JP5321096B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

  Among image forming measures such as printers, copiers, and multifunction devices (devices having functions such as printers, scanners, copiers, etc.), the same type and size of conventional paper feed units (for example, paper feed trays) There are devices that can set paper. In this type of device, when the paper feed unit in use becomes empty, the function to switch the paper feed from another paper feed unit loaded with the same type and size of paper is used. There is something with

  In Patent Document 1, when the remaining amount of paper in a paper feeding unit in use decreases, information on other paper feeding units in which paper of the same size and paper type is set is displayed, and a switching destination paper feeding is displayed to the user. An image forming apparatus for designating a part is disclosed. When this apparatus detects that the paper feeding unit in use has become empty, it switches to feed paper from the designated paper feeding unit (particularly claim 2 and paragraph 0008). Further, in Patent Document 1, when there are a plurality of paper feed units of the same size and type, when the paper in the paper feed unit in use decreases, the paper in the paper feed unit in use decreases. An image forming apparatus that switches to another sheet feeding unit even when the sheet is completely exhausted is disclosed (particularly, claim 3 and paragraph 0009).

JP-A-2005-306573

  If the supply source is switched to another means after detecting that the recording medium supply means of the supply source has become empty, the supply of the recording medium may be delayed.

  In the present invention, the delay in recording medium supply when the recording medium supply means is switched to another recording medium storage means after detecting that the recording medium storage means has become empty is greater than when the present invention is not used. Also aimed at shortening.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of recording medium accommodating means for accommodating recording media, and another recording medium accommodating a recording medium of the same type and the same size as the recording medium accommodating means designated as the recording medium supply source. A specifying means for specifying the means, and one or more of the specified recording medium containing means when the specifying means specifies one or more other recording medium containing means, and the designated recording medium containing means Switching control for sequentially switching the recording medium storage means as the recording medium supply source so that each recording medium storage means does not feed two or more sheets continuously in a group of recording medium storage means and a switching control means for performing the switching control means, said switching when the remaining amount of the recording medium of the designated recording medium accommodating unit is greater than 0 and equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value Performing, that is an image forming apparatus according to claim.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the switching control means feeds a recording medium from one recording medium accommodating means of the group of recording medium accommodating means in the switching control. Before the recording is completed, scheduling is performed from which recording medium accommodating means of the group of recording medium accommodating means the recording medium to be imaged next to the recording medium .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, when the switching control is being performed, the remaining amount of any one of the group of recording medium accommodating means becomes zero. Display means for displaying a display screen that prompts the user to replenish the recording medium with respect to the recording medium containing means whose remaining amount becomes zero.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer that controls an image forming apparatus including a plurality of recording medium accommodating units that accommodate recording media is the same type and the same size as a recording medium accommodating unit designated as a recording medium supply source. Specifying means for specifying other recording medium containing means containing the recording medium, and one or more of the specified recording medium containing means when one or more other recording medium containing means are specified by the specifying means; In the group of recording medium accommodating means consisting of the designated recording medium accommodating means, a recording medium supply source is provided so that each recording medium accommodating means does not feed two or more sheets continuously. switching control means for performing sequential switching switch controls the recording medium storage unit a program for functioning as, the switching control means, the remaining amount of the recording medium of the designated recording medium housing unit Greater than 0, and performs the switching control when it becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, a program, characterized in that.

According to the first , second, or fourth aspect of the invention, the supply of the recording medium when the recording medium supply means is switched to another recording medium containing means after detecting that the recording medium containing means is empty is detected. The delay can be made shorter than when the present invention is not used.

Further , the recording medium is fed intensively from the designated recording medium accommodating means, and the recording medium accommodating means and other recording medium accommodating means accommodating a recording medium of the same type and the same size are recorded. The possibility that the remaining amount becomes 0 at the same time can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 3, paper feeding can be continued for a long time.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus to which the control of this embodiment can be applied. FIG. 2 shows a portion related to paper feeding in the image forming apparatus. The illustrated image forming apparatus includes a print function for printing print data received from another apparatus (for example, a host computer) via a network or print data read from a portable storage medium such as a CD-R. Further, the image forming apparatus may include a copying function for optically reading a document such as paper and printing an image of the read result on the paper.

  The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is an apparatus capable of full-color printing, and includes a developing unit 10 for toners of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Each developing unit 10 receives supply of an image signal from a control unit 30 (see FIG. 2) that controls operation of the image forming apparatus, and drives an exposure device in accordance with the image signal to generate an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner. In this example, the toner image formed by development is transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 12. The toner images developed by the four-color developing unit 10 are sequentially transferred to the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 12 so that a full color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12. .

  Further, the image forming apparatus accommodates a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as “paper” for the sake of avoiding complexity) and supplies it to the paper conveyance path 16 (hereinafter referred to as “paper feeding”). Are provided).

  The control unit 30 includes a paper feed control unit 32 for controlling the paper feed from the paper feed unit 14. For example, for each predetermined unit such as each page, the paper feed control unit 32 supplies the timing of supplying the image signal of the page included in the unit to the exposure device of each developing unit 10 and the page included in the unit. Scheduling (that is, determining in advance) the paper feed timing of the paper to be printed. Then, the image signal is supplied to each developing unit 10 at the scheduled image signal supply timing, and the sheet feeding unit 14 selected in advance by the user's designation or the like is instructed to feed the sheet at the scheduled timing. . In general, the image signal supply timing is often earlier than the paper feed timing. In particular, in the case of an apparatus using the intermediate transfer belt 12, the image signal supply timing is much earlier than the paper feed timing.

  The selected paper feed unit 14 feeds the paper to the paper transport path 16 in accordance with this paper feed instruction. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12 is transferred (secondary transfer) to the sheet by the secondary transfer unit 18 on the fed sheet. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 20. The fixing unit 20 fixes the toner image on the paper to the paper. The paper on which the image has been fixed is discharged to a paper discharge section (not shown) or turned over by the reverse path 22 for backside printing of double-sided printing, and then the paper transport path 16 via the return path 24. Returned to

  As shown in FIG. 2, each paper feed unit 14 is provided with a remaining amount detection unit 15 that detects the remaining amount of paper in the paper feed unit 14. The remaining amount detection unit 15 has a function of detecting the presence or absence of paper in the paper supply unit 14. The remaining amount detection unit 15 may further include a function of detecting that the remaining amount of paper in the paper supply unit 14 is equal to or less than a preset warning threshold. As such a remaining amount detection unit 15, a unit used in a conventional image forming apparatus may be used. The warning threshold may be set in the paper feeding unit 14.

  Basically, the paper feed control unit 32 performs control so that paper is fed from the paper feed unit 14 designated as the paper feed source by the user when setting the job conditions. Further, when automatic selection of the paper supply unit 14 is designated by the user, the size of the image to be printed is read by, for example, reading the size of a paper document or reading the size attribute described in the print data. Detection is performed, and control is performed so that the paper is fed from the paper feeding unit 14 containing the paper of the detected size. The size of the paper stored in each paper feed unit 14 is detected by a paper size sensor provided in the paper feed unit 14 and is stored in the setting information storage unit 34 as one item of setting information of the paper feed unit 14. ing. The paper type (paper type: for example, the type specified by the material or thickness of the paper) of the paper stored in each paper supply unit 14 is determined by the user who supplied the paper to the paper supply unit 14 by the operation unit 26 ( For example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display and an input device such as a keypad or a touch panel mechanism), and the setting information is stored in the setting information storage unit 34 as an item of setting information of the paper feeding unit 14. It is remembered. The paper feed control unit 32 refers to the setting information of the paper feed unit 14 stored in the setting information storage unit 34 and provides a designation screen for designating the paper feed source to the user, Or do the original automatic selection. In the following, in order to avoid complications, a paper feeding unit explicitly designated by the user as a paper feeding source, or a paper feeding unit automatically selected by the paper feeding control unit 32 in response to a request for automatic selection from the user This is collectively referred to as a “designated paper feeding unit”.

  In this specification, a job is a group of printing processes according to a user instruction. For example, this is a process of executing the processing content specified by the print instruction (for example, the instruction of the number of copies) indicated in the input print data or the print instruction input from the operation unit 26.

  For example, if the remaining amount of paper in the paper supply unit 14 currently used as the paper supply source becomes 0 during execution of a job, the same type of paper as the paper supply unit 14 (that is, the same paper type and size). If the paper supply unit 14 containing the other paper is separately provided, the job can be continued by switching the paper supply source to this paper supply unit 14. However, the detection unit 15 can detect that the remaining amount of paper in the paper supply unit 14 has reached zero after the end of feeding the last paper in the paper supply unit 14. In many types of forming apparatuses, the next sheet is already scheduled to be fed from the sheet feeding unit 14 at the time of detection. For this reason, in order to switch the paper supply source to another paper supply unit 14, the original schedule is cleared, and re-scheduling of the paper supply timing and the like is performed using the other paper supply unit 14 as the paper supply source. . Since a series of processing for this rescheduling requires a certain amount of time, another paper supply source is detected when it is detected that the remaining amount of paper in the currently used paper supply unit 14 has become zero. Switching to the paper section 14 cannot print during the period required for rescheduling or the like, and productivity (printing processing speed or the like) decreases. Further, for example, when exposure, development, or primary transfer of an image to be printed on the next sheet has already started in each developing unit 10 when the remaining sheet amount 0 is detected, the photosensitive member or intermediate transfer belt 12 is applied. The toner that has arrived needs to be cleaned (cleaned) and then rescheduled, and the paper supply after rescheduling is delayed for the time required for the cleaning, and the print output is also delayed accordingly.

  The delay in print output due to the switching of the paper feed source described above will be explained with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 3, after the timing of image signal supply and paper feed for a certain page (referred to as “page 1”) is scheduled at time t1, the first paper feed unit (“feed” is scheduled according to the schedule). It is time t3 that paper is fed from paper section # 1 ”. Scheduling for the next page (referred to as “page 2”) has already been performed at time t2 before time t3. Here, it is assumed that it is detected that the remaining amount of paper in the paper feeding unit # 1 becomes 0 at time t4 after the paper feeding from the paper feeding unit # 1 is finished. At this time t4, preparations are being made to feed the paper for page 2 from the same paper feeding unit # 1 based on the scheduling result at time t2, but paper cannot be fed from the paper feeding unit # 1. Therefore, the scheduling result is discarded. After that, rescheduling is performed with another sheet feeding unit # 2 containing sheets of the same type and size as the sheet feeding unit # 1 as the sheet feeding source. The time t6 when the paper is fed from the paper feeding unit # 2 by this rescheduling is later than the paper feeding timing t5 when it is assumed that the paper can be fed from the paper feeding unit # 1 according to the scheduling result at the time t2. The delay of time t6 with respect to time t5 is, for example, an interval between times t2 and t4 (time from scheduling until it becomes clear that paper cannot be fed from the paper feeding unit as scheduled). If development or transfer for page 2 has already started at time t4, the delay of time t6 with respect to time t5 may be further increased depending on the time required for cleaning the photoconductor and the like.

  In order to reduce the delay in print output due to such a paper source switching, the paper feed control unit 32 of this embodiment sets, for example, the remaining amount of paper in the paper feeding unit 14 currently set as a paper source. When the warning threshold (> 0, for example, 5% of the capacity of the paper feed unit, etc.) is reduced, the paper feed source and the paper of the same paper type as the paper feed unit 14 are stored. Control is performed to alternately switch between the sheet feeding unit 14 and the other sheet feeding unit 14.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, after scheduling that the sheet 1 is fed from the sheet feeding unit # 1 at time T 1, before the scheduling timing (time T 2) for page 2 arrives. It is assumed that the remaining amount detecting unit 15 detects that the remaining amount of the paper of the paper # 1 is equal to or less than the warning threshold. In this case, the paper feed control unit 32 selects the paper feed unit # 2 containing the same paper type and the same size as the paper feed unit # 1 as the paper feed source for the page 2 in the scheduling at the time T2. Scheduling is performed assuming that paper is fed from paper feed unit # 2. Then, at the timing of scheduling for the next page 3 (time T3), scheduling is performed again using the sheet feeding unit # 1 as the sheet feeding source. Thereafter, the paper supply source is alternately switched between the paper supply units # 1 and # 2 until the remaining amount of paper reaches zero. Hereinafter, such control is referred to as “alternate paper feeding”.

  In the example of FIG. 4, if the timing when it is detected that the remaining amount of paper in the paper feeding unit # 1 becomes 0 after the scheduling timing T 2 for page 2, The sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit # 1 according to the scheduling, and the sheet feeding units # 2 and # 1 may be controlled to alternately serve as the sheet feeding source from the scheduling for the next page 3 and thereafter.

  Now, after the alternate paper feeding is started in this way, when the remaining amount of paper in the designated paper feeding unit # 1 becomes 0, the paper feeding control unit 32 stops the alternate paper feeding, and thereafter the paper feeding unit # Control is performed so that paper is fed only from 2. An example of the flow of paper feed control at this time will be described with reference to FIG.

  That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, paper is fed from the paper feeding unit # 1 according to the scheduling at time T11, and the paper feeding is completed at time T13. It is assumed that 0 is detected. However, at time T12 prior to time T13, the next page (k + 1) has already been scheduled to be fed from the sheet feeding unit # 2, and the sheet feeding unit # 1 is empty (remaining amount 0). ), It is possible to carry out paper feeding from the paper feeding unit # 2 (assuming that the remaining amount of paper in the paper feeding unit # 2 at this time is not 0). That is, the sheet for page (k + 1) is fed without delay as scheduled at time T12. Further, if the scheduling time T14 for the next page (k + 2) is later than T13, the paper for the page (k + 2) is not the paper supply unit # 1 scheduled for the alternate paper supply but the paper remaining. It is possible to schedule at time T14 to feed paper from the paper feeding unit # 2 having a large amount. In other words, at the time of scheduling at time T14, the paper feed control unit 32 cancels the alternate paper feed, and after time T14, scheduling is performed with the paper feed unit # 2 with the remaining paper as the only paper feed source. Do. In this case, the scheduling for the page (k + 2) is performed without delay at time T14, which is the originally scheduled scheduling timing, so that there is no delay in paper feed (and hence print output). Similarly, for each page after page (k + 3), there is no delay in paper feed or print output.

  In the above example, after the shift to the alternate paper feed control, the designated paper feed unit # 1 is emptied earlier than the paper feed unit # 2, but the paper feed unit # 2 is provisionally earlier. When the sheet becomes empty, the sheet feeding from the sheet feeding unit # 2 may be canceled and scheduling may be performed with the sheet feeding unit # 1 as the only sheet feeding source.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the scheduling timing T14a for the page (k + 2) is earlier than the timing T13 when the remaining amount 0 of the paper feeding unit # 1 is detected. In this case, at time T14a, the paper feed control unit 32 recognizes that paper remains in the paper feed unit # 1, and the paper for the page (k + 2) is fed from the paper feed unit # 1. To schedule. Thereafter, when it is detected at time T13 that the remaining amount of paper in the paper feeding unit # 1 has become 0, the paper feeding control unit 32 clears the scheduling and sets the paper feeding source for the page (k + 2) as the paper feeding unit. Rescheduling is performed as # 2. Since this rescheduling is after time T13, time T16 when paper is fed from paper feeding unit # 2 by this rescheduling can be fed from paper feeding unit # 1 as scheduled at time T14a. Is later than the paper feed timing T15. However, the delay (difference between T15 and T16) is shorter than the delay (that is, the difference between times t5 and t6 illustrated in FIG. 3) when the alternate sheet feeding control of this embodiment is not used. This is because the delay with respect to the scheduling of the timing of detecting the remaining amount of paper 0 of the paper feeding unit # 1 is substantially canceled by the time for feeding paper from the paper feeding unit # 2.

  Further, in the above example, there is one paper feed unit (hereinafter referred to as “the same type paper feed unit (for the designated paper feed unit)” that accommodates paper of the same paper type and size as the designated paper feed unit # 1. The case where (paper feeding unit # 2) exists has been described. However, depending on the usage status of the image forming apparatus, there may be two or more of the same type of paper feeding units for the paper feeding unit # 1. In such a case, as an example, the paper feed control unit 32 selects one of the plurality of the same type of paper feed units, the designated paper feed unit, and the selected same type of paper feed. Alternatively, alternate sheet feeding may be performed.

  In the second example, a set including a designated sheet feeding unit and two or more of the plurality of same-type sheet feeding units is set as one sheet feeding group, and the sheet feeding belonging to the sheet feeding group is performed. The paper source may be switched in order between the copies. In this case, for example, when a paper feed group is configured from the designated paper feed unit # 1 and the same type of paper feed units # 2 and # 3, the remaining amount of paper in the paper feed unit # 1 is reduced to a warning threshold or less. In the next scheduling, the sheet feeding unit # 2 is set as the sheet feeding source, and the next sheet feeding unit # 3 is set as the sheet feeding source. Then, after that, it is only necessary to return to the original state and use the paper feeding unit # 1 as the paper feeding source, and then switch the paper feeding source in the order of # 2, # 3, # 1, # 2, # 3,. .

  In the second example, each sheet feeding unit in the sheet feeding group is selected as a sheet feeding source in order, but this is not essential. If the paper source is selected sequentially from within the paper feed group under the condition that paper is not continuously fed from the same paper source, the remaining paper capacity of a paper source is the same as in the case of alternate paper feed. The paper feed delay due to the rescheduling of the paper feed source when becomes 0 is shorter than when the paper feed control is not used. Such a process is called a group paper feed process. Control in which each sheet feeding unit in the sheet feeding group is sequentially fed is a specific example of the group sheet feeding process. Further, the above-described alternate sheet feeding can be said to be a specific example in a case where a sheet feeding group is configured by a total of two sheet feeding units, that is, a designated sheet feeding unit and one same type sheet feeding unit in the group sheet feeding process.

  An example of the processing procedure of the paper feed control unit 32 including this group paper feed processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this procedure, the paper feed control unit 32 first selects the paper feed unit 14 that is the first paper feed source (that is, the “designated paper feed unit” described above) based on a designation from the user at the start of the job. Determine (S10). Next, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of paper in the designated paper supply unit 14 that is the paper supply source is less than or equal to a warning threshold (S12). The remaining amount detection unit 15 issues a signal to that effect when the remaining amount of paper in the designated sheet feeding unit 14 falls below the warning threshold, so that the sheet feeding control unit 32 determines whether the designated feeding is performed. What is necessary is just to determine whether the paper remaining amount of the paper part 14 is below a warning threshold value. If the remaining amount of paper in the designated paper feeding unit is greater than the warning threshold, the same paper feeding control as before (referred to as normal paper feeding processing) may be performed. That is, each time the scheduling timing arrives, scheduling is performed under the condition that paper is fed from the designated paper feeding unit (S14), and when the scheduled paper feeding timing comes, paper is fed from that paper feeding unit ( S16). At this time, every time one sheet is fed, the sheet feeding control unit 32 may check whether the remaining sheet amount of the designated sheet feeding unit is equal to or less than a warning threshold (S12). Then, when it is detected that the remaining amount of paper in the designated paper feed unit has fallen below the warning threshold while repeating the paper feed (the determination result in S12 is Yes), the paper feed control unit 32 performs the process shown in FIG. Proceed to processing.

  That is, the paper feed control unit 32 determines the same type paper feed unit for the designated paper feed unit based on the paper type and paper size setting information of each paper feed unit stored in the setting information storage unit 34. Then, one or more of the same type paper feed units are selected, and a paper feed group including the designated paper feed unit and the selected same type paper feed unit is formed (S20). The paper feed group may be formed before the remaining amount of paper in the designated paper feed unit falls below the warning range value (for example, immediately after step S10).

  Then, the paper feed control unit 32 selects one paper feed unit other than the paper feed unit that was fed last time from among the paper feed units that belong to the paper feed group (S22), and feeds from the selected paper feed unit. Scheduling to make paper (S24). By such control, two or more sheets are not continuously fed from the same sheet feeding unit. In step S22, a paper feeding unit as a paper feeding source may be selected according to a rule such as selecting each paper feeding unit in the paper feeding group in a predetermined order. Then, according to the scheduling result, the paper feed control unit 32 causes the paper feed unit selected in step S22 to perform paper feed (S26). At this time, it is determined on the basis of a signal from the remaining amount detection unit 15 whether or not the sheet feeding unit becomes empty with the sheet feeding (S28). If it is not empty, the process returns to step S22 to select a paper supply source for the next page.

  The paper feed control unit 32 repeats the processes in steps S22 to S26 described above until the last page of the job. In the repetition, when it is detected in step S28 that any of the paper feed units is empty, the paper feed unit is removed from the paper feed group (S29), and the process returns to step S22.

  Note that the job is interrupted if there is no paper feed unit belonging to the paper feed group before the job is completed. However, in order to prevent such a situation, when any of the paper feeding units in the paper feeding group becomes empty, it is possible to prompt the user to replenish the paper feeding unit. An example of such processing is shown in FIG.

  In the procedure of FIG. 9, when the paper feed control unit 32 detects that the paper feed unit 14 is empty in step S <b> 28 (see FIG. 8), the display unit of the operation unit 26 displays the paper feed unit 14. A display screen that prompts the user to replenish paper is displayed (S30). Thereafter, it waits for the paper to be supplied to the paper supply unit 14 (S32). Whether or not the sheet is replenished may be determined from a signal from the remaining amount detecting unit 15 of the sheet feeding unit 14. Then, when the paper is replenished, it is determined whether or not the group paper supply process is continuing (S34). If the group paper feed process has already been completed, the process ends without doing anything. On the other hand, if the group paper supply process is still in progress, the paper type and size of the paper supplied to the paper supply unit 14 are obtained from the setting information storage unit 34, and the paper type and size are determined as the paper type of the paper supply group. And it is determined whether or not it matches the size (S36). If they match, the paper feed unit 14 is added to the paper feed group (S38). If they do not match, the process is terminated.

  In the above example, when the remaining amount of paper in the designated paper feeding unit 14 is less than the warning threshold, alternate paper feeding or group paper feeding (hereinafter referred to as “group paper feeding”) is started. The start conditions for group paper feed and the like are not limited to this example. For example, when a paper source is selected by user designation or automatic selection at the start of a job, the same type paper feeding unit may be specified and group paper feeding or the like may be started. However, if the same amount of paper of the same paper type and size is set in a plurality of paper feed units, if the group paper feed is performed from the start of the job, the plurality of paper feed units will have zero remaining at almost the same timing. There is a possibility that. On the other hand, normally, a predetermined paper feed unit is used as the “designated paper feed unit”, and the same type of paper feed unit is used only when the remaining amount of the paper feed unit falls below the warning threshold. By doing so, such inconvenient timing is unlikely to coincide. Further, since the designated sheet feeding unit is used until the remaining amount becomes 0 even after the warning threshold value or less is reached, the entire capacity of the sheet feeding unit is utilized.

  FIG. 1 illustrates an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the sheet feeding control of this embodiment can be applied to other types of image forming apparatuses. .

  In one example, the sheet feed control unit 32 of the image forming apparatus described above is realized by causing a general-purpose computer to execute a program representing the above-described processing. Here, the computer includes, for example, a microprocessor such as a CPU, a memory (primary storage) such as a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), an HDD (hard disk drive), and various I / O (hardware drives). An input / output) interface or the like has a circuit configuration connected via, for example, a bus. A network interface for connecting to a network such as a local area network may be connected to the bus. Also, portable non-volatile recording of various standards such as a disk drive and a flash memory for reading and / or writing to a portable disk recording medium such as a CD or a DVD via the I / O interface, for example. A memory reader / writer or the like for reading from and / or writing to a medium may be connected. A program in which the processing contents of each functional module exemplified above are described is stored in a fixed storage device such as a hard disk drive via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication means such as a network, and stored in a computer. Installed. The program stored in the fixed storage device is read into the RAM and executed by a microprocessor such as a CPU, thereby realizing the functional module group exemplified above. Some or all of these functional module groups are used as hardware circuits such as dedicated LSI (Large Scale Integration), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). It may be configured.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a portion related to paper feeding in the illustrated image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining that a print output is delayed when switching to paper feeding from another paper feeding unit when the remaining amount of paper in the paper feeding unit becomes zero. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining processing in a case where the remaining amount of paper in a paper feeding unit reaches a warning area, among processing for reducing a delay in print output due to switching of a paper feeding source. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining processing when a remaining amount of paper in a paper feeding unit becomes zero among processing for reducing a delay in print output due to switching of a paper feeding source. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining another example of processing when the remaining amount of paper in a paper feeding unit becomes zero among processing for reducing a delay in print output due to switching of a paper feeding source. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an example of a processing procedure of a paper feed control unit. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the remaining part of an example of a processing procedure of a paper feed control unit. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a sheet is supplied to a sheet feeding unit whose remaining amount is 0.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Developing part, 12 Intermediate transfer belt, 14 Paper feed part, 15 Remaining quantity detection part, 16 Paper conveyance path, 18 Secondary transfer part, 20 Fixing part, 22 Reverse path, 24 Return path, 30 Control part, 32 Feed Paper control unit, 34 Setting information storage unit.

Claims (4)

A plurality of recording medium accommodating means for accommodating the recording medium;
A specifying unit for specifying another recording medium storing unit storing a recording medium of the same type and the same size as the recording medium storing unit designated as a recording medium supply source;
A group of recording media comprising one or more of the specified recording medium storage means and the designated recording medium storage means when one or more other recording medium storage means are specified by the specifying means A switching control means for performing switching control for sequentially switching the recording medium accommodating means as a recording medium supply source so that each recording medium accommodating means does not continuously feed two or more sheets among the accommodating means;
The switching control means performs the switching control when the remaining amount of the recording medium in the designated recording medium accommodating means is greater than 0 and less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. An image forming apparatus. In the switching control, the switching control means forms an image next to the recording medium before feeding of the recording medium from one recording medium accommodating means of the group of recording medium accommodating means is completed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein scheduling is performed from which one of the group of recording medium accommodating units to which the recording medium to be fed is fed . When the switching control is performed, if the remaining amount of any recording medium in the group of recording medium accommodation units becomes 0, the recording on the recording medium accommodation unit in which the remaining amount becomes 0 is performed. the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein further comprising display means for displaying a display screen prompting the supply of medium. A computer for controlling an image forming apparatus including a plurality of recording medium accommodating means for accommodating recording media;
A specifying unit for specifying another recording medium storing unit storing a recording medium of the same type and the same size as the recording medium storing unit designated as a recording medium supply source;
A group of recording media comprising one or more of the specified recording medium storage means and the designated recording medium storage means when one or more other recording medium storage means are specified by the specifying means A switching control means for performing switching control for sequentially switching the recording medium accommodating means as a recording medium supply source so that each recording medium accommodating means does not continuously feed two or more sheets among the accommodating means;
A program for functioning as,
The switching control means performs the switching control when the remaining amount of the recording medium in the designated recording medium accommodating means is larger than 0 and is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value .

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