JP2020070161A - Image formation device and image formation method - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable a user to easily select the size of sheets set on a manual feeding tray, in the manual feeding tray without a size detection mechanism.SOLUTION: An image formation device comprises: a sheet sensor for detecting presence of a sheet placed at a predetermined position for feeding of a manual feeding tray; a control part which recognizes the presence of the sheet based on a signal from the sheet sensor and associates the sheet placed at the predetermined position with some size; and an image formation unit in which the sheet is fed from the manual feeding tray and an image formation corresponding to the associated size is executed. The control part, for each recognition of change from absence of the sheet to presence of it, or for each recognition of change from presence of the sheet to absence of it, controls so that the size associated with the sheet placed at the predetermined position is changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a manual feed tray and an image forming method using the manual feed tray.

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an image forming apparatus provided with a manual feed tray that allows a user to easily set various printing sheets. In general, the manual feed tray has a smaller number of sheets that can be set at one time than an ordinary feeding tray, but is configured so that sheets of various sizes and types can be easily set.
Some models are equipped with a size detection mechanism that detects the size of the sheets set on the manual feed tray, but particularly low-priced models omit the size detection mechanism.
Even for manual feed trays that do not have a size detection mechanism, some have alternative means of determining the size of the sheet. This is because in the image forming apparatus, it is considered that rational image formation cannot be performed unless the size of the sheet used for image formation is known. For example, by performing image formation that assumes the maximum printable size, the printing speed is unnecessarily slow, toner and ink are consumed more than necessary, and areas called voids are not formed at the edges of the sheet. However, there may be a problem that the edge or the back surface of the sheet becomes dirty.

In order to suppress the occurrence of such a defect, some manual feed tray models that do not have a size detection function are provided with an alternative means for determining the size of the sheet. For example, the operation panel of the image forming apparatus is used so that the user can input the sheet size.
Further, as an intermediate configuration between the both, a width of the paper set in the manual feed tray is detected, and the detected width of the paper is compared with width information indicating the width of the paper set in advance by the user. It has been known. Then, the paper size candidates are extracted and displayed, and the paper size selected by the user is set as the paper size of the manual feed tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2013-170071, A

  If the manual feed tray is provided with a size detection mechanism, the mechanism becomes complicated and costly. Further, it is not easy to detect various sheet sizes without error. On the other hand, in order to determine the size of the sheet by using the alternative means without the size detection mechanism, the user needs to input the size using the operation panel as described above, which is complicated for the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a simple manual feed tray that does not have a size detection mechanism, for example, even if the user does not make an input each time using the operation panel. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of selecting the size of the sheet set on the sheet.

When setting paper on the bypass tray of a multi-function peripheral or the like, the paper size setting is switched to the next size candidate each time the paper is detected.
The user holds the paper in his / her hand and inserts / removes it into / from the manual feed tray until the desired paper size is set.

  The present invention is a sheet sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet placed at a predetermined position for feeding a manual feed tray, and the presence or absence of a sheet based on a signal from the sheet sensor, and a sheet placed at the predetermined position. A control unit that associates a certain size with a sheet, and an image forming unit that feeds the sheet from the manual feed tray and performs image formation according to the associated size, and the control unit is in a state in which there is no sheet. Provided is an image forming apparatus that controls to change a size associated with a sheet placed at the predetermined position each time a change to a state is recognized or a change from a state with a sheet to a state without a sheet is recognized. ..

  From a different point of view, the present invention uses a sheet sensor to detect the presence or absence of a sheet placed at a predetermined position for feeding a manual feed tray, and recognizes the presence or absence of a sheet based on a signal from the sheet sensor. And a size determining step of associating a certain size with the sheet placed at the predetermined position, and a step of feeding the sheet from a manual feed tray and performing image formation according to the associated size, The determining step changes the size associated with the sheet placed at the predetermined position each time the change from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet is recognized, or each time the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet is recognized. An image forming method is provided.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit places the sheet at the predetermined position each time it recognizes a change from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet or every time it recognizes the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet. Since the size associated with the sheet to be cut is changed, for example, the size of the sheet set on the manual feed tray can be easily selected without the user having to make an input each time using the operation panel. That is, the size of the sheet can be easily switched.
The same applies to the image forming method according to the present invention.

It is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral in this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the digital multi-function peripheral shown in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a home screen in this embodiment. In this embodiment, it is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen relating to sheet size registration of a manual feed tray. It is explanatory drawing of the operation screen which shows the list of the size which can be registered on the screen of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which "A3" was registered into the size of "No. 3" by operation of the operation screen of FIG. In this embodiment, it is an explanatory view showing an example of the sheet size of the manual feed tray stored in the storage unit. 6 is an operation screen for confirming and setting vertical and horizontal lengths when "Custom 1" is touched in FIG. In this embodiment, it is a flowchart showing a process executed by a control unit when a user account logs in. 9 is a flowchart showing a process when the sheet sensor detects a change from no sheet to present in this embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing a process when the sheet sensor detects a change from the presence of a sheet to the absence of a sheet in this embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a copier job in this embodiment. (Bypass size "Postcard") FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a copier job in this embodiment. (Bypass size "None") In this embodiment, it is an explanatory view showing a state change in which a sheet is set on a manual feed tray. In this embodiment, it is an explanatory view showing an operation in which the user slightly pulls out the sheet set in the manual feed tray. In this embodiment, it is an explanatory view showing an operation of inserting a sheet pulled out from the manual feed tray by the user again. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a copier job in this embodiment. (Bypass size "A3") It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the message which a control part displays in this embodiment. In this embodiment, it is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen that displays a list of sheet sizes and waits for user settings. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of operation buttons for guiding registration of sheet size candidates in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following description is an illustration in all points and should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
<< Example of configuration of image forming apparatus >>
First, the configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital multi-function peripheral according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the digital multi-function peripheral shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a NIC (Network Interface Controller) circuit 13, a power supply circuit 14, and a storage unit 15. Further, the image forming unit 16, the manual feed tray 17, the feeding tray 18, the document conveying unit 19 and the discharge trays 20a, 20b and 20c are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a USB connector 22 is provided near the left side of the operation unit 12.

The control unit 11 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 11c, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11d, an input / output I / F (interface) circuit 11f, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11p. The ROM 11p stores in advance a control program executed by the CPU 11c. The RAM 11d stores data used for processing executed by the CPU and data such as images related to image formation. The CPU 11c executes the control program stored in the ROM 11p, and controls the digital multi-function peripheral 10 in cooperation with the hardware resources of each unit shown in FIG.
The operation unit 12 includes various operation keys and switches as hardware resources, input means such as a touch panel, and a liquid crystal display as display means. The operation keys, switches, and touch panel receive user operations. The control unit 11 recognizes the user's operations on the operation keys, switches, and touch panel, and causes the liquid crystal display to display the settings and operation contents.

The NIC circuit 13 is an interface circuit for connecting the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).
The power supply circuit 14 is a circuit that supplies power required for operation to each unit illustrated in FIG. 1. The hardware resource is a power supply circuit that converts alternating current in the power system into direct current having a predetermined voltage.
The storage unit 15 is a large-capacity non-volatile storage device. It stores setting data, copy image data, printer print data, etc. that should be retained even when the power is turned off. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or the like is applied as the hardware resource. A nonvolatile memory may be used as at least a part of the RAM 11d, and the setting data may be stored in the nonvolatile storage area of the RAM 11d instead of the storage unit 15.

The image forming unit 16 prints on a sheet fed from the manual feed tray 17 or the feed tray 18. In this embodiment, the image forming unit is an electrophotographic system, and as a hardware resource, a mechanism relating to each process of charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing centering on a photoconductor, and processing of an image and print data of an original document An image processing circuit for performing is provided. Further, it includes a mechanism and a circuit for reading a document.
The manual feed tray 17 feeds a sheet placed at a predetermined feeding position on the tray to the image forming unit 16. The manual feed tray in this embodiment does not include a size detection mechanism, but includes a sheet sensor 17s that detects the presence or absence of a sheet at the predetermined position.

The feeding tray 18 stores sheets and feeds the sheets to the image forming unit 16. As shown in FIG. 2, four types of sheets are stored respectively.
The document transport unit 19 transports a document related to image formation to a predetermined reading position. The document transport unit 19 includes a document tray 19a and transports a document placed on the document tray 19a to the reading position. The reading position is a position where the image forming unit 16 reads a document.
The discharge trays 20a, 20b, and 20c are trays that store sheets printed and discharged by the image forming unit 16.

The sheet fed from the manual feed tray 17 or the feeding tray 18 and printed by the image forming unit 16 is discharged to any of the discharge trays 20a, 20b, and 20c.
The USB connector 22 is a connector for connecting a storage device such as a USB memory. The digital multi-function peripheral 10 can print the print data and the image data stored in the connected storage device, and can store the image data of the document read by the image forming unit 16 in the connected storage device.

<< Set sheet size candidates for the bypass tray >>
In this embodiment, when the sheet sensor 17s detects a change in the state related to the presence or absence of a sheet, the control unit 11 changes the size associated with the sheet placed on the manual feed tray 17, but the associated size is registered in advance. It is one of a plurality of sizes. Here, the procedure of size registration will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a home screen displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation unit 12 in this embodiment. The home screen is displayed by the control unit 11 after turning on the power of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 or when a predetermined period elapses without any operation.

  The home screen will be further described. In the middle part of FIG. 3, four icons of “simple copy”, “save external memory”, “simple scan”, and “FTP / desktop” are displayed. When the user touches any of the icons, the screen changes to the job operation screen corresponding to each icon. That is, an operation screen for a copier job (see FIG. 12 described later), an operation screen for storing image data in a storage device connected to the USB connector 22, an operation screen for a scanner job, and a connection via the NIC circuit 13. 6 is an operation screen relating to transmission of image data to a generated device. It is also possible to select an icon not shown in FIG. 3 by scrolling.

In the lower part of FIG. 3, five icons of “operation guide”, “large character”, “setting”, “total number display” and “illuminance adjustment” are displayed. When the user touches any icon, the screen changes to the operation screen corresponding to each icon. The screen includes an operation guide display screen, an operation screen for changing the size of characters to be displayed, an operation screen for making various settings, a screen for displaying the total number of prints, and an operation screen for adjusting the screen brightness.
When the “setting” icon is touched among these icons, the control unit 11 causes the operation unit 12 to display an operation screen (not shown) for selecting a setting item. In FIG. 3, the finger F indicates an operation in which the “setting” icon is touched. Among the setting item options displayed in response to the operation, there is an item for registering candidates for the size (sheet size of the manual feed tray) to be associated with the sheet placed on the manual feed tray 17.
When the sheet size registration of the manual feed tray is selected on the operation screen for selecting the setting item, the control unit 11 causes the operation unit 12 to display the operation screen related to the sheet size registration of the manual feed tray.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen for registering the sheet size of the manual feed tray in this embodiment. In the example of FIG. 4, a maximum of five size candidates (No. 1 to 5) can be registered in the manual feed tray. Of course, five is only an example, and less or more may be used. Here, the sheet size of the manual feed tray can be registered for each account of the user who uses the digital multi-function peripheral 10. That is, a user who logs in to a unique account and uses the digital multi-function peripheral 10 can register according to the user. The user who is used as a guest without logging in to the account uses the settings common to the guest.

In FIG. 4, it is assumed that the user is logged in to a unique account, touches the “setting” icon in FIG. 3, and selects sheet size registration on the manual feed tray to perform unique registration for the user. Even if you do not log in to your account and touch the "Settings" icon in Fig. 3 to select the manual feed tray sheet size registration, the same operation screen as in Fig. 4 will be displayed. Is.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which the user first registers the sheet size of the manual feed tray. No. The size is not registered in any of 1 to 5.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen showing a list of sizes that can be registered on the screen of FIG. 4 and accepting selection. In response to the operation of touching the “No. 3” field on the screen of FIG. 4, the control unit 11 pops up a list of sizes that can be registered. A size not shown can be displayed by operating the scroll bar. When any size is touched, the control unit 11 registers the touched size as the size of “No. 3” and stores it in the storage unit 15. Finger F in FIG. 5 indicates that the “A3” size is touched.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which “A3” is registered as the size of “No. 3” by the operation shown in FIG.
When “(none)” is touched in the size list of FIG. 5, the control unit 11 deletes the registered size and returns to the state in which nothing is registered.
No. The control unit 11 accepts size registration in the same procedure for 1, 2, 4, and 5. Therefore, in this embodiment, the user can register up to 5 different sizes.
When registration is completed and the “OK” button is touched (see FIG. 6), the control unit 11 causes the operation unit 12 to display the home screen of FIG. 3 again. The registration ends with the sheet size data of the manual feed tray registered for the user being stored in the storage unit 15.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the sheet size of the manual feed tray stored in the storage unit 15 in this embodiment. In FIG. 7, each column indicates the No. registered for each user. The sheet sizes of 1 to 5 are shown. "User 1", "user 2", and "user 3" each correspond to a unique account. For example, for “user 1”, No. “Postcard” is registered in No. 1 and No. 1 is registered. “A3” is registered in No. 3, and No. 3 is registered. 2, 4, and 5 are unregistered. For “user 2”, No. “A4” in No. 1 is No. "B5" in No. 2 is No. No. 3 is "Custom 1". “Letter” is No. 4 “Postcard” is registered in No. 5.
Here, “custom 1” is not a standard size prepared in advance (B5, B4, A5, A4, A3, etc. shown in FIG. 5), but the user inputs the vertical and horizontal lengths and registers it. It is something to put. The same applies to “custom 2” shown in FIG. 5, which is a size in which the user defines vertical and horizontal lengths separately from “custom 1”.

FIG. 8 is a screen displayed by the control unit 11 on the operation unit 12 when “Custom 1” is touched in FIG. 5, and is an operation screen for confirming and setting the vertical and horizontal lengths. When the sheet size is unknown, the user can measure the vertical and horizontal lengths of the sheet and register the sheet as a custom size. The same applies when a sheet other than the standard size is used.
The control unit 11 displays the values of the lengths currently set for the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Y, and when any of the X and Y values is touched, the control unit 11 numerically displays the size. A screen (not shown) for input is displayed to accept numerical input of the touched size. When the "OK" button on the screen is pressed, the control unit 11 stores the input X or Y numerical value in the storage unit 15 in association with "Custom 1". The same applies to "custom 2".

In FIG. 7, for example, “user 3” is No. 1 to 5 are unregistered. When the operation screen for registering the sheet size of the manual feed tray is displayed while the user 3 is logged in to the account, the same display as in FIG. 4 is obtained.
The user of each account can register, change, and delete the data related to his own account shown in FIG. 7, but cannot access the data related to other accounts.
Although not shown in FIG. 7, the guest seat size registration is also stored along with the seat size registration of each user. Guest sheet size registration can be registered, changed, or deleted while the guest is logged in.

  The default sheet size registration is shown in the rightmost column in FIG. 7. No. “Postcard” is No. 1 "A4" in No. 2 “Envelope” is registered in 3. The control unit 11 selects the No. 1 like “user 3”. When the sheet size is not registered in any of 1 to 5, the sheet size of the manual feed tray 17 is controlled using the default sheet size registration. In the default sheet size registration, default data is registered when the digital multifunction peripheral 10 is shipped from the factory, and can be edited only by the administrator of the digital multifunction peripheral 10. However, the control unit 11 sets No. None of 1 to 5 accepts the operation of returning the sheet size to the unregistered state. That is, No. The size is registered in only one of 1 to 5 and the other one is not registered, and the operation of deleting the remaining one size is not accepted.

<< Process of associating the size with the sheet of the bypass tray when logging in the user account >>
Next, the process in which the control unit 11 associates the size registered in the sheet placed at the predetermined feeding position of the manual feed tray will be described.
9 to 11 are flowcharts showing the sheet size processing relating to the manual feed tray executed by the control unit 11 in this embodiment. Each processing is multitasked and processed in parallel with other processing.

  The process shown in FIG. 9 is executed when the control unit 11 recognizes the login with a new user account. That is, this is a process when the digital multi-function peripheral 10 is used by a user of a new account. This includes the case where a user who has logged in to an account logs out and returns to the guest account. Further, it includes a state in which a guest account is set after the digital multifunction peripheral 10 is powered on, that is, a state in which the user is not logged in with a specific user account.

The process shown in FIG. 10 is executed when the sheet sensor 17s detects a change from a state without a sheet to a state with a sheet.
The process shown in FIG. 11 is executed when the sheet sensor 17s detects a change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet.
First, the procedure of processing executed by the control unit 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 9, the control unit 11 identifies what the current user account is (step S11). In this description, for convenience, it is assumed that “user 1” shown in FIG. 7 is the current account. That is, it is assumed that the user has logged in with the account of “user 1” in order to use the digital multi-function peripheral 10.
Note that the user account is logged in by a known means. For example, the control unit 11 may log in by receiving the input of the account ID on the predetermined screen of the operation unit 12. Alternatively, the login may be performed by using the ID card in which the information related to the user account is stored and receiving the information via the interface (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Alternatively, the login may be performed by receiving the information related to the user account from the external network via the NIC circuit 13.

Subsequently, the control unit 11 sets "1" as an initial value to the variable c of the pointer used for the search table created on the RAM 11d in the subsequent processing (step S13).
Then, based on the signal from the sheet sensor 17s, it is determined whether or not the sheet is placed at a predetermined feeding position of the manual feed tray (step S15).
When no sheet is detected (No in step S15), the control unit 11 does not generate the search table at this stage and associates “none” as the sheet size of the manual feed tray (step S31). That is, until the sheet sensor 17s detects a sheet, “none” indicating that the sheet size is not any is associated.

Then, the operation unit 12 is caused to display the state where there are no sheets on the manual feed tray (step S33). Then, the process ends.
On the other hand, when the sheet is detected in the process of step S15 (Yes in step S15), the control unit 11 generates a search table in the RAM 11d at this stage (step S17).
The search table is a table in which the sheet size candidates of each user shown in FIG. 7 corresponding to the current user account are extracted. Here, since “user 1” is the current account, the sheet size candidate No. A data table in which “postcard”, none, “A3”, none, and none are stored in each of 1 to 5 is generated as a search table.

Subsequently, the control unit 11 sets "1" as an initial value to the value of the counter i that determines one round of the search table. (Step S19).
Then, the loop processing up to step S25 described below is executed. First, it is determined whether or not any sheet size is registered in the location pointed by the pointer c in the search table or is not registered (step S21). If the sheet size is not registered at that location (No in step S21), the pointer c is updated to point to the next location. That is, if the pointer c is 5 or more, 1 is set to c. If c is less than 5, 1 is added to c (step S23).

Then, 1 is added to the round determination counter i, and it is determined whether the value of i exceeds 5, that is, whether the round of the search table has been completed (step S25).
If the value of the counter i exceeds 5, the loop processing ends. In that case, the search table No. This means that the sheet size is not registered in any of 1 to 5. The control unit 11 newly sets the data of the default size candidate table in the search table instead of the data of the candidate size table corresponding to the current account (step S27). Then, the routine returns to step S19 to execute the loop processing again for the sheet size registered as the default.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S21 that any sheet size is registered at the position pointed to by the pointer c (Yes in step S21), the control unit 11 exits the loop process and sets the sheet size to the manual feed tray 17 Is associated with the sheet (step S41).
In the case of the account of “user 1”, the search table No. corresponding to the initial value 1 of the pointer c is displayed. “Postcard” is registered in 1. Therefore, the loop processing is skipped at the first time, and “postcard” is associated with the size of the sheet placed on the manual feed tray. The control unit 11 causes the operation unit 12 to display the sheet size as the sheet size of the manual feed tray 17 (step S43), and ends the process.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a copier job in this embodiment. On the operation screen of the copier job shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 11 displays each size (A4, A4R, B5, A3) of the sheets accommodated in the four feeding trays 18 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10. Further, the sheet size set in the manual feed tray 17 is displayed in the rectangular frame of the chain line below "manual feed".
FIG. 12 shows a state in which the control unit 11 displays “postcard” as the size of the manual feed tray of the operation unit 12. This corresponds to the case where the sheet sensor 17s detects the sheet in the determination in step S15 described above. In that case, the control unit 11 associates "postcard" as the sheet size of the manual feed tray in the process of S41, and displays "postcard" in the rectangular frame in the process of step S43.

Further, the control unit 11 displays the copy setting number (“1” in FIG. 12) on the operation screen of the copier job and the “START” button for accepting the start instruction of the copier job.
Further, FIG. 13 is an operation screen of a copier job similar to FIG. 12, and shows a state in which the control unit 11 displays a state where there are no sheets on the manual feed tray of the operation unit 12. This corresponds to the case where the sheet sensor 17s does not detect the sheet in the determination in step S15 described above. In that case, the control unit 11 associates "none" as the sheet size of the manual feed tray in the process of S31, and displays a blank in the rectangular frame in the process of step S33.
When the size of the manual feed tray is “none”, the control unit 11 does not start the copier job even if the “START” button is touched. The control unit 11 may display the "START" button in a grayed-out display or hide the "START" button when the size of the manual feed tray is "none".
Although the operation screen of the copier job is described as an example, the same method can be applied to other jobs related to printing, such as a printer job and a fax reception job.

<< Process to associate size with the operation of inserting / removing sheets from the bypass tray >>
It is assumed that the sheet sensor 17s has not detected the sheet in the determination in step S15 described above, and then the sheet is set on the manual feed tray 17 (see FIG. 14). When the sheet sensor 17s detects that the sheet is placed at the predetermined position for feeding, the control unit 11 executes the process shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 11 sets “1” as an initial value to the value of the counter i that determines one round of the search table. (Step S51).
Then, the search table is generated in the RAM 11d. The generated search table is the same as that described in the process of step S17 of FIG.

Subsequently, the control unit 11 executes the loop processing up to step S57 described below. First, it is determined whether any sheet size is registered or not registered in the portion pointed by the pointer c in the search table (step S53). If the sheet size is not registered at that location (No in step S53), the pointer c is updated to point to the next location. That is, if the pointer c is 5 or more, 1 is set to c. When c is less than 5, 1 is added to c (step S55).
Then, 1 is added to the round trip determination counter i, and it is determined whether the value of i exceeds 5, that is, whether the round of the search table has been rounded (step S57).

If the value of the counter i exceeds 5, the loop processing ends. In that case, the search table No. This means that the sheet size is not registered in any of 1 to 5. The control unit 11 newly sets the data of the default size candidate table in the search table instead of the data of the candidate size table corresponding to the current account (step S59). Then, the routine returns to step S51 to execute the loop processing again for the sheet size registered as the default.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that any sheet size is registered at the position pointed to by the pointer c (Yes in step S53), the control unit 11 exits the loop process and sets the sheet size to the manual feed tray 17 (Step S61).

  In the case of the account of “user 1”, the search table No. corresponding to the initial value 1 of the pointer c is displayed. “Postcard” is registered in 1. Therefore, the loop processing is skipped at the first time, and “postcard” is associated with the size of the sheet placed on the manual feed tray. The control unit 11 displays the sheet size on the operation unit 12 as the sheet size of the manual feed tray 17 (step S63), and ends the process.

FIG. 12 shows a state in which the control unit 11 displays “postcard” as the size of the manual feed tray of the operation unit 12.
Next, it is assumed that the user inserts and removes the sheet set in the manual feed tray 17. FIG. 15 shows an operation in which the user slightly pulls out the sheet set in the manual feed tray in this embodiment, and FIG. 16 shows an operation in which the pulled-out sheet is inserted again.
When the sheet set in the manual feed tray is pulled out, the sheet sensor 17s detects the state where there is no sheet. In response to this, the control unit 11 executes the processing shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the sheet sensor 17s detects the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet, the control unit 11 updates the pointer c to point to the next position. That is, if the pointer c is 5 or more, 1 is set to c. When c is less than 5, 1 is added to c (step S71). Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the operation unit 12 displays a state in which there are no sheets in the manual feed tray (step S73), and the process is terminated.
The process of step S71 is a process of advancing the pointer c to the next, similarly to step S55 of FIG. However, the control unit 11 executes the process of step 71 of FIG. 11 every time the change from the state in which there are sheets on the manual feed tray 17 to the state in which there is no sheets is recognized. On the other hand, the difference is that the process of step S55 of FIG. 10 is executed only when the sheet size is not registered at the position pointed to by the pointer c.
That is, in this embodiment, the control unit 11 changes the size associated with the sheet placed at a predetermined position on the manual feed tray 17 every time when the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet is recognized.

When the user logs in as “user 1” and detects a change from the state where “postcard” is displayed when c = 1 to the state where there is no sheet, the control unit 11 increments the value of the pointer c by 1 in the process of step S71. Set to 2.
After that, when the user inserts the pulled-out sheet again, the sheet sensor 17s detects the state of the sheet. In response to this, the control unit 11 executes the processing shown in FIG. 10 again. Since the value of the pointer c at that time is 2, the step S53 in FIG. The determination result is that the sheet size is not registered in No. 2 (No in step S53). The control unit 11 executes the process of step S55 to add 1 to the pointer c (c = 3).

Further, the control unit 11 adds 1 to the value of the one-round determination counter i (step S57), sets 2 to i, loops, and repeats the determination of step S53. Since the value of the pointer c at that time is 3, the No. The sheet size "A3" registered in No. 3 is associated with the sheet (Yes in step S53 and then step S61). Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the operation unit 12 displays “A3” as the size of the manual feed tray.
As described above, when the user who has logged in with the account of “user 1” inserts or removes the sheet of the manual feed tray 17, the size display of the manual feed tray changes to “postcard” and “A3” each time the sheet is inserted.

In the case of “user 2” shown in FIG. 7, each time a sheet is inserted, “A4”, “B5”, “custom 1”, “Letter”, “postcard”, “A4” ... The size display changes.
For user 3, since no sheet size is registered, the default setting is applied, and every time a sheet is inserted, “postcard”, “A4”, “envelope”, “postcard” ... The size display changes.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the size of the manual feed tray is selected from the sheet size candidates registered in advance. If the sheet size candidate is an unregistered user, the default size setting is applied.
In this embodiment, when there is no suitable size among the registered sheet size candidates, the user can select the intended size using the operation unit 12.
For example, the sheets of the manual feed tray 17 are repeatedly inserted and removed, and the No. of the size candidate table corresponding to the account is repeated. When the display of the sizes registered in 1 to 5 is cycled a predetermined number of times (for example, when the display of the registered size is repeated three times), the control unit causes the operation unit 12 to “touch the manual feed to select the paper size. Message from the list "is displayed to guide the setting of the sheet size using the operation unit 12.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a message displayed by the control unit 11 on the operation unit 12 in this embodiment.
When the user touches the “manual feed” display in accordance with the message, the control unit 11 causes the operation unit 12 to display a list of sheet sizes.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen that displays a list of sheet sizes and waits for user settings in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 11 displays a list of sheet sizes that can be set on the operation screen of the copier job.

When the user touches any of the sizes displayed in the list, the control unit 11 associates the touched size with the sheet of the manual feed tray.
Even if the message is not displayed, if the “manual feed” is touched, the control unit 11 may display the sheet size list shown in FIG. 19 to accept the sheet size setting. Good.
However, even if the sizes are associated with each other by using the operation unit 12 in this way, the control unit 11 then executes the processing shown in FIGS. The size registered in the candidate table is associated with the sheet.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the registration of sheet size candidates proceeds to the registration screen shown in FIG. 4 starting from the “setting” icon on the home screen. In this embodiment, a mode in which the user can more easily register sheet size candidates will be described.
For example, when no sheet size candidate shown in FIG. 7 is registered for the logged-in user account, the control unit 11 guides the user to register a sheet size candidate beside the manual feed on the operation screen of the copier job. You may display the operation button for.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of operation buttons for guiding registration of sheet size candidates in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 20, the control unit 11 displays an operation button on the side of “manual feed” with “Register frequently used size”. When this button is touched, the control unit 11 causes the operation unit 12 to display the registration screen shown in FIG.
When any one of the sheet size candidates is registered, the control unit 11 may not display the operation button shown in FIG. Alternatively, the operation button may not be displayed when the number of logins to a user account exceeds a predetermined number of times or a predetermined period counted from the first time.

Also, instead of the operation buttons as shown in FIG. 20, the control unit 11 may display a message on the operation screen of the copier job. The content of the message is, for example, "touch the manual feed to register the frequently used size."
When the user touches "manual feed", the control unit 11 may cause the operation unit 12 to display the registration screen illustrated in FIG. 4, even if the user is guided by the message or does not display the message.

(Embodiment 4)
In the first embodiment, it has been described that the state in which nothing is registered as the default sheet size candidate does not occur.
However, for example, the administrator may be allowed to delete all registrations of default sheet size candidates. In that case, a state may occur in which no sheet size candidates are registered in the login account or the default. When the user sets a sheet on the manual feed tray 17 in this state, the control unit 11 associates “none” with the sheet size of the manual feed tray and sets the manual feed size display to blank. Copier job does not start even if "START" is touched. The control unit 11 may display the "START" button in a grayed-out display or hide the "START" button when the size of the manual feed tray is "none".

  The control unit 11 displays, for example, a message that "a frequently used size is not registered. Please touch the manual feed to register a frequently used size". When the user is guided by the message and touches “manual feed”, the control unit 11 causes the operation unit 12 to display the sheet size candidate registration screen shown in FIG. 4 and accepts the size registration.

As mentioned above,
(I) The image forming apparatus according to the present invention recognizes the presence / absence of a sheet based on a signal from the sheet sensor that detects the presence / absence of the sheet placed at a predetermined position for feeding the manual feed tray, The control unit includes a control unit that associates a certain size with a sheet placed at the predetermined position, and an image forming unit that feeds the sheet from a manual feed tray and forms an image according to the associated size. , Controls to change the size associated with the sheet placed at the predetermined position each time the change from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet is recognized, or each time the change from the state with the sheet to the state not recognized is recognized. It is characterized by doing.

  In the present invention, the manual feed tray can feed sheets of various sizes for image formation. It is possible to set a plurality of sheets and to feed the set sheets one by one, but it is configured to set and feed only one sheet at a time But it's okay. The sheet set on the manual feed tray may be a print sheet on which an image is formed. In the above-described embodiment, the manual feed tray for feeding the print sheet is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to, for example, a document tray provided in a document feeding device for feeding a document. is there.

The predetermined position for feeding is a position where various sheets to be fed are set in the manual feed tray. Generally, the manual feed tray is set at a predetermined position so that the leading end side along the sheet feeding direction engages with the feeding mechanism. Normally, the position to be set is determined even in the width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. For example, in many cases, the center of the sheet in the width direction is adjusted to a predetermined reference position.
Furthermore, the control unit is a circuit including a ROM, a RAM, an input / output circuit, etc. centering on the CPU, and the CPU executes the control program stored in the ROM so that the hardware resources and the software resources are organic. The function is realized by combining with.

  To associate a size with a sheet is to determine the size of the sheet and execute image formation assuming that the sheet has the determined size. Note that, for example, after the sheet is fed from the manual feed tray, the length of the conveyed sheet is actually measured and the size is updated, and the image is formed with the updated size before or during image formation, Included in this invention.

Further, the control unit changes the size associated with the sheet each time the change from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet is recognized or the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet is recognized.
Here, the control unit associates a certain size (first size) with the sheet in the state where there is a sheet, and stores the first size when the state changes to the state where there is no sheet. Next, the size (second size) to be associated with the sheet when the sheet is changed to the existing state is determined, but a size different from the first size is determined as the second size. This is the process of changing the size associated with the sheet each time the change from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet is recognized.

  Alternatively, the control unit associates a certain size (first size) with the sheet in the state where the sheet exists. When the state is changed to the state where there is no sheet, the size (second size) to be associated with the sheet when the state is changed to the state where there is a sheet is determined and stored. The second size is a size different from the first size. This is the process of changing the size associated with the sheet each time the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet is recognized.

Further, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(Ii) The control unit associates any one of a plurality of sizes registered in advance with the sheet, and every time the state changes from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet, or the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet. The size to be associated with each may be changed in a predetermined order.
In this way, by changing the size in a predetermined order only for the size registered in advance, it is possible to register the size that the user frequently uses in the manual feed tray having no size detection mechanism. , Unnecessary size can be excluded from the options.

(Iii) further comprising an operation unit for accepting an input of a size other than the registered plurality of sizes, wherein the control unit sets the input size to the sheet when the operation unit accepts an input of any size. You may match.
In this way, for example, the user registers a size that is frequently used, and when using a sheet of a size other than that, by inputting the size using the operation unit, the sheet set in the manual feed tray can be easily You will be able to select the size.

(Iv) It may further include a memory circuit that rewritably stores the registered size, and the control unit may accept registration of the size for each user and store the size in the memory circuit.
In this way, by registering the size according to the user and storing it in the storage circuit, the user can easily select the size of the sheet set in the manual feed tray.
A preferable aspect of the present invention also includes a combination of any of the above-described plurality of aspects.

  (V) Further, the image forming method according to the present invention includes a step of detecting the presence or absence of a sheet placed at a predetermined feeding position of a manual feed tray using a sheet sensor, and a sheet based on a signal from the sheet sensor. A size determination step of recognizing the presence or absence of the sheet and associating a certain size with the sheet placed at the predetermined position; and a step of feeding the sheet from the manual feed tray and performing image formation according to the associated size. Comprising, the size determining step, every time the change from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet is recognized, or each time the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet is recognized, to the sheet placed at the predetermined position. It is characterized by changing the associated size.

The present invention also includes a combination of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with the above-described image forming method.
In addition to the above-described embodiment, there may be various modified examples of the present invention. These modifications should not be understood as not belonging to the scope of the present invention. The present invention should include the equivalents of the claims and all modifications within the scope.

10: Digital compound machine, 11: Control part, 11c: CPU, 11d: RAM, 11p: ROM, 12: Operation unit, 13: NIC circuit, 14: Power supply circuit, 15: Storage unit, 16: Image forming unit, 17 : Manual feed tray, 17s: Sheet sensor, 18: Feed tray, 19: Document transport unit, 19a: Document tray, 20a, 20b, 20c: Eject tray, 22: USB connector

Claims (5)

A sheet sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet placed at a predetermined position for feeding the manual feed tray,
A control unit that recognizes the presence or absence of a sheet based on a signal from the sheet sensor, and associates a certain size with the sheet placed at the predetermined position,
An image forming unit that feeds the sheet from the manual feed tray and forms an image according to the associated size,
The control unit changes the size associated with the sheet placed at the predetermined position each time a change from a state without a sheet to a state with a sheet is recognized or a change from a state with a sheet to a state without a sheet is recognized. An image forming apparatus that is controlled to operate.   The control unit associates any one of a plurality of pre-registered sizes with the sheet, and recognizes a change from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet, or the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the associated size is changed for each time in a predetermined order. Further comprising an operation unit for receiving an input of a size other than the registered plurality of sizes,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit associates the input size with the sheet when the operation unit receives an input of a certain size. A storage circuit for rewritably storing the registered size is further provided,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit accepts registration of the size for each user and stores the size in the storage circuit. Detecting the presence or absence of a sheet placed at a predetermined position for feeding the manual feed tray using a sheet sensor,
A size determining step of recognizing the presence or absence of a sheet based on a signal from the sheet sensor and associating a certain size with the sheet placed at the predetermined position,
Feeding the sheet from the manual feed tray, and performing image formation according to the associated size,
The size determining step corresponds to the size of the sheet placed at the predetermined position each time the change from the state without the sheet to the state with the sheet is recognized or the change from the state with the sheet to the state without the sheet is recognized. Image forming method to change.