and the recording execution area and capable of detecting the start and end of the recording paper. A sheet feeding control method for controlling a sheet feeding operation of the recording sheet by the automatic sheet feeding apparatus, wherein the recording is started from a point in time at which a start end of the recording sheet is detected by the sheet detecting device. The interval between the logical end position of the recording paper obtained by accumulating the unit transport amount for each intermittent operation of the paper and the start end of the recording paper to be fed is an arbitrarily set paper feeding interval. Executes paper feed control for the automatic paper feeder at the paper start timing First with a paper feed control method, paper feed control method characterized by that. 10. The paper feed control method according to claim 9, wherein the paper feed control is performed on the automatic paper feeder at a timing when the end of the recording paper is detected by the paper detection device. Paper feed control method, and selects and executes either the first paper feed control method or the second paper feed control method in accordance with a printing execution format in the printing apparatus. A sheet feeding control method. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein
The paper feed control method of the present invention compares the logical end position of the recording paper acquired by the recording paper end position calculating means with the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device, A deviation between the logical end position of the paper and the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device is obtained, and if the deviation exceeds a predetermined allowable deviation amount, an error process is executed. And a sheet feeding control method. 12. An automatic paper feeder having a configuration capable of automatically feeding a plurality of recording papers stacked on a paper feed tray one by one toward a recording execution area, and feeding the recording paper to the recording execution area. A recording paper transporting means for intermittently transporting the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction, and a paper detection device disposed between the automatic paper feeding device and the recording execution area and capable of detecting the start and end of the recording paper. A recording device comprising: a recording medium comprising: a recording medium having a recording medium; a recording medium including a recording medium; A step of integrating a unit transport amount of the recording sheet from a point in time when the starting point of the recording sheet is detected by the sheet detecting device, and calculating a logical end position of the recording sheet; Procedure for setting the paper feed interval arbitrarily, The paper is fed to the automatic paper feeder at a paper feed start timing at which the interval between the logical end position of the recording paper and the start edge of the paper to be fed becomes an arbitrarily set paper feed interval. A first paper feed control procedure for performing control. 13. The paper feed control program according to claim 12, wherein the paper feed control program executes a paper feed control for the automatic paper feeder at a timing when the end of the recording paper is detected by the paper detection device. And a procedure for selecting and executing either the first paper feed control procedure or the second paper feed control procedure in accordance with a printing execution format in the printing apparatus. And a paper feed control program characterized by having: 14. The paper feed control procedure according to claim 12, wherein the first paper feed control procedure compares a logical end position of the recording paper with an end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device. Then, a deviation amount between the logical end position of the recording paper and the end position of the recording paper detected by the paper detection device is obtained, and when the deviation amount exceeds a predetermined allowable deviation amount, A sheet feed control program having a procedure for executing an error process.