JP2023062378A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: rearrangement is desired of the priority on performing image formation on a sheet fed from a paper cassette and the priority on performing image formation on a sheet inserted into a manual feed port according to the situation.SOLUTION: When an image forming apparatus receives a first job to convey a sheet from first paper feed means and perform image formation by image forming means, it rearranges the order of the first job according to whether image formation is started which is based on a second job that is received before the reception of the first job, and to convey a sheet from second paper feed means and perform image formation by the image forming means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, sheets are fed from a sheet feeding cassette in which sheets are stacked to form an image. In addition, image formation can also be performed on sheets inserted into a manual feed slot by the user instead of from a paper feed cassette. When the user wants to form images on sheets of a different size or type from the sheets loaded in the paper feed cassette, the desired sheet can be inserted into the manual feed slot without replacing the sheets stacked in the paper feed cassette. Image formation can be performed by inserting.

In such an image forming apparatus, when forming an image on a sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette, the sheet may be inserted into the manual feed slot. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-200000 discloses controlling whether or not to convey a sheet inserted into a manual feed slot according to the position of a double-sided printed sheet.

JP 2011-93160

However, unlike Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-100001, there is a demand to rearrange the already reserved jobs, unlike whether or not to convey the sheet inserted in the manual feed slot. That is, it is desirable to rearrange depending on the situation whether to give priority to image formation on a sheet fed from a paper feed cassette or to give priority to image formation on a sheet inserted into a manual feed slot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention according to the present application has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to suppress deterioration in usability caused by rearranging the order of image formation.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, a first sheet feeding means for conveying the sheet to the image forming means, and a second sheet feeding means for conveying the sheet to the image forming means. and a control means for controlling job rearrangement, which is information relating to image formation, wherein the control means conveys sheets from the first paper supply means and performs image formation by the image forming means. When the first job is received, the sheet is conveyed from the second paper feed unit received before the first job is received, and the image forming unit performs image formation on the second job. The order of the first job is rearranged according to whether or not the image formation based on the first job has been started.

According to the configuration of the present invention, deterioration of usability due to rearrangement of the order of image formation can be suppressed.

Schematic diagram of image forming apparatus Hardware configuration diagram Diagram showing functional blocks and hardware configuration Flowchart showing job recombination control A table showing an example of job recombination Flowchart showing job recombination control Flowchart showing job recombination control Flowchart showing job recombination control Flowchart showing job recombination control Flowchart showing job recombination control Schematic diagram of image forming apparatus Hardware configuration diagram Diagram showing functional blocks and hardware configuration Flowchart showing job recombination control

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the solution of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. The photosensitive drum 122 is composed of an organic photoreceptor or an amorphous silicon photoreceptor, and is rotationally driven clockwise at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed). The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 122 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging roller 123 .

The printer controller modulates (on/off conversion) image information input from the host computer into an image signal. The printer controller sends image signals to the engine controller. The optical device 109 emits laser light based on this image signal. The laser light output from the optical device 109 is reflected by the laser light reflecting mirror 108 and irradiated onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 122 to perform exposure. Exposure forms an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 122 corresponding to the desired image in this manner is formed by the toner charged by the developing device 121 to the same polarity as the charge by the charging roller 123, thereby forming a toner image. is rendered as

Next, a paper feed cassette 160 as a paper feed means has a stacking portion on which sheets are stacked. It is conveyed by the conveying rollers 104 . The sheet conveyed by the conveying roller 104 hits the stopped registration roller 105 in order to correct the skew of the sheet. The registration rollers 105 receive or block the drive force from a DC brushless motor 631 serving as a drive source by turning on/off the electromagnetic clutch 630 . As a result, the registration rollers 105 are rotated or stopped. After a predetermined period of time from the timing at which the pre-registration sensor 141 detects the leading edge of the sheet, the electromagnetic clutch 630 is turned on, the registration roller 105 is rotated, and the sheet is conveyed to the transfer portion by the photosensitive drum 122 and the transfer roller 107 .

The formation of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 122 is started at the timing when the registration sensor 106 detects the leading edge of the sheet. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 122 is developed as a toner image, and a bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image is applied to the transfer roller 107 . As a result, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 122 to the sheet at the transfer portion. The sheet to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 122, conveyed to the fixing device 130, and fixed. The fixing device 130 includes a heater 132 , a thermistor 131 that detects the temperature of the heater 132 , a fixing sleeve 133 and a pressure roller 134 . The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed by the fixing paper discharge roller 111 and the FD roller 112 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 115 .

A manual feed port 140 as a paper feed unit is arranged downstream of the paper feed cassette 160 in the sheet transport path. When forming an image on a sheet inserted into the manual feed slot 140, the sheet fed from the paper feed cassette 160 is inserted into the manual feed slot 140 before image formation is performed. A manual feed slot 140 is an opening provided in the image forming apparatus 100 , and when a sheet is inserted into the manual feed slot 140 , the inserted sheet hits the registration roller 105 . A sheet inserted from the manual feed slot 140 is detected by the pre-registration sensor 141 . The sheet detected by the pre-registration sensor 141 is nipped by the registration rollers 105 by rotationally driving the registration rollers 105 . Here, as an example, a configuration in which the sheet is nipped by the registration rollers 105 has been described, but a tray may be provided below the manual feed opening 140 to support the sheet.

When the sheet inserted from the manual feed opening 140 is nipped by the registration rollers 105, an image forming operation is started, the electromagnetic clutch 630 is turned on, and the registration rollers 105 are rotationally driven. The sheet nipped by the registration rollers 105 is conveyed to the transfer section, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 122 is transferred. After that, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 130 , the toner image is fixed on the sheet, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 115 .

The FD roller 112 is configured such that its rotation direction is switched by a double-sided solenoid 632 . When the double-sided solenoid 632 is turned off, the FD roller 112 rotates in the direction of discharging the sheet to the discharge tray 115 . On the other hand, when the double-sided solenoid 632 is turned on, the FD roller 112 rotates in the direction of conveying the sheet to the double-sided conveying path L1.

When double-sided printing is to be performed, the double-sided solenoid 632 is turned on after a predetermined time has elapsed since the trailing edge of the fixed sheet passed the fixing sensor 110 . As a result, the FD roller 112 rotates in the reverse direction, thereby conveying the sheet to the double-sided conveying path L1. The sheet conveyed to the double-sided conveying path L1 is again conveyed to the transfer section by the double-sided conveying roller 113, and the toner image is transferred to the back surface. Then, the fixing device 130 fixes the toner image on the back surface of the sheet, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 115 .

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram as an example of a control system of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. A CPU 601 controls the entire image forming apparatus. A timer 602 generates control timing based on the count value. A ROM 603 stores control programs, and a RAM 604 stores data and the like. The I/O port 606 and serial communication port 607 are connected via a bus 605 to the CPU 601, timer 602, ROM 603, RAM 604, and the like.

The pre-registration sensor input circuit 610 inputs the detection result (logic) detected by the pre-registration sensor 141 to the I/O port 606 . A registration sensor input circuit 611 inputs the detection result (logic) detected by the registration sensor 106 to the I/O port 606 . A fixing sensor input circuit 612 inputs the detection result (logic) detected by the fixing sensor 110 to the I/O port 606 . Electromagnetic clutch drive circuit 620 drives electromagnetic clutch 630 . A DC brushless motor drive circuit 621 drives a DC brushless motor 631 . A double-sided solenoid drive circuit 622 drives a double-sided solenoid 632 . Each circuit is connected to an I/O port 606 . The operation panel control circuit 625 controls an operation panel 635 including a liquid crystal panel for displaying information such as instruction contents to the user and a keypad for inputting instructions from the user. The operation panel control circuit 625 is connected to the CPU 601 , timer 602 , ROM 603 , RAM 604 and the like via the serial communication port 607 .

CPU 601 drives electromagnetic clutch 630 , DC brushless motor 631 , and double-sided solenoid 632 by controlling I/O port 606 via bus 605 . Also, the CPU 601 confirms the logic of the pre-registration sensor 141 , the registration sensor 106 and the fixing sensor 110 by confirming the logic of the I/O port 606 via the bus 605 . By controlling the serial communication port 607 via the bus 605, the CPU 601 can control information displayed on the liquid crystal panel of the operation panel 635 and receive input from the keypad.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks and a hardware configuration in an engine control means 700 such as a CPU. The engine control means 700 includes a CPU 601 that controls the entire image forming apparatus, a ROM 603 that stores control programs, a RAM 604 that stores data and the like, gate elements and the like.

The paper feed/conveyance control unit 701 receives information from the pre-registration sensor 141, the registration sensor 106, the fixing sensor 110, the operation panel 635, and the like. In accordance with these pieces of information, the image formation control means 702, the job management means 703, and the like cooperate to control the electromagnetic clutch control means 730, the DC brushless motor control means 731, the double-sided solenoid control means 732, and the like, thereby conveying the sheet. to control. An image forming control unit 702 controls image forming units including the developing device 121, the photosensitive drum 122, the charging roller 123, and the like.

The job management unit 703 receives a print command from a controller or the like connected to an image forming apparatus (not shown). Hereinafter, a series of image formations performed on one or more sheets based on one print command will also be referred to as a job. Information related to one job includes the number and order of sheets on which images are formed, as well as a user name, sheet size, sheet type, operation mode for image formation, print mode, and the like. A job management unit 703 stores job-related information, manages information such as a paper feed port for feeding sheets based on the job-related information, an operation mode for image formation, and the like, and manages job-related information and sensor information. It manages the rearrangement of the order of jobs, etc. according to the situation.

The electromagnetic clutch control means 730 controls the electromagnetic clutch 630 and drives the registration rollers 105 according to the instruction from the sheet feeding/conveyance control means 701 . The DC brushless motor control means 731 controls the DC brushless motor 631 according to the instruction from the sheet feeding/conveying control means 701 to drive the registration rollers 105 , the double-sided conveying rollers 113 and the FD rollers 112 . The double-sided solenoid control means 732 controls the double-sided solenoid 632 and drives the FD rollers 112 according to the instruction from the sheet feeding/conveyance control means 701 . The operation panel control means 735 controls the operation panel 635 to display the information received from the paper feed/conveyance control means 701 . Information input by the user from a keypad or the like is also transmitted to the paper feed/conveyance control unit 701 .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing job recombination control. When one job is received, job recombination control is performed based on the flowchart of FIG.

At S400, the engine control means 700 receives a job. In S401, the engine control unit 700 determines whether or not to feed the sheet from the manual feed slot for image formation according to the received job. If the job is not a job that feeds sheets from the manual feeder, the job is not rearranged and the rearrangement control ends.

If the job is to feed sheets from a manual feeder, in S402 the engine control unit 700 initializes a counter i for referring to the reserved job list. In S403, engine control means 700 determines whether or not there is a reserved job in the reserved job list. If there is no reserved job in the reserved job list, job reassignment control is terminated without job reassignment.

If there is a reserved job in the reserved job list, the engine control means 700 determines in S404 whether or not the i-th job in the job list has started the image forming operation. If the i-th job has started the image forming operation, the engine control means 700 increments i in S405 and returns to S404.

If the i-th job has not started the image forming operation, in S406, the engine control unit 700 inserts the i-th job of feeding the sheet from the manual feed port and rearranges the jobs. FIG. 5 shows an example of job rearrangement. When all the reserved jobs are in a standby state without starting image formation as shown in FIG. 5A, the job of feeding sheets from the manual feed slot is inserted at the i=1st position. Then, the job of feeding sheets from the paper feed cassette is sequentially pushed back, and the order of the jobs is rearranged. As shown in FIG. 5(b), when i=1 and image formation has already started for the second job, the job to feed sheets from the manual feed slot is inserted at i=3, and subsequent feeding is performed. Jobs for feeding sheets from a paper cassette are sequentially pushed back, and the order of the jobs is rearranged.

At S420, engine control means 700 determines whether or not a sheet has been inserted into the manual feed slot. When a sheet is inserted in the manual feed slot, the sheet inserted in the manual feed slot is fed and image formation is performed. If no sheet is inserted into the manual feed slot, in S421, the engine control means 700 determines whether, for example, 10 minutes have passed since the job was rearranged. If 10 minutes have not elapsed since the jobs were rearranged, the process returns to S420. If 10 minutes have passed since the jobs were rearranged, the job that feeds sheets from the manual feed slot is rearranged to the end of the job list, and the image formation of the job that feeds sheets from the paper cassette. to start.

In this manner, the order of the jobs for feeding sheets from the paper feed cassette is rearranged depending on whether image formation has started for the job for feeding sheets from the paper feed cassette. As a result, it is possible to prevent jobs that feed sheets from the manual feed slot from being mixed in the middle of jobs that feed sheets from the paper cassette, and image formation can be performed without disturbing the order of sheets for each job. can be done. Further, if image formation for a job that feeds sheets from a paper feed cassette has not started, image formation for a job that feeds sheets from a manual feed slot can be preferentially performed. As a result, even if the order of jobs is rearranged, deterioration of usability can be suppressed.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the jobs for feeding sheets from the manual feed port are rearranged according to whether or not the image formation of the reserved job has been started. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of control for performing reorganization depending on whether or not the job to be reorganized is copying. It should be noted that the detailed description of the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, such as the image forming apparatus, will be omitted in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing job recombination control. When one job is received, job recombination control is performed based on the flowchart of FIG. Note that steps similar to those in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are given the same numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In this embodiment, in addition to the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a reading scanner as reading means (not shown) is provided. By having a reading scanner read an image formed on a sheet serving as an original, the user can make a copy in which a duplicate image is formed in a job in which the sheet is fed from the manual feeder.

At S400, the engine control means 700 receives a job. In S401, the engine control unit 700 determines whether or not to feed the sheet from the manual feed slot for image formation according to the received job. If the job is not a job that feeds sheets from the manual feeder, the job is not rearranged and the rearrangement control ends.

If the job is to feed sheets from the manual feeder, in S601, the engine control unit 700 determines whether the job to feed sheets from the manual feeder is copy. If the job is not a copy, the job is not rearranged and the rearrangement control is terminated. If it is a copy, the processing from S402 onwards is performed in the same manner as in FIG.

If the job for feeding sheets from the manual feed slot is copying, it is highly probable that the user performing the copying is near the printer. In such a case, usability may be degraded if the order in which images are formed in a job that feeds sheets from the manual feed port is delayed. Therefore, usability can be improved by rearranging the job order of feeding sheets from the manual feed slot so that image formation is started when the user inserts the sheet into the manual feed slot.

(Third Embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the jobs for feeding sheets from the manual feed port are rearranged according to whether or not the image formation of the reserved job has been started. In the present embodiment, the control for rearrangement will be described in consideration of the print time of reserved jobs. It should be noted that the detailed description of the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, such as the image forming apparatus, will be omitted in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing job recombination control. When one job is received, job recombination control is performed based on the flowchart of FIG. Note that steps similar to those in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are given the same numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In S701, the engine control means 700 predicts the total print time of the jobs in the reserved job list. In S702, the engine control means 700 determines whether or not the total print time of the job is longer than 60 seconds as a predetermined time. If the total print time of the job is 60 seconds or less, the job is not rearranged and the rearrangement control ends.

If the total print time of the job is longer than 60 seconds, the processes from S404 onward are performed in the same manner as in FIG. By judging whether or not to perform job rearrangement based on the total print time of reserved jobs, image formation can be executed without rearrangement when the time is shorter than a predetermined time, and the frequency of rearrangement control can be suppressed. Furthermore, when the time is longer than the predetermined time, priority is given to the job of feeding the sheet from the manual feed port to form the image, thereby reducing the user's waiting time and improving the usability.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the jobs for feeding sheets from the manual feed port are rearranged according to whether or not the image formation of the reserved job has been started. In the present embodiment, the control for rearrangement will be described in consideration of the paper size and type (paper type) of reserved jobs and jobs in which sheets are fed from the manual feeder. It should be noted that the detailed description of the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, such as the image forming apparatus, will be omitted in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing job recombination control. When one job is received, job recombination control is performed based on the flowchart of FIG. Note that steps similar to those in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are given the same numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In S801, the engine control unit 700 acquires the paper size and paper type of the job in the reserved job list and the job of feeding sheets from the manual feeder. In S802, engine control means 700 determines whether the paper size and paper type match. If the paper size matches the paper type, the job is not rearranged and the job rearrangement control ends.

If the paper size and paper type do not match (they do not match), the processing from S404 onward is performed in the same manner as in FIG. Here, as an example, it is assumed that both the paper size and the paper type do not match. A job that rearranges the order of jobs when the paper size and paper type do not match, forms images for multiple jobs, and feeds sheets from the manual feed slot after rearranging the order from among the ejected sheets. is easier to find and usability can be improved.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the jobs for feeding sheets from the manual feed port are rearranged according to whether or not the image formation of the reserved job has been started. In the present embodiment, the control for rearrangement will be described in consideration of a user of a reserved job and a user of a job that feeds sheets from a manual feeder. It should be noted that the detailed description of the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, such as the image forming apparatus, will be omitted in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing job recombination control. When one job is received, job recombination control is performed based on the flowchart of FIG. Note that steps similar to those in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are given the same numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In S901, the engine control unit 700 acquires user information of the job in the reserved job list and the job of feeding sheets from the manual feeder. In S902, engine control means 700 determines whether or not the user information matches. If the user information does not match, the job is not rearranged and the rearrangement control is terminated.

If the user information matches, the processing from S404 onward is performed in the same manner as in FIG. By rearranging the job order when the user information matches, the user can easily find the job reserved by the user, and usability can be improved.

(Sixth embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the jobs for feeding sheets from the manual feed port are rearranged according to whether or not the image formation of the reserved job has been started. In the present embodiment, control for performing rearrangement depending on whether or not the pre-registration sensor 141 detects a sheet will be described. It should be noted that the detailed description of the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, such as the image forming apparatus, will be omitted in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing job recombination control. When one job is received, job recombination control is performed based on the flowchart of FIG. Note that steps similar to those in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are given the same numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In S1001, engine control means 700 determines whether or not there is a job in the reserved job list. If there is no job in the reserved job list, the job is not rearranged and the rearrangement control is terminated. If there is a job in the reserved job list, in S1002 the engine control unit 700 determines whether image formation of the reserved sheet job has been started. If one or more jobs have started image forming operations, the job reassignment control is terminated without performing job reassignment.

If there is no job whose image forming operation has started, in S1003, the engine control unit 700 determines whether or not the pre-registration sensor 141 has detected a sheet. If the sheet is not detected by the pre-registration sensor 141, the job is not rearranged and the rearrangement control ends. When the sheet is detected by the pre-registration sensor 141, the job of feeding the sheet from the manual feed port is rearranged to the top, and image formation is performed. When a sheet is inserted in the manual feed slot and the image formation of the job for feeding the sheet from the manual feed slot can be started immediately, usability can be improved by rearranging the jobs.

(Seventh embodiment)
In the sixth embodiment, the control for performing rearrangement depending on whether or not the pre-registration sensor 141 detects a sheet has been described. In the present embodiment, control for rearrangement depending on whether or not a sheet is detected by the paper presence/absence sensor 150 arranged on the discharge tray 115 will be described. In this embodiment, the detailed description of the configuration similar to that of the first and sixth embodiments, such as an image forming apparatus, will be omitted.

[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. A configuration different from the image forming apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 will be described. A paper presence/absence sensor 150 detects the presence/absence of sheets stacked on the discharge tray 115 . When the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged onto the discharge tray 115, the paper presence/absence sensor 150 detects that there is paper.

FIG. 12 is a hardware configuration diagram as an example of a control system of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. A configuration different from that of FIG. 2 will be described. A paper presence/absence sensor input circuit 613 inputs the detection result (logic) detected by the paper presence/absence sensor 150 to the I/O port 606 .

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing functional blocks and a hardware configuration in an engine control means 700 such as a CPU. A configuration different from that in FIG. 3 will be described. The job management unit 703 uses the detection result of the paper presence/absence sensor 150 when managing job order rearrangement. For example, when the paper presence/absence sensor 150 detects that no sheets are stacked on the discharge tray 115, the job order is rearranged so that the job of feeding sheets from the manual feed slot has priority. On the other hand, when the paper presence/absence sensor 150 detects that sheets are stacked on the discharge tray 115, the job order of sheet feeding from the manual feed port is not rearranged.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing job recombination control. When one job is received, job recombination control is performed based on the flowchart of FIG. Note that steps similar to those in the flowchart of FIG. 10 are given the same numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In S1401, the engine control means 700 determines whether or not the sheet presence/absence sensor 150 has detected a sheet. If the presence of sheets is detected by the paper presence/absence sensor 150, the job is not rearranged and the rearrangement control ends.

If the paper presence/absence sensor 150 does not detect a sheet, in S1402 the engine control unit 700 rearranges the job of feeding the sheet from the manual feed port to the top, and performs image formation.

In a state where no sheets are stacked on the paper discharge tray 115, by rearranging the job order of feeding the sheets from the manual feed port, the sheet first discharged to the paper discharge tray 115 is the rearranged sheet. can recognize Thereby, usability can be improved.

(Modification)
When the jobs are rearranged, the case of rearranging the job in which the sheet is fed from the manual feed port has been explained, but the rearrangement may be controlled so that the jobs are rearranged from the second position onward.

Further, although the pre-registration sensor 141 detects the sheet inserted into the manual feed slot, a dedicated sensor may be provided to detect the sheet inserted into the manual feed slot.

Also, although the engine control means 700 determines whether or not to rearrange the jobs, the user may determine whether or not to rearrange the jobs. In this case, the engine control unit 700 indicates to the operation panel 635 that the jobs can be rearranged, and the user rearranges the job for feeding sheets from the manual feed port on the operation panel 635 .

140 Manual feed slot 160 Paper feed tray 700 Engine control means

Claims (11)

an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
a first sheet feeding means for conveying a sheet to the image forming means;
a second sheet feeding means for conveying a sheet to the image forming means;
a control means for controlling job rearrangement, which is information relating to image formation;
When receiving a first job of conveying a sheet from the first paper feeding unit and forming an image by the image forming unit, the control unit receives the first job before receiving the first job. The order of the first job is determined depending on whether or not image formation based on a second job of conveying sheets from the second paper feeding device and forming an image by the image forming device is started. An image forming apparatus characterized by performing recombination. The control means does not rearrange the job order when image formation based on the second job has started, and does not rearrange the order of the jobs when image formation based on the second job has not started. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order of the jobs is rearranged so that the image formation of the first job is performed before the job. comprising reading means for reading the image formed on the sheet,
When the image formation based on the second job is not started, the control means controls the above-described image formation from the second job if the first job is copying for duplicating the image read by the reading means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order of the jobs is rearranged so that the image formation of the first job is performed first. When the image formation based on the second job is not started, the control means determines that if the time expected to be required for image formation based on the second job is longer than a predetermined time, the second job 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order of the jobs is rearranged so that the first job is formed first. When the image formation based on the second job is not started, the control means controls the size of the sheet on which the image is formed by the first job and the size of the sheet on which the image is formed by the second job. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein if the sizes of the images do not match, the order of the jobs is rearranged so that the image formation of the first job is performed before the image formation of the second job. forming device. When the image formation based on the second job is not started, the control means controls the type of sheet on which the image is formed by the first job and the sheet on which the image is formed by the second job. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein if the types of the jobs do not match, the order of the jobs is rearranged so that the image formation of the first job is performed before the image formation of the second job. forming device. If the user who reserved the first job and the user who reserved the second job match when image formation based on the second job is not started, the control means 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order of jobs is rearranged so that the first job is formed before the second job. A first detection means for detecting a sheet conveyed from the first sheet feeding means or a sheet conveyed from the second sheet feeding means,
When image formation based on the second job is not started and the sheet is detected by the first detection means, the control means performs the first job rather than the second job. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order of the jobs is rearranged so that the image formation of the job is performed first. a paper output tray from which the sheet on which the image is formed is output;
a second detection means for detecting whether sheets are stacked on the discharge tray;
If image formation based on the second job is not started and the sheet is not detected by the second detection means, the control means detects the first image from the second job. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the order of the jobs is rearranged so that the image formation of the job is performed first. the first sheet feeding means receives a sheet from an opening and conveys the inserted sheet to the image forming means;
10. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second sheet feeding means conveys the stacked sheets to the image forming means. . 11. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first sheet feeding means is arranged downstream of the second sheet feeding means in a sheet conveying path.

Images