JP2020076807A - Image forming system, display method in image forming system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming system that, when feeding a sheet loaded on a tray, allows easy check of settings related to a changing function of a paper feed source.SOLUTION: An image forming system, when a sheet is loaded on any one of a plurality of trays that are provided in a post-processing device and can feed a sheet to be subjected to post-processing in the post-processing device, displays a first screen related to a changing function to change the paper feed source tray when the sheet loaded on the tray runs out.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, a display method in the image forming system, and a program.

  The image forming apparatus may have an automatic paper feed stage switching function that automatically switches to another paper feed tray having the same type of paper and continues printing when the paper used during printing runs out. Are known. With this function, the paper feed stages that are candidates for switching are set in advance in the image forming apparatus, and the paper feed stage on which the same type of paper as the one that was lost during printing is placed from among the candidates is automatically set. To be selected. The setting of the candidate is set on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. The setting of the candidate for automatic sheet feed stage switching is stored in the image forming apparatus and is retained even when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off. For this reason, the operator frequently puts paper used for printing on a plurality of paper feed stages in advance, and sets the automatic paper feed stage switching setting for the paper feed stages to stop the execution of the job due to the absence of paper in the paper feed stages. Is preventing.

  The image forming apparatus may be provided with an inserter tray in addition to the paper feed stage. The inserter tray is a paper feed port included in the post-processing device of the subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus in the image forming system, and its use is different from the paper feeding stage of the image forming apparatus. A sheet for printing by the image forming apparatus is placed on the paper feed stage, whereas a preprinted sheet printed by another image forming apparatus is placed on the inserter tray. By using this inserter tray, the image forming apparatus can combine the preprinted paper with the printed print result to create one printed matter. For this inserter tray, a configuration has also been proposed in which automatic paper feed stage switching is supported (Patent Document 1).

JP, 2007-168958, A

  In Patent Document 1, when setting the automatic paper feed stage switching of the inserter tray, it is necessary to display the setting screen from the main screen through a predetermined key operation. Also, if the inserter tray on which the inserted paper is placed is the target of automatic paper feed stage switching, and the same type of paper is placed on another inserter tray, the user does not intend Instead, the sheet may be fed from another inserter tray. Inserted paper is often pre-printed paper, and paper fed from other inserter trays may be pre-printed differently even if they are of the same type, in which case the user's intention Paper feed will not be performed according to.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems. In view of the above points, the present invention provides an image forming system, a display method in the image forming system, and an image forming system capable of easily confirming a setting regarding a function of switching a paper source when a sheet placed on a tray is fed. The purpose is to provide the program.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image forming system according to the present invention is an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, which is provided in the post-processing apparatus, and includes the post-processing of the post-processing apparatus When a plurality of trays that can feed the target sheet and one of the plurality of trays are loaded, when the sheets placed on the tray are exhausted A first display means for displaying a first screen relating to the function.

  According to the present invention, when a sheet placed on a tray is fed, it is possible to easily confirm the setting relating to the sheet feeding source switching function.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an image forming system. The figure for demonstrating the setting content of an inserter tray. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen for setting a paper type. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen for setting a paper size. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen for setting automatic sheet feed stage switching. The flowchart which shows the process of screen transition control. The figure for demonstrating the setting content of an inserter tray. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of automatic paper feed stage switching control. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen for setting automatic paper feed stage switching settings for each inserter tray. The figure which shows a warning interface screen. The flowchart which shows the process of screen transition control. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen for setting whether to display an automatic paper feed stage switching setting screen. The flowchart which shows the process of screen transition control.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of the features described in the present embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solving means of the present invention. .. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a post-processing device 160. The image forming apparatus 100 and the post-processing device 160 are connected to each other by the system bus 116. The image forming apparatus 100 and the host computer 101 are communicatively connected to each other via a communication line 103 (network) such as a LAN or WAN. A plurality of image forming systems 10 and a plurality of host computers 101 may be connected.

  The host computer 101 acquires input information from an operator (user) using an input device (not shown), creates a print job to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100, and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 100. The controller board 110 performs various types of data processing and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 as a whole. The operation panel 120 is a touch panel type and receives various operations such as settings and instructions from an operator. The scanner 130 scans an original document using an optical sensor and acquires scan image data. The paper feeding device 140 is a paper feeding device including a plurality of paper feeding stages (trays). Each paper feed stage can accommodate and feed various printing papers (hereinafter, papers or sheets). The sheet feeding device 140 has a remaining amount detection sensor 141 in each sheet feeding stage, and can determine the presence or absence of sheets by this. Further, each of the paper feed stages can separate only the uppermost one of the stored papers and convey it to the printer engine 150. The printer engine 150 prints on a sheet based on the image data generated by the controller board 110.

  Next, the configuration of the controller board 110 will be described. The I / O control unit 111 controls communication with an external network. The ROM 112 is a storage medium that stores various control programs. The RAM 113 is a storage medium that reads out and stores the control program stored in the ROM 112. The CPU 114 is a central processing unit, and executes, for example, a control program read into the RAM 113, and centrally controls image signals and various devices. The HDD 115 is a storage medium used for the purpose of temporarily or long-term holding a large amount of data such as a print job and image data generated by the CPU 114. The respective modules in the controller board 110 are connected to each other via the system bus 116.

  The system bus 116 further connects the controller board 110 and each device in the image forming apparatus 100 to each other. The RAM 113 also functions as a main memory and a work memory of the CPU 114. The control program and operating system are also stored in the HDD 115 in addition to the ROM 112. The HDD 115 may store the setting information (mode setting information or the like) of the image forming apparatus 100 received from the operation panel 120 via an NVRAM (not shown).

  Next, the configuration of the printer engine 150 will be described. The image forming unit 151 includes a developing unit 152, a photosensitive drum 153, and a transfer belt 154. The image forming unit 151 uses the developing unit 152 to form a toner image on the periphery of the photoconductor drum 153 according to the image data generated by the controller board 110, and forms the toner image on the sheet conveyed on the transfer belt 154. Transfer the toner image. The fixing unit 155 fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet by the image forming unit 151. The fixing unit 155 includes a pressure roller and a heating roller (not shown), and the sheet passes between the rollers to melt and press the toner to fix the toner image on the sheet. The printer engine 150 may be configured by another recording method such as an inkjet recording method.

  Next, the configuration of the post-processing device 160 will be described. The print result (product) 170 fixed by the fixing unit 155 is post-processed by the post-processing device 160. The post-processing device 160 includes an inserter tray 162, a punch device 163, and a folding device 164. The post-processing device 160 is connected to the controller board 110 by the system bus 116. The post-processing unit 161 performs various post-processing processes on the print result 170 according to the job setting status of the printer job determined by the controller board 110. The post-processing unit 161 feeds the paper placed on the inserter tray 162, and outputs the paper together with the print result 170. Further, the post-processing unit 161 uses the punching device 163 and the folding device 164 to perform punching processing and folding processing on the print result 170 based on the paper edge and paper orientation specified in the job settings. Thereby, the image forming system 10 can output a complicated printed matter from the print result 170 printed by the image forming apparatus 100. The inserter tray 162 is provided with a remaining amount detection sensor 165, which allows the controller board 110 to determine the presence or absence of paper on the inserter tray 162.

  The image forming apparatus 100 has a function of automatically switching the paper feed source to another paper feed tray on which the same type of paper is placed and continuing printing when the paper to be printed runs out during printing. ing. This function is called a so-called automatic paper feed stage switching function. This function sets the paper feed stage to be switched in advance, the image forming apparatus 100 selects a paper feed stage on which the same type of paper is placed from the candidates of the paper feed stage, and supplies the paper after detecting the absence of paper. It is realized by switching the paper source. The setting can be set on the operation panel 120 of the image forming apparatus 100. The automatic paper feed stage switching setting is stored in the HDD 115 in the image forming apparatus 100 and is retained even when the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off. For this reason, the operator places papers frequently used for printing in advance in a plurality of paper feed trays, and sets automatic paper feed tray switching to a paper feed tray that accommodates the same type of paper, thereby This prevents the execution of a job from running out of paper without stopping. In this embodiment, the same function as that of the sheet feeding tray of the image forming apparatus 100 can be executed by the inserter tray of the post-processing device 160. Hereinafter, a case where the above function is executed for the inserter tray 162 of the post-processing device 160 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the setting contents of the inserter tray. Here, although a schematic diagram is used for explanation, the setting 200 of the inserter tray of the post-processing device 160 is actually stored in the HDD 115 as digital information such as XML and CSV and can be referred to by the CPU 114.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, the post-processing device 160 has two paper feed ports of the inserter tray 1 and the inserter tray 2. Here, the post-processing device 160 having two inserter trays will be described, but the same applies to the post-processing device 160 having three or more inserter trays. Columns 201 to 207 respectively show attribute information such as information on sheets set in the inserter tray 162 and remaining amount of sheets in the inserter tray 162. Rows 208 and 209 correspond to each inserter tray of the post-processing device 160.

  The column 201 represents the name of the paper feed port. A column 202 represents the maximum capacity (number of sheets) of sheets that can be placed. A column 203 represents the remaining amount of sheets (the number of sheets) obtained from the remaining amount detection sensor 165 attached to each inserter tray of the post-processing device 160. The remaining amount detection sensor 165 attached to each inserter tray is always operating while the image forming apparatus 100 and the post-processing device 160 are activated, and the CPU 114 regularly updates the column 203 with the obtained remaining amount of paper. To do. The column 204 represents the name of the sheet placed on the inserter tray 162. The column 205 represents the main scanning paper length (mm) of the placed paper. A column 206 represents the sub-scanning paper length (mm) of the placed paper. The column 207 represents the basis weight of the placed sheets. The information in columns 204 to 207 is input by the operator via an interface screen, which will be described later, displayed on the operation panel 120. The CPU 114 receives the operator's input and stores the information of the placed sheets in the HDD 115.

  The automatic paper feed stage switching setting input via the interface screen described later is stored by the CPU 114 in a storage area (not shown) existing in the HDD 115. In this embodiment, ON (valid) and OFF (invalid) of the automatic paper feed stage switching function are stored as the automatic paper feed stage switching setting in accordance with the setting on the interface screen described later.

  A print job input from the host computer 101 includes setting information on the type and size of paper to be printed. The CPU 114 determines the paper to be printed based on the information on the paper type and paper size, and starts printing. When the remaining amount detection sensor 165 of the inserter tray 162 detects that there is no paper, the CPU 114 confirms the automatic paper feed stage switching setting. When the automatic paper feed stage switching setting is ON, the CPU 114 searches the inserter tray setting 200 for a paper of the same type as the paper in which the paper has run out, based on the print job settings, and feeds the paper. Switch the source.

  For example, a case will be described where the print job input to the image forming apparatus 100 is printing in which the paper name ABC papermaking recycle 1 is inserted, and paper feeding is started from the inserter tray 1, that is, the row 208. When the 50 sheets of paper placed on the inserter tray 1 are exhausted, the CPU 114 sets, based on the detection signal of the remaining amount detection sensor 165, in the inserter tray setting 200 that the inserter tray 1 is out of paper. .. The CPU 114 detects the absence of paper based on the detection signal of the remaining amount detection sensor 165, and confirms the automatic paper feed stage switching setting. When the automatic paper feed stage switching setting is ON, the CPU 114 searches the inserter tray setting 200 for a paper of the same type as the paper set for the print job, ABC Paper Recycle 1, and selects the paper feed source. Switch to inserter tray 2. On the other hand, when the automatic paper feed stage switching setting is OFF, the CPU 114 does not perform the above search.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an interface screen for setting the paper type of each inserter tray 162 in the image forming system 10. The screen 300 represents the entire interface screen displayed by the CPU 114 on the operation panel 120. As will be described later, the screen 300 is displayed when a sheet is placed on the inserter tray 162. A display 301 is a list for selecting a paper type. As the paper types displayed on the screen 301, all the paper types supported by the image forming apparatus 100 are displayed. As the paper type, an operator can select a list displayed on the operation panel 120 by touch operation or the like.

  Items 302, 303, and 304 represent paper attribute information. The item 302 represents a paper name. Item 303 represents the basis weight. Item 304 represents the size of the paper. Each piece of attribute information corresponds to the inserter tray setting 200 in FIG. A button 305 is a button for exiting the screen of FIG. 3 and transitioning to the next screen, and when pressed, the CPU 114 determines the name, basis weight, and size of the paper input at that time, and respectively. 2 is stored in the inserter tray setting 200 of FIG. Then, the screen 300 is closed and the CPU 114 displays the screen 400 of FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an interface screen for setting the paper size in the image forming system 10. The screen 400 represents the entire interface screen displayed by the CPU 114 on the operation panel 120. Buttons 401 to 412 are buttons for setting the paper size. In this embodiment, a paper size button is prepared for each standard paper size supported by the image forming apparatus 100. When the paper size is set on the screen 300 described above, the CPU 114 displays the screen 400 in a state where the paper size is selected in advance like the paper size button of the button 401. When the operator presses the paper size button, the CPU 114 changes the value of the inserter tray setting 200. When the item of the paper size for the paper type selected on the screen 300 described above is “not set”, the CPU 114 displays the screen 400 with “A4” selected as the initial paper size. indicate.

  The button 413 is a return button, and when pressed, the CPU 114 cancels the paper size selection, closes the screen 400, and returns to the screen 300 (paper type selection screen). A button 414 is a button for ending the screen of FIG. 4 and transiting to the next screen, and when pressed, the CPU 114 confirms the selection of the paper size input at that time and displays the paper size setting information. It is saved in the setting 200 of the inserter tray in FIG. After that, the screen 400 is closed and the CPU 114 displays the screen 500 of FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an interface screen for setting automatic sheet feed tray switching in the image forming system 10. The screen 500 represents the entire interface screen displayed by the CPU 114 on the operation panel 120. A check box 501 is a check box for switching valid / invalid of the automatic paper feed stage switching function of the inserter tray. If this item is checked, that is, if the automatic paper feed stage switching setting is set to ON, when the inserter tray 162 runs out of paper, the CPU 114 determines that the inserter tray 162 is the target of the switching function. to decide. On the other hand, if the check box 501 is unchecked, that is, if the automatic paper feed stage switching setting is set to OFF, when the inserter tray 162 runs out of paper, the CPU 114 causes the inserter tray 162 to automatically feed paper. Judge that it is not the target of the switching function.

  The button 502 is a return button, and when pressed, the CPU 114 cancels selection of the automatic paper feed stage switching setting of the inserter tray, closes the screen 500, and returns to the screen 400 (paper size selection screen). A button 503 is an end button on the screen of FIG. 5, and when pressed, the CPU 114 confirms the setting of the automatic paper feed stage switching function input at that time. Further, the CPU 114 stores the fixed value (valid / invalid) in the storage area of the automatic paper feed stage switching setting in the HDD 115. For example, when the check box 501 is checked, the CPU 114 stores the ON value. On the other hand, if the check box 501 is not checked, the CPU 114 stores the OFF value. The screens of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are displayed, for example, at the timing when the paper is placed on the inserter tray 162 and the setting of the placed paper is performed.

  Next, control of the automatic paper feed stage switching function performed by the CPU 114 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control in each step in the following flow chart realizes various operations by the CPU 114 reading and executing the control program in the ROM 112, for example. In order to realize the operation of this embodiment, the operator selects the paper type and the paper size on the interface screens of FIGS. 3 and 4, and further turns ON / OFF the automatic switching of the inserter tray of FIG. Set. That is, in the present embodiment, the operator can confirm and set the ON / OFF setting of the automatic switching of the inserter tray at the timing of operating the interface screens of FIGS. 3 and 4.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of transition control of the screen displayed on the operation panel 120. In S601, the CPU 114 confirms the state of the remaining amount detection sensor 165 of the inserter tray 162. When a sheet is placed on the inserter tray 162, the CPU 114 stores the number of sheets in the sheet remaining amount of item 203 of FIG. 2 based on the detection signal from the remaining amount detection sensor 165. If the remaining amount of paper in item 203 is larger than 0, the process proceeds to step S602, and the CPU 114 confirms the automatic paper feed stage switching setting. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of paper in the item 203 is 0, that is, when no paper is placed, the CPU 114 repeats the processing of S601.

  In step S603, the CPU 114 displays the paper type setting screen 300 based on the inserter tray setting 200. In step S603, the CPU 114 updates the inserter tray setting 200 with the information on the paper type selected via the screen 300 in response to the selection of the paper type by the operator.

  In S604, the CPU 114 determines whether or not the operator has pressed the next button 305 on the screen 300. If the next button 305 has not been pressed, the CPU 114 repeats the processing from S603. On the other hand, if the next button 305 is pressed in S604, the CPU 114 displays the paper size setting screen 400 based on the inserter tray setting 200 in S605. In step S605, the CPU 114 updates the inserter tray setting 200 with the information on the paper size selected via the screen 400 in response to the selection of the paper size by the operator.

  Next, in S606, the CPU 114 determines whether or not the operator has pressed the next button 414 on the screen 400. If the next button 414 has not been pressed, the CPU 114 determines in step S607 whether the return button 413 has been pressed. When the return button 413 is pressed, the CPU 114 closes the screen 400 and repeats the processing from S603. On the other hand, if the return button 413 has not been pressed, the processing from S605 is repeated.

  When the next button 414 is pressed in S606, the CPU 114 displays the automatic paper feed stage switching setting screen 500 in S608 according to the current automatic paper feed stage switching setting. At this time, if ON is stored as the current automatic sheet feed stage switching setting, the CPU 114 checks the check box 501 to display the automatic sheet feed stage switching setting screen 500. On the other hand, when OFF is stored as the current automatic sheet feed stage switching setting, the CPU 114 displays the automatic sheet feed stage switching setting screen 500 without checking the check box 501. In S608, the operator selects ON / OFF as the setting of the check box 501 for setting ON / OFF of the inserter tray automatic switching, and the CPU 114 updates the automatic paper feed stage switching setting with the selected setting information. To do.

  Next, in S609, the CPU 114 determines whether or not the OK button 503 in FIG. 5 has been pressed. When the OK button 503 is pressed, in S611, the CPU 114 confirms the operator's input result and sets the input inserter automatic switching setting, the paper type, and the paper size to the automatic paper feed stage switching setting in the HDD 115. The value of each attribute information in columns 205 to 207 of No. 2 is reflected. On the other hand, if the OK button 503 has not been pressed, the CPU 114 determines in S610 whether the return button 502 has been pressed. When the return button 502 is pressed, the CPU 114 closes the screen 500 and repeats the processing from S605. On the other hand, if the return button 502 has not been pressed, the processing from S608 is repeated.

  As described above, the screens 300, 400, and 500 for performing the paper setting of the inserter tray 162 and the automatic paper feed stage switching setting are displayed at the timing of setting the paper placed on the inserter tray 162. As a result, the operator can confirm and set the current settings of the automatic paper feed stage switching function while being aware of the sheets to be placed. This makes it possible to prevent a wrong sheet from being fed when the inserted sheet is fed from the inserter tray 162.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described with respect to the points different from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the valid / invalid of the automatic paper feed stage switching function of all the inserter trays 162 is set on the screen 500 displayed when setting the paper. Therefore, when the automatic paper feed stage switching setting is set to be valid, all the inserter trays 162 are targets of the automatic paper feed stage switching function.

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to set whether each inserter tray 162 is to be the target of the automatic paper feed stage switching function. As a result, some inserter trays can be excluded from the automatic paper feed stage switching function depending on the operator's intention. Further, when a paper of the same type as the paper to be placed on the inserter tray 162 is set in the inserter tray that is the target of the other automatic paper feed stage switching function, a predetermined warning is issued to allow the operator to make a mistake. It is possible to prevent the feeding of the broken paper.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the setting contents of the inserter tray. Here, although a schematic diagram is used for explanation, the setting 700 of the inserter tray of the post-processing device 160 is actually stored in the HDD 115 as digital information such as XML and CSV, and can be referred to by the CPU 114.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, the post-processing device 160 has three paper feed ports of an inserter tray 1, an inserter tray 2, and an inserter tray 3. Here, the post-processing apparatus 160 having three inserter trays will be described, but the same applies to the post-processing apparatus 160 having four or more inserter trays. Columns 701 to 709 respectively show attribute information such as information on sheets set in the inserter tray 162 and the remaining amount of sheets in the inserter tray 162. Rows 710 to 712 correspond to each inserter tray of the post-processing device 160.

  A column 701 is a management ID of the inserter tray 162. The CPU 114 can search the inserter tray 162 using the management ID. In the present embodiment, for example, the search is performed in the order in which the value of the management ID increases from the inserter tray 1, the inserter tray 2, the inserter tray 3.

  The column 703 represents the name of the paper feed port. A column 704 represents the maximum capacity (number of sheets) of sheets that can be placed. A column 705 represents the remaining amount of sheets (the number of sheets) obtained from the remaining amount detection sensor 165 provided to each inserter tray of the post-processing device 160. The remaining amount detection sensor 165 attached to each inserter tray is always operating while the image forming apparatus 100 and the post-processing device 160 are activated, and the CPU 114 regularly updates the column 705 with the obtained remaining amount of paper. To do. A column 706 represents the sheet names placed on the inserter tray 162. A column 707 represents the main scanning paper length (mm) of the placed paper. A column 708 represents the sub-scanning paper length (mm) of the placed paper. The column 709 represents the basis weight of the placed sheets. The information in columns 706 to 709 is input by the operator via the interface screen displayed on the operation panel 120. The CPU 114 receives the operator's input and stores the information of the placed sheets in the HDD 115.

  A column 702 represents an automatic paper feed stage switching setting that can be set for each inserter tray 162, which is input by the operator via the interface screen described later. In the present embodiment, the CPU 114 determines the inserter tray for which the automatic paper feed stage switching is set based on the interface screen described later. Further, the CPU 114 stores ON or OFF in the row of each inserter tray 162 in the column 702 according to the input of the interface screen.

  Next, control of the automatic paper feed stage switching function performed by the CPU 114 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control in each step in the following flow chart realizes various operations by the CPU 114 reading and executing the control program in the ROM 112, for example.

  A print job input from the host computer 101 includes setting information on the type and size of paper to be printed. The CPU 114 determines the print target paper based on the setting information of the paper type and paper size, and starts printing. When the remaining amount detection sensor 165 of the inserter tray 162 detects that there is no paper, the CPU 114 confirms the automatic paper feed stage switching of the column 702. The CPU 114 searches for the paper in the inserter tray 162 whose automatic paper feed stage switching is set to ON. The CPU 114 searches for the same type of paper as the paper that has run out of paper and switches the paper source.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of automatic paper feed stage switching control. The flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed during printing of the print job. In step S <b> 801, the CPU 114 determines whether or not there is no paper being fed from the inserter tray 162 during execution (printing) of a print job by checking the remaining amount of paper in the column 705 of the inserter tray setting 700. to decide. If there is a sheet being fed, the process of S801 is repeated. If there is no sheet being fed, the process proceeds to S802.

  In step S <b> 802, the CPU 114 determines from the inserter tray setting 700 whether the automatic sheet feed stage switching of the row 702 of the inserter tray 162 that is feeding is ON or OFF. When the automatic paper feed stage switching of the row 702 of the inserter tray 162 during paper feeding is OFF, the CPU 114 determines in step S808 that the paper feeding stage switching is not necessary, and displays a paper out error message. On the other hand, when the automatic paper feed stage switching of the row 702 of the inserter tray 162 that is feeding paper is ON, the CPU 114 prepares the search variable N in the storage area such as the HDD 115 and stores 1 as the initial value in step S803. To do.

  Next, in step S <b> 804, the CPU 114 uses the inserter tray setting 700 to determine whether the automatic paper feed stage switching of the column 702 of the inserter tray 162 whose management ID 701 is the search variable N is ON or OFF. judge.

  When the automatic paper feed stage switching of the column 702 is OFF, the CPU 114 determines in step S807 whether the search variable N is the management ID of the last inserter tray 162. If it is the management ID of the last inserter tray 162, that is, if the CPU 114 has searched all the lists of the inserter tray settings 700, the CPU 114 displays a paper out error message on the operation panel 120 in S808. On the other hand, if the search variable N is not the management ID of the last inserter tray 162, the CPU 114 increments the search variable N by 1 in S809. After that, the processing from S804 is repeated.

  If the automatic paper feed stage switching of the column 702 is ON in step S804, the CPU 114 determines in step S805 that the paper name of the column 706 of the inserter tray 162 searched for the switching target is the same as the paper name being fed. Determine if If the paper name in the column 706 of the searched inserter tray 162 is different from the paper name being fed, in step S807, the CPU 114 determines whether the search variable N is the same as the management ID of the last inserter tray 162. Determine whether or not.

  On the other hand, if the searched sheet name in the column 706 of the inserter tray 162 is the same as the sheet name being fed, in step S806, the CPU 114 determines whether or not there is a remaining sheet amount in the searched column 705 of the inserter tray 162. judge. When there is no remaining paper amount in the column 705 of the searched inserter tray 162, the CPU 114 determines in S807 whether the search variable N is the same as the management ID of the last inserter tray 162. On the other hand, when there is a remaining amount of paper in the column 705 of the searched inserter tray 162, the CPU 114 switches the searched inserter tray 162 as the paper source of the print job being printed in step S810. Then, the process of FIG. 8 is completed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an interface screen for setting the automatic paper feed stage switching setting for each inserter tray. A screen 900 represents the entire interface screen displayed on the operation panel 120 by the CPU 114. In this embodiment, the CPU 114 displays the screen 900 instead of the screens 400 and 500 in the first embodiment.

  Buttons 901 to 906 are buttons for receiving paper size settings. Buttons 901 to 906 perform the same operations as the buttons 401 to 412 in FIG. That is, the CPU 114 updates the value of the inserter tray setting 700 in response to the pressing of the button by the operator.

  A check box 907 is a check box for accepting the setting as to whether or not the inserter tray 162 on which the paper is placed is the target of automatic paper feed stage switching. If the check box 907 is checked, when the inserter tray 162 runs out of paper, it is determined that the automatic paper feed stage switching function is the target, and the paper feed source is switched.

  In this embodiment, when the check box 907 is checked by the operator, the CPU 114 sets the automatic paper feed stage switching of the column 702 of the inserter tray setting 700 to ON. A button 909 is an end button of the screen 900, and when pressed, the CPU 114 confirms the paper size and the target setting of the automatic paper feed stage switching function input at that time, and sets the respective attribute information to the inserter tray. The setting 700 is saved. After that, the screen 900 is closed and the screen returns to the default screen (main menu or the like) of the image forming apparatus 100. The button 908 is a return button, and when pressed, the CPU 114 cancels the selection of the paper size, closes the screen 900, and returns to the screen 300.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a warning interface screen displayed when a sheet of the same type as the placed sheet is present in the inserter tray 162 that is the target of the other automatic sheet feed stage switching function in the present embodiment. . The screen 1000 represents the entire interface screen displayed by the CPU 114 on the operation panel 120. In the present embodiment, this is displayed when a sheet of the same type as the sheet placed on the inserter tray 162 is placed on another inserter tray 162 that is the target of another inserter automatic paper feed stage switching function. The button 1001 is an end button of the screen 1000, and when pressed, the CPU 114 closes the screen 1000 and displays the screen 900.

  Inserted paper is often preprinted paper, and paper fed from other inserter trays may be preprinted differently even if they are of the same type. By displaying the screen 1000, the user can be prompted to confirm the inserter automatic paper feed stage switching setting, and as a result, it is possible to prevent paper feeding that does not meet the user's intention.

  Next, control of the automatic paper feed stage switching function performed by the CPU 114 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control in each step in the following flow chart realizes various operations by the CPU 114 reading and executing the control program in the ROM 112, for example. In this embodiment, the operator selects the paper type and paper size on the interface screens of FIGS. 3 and 9. Further, the operator can check the check box 907 displayed on the screen 900 of FIG. 9 and indicating that the inserter tray 162 is a candidate for the automatic paper feed stage switching setting.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process of transition control of the screen displayed on the operation panel 120. In S1101, the CPU 114 confirms the state of the remaining amount detection sensor 165 of the inserter tray 162. When the sheet is placed on the inserter tray 162, the CPU 114 stores the number of sheets in the sheet remaining amount in the column 705 of FIG. 7 based on the detection signal from the remaining amount detection sensor 165. If the remaining amount of paper in the column 705 is larger than 0, the process advances to step S1102, and the CPU 114 displays the paper type setting screen 300. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of paper in the column 705 is 0, that is, when no paper is placed, the CPU 114 repeats the processing of S1101.

  In step S1102, the CPU 114 updates the inserter tray setting 700 with the information on the paper type selected via the screen 300 in response to the selection of the paper type by the operator.

  In S1103, the CPU 114 determines whether or not the operator has pressed the next button 305 on the screen 300. When the next button 305 has not been pressed, the CPU 114 repeats the processing of S1103. On the other hand, if the next button 305 is pressed in step S1103, in step S1104, the CPU 114 sets the inserter tray setting 700 to indicate that the automatic sheet feed stage switching of the row 702 of the placed inserter trays 162 is ON, or It is determined whether it is OFF.

  When OFF is set in the automatic sheet feed tray switching of the column 702 in S1104, the CPU 114 generates the display data of the screen 900 in S1106 so that the check box 907 is unchecked when the screen 900 of the subsequent stage is displayed. .. Then, it progresses to S1109. On the other hand, when ON is set for the automatic paper feed stage switching in the column 702, in step S1105, the CPU 114 generates display data of the screen 900 so that the check box 907 is checked when the screen 900 of the subsequent stage is displayed. .. Then, it progresses to S1107.

  In step S <b> 1107, the CPU 114 determines whether the same type of paper as the paper placed on the inserter tray 162 is placed on another inserter tray 162 set as the automatic paper feed stage switching target. When a sheet of the same type as the sheet placed on the inserter tray 162 is placed on another inserter tray 162 set as a target of the automatic paper feed stage switching function, the CPU 114 instructs the operator in step S1108. The interface screen 1000 of FIG. 10 is displayed. Then, it progresses to S1109. On the other hand, if the same type of paper as the paper placed on the inserter tray 162 is not placed on another inserter tray 162 that is set as the automatic paper feed stage switching target, the process proceeds to S1109.

  In S1109, the CPU 114 displays the screen 900. In step S <b> 1109, the CPU 114 updates the inserter tray setting 700 based on the paper size and the automatic paper feed stage switching information selected via the screen 900 in response to the operator's selection of the paper size and automatic paper feed stage switching. To do.

  In S1110, the CPU 114 determines whether the operator has pressed the OK button 909 on the screen 900. When the OK button 909 is pressed, in step S1112, the CPU 114 sets the automatic inserter switching setting, the paper type, and the paper size based on the input result of the operator and the automatic paper feed stage switching of the column 702 in the HDD 115 and the column. The value of each attribute information of 706 to 709 is reflected. Then, the process of FIG. 11 is completed. On the other hand, if the OK button 909 has not been pressed, the CPU 114 determines in step S1111 whether the return button 908 has been pressed. When the return button 908 is pressed, the processing from S1102 is repeated. On the other hand, if the return button 908 has not been pressed, the processing from S1109 is repeated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to set the automatic paper feed stage switching for each inserter tray. As a result, the operator can exclude the desired inserter tray from the target of the automatic paper feed stage switching function. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 determines whether the same type of paper is set as the target of the automatic paper feed stage switching function, and notifies the screen 1000. With such a configuration, the operator can be made aware that the same type of paper is used in another inserter tray, and the operator can be prompted to confirm the automatic paper feed stage switching setting. As a result, the operator can prevent unintended pre-printed paper from being fed when the inserted paper is fed to the inserter tray.

[Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described with respect to the points different from the first and second embodiments. In the first embodiment, the validity and invalidity of the automatic paper feed switching function of the inserter tray is set on the screen 500. It may not be necessary for the operator who does not need to disable the automatic paper feed switching function of the inserter tray to always display the screen for selecting the automatic paper feed switching function at the time of placement. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, in the service mode for setting the operation of the image forming apparatus 100, it is possible to set whether or not to display the automatic sheet feed stage switching setting screen. To do.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen for setting whether or not to display the interface screen for automatic paper feed stage switching setting in the image forming system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment. A screen 1200 shows the entire interface screen displayed on the operation panel 120 by the CPU 114. The screen 1200 is displayed, for example, when the menu button on the main screen on the operation panel 120 is pressed after the image forming apparatus 100 is started.

  A button 1201 and a button 1202 are end buttons of the screen 1200, and the CPU 114 saves the settings of display and non-display of the automatic sheet feed stage switching screen in the area of the HDD 115. The CPU 114 switches display / non-display of the screen 500 based on the setting content on the screen 1200 when setting the paper for the inserter tray 162, as described later.

  Hereinafter, parts different from the flowchart of FIG. 6 will be described. The control performed by the CPU 114 in order to switch between the display and non-display of the automatic sheet feed stage switching setting screen 500 of the inserter tray 162 will be described with reference to FIG. The control in each step in the following flow chart realizes various operations by the CPU 114 reading and executing the control program in the ROM 112, for example.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the process of transition control of the screen displayed on the operation panel 120. Since S1301 to S1311 are the same as S601 to S611 in FIG. 6, description thereof will be omitted.

  When the next button 414 is pressed on the screen 400 for setting the paper size in S1306, in S1312, the CPU 114 displays the display setting of the automatic paper feed stage switching setting screen 1200 stored in the HDD 115. Alternatively, it is determined whether it is hidden. When the display setting of the automatic paper feed stage switching setting screen is hidden, the CPU 114 does not display the interface screen 500. Further, in step S1313, the CPU 114 reflects the paper setting in the inserter tray setting 200 in the HDD 115 according to the input of the paper type and the paper size on the screens 300 and 400. Then, the process of FIG. 13 is completed. On the other hand, if the display setting of the automatic sheet feeding stage switching setting screen 1200 is displayed in S1312, the CPU 114 confirms the state of the automatic sheet feeding stage switching setting in S1308 and displays the setting screen 500.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to control the display / non-display of the screen for the automatic paper feed stage switching setting according to the intention of the operator. Although the display / non-display control of the setting screen 500 of FIG. 5 has been described in the present embodiment, the control may be applied to the display / non-display control of the check box 907 of the screen 900 of FIG. 9.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  10 image forming system: 100 image forming apparatus: 112 ROM: 113 RAM: 114 CPU: 160 post-processing apparatus: 162 inserter tray

Claims (12)

An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus,
A plurality of trays provided in the post-processing apparatus and capable of feeding sheets to be post-processed by the post-processing apparatus;
When a sheet is placed on any of the plurality of trays, a first display unit that displays a first screen relating to a switching function for switching the tray of the sheet feeding source when there are no sheets placed on the tray,
An image forming system comprising:   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first screen is a screen capable of setting whether to enable the switching function.   When a sheet is placed on any one of the plurality of trays, a second display means is provided for displaying a second screen on which the attribute information of the tray on which the sheet is placed can be set. The image forming system according to claim 2.   The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the first screen and the second screen are displayed as one screen.   The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the first screen includes a display of a current setting status of the switching function.   Third display means for displaying a third screen for prompting confirmation of the setting of the switching function when the current setting status of the switching function is valid and sheets of the same type are placed on a plurality of trays. The image forming system according to claim 5, further comprising:   The image forming system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the first screen and the second screen correspond to each tray.   8. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the tray attribute information includes at least one of a sheet type and a sheet size.   9. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls the display of the first screen by the first display unit.   The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the control unit controls whether to display the first screen by the first display unit based on a designation from a user. A display method executed in an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, comprising:
When a sheet is placed on one of a plurality of trays provided in the post-processing apparatus and capable of feeding a sheet to be post-processed by the post-processing apparatus, the sheet placed on the tray When there is no longer, the display process that displays the setting screen that can be set whether to enable the switching function to switch the tray of the paper source,
A display method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the display method according to claim 11.

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