JP2007052376A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of inexpensively and easily achieving the balance between averaging of the lifetime of a component of a paper feed tray and shortening of printing time. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus having two or more functions among a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function and provided with paper feed trays 6-1 to 6-3 of multistage, is provided with a control means 1 controlling selection of the paper feed tray having the shortest conveyance passage among the paper feed trays storing the paper with the corresponding size, when using the copying function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a paper feed tray selection control technique in a multi-function image forming apparatus or a color image forming apparatus having a copying function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, when the number of images to be formed is small, a sheet feeding tray other than a large capacity sheet feeding tray (usually higher than a sheet feeding unit located below the transfer unit in the main body, and therefore a conveyance path to the transfer unit) The printing time is shortened by selecting “Short”, and when the number of images to be formed is large, the large-capacity paper feed tray (usually at the lower part of the paper feed unit at the lower part of the main body, the transport path to the transfer unit is long There has been a technique for reducing the probability of running out of paper during printing.
By the way, in the image forming apparatus, when printing is performed only from a specific paper feed tray, there arises a problem that only the parts constituting the paper feed tray reach the end of their lives. However, in order to shorten the printing time as much as possible, the user tends to select printing from a paper feed tray having a short transport path, which is normally higher.

In multi-function image forming apparatuses and color image forming apparatuses having both a copying function, a printer function, a facsimile function, etc., when using the copying function, the user is in front of the image forming apparatus. Of course, when using the printer function or the facsimile function, the user is often not in front of the image forming apparatus. There is a fact that it does not occur.
In general, since the color mode uses several colors of toner during image formation, it takes longer to form an image than the single color mode. However, there is a situation that the paper transport time is determined only by the length of the transport path regardless of the color mode.
Further, the frequency of use of functions (copying function, printer function, facsimile function) varies depending on the user who uses the image forming apparatus. For example, there is a situation that a certain user uses a lot of copying functions but does not use the printer functions very much or vice versa.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can easily and without costly balance the averaging of the time required to reach the component life of each paper feed tray and the reduction of the printing time. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus having two or more functions among a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and having a plurality of paper feed trays. When using the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a control unit that performs control to select a paper feeding tray having the shortest conveyance path among the paper feeding trays in which the paper of the corresponding size is stored has the most main feature. To do.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a color image forming function and having a plurality of stages of paper feed trays. An image forming apparatus including a control unit that performs control to select a paper feed tray excluding a paper feed tray having the shortest conveyance path is the main feature.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined function is used in an image forming apparatus having two or more functions of a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function and having a plurality of stages of paper feed trays, An image forming apparatus including a control unit that performs control to select a paper feed tray having the shortest conveyance path among paper feed trays storing sheets of a size to be stored is the main feature.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, an image forming apparatus including an operation unit configured to set whether or not to perform the control by the control unit is mainly used. Features.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect is characterized in that the image forming apparatus includes an operation unit for setting a predetermined function.

  The present invention has two or more functions of a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. When an image forming apparatus having a plurality of stages of paper feeding trays is used, By including a control means for performing control for selecting a paper feed tray having the shortest conveyance path among stored paper feed trays, it also has a color image forming function and includes a plurality of paper feed trays. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that performs control to select a paper feed tray other than a paper feed tray having the shortest conveyance path among paper feed trays storing paper of a corresponding size during color image formation. In addition, when a predetermined function is used in an image forming apparatus having two or more functions of a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function and having a plurality of stages of paper feeding trays. The control means for performing control to select the paper feed tray having the shortest transport path among the paper feed trays storing the corresponding size paper is provided until the component life of each paper feed tray is reached. A balance between time averaging and shortening of printing time can be easily ensured without cost.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus is a multi-function image forming apparatus having a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like.
That is, a copy function unit 2, a printer function unit 3, and a facsimile function unit 4 are provided with the main control unit 1 as the center. An operation unit 5 and a paper feeding unit 6 are provided. The paper feed unit 6 includes, in order from the top, a first paper feed tray 6-1, a second paper feed tray 6-2, and a third paper feed tray 6-3. The main control unit 1 controls the copy function unit 2, the printer function unit 3, and the facsimile function unit 4 according to the function set from the operation unit 5.
The paper feeding unit 6 is disposed below an image forming unit including a photoconductor, a charging unit, a developing unit, and a transfer unit.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of paper feed tray selection control according to the first exemplary embodiment in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. When printing is started, first, the uppermost paper feed tray, that is, the first paper feed tray 6-1 is selected (S1). Since the uppermost sheet feed tray is located closest to the transfer unit (not shown) (located above the sheet feed unit 6), the sheet feed tray can shorten the printing time by shortening the conveyance path. Is selected for the time being.
Next, it is determined whether or not a sheet of the same size as the size to be printed is stored in the first paper feed tray 6-1 (S2). If it is stored, it is stored in the memory in the main control unit 1 together with the remaining amount of paper as a candidate for actual paper feeding operation (S3). If there is another paper feed tray in the apparatus main body (Y in S4), it is selected (S5), and the processes of S2 and S3 are executed in the same manner.
When the processes of S2 and S3 are executed for all the paper feed trays (N in S4), it is determined whether or not the copy function is executed (S6). In the case of the copying function, as described above, it is normal for the user to be near the device. In this case, it is desirable to shorten the printing time.
Therefore, when the copy function is executed (Y in S6), the uppermost paper feed tray (the first paper feed tray 6-1) among the paper feed trays storing the size paper to be printed may be used. Is not limited thereto) (S7). If it is not a copying function (N in S6), there are many cases where there is no user beside the device as described above, and in this case, the printing time may be slightly increased. A paper feed tray with a longer length is selected (S8).
At that time, it is preferable to select a paper feed tray having the largest remaining amount of paper. The fact that the remaining amount of paper is large is because the frequency of use up to that point is low, and if that paper feed tray is used, the frequency of use will approach that of other paper feed trays.
By executing such control, it is possible to prevent the use frequency of the plurality of paper feed trays from being biased while shortening the printing time if necessary. Further, convenience can be improved by enabling switching from the operation unit 5 to determine whether or not to perform the above control when executing the copying function.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of paper feed tray selection control according to the second embodiment in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. When printing is started, first, the uppermost paper feed tray, that is, the first paper feed tray 6-1 is selected (S1). Since the uppermost sheet feeding tray is closest to the transfer unit (not shown), the sheet feeding tray that has the shortest conveyance path and can shorten the printing time is selected for the time being.
Next, it is determined whether or not a sheet of the same size as the size to be printed is stored in the first paper feed tray 6-1 (S2). If it is stored, it is stored in the memory in the main control unit 1 together with the remaining amount of paper as a candidate for actual paper feeding operation (S3). If there is another paper feed tray in the apparatus main body (Y in S4), it is selected (S5), and the processes of S2 and S3 are executed in the same manner.
When the processes of S2 and S3 are executed for all the paper feed trays (N in S4), it is determined whether or not the color mode is set (S6). In the case of the color mode, as described above, since printing takes time, there is no problem even if the paper transport time becomes longer, that is, the transport path becomes longer.
Therefore, when the color mode is executed (Y in S6), the lower paper feed tray is selected from the paper feed trays storing the paper of the size to be printed (S7). At that time, it is preferable to select a paper feed tray having the largest remaining amount of paper. The fact that the remaining amount of paper is large is because the frequency of use up to that point is low, and if that paper feed tray is used, the frequency of use will approach that of other paper feed trays.
When the color mode is not set (N in S6), the uppermost paper feed tray (the first paper feed tray 6-1 may be used) among the paper feed trays in which the paper of the size to be printed is stored. No) is selected (S8).
By executing such control, it is possible to prevent the use frequency of the plurality of paper feed trays from being biased while shortening the printing time if necessary. Whether or not to perform the above-described control can be switched from the operation unit 5 to improve convenience.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of paper feed tray selection control according to the third embodiment in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. When printing is started, first, the uppermost paper feed tray, that is, the first paper feed tray 6-1 is selected (S1). Since the uppermost sheet feeding tray is closest to the transfer unit (not shown), the sheet feeding tray that has the shortest conveyance path and can shorten the printing time is selected for the time being.
Next, it is determined whether or not a sheet of the same size as the size to be printed is stored in the first paper feed tray 6-1 (S2). If it is stored, it is stored in the memory in the main control unit 1 together with the remaining amount of paper as a candidate for actual paper feeding operation (S3). If there is another paper feed tray in the apparatus main body (Y in S4), it is selected (S5), and the processes of S2 and S3 are executed in the same manner.
When the processing of S2 and S3 is executed for all the paper feed trays (N in S4), it is determined whether or not to execute the function set in the service mode (S6). There are various functions frequently used by users. It is convenient to set the functions that you mainly use as the service mode.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a service mode setting screen. In this example, the copy function is set as the service mode. In the case of a function that is frequently used, it is desirable to shorten the printing time.
Therefore, when the function set as the service mode (in this example, the copy function) is executed (Y in S6), the uppermost paper feed tray in which the paper of the size to be printed is stored is stored. (S7 may be the first paper feed tray 6-1 but is not limited thereto) (S7).
If the function is not set as the service mode (N in S6), another paper feed tray, that is, a paper feed tray having a long transport path is selected (S8). At that time, it is preferable to select a paper feed tray having the largest remaining amount of paper. The fact that the remaining amount of paper is large is because the frequency of use up to that point is low, and if that paper feed tray is used, the frequency of use will approach that of other paper feed trays.
By executing such control, it is possible to prevent the use frequency of the plurality of paper feed trays from being biased while shortening the printing time if necessary. Whether or not to perform the above-described control can be switched from the operation unit 5 to improve convenience.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart of sheet feeding tray selection control according to the first exemplary embodiment in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7 is a flowchart of sheet feeding tray selection control according to the second exemplary embodiment in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7 is a flowchart of sheet feed tray selection control according to the third embodiment in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. The figure which shows a service mode setting screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control part (control means), 2 Copy function part, 3 Printer function part, 4 Facsimile function part, 5 Operation part, 6 Paper feed part, 6-1 1st paper feed tray, 6-2 2nd paper feed tray 6-3 Third paper feed tray

Claims (5)

  In an image forming apparatus having two or more functions of a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and having a plurality of stages of paper feed trays, sheets of a corresponding size are stored when the copying function is used. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to perform control for selecting a paper feed tray having a shortest conveyance path to an image forming unit among the paper feed trays.   In an image forming apparatus having a color image forming function and including a plurality of stages of paper feed trays, when a color image is formed, a conveyance path to an image forming unit in a paper feed tray storing paper of a corresponding size. An image forming apparatus comprising control means for performing control to select a paper feed tray excluding the shortest paper feed tray.   In an image forming apparatus having two or more functions of a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and having a plurality of paper feed trays, when a predetermined function is used, a sheet of a corresponding size is stored. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to perform control for selecting a paper feed tray having the shortest conveyance path to an image forming unit from among the paper feed trays.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit configured to set whether or not to perform the control by the control unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an operation unit for setting a predetermined function.

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