JP5940031B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding cassette (hereinafter referred to as “silent sheet feeding cassette”) in which countermeasures against noise are taken.

  An image forming apparatus, which is a printer, a multifunction printer, a multifunction peripheral device, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP), develops an electrostatic latent image of a document formed on a photoreceptor with toner supplied from a developing device. Then, the toner image is transferred to a sheet taken out from the paper feed cassette and fixed, and the sheet on which the toner image is transferred is discharged from the image forming apparatus. In the process of printing the document on the paper as described above, the roller rotates when the paper is taken out from the paper feed cassette and when the paper is discharged from the image forming apparatus. In recent years, it has become possible to improve the printing speed by increasing the rotation of the roller. However, if the rotation of the roller is made faster, there is a problem that the noise caused by the motor that rotates the roller increases. For this reason, according to recent technology, when it is desired to suppress the noise of the motor, the user performs a quiet setting that can slow down the rotation of the motor. In addition to the motor noise, the image forming apparatus emits noise, and various noise countermeasures are taken. For example, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the paper is fed from the paper cassette, the rear edge tapping sound generated in the paper cassette and the vicinity thereof is transmitted downstream of the paper cassette in the paper conveyance direction. It is reduced by absorbing by the sound absorbing member loaded in the space.

JP 2007-320676 A

  However, since the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is loaded with a sound-absorbing member in a space on the downstream side of the sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding cassette, it takes time to manufacture compared to a normal sheet feeding cassette. For this reason, when all normal sheet feeding cassettes (hereinafter referred to as “normal sheet feeding cassettes”) are replaced with sheet feeding cassettes (hereinafter referred to as “silent sheet feeding cassettes”) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-260628. There has been a problem that the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus becomes high. Also, if you want to reduce noise, you can slow down the motor rotation by the user, but every time you print, if the user makes a quiet setting to slow down the motor, it takes time, or forget to restore the silent setting There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of solving the above-described problems.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including a silent paper feeding cassette and a normal paper feeding cassette, wherein the silent paper feeding cassette roller speed setting means for setting a speed of a roller of the silent paper feeding cassette; When the normal paper cassette roller speed setting means for setting the speed of the roller of the paper cassette and any one of the silent mode and the normal mode is selected, the print job is controlled in the selected operation mode. An operation mode selection processing means for performing the print job, and a print number calculation means for calculating the number of prints of the print job . When the silent mode is selected , the operation mode selection process means determines the number of prints in advance. If it is determined that the number is not less than the maximum number of sheets, it is determined whether or not a sheet of a print sheet size is stored in the silent sheet cassette. , When said silent sheet of the printing paper size in the paper cassette is housed, the speed of the rollers of the silent sheet feed cassette by controlling the normal feed speed Remove the paper from the silent sheet feed cassette, the silent When the printing paper size paper is not stored in the paper feeding cassette, the speed of the roller of the normal paper feeding cassette is controlled to be slower than the normal paper feeding speed to take out the paper from the normal paper feeding cassette. It is a feature.
Also, with the print jobs waiting number counting means for counting the print waiting job number of the print job, in a case where the silent mode is selected, the operation mode selection processing means, the number of printed sheets is less than the maximum number and if it is determined, the print waiting number of jobs is equal to or less than the maximum print number of waiting jobs predetermined, when the print number of queued jobs is determined that the not less than the maximum print number of waiting jobs, the It is determined whether or not the sheet of the printing paper size is stored in the silent sheet feeding cassette, and when the sheet of the printing sheet size is stored in the silent sheet feeding cassette, the speed of the roller of the silent sheet feeding cassette the removed sheet from the normal feed speed control to the silent sheet feed cassette, the paper of the printing paper size is stored in the silent sheet feed cassette Is when not, the speed of the rollers of the normal feed cassette slow controlled to respect the normal feed speed Remove the paper from the normal paper feed cassette, the printing standby job numbers following the maximum print number of waiting jobs If it is determined that the print paper size paper is stored in the silent paper feed cassette, and the print paper size paper is stored in the silent paper feed cassette, When the speed of the roller of the silent paper feeding cassette is controlled to be slower than the normal paper feeding speed to take out the paper from the silent paper feeding cassette, and when the paper of the printing paper size is not stored in the silent paper feeding cassette, is characterized in that the speed of the rollers of the normal feed cassette slow controlled to respect the normal feed speed taking out the paper from the normal paper feed cassette
Further, when the normal mode is selected , the operation mode selection processing means controls the speed of the roller of the normal paper feed cassette to the normal paper feed speed and takes out the paper from the normal paper feed cassette. It is a feature.
In addition, a maximum number input means for inputting the maximum number is provided.
In addition, a maximum print waiting job number input means for inputting the maximum print waiting job number is provided.

  The present invention reduces the cost by using both the silent paper feeding cassette and the normal paper feeding cassette, and the selection of the silent paper feeding cassette and the normal paper feeding cassette and the silent setting are performed in a print processing job (hereinafter referred to as “print job”). The image forming apparatus can improve the convenience of the user and the processing speed of the print job (hereinafter referred to as “performance”).

1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation mode selection process which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the drawings. An image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is an image forming apparatus that forms an image such as a printer, a multifunction printer, a multifunction peripheral device, or a multifunction peripheral. Referring to FIG. A unit 3, a main body unit 4, and an operation unit 5 are provided. The document reading unit 2 is disposed on the top of the main body unit 4, and the document feeding unit 3 is disposed on the top of the document reading unit 2.

  On the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, an operation unit 5 for setting and operating instructions of the image forming apparatus 1 is disposed. The operation unit 5 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 51 and operation buttons 52. The user operates the operation unit 5 to input an instruction, thereby performing various settings of the image forming apparatus 1 and executing various functions such as image formation. The liquid crystal display unit 51 displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1, displays the image forming status and the number of copies, and can be used as a touch panel to perform various settings such as functions such as double-sided printing and black-and-white reversal, magnification setting, and density setting. It has become. The operation buttons 52 include a start button for instructing start of image formation, a stop / clear button for instructing to stop image formation, a reset button used when various settings of the image forming apparatus 1 are set to a default state, a numeric keypad, and the like. Is provided.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the document reading unit 2 includes a scanner 21, a platen glass 22, and a document reading slit 23. The scanner 21 includes a light source 24 using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a light receiving unit 25 including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) line sensor, and the like. The unit 3 is configured to be movable in the conveyance direction of the document MS (manuscript). The document reading slit 23 is a slit formed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the document MS by the document feeding unit 3.

  The document feeding unit 3 includes a document placement unit 31, a document discharge unit 32, and a document transport mechanism 33. The document MS set on the document placement unit 31 is sequentially fed out one by one by the document transport mechanism 33, transported to a position facing the document reading slit 23, and then discharged to the document discharge unit 32. The document feeding unit 3 and the document reading unit 2 are connected to each other by a hinge mechanism on the back side of the image forming apparatus 1, and the document feeding unit 3 functions as a platen cover that opens and closes the upper surface of the platen glass 22. . By opening the document feeder 3 upward, the upper surface of the platen glass 22 is opened, and the document MS can be set on the platen glass 22.

  When reading of the document MS is instructed by the operation button 52 of the operation unit 5 in a state where the document MS is not set on the document placement unit 31 or in an opened state where the document feeding unit 3 (platen cover) is opened. A document MS set on the platen glass 22 is read. When reading the document MS placed on the platen glass 22, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the platen glass 22, and the document MS set on the platen glass 22 is moved in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The image data is obtained by scanning while scanning from the sub-scanning direction reference line B, and the obtained image data is output to the control unit 7 (FIG. 3) in the main body unit 4.

  When reading of the document MS is instructed by the operation button 52 of the operation unit 5 in a state where the document MS is set on the document placement unit 31, the document MS conveyed by the document feeding unit 3 is read. The document MS is set on the document placement unit 31 with the front surface (surface from which a document image is read) facing up. Then, the document MS set on the document placement unit 31 is conveyed from the left side by the document feeding unit 3, and the surface of the document MS is guided to a position facing the document reading slit 23. Further, when reading the document MS conveyed by the document feeding unit 3, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 23 and is synchronized with the conveying operation by the document feeding unit 3 via the document reading slit 23. Then, the original MS is read to acquire image data, and the acquired image data is output to the control unit 7 (FIG. 3) in the main body unit 4.

  The main body 4 includes a recording unit 6, and includes a normal paper feed cassette 41a, a normal paper feed cassette 41b, a silent paper feed cassette 41c, a normal paper feed cassette roller 42a, a normal paper feed cassette roller 42b, and a quiet sound. A paper feed cassette roller 42 c, a paper transport path 43, a transport roller 44, and a discharge roller 45 are provided. The normal paper feed cassette 41a and the normal paper feed cassette 41b are paper feed cassettes that store a plurality of sheets of paper P that are not provided with countermeasures against noise. The normal paper feed cassette roller 42 a feeds the paper P from the normal paper feed cassette 41 a one by one to the paper transport path 43. The normal paper feed cassette roller 42b feeds the paper P from the normal paper feed cassette 41b one by one to the paper transport path 43. The silent paper feeding cassette 41c is a paper feeding cassette that stores a plurality of sheets P for which silent countermeasures have been taken, and the silent paper feeding cassette roller 42c conveys the paper P one by one from the silent paper feeding cassette 41c. It goes out to the road 43. The paper P fed to the paper transport path 43 by the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b, or the silent paper feed cassette roller 42c is transported to the recording unit 6 by the transport roller 44. The transport roller 44 is configured to align the leading edge of the paper P supplied from the normal paper feeding cassette roller 42a, the normal paper feeding cassette roller 42b, or the silent paper feeding cassette roller 42c with the leading edge of the image read from the document. Transport. The paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording unit 6 is discharged by a discharge roller 45 into a discharge space 46 formed between the document reading unit 2 and the main body unit 4. Thus, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b, the silent paper feed cassette roller 42c, the transport roller 44, and the discharge roller 45 function as a transport unit for the paper P. Further, the normal sheet cassette roller 42a, the normal sheet cassette roller 42b, and the silent sheet cassette roller 42c are provided with “silent setting” which is half the normal sheet feeding speed (hereinafter referred to as “half speed”). ing. When the “silent setting” is canceled, the speeds of the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b, and the silent paper feed cassette roller 42c return to full (hereinafter referred to as normal paper feed speed = “full speed”). .

  The recording unit 6 includes a photosensitive drum 61, a charging unit 62, an exposure unit 63, an image forming unit 64, a transfer unit 65, a fixing unit 66, and a cleaning unit 67. The exposure unit 63 is an optical unit including a laser device, a mirror, and the like. The exposure unit 63 outputs a laser beam based on image data to the photosensitive drum 61 uniformly charged by the charging unit 62 and exposes the photosensitive drum 61. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the drum 61. The image forming unit 64 is a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 61 using toner, and forms a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 61. The transfer unit 65 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 61 by the image forming unit 64 to the paper P. The fixing unit 66 heats the paper P on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 65 to fix the toner image on the paper P. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 61 is removed by the cleaning unit 67.

  FIG. 3 is a control block diagram illustrating a schematic control configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. Document reading unit 2, document feeding unit 3, transport unit (normal paper feed cassette roller 42a, normal paper feed cassette roller 42b, silent paper feed cassette roller 42c, transport roller 44, discharge roller 45), operation unit 5, The recording unit 6, the storage unit 8, and the communication unit 9 are connected to the control unit 7 and controlled in operation by the control unit 7. The control unit 7 includes an operation mode selection processing unit 71.

The control unit 7 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 7 reads out a control program stored in the ROM and develops the control program in the RAM, thereby controlling the entire apparatus according to predetermined instruction information input from the operation unit 5. Further, the control unit 7 can automatically detect paper sizes stored in the normal paper feed cassette 41a, the normal paper feed cassette 41b, and the silent paper feed cassette 41c.
The operation mode selection processing unit 71 is a mode in which the administrator performs a print job while suppressing noise from the operation unit 5 (hereinafter referred to as “silent mode”), or a mode in which performance is prioritized over noise (hereinafter referred to as “silent mode”). When one of “normal mode” is selected, the print job is controlled in the selected operation mode. Details of the processing of the operation mode selection processing unit 71 will be described later.

  The storage unit 8 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores image data of the document MS read by the scanner 21 as well as various management information and setting information. .

  The communication unit 9 has a function of transmitting / receiving various data to / from a peripheral device 11 such as a personal computer and another image forming apparatus 1a via a network 10 such as a LAN. The communication unit 9 is configured to be connectable to the Internet 13 via the network 10 and the router 12. The communication unit 9 has a function of transmitting / receiving various data to / from various communication devices connected to the Internet 13.

Next, the procedure for setting the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The operation mode is not set by the user for each print job, but is set by the administrator according to the environment or time zone in which the image forming apparatus 1 is installed.
First, when the administrator selects “operation mode” from the setting items displayed on the touch panel of the liquid crystal display unit 51, “silent mode” or “normal mode” is displayed, and the administrator selects “silent mode” or “ Select "Normal mode". When the operation unit 5 inputs the “silent mode” or “normal mode” selected by the administrator and outputs it to the control unit 7, the control unit 7 stores the “silent mode” or “normal mode” in the storage unit 8. .

  Next, operation mode selection processing of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. When the user sets the number of copies, double-sided printing setting, printing paper size, magnification, density, etc. from the touch panel of the liquid crystal display unit 51 and starts printing with the operation button 52, the operating unit 5 starts these settings and printing start. Input and output to the control unit 7. When these settings and printing start are input, the control unit 7 activates the operation mode selection processing unit 71, and the operation mode selection processing unit 71 starts the operation mode selection processing.

(Step S101)
First, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 extracts the operation mode stored in the storage unit 8.

(Step S102)
Next, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 determines whether or not the operation mode extracted in step S101 is the “silent mode”. When the operation mode is the “silent mode” (Yes in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103. When the operation mode is not “silent mode” (No in step S102), the process proceeds to step S114.

(Step S103)
In step S <b> 102 Yes, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 extracts the number of copies to be printed, the duplex printing setting, and the printing paper size from the control unit 7.

(Step S104)
Next, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 calculates the number of printed sheets from the number of originals MS, the number of printed copies, and the duplex printing setting. For example, if there are the number of originals MS (p), the number of copies to be printed (b), and duplex printing settings, the number of prints = (P × b) / 2.

(Step S105)
Next, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 determines whether the number of printed sheets calculated in step S104 is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number. When the number of printed sheets is equal to or less than the maximum number (Yes in step S105), the process proceeds to step S106. When the number of printed sheets is not less than the maximum number (No in step S105), the process proceeds to step S111.

(Step S106)
In step S105, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 extracts the number of print jobs waiting to be printed (hereinafter referred to as “number of jobs waiting for printing”) from the control unit 7. Since the control unit 7 controls the print job, the control unit 7 counts the number of jobs waiting for printing.

(Step S107)
Next, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 determines whether or not the number of jobs waiting for printing extracted in step S106 is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number of jobs waiting for printing. When the number of jobs waiting for printing is equal to or less than the maximum number of jobs waiting for printing (Yes in step S107), the process proceeds to step S108. When the number of jobs waiting for printing is not less than the maximum number of jobs waiting for printing (No in step S107), the process proceeds to step S111.

(Step S108)
In step S107, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 determines whether or not the sheet P of the printing sheet size is stored in the silent sheet feeding cassette 41c. When the paper P of the printing paper size is stored in the silent paper feed cassette 41c (Yes in Step S108), the process proceeds to Step S109. When the paper P of the printing paper size is not stored in the silent paper feeding cassette 41c (No in step S108), the process proceeds to step S110.

(Step S109)
In Yes of step S108, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 sets the silent sheet feeding cassette roller 42c to “half speed” and silent mode (hereinafter referred to as “highly quiet mode”) for taking out the paper P from the silent sheet feeding cassette 41c. To complete the operation mode selection process. For example, if the printing paper size is “A4 size” and the paper P stored in the silent paper feeding cassette 41c is “A4 size”, the silent paper feeding cassette roller 42c is “half speed” from the silent paper feeding cassette 41c. The paper P is taken out.

(Step S110)
In step S108 No, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a of the normal paper feed cassette 41a storing the paper P of the print paper size or the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b of the normal paper feed cassette 41b is decelerated to “half speed”. Thus, the silent mode (hereinafter referred to as “silent low performance mode”) in which the paper P is taken out from the normal paper feeding cassette 41a or the normal paper feeding cassette 41b is set, and the operation mode selection process ends. For example, if the print paper size is “A3 size” and the paper P stored in the normal paper feed cassette 41b is “A3 size”, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b is “half speed” and is moved from the normal paper feed cassette 41b. The paper P is taken out.

(Step S111)
In step S105 No or step S107 No, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 determines whether or not the paper P of the print paper size is stored in the silent paper feed cassette 41c. When the paper P of the printing paper size is stored in the silent paper feed cassette 41c (Yes in step S111), the process proceeds to step S112. When the paper P of the printing paper size is not stored in the silent paper feeding cassette 41c (No in step S111), the process proceeds to step S113.

(Step S112)
In step S111, the operation mode selection processing unit 71 sets the silent sheet feeding cassette roller 42c to “full speed” and removes the paper P from the silent sheet feeding cassette 41c (hereinafter referred to as “silent high performance mode”). To complete the operation mode selection process. For example, if the printing paper size is “A4 size” and the paper P stored in the silent paper feeding cassette 41c is “A4 size”, the silent paper feeding cassette roller 42c is “full speed” and the paper is fed from the silent paper feeding cassette 41c. P is taken out.

(Step S113)
In step S111 No, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a of the normal paper feed cassette 41a in which the paper P of the print paper size is stored or the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b of the normal paper feed cassette 41b is decelerated to “half speed”. Thus, the silent mode (hereinafter referred to as “silent low performance mode”) in which the paper P is taken out from the normal paper feeding cassette 41a or the normal paper feeding cassette 41b is set, and the operation mode selection process ends. For example, if the print paper size is “A3 size” and the paper P stored in the normal paper feed cassette 41b is “A3 size”, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b is “half speed” and is moved from the normal paper feed cassette 41b. The paper P is taken out.

(Step S114)
In step S102 No, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a of the normal paper feed cassette 41a storing the paper P of the print paper size or the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b of the normal paper feed cassette 41b is increased to “full speed”. Thus, the normal mode in which the paper P is taken out from the normal paper feed cassette 41a or the normal paper feed cassette 41b (hereinafter referred to as “high performance mode”) is set, and the operation mode selection process is terminated. For example, if the print paper size is “A4 size” and the paper P stored in the normal paper feed cassette 41a is “A4 size”, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a is “full speed” and the paper is fed from the normal paper feed cassette 41a. P is taken out.

As described above, when the operation mode is “silent mode”, the number of printed sheets is less than the maximum number or the number of jobs waiting to be printed is less than the maximum number of jobs waiting for printing, and the sheet P of the print sheet size is stored in the silent sheet feeding cassette 41c. By setting the silent sheet feeding cassette roller 42c of the silent sheet feeding cassette 41c to a half speed, the lowest noise can be achieved. Further, when the paper P of the printing paper size is not stored in the silent paper feeding cassette 41c, the normal paper feeding cassette 41a or the normal paper feeding cassette corresponding to the normal paper feeding cassette 41b in which the paper P of the printing paper size is stored. By setting the roller 42a or the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b to a half speed, the normal paper feed cassette can be made silent.
When the operation mode is “silent mode”, the number of printed sheets is not less than the maximum number or the number of jobs waiting for printing is not less than the maximum number of jobs waiting for printing, and the sheet P of the print sheet size is stored in the silent sheet feeding cassette 41c. By setting the silent sheet feeding cassette roller 42c of the silent sheet feeding cassette 41c to full speed, it is possible to achieve both silence and performance. Further, when the paper P of the printing paper size is not stored in the silent paper feeding cassette 41c, the normal paper feeding cassette 41a or the normal paper feeding cassette corresponding to the normal paper feeding cassette 41b in which the paper P of the printing paper size is stored. By setting the roller 42a or the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b to a half speed, the normal paper feed cassette can be made silent.
When the operation mode is “normal mode”, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a or the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b corresponding to the normal paper feed cassette 41a or the normal paper feed cassette 41b storing the paper P of the print paper size is set to the full speed. By doing so, you can improve performance. Further, since the silent sheet feeding cassette 41c is not used, the expensive silent sheet feeding cassette 41c can be prevented from being consumed.

  Although the embodiment in which the image forming apparatus 1 includes the normal sheet cassette 41a, the normal sheet cassette 41b, and the silent sheet cassette 41c has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and includes a plurality of silent sheet cassettes. It is also possible.

  The speeds of the normal paper feed cassette roller 42a, the normal paper feed cassette roller 42b, and the silent paper feed cassette roller 42c are two stages, full speed and half speed. On the other hand, multiple stages such as full speed, 2/3, 1/3, full speed, 3/4, 2/4, 1/4, etc. can be provided.

  Further, the maximum number of sheets and the maximum number of jobs waiting to be printed used in the operation mode selection process can be changed by the user by inputting them from the operation unit 5 and storing them in the storage unit 8.

  Further, although the procedure for performing a print job from the touch panel of the liquid crystal display unit 51 of the image forming apparatus 1 has been described, printing from the peripheral device 11 connected to the network 10 to the image forming apparatus 1 or another image forming apparatus 1a. Even when output is performed, the operation mode selection process can be executed.

  Such an image forming apparatus according to the present invention reduces the cost by using both the silent paper feeding cassette and the normal paper feeding cassette, and selects the normal paper feeding cassette and the silent paper feeding cassette and the silent setting for each print job. By doing this automatically, user convenience and performance can be improved.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by specific embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that the said embodiment is an illustration of this invention and is not limited to this embodiment.

  The present invention is suitable for an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to an image forming apparatus, and can be applied to a general apparatus including equipment and processing capable of realizing silence.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 1a ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Document reading part 3 ... Document feeding part 4 ... Main-body part 5 ...・ Operating section 6 ... Recording section 7 ... Control section 8 ... Storage section 9 ... Communication section 10 ... Network 11 ... Peripheral equipment 12 ... Router 13 ... Internet 21 ... Scanner 22 ... Platen glass 23 ... Original reading slit 24 ... Light source 25 ...・ Light receiving unit 31... Document placing unit 32... Document ejecting unit 33... Document transport mechanism 41 a... Normal feeding cassette 41 b.・ ・ ・ ・ Silent paper cassette 42a ・ ・ ・ ・ Normal paper cassette roller 42b ・ ・ ・ ・ Normal paper cassette Roller 42c ··· Silent paper feed cassette roller 43 ··· Paper transport path 44 ··· Registration roller 45 ··· Discharge roller 46 ··· Discharge space 51 ··· Liquid crystal display unit 52... Operation button 61... Photosensitive drum 62... Charging unit 63... Exposure unit 64.・ Transfer section 66... Fixing section 67... Cleaning section 71... Operation mode selection processing section

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus including a silent paper feeding cassette and a normal paper feeding cassette,
Silent paper feed cassette roller speed setting means for setting the speed of the silent paper feed cassette roller;
Normal paper feed cassette roller speed setting means for setting the speed of the normal paper feed cassette roller ;
An operation mode selection processing means for controlling a print job in the selected operation mode when any one of the silent mode and the normal mode is selected;
Printing number calculation means for calculating the number of printed sheets of the print job ,
When the silent mode is selected , the operation mode selection processing means is
If it is determined that the number of printed sheets is not less than a predetermined maximum number of sheets, it is determined whether a sheet of a printing sheet size is stored in the silent sheet feeding cassette;
When the paper of the printing paper size is stored in the silent paper feeding cassette, the speed of the roller of the silent paper feeding cassette is controlled to a normal paper feeding speed to take out the paper from the silent paper feeding cassette ,
When the sheet of the printing paper size is not stored in the silent paper feeding cassette, the speed of the roller of the normal paper feeding cassette is controlled to be slower than the normal paper feeding speed to take out the paper from the normal paper feeding cassette. An image forming apparatus. Comprising a print waiting job number counting means for counting the print waiting job number of the print job,
When the silent mode is selected, the operation mode selection processing means is
If it is determined that the number of prints is equal to or less than the maximum number of sheets, it is determined whether the number of jobs waiting for printing is equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number of jobs waiting for printing;
If the print number of queued jobs is determined that the not less than the maximum print number of waiting jobs, determines whether the sheet of the printing paper size in the silent sheet feed cassette is accommodated,
When the paper of the printing paper size is stored in the silent paper feeding cassette, the speed of the roller of the silent paper feeding cassette is controlled to the normal paper feeding speed to take out the paper from the silent paper feeding cassette ,
When no paper of the printing paper size is stored in the silent paper feeding cassette, the speed of the roller of the normal paper feeding cassette is controlled to be slower than the normal paper feeding speed to take out the paper from the normal paper feeding cassette. ,
When it is determined that the number of jobs waiting for printing is equal to or less than the number of jobs waiting for maximum printing, it is determined whether or not sheets of the printing paper size are stored in the silent sheet feeding cassette;
When the paper of the printing paper size is stored in the silent paper feeding cassette, the speed of the roller of the silent paper feeding cassette is controlled to be slower than the normal paper feeding speed to take out the paper from the silent paper feeding cassette. ,
When the sheet of the printing paper size is not stored in the silent paper feeding cassette, the speed of the roller of the normal paper feeding cassette is controlled to be slower than the normal paper feeding speed to take out the paper from the normal paper feeding cassette. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. When the normal mode is selected , the operation mode selection processing unit controls the speed of the roller of the normal paper feed cassette to the normal paper feed speed and takes out the paper from the normal paper feed cassette. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a maximum number input means for inputting the maximum number. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a maximum print waiting job number input unit configured to input the maximum print waiting job number.

Images