JP4999767B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed storage units (paper feed cassettes, manual paper feed trays, etc.), when the paper feed storage units are grouped and used as a single paper feed storage unit, the grouping setting is set by the user. The present invention relates to a method that is automatically performed based on the record of selection of the alternative sheet storage unit of the sheet storage unit.

  In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed storage units (such as a paper feed cassette or a manual paper feed tray), there is a method in which the plurality of paper feed storage units are grouped according to paper size, paper type, and the like. It was.

  For example, there is a method in which a plurality of paper feed trays are handled as a group and the status of each paper feed tray is represented as the status of the grouped paper feed trays (see Patent Document 1).

This method is effective when displaying the total number of grouped paper feed trays as a sum. However, when the grouping is performed, the user has to manually set, and there is no method for automatically setting the grouping of the sheet storage unit without the user's awareness based on the user's usage history. .
JP 2006-76868 A

  The problem to be solved is that when a plurality of paper feed storage units are grouped and a paper error occurs in the paper feed storage unit in the group, paper feed other than that in which the paper error has occurred in the group. In the image forming apparatus that can continuously feed paper to the printing unit by feeding paper from the storage unit, the grouping setting cannot be automatically set based on the use history of the user.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of paper feed accommodation units that are accommodated for supplying paper, a printing unit that performs printing upon receipt of a paper supply from any one of the paper supply accommodation units, When a paper error indicating that paper cannot be fed in the paper feed container that supplies the paper, a selection input of a paper feed container that replaces the paper feed container in which the paper error has occurred is received and An alternative record holding unit for holding records, an automatic grouping setting unit for grouping the paper feed storage units based on the records held by the alternative record holding unit, and a grouped paper feed storage unit And a paper feed switching control unit that switches to supply of paper from another paper feed accommodating unit in the group when the paper error occurs in any of the above.

  Here, the paper error is mainly caused by out-of-paper, but the other paper attributes to be supplied and the conditions of the paper attributes required for the processing including the printing and post-processing steps after the supply. If the error does not occur because the paper does not fit, or if paper feed from the paper feed compartment to the paper feed drive system fails, the paper jam will not occur, but the Not including a state in which the drive system is stopped and the restart is not performed unless the jammed paper is removed, but also includes an error state in which paper cannot be fed although there is paper.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the automatic grouping setting unit includes a paper feeding storage unit in which the paper error has occurred and is recorded by the alternative recording holding unit. The main feature is to group the sheet storage units having a high combination frequency with the selected sheet storage unit as an alternative.

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the automatic grouping setting unit has a predetermined time interval when a predetermined time is reached when the power is turned on. When the user has instructed execution, at the start of a job, at least one of when the user has selected an alternative paper feed tray, or a free combination thereof as a trigger, the automatic paper feed storage unit The main feature is grouping.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the paper error is an error due to running out of paper or an error due to mismatched paper attributes. , Any of paper feed errors from the paper feed storage unit to the paper feed drive unit.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of paper feed accommodation units that are accommodated for supplying paper, a printing unit that performs printing upon receipt of a paper supply from any one of the paper supply accommodation units, When a paper error indicating that paper cannot be fed in the paper feed container that supplies the paper, a selection input of a paper feed container that replaces the paper feed container in which the paper error has occurred is received and An alternative record holding unit for holding records, an automatic grouping setting unit for grouping the paper feed storage units based on the records held by the alternative record holding unit, and a grouped paper feed storage unit A paper feed switching control unit that switches to supply of paper from other paper feed storage units in the group when the paper error occurs in any of the above, Based on the selection history of the paper storage compartment Stomach, it has become possible to carry out the grouping set automatically.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the automatic grouping setting unit includes a paper feeding storage unit in which the paper error has occurred and is recorded by the alternative recording holding unit. A main feature of grouping together paper feed storage units that are frequently combined with the paper feed storage unit selected as an alternative is the paper feed storage unit that is selected when a user encounters a paper error. Are grouped with the paper feed accommodating unit that has caused the paper error, so that the grouping is most suitable for the usage pattern of the user.

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the automatic grouping setting unit has a predetermined time interval when a predetermined time is reached when the power is turned on. When the user has instructed execution, at the start of a job, at least one of when the user has selected an alternative paper feed tray, or a free combination thereof as a trigger, the automatic paper feed storage unit Since the main feature is that grouping is performed, it is possible to select the timing of automation setting suitable for various usage forms.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the paper error is an error due to running out of paper or an error due to mismatched paper attributes. In this case, the error is one of a paper feed error from the paper feed storage unit to the paper feed drive unit. It can be used in response to cases where the paper storage unit cannot be used.

  When a plurality of paper storage units are grouped and a paper error occurs in a paper storage unit in the group, paper is supplied from other paper storage units in the group other than the one in which the paper error has occurred. In the image forming apparatus that can continuously feed paper to the printing unit, the problem that the grouping setting cannot be automatically set based on the use history of the user is selected when a paper error occurs. The problem was solved by recording the history of the alternative sheet storage unit and setting the grouping based on the history.

  An image forming apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, the paper feed tray and the paper feed accommodating portion are the same.

[Device configuration]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view mainly showing a mechanical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The paper feed storage section in the description refers to both a flat paper feed tray such as a manual feed tray 220 described later and a box-type paper feed tray such as paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d. Indicates.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body unit 200, a sheet post-processing unit 300 disposed on the left side of the main body unit 200 in FIG. 1, an operation unit 400 for a user to input various operation commands, and the like. The document reading unit 500 is disposed above the document reading unit 500, and the document feeding unit 600 is disposed above the document reading unit 500.

  The operation unit 400 includes a touch panel 401 (display unit), a start key 402, a numeric keypad 403, and the like. The touch panel 401 (display unit) displays various operation screens and various operation buttons for the user to input various operation commands. The start key 402 is used for the user to input a print execution command and the like, and the ten key 403 is used for inputting the number of prints and the like.

  The document feeding unit 600 includes a document storage unit 601, a document discharge unit 602, a paper feed roller 603, a document transport unit 604, and the like, and the document reading unit 500 includes a scanner 501 and the like. The paper feed roller 603 feeds the original set in the original storage unit 601, and the original transport unit 604 transports the fed original one by one on the scanner 501 one by one. The scanner 501 sequentially reads the conveyed document, and the read document is discharged to the document discharge unit 602.

  The main body 200 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d (paper feed accommodation unit), a manual paper feed tray 220 (paper feed accommodation unit), and a plurality of paper feed rollers 202a, b, c, d, and 221. (Paper feeding drive unit), transfer roller 203 (printing unit), photosensitive drum 204 (printing unit), exposure device 206 (printing unit), developing device 207 (printing unit), fixing roller 208 (printing unit), discharge port 209, a discharge tray 210, and the like.

  The sheet feeding cassettes 201a, b, c, d and the manual sheet feeding tray 220 constitute a sheet feeding container.

  A printing unit 240 is formed by the transfer roller 203, the photosensitive drum 204, the exposure device 206, the developing device 207), and the fixing roller 208.

  The plurality of paper feed rollers 202a, b, c, d, 221 and the paper feed path from the paper feed storage unit to the printing unit 240 and its drive system constitute a paper feed drive unit 230.

  The photosensitive drum 204 is uniformly charged by a charging device (not shown) while rotating in the direction of the arrow. The exposure device 206 converts a modulation signal generated based on the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 500 into a laser beam and outputs the laser beam, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 204. The developing device 207 supplies a black developer to the photosensitive drum 204 to form a toner image.

  On the other hand, in the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, d of the paper feed storage unit, the paper feed rollers 202a, b, c, d are the uppermost surfaces of the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, d in which printing paper is stored. The paper is pulled out to the paper feed path of the paper feed drive unit 230 by rotating in contact with the paper. Further, in the manual paper feed tray 220, the paper feed roller 221 rotates in contact with the uppermost paper of the manual paper feed tray 220 to draw the print paper to the paper feed path of the paper feed drive unit 230 and transfer it. Feed to the roller 203. The transfer roller 203 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 204 to the conveyed printing paper, and the fixing roller 208 heats and fixes the transferred toner image on the printing paper. Thereafter, the printing paper is carried into the paper post-processing unit 300 from the discharge port 209 of the main body 200. The printing paper is also discharged to the discharge tray 210 as necessary.

  In the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, d, remaining amount sensors 205a, b, c, d for detecting the remaining amount of paper are attached to the respective paper feed cassettes. The remaining amount sensors 205a, b, c, d are J-shaped as shown in the figure, and detect the remaining amount of paper by rotating around the upper shaft as the remaining amount of paper decreases. When the paper runs out, the portion of the remaining amount sensor that contacts the paper falls into a hole (not shown) formed in the bottom surface of the paper feed cassette (paper feed tray), so that it can be detected that the paper has run out.

  In the manual paper feed tray 220 (paper feed accommodating portion), the paper feed roller 221 serves as a remaining amount sensor.

  When the paper cassettes 201a, b, c, and d of the image forming apparatus 1 are taken out from the image forming apparatus main body 200 for paper replenishment, they are slid out in the right direction in FIG. 1 (arrow P in FIG. 1). Therefore, the paper feed path of the paper feed driving unit 230 connected to the transfer roller 203 and the photosensitive drum 204 from the paper feed rollers 202a, b, c, and d is not blocked. Therefore, even during the printing operation, it is possible to replace the paper feeding cassette that is not related to the paper feeding to the printing unit 240, and in this case, the printing operation is not stopped.

  Similarly, the manual paper feed tray 220 can be replenished without interrupting the printing operation.

  The paper post-processing unit 300 includes a carry-in port 301, a print paper carrying unit 302, a carry-out port 303, a stack tray 304, and the like. The printing paper conveyance unit 302 sequentially conveys the printing paper carried into the carry-in port 301 from the discharge port 209 and finally discharges the printing paper from the carry-out port 303 to the stack tray 304. The stack tray 304 is configured to be movable up and down in the direction of the arrow in accordance with the number of print sheets stacked from the carry-out port 303.

[Function block]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In this functional block diagram, only the part related to the essence of the present invention is illustrated in a block diagram. A block diagram of the printing unit 240 and the post-processing device 300 described in the configuration diagram of FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows the paper feed storage unit (paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d and the manual paper feed tray 220), the paper feed drive unit 230, the operation unit 400, and the operation already described with reference to the side sectional view of FIG. In addition to the touch panel 401 (display unit) in the unit 400, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a software function unit 700 and a communication interface unit 751, which are functional block units not illustrated in FIG.

  The software function unit 700 further includes a remaining paper amount detection unit 701, a paper size type detection unit 703, an internal Web server 707, a paper feed switching control unit 709, a paper out notification unit 711, a group setting holding unit 715, and an alternative record holding unit. Unit 717 and automatic grouping setting unit 719.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a network 801 through the communication interface unit 751 and is connected to a PC 1 (Personal Computer) 901 and a PC 2 (Personal Computer) 903 that are also connected to the network.

  Each functional unit will be described below. In the description of this functional block, only functional units related to grouping related to the essence of the present invention will be described. Description of other image processing units that are not related to the essence of the present invention is omitted.

  The communication interface unit 751 is an interface unit that connects the image forming apparatus 1 to a network. The communication interface unit 751 is connected to an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  The software function unit 700 is a function unit that causes the computer of the image forming apparatus 1 to implement various functions using software. Hereinafter, each functional block in the software function unit 700 will be described.

  The remaining paper amount detection unit 701 receives signals from remaining amount sensors 205a, b, c, and d that detect the remaining amount of paper in each of the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d included in the paper feed storage unit 201. The remaining amount of paper in each of the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d is detected and the fact that the paper has run out is detected.

  The paper size type detection unit 703 is installed in a paper size signal measured by a frame part that determines the paper size of each of the paper feed cassettes 201a, b, c, and d of the paper feed storage unit 201 and in the paper feed path. Based on the signal from the sensor, the paper size and the paper type supplied to each paper feed cassette are detected.

  For paper types that cannot be detected by these sensors, such as thick paper, colored paper, or single-sided used paper, settings are made in the group setting holding unit 715 in the next section by user settings.

  The internal Web server 707 is provided so that the state of the image forming apparatus 1 can be accessed from the browser 913 of the PC 2; 903 which is an external apparatus. By accessing the page of the internal Web server 707, the setting state of the image forming apparatus 1 can be confirmed and the setting can be changed. As described above, the grouping setting of the sheet storage unit can also be confirmed and changed by accessing the internal Web server 707. Also, an internal web server 707 provides a setting screen for an alternative sheet storage unit described later.

  The paper feed switching control unit 709, when the paper runs out of one of the grouped paper feed storage units (the paper feed cassette and the manual feed tray) during printing, If there are other paper feed storage units grouped together, the paper feed drive unit 230 is set so as to feed paper from other grouped paper feed storage units automatically without stopping the printing operation. It is a functional part to control.

  The out-of-paper notification unit 711 is a functional unit that notifies that the paper is out when printing is performed and the paper is consumed and any of the cassettes in the paper feed storage unit is exhausted.

The group setting holding unit 715 can set (grouping function) a plurality of paper feeding cassettes for each group. Generally, grouping is performed for each sheet having the same size and type. (However, different items can be grouped and set.)
In the image forming apparatus 1, a plurality of paper feed storage units (a plurality of paper feed cassettes 201 a, b, c, and d and a manual paper feed tray 220) are grouped, and the grouped one is a large capacity. It can be handled as a paper feed storage unit (hereinafter referred to as a grouping function). This grouping function makes it possible to perform a large amount of printing exceeding the maximum sheet capacity of one sheet cassette. In other words, even if one sheet in a grouped paper cassette is exhausted and emptied, it automatically switches to paper feeding from a different grouped paper cassette. The print group can be continuously printed until all the grouped paper storage bins run out of paper without causing the “Print Engine Pause” state. This is the greatest advantage of this grouping function. is there.

  The group setting holding unit 715 is a grouping setting of the sheet storage unit (for example, the sheet cassettes a and c in which A4 plain sheets are put in one group, the sheet cassettes b and d, and the manual sheet feed. The tray is set as A4 single-sided used paper in one group, and the setting state is recorded and held.

  This setting may be performed by input from the operation unit 400, may be performed by the printer monitoring utility 911 of the PC 1; 901 that is the external device through the communication interface unit 751, or may be performed by the PC 2; 903 that is the external device. The setting may be performed using the setting function of the internal Web server 707 by accessing the internal Web server 707 of the image forming apparatus 1 using the browser 913.

  The most important feature of the present invention is that, in addition to the manual group setting described so far, the group setting holding unit 715 changes the group setting set by the automatic grouping setting unit 719 described below to the automatic grouping setting unit 719. Record the group settings and keep them. Details will be described below.

  The alternative record holding unit 717 is a functional unit that controls the most essential function of the present invention together with the next automatic grouping setting unit 719. The group setting in the group setting holding unit 715 described above must be performed by a user's instruction input. However, a paper error (a paper error is mainly caused by out of paper, but other papers to be supplied Errors due to paper feeding not being performed because the attribute and the conditions of the paper attributes required for processing including the printing and post-processing steps after supply do not match, and paper feeding from the paper feed storage unit If the paper feed to the drive system fails, the paper jam will not occur, but the drive system of the device will not be stopped for some reason until the jammed paper is removed and it will not restart. If there is no grouping setting when an error occurs that paper cannot be fed even though there is paper, the paper tray By select another paper feed tray instead of resuming the job by the sheet feeding from the input tray. The alternative recording holding unit 717 is a functional unit that performs recording on the paper feed tray at that time.

  Table 1 below shows the contents recorded by the alternative record holding unit 717.

As an example in the first line, a “out of paper” error occurs at the date and time “20xx / 03 / 03-09: 32” being used by the user “a1818”, and paper is fed at that time. The tray in which the error occurred and “Tray 1” was selected, and the tray selected by the user as an alternative was “Tray 4”. As an alternative, the attribute of the paper in tray 1 in which the error occurred is “A4” size, the paper feeding direction is “N (normal portrait; portrait)”, and the paper type is “plain paper”. The attributes of the paper in the selected tray 4 are “A4” size, the paper feeding direction is “R (landscape; landscape)”, and the paper type is “plain paper”. Similarly, data is recorded so as to continue from the second line.

  The automatic grouping setting unit 719 automatically sets the grouping of the paper feed accommodation units based on the alternative recording table 1 recorded by the alternative recording holding unit 717.

  Based on the longer table actually recorded in Table 1 above, the frequency of the combination of the paper feed tray in which an error has occurred and the paper feed tray replaced at that time is shown in Table 2 below. It becomes like.

  Here, the first column of Table 2 will be described. The first column shows the number of times each paper feed tray is selected as an alternative paper feed tray when a paper error occurs in the tray 1, and The percentage selected is shown.

  The first column will be described in order from the top. When an error occurs in the tray 1, the tray 1 is not selected as an alternative tray, and therefore the column of the alternative tray in the tray 1 is blank.

  Next, the number of times Tray 2 was selected as an alternative tray was 2 times, the percentage was 1.6%, the number of times Tray 3 was selected was 36 times, 28.1%, and the number of times Tray 4 was selected was 85 times 66.4%, and the number of times that the manual feed tray is selected is 3.9% for 5 times. The total number of substitutions is 128.

  When the most relevant sheet feeding tray is selected from the above Table 2 as a percentage (combination frequency), a combination of the sheet feeding tray 1 and the sheet feeding tray 4 indicated by a circle in Table 2 is obtained.

  Based on this result, the automatic grouping setting unit 719 sets the paper feed tray 1 and the paper feed tray 4 as a new group. This setting information is transmitted to the group setting holding unit 715 to hold the setting.

  Thereafter, when a paper error occurs in the paper feed tray 1, the job is automatically switched to paper feeding from the paper feed tray 4, and similarly, when a paper error occurs in the paper feed tray 4, it is automatically Then, the paper is switched from the paper feed tray 1 and the job is continued.

  In the above embodiment, only the highest frequency group is grouped. Similarly, the remaining paper feed trays are recursively analyzed and the subsequent grouping (second group, third group, etc.) is performed. Settings may be made.

  Further, when the first grouping is set, if the difference from the next candidate is very small, a method may be used in which no grouping is performed because there is no particular relevance. In that case, whether or not the difference in frequency between the first candidate and the second candidate is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold may be used as a criterion for determination. In such a case, instead of performing grouping, a method may be used in which three paper feed trays are combined into one group including both the error occurrence tray and the first frequency tray and the second frequency tray.

  In addition, a method may be used in which grouping is set based on excluded frequencies (not selected) instead of selected frequencies.

  In Table 2, only the frequency is used as a judgment criterion. However, a method may be used in which automatic grouping is set in consideration of the paper attributes recorded in Table 1 (for example, different paper sizes are used). If not grouped).

  The automatic grouping setting unit 719 analyzes the above Tables 1 and 2 and performs automatic grouping when a predetermined time is reached when the power is turned on (for example, at 6 am every morning). At least one of when a time interval has passed (for example, every 6 hours), when a user instructs to execute, when a job starts, when a user selects an alternative paper feed tray, or any combination thereof We will take the method of using the time of the trigger as a trigger.

[flowchart]
An operation when a paper error occurs in the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  S11: Execution of job is instructed. This instruction may be given from the operation unit 400 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 or from the printer drivers 921 and 923 of the PC 1; 901 and PC 2; 903.

  S13: Job execution is started. Paper is fed from the paper feed tray selected at that time, and printing by the printing unit 240 is performed.

  S15: It is determined whether a paper error has occurred during job execution. If a paper error has occurred, the operation proceeds to S17. If no paper error occurs, the operation proceeds to S29.

  S17: The group setting holding unit 715 determines whether or not the paper feed trays that receive paper are grouped and there are other paper feed trays. If there is another paper feed tray, the operation proceeds to S25. If not, the operation proceeds to S19.

  S19: The alternative record holding unit 717 receives an input of selection of an alternative paper feed tray from the user. The actual operation screen of this operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 in the section of the alternative tray selection user interface screen in the next section.

  S21: The alternative record holding unit 717 records and holds the data of the alternative paper feed tray selected by the user (see Table 1).

  S22: The paper feed switching control unit 709 controls the paper feed driving unit 230 to perform paper feed so as to feed paper from the alternative paper feed tray designated in S19.

  S23: The job by the paper feeding from the alternative paper feeding tray in S22 is resumed. Thereafter, the operation proceeds to S15 to determine whether or not a paper error occurs until the job is completed.

  S25: When it is determined in S17 that there is another paper feed tray in the same group as the paper feed tray in which the paper error has occurred, the paper feed switching control unit 709 performs the paper feed from the other paper feed tray. Controls the paper feed drive unit 230 to switch the paper feed.

  S27: The job is resumed by feeding from another sheet feeding tray in S25. Thereafter, the operation proceeds to S15 to determine whether or not a paper error occurs until the job is completed.

  S29: If no paper error occurs during job execution in S15, the job is completed normally and the operation is terminated.

  Through the above series of operations, if an error occurs in one paper tray and there is another paper tray grouped with that paper tray, the job is executed by feeding from that paper tray. If there is no other grouped paper feed tray, an alternative tray is selected and the selection result is recorded. Further, the job is completed upon receipt of paper from the alternative tray.

  Next, the automatic grouping operation performed by the automatic grouping setting unit 719 based on the result recorded in S21 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  At least one of when a power is turned on, when a predetermined time is reached, when a predetermined time interval elapses, when a user executes an instruction, when a job starts, or when a user selects an alternative paper feed tray, or The operation of the flowchart of FIG. 4 starts with these free combinations as a trigger.

  S41: The automatic grouping setting unit 719 analyzes the record of selection of the alternative sheet storage unit recorded by the alternative record holding unit 717 (Table 1). The specific operation is as described for the functional operation of the automatic grouping setting unit 719.

  S43: The automatic grouping setting unit 719 determines whether there is a valid combination of paper feed trays. The specific operation is as described with reference to Table 2 when the functional operation of the automatic grouping setting unit 719 is described. If there is a valid combination, the operation proceeds to S45. If there is no valid combination, the operation is terminated.

  S45: The automatic grouping setting unit 719 groups the combinations of the valid paper feed trays determined in S43, and transmits the combinations to the group setting holding unit 715. The group setting holding unit 715 holds the record. When subsequent paper errors occur, the same group is used to enable continuous printing between different paper feed trays.

[User interface screen for selecting alternative paper tray and its operation]
The operation of selecting an alternative paper feed tray that receives an input from the alternative recording holding unit 717 when a paper error occurs in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the user interface screen of FIG. This interface screen is displayed on the touch panel 401 of the image forming apparatus 1 and is selected by the user touching the touch panel.

  FIGS. 5A to 5C show examples of interface screens for selecting an alternative paper feed tray. In FIG. 5A, icons of respective parts of the apparatus are displayed. The numbered tray 1 corresponds to the paper cassette a; 201a, and the tray 2 corresponds to the paper cassette b; 201b. 3 corresponds to the paper cassette c; 201c, and the tray 4 corresponds to the paper cassette d; 201d. MP corresponds to the manual paper feed tray 220. In addition, an execution button 451 and a message box 491 are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, a paper out error has occurred in tray 1 (to indicate this, tray 1 is grayed out), so the user is prompted to select an alternate paper feed tray. A box 491 is displayed to prompt the user to input.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the user touches and highlights the icon (in this case, tray 4) to be selected as an alternative paper feed tray among the paper feed tray icons displayed on the touch panel. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the execution button 451 is contacted to confirm that the tray 4 is selected as the alternative paper feed tray instead of the tray 1. As a result, the job is resumed upon receipt of paper from the tray 4 and is continued.

  Instead of the execution button 451 displayed on the screen, a method of confirming the setting by using the start button 402 of the main body may be used.

[Effect of Example]
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention enables the following.

  The automatic grouping setting unit 719 eliminates the user's trouble of setting the grouping.

  Since the automatic grouping setting unit 719 sets the grouping based on the user's usage history, the optimum grouping that matches the actual usage is set.

  The alternative record holding unit 717 holds the usage records of all users, not the usage records of specific users, and the usage records set by the automatic grouping setting unit 719 can be set fairly for all users.

  The more data recorded by the alternative record holding unit 717, the more optimal grouping setting is made.

[Others]
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described by taking as an example a relatively high-functional image forming apparatus including functional units such as the document feeding unit 600, the document reading unit 500, and the post-processing device 300. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can be applied to, for example, an image forming apparatus that does not include the above-described functional unit. The apparatus configuration of the image forming apparatus is within the scope of the gist or technical idea of the present invention. It can be changed as appropriate. In addition, the image forming apparatus that has made these changes is also within the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

  The print job may be a copy job performed only by the image forming apparatus main body, or may be a print job transmitted from an external apparatus such as the PC 1; 901 printer driver 921 connected to the image forming apparatus 1. good.

  In this embodiment, the method of displaying the alternative paper feed tray selection screen on the touch panel has been described. However, as described above, when the print job is from the external device PC1; 901 or the like, the PC1; In this case, the printer driver 921 may display the above-described alternative paper feed tray selection screen (FIG. 5) on the PC 1; 901 to select the alternative paper feed tray. The present invention is not limited to this, and even when a job is instructed from the main body, the printer monitoring utility 911 and the browser 913 may display a selection screen for the alternative paper feed tray and select an alternative paper feed tray.

1 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart when a paper error occurs in the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of an operation in automatic grouping setting of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a user interface screen when selecting an alternative paper feed tray of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 201a, b, c, d Paper feed cassette (paper feed accommodating portion)
202a, b, c, d Paper feed roller (paper feed drive unit)
203 Transfer roller (printing section)
204 Printing drum (printing section)
205a, b, c, d Remaining amount sensor 206 Exposure device (printing unit)
207 Development device (printing unit)
208 Transfer roller (printing section)
220 Manual paper feed tray (paper feed compartment)
221 Paper feed roller (paper feed drive)
230 Paper Feed Drive Unit 240 Printing Unit 401 Touch Panel (Display Unit)
701 Paper remaining amount detection unit 703 Paper size detection unit 707 Internal Web server (internal Web server)
709 Paper feed switching control unit 711 Out of paper notification unit 715 Group setting holding unit 717 Alternate record holding unit 719 Automatic grouping setting unit 901 PC1 (Personal Computer) (external device)
903 PC2 (Personal Computer) (external device)
911 Printer Monitoring Utility P Paper cassette drawer direction

Claims (4)

A plurality of paper feed storage units for storing paper;
A printing unit that performs printing upon receipt of a sheet supplied from any of the sheet feeding storage units;
When a paper error indicating that paper cannot be fed in the paper feed container that supplies the paper, a selection input of a paper feed container that replaces the paper feed container in which the paper error has occurred is received and An alternate record holding unit for holding records;
An automatic grouping setting unit for grouping the paper feed storage units based on the records held by the alternative record holding unit;
A paper feed switching control unit that switches to supply of paper from other paper feed storage units in the group when the paper error occurs in any of the grouped paper feed storage units. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The automatic grouping setting unit groups paper storage units that are frequently combined with the paper storage unit in which the paper error has occurred and the paper storage unit selected as an alternative recorded by the alternative record holding unit. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The automatic grouping setting unit selects an alternative paper feed tray when power is turned on, when a predetermined time is reached, when a predetermined time interval elapses, when a user instructs execution, when a job starts, An image forming apparatus characterized in that the grouping of the sheet feeding storage units is automatically performed using at least one of the times or a free combination thereof as a trigger. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The paper error is either an error due to running out of paper, an error due to incompatible paper attributes, or a paper feed error from the paper feed storage unit to the paper feed drive unit. Forming equipment.