JP2019196246A - Image formation device, paper feed control method and paper feed control program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image formation device, etc. capable of suppressing time to interrupt a printing job even when paper feeding is performed so that service lives of a plurality of paper feed cassettes are equalized.SOLUTION: An image formation device is an image formation device for forming an image on a recording medium, and comprises a first paper feeding part, a second paper feeding part, a determination part and a paper feed control part. The first paper feeding part feeds the recording medium. The second paper feeding part feeds the recording medium. The determination part determines whether or not a first residual quantity indicating a residual quantity of the recording medium of the first paper feeding part and a second residual quantity indicating a residual quantity of the recording medium of the second paper feeding part are less than a previously set threshold value. The paper feed control part controls the one of the first paper feeding part and the second paper feeding part based on a determination result of the determination part so that the one paper feeding part performs feeding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a paper feed control method, and a paper feed control program.

  Currently, there is a technology for controlling paper feeding so that the life of each paper feeding cassette is averaged in an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), a copier or a printer having a plurality of paper feeding cassettes. This technology can improve the maintenance efficiency of the MFP or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-149242 A

  However, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that a print job is interrupted for a long time for a user who uses only paper of the same size. That is, in the case of a user who uses only paper of the same size, each paper feed cassette is fed on average, and all the paper feed cassettes run out of paper almost simultaneously. For this reason, it is necessary to replenish all the paper cassettes with paper, and the print job is interrupted for a long time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is capable of suppressing the time during which a print job is interrupted while controlling the paper feed so as to average the life of a plurality of paper feed cassettes. An object is to provide an apparatus, a paper feed control method, and a paper feed control program.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, and includes a first paper feed unit, a second paper feed unit, a determination unit, and a paper feed control unit. The first paper feeding unit feeds a recording medium. The second paper feeding unit feeds a recording medium. The determination unit has a first remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the first sheet feeding unit and a second remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the second sheet feeding unit being less than a preset threshold. It is determined whether or not. The paper feeding control unit controls one of the first paper feeding unit and the second paper feeding unit based on the determination result of the determination unit so that one of the first paper feeding unit and the second paper feeding unit feeds paper.

  A sheet feeding control method according to the present invention is a sheet feeding control method for controlling sheet feeding of an image forming apparatus including a first sheet feeding unit and a second sheet feeding unit. Steps. In the determination step, the first remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the first sheet feeding unit and the second remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the second sheet feeding unit are less than a preset threshold. It is determined whether or not. In the paper feed control step, one of the first paper feed unit and the second paper feed unit is controlled based on the determination result in the determination step so as to feed paper.

  A paper feed control program according to the present invention is a paper feed control program for causing a computer to execute a program for controlling paper feed of an image forming apparatus including a first paper feed unit and a second paper feed unit. And a paper feed control step. In the determination step, the first remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the first sheet feeding unit and the second remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the second sheet feeding unit are less than a preset threshold. It is determined whether or not. In the paper feed control step, one of the first paper feed unit and the second paper feed unit is controlled based on the determination result in the determination step so as to feed paper.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the time during which a print job is interrupted while controlling the paper feed so as to average the lifetimes of a plurality of paper feed cassettes.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a terminal device. 3 is an example of information regarding paper feed stored in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a paper feed control process in the image forming apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 5). In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is not repeated.

  First, the image forming system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an image forming system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the image forming system 10, it is possible to suppress the time during which a print job is interrupted while feeding paper so as to average the lifetimes of a plurality of paper feed cassettes included in the image forming apparatus 100.

  The image forming system 10 includes an image forming apparatus 100 and one or a plurality of terminal devices 200. The image forming system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes three terminal devices 200. The terminal device 200 is a generic term for the terminal device 200A, the terminal device 200B, and the terminal device 200C.

  The terminal device 200A is associated with the user A. Further, the relationship between the terminal device 200B and the user B and the relationship between the terminal device 200C and the user C are the same as the relationship between the terminal device 200A and the user A.

  Specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 and the terminal device 200 are connected to be communicable with each other via the network 50. For example, each of the image forming apparatus 100 and the terminal apparatus 200 is communicably connected via the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), or a WAN (Wide Area Network). Note that short-range wireless communication may be performed between the image forming apparatus 100 and the terminal device 200. The short-range wireless communication is, for example, communication using a BLUETOOTH (registered trademark) system.

  The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a recording medium based on the print data received from the terminal device 200. The print data is represented in a data format capable of forming an image on a recording medium (for example, paper). The print data includes information indicating the number of recording media necessary for image formation (hereinafter also referred to as “number of printed sheets”).

  The terminal device 200 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 100 in accordance with a user instruction. The terminal device 200 is a personal computer, for example.

  Next, the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 110, a control unit 120, an input / output unit 130, a paper feeding unit 140, an image forming unit 150, and a storage unit 160. Further, the paper feed unit 140 includes a first paper feed unit 141, a second paper feed unit 142, and a third paper feed unit 143. Hereinafter, the first paper feed unit 141 to the third paper feed unit 143 are also referred to as “paper feed cassettes”.

  The control unit 120 executes the control program stored in the storage unit 160, thereby controlling the operation of each of a plurality of configurations included in the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), a copier, or a printer.

  The communication unit 110 transmits and receives various types of information to and from the terminal device 200 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 120. In particular, the communication unit 110 receives print data transmitted from the terminal device 200 via the network 50 and transmits the print data to the control unit 120.

  The control unit 120 receives print data transmitted from the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 110. When receiving the print data, the control unit 120 transmits the print data to the image forming unit 150.

  Further, the control unit 120 controls the first sheet feeding unit 141 to the third sheet feeding unit 143 such that any one of the first sheet feeding unit 141 to the third sheet feeding unit 143 performs sheet feeding. Further, the control unit 120 determines whether any of the first remaining amount to the third remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of paper in the first sheet feeding unit 141 to the third sheet feeding unit 143 is below a preset threshold value. Determine whether or not. If the control unit 120 determines that any of the first remaining amount to the third remaining amount is below a preset threshold value, the control unit 120 supplies the terminal device 200 with a paper replenishment via the communication unit 110. A message indicating the request may be transmitted to the terminal device 200.

  Here, the “threshold value” refers to the number of sheets that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 100 during the replenishment time required when the user replenishes the paper feed unit 140. For example, if the number of sheets that can be processed in one minute of the image forming apparatus 100 is “30”, the replenishment time when the threshold is set to “150” is “5 minutes”.

  Furthermore, the control unit 120 determines which of the first paper supply unit 141 to the third paper supply unit 143 based on the determination result of whether any of the first remaining amount to the third remaining amount is below the threshold value. One of them is controlled to feed paper.

  Further, the control unit 120 subtracts the number of prints included in the print data from the first remaining amount, the second remaining amount, and the third remaining amount, and determines whether or not those values are below a threshold value. May be.

  Furthermore, the control unit 120 compares the first consumption level, the second consumption level, and the third consumption level. Then, when it is determined that none of the first paper supply unit 141 to the third paper supply unit 143 is below the threshold, the control unit 120 uses the smallest consumption among the first consumption level to the third consumption level. The first paper feeding unit 141, the second paper feeding unit 142, or the third paper feeding unit so that the first paper feeding unit 141, the second paper feeding unit 142, or the third paper feeding unit 143 feeds the paper. 143 is controlled. Here, the first consumption level is a value indicating the ratio of the cumulative number of fed sheets of the first sheet feeding unit to the first life value preset for the first sheet feeding unit. The second consumption level is a value indicating the ratio of the cumulative number of fed sheets of the second sheet feeding unit to the second life value preset for the second sheet feeding unit. The third consumption level is a value indicating the ratio of the cumulative number of fed sheets of the third sheet feeding unit to the third life value set in advance for the third sheet feeding unit.

  Furthermore, when it is determined that any one of the first remaining amount to the third remaining amount is below the threshold value, the control unit 120 issues a request for paper replenishment via the communication unit 110 to the terminal device. 200 is notified. In addition, the control unit 120 measures a replenishment time, which is a time from the notification of request for paper replenishment to the completion of paper replenishment. Furthermore, the control unit 120 updates the threshold based on the replenishment time and the number of images to be formed on the recording medium per unit time. The control unit 120 is an example of a determination unit, a paper feed control unit, a time measuring unit, and a threshold update unit.

  The threshold value may be updated every time the replenishment time is counted, or may be updated based on an average value of a plurality of past replenishment times.

  The input / output unit 130 presents various types of information to the user and receives instructions regarding control from the user. The input / output unit 130 is a liquid crystal display having a touch panel, for example.

  The paper feeding unit 140 feeds a sheet as a recording medium according to an instruction from the control unit 120. In the present embodiment, the paper feed unit 140 includes a plurality of paper feed units. For example, the paper feed unit 140 includes a first paper feed unit 141, a second paper feed unit 142, and a third paper feed unit 143.

  The image forming unit 150 forms an image on a recording medium based on a user instruction received from the user via the input / output unit 130 or print data received from the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 110.

  The storage unit 160 stores various data related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 100, various data related to control, and a control program. Further, the storage unit 160 stores print data received via the communication unit 110. Furthermore, the storage unit 160 stores a threshold set by the user. The storage unit 160 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and / or a solid state drive (SSD).

  Further, the storage unit stores information related to paper feeding in association with the first paper feeding unit 141, the second paper feeding unit 142, and the third paper feeding unit 143. Information relating to paper feed includes the paper size, the remaining amount of paper, the number of paper feeds, and the life value.

  Next, the terminal device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the terminal device 200. The terminal device 200 is associated with the user on a one-to-one basis. The terminal device 200 is a personal computer, for example. The terminal device 200 includes a communication unit 210, a control unit 220, an input / output unit 230, and a storage unit 240.

  The communication unit 210 transmits / receives various information to / from the image forming apparatus 100. The communication unit 210 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 100 in response to an instruction from the control unit 220.

  The control unit 220 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 200. The control unit 220 is, for example, a microcomputer, and performs various controls in the terminal device 200 by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 240.

  Further, the control unit 220 generates print data based on a user instruction received via the input / output unit 230. Furthermore, the control unit 220 transmits the generated print data to the image forming apparatus 100 based on a user instruction received via the input / output unit 230.

  The input / output unit 230 presents various types of information to the user. Further, the input / output unit 230 receives an instruction regarding control from the user. The input / output unit 230 is, for example, a liquid crystal display having a touch panel.

  The storage unit 240 stores various data related to the operation of the terminal device 200, various data related to control, and a control program. Further, the storage unit 240 stores print data generated by the control unit 220. The storage unit 240 may include a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and / or an SSD.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information relating to paper feeding stored in the storage unit 330. As shown in FIG. 4, the user information table 400 includes a sheet cassette No. It has a column 401, a paper size column 402, a remaining paper amount column 403, a paper feed number column 404, and a life value column 405.

  Paper cassette No. A column 401 stores the sheet cassette number. The paper size column 402 stores the size of the paper stored in each paper feed cassette. The paper remaining amount column 403 stores the number of sheets remaining in each paper feed cassette. The paper feed number field 404 stores the cumulative value of the number of papers fed in the past. The life value column 405 stores a life value. The service life value is the number of sheets to be used as a guide for replacing each sheet cassette. The lifetime value varies depending on the type and size of paper to be fed. The type of paper stored in each paper feed cassette can be set by the user from the image forming apparatus 100 or the terminal device 200. Further, the paper size is detected by a paper size detecting means provided in each paper feed cassette. The life value column 405 stores the life value corresponding to the paper type setting and the paper size detection.

  Hereinafter, the paper feed control process in the control unit 120 will be described with reference to the specific example of FIG. The threshold is set to “150”, for example.

  For example, the remaining amount of paper in the paper feeding cassette 1 corresponding to the first paper feeding unit 141 is “160”, the remaining amount of paper in the paper feeding cassette 2 corresponding to the second paper feeding unit 142 is “300”, and the third paper feeding. Assume that the remaining amount of paper in the paper feed cassette 3 corresponding to the section 143 is “350”. In this case, since any remaining amount of paper exceeds the threshold value “150”, the image forming apparatus 100 does not notify the terminal device 200 of a paper replenishment request.

  Here, a method for calculating the degree of wear of each sheet cassette will be described. The degree of wear of the paper feed cassette 1 is 15000 / 500,000 = 0.03. The degree of wear of the paper feed cassette 2 is 5000 / 500,000 = 0.01. The degree of wear of the paper feed cassette 3 is 8000/500000 = 0.016. Accordingly, in this case, the control unit 120 performs control so that paper is fed from the paper cassette 2 because the consumption level of the paper cassette 2 is the smallest.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 receives print data instructing printing of 20 sheets from the terminal device 200, the value obtained by subtracting “20” from the remaining paper amount “160” for the paper feed cassette 1 is the threshold value. Therefore, the terminal device 200 may be notified of a paper replenishment request.

  Next, the paper feed control process of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the “paper feed control process” refers to a control process performed on the paper feed unit 140 by the control unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the control unit 120 controls the paper feeding so as to average the lifetimes of a plurality of paper feeding cassettes included in the paper feeding unit 140, and suppresses the time during which the print job is interrupted. 140 is controlled.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a paper feed control process by the control unit 120. The paper feed control process is executed in steps S2 to S18.

  Step S2: The control unit 120 receives a print instruction from the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 110. Note that the control unit 120 may acquire the number of prints included in the print instruction. The process proceeds to step S4.

  Step S4: The control unit 120 counts the remaining amount of paper in each paper feed cassette. The process proceeds to step S6.

  Step S6: The control unit 120 determines whether there is a paper feed cassette that is below the threshold based on the counted paper remaining amount of each paper feed cassette. When the control unit 120 determines that there is a paper feed cassette that falls below the threshold (Yes in step S6), the control unit 120 feeds paper that falls below the threshold so that the paper cassette that falls below the threshold feeds paper. The cassette is controlled (step S8). In addition, the control unit 120 notifies the terminal device 200 of a request for paper replenishment to the paper feed cassette that has fallen below the threshold (step S9). Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S16.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 120 determines that there is no sheet cassette that falls below the threshold (No in step S6), the control unit 120 specifies the number of sheets to be fed and the life value of all the sheet cassettes (step S10). ). The process proceeds to step S12.

  Step S12: The control unit 120 calculates the wear level of each paper feed cassette based on the number of sheets fed and the life value of all the paper feed cassettes. The process proceeds to step S14.

  Step S14: The control unit 120 compares the consumption levels of the respective paper feed cassettes, and identifies the paper feed cassette having the minimum wear level. The process proceeds to step S16.

  Step S16: The control unit 120 controls the specified paper feed cassette so that the paper feed cassette specified in step S14 feeds, and instructs the image forming unit 150 to execute printing. The process proceeds to step S18.

  Step S18: The control unit 120 updates the remaining amount of paper and the number of fed sheets stored in the storage unit 160, and ends this paper feed control.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, by performing the paper feed control process in the image forming system 10, while controlling the paper feed so as to average the lifetimes of a plurality of paper feed cassettes. It is possible to suppress the time during which the print job is interrupted.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For ease of understanding, the drawings schematically show each component as a main component, and the thickness, length, number, etc. of each component shown in the drawings are different from the actual for convenience of drawing. There is a case. Moreover, the shape, dimension, etc. of each component shown by said embodiment are examples, and are not specifically limited, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate substantially from the structure of this invention.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be realized as a paper feed control method using the characteristic constituent means of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention as steps, or as a paper feed control program including these steps. The program can also be distributed via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a transmission medium such as a communication network.

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and has industrial applicability.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming system 100 Image forming apparatus 110 Communication part 120 Control part 140 Paper feed part 141 1st paper feed part 142 2nd paper feed part 143 3rd paper feed part 200,200A, 200B, 200C Terminal device

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
A first paper feeding unit for feeding the recording medium;
A second paper feeding unit for feeding the recording medium;
A first remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium of the first sheet feeding unit and a second remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium of the second sheet feeding unit are below a preset threshold value. A determination unit for determining whether or not,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feed control unit that controls one of the first paper feed unit and the second paper feed unit based on the determination result of the determination unit so that one of the first paper feed unit and the second paper feed unit feeds paper. The determination unit includes a first consumption level indicating a ratio of a cumulative number of fed sheets of the first sheet feeding unit to a first life value set in advance for the first sheet feeding unit, and the second sheet feeding unit. Comparing the degree of consumption with a second consumption level indicating the ratio of the cumulative number of fed sheets of the second sheet feeding unit to a preset second life value;
The sheet feeding control unit controls the one of the first sheet feeding unit and the second sheet feeding unit to feed one of the first sheet feeding unit and the second sheet feeding unit based on the comparison result of the determination unit. The image forming apparatus described. A communication unit for notifying a request for replenishment of the recording medium when the determination unit determines that the first remaining amount or the second remaining amount is below the threshold;
A timing unit for measuring a replenishment time from the notification of the replenishment request until the replenishment of the recording medium is completed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a threshold update unit configured to update the threshold based on the replenishment time and the number of images to be formed on the recording medium per unit time. The communication unit receives print data indicating an image to be formed on the recording medium;
The print data includes information indicating the number of prints of the recording medium necessary for forming the image,
The determination unit determines whether a value obtained by subtracting the number of prints from the first remaining amount and the second remaining amount is less than the threshold;
The said communication part notifies the request | requirement of the replenishment of the said recording medium based on the determination result determined by the value which deducted the said number of printed sheets from the said 1st remaining amount and the said 2nd remaining amount. Image forming apparatus. A paper feed control method for controlling paper feed of an image forming apparatus including a first paper feed unit and a second paper feed unit,
A first remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium of the first sheet feeding unit and a second remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium of the second sheet feeding unit are below a preset threshold value. A determination step of determining whether or not,
A paper feed control method including a paper feed control step of controlling one of the first paper feed unit and the second paper feed unit based on the determination result in the determination step so as to feed one of the first paper feed unit and the second paper feed unit . A paper feed control program for causing a computer to execute a program for controlling paper feed of an image forming apparatus including a first paper feed unit and a second paper feed unit,
A first remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium of the first sheet feeding unit and a second remaining amount indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium of the second sheet feeding unit are below a preset threshold value. A determination step of determining whether or not,
A sheet feed control program including a sheet feed control step for controlling one of the first sheet feed unit and the second sheet feed unit based on the determination result in the determination step so that one of the first sheet feed unit and the second sheet feed unit feeds .

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