JP2012250463A - Printing apparatus, and method for controlling printing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately set the size of a sheet housed in a sheet holding part without troubling a user when the size of a sheet set in the sheet holding part differs from the size of a sheet held in the sheet holding part.SOLUTION: The size of a sheet conveyed by a conveyer is identified, and the identified sheet size is set as the size of a sheet held in the sheet holding part from which the sheet is conveyed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, and a program.

A conventional printing apparatus has a copy function for printing an image of a document read by a scanner, and a print function for printing an image received from an external apparatus such as a PC on a sheet. The printing apparatus conveys the sheet from the sheet holding unit and prints an image on the conveyed sheet in response to a copy request received via the operation unit or a print request received from the external device via the network.
Such a printing apparatus has a sensor in the sheet holding unit, detects the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit, and stores the detected size of the sheet for each sheet holding unit. According to such a printing apparatus, since the size of the sheet is automatically managed without the user manually setting the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit, it is possible to save the user's trouble.
On the other hand, there is also a printing apparatus that does not include a sensor that detects the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit, and the user manually sets the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit. According to such a printing apparatus, it is not necessary to provide a sensor dedicated to size detection in the sheet holding unit.
In the latter printing apparatus, if the size of the sheet set for a certain sheet holding unit and the size of the sheet actually held in the sheet holding unit are different, the image protrudes from the sheet or the size of the sheet The image is too small.
Therefore, when a print request is received in a state where the sheet sizes do not match and the sheet is conveyed from the sheet holding unit, the sheet conveyance is stopped and the user is notified that the sheet sizes do not match. There is a thing (refer patent document 1). Upon receiving the notification, the user confirms the size of the sheet necessary for printing the job and the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit, and sets the correct sheet size via the operation unit, thereby correctly displaying the image on the sheet. Can be printed.

JP 2005-194012 A

However, in the case of the conventional printing apparatus, if the size of the sheet set in the sheet holding unit is different from the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit, the user manually sets the size of the sheet holding unit. This requires time and effort for the user.
In addition, when the user cancels a job that is stopped in a state where the sheet sizes do not match, the error is resolved. In this case, if the user forgets to reset the sheet size set for the sheet holding unit, another user does not realize that the sheet sizes do not match, and May make a print request.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for appropriately setting the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit without taking time and effort for the user. The purpose is to do.

  A conveying unit that conveys the sheet held by the sheet holding unit, a storage unit that stores the size of the sheet held by the sheet holding unit, a specifying unit that specifies the size of the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, and a specification And a setting unit that sets the size of the sheet specified by the unit as the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit that is a conveyance source of the sheet.

  According to the present invention, when the size of the sheet set in the sheet holding unit is different from the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit, the sheet holding unit holds the sheet without taking time and effort. Sheet size can be set appropriately.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the printing system in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the printing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation part of the printing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation screen of the printing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation screen of the printing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of control in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation screen of the printing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the table which manages the size information of the paper feed cassette in this embodiment.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The printing system according to the present embodiment includes a PC 101 that is an example of an external apparatus and an MFP 102 that is an example of a printing apparatus. The PC 101 and the MFP 102 are connected via the network 103. The network 103 may be a wired LAN or a wireless LAN, or may be via the Internet.

  The PC 101 includes a CPU 104, a ROM 105, a RAM 106, a network communication unit 107, a memory unit 108, a display unit 109, an operation unit 110, and the like.

  The CPU 104 reads out a program (for example, a document creation application or a printer driver) from the ROM 105 and executes it. The RAM 106 is used as a work area for the CPU 104.

  The network communication unit 107 performs interface control of data transmitted / received via the network 103.

  The memory unit 108 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores image data created by a document creation application.

  The display unit 109 is a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, or the like, and displays various operation screens and messages.

  The operation unit 110 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and is used for receiving an operation performed on the PC 101 by the user.

  Such a PC 101 generates print data by a printer driver according to image data created by a document creation application, and transmits the generated print data to the MFP 102 via the network 103 together with print settings. Further, the PC 101 receives the status information and print result of the MFP 102 from the MFP 102, and displays the received status information and print result on the display unit.

  The MFP 102 includes a CPU 120, ROM 121, RAM 122, network communication unit 123, memory unit 124, operation unit 125, scanner unit 126, and printer unit 127.

  The CPU 120 centrally controls the MFP 102 by reading and executing the program stored in the ROM 121. The RAM 122 is used as a work area for the CPU 120.

  The network communication unit 123 performs interface control of data transmitted / received via the network 103.

  The scanner unit 126 reads a document placed on a document table, and outputs image data indicating an image of the read document. The scanner unit 126 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder), and can transport a plurality of documents placed on the ADF one by one and read an image of the conveyed document.

  The memory unit 124 stores an image of a document read by the scanner unit 126, print data received from the PC 101, and print settings. The memory unit 124 stores image data generated by developing the print data.

  The operation unit 125 includes a hard key and a touch panel. The touch panel includes a liquid crystal display and a touch panel sheet attached to the liquid crystal display. The operation unit 125 displays various messages for the user on the touch panel. The operation unit 125 receives an operation instruction from the user via a hard key or a touch panel.

  The printer unit 127 feeds a sheet from a sheet feeding cassette according to an instruction from the CPU, and prints an image on the fed sheet.

  The printer unit 127 includes a sensor 128, a paper feed cassette 129, an image forming unit 130, and a paper discharge tray 131. The sensor 128 detects the printing paper conveyed on the sheet conveyance path of the MFP 102 and notifies the CPU 120 of the detected result.

  The timer 132 manages the current time.

  The paper feed cassette 129 holds sheets used for printing. The number of paper feed cassettes 129 may be singular or plural. Further, the paper feed cassette 129 may be a manual feed tray, a paper feed deck, or the like, as long as it functions as a sheet holding unit that holds sheets.

  The image forming unit 130 forms an image on a sheet fed from the paper feed cassette 129. The paper discharge tray 131 is a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit 130 are stacked.

  The MFP 102 executes a plurality of types of jobs such as a copy job and a print job.

  When executing a copy job, the CPU 120 generates a copy job in response to receiving a print start instruction from the operation unit 125. At this time, if a print layout, a print magnification, or the like is specified via the operation unit 125, the CPU 120 generates a copy job according to the print settings. Then, the CPU 120 instructs the scanner unit 126 to read a document, and stores image data indicating an image of the document read by the scanner unit 126 in the memory unit 124. Thereafter, the CPU 120 sends the image data stored in the memory unit 124 to the printer unit 127, and causes the printer unit 127 to execute printing based on the image data.

  When executing a print job, the CPU 120 receives print data (PDL data) and print settings from the PC 101 via the network communication unit 123, and stores the received print data and print settings in the memory unit 124 as a print job. To do. Thereafter, the CPU 120 reads out print data and print settings corresponding to each print job from the memory unit 124, develops the print data into image data according to the print settings, and causes the printer unit 127 to execute printing based on the developed image data. .

  In this embodiment, an MFP (Multi Functional Peripheral) will be described as an example of a printing apparatus. However, the printing apparatus may be an SFP (Signal Functional Peripheral) having only a single function. The printing apparatus may be a facsimile machine or a copying machine.

  Next, the configuration of the MFP 102 will be described with reference to a cross-sectional view of the MFP 102 in FIG.

  The scanner unit 126 of the MFP 102 includes an automatic document feeder 301 (ADF). Documents stacked on the automatic document feeder 301 (ADF) are sequentially transported onto the platen glass 302 one by one from the top in accordance with the stacking order. Thereafter, the document is scanned on the platen glass 302 and discharged to the discharge tray 303.

  In the document conveyance path for guiding the document, a conveyance roller 305 driven by a stepping motor and a document detection sensor 306 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document are provided.

  A document loaded on the automatic document feeder 301 passes through a document feed reading position at a constant speed by a conveyance roller 305 driven by a stepping motor. In this case, the optical unit 307 moves to the document flow reading position, and irradiates the document conveyed at a constant speed with a light source. Reflected light from the document is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 312 via a plurality of mirrors 308, 309, 310 and a lens 311. As a result, the scanned image of the original is read by the CCD 312. Image data for each color (R, G, B) is generated by reading with the CCD 312 as needed, and the image data is transferred to the memory unit 124 for storage or printing.

  The printer unit 127 includes four developing units for forming an image with cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) toners, and forms a color image and a monochrome image.

  The printer unit 127 includes a laser exposure unit 401, a rotary polygon mirror (polygon mirror) 406, a photosensitive drum 402, an image forming unit 403, a fixing unit 404, a flapper 405, and a reversing path 408. The printer unit includes a paper feed cassette 410 and a paper feed cassette 411.

  The laser exposure unit 401 causes a light beam such as a laser beam modulated according to image data to enter a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) 406 that rotates at an equal angular velocity, and irradiates the photosensitive drum 402 as reflected scanning light.

  The image forming unit 403 rotates the photosensitive drum 402 and charges it with a charger, and then develops the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 402 by the laser exposure unit 401 with toner. This is achieved by having four development units (development stations) for a series of electrophotographic processes in which the toner image is transferred to a sheet and the minute toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 402 without being transferred at that time is collected. doing. The four development units arranged in the order of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are magenta, yellow, and black after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of image formation by the cyan development unit. Image formation by the development unit is executed sequentially. By this timing control, a color image without color misregistration is transferred onto the sheet.

  The fixing unit 404 includes a combination of a roller and a belt, and includes a heat source such as a halogen heater. The toner on the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred by the image forming unit 403 is melted and fixed by heat and pressure.

  Each of the sheet feeding cassettes 410 to 411 can hold a sheet. In the present embodiment, the sheet sizes that can be held in the paper feed cassette 410 and the paper feed cassette 411 are A5, A4, B5, LTR, and LEGAL. Further, the MFP 102 according to the present embodiment can execute only sheet feeding (short edge feed) for transporting a sheet such that the short side of the sheet is the leading end in the transport direction.

  The MFP 102 feeds a sheet from any one of the sheet feeding cassettes 410 to 411 and transfers an image created by the image creating unit 403 to the fed sheet. Then, the transferred image is fixed on the sheet by the fixing unit 404. When the MFP 102 discharges the sheet with the surface on which the image is formed facing down (when performing face-down discharge), the MFP 102 guides the sheet to the reverse path 405 by the flapper 407 and discharges the reversed sheet. The paper is discharged to the tray 415. On the other hand, when the sheet is discharged with the surface on which the image is formed facing upward (when face-up discharge is performed), the flapper 407 discharges the sheet to the discharge tray 415 without guiding it to the reverse path 405.

  When printing images on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is guided to the reverse path 405 by the flapper 407, the rear end of the sheet is sandwiched by the rollers 409, and then the sheet is guided to the duplex conveyance path 408. The sheet guided to the duplex conveyance path 408 is conveyed again to the image forming unit 403, and an image is printed on the back surface of the sheet by the image forming unit 403. The sheet with the image printed on the back side is discharged to a discharge tray 415.

  In this way, the MFP 102 executes print processing for printing an image on a sheet.

  The MFP 102 according to the present embodiment includes sensors S1 to S13 for detecting a conveyed sheet. These sensors S1 to S13 are provided in the sheet conveyance path, and the CPU 120 recognizes the position of the conveyed sheet in accordance with signals from the sensors S1 to S13.

  Further, the CPU 120 detects a jam of the sheet in accordance with signals from the sensors S1 to S13. Specifically, the CPU 120 determines that a sheet jam has occurred when a sheet that has passed a certain sensor has not passed a sensor that should be passed next and a predetermined time has elapsed. Then, the CPU 120 determines that a sheet jam has occurred between the sensor through which the sheet has passed and the sensor through which the sheet should pass next. Then, the CPU 120 displays a screen for allowing the user to specify the position where the sheet has jammed on the operation unit 125.

  Further, the CPU 120 according to the present embodiment acquires the time T1 when the leading edge of the sheet passes through the sensor S2 from the timer 132 and stores it in the memory unit 124. Next, the CPU 120 acquires the time T2 when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the sensor S2 from the timer 132 and stores it in the memory unit 124. Then, the CPU 120 obtains the product of the difference between the time T2 and the time T1 and the sheet conveyance speed registered in the memory unit 124 in advance, and uses the obtained product as the length in the sheet conveyance direction (sub-scanning length). decide. Note that another method may be used to determine the length in the sheet conveyance direction (sub operation length). For example, when a stepping motor is used to convey a sheet, the conveyance amount of the sheet per step is registered in the memory unit 124 in advance. Then, the CPU 120 counts the number of steps rotated from time T1 to time T2, obtains the product of the counted number of steps and the sheet conveyance amount per step, and calculates the obtained product as the sheet conveyance. The length in the direction (sub-scanning length) may be determined. Further, when the rotation amount of the motor can be specified, the CPU 120 may determine the rotation amount of the motor from time T1 to time T2 as the length in the sheet conveyance direction (sub-scanning length).

  The MFP 102 can only supply a sheet (short edge feed) that conveys the sheet so that the short side of the sheet is the leading edge in the conveyance direction. Therefore, the MFP 102 uniquely identifies the sheet size from the length in the sheet conveyance direction. be able to. The sheet sizes that can be set in the paper feed cassette 410 and the paper feed cassette 411 are A5, A4, B5, LTR, and LEGAL. For example, the CPU 120 determines that the sheet size is A5 if the length in the sheet conveyance direction is 210 mm, and determines that the sheet size is A4 if the length in the sheet conveyance direction is 297 mm. be able to. Similarly, the CPU 120 can determine that the sheet size is B5 if the length in the sheet conveyance direction is 257 mm. If the length in the sheet conveyance direction is 279.4 mm, it can be determined that the sheet size is LTR. If the length in the sheet conveyance direction is 355.6 mm, the sheet size is LEGAL. It can be determined that there is. As described above, if the length of the sheet in the conveyance direction is determined, the size of the sheet can be uniquely determined.

  As described above, the CPU 120 according to the present embodiment uses the sensor S2 for the two processes of the process of detecting the position of the sheet in order to notify the user of the occurrence of the jam and the process of specifying the size of the sheet. Use.

  Next, the operation unit 125 included in the MFP 102 illustrated in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The operation unit 125 includes a key input unit 901 that accepts user operations using hard keys, a touch panel unit 902 that can display soft keys (display keys) and accept user operations using the soft keys.

  First, the key input unit 901 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the key input unit 901 includes an operation unit power switch 903. When the operation unit power switch 903 is pressed by the user when the MFP 102 is in the standby mode (normal operation state), the CPU 120 switches the MFP 102 from the standby mode to the sleep mode (a state in which power consumption is suppressed). On the other hand, when the operation unit power switch 903 is pressed by the user while the MFP 102 is in the sleep mode, the CPU 120 switches the MFP 102 from the sleep mode to the standby mode.

  A start key 905 is a key for accepting an instruction from the user to cause the MFP 102 to execute a copy operation or a data transmission operation.

  A stop key 904 is a key for receiving an instruction from the user to interrupt the copy operation or the data transmission operation.

  A numeric keypad 906 is a key for the user to set a numeric value for various settings.

  Next, the touch panel unit 902 will be described. The touch panel unit 902 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display: liquid crystal display unit) and a touch panel sheet made of a transparent electrode attached thereon. The touch panel unit 902 has a function of accepting various settings from the user and a function of presenting information to the user.

  An initial screen 500 shown in FIG. 4 is an initial screen 500 displayed on the touch panel unit 902.

  The initial screen 500 includes an application mode key 501, a density adjustment key 502, a paper selection key 503, a magnification setting key 504, a finishing key 505, a duplex setting key 506, and a color mode setting key 507. The user can set a job by pressing these keys.

  The application mode key 501 is used to set a reduced layout function for printing a plurality of read original images on a sheet and a preview function for displaying the read original images on the touch panel unit 902 before printing. Key to do.

  A density adjustment key 502 is a key for adjusting the print density.

  A paper selection key 503 is a key for displaying a paper selection screen 1000 shown in FIG. The paper selection screen 1000 is a screen for accepting a setting for determining a paper feed cassette as a paper feed source (conveyance source) of the print paper from the user.

  Here, FIG. 7 will be described first. An automatic paper selection key 1000 in FIG. 7 is a key for enabling an automatic paper selection function for the CPU 120 to select a paper feed cassette to be used for printing according to the size of an original image.

  Paper feed cassette selection keys 1002 to 1003 are keys for the user to directly designate the paper feed cassettes 1002 to 1003 that are desired to be used for printing, rather than causing the MFP 102 to select them. Note that the cassette 1 on the screen shown in FIG. 7A corresponds to the paper feed cassette 410. The cassette 2 on the screen shown in FIG. 7A corresponds to the paper feed cassette 411.

  Returning to the description of the screen in FIG. A magnification setting key 504 is a key for setting a printing magnification. A finishing key 505 is a key for setting post-processing. For example, the screen displayed when the finishing key 505 is pressed allows the user to set a shift sort function that shifts and discharges a sheet on which an image is printed for each copy. A duplex key 506 is a key for setting to perform duplex printing.

  A color mode setting key 507 is a key for determining a method of discriminating the color of an original image. When a color is selected by the color mode setting key 507, the CPU 120 recognizes all the read original images as color images. Further, when monochrome is selected by the color mode setting key 507, the CPU 120 recognizes all the read original images as monochrome images. When the automatic color selection is selected, the CPU 120 determines whether or not the read document image includes color pixels. If the color image includes color pixels, the CPU 120 recognizes that the document image is a color image, and If no pixel is included, the document image is recognized as a monochrome image.

  The CPU 120 of the MFP 102 performs printing according to the start key 905 being pressed after accepting print settings on the screen as described above.

  The MFP 102 according to the present embodiment does not include a mechanism (such as a sheet guide or a sensor that detects the position of the sheet guide) for detecting the sheet size in the sheet feeding cassettes 410 and 411. Thereby, the cost of the MFP 102 can be reduced.

  In addition, the MFP 102 according to the present embodiment does not provide the sheet feeding cassettes 410 and 411 with a mechanism for detecting the sheet size. It accepts from the user as a setting. The CPU 120 holds the received sheet size in the nonvolatile memory unit 124 in the form of a table as shown in FIG. 8 as size information of the paper feed cassettes 410 and 411.

  The CPU 120 receives these settings from the user via the screens of FIGS.

  A screen 600 in FIG. 5A is a screen for the user to select a paper feed cassette whose sheet size is desired to be set. The screen in FIG. 5A is displayed when the user mode key of the operation unit 125 in FIG. 3 is pressed.

  A key 601 in FIG. 5A corresponds to the paper feed cassette 410. The CPU 120 displays the sheet size A4 set for the paper feed cassette 410 on the key 601 with reference to the table shown in FIG.

  A key 602 corresponds to the paper feed cassette 411. The CPU 120 displays the sheet size A5 set for the sheet cassette 411 on the key 602 with reference to the table shown in FIG.

  A return key 604 is a key for closing the screen 600 without reflecting the setting made on the screen 600. When the screen 600 is closed, the screen 500 is displayed.

  The user presses one of the keys 601 and 602 for setting the sheet size. When the key 601 or the key 602 is pressed, the CPU 120 selects the pressed key. Thereafter, when the setting key 603 is pressed, the CPU 120 displays a screen 700 shown in FIG. 5B on the touch panel unit 902. A screen 700 is a screen for setting the sheet size for the paper cassette corresponding to the key that was selected when the setting key 603 was pressed on the screen 600.

  On the screen 700, keys 701 to 705 are displayed, which are keys for setting A5, A4, B5, LTR, and LEGAL, respectively. When the user presses a key having a size desired to be set among the keys 701 to 705, the CPU 120 selects the pressed key. When the OK key 706 is pressed while any one of the keys 701 to 705 is pressed, the CPU 120 is pressed on the screen 700 with respect to the paper feed cassette selected on the screen 600. Sets the sheet size corresponding to the key. Here, the CPU 120 updates the table shown in FIG. 8 and displays the newly set sheet size on the screen of FIG.

  A return key 707 is a key for closing the screen 700 without reflecting the setting made on the screen 700. When the screen 700 is closed, the screen 600 is displayed.

  As described above, when the size of the sheet set in the paper feed cassettes 410 and 411 is received from the user as the device setting, the size set by the user and the sheet actually set in the paper feed cassettes 410 and 411 are displayed. May vary in size. If the size set by the user is different from the size of the sheet actually set in the paper feed cassettes 410 and 411, the MFP 102 cannot feed the sheet of the size intended by the user. For example, it is assumed that A4 is set as the size information (attribute information) of the paper feed cassette 410 even though the A5 sheet is held in the paper feed cassette 410. In this case, when executing a job designated to print an image on the A4 sheet, the MFP 102 feeds the sheet from the paper feed cassette 410 and prints the A4 image. Since the size of the sheet is A5, the image protrudes from the sheet. As another example, it is assumed that A5 is set as the size information of the paper feed cassette 410 even though the A4 sheet is held in the paper feed cassette 410. In this case, when executing a job designated to print an image on the A5 sheet, the MFP 102 feeds the sheet from the paper feed cassette 410 and prints the A5 image. However, since the size of the actually fed sheet is A4, the printing result is not intended by the user.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the MFP 102 in this embodiment. The process shown in this flowchart is performed by the CPU 120 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 121.

  First, in step S <b> 801, the CPU 120 receives selection of the size of a sheet used for printing via the screen illustrated in FIG. The CPU 120 also accepts print settings such as reduced layout settings.

  In step S802, the CPU 120 determines whether a print start instruction has been received. In the case of a copy job, the CPU 120 determines that a print start instruction has been received when the operation unit 125 start key 905 is pressed. Until receiving a print start instruction, the CPU 120 repeatedly executes the processes shown in S801 and S802. When determining that a print start instruction has been received, the CPU 120 advances the process to step S803.

  In step S <b> 803, the CPU 120 instructs the scanner unit 126 to read a document, and causes the scanner unit 126 to read the document. When there are a plurality of documents, the scanner unit 126 sequentially reads the documents conveyed by the ADF. Note that the reading of the document is started in S803 and then executed in parallel with the processing performed in S804 and thereafter.

  In step S804, the CPU 120 determines a paper feed cassette to be used. For example, when the key 1002 is selected via the screen of FIG. 7A, the CPU 120 determines to use the paper feed cassette 410 for the job to be executed. If the key 1003 is pressed, the CPU 120 determines to use the paper feed cassette 411. When the key 1001 is selected, the CPU 120 identifies a paper feed cassette that holds a sheet having a size that matches the size of the original image read by the scanner unit 126 with reference to the table of FIG. Then, it is decided to use the specified paper feed cassette.

  In step S <b> 805, the CPU 120 issues a sheet feeding instruction to the printer unit 127, and transmits an instruction for feeding sheets from the sheet feeding cassette determined to be used to the printer unit 127.

  In step S806, the printer unit 127 acquires the time T1 when the leading edge of the fed sheet is detected and the time T2 when the trailing edge of the sheet is detected from the timer 132, and determines the difference between the acquired times T1 and T2 as the conveyance speed. The result of the division is the sub-scanning length of the sheet. Then, the CPU 120 specifies the size of the sheet held in the sheet feeding cassette that is the sheet feeding source from the sub-scanning length of the sheet. Specifically, the CPU 120 specifies one size from A5, A4, B5, LTR, and LEGAL.

  In step S <b> 807, the CPU 120 determines whether the sheet size specified in step S <b> 806 is different from the sheet size set in the sheet feeding cassette that is the sheet feeding source. If it is determined that the sizes are not different, the CPU 120 advances the process to S808, and if it is determined that the sizes are different, the CPU 120 advances the process to S810.

  In step S808, the CPU 120 causes the printer unit 127 to print an image on the fed sheet, and the process advances to step S809. In step S809, the CPU 120 determines whether printing has been completed up to the last page. If it is determined that printing has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S804. If it is determined that printing has been completed, processing is performed. Exit.

  On the other hand, when the processing proceeds from S807 to S810, the CPU 120 stops the printing operation in S810. Here, the CPU 120 discharges the sheet existing in the sheet conveyance path of the MFP 102 to the outside of the apparatus.

  In step S <b> 811, the CPU 120 displays a no-paper error message indicating that there is no sheet in the paper feeding cassette on the touch panel unit 902 of the operation unit 125.

  In step S812, the CPU 120 updates the table illustrated in FIG. 8 using the sheet size specified in step S806 as the setting information of the sheet cassette that is the sheet supply source of the sheet. Specifically, when the setting information set for the cassette 1 is A4 and the size of the sheet actually held in the cassette 1 is A5, the CPU 120 displays information A5 of the cassette 1 in S812. Is automatically rewritten to A4, and the process ends. FIG. 8B shows the table after rewriting. Thereafter, when the user presses the automatic paper selection key 503 to select a paper feed cassette to be used in another job, FIG. 7B is displayed instead of FIG.

  By controlling as described above, the correct size is automatically set when the size information set for the paper cassette differs from the sheet actually set in the paper cassette. . As a result, the user can execute printing using the sheet of the sheet cassette set to the correct size by submitting the same job again without having to reset the size of the sheet cassette. .

  In addition, it is possible to prevent another user from selecting the wrong paper feed cassette using the MFP 102 because the user forgot to reset the paper feed cassette size.

<Other embodiments>
When the printing operation is stopped in step S810, the print data and print settings of the stopped job may be saved in the memory unit 124. Then, after the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is completed, an initial screen including a print resume key is displayed. When the print resume key is pressed, the CPU 102 can resume printing according to the saved print data and print settings. Good. Thereby, the user can easily resume printing. In addition, instead of the initial screen, a key may be provided in the error message displayed in S811 for reprinting using the saved print data and print settings.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the sheet size set for the sheet cassette is different from the sheet size calculated according to the signal from the sensor S2, the CPU 120 always performs the process for the sheet cassette. An example of changing the set sheet size has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the following control may be performed when the sheet size set for the sheet feeding cassette is different from the sheet size calculated according to the signal from the sensor S2. For example, the CPU 120 may allow the user to specify whether or not to change the sheet size set for the paper feed cassette to the size specified in S806. In this case, when the user specifies to change the sheet size set for the sheet cassette, the CPU 120 sets the sheet size set for the sheet cassette to the size specified in S806. It is good to change. On the other hand, the CPU 120 displays a screen for changing the sheet size set for the paper feed cassette to another size, and changes the sheet size to another size according to the setting received via the screen. It may be.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the case where the MFP 102 can execute only the short edge feed has been described as an example. However, the MFP 102 performs a long conveyance of the printing paper such that the long side of the printing paper is the leading edge in the conveyance direction. The present invention can be applied even if it supports edge feed. In that case, a main scanning width detection sensor capable of detecting the main scanning width of the fed sheet may be provided on the conveyance path of the MFP 102. In that case, the size of the printing paper can be specified based on the sub-scanning width of the printing paper calculated by the above method and the main scanning width detected using the main scanning width detection sensor.

  In this embodiment, the case of executing a copy job has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to a print job that receives print data and print settings from the PC 101 and prints an image according to the received print data and print settings. . In that case, the print setting and the print start instruction are made via the operation unit 110 of the PC 101. When a print start instruction is issued by the PC 101, the PC 101 generates a print job including print data and print settings and transmits the print job to the MFP 102. When the MFP 102 receives the print job, the MFP 102 executes the processes in and after S804. In this case, print settings that can be set on the operation screen shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 may be set via the operation unit 110 of the PC 101. Further, the operation screen shown in FIG. 5 may be displayed on the display unit 109 of the PC 101, and the setting information of the paper cassette accepted via the operation unit 110 may be received by the MFP 102 and set as the information of the paper cassette. 6 is displayed on the display unit 109 of the PC 101 after the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is completed, and when the print restart key is designated by the operation unit 110, the CPU 102 performs the saved printing. Printing can be resumed according to the data and print settings.

  The functions shown in the flowchart in the present embodiment can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media by a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a computer personal computer.

102 MFP
120 CPU
127 Printer section

Claims (8)

Conveying means for conveying a sheet held by the sheet holding unit;
Storage means for storing the size of the sheet held in the sheet holding unit;
Specifying means for specifying the size of the sheet being conveyed by the conveying means;
And a setting unit configured to set the size of the sheet specified by the specifying unit as the size of the sheet held in a sheet holding unit which is a conveyance source of the sheet. A determination means for determining whether the size of the designated sheet and the size of the sheet specified by the specifying means are the same;
When it is determined by the determining means that the size of the designated sheet and the size of the sheet specified by the specifying means are not the same, the setting means determines the size of the sheet specified by the specifying means, The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is set as a size of a sheet held in a sheet holding unit that is a conveyance source of the sheet. Provided in a conveyance path of a sheet conveyed by the conveyance means, further comprising a sensor for detecting the position of the sheet;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies a size of a sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit using the sensor.   According to the time when the front end of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is detected by the sensor, the time when the trailing edge of the sheet is detected by the sensor, and the conveyance speed of conveying the sheet by the conveyance unit, The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a size of the sheet is specified. Provided in a conveyance path of a sheet conveyed by the conveyance means, further comprising a sensor for detecting the position of the sheet;
In the case where a jam occurs in the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, the image forming apparatus further includes a notification unit that notifies the user of the position where the jam has occurred according to information from the sensor.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies a size of a sheet being conveyed by the conveying unit using the sensor.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a sheet size set by the setting means. A control method for a printing apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a sheet held by a sheet holding unit; and a storage unit that stores a size of a sheet held by the sheet holding unit,
A specific step of specifying the size of the sheet being conveyed by the conveying means;
And a setting step of setting the size of the sheet specified in the specifying step as the size of the sheet held in a sheet holding unit which is a conveyance source of the sheet.   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 7.

Images