JP2009256078A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a department management of an image forming apparatus by managing the utilization of sheet for each group of a paper feed storage unit by associating with the department a user belongs to by grouping the paper feed storage unit in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed storage units. <P>SOLUTION: The department group management part of the image forming apparatus can perform the department management by dividing the plurality of paper feed storage units for each group to set, registering by associating with the department the user belongs to for each group, and allowing only utilization receiving the paper feed from the paper feed storage unit in association with each department the user belongs to. A printing output sheet is prevented from being mixed between users of different departments by grouping a paper discharge tray. Furthermore, the output sheet is prevented from being seen by the user by enabling the paper discharge tray to lock. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed storage units (a paper feed cassette, a manual paper feed tray, etc.), the paper feed storage units are grouped so that the groups correspond to the departments to which the user belongs, and the departments of the image forming apparatus It relates to management technology.

  In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed storage units (such as a paper feed cassette or a manual paper feed tray), there is a method in which the plurality of paper feed storage units are grouped according to paper size, paper type, and the like. It was.

  For example, there is a method in which a plurality of paper feed trays are handled as a group and the status of each paper feed tray is represented as the status of the grouped paper feed trays (see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, there is an image forming apparatus provided with a department management system that manages the number of sheets used for each department. In the department management system, a department code, a limited number of sheets, and the like are registered in advance, and it is possible to manage the number of sheets that have been output and to suppress printing when the limit is exceeded.

  In the conventional department management system, it has not been possible to apply a prohibition for each department for each sheet storage unit. In addition, there is a problem that printing cannot be performed unless the department code is registered.

Therefore, it is conceivable to construct a mechanism equivalent to a conventional department management system by using a method of managing paper by associating a group of paper feed storage units with a department of department management. So far, there has been no way to achieve department management in the grouping of the paper storage units.
JP 2006-76868 A

  The problem to be solved is that, in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of sheet storage units, when grouping the sheet storage units and managing the use for each group, the groups and departments are associated with each other and managed. It was a point that could not be used as a department management system.

  The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed accommodating sections, wherein a group setting section that receives and sets an input for dividing each of the paper feed accommodating sections into groups, and the group It is most important to have a department group management section that performs department management by associating the group set by the setting section with department information and recording and holding the use of paper from the grouped sheet storage unit. Features.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the department group management unit is capable of group-setting paper feed storage units having different paper attributes. And

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of paper discharge trays for storing sheets for which printing has been completed, and the group setting unit includes the group setting unit. Switching control to accept and set an input for associating each paper discharge tray with each paper discharge tray, and to discharge the paper fed from the grouped paper feed storage unit to the paper discharge tray associated with the group The main feature is that it includes a paper discharge switching control section.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein at least one of the plurality of paper discharge trays is lockable.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a paper supply request having a predetermined paper attribute of another group is made from any one of the groups. Includes a paper feed switching control unit that performs a paper feed switching control so as to supply the predetermined paper from the paper feed accommodating unit of the other group. The main feature is to record the paper supply as the movement of paper between departments.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the paper feed switching control unit is configured to perform the paper feeding when the paper supply request is out of paper having a predetermined paper attribute. The main feature is to perform switching control.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the department group management unit has a predetermined time, a predetermined time interval, and a predetermined number of paper movement recordings. A record of the movement of the paper is printed out in response to at least one of reaching the threshold value.

  The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed accommodating sections, wherein a group setting section that receives and sets an input for dividing each of the paper feed accommodating sections into groups, and the group It is most important to have a department group management section that performs department management by associating the group set by the setting section with department information and recording and holding the use of paper from the grouped sheet storage unit. Due to the feature, the department management of the image forming apparatus can be easily realized by the method using the group of the paper feed storage unit.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the department group management unit is capable of group-setting paper feed storage units having different paper attributes. Therefore, it is possible for one department to manage using a plurality of sheets having different sheet attributes.

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of paper discharge trays for storing sheets for which printing has been completed, and the group setting unit includes the group setting unit. Switching control to accept and set an input for associating each paper discharge tray with each paper discharge tray, and to discharge the paper fed from the grouped paper feed storage unit to the paper discharge tray associated with the group Since the main feature is that it has a paper discharge switching control section, the paper printed out by the user is always discharged to the paper discharge tray assigned to the group to which it belongs. The problem of taking away printing paper has been eliminated.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, characterized in that at least one of the plurality of paper discharge trays is lockable. By outputting the stored document to a lockable paper discharge tray, users outside the department can no longer see it.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a paper supply request having a predetermined paper attribute of another group is made from any one of the groups. Includes a paper feed switching control unit that performs a paper feed switching control so as to supply the predetermined paper from the paper feed accommodating unit of the other group. Since the main feature is to record the paper supply as the movement of paper between departments, if you want to print on paper with attributes that do not exist in the paper storage unit of your department group, It is possible to continue printing by borrowing, and it is possible to manage the record of borrowing the paper as a record of paper movement.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the paper feed switching control unit is configured to perform the paper feeding when the paper supply request is out of paper having a predetermined paper attribute. Since the main feature is that the switching control is performed, it is possible to complete printing by exchanging paper between departments even when the paper runs out.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the department group management unit has a predetermined time, a predetermined time interval, and a predetermined number of paper movement recordings. Since the record of the movement of the sheet is printed out in response to at least one of the fact that the threshold value has been reached, the sheet exchange between the departments in the fifth and sixth aspects is forgotten. It ’s gone.

  In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of sheet storage units, the plurality of sheet storage units are set in groups, and image formation is performed by associating the groups with departments and recording the use of group sheets. Enables department management of equipment. Further, by associating the paper discharge tray with the group, it was possible to prevent paper mistaking between departments. In an emergency such as running out of paper, the paper can be moved between departments.

  An image forming apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. It should be noted that the paper feed tray and the paper feed storage unit in this embodiment are the same. The user and the user also agree.

[Device configuration]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view mainly showing a mechanical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The paper feed storage section in the description refers to both a flat paper feed tray such as a manual feed tray 220 described later and a box-type paper feed tray such as paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d. Indicates.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body unit 200, a sheet post-processing unit 300 disposed on the left side of the main body unit 200 in FIG. 1, an operation unit 400 for a user to input various operation commands, and the like. The document reading unit 500 is disposed above the document reading unit 500, and the document feeding unit 600 is disposed above the document reading unit 500.

  The operation unit 400 includes a touch panel 401 (display unit), a start key 402, a numeric keypad 403, and the like. The touch panel 401 (display unit) displays various operation screens and various operation buttons for the user to input various operation commands. The start key 402 is used for the user to input a print execution command and the like, and the ten key 403 is used for inputting the number of prints and the like.

  The document feeding unit 600 includes a document storage unit 601, a document discharge unit 602, a paper feed roller 603, a document transport unit 604, and the like, and the document reading unit 500 includes a scanner 501 and the like. The paper feed roller 603 feeds the original set in the original storage unit 601, and the original transport unit 604 transports the fed original one by one on the scanner 501 one by one. The scanner 501 sequentially reads the conveyed document, and the read document is discharged to the document discharge unit 602.

  The main body 200 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d (paper feed accommodation unit), a manual paper feed tray 220 (paper feed accommodation unit), and a plurality of paper feed rollers 202a, b, c, d, and 221. (Paper feeding drive unit), transfer roller 203 (printing unit), photosensitive drum 204 (printing unit), exposure device 206 (printing unit), developing device 207 (printing unit), fixing roller 208 (printing unit), discharge port 209 and a discharge tray 210 (discharge tray).

  The discharge tray 210 (discharge tray) is provided with a lockable opening / closing section 211 and can be locked. As a locking method, the method using the key shown in FIG. 1 may be used, or an electronic locking method for unlocking by inputting a password from the operation unit 400 may be used.

  The sheet feeding cassettes 201a, b, c, d and the manual sheet feeding tray 220 constitute a sheet feeding container.

  A printing unit 240 is formed by the transfer roller 203, the photosensitive drum 204, the exposure device 206, the developing device 207), and the fixing roller 208.

  The plurality of paper feed rollers 202a, b, c, d, 221 and the paper feed path from the paper feed storage unit to the printing unit 240 and its drive system constitute a paper feed drive unit 230.

  The photosensitive drum 204 is uniformly charged by a charging device (not shown) while rotating in the direction of the arrow. The exposure device 206 converts a modulation signal generated based on the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 500 into a laser beam and outputs the laser beam, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 204. The developing device 207 supplies a black developer to the photosensitive drum 204 to form a toner image.

  On the other hand, in the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, d of the paper feed storage unit, the paper feed rollers 202a, b, c, d are the uppermost surfaces of the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, d in which printing paper is stored. The paper is pulled out to the paper feed path of the paper feed drive unit 230 by rotating in contact with the paper. Further, in the manual paper feed tray 220, the paper feed roller 221 rotates in contact with the uppermost paper of the manual paper feed tray 220 to draw the print paper to the paper feed path of the paper feed drive unit 230 and transfer it. Feed to the roller 203. The transfer roller 203 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 204 to the conveyed printing paper, and the fixing roller 208 heats and fixes the transferred toner image on the printing paper.

  Thereafter, the printing paper is carried into the paper post-processing unit 300 from the discharge port 209 of the main body 200. The printing paper is also discharged to a discharge tray 210 (discharge tray) as necessary. The switching of the printing paper discharge direction is performed by a paper discharge switching cam 215.

  In the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, d, remaining amount sensors 205a, b, c, d for detecting the remaining amount of paper are attached to the respective paper feed cassettes. The remaining amount sensors 205a, b, c, d are J-shaped as shown in the figure, and detect the remaining amount of paper by rotating around the upper shaft as the remaining amount of paper decreases. When the paper runs out, the portion of the remaining amount sensor that contacts the paper falls into a hole (not shown) formed in the bottom surface of the paper feed cassette (paper feed tray), so that it can be detected that the paper has run out.

  In the manual paper feed tray 220 (paper feed accommodating portion), the paper feed roller 221 serves as a remaining amount sensor.

  The paper post-processing unit 300 includes a carry-in port 301, a print paper carrying unit 302, a carry-out port 303, a stack tray 304 (discharge tray), and the like. The stack tray 304 has an upper stack tray 304u (discharge tray) that discharges from the upper discharge port 303u and a lower stack tray 304d (discharge tray) that discharges from the lower discharge port 303d.

  The printing paper transport unit 302 uses the post-processing device discharge switching cam 315 to switch the transporting port of the printing paper carried into the carry-in port 301 from the discharge port 209 and transports it, and finally discharges it from the upper discharge port 303u. Printing paper is discharged to the stack tray 304u (discharge tray) and the lower stack tray 304d (discharge tray) discharged from the lower discharge port 303d.

  The lower stack tray 304d is configured to be movable up and down in the direction of the arrow according to the number of print sheets stacked from the lower carry-out port 303d.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 has the three discharge trays of the discharge tray 210, the upper stack tray 304u, and the lower stack tray 304d, and is controlled by the discharge switching control unit 711 described later to discharge the sheet. The paper discharge tray to be selected is selected.

[Function block]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In this functional block diagram, only the part related to the essence of the present invention is illustrated in a block diagram. A block diagram of the printing unit 240 and the post-processing device 300 described in the configuration diagram of FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows the paper feed storage unit (paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d and the manual paper feed tray 220), the paper feed drive unit 230, the operation unit 400, and the operation already described with reference to the side sectional view of FIG. In addition to the touch panel 401 (display unit) in the unit 400, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a software function unit 700 and a communication interface unit 751, which are functional block units not illustrated in FIG.

  The software function unit 700 further includes a remaining paper amount detection unit 701, a paper size type detection unit 703, an internal Web server 707, a paper feed switching control unit 709, a paper discharge switching control unit 711, an authentication unit 713, and a group setting unit 715. Each functional block of the department group management unit 719 is provided.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the network 801 through the communication interface unit 751. The PC 1 (Personal Computer) 901 (external device) and the PC 2 (Personal Computer) 903 (external device) are also connected to the network. Connected.

  Each functional unit will be described below. In the description of this functional block, only functional units related to grouping related to the essence of the present invention will be described. Description of other image processing units that are not related to the essence of the present invention is omitted.

  The communication interface unit 751 is an interface unit that connects the image forming apparatus 1 to a network. The communication interface unit 751 is connected to an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  The software function unit 700 is a function unit that causes the computer of the image forming apparatus 1 to implement various functions using software. Hereinafter, each functional block in the software function unit 700 will be described.

  The remaining paper amount detection unit 701 receives signals from remaining amount sensors 205a, b, c, and d that detect the remaining amount of paper in each of the paper feed cassettes 201a, 201b, 201c, 201d included in the paper feed cassette unit 201. The remaining amount of paper in each of the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d is detected and the fact that the paper has run out is detected.

  The paper size type detection unit 703 is installed in a paper size signal measured by a frame part that determines the paper size of each of the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d of the paper feed cassette unit 201 and in the paper feed path. Based on the signal from the sensor, the paper size and the paper type supplied to each paper feed cassette are detected.

  Paper types that cannot be detected by these sensors, such as thick paper, colored paper, or single-sided used paper, are set by a group setting holding unit 715 described later according to user settings.

  The internal Web server 707 is provided so that the state of the image forming apparatus 1 can be accessed from the browser 913 of the PC 2; 903 which is an external apparatus. By accessing the page of the internal Web server 707, the setting state of the image forming apparatus 1 can be confirmed and the setting can be changed. As described above, the settings for grouping the paper feed storage unit and the paper discharge tray can also be confirmed and changed by accessing the internal Web server 707. Also, an internal web server 707 provides a setting screen for an alternative sheet storage unit described later.

  When the sheet runs out of one of the grouped sheet storage units (sheet feed cassette and manual feed tray) during printing, the sheet feed control unit 709 causes the sheet storage unit that has run out of paper. If there are other paper feed storage units grouped together, the paper feed drive unit 230 is set so as to feed paper from other grouped paper feed storage units automatically without stopping the printing operation. It is a functional part to control.

  If the paper storage units with different paper sizes and types are grouped, the paper may be printed on unintended paper when automatic paper feed switching is performed. It is possible to set whether or not to perform automatic switching between existing paper storage units.

  For example, when A4 plain paper is stored in the paper feed tray 1, A4 plain paper in the paper feed tray 2, and A3 plain paper in the paper feed tray 3, and these are grouped, automatic switching is performed in the paper feed tray. It is possible to perform settings such as operating only between 1 and 2 and preventing automatic switching between the paper feed tray 3 and the paper feed tray 1 and between the paper feed tray 3 and the paper feed tray 2.

  Further, when there is a paper supply request with a predetermined paper attribute of another group from any group, the paper feed switching control unit 709 supplies the predetermined paper from the paper feed accommodation unit of the other group. The paper feed switching control is performed. The paper supply request is, for example, other when a sheet of A4 paper is cut out in a paper feed container of a group used by a certain department, or automatically according to a user request or other settings. This is a request to enable paper feeding from A4 paper in the paper feed storage unit of the group. When this paper supply request occurs, the paper feed switching control unit 709 performs paper feed switching control.

  Regarding paper supply requests, in addition to running out of paper as described above, some departments (for example, the sales section described later) often use OHP paper. A section (for example, a general affairs section described later) includes a case where an OHP paper is not inserted and the general affairs section, which is another department, borrows an OHP paper from the sales section and uses it.

  In any of the above cases, the department group management unit 719 records a record of the sheet movement.

  In the paper discharge switching control unit 711, the department group management unit 719 assigns a group to each of a plurality of paper discharge trays (discharge tray 210, upper stack tray 304u, and lower stack tray 304d). Control is performed so that it is performed only on the paper discharge tray to which it belongs. Specifically, the paper discharge switching cam 215 and the post-processing apparatus paper discharge switching cam 315 are controlled to control which paper discharge tray is discharged.

  Among the paper discharge trays, the discharge tray 210 has a lockable opening / closing part 211 and can be locked, so that the paper discharged there cannot be seen by users of other departments.

  The paper discharge switching control unit 711 operates under the control of the department group management unit 719 that grasps the association between the paper discharge tray and the group.

  The authentication unit 713 is a functional unit for authenticating to which department a user belongs. The authentication may be a method of simply selecting a group from the operation unit 400. In addition, when authenticating whether a user belongs to a department, a method of inputting a department ID and a department password for each user department may be used, or when performing authentication for each user. May take a method of inputting a user ID and a user password. In addition, a method of performing such authentication by a method of reading information in a card using a user ID card (RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), IC card, magnetic card, etc.) may be used.

  The group setting unit 715 receives an input for setting a plurality of sheet feeding storage units in groups, and holds the setting. One group can be set to belong to one or a plurality of paper feed storage units. In addition, not all the sheet storage units need to belong to a group, and a setting may be made where there is a sheet storage unit that does not belong to a group.

  Further, the group setting unit 715 accepts an input to belong to the above-described group for a plurality of paper discharge trays and holds the setting.

  The department group management unit 719 manages the department management of the image forming apparatus by associating the group set by the group setting unit 715 with the department to which the user belongs and recording the use of paper from the paper feed storage unit. Do.

  In addition, by managing the output trays set for groups in association with the departments, it is possible to output only to the output trays, and the paper that is printed out between departments is not mixed. .

  The department group management unit 719 controls the sheet feeding control of the sheet feeding unit by giving a command to the sheet feeding switching control unit 709.

  The department group management unit 719 controls the output of the paper discharge tray by giving a command to the paper discharge switching control unit 711.

  The grouping information of the sheet storage unit recorded and held by the department group management unit 719 is recorded as shown in Table 1 below.

  Referring to Table 1 above, two groups are set for the group setting of the sheet storage unit (agreement with the sheet feed tray or the tray), and group A has two groups of the sheet feed tray 1 and the sheet feed tray 4. The group B groups two of the paper feed tray 2 and the paper feed tray 3.

  Further, the lower stack tray 304d belongs to the group A, and the discharge tray 210 and the upper stack tray 304u belong to the group B.

  Each group is associated with the department to which the user belongs. For example, as shown in Table 1, group A can be used only by a user who belongs to the sales department and group B can belong to the general affairs department.

  In addition, it is recorded that the total number of accumulated usages of the group A (sales department) is 638 so far, and the total number of cumulative usages of the group B (general affairs section B) is 232 so far.

  Regarding the grouping of the discharge trays, the department group management unit 719 operates in cooperation with the discharge switching control unit 711, and the sheets printed out by the users belonging to a certain department are output to the discharge trays belonging to that department. Will be discharged only.

  Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, one (or more) of the discharge trays 210 may be locked with the lockable opening / closing portion 211, so that the confidential documents relating to important information, etc. Can be discharged to the discharge tray 211.

  In addition, the department group management unit 719 makes it possible to lend and borrow paper between departments in an emergency, and records the lending and borrowing.

  Normally, a user can only print output after receiving paper from a group of paper storage units associated with the department to which the user belongs, but the paper in the paper storage unit of the group of the department to which the user belongs is exhausted. In this case, it is possible to borrow paper from other departments (other paper feed storage group).

  In this case, it is set in advance as to which group is allowed to use the paper from which group in an emergency. For example, if the sales department tries to print A4 material from the paper feed tray 1, but the paper feed tray 4 contains only A3 and there is no A4 paper, it enters the paper feed tray 3 of the General Affairs Department. It is possible to borrow A4 paper. In this case, the department group management unit 719 records the loan (paper movement). Table 1 shows that a paper loan (paper movement record) is recorded, and that a record in which group B borrows 120 A4 sheets from group A is shown.

  The department group management unit 719 also has a function of printing out at least one of the set time, the set time interval, and the fact that the recording count of sheet movement has reached a predetermined threshold. This has the effect of not letting the user forget that the paper has been rented between departments by outputting the usage record periodically by the above-mentioned trigger or the like.

  It is possible to set whether to execute this function or at which timing when executing this function.

[User interface screen for group settings]
A setting operation when the group setting of the paper feed tray in the image forming apparatus 1 is performed using the touch panel 401 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described using the user interface screen of FIG.

  In addition to the touch panel 401, a grouping setting method using an internal Web server 707 or a printer monitoring utility 911 is also possible. Even in that case, basically, the same screen as in FIG. 3 is displayed, except that the selection is made with a mouse or the like instead of the touch panel.

  3A to 3D show examples of group setting screens displayed on the touch panel 401. FIG. In FIG. 3A, icons of respective parts of the apparatus are displayed. The numbered tray 1 corresponds to the paper cassette a; 201a, and the tray 2 corresponds to the paper cassette b; 201b. 3 corresponds to the paper feeding cassette c; 201c, and the tray 4 corresponds to the paper feeding cassette d2; 01d. MP corresponds to the manual paper feed tray 220. A group setting button 451 is also arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the user touches and highlights the paper tray icon displayed on the touch panel that is to be grouped.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the group setting button 451 is touched to determine grouping.

  The result of determining the grouping is displayed by a frame including tray 1 and tray 4 as shown in FIG.

  One group is set by the above operation. Thereafter, the same operation is performed on the paper feed tray 2 and the paper feed tray 3 to form a new group of the two paper feed trays.

  The grouping of the discharge trays is also set by the same method as described above.

[Effect of Example]
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention enables the following.

  With the department group management unit that records the use of paper by associating the group of the paper storage unit with the user's department, the department management of the image forming apparatus can be performed for each group of the paper supply unit.

  Unlike the conventional paper feed storage unit, the department group management unit can be handled as a group even between paper feed storage units having different paper attributes. Therefore, a department has a plurality of different paper attributes. It became possible to handle paper.

  By grouping not only the paper feed storage unit but also the paper discharge tray, it is no longer necessary to carry away wrong printed documents between departments.

  Furthermore, since the paper discharge tray can be locked, secret documents and the like are not seen by users in different departments.

  The department group management unit 719 controls the paper feed switching control unit to perform paper feeding from other groups when printing is performed between the groups (paper lending and borrowing), thereby printing the paper. It is now possible to borrow paper from other departments and print in emergencies such as running out of paper or lack of paper.

Further, the paper movement is performed by printing out at least one of the set time, the set time interval, and the number of recordings of the paper movement reaching a predetermined threshold as a trigger. It has become possible to make the user recognize that the event has been performed.
[Others]
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described by taking as an example a relatively high-functional image forming apparatus including functional units such as the document feeding unit 600, the document reading unit 500, and the post-processing device 300. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can be applied to, for example, an image forming apparatus that does not include the above-described functional unit. The apparatus configuration of the image forming apparatus is within the scope of the gist or technical idea of the present invention. The image forming apparatus in which these changes are made is also within the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a user interface screen when setting a group in the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 201a, b, c, d Paper feed cassette (paper feed accommodating portion)
202a, b, c, d Paper feed roller (paper feed drive unit)
203 Transfer roller (printing section)
204 Printing drum (printing section)
206 Exposure device (printing unit)
207 Development device (printing unit)
208 Transfer roller (printing section)
210 Output tray (output tray)
220 Manual paper feed tray (paper feed compartment)
221 Paper feed roller (paper feed drive)
230 Paper Feed Drive Unit 240 Printing Unit 401 Touch Panel (Display Unit)
709 Paper feed switching control unit 711 Paper discharge switching control unit 713 Authentication unit 715 Group setting unit 719 Department group management unit 901 PC1 (Personal Computer) (external device)
903 PC2 (Personal Computer) (external device)

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed storage units,
A group setting unit configured to accept and set an input for dividing each of the sheet storage units into groups;
A department group management unit that performs department management by recording and holding the use of paper from the grouped sheet storage unit in association with the group set by the group setting unit and the department information. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the department group management unit is capable of group-setting paper feed storage units having different paper attributes. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A plurality of paper discharge trays for storing sheets of paper that have been printed;
The group setting unit receives and sets an input for associating the group with each of the paper discharge trays,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet discharge switching control unit configured to perform switching control so that a sheet received from the grouped sheet storage unit is discharged to a sheet discharge tray associated with the group. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of paper discharge trays is lockable. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
When there is a paper supply request for a predetermined paper attribute of another group from any one of the groups, the paper feed switching control is performed so that the predetermined paper is supplied from the paper feed storage unit of the other group. A paper feed switching control unit,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the department group management unit records the paper supply from the other group as a paper movement between departments. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The image forming apparatus, wherein the paper feed switching control unit performs the paper feed switching control when the paper supply request is out of paper having a predetermined paper attribute. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
The department group management unit prints out the paper movement record triggered by at least one of a predetermined time, a predetermined time interval, and the number of paper movement recordings reaching a predetermined threshold. An image forming apparatus.