JP2004002046A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of automatically switching each of a plurality of feed trays according to paper property. <P>SOLUTION: This device sets property of paper contained in a plurality of feed trays controlled by a paper feed control section 7 and stores it in a nonvolatile storage section 3, it also sets possibility or impossibility of automatic switching per property of paper and stores it in the nonvolatile storage section 3. Further, it decides whether a control section 1 permits automatic switching of the feed tray or not on the basis of both types of setting and operates the feed control section 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays and capable of performing image formation by switching a paper feed source.

画像 Some image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and fax machines are provided with a plurality of paper feed trays for feeding paper. When a plurality of paper feed trays are provided, the paper to be stored in each paper feed tray can store an arbitrary type of paper, so that the same paper can be stored in a plurality of paper feed trays (for example, two paper feed trays). It is possible to store and use different types of paper.

As described above, when the same type of paper is stored in different paper feed trays, if one paper feed tray serving as a paper source is out of paper, another paper in which the same type of paper is stored is stored. 2. Description of the Related Art A load on a user is reduced by automatically switching a paper feed tray as a paper feed source.

In order to automatically switch the paper feed tray as the paper source, it is set whether or not automatic switching is permitted for each tray as shown in Table 1. In the example shown in Table 1, automatic switching is permitted for trays 1 and 2 in which plain paper is stored, and automatic switching is not permitted for other trays.

In such a setting, if the tray 1 runs out of paper while the tray 1 is being used as the paper source, the paper source is automatically switched to the tray 2, and as a result, the image forming apparatus is continuously operated. And output is possible.

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, it is desired to permit not only automatic switching between the trays 1 and 2 storing plain paper but also automatic switching between the trays 3 and 4 storing fine paper. In this case, the settings shown in Table 2 are performed. However, when automatic switching is permitted for trays 1 to 4, different sheets are stored, such as automatic switching from tray 1 to tray 3. Is switched to the paper feed tray that is currently in use. That is, automatic switching can be set to only one group (for example, tray 1 and tray 2 storing plain paper), and a plurality of groups (for example, tray 1 and tray 2 group, tray 3 and tray 4 Group) could not be set as a target for automatic switching.

When plain paper is stored in tray 1 and high-quality paper is stored in tray 2, switching from tray 1 to tray 2 is permitted, but switching from tray 2 to tray 1 is not permitted. That is, it was not possible to make settings such that the use of high-quality paper as a substitute for plain paper can be permitted, but the use of plain paper as a substitute for high-quality paper cannot be permitted.

As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the paper has run out, it is possible to automatically switch the paper feed tray serving as the paper feed source, but the target to be automatically switched is limited to one group. I was In addition, for the paper feed tray specified as the target of automatic switching, the switching direction is specified (switching from tray 1 to tray 2 is permitted as described above, but switching from tray 2 to tray 1 is not permitted. Settings).

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of automatically switching each of a plurality of paper feed trays according to paper quality.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a plurality of paper feed trays, and when a paper feed from a paper feed tray during paper feed becomes impossible, a feed different from the paper feed tray. In an image forming apparatus capable of performing paper feeding by switching a paper tray to a paper feeding source, a first setting unit configured to set a paper quality of paper stored in each of the plurality of paper feeding trays, A second setting unit for setting a paper quality to be an original switching target, wherein the first paper feed tray among the plurality of paper feed trays is set to the first A new paper feed source is selected from the plurality of paper feed trays based on the paper quality set by the setting means and the paper quality set by the second input means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the first setting means and the second setting means include at least plain paper and recycled paper as configurable paper qualities. I do.

According to the present invention, automatic switching is set for each paper quality of the paper stored in the paper feed tray. Therefore, automatic switching of the paper feed tray when paper runs out or the like is performed. Can be performed according to

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 1, a UI unit 2, a nonvolatile storage unit 3, a data input unit 4, an image creation unit 5, an image formation unit 6, and a paper feed control unit 7. It is composed.

(4) The control unit 1 controls the operation of each of the other units, and the UI unit 2 controls a user interface for displaying information to a user and receiving a user's instruction. The non-volatile storage unit 3 is a storage device such as a non-volatile memory or a hard disk that does not lose its stored contents when the power of the image forming apparatus 10 is shut off. The data input unit 4 receives a PDL (page description language) input from a client PC (not shown) or the like (when operating as a printer), or receives image data read by an image reading unit (not shown) (operates as a copying machine). Case), receiving image data received via a telephone line (not shown) (when operating as a facsimile). The image creation unit 5 performs processes such as expanding the PDL input from the data input unit 4 into image data, and performing a predetermined correction process on the input image data. The image forming unit 6 transfers the image data developed or corrected by the image creating unit 5 to a sheet to form an image, and the sheet feeding control unit 7 sends a desired sheet from a plurality of sheet feeding trays (not shown) to the image forming unit. 6

In the image forming apparatus 10, when the paper runs out during the image formation, the control unit 1 and the paper supply control unit 7 can automatically switch the paper supply tray of the paper supply source and continue the processing. Yes, automatic switching of the paper feed tray is performed based on the contents set by the user.

The setting for performing the automatic switching is performed by operating the operation panel 20 (under the control of the UI unit 2) shown in FIG. 2, and the setting content is stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 3.
The operation panel 20 includes a display unit 21 on which information from the image forming apparatus 10 is displayed, a cursor key 22 (22-1 to 22-4), a setting key 23, a menu key 24, a stop key 25, and a pause key 26. Are arranged. When setting the automatic switching, the menu key 24 is pressed, the setting content displayed on the display unit 21 is checked by pressing the cursor key 22, and the setting key 23 is pressed when deciding the setting. Further, a stop key 25 and a pause key 26 are keys for instructing stop and pause of a job of the image forming apparatus 10, respectively.

Items to be set for automatic switching of the paper trays include setting of the paper quality of the paper stored in each paper tray, setting of automatic switching for each paper quality, and setting of automatic switching for each paper tray. .

Here, the paper quality setting of the paper stored in each paper feed tray will be described. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 will be described as having five paper feed trays.

When a sheet of paper quality as shown in Table 3 is stored in each of the five paper feed trays (trays 1 to 5) of the image forming apparatus 10, when the menu key 24 of the operation panel 20 is pressed, the display unit 21 displays "Port setting" is displayed as in a display 21-1000 shown in FIG. Here, when the cursor key (down) 22-2 is pressed, the display on the display unit 21 is changed to “maintenance” as in a display 21-2000 shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the cursor key (down) 22-2 is further pressed, the display on the display unit 21 is changed to “Paper Tray Setting” as shown in a display 21-3000 shown in FIG.

When the cursor key (right) 22-4 is pressed while the display 21-3000 “Paper Tray Setup” is displayed on the display unit 21, the display unit 21 displays “21” in the display 21-3100 shown in FIG. "SET UP" is displayed. When the cursor key (right) 22-4 is pressed in this state, “Tray 1” of the display 21-3110 shown in FIG. When the button is pressed, the display unit 21 displays “Fuji” on the display 21-3111 shown in FIG.

By pressing the cursor key (up) 22-1 or the cursor key (down) 22-2 sequentially while the display 21-3111 “Fushi” is displayed on the display unit 21, the display content of the display unit 21 is changed. 6 (b), the display of the display 21-3113 shown in FIG. 6 (c), and the display of the display 21-3114 shown in FIG. 6 (d). Change. In this state, by pressing the cursor key (up) 22-1 or the cursor key (down) 22-2, the paper quality of the paper to be stored in the tray 1 is selected (when the setting shown in Table 3 is performed, the display 21- By pressing the setting key 23 in a state where “FUSHU” 3111 is displayed, the paper quality of the paper stored in the tray 1 is set.

When setting the paper quality of the paper to be stored in the tray 2, the cursor key (up) is displayed while “tray 1” of the display 21-3110 shown in FIG. 22-1 or the cursor key (down) 22-2 is pressed, and the display unit 21 displays "Tray 2" on the display 21-3120 shown in FIG. 5B and "Tray 2" on the display 21-3130 shown in FIG. Tray 3 ”,“ Tray 4 ”on display 21-3140 shown in FIG. 5D, and“ Tray 5 ”on display 21-3150 shown in FIG. 5E (paper tray to be set). In this state, the user presses the cursor key (right) 22-4 to select the paper quality in the same manner as in the case of the tray 1.

Next, a description will be given of whether or not automatic switching can be performed for each paper type.
As shown in Table 4, the automatic switching setting for each paper quality includes a fixed setting which is a default value and a user setting which can be arbitrarily set by the user. Note that the settings shown in Table 4 indicate that a fixed setting that does not automatically switch to thick paper is performed and that no user setting is possible. However, automatic setting is not performed for special paper such as thick paper or OHP. This is because switching may not be (physically) possible.

When the user setting of automatic switching for each paper quality is performed, the cursor key (down) 22- is displayed on the display unit 21 in a state in which “Reset” is displayed on the display 21-3100 shown in FIG. Pressing 2 causes the display unit 21 to display "Reset" on the display 21-3200 shown in FIG. In this state, when the cursor key (right) 22-4 is pressed, the display 21 displays “FUJI” on the display 21-3210 shown in FIG. When the button is pressed, the display section 21 displays "Kirikaekyokasuru" of the display 21-3211 shown in FIG.

When the cursor key (up) 22-1 or the cursor key (down) 22-2 is pressed while the display 21-3211 "Kirikaekyokasuru" is displayed on the display unit 21, the display content of the display unit 21 becomes: The display changes to “Kirikaekyokashinai” on the display 21-3212 shown in FIG. Here, when the user presses the cursor key (up) 22-1 or the cursor key (down) 22-2, “Kirikaekyokasuru” of the display 21-3211 and “Kirikaekyokasuru” of the display 21-3212 are displayed on the display unit 21. By displaying any one of “Kirika-Kyoka-Shinai” and pressing the setting key 23, whether or not automatic switching to plain paper is possible is set.

To set whether or not automatic switching can be performed for other paper qualities, the cursor key (up) 22-1 or the cursor key (up) 22-1 in the display 21-3210 shown in FIG. When the cursor key (lower) 22-2 is pressed, the display contents of the display 21 are changed to “job” on the display 21-3220 shown in FIG. 7B, and “Saisei” on the display 21-3230 shown in FIG. The cursor key (right) 22-4 is pressed while any one of "Atsugami" (the paper quality to be set) is displayed on the display 21-3240 shown in FIG. As in the case of the paper setting, whether or not automatic switching is possible for the paper quality is set.

Next, the setting of whether or not automatic switching is possible for each paper feed tray will be described.
When the setting of the automatic switching for each paper feed tray is set, for example, to a value as shown in Table 5, "SHIFT SETTING" of the display 21-3100 shown in FIG. In this state, the user presses the cursor key (up) 22-1 to cause the display unit 21 to display “Tray cleaning setting” on the display 21-3300 shown in FIG. When the cursor key (right) 22-4 is pressed in this state, “Tray 1” of the display 21-3310 shown in FIG. 9A is displayed on the display unit 21, and the cursor key (right) 22-4 is further displayed. When is pressed, the display unit 21 displays “Kirikae kyoka suru” of the display 21-3311 shown in FIG.

When the cursor key (up) 22-1 or the cursor key (down) 22-2 is pressed while the display 21-3311 "Kirikaekyokasuru" is displayed on the display unit 21, the display content of the display unit 21 becomes: The display changes to “Kirikaekyokashinai” on the display 21-3312 shown in FIG. Here, when the user presses the cursor key (up) 22-1 or the cursor key (down) 22-2, the display unit 21 displays “Kirikaekyokasuru” on the display 21-3311 and “21” on the display 21-3312. By displaying any one of “Kirika-Kyo-Kai-Sai” and pressing the setting key 23, whether or not automatic switching to the tray 1 is possible is set.

To set whether or not automatic setting can be performed for another sheet tray, the cursor key (“Tray 1”) on the display 21-3310 shown in FIG. By pressing the upper) 22-1 or the cursor key (lower) 22-2, "tray 2" of the display 21-3320 shown in FIG. 9B and the display 21-3330 shown in FIG. (Tray 3) of the display 21-3340 shown in FIG. 9D, or "Tray 5" of the display 21-3350 shown in FIG. 9E (the paper tray to be set). ) Is displayed, the cursor key (right) 22-4 is depressed, and whether or not automatic switching can be performed on the paper feed tray is set in the same manner as in the case of setting the tray 1 described above.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a list of displays 21-1000 to 21-3352 displayed on the display unit 21 when performing each of the above settings.
As shown in the figure, each display has a hierarchical structure, and the display in the same hierarchy is changed by a cursor key (up) 22-1 and a cursor key (down) 22-2. -3 and the cursor key (right) 22-4 are used to move between layers to change the display.

と When the respective settings are made as shown in Tables 3 to 5 by the above-described method, the final setting of whether or not automatic switching can be performed is as shown in Table 6 by the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

The control unit 1 performs a final determination process of whether or not to enable automatic switching of the paper feed tray for each paper feed tray. When the process is started (step 101), the control unit 1 first sets the paper feed tray. The paper quality (setting in Table 3) is checked (step 102). Next, the fixed setting (setting in Table 4) for the checked paper quality is checked (step 103). If the automatic switching is permitted (set to “Yes”) (YES in step 104), the user setting for the paper quality ( (Set in Table 4) is checked (step 105). If the automatic switching is permitted (set to “Yes”) by the user setting (YES in step 106), the final setting adopts the sheet tray switching setting (setting in Table 5) (step 107). Then, the process ends (step 109).

On the other hand, if the setting is not permitted (fixed to "not") in the fixed setting or the user setting for the paper quality (NO in step 104 or NO in step 106), the final setting is set without switching (step 108). ), And terminate the process (step 109).

The process shown in FIG. 12 may be performed only when any of the settings in Tables 3 to 5 is changed, and the settings in Table 6 obtained as a result of this process are stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 3. It will be stored and used. In addition, if the processing of step 12 is performed even when the image forming apparatus 10 is started, the setting can be stored in a volatile storage unit instead of the nonvolatile storage unit 3.

Next, a description will be given of a process for automatically switching the paper feed tray when the image forming apparatus 10 runs out of paper during image formation.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the paper feed tray automatic switching process.

If the paper runs out during image formation by the image forming apparatus 10, the paper feed controller 7 starts the paper feed tray automatic switching process (step 201), and first checks the switching setting of the tray n which is the current paper feed source. (Step 202). If the switching setting of the tray n is permitted (YES in Step 203), the value of the variable m is initialized to 1 (Step 204).

Next, if the value of the variable m is not equal to the value of n indicating the tray n (YES in Step 205, it is not possible to switch to the same tray), the switching setting of the tray m (the setting in Table 6) is checked (Step 6). 206). If the switching setting of the tray m is permitted (YES in Step 207), the paper size of the tray m is checked (Step 208), and if the paper sizes match (YES in Step 209), the paper quality of the tray m (Table 3) Is checked (step 210). Here, if the paper quality of the tray m matches the paper quality of the tray n (YES in step 211), it is checked whether or not the tray m is in a state in which paper can be fed (step 212). (YES in 213), the tray m is set as the switching destination of the paper feed source (step 214), and the process is terminated (step 217).

On the other hand, when the value of the variable m is equal to the value of n indicating the tray n (NO in Step 205), or when the switching setting of the tray m (setting in Table 6) is not permitted (NO in Step 207), If the paper size of tray m is different from the paper size of tray n (NO in step 209), if the paper quality of tray m (setting in Table 3) is different from the paper quality of tray n (NO in step 211), If the tray m cannot be fed due to a failure, out of paper, or the like (NO in step 213), unless the variable m indicates the last tray (5 when there are five trays) ( (NO in step 215), the value of the variable m is incremented (step 216), and the process returns to step 205 to perform the same process.

If the variable m is a value indicating the last tray in step 215 (YES in step 215), it is not possible to switch the paper source to any of the paper trays. The process is terminated without performing (step 217).

On the other hand, if the switching setting of the tray n is not permitted in the step 203 (NO in the step 203), the process is terminated without switching the sheet feeding tray (step 217).

Next, the processing shown in FIG. 13 will be described using the settings shown in Table 6 as an example.
Here, it is assumed that the sheets stored in the trays 1 to 5 are all the same size, and the sheet feeding trays other than the tray 1 are in a state in which sheets can be fed.
If the tray 1 runs out of paper while the image forming apparatus 10 is operating with the tray 1 in which plain paper is stored as a paper source (step 201), first, the switching setting of the tray 1 is checked (step 201). Step 202). Since the switching of the tray 1 is permitted (see Table 6, YES in step 203), the value of the variable m is initialized to 1 (step 204).

Here, the variable m (= 1) is equal to the value n (= 1) indicating the tray n (NO in step 205), and is not the value (= 5) indicating the last tray (NO in step 215). (Step 216, m = 2). Since the incremented variable m (= 2) is not equal to the value n (= 1) indicating the tray n (YES in Step 205), the switching setting of the tray m (= 2) is checked (Step 206).

Since the switching setting of the tray m (= 2) is permitted (see Table 6, YES in Step 207), the sheet size of the tray m (= 2) is checked (Step 208), and the sheet of the tray m (= 2) is checked. Since the size matches the paper size of tray n (= 1) (YES in step 209), the paper quality of tray m (= 2) is checked (step 210). Since the paper quality of the tray m (= 2) matches the paper quality of the tray n (= 1) (see Table 3) (YES in step 211), it is checked whether or not the tray m (= 2) can be fed (step S2). Since the tray m (= 2) is ready for paper feeding (YES in step 212), the tray m (= 2) is set as a new paper source (step 214), and the process ends. I do.

Further, in this example, if the tray 2 is in a state in which the sheet cannot be fed (NO in step 213), each check is performed on the trays 3 to 5. However, since none of the paper qualities match (NO in step 211), The process ends without any switching destination.

By the way, in the process of FIG. 13, trays 1 to 5 are sequentially checked as candidates for the paper feed tray to be switched. However, when the tray 5 is a large-capacity tray or the like, when the tray 5 is to be given priority, In step 204, the variable m can be initialized to 5, and in step 216, decrement can be performed. Although the description is omitted because the processing is complicated, each paper feed tray may be checked in an arbitrary order.

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of a paper feed control method and apparatus for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
In the second embodiment, automatic switching to a paper feed tray storing sheets of paper of different paper quality can be performed, and the direction of the switching, for example, switching from recycled paper to plain paper is permitted. However, individual settings can be made such that switching from plain paper to recycled paper is not permitted.

設定 This setting is, for example, as shown in Table 7. The settings shown in Table 7 indicate to which paper quality the paper is to be switched when the paper shown in the left-hand column is the paper feed source. For example, if paper runs out while using recycled paper, switching to the paper tray where recycled paper and plain paper are stored is permitted, but paper runs out while using plain paper. Indicates settings such as not permitting switching to a paper feed tray storing recycled paper, but permitting switching only to a paper feed tray storing plain paper.

In the case of performing such a setting, “Shift can't set” of a display 21-34000 as shown in FIG. 14 is added to the menu displayed on the display unit 21 of the operation panel 20. In the lower layer of the display 21-34000, "SHISHI-KAN-KIRICA-SETTING", "FUJUSHI" in the display 21-34100, "JOSHITSU" in the display 21-34200, and "Atsugami" in the display 21-34400 are displayed. Also, in the lower layer of “FUTUSHI” of the display 21-34100, “JOSHITO SHITOKARIKAE” of the display 21-34110, “SAITO SHITOKI KARIKAE” of the display 21-34120, and “Atsugami no Toshikarie” of the display 21-34130 are displayed. In each of the lower layers, "Kirikawaru Kotoka Kasul" of display 21-34111 and "Kirikawaru Kotoka Kasuna" of display 21-34112 (not shown: the same display contents as display 21-34132 in the figure) are displayed. Are displayed, and the setting can be performed by pressing the setting key 23, respectively.

Further, in the menu configuration shown in FIG. 14, in the lower layer of "FUJUSHI" of display 21-34100, "POSITION" is displayed on display 21-34110, "RESOURCE" is displayed on display 21-34120, and display 21-34120 is displayed. Although only "Atsugami no Torikikae" of No. 34130 is displayed, by further adding "Futoshi no Tonokirikae", "Shishitsurikae" of display 21-32000 (this lower layer is the same as the embodiment described above) Can be deleted.

When the settings shown in Table 7 are performed using the menu shown in FIG. 14 and the settings shown in Tables 8 to 10 are performed using the same menu as in the previous embodiment, the final settings are as shown in Table 11. It will be. The settings shown in Table 11 are changed only when any of the settings in Tables 7 to 10 are changed in the same manner as the settings in Table 6 described above, and Table 11 obtained as a result of this processing is obtained. Are stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 3 and used.

Here, the processing for determining the final setting contents shown in Table 11 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for setting whether or not automatic switching from tray n to tray m is possible.

When the process is started (step 301), first, the paper quality setting set for tray n is checked (table 8, step 302). Subsequently, the paper quality set for the tray m is checked (Table 8, step 303), and it is checked whether the paper quality set for the tray n can be switched to the paper quality set for the tray m (step 303). Tables 7 and 9, step 304).

If switching from the paper quality set for tray n to paper quality set for tray m is permitted (YES in step 305), the switch setting for tray n is checked (see Table 10, (Step 306) If the switching is permitted (YES in Step 307), the switching setting of tray m (Table 10) is adopted as the switching setting from tray n to tray m (Step 308), and the process is terminated. (Step 310).

On the other hand, when the switching from the paper quality set for tray n to the paper quality set for tray m is not permitted (NO in step 305), or when the switching setting for tray n is not permitted ( (NO in step 307), the setting for switching from tray n to tray m is set to non-permitted ("not performed") (step 309), and the process ends (step 310).

Next, a description will be given of a process for automatically switching the paper feed tray when the image forming apparatus 10 runs out of paper during image formation.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the paper feed tray automatic switching process according to the second embodiment.

When the paper runs out during the image formation by the image forming apparatus 10, the paper feed tray automatic processing is started (step 401), and first, the switching setting of the tray n which is the current paper feed source (the setting in Table 10) is checked. (Step 402). If the switching setting of the tray n is permitted (YES in Step 403), the value of the variable m is initialized to 1 (Step 404).

Next, if the value of the variable m is not equal to the value of n indicating the tray n (YES in Step 405, since it is not possible to switch to the same tray), the switching setting from the tray n to the tray m (the setting in Table 11) is performed. Check (step 406). If the setting of switching from tray n to tray m is permitted (YES in step 407), the paper size of tray m is checked (step 408). Here, if the sheet sizes of the tray n and the tray m match (YES in step 409), it is checked whether or not the tray m is in a state capable of feeding (step 410). YES), the tray m is set as the switching destination of the paper feed source (step 412), and the process ends (step 415).

On the other hand, when the value of the variable m is equal to the value of n indicating the tray n (NO in Step 405), or when the switching setting from the tray n to the tray m (setting in Table 11) is not permitted (Step 407). NO), when the paper size of the tray m is different from the paper size of the tray n (NO in step 409), and when the tray m is in a state where the paper cannot be fed due to a failure, out of paper, or the like ( If the variable m does not indicate the last tray (4 if there are four trays) (NO in step 411) (NO in step 413), the value of the variable m is incremented (step 414), and the processing in step 405 is performed. And the same processing is performed.

If the variable m is a value indicating the last tray in step 413 (YES in step 413), it is not possible to switch the paper source to any of the paper trays. The process is terminated without performing (step 415).

On the other hand, if the switching setting of the tray n is not permitted in the step 403 (NO in the step 403), the process ends without switching the sheet feeding tray (step 415).

Next, the processing shown in FIG. 13 will be described using the settings shown in Table 11 as an example.
Here, all the sheets stored in the trays 1 to 4 are the same size, and the tray 2 is in a faulty state, and the sheet trays other than the sheet tray in which the sheet has run out are in a state in which the sheet can be fed. It will be explained as if there is.
If the tray 1 runs out of paper while the image forming apparatus 10 is operating with the tray 1 in which plain paper is stored as the paper source (step 401), first, the switching setting of the tray 1 is checked (step 401). Step 402). Since the switching of the tray 1 is permitted (see Table 10, YES in step 403), the value of the variable m is initialized to 1 (step 404).

Here, the variable m (= 1) is equal to the value n (= 1) indicating the tray n (NO in step 405), and is not the value indicating the last tray (= 4) (NO in step 415). (Step 416, m = 2). Since the incremented variable m (= 2) is not equal to the value n (= 1) indicating the tray n (YES in step 405), the switching setting from the tray n (= 1) to the tray m (= 2) is performed. Check (step 406).

Since the setting of switching from tray n (= 1) to tray m (= 2) is permitted (see Table 11, YES in step 407), the paper size of tray m (= 2) is checked (step 408), Since the sheet size of the tray m (= 2) matches the sheet size of the tray n (= 1) (YES in step 409), it is checked whether or not the tray m (= 2) can be fed (YES in step 410). . However, the tray m (= 2) is in a state in which paper cannot be fed (NO in step 411), and the value of the variable m is not the value indicating the last tray (= 4) (NO in step 413). m is incremented (step 414, m = 3).

Since the incremented variable m (= 3) is not equal to the value n (= 1) indicating the tray n (YES in Step 405), the switching setting from the tray n (= 1) to the tray m (= 3) is performed. Although the check is made (step 406), the switching setting from the tray n (= 1) to the tray m (= 3) is not permitted (NO in step 407), and the value of the variable m is the value indicating the last tray (= Since it is not 4) (NO in step 413), the variable m is incremented (step 414, m = 4).

Since the incremented variable m (= 4) is not equal to the value n (= 1) indicating the tray n (YES in step 405), the switching setting from the tray n (= 1) to the tray m (= 3) is performed. Although the check is made (step 406), the setting of switching from the tray n (= 1) to the tray m (= 3) is not permitted (NO in step 407), and the value of the variable m is the value indicating the last tray (= 4) (YES in step 413), the process ends assuming that there is no paper feed tray to which the tray n is to be switched (step 415).

If the tray 3 runs out of paper while the image forming apparatus 10 is operating with the tray 3 storing the recycled paper as the paper supply source (step 401), first, the switching setting of the tray 3 is checked. (Step 402). Since the switching of the tray 3 is permitted (see Table 10, YES in Step 403), the value of the variable m is initialized to 1 (Step 404).

Here, since the variable m (= 1) is not equal to the value n (= 3) indicating the tray n (YES in step 405), the switching setting from the tray n (= 3) to the tray m (= 1) is checked. (Step 406).

Since the setting of switching from tray n (= 3) to tray m (= 1) is permitted (see Table 11, YES in step 407), the paper size of tray m (= 1) is checked (step 408). Since the paper size of m (= 1) matches the paper size of tray n (= 3) (YES in step 409), it is checked whether or not tray m (= 1) can feed paper (step 410). ). Here, since the tray m (= 1) is in a state in which the sheet can be fed (YES in step 411), the tray m (= 1) is set as the switching destination of the tray n (= 3), and the process is ended. (Step 415).

As described above, in the second embodiment, individual settings such as switching from recycled paper to plain paper without switching from plain paper to recycled paper can be performed.
By the way, in the processing shown in FIG. 16 as well, in the same manner as in the processing shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus. The figure which showed the operation panel 20. The figure (1) which showed the example of a display of a menu. The figure (2) which showed the example of a display of a menu. The figure (3) which showed the example of a display of a menu. The figure (4) which showed the example of a display of a menu. The figure (5) which showed the example of a display of a menu. The figure (6) which showed the example of a display of a menu. The figure (7) which showed the example of a display of a menu. The figure (8) which showed the example of a display of a menu. The figure which showed the list of menus and the hierarchical relationship. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for deciding the final setting of automatic switching. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a paper feed tray automatic switching process. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a menu list and a hierarchical relationship in the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process for setting whether or not automatic switching from tray n to tray m is performed in the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a paper feed tray automatic switching process according to a second embodiment.

Explanation of reference numerals

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 control unit 2 UI unit 3 nonvolatile storage unit 4 data input unit 5 image creation unit 6 image forming unit 7 paper feed control unit 10 image forming device 20 operation panel 21 display unit 21-1000 to 21-34400 display 22 (22 -1 to 22-4) Cursor keys 23 Setting keys 24 Menu keys 25 Cancel key 26 Pause key

Claims (2)

If multiple paper trays are provided and paper cannot be fed from the paper tray during paper feeding, paper feeding can be performed by switching a paper tray different from the paper tray to the paper source. In a possible image forming apparatus,
First setting means for setting the paper quality of the paper stored in each of the plurality of paper feed trays;
And second setting means for setting the paper quality to be switched to the paper source.
When the paper feed tray that is feeding paper among the plurality of paper feed trays becomes unable to feed paper, the paper quality of the paper set by the first setting unit and the paper quality set by the second input unit are set. An image forming apparatus, wherein a new paper feed source is selected from the plurality of paper feed trays based on paper quality. The first setting means and the second setting means,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the settable paper quality includes at least plain paper and recycled paper.

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