JP2011026029A - Paper feeding control device, image forming device and paper feeding control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a machine maintenance frequency by lengthening the service life together with the other paper feeding stage, even if paper feeding advances from a specific paper feeding stage. <P>SOLUTION: Paper is individually set in a plurality of paper feeding stages 15a sand 15b. A count part 17 counts the paper feeding number with every paper feeding stages 15a and 15b. A paper detecting part 19 detects a kind of paper set in the paper feeding stages 15a and 15b. A switching control part 21 controls so as to switch to the paper feeding from the other same paper feeding stage on its same kind of paper, when a count value in one same paper feeding stage exceeds a preset reference count value in a state where the paper detecting part 19 detects a plurality of paper feeding stages 15a and 15b of setting the same kind of paper as the same paper feeding stage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding control apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet feeding control method, and feeds a sheet from a sheet feeding stage in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function peripheral (MFP). The present invention relates to an improvement of a paper feed control device to be controlled, an image forming apparatus equipped with the paper feed control device, and a paper feed control method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral has a plurality of paper feed stages for storing printing (printing) paper, and is used for image data read from a manuscript by scanner means or image data input from an external personal computer or the like. Equipped with an automatic paper selection mode function that automatically selects the paper feed stage that matches the image data based on the included paper size data and prints on the paper from the automatically selected paper feed stage. Printing is possible.

  In addition, when paper of the same size is set in a plurality of paper feed stages in the automatic paper selection mode, a specific paper feed stage that preferentially feeds paper among the paper feed stages in which the paper of the same size is set is set in advance. In many cases, it has a function of setting and starting paper feed from a specific paper feed stage.

  In this case, when printing is performed in the automatic paper selection mode even if frequently used sheets are stored in a plurality of stages, the sheets are preferentially fed only from a specific sheet feeding stage.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-361935 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-3977 (Patent Document 2) are general ones of this type.

JP-A-4-361935 JP-A-2005-3777

  However, in the above-described prior art, when used in the automatic paper selection mode, the frequency of use of a specific paper feed stage increases, so that the consumption of members related to paper feed performance such as paper feed rollers compared to other paper feed stages. However, it is necessary to perform maintenance only for a specific paper feed stage even though there is no need to replace other members. There is a drawback that costs are likely to rise.

  Therefore, as a result of intensive observation and examination of the configuration of the image forming apparatus and the like and the usage state of the paper feed tray, the present inventor appropriately manages the number of paper feeds from the paper feed tray and excessively feeds from the specific paper feed tray. Focusing on the fact that it is possible to suppress the consumption of the specific paper feed stage by dispersing the paper, the present invention has been completed.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and is equipped with a paper feed control device capable of extending the life of a paper feed member and reducing the number of times of machine maintenance along with other paper feed stages. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding control method.

  In order to solve such a problem, a paper feed control apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a plurality of paper feed stages in which paper is individually set, and a count for counting the number of paper feeds for each paper feed stage. A paper detection unit that detects the type of paper set in the paper feed stage, and the paper detection unit detects a plurality of paper feed stages in which the same type of paper is set as the same paper feed stage. Below, when the count value in one same paper feed stage exceeds a preset reference count value, a switching control unit that controls the same type of paper to be fed from another same paper feed stage, It has.

  The sheet feed control apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention may be configured such that the one sheet feed stage is set in advance so as to be fed preferentially.

  The paper feed control apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention may be configured such that the paper detection unit detects the same size or the same form as the paper in the same paper feed stage.

  The sheet feeding control apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention may be configured such that the switching control unit performs switching control to another same sheet feeding stage having the smallest count value.

  The sheet feeding control apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention may be configured such that the switching control unit uses a count value smaller than an exchange count value set in advance for the sheet feeding stage as the reference count value.

  The sheet feeding control apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention may be configured such that the switching control unit performs switching control of the sheet feeding stage at the end of the processing of the image forming job.

  The sheet feeding control apparatus according to claim 7 of the present invention may be configured such that the switching control unit is controlled to execute the switching control based on an instruction from the external input unit.

  The sheet feeding control apparatus according to claim 8 of the present invention may be configured such that the switching control unit is controlled to execute the switching control via a network.

  An image forming apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention includes the sheet feeding control device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, and includes a printing unit that prints image data.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feed control method that counts the number of paper fed for each of a plurality of paper feed stages in which paper is individually set, and sets the types of paper set in the paper feed stages. The count value in one same paper feed stage is set in advance under the condition that the paper detection process to be detected and a plurality of paper feed stages loaded with the same type of paper are detected as the same paper feed stage by this paper detection process And a switching control process for switching the sheet of the same type to the sheet feeding from the other same sheet feeding stage when the reference count value is exceeded.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding control method has a configuration in which the switching control process preferentially feeds one preset same sheet feeding stage.

  The paper feed control method according to claim 12 of the present invention has a configuration in which the paper detection process detects the same size or form as the paper in the same paper feed stage.

  The sheet feed control method according to claim 13 of the present invention has a configuration in which the switching control process switches to another identical sheet feed stage having the smallest count value.

  The paper feed control method according to claim 14 of the present invention has a configuration in which the switching control process uses a count value smaller than a replacement count value preset for the paper feed stage as the reference count value. .

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding control method has a configuration in which the switching control process switches and controls the sheet feeding stage every time the image forming job is completed.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding control method has a configuration in which the switching control process controls execution of the switching control based on an instruction from the external input unit.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding control method has a configuration in which the switching control process controls execution of the switching control via a network.

  In the sheet feeding control apparatus and the sheet feeding control method according to the first and tenth aspects of the present invention, the number of fed sheets is counted for each of a plurality of sheet feeding stages in which sheets are individually set, and the sheet feeding stages are counted. The same paper feed stage is detected under the condition that paper detection is performed to detect the type of paper set and a plurality of paper feed stages loaded with the same type of paper are detected as the same paper feed stage by this paper detection process. When the count value exceeds the reference count value set in advance, the same type of paper is controlled to be switched to feed from another same paper feed stage. It is possible to reduce the number of machine maintenance operations with the paper tray.

  In the paper feed control apparatus and the paper feed control method according to claims 2 and 11 of the present invention, the same paper feed stage is preferentially fed in advance, so that the priority paper feed from a specific paper feed stage is performed. Even if the exhaustion progresses, the paper can be sorted and fed to another same paper feed stage before reaching the replacement time, and the service life can be extended together with other paper feed stages to reduce the number of machine maintenance.

  Since the paper feed control method according to claims 3 and 12 of the present invention detects the same size or the same form as the paper in the same paper feed stage, it is possible to obtain the above-described effects on various papers.

  Since the sheet feeding control device and the sheet feeding control method according to claims 4 and 13 of the present invention perform switching control to the other sheet feeding stage having the smallest count value, the life is further extended together with other sheet feeding stages. It is possible to reduce the number of machine maintenance.

  Since the paper feed control device and the paper feed control method according to claims 5 and 14 of the present invention use a count value smaller than a preset exchange count value for the paper feed stage as the reference count value, Before reaching, it becomes possible to sort and feed to other same paper feed stages, and it is certain to extend the life together with other paper feed stages.

  According to the sixth and fifteenth aspects of the present invention, the paper feed control device and the paper feed control method switch and control the paper feed stage every time an image forming job is processed, so that the image forming quality for each image forming job is kept constant. It is possible.

  Since the sheet feeding control device and the sheet feeding control method according to claims 7 and 16 of the present invention execute and control the switching control of the sheet feeding stage based on the instruction from the external input unit, the use according to the user's desire Is possible.

  Since the paper feed control device and the paper feed control method according to claims 8 and 17 of the present invention execute and control the switching control of the paper feed stage via the network, they can be operated remotely from an external information processing device. It is.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a paper feed control apparatus according to the present invention together with an image forming apparatus. 1 is a main part configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining the count information table in the memory | storage part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation panel unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus in relation to the paper feed control apparatus according to the present invention.

  Embodiments of a paper feed control device, an image forming apparatus, and a paper feed control method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The paper feed control device and the paper feed control method of the present invention will be described in the course of explaining the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  1, an image forming apparatus A according to the present invention includes an image reading unit 3, a storage unit 5, an operation panel unit 7, a communication unit 9, and a printing unit 11 with the main control unit 1 as a center. For example, a multifunction machine is configured. Although the image forming apparatus A has various configurations other than this, it is not a main part of the present invention, and thus the description and illustration are omitted.

  The main control unit 1 controls the image reading unit 3, the storage unit 5, the operation panel unit 7, the communication unit 9, and the printing unit 11, and details thereof will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading unit 3 is disposed on the upper part of the main body case 13 of the image forming apparatus A, and optically reads an image from, for example, a printed document under the control of the main control unit 1. An image input unit such as a scanner that generates electronic image data including characters by processing and the like. The generated image data is sequentially stored in the storage unit 5 for each page of the document.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the storage unit 5 stores image data from the image reading unit 3 and the communication unit 9, operation programs for the main control unit 1, various data for controlling the printing unit 11, and paper feeding as described later. It is a readable / writable hard disk (HDD) for storing a count information table composed of a reference count value and a paper feed count value for each of the stages 15a and 15b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the count information table is in the form of a list in which the reference count value and the actual paper feed count value are associated with each paper feed stage (1-3) 15a, 15b.

  Here, the reference count value is a count value sufficiently smaller than a preset exchange count value in order to use as a guide for replacement for each paper feed stage 15a, 15b with use and consumption, that is, paper feed before replacement. It is a count value that leaves a surplus. For example, even if the reference count values of the paper feed stages (1-3) 15a and 15b are “5000 (sheets)” and “6000 (sheets)”, the replacement count value is “8000 (sheets)” although not shown. Or “10000 (sheets)”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel unit 7 in FIG. 1 is disposed on the upper part of the main body case 13 of the image forming apparatus A, and includes a liquid crystal type display unit that displays the operation state of the image forming apparatus A, and a touch switch type. The image display input unit that also serves as an input unit is controlled to display an image by the main control unit 1 and an input instruction is output to the main control unit 1.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel unit 7 selects various operation instructions and selection keys 7a for printing (printing, copying) processing, printer processing, scanner processing, fax processing, etc. A numeric keypad 7b, a start key 7c, a display panel unit 7d, and the like are provided as input units for inputting settings, changes, and the like of the operation functions.

  The display panel unit 7d has a function as a display unit that displays various operation information, and displays an execution key 7e that receives an input as to whether or not to perform the switching control according to the present invention for the paper feed stages 15a and 15b. And function as a display input unit that receives this input instruction.

  1 communicates, for example, with an information processing apparatus (computer) B and another image forming apparatus (not shown) via the network NT under the control of the main control unit 1. It is an interface unit that transmits and receives an instruction input as to whether or not to execute the switching control according to the present invention for data such as mail and the paper feed stages 15a and 15b.

  The printing unit 11 includes a paper feed stage 15, a counting unit 17, a paper detection unit 19, a switching control unit 21, a conveyance driving unit 23, an image forming unit 25 and others.

  The paper feed stage 15 is a general paper feed cassette (including a manual feed cassette) in which a plurality of A4 general cut sheets are set, for example. The sheet feeding stages 15a and 15b can be mounted, and a counting unit 17 is disposed in the sheet feeding stages 15a and 15b.

  Note that the paper feed stage 15 is not limited to A4 paper, and two or more paper feed cassettes in which a plurality of types of general single-sheet paper are set, such as A3 and B4, are arranged for convenience. Two are shown.

  The paper feed stages 15a and 15b are the same paper feed stage in which a plurality of the same A4 sheets are set. For example, the paper feed stage 15a is preferentially set with A4 recycled paper and will be described later. In the paper feed stage 15b, A4 quality paper is set.

  The count unit 17 is a sensor that counts up each time a set sheet is pulled out and fed in each of the sheet feed stages 15a and 15b, and detects the number of sheets fed. 15b, the count information table of the storage unit 5 is overwritten and stored as described above.

  The paper detection unit 19 is a sensor that detects the type of paper set in the paper feed stages 15 a and 15 b, for example, the paper size, and has a function of outputting a detection signal to the switching control unit 21. The paper detection unit 19 may be a sensor that detects the form of the paper such as the thickness, color, or material of the paper in addition to the paper size.

  The switching control unit 21 has a function of selecting a preset one of the same paper feed stages 15a and 15b as a preferential paper feed stage 15a according to an instruction from the operation panel unit 7, and the paper detection unit 19 is the same. A sheet feed count value in the same sheet feed stage 15a set in advance to be preferentially fed in a state where a plurality of sheet feed stages 15a and 15b in which types of sheets are set are detected as the same sheet feed stage. And the count information table in the storage unit 5 are compared, and when the paper feed count value exceeds the reference count value, a switching control signal for switching to paper feed from the other same paper feed stage 15b is output to the transport drive unit 23 It has a function to do.

  That is, the switching control unit 21 has a function of performing switching control to feeding from another same paper feed stage 15b when the paper feed count value of the same paper feed stage 15a exceeds the reference count value.

  In addition, the change control unit 21 has a function of performing switching control to the other same paper feed stage 15b having the smallest count value.

  The transport drive unit 23 selectively feeds paper from the plurality of paper feed stages 15a and 15b based on paper feed and transport control from the printing unit 11 main body and a switching control signal from the switching control unit 21. As will be described later, it has a function of controlling the conveyance of paper.

  In addition to these configurations and the image forming unit 25, the printing unit 11 has various configurations described below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 11 is disposed in the main body case 13 of the image forming apparatus A, and primarily feeds paper from a plurality of paper feed stages 15a and 15b with paper feed rollers 27. The paper is secondarily fed by the registration roller 29, and the image data of the four colors of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow is color-transferred onto the paper by the above-described image forming unit 25 (25b, 25m, 25c, 25y). This is a print engine that discharges paper to a discharge tray 33 in the cylinder. The transport controller 23 feeds paper from the plurality of paper feed stages 15 a and 15 b and transports the paper to the paper discharge tray 33.

  In FIG. 2, the count unit 17, the paper detection unit 19, the switching control unit 21, and the drive control unit 23 are shown extracted from the main body case 13.

  When the printing unit 11 takes in the image data, it acquires paper size data from this image data, determines whether or not a priority paper feed stage is set for the same paper size, and sets the priority paper feed stage 15a. If the priority paper feed stage 15a is not selected, the priority paper feed stage 15a is automatically selected. If the priority paper feed stage 15a is not designated, the operation panel unit 7 has a function of designating the designated paper feed stages 15a and 15b each time. Yes.

  The main control unit 1 includes a CPU, a memory unit that stores a startup program for the CPU, and an input / output interface (none of which are shown), and the image reading unit 3, the storage unit 5, the communication unit 9, and the operation described above. The panel unit 7 and the printing unit 11 are controlled.

  That is, the main control unit 1 stores and controls the image data from the image reading unit 3 and the communication unit 9 in the storage unit 5, and controls operation display on the operation panel unit 7 and input instructions for color printing or monochrome printing. The image data is sent from the storage unit 5 to the printing unit 11 based on the above, and printing is controlled to perform each operation.

  Next, the operation of the above-described image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the operation program is started, the printing unit 11 captures the image data in step S1, the printing unit 11 acquires the paper size data in step S2, and the printing unit 11 receives the same sheet in step S3. It is determined whether or not a priority paper feed stage is set by size.

  If the priority paper feed stage is set and step S3 is YES, the priority paper feed stage is automatically selected in step S4, and the paper feed stage is controlled based on the control of the transport control unit 23 designated in step S5. A sheet is fed from 15 a, the number of sheets fed is counted by the counting unit 17, and an image is formed on the sheet fed by the image forming unit 25.

  In subsequent step S6, the switching control unit 25 determines whether or not the paper feed count value has reached the reference count value. If the paper feed count value is less than the reference count value and step S6 is NO, the process proceeds to step S7. The printing unit 11 determines whether or not the image formation is completed. If the image formation is not completed and step S7 is NO, the process returns to step S5. If the image formation is completed and step S7 is YES, the process ends. .

  If the paper feed count value exceeds the reference count value and step S6 is YES, the printing unit 11 selects paper feed from the other same paper feed stage 15b in step S8, and the transport drive unit 23 controls the paper feed. Then, the count unit 17 counts the number of fed sheets and the image forming unit 25 forms an image, and the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S9, the printing unit 11 determines whether or not the image formation is finished. If the image formation is not finished and step S7 is NO, the process returns to step S8, and if the image formation is finished and step S9 is YES. finish.

  In step S3, since the priority paper feed stage is not set, if step S3 is NO, the paper feed stage designated in step S10 is selected, the process proceeds to step S5, and the above-described processing is repeated thereafter.

  These processing steps correspond to the data display selection control method according to the present invention.

  As described above, the paper feed control device according to the present invention includes a plurality of paper feed stages 15a and 15b in which sheets are individually set, a count unit 17 that counts the number of paper fed for each of the paper feed stages 15a and 15b, A paper detection unit 19 that detects the size of the paper set in the paper supply stages 15a and 15b, and a plurality of paper supply stages 15a and 15b in which the same type of paper is set by the paper detection part 19 are used as the same paper supply stage. Under the detected state, when the count value in one same paper feed stage exceeds a preset reference count value, the same type of paper is controlled to be switched to feed from another same paper feed stage. And a switching control unit 21.

  In addition, one identical paper feed stage 15a is set in advance to be fed preferentially, and is configured to switch to another identical paper feed stage 15b having the smallest paper feed count value.

  For this reason, even if there is paper feeding from a specific paper feed stage and consumption continues, it is possible to sort paper into another paper feed stage before reaching the replacement period, extending the life together with other paper feed stages. It is possible to reduce the number of times of machine maintenance, and it is possible to reduce the number of times of machine maintenance by extending the life together with other paper feed stages.

  In the paper feed control apparatus of the present invention, if a count value smaller than the exchange count value set in advance for the paper feed stages 15a and 15b is used as the reference count value, the other same feed is reached before the replacement time is reached. Sorting and feeding to the paper tray is possible, and it is easy to extend the life together with other paper feeding trays.

  Furthermore, if the paper feed stage is switched and controlled every time an image forming job is processed, the image forming quality for each image forming job can be kept constant, and the conveyance drive unit 23 may be formed accordingly. .

  Further, in the paper feed control apparatus of the present invention, execution of switching control of the paper feed stages 15a and 15b is controlled based on an instruction from the operation panel unit 7, or from an external information processing apparatus B via the network NT. If execution of the switching control of the paper feed stages 15a and 15b is controlled remotely, there is an advantage that the use according to the desire of the user is possible.

  Note that when the switching control of the paper feed stages 15a and 15b is executed remotely from the external information processing apparatus B via the network NT, the main control unit 1 via the communication unit 9 and the network NT, for example, in FIG. Display information as shown on the display panel unit 7d is transmitted to the information processing apparatus B, and is executed by executing switching control from the information processing apparatus B.

  In the paper feed control apparatus described above, the count unit 17, the paper detection unit 19, the switching control unit 21, and the transport control unit 23 are configured as a part of the printing unit 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the count unit 17, the paper detection unit 19, the switching control unit 21, and the conveyance control unit 23 may be formed separately from the printing unit 11 and operate under the control of the main control unit 1.

  By the way, although it is expected that the plurality of paper feed stages 15a and 15b in the present invention may or may not set the same type of paper, the paper feed count value of the count information table stored in the storage unit 5 is: Not only the paper feed count value when the same type of paper is set and fed, but also the accumulation of the paper feed count value when the paper is set and fed.

  In the paper feed control apparatus according to the present invention, the accumulated paper feed count value is a reference in a state where a plurality of paper feed stages 15a and 15b in which the same type of paper is set are detected as the same paper feed stage. When the count value is exceeded, the object of the present invention can be achieved as long as the same type of paper is controlled to be switched to paper feeding from another same paper feed stage.

  Also in the image forming apparatus and the paper feed control method equipped with the paper feed control device according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the paper feed control device described above.

1 Main Control Unit 3 Image Reading Unit 5 Storage Unit (Recording Unit)
7 Operation panel section (input section, display section)
7a selection key 7b numeric keypad 7c start key 7d display panel unit 7e execution key 9 communication unit 11 printing unit 13 main body cases 15, 15a, 15b paper feed stage (printing unit)
15a, 15b Same paper feed stage (printing section)
17 Count section (printing section)
19 Paper detection unit (printing unit)
21 Switching control unit (printing unit)
23 Transport drive unit (printing unit)
25, 25b, 25m, 25c, 25y Image forming unit (printing unit)
27 Paper feed roller (printing section)
29 Registration roller (printing section)
31 Fixing roller (printing section)
33 Output tray (printing section)
A Image forming device (multifunction machine)
B Information processing device (computer)
NT network

Claims (17)

A plurality of paper feed trays in which paper is set individually;
A counting unit for counting the number of sheets fed for each sheet feeding stage;
A paper detection unit for detecting the type of paper set in the paper feed stage;
A reference count in which the count value in one same paper feed stage is preset in a state where the paper detection unit detects a plurality of paper feed stages on which the same type of paper is set as the same paper feed stage. A switching control unit that controls switching of the same type of paper to another paper feed from the same paper feed stage when a value is exceeded,
A paper feed control device comprising: The sheet feeding control device according to claim 1, wherein the one same sheet feeding stage is set in advance to be fed with priority. The paper feed control device according to claim 1, wherein the paper detection unit detects the same size or the same form as the paper in the same paper feed stage. The sheet feeding control device according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit performs switching control to the other same sheet feeding stage having a small count value. 5. The sheet feed control device according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit uses a count value that is the smallest than an exchange count value preset for the sheet feed stage as the reference count value. The sheet feed control device according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit switches and controls the sheet feed stage every time an image forming job process is completed. The sheet feeding control device according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit controls execution of switching control of the sheet feeding stage based on an instruction from an external input unit. The sheet feeding control device according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit controls execution of the switching control of the sheet feeding stage via a network. 9. An image forming apparatus comprising the paper feed control device according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints image data. A counting process for counting the number of sheets fed for each of a plurality of sheet feed stages in which sheets are individually set;
Paper detection processing for detecting the type of paper set in the paper feed stage;
A reference count in which the count value in one same paper feed stage is preset in a state where a plurality of the paper feed stages on which the same type of paper is set is detected as the same paper feed stage by this paper detection process. A switching control process for performing switching control to feed from the other same paper feed stage for the same type of paper when a value is exceeded;
A paper feed control method comprising: The paper feed control method according to claim 10, wherein the switching control process performs a process of preferentially feeding the one same paper feed stage in advance. The paper feed control method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the paper detection processing detects the same size or the same form as the paper in the same paper feed stage. The sheet feeding control method according to claim 10, wherein the switching control process performs switching control to the other same sheet feeding stage having a small count value. The paper feed control method according to claim 10, wherein the switching control process uses a count value that is the smallest than an exchange count value preset for the paper feed stage as the reference count value. The sheet feeding control method according to claim 10, wherein the switching control process switches and controls the sheet feeding stage every time an image forming job is completed. 16. The paper feed control method according to claim 10, wherein the switching control process controls execution of the paper feed stage switching control based on an instruction from an external input unit. 18. The paper feed control method according to claim 10, wherein the switching control process controls execution of the switching control of the paper feed stage via a network.

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