JP6503970B2 - Image forming apparatus, sheet size setting method executed by the same apparatus, and sheet size setting program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as MFP (Multi Function Peripherals), which is a multi-function digital multifunction device having functions such as a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and a scan function, and a sheet size setting method executed by the apparatus. And the paper size setting program.

  Conventionally, the sheet size that can be detected by the sheet feed tray of the image forming apparatus is limited to a commonly used fixed size, and the operation panel for a size that can not be detected by the sheet feed tray sensor, such as irregular size It corresponds by enabling the size setting by user operation from etc.

  In addition, after setting the size by the user operation above, if you set paper of another different paper size to the paper feed tray, the actual paper size and the size are the same as the size set by the user operation. It will be different and there may be a case where image loss etc. occur.

  In order to solve the above problems, as described in Patent Document 1, when the change of the sheet is detected, the user is prompted to input the sheet type information and / or the size information of the sheet set in the sheet feeding tray. Image forming apparatuses are known.

  Also, the sheet size detected by the sensor of the sheet feeding tray such as the restriction plate is stored in association with the sheet size when the sheet size is set by the user operation, and thereafter, the sheet of another different sheet size is used as the sheet feeding tray. When set, if there is a difference between the stored detected size and the detected size of the sheet set this time, it is determined that the size of the sheet set in the sheet feeding tray has changed, The size set by the user operation was cleared and returned to the size detected by the paper feed tray.

  The above correspondence is necessary to avoid printing with an incorrect size setting, but in order to perform the above correspondence, when setting the paper size, the size detected in the paper feed tray and In order to associate and store the size set by the user operation, the sheet was surely set in the paper feed tray, and it was necessary to set the position of the restricting plate correctly in accordance with the sheet. As a countermeasure, when the sheet is not set in the paper feed tray, the size setting by the user operation from the operation panel or the like can not be performed.

JP, 2015-87470, A

  However, when the paper feed tray to be used is in use by another job, it is not possible to set paper to which the size setting is to be set to the paper feed tray, and it is necessary to wait for the end of the job.

  There is also an image forming apparatus provided with a function capable of setting the sheet size based on the reading of the sheet by the scanner instead of setting the sheet size based on the user operation for sheets of irregular size etc. If there are multiple sheets that you want to print in the image forming apparatus, set the sheets manually, then take one of them and read the size, but there is no problem, but only one sheet you want to print If not, the sheet to be printed is used for reading by the scanner, so the sheet can not be set in advance in the sheet feeding tray. Therefore, also in this case, since the sheet is not set in the sheet feeding tray, there is a problem that the read sheet size can not be set.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and enables the setting of the sheet size even if the sheet is not set in the sheet feeding tray for setting the sheet size, and By being able to associate and store the size detected in the tray and the sheet size set based on user operation or reading of a sheet image, it is possible to prevent printing with an incorrect size setting. An image forming apparatus is provided, and a sheet size setting method and a sheet size setting program executed by the image forming apparatus are provided.

The above-mentioned subject is solved by the following means.
(1) A sheet detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a sheet in the sheet feed tray, and a sheet size detection unit that detects the size of the sheet while the sheet detection unit detects that the sheet is present in the sheet feed tray A sheet size setting unit configured to set a sheet size to the sheet feed tray based on a user's setting operation or a sheet read; and a sheet is present in the sheet feed tray by the sheet detection unit A storage unit that stores the set sheet size in association with the sheet size detected by the sheet size detection unit when the sheet size is set by the sheet size setting unit in a state in which A receiver who receives the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting unit in a state where the sheet detection unit detects that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray. And when the setting of the paper size by the paper size setting means is received by the reception means while the paper detection means detects that there is no paper in the paper feed tray, the storage means The sheet size received by the receiving unit when the size of the set sheet is detected by the sheet size detecting unit after the sheet is set in the sheet feeding tray, and the sheet size detecting unit An image forming apparatus characterized by storing the detected sheet size in association with each other.
(2) Paper feed tray designation means for designating any paper feed tray among a plurality of paper feed trays based on the user's operation, display means, and designation of paper feed tray by the paper feed tray designation means Later, when the sheet detection unit detects that there is no sheet in the sheet feed tray designated by the sheet feed tray designation unit, and the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting unit is accepted by the reception unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display control unit that causes the display unit to display an indication prompting the user to set a sheet in the sheet feeding tray.
(3) Based on the user's operation, one of the plurality of paper feed trays is designated, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit is designated as the size of the paper of that size. When the sheet size can not be set in the sheet feeding tray, a sheet feeding tray designating unit for changing the designated sheet feeding tray to another sheet feeding tray capable of setting the sheet of the sheet size, the display unit, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: display control means for displaying on the display means that the sheet feeding tray designated by the sheet feeding tray designating means is changed.
(4) Based on the user's operation, one of the plurality of paper feed trays is designated, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit is designated as the size of the paper of that size. If the size is an irregular size that can not be set in the sheet feed tray, a sheet tray designation unit that changes the designated sheet feed tray to another sheet tray that can set sheets of an irregular size, a display unit, The image forming apparatus according to the above-mentioned 1 or 2, further comprising: display control means for displaying on the display means that the paper feed tray specified by the paper feed tray designating means is changed. .
(5) When one of the plurality of paper feed trays is specified based on the user's operation, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit is a long size, If the designated paper feed tray is not a manual feed tray, a paper feed tray designation unit for changing the designated paper feed tray to a manual feed tray, a display unit, and a paper feed tray designated by the paper feed tray designation unit are The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: display control means for displaying on the display means that the manual feed tray has been changed.
(6) One of the plurality of paper feed trays is specified based on the user's operation, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit includes the specified paper feed tray. If the paper feed tray exceeds the upper limit of the paper size that can be set in any paper feed tray, paper feed tray designating means is provided to change the designated paper feed tray to the paper feed tray with the largest paper size that can be set. When the sheet feeding tray designating means changes the sheet feeding tray to the largest sheet size that can be set, the sheet size setting means sets the upper limit value of the sheet size that can be set to the sheet feeding tray to the sheet size. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet size is set.
(7) Based on the user's operation, one of the plurality of sheet feeding trays is designated, and the sheet size set by the sheet size setting unit includes the designated sheet feeding tray. If the paper size is lower than the lower limit of the paper size that can be set in any paper tray, the specified paper tray is changed to the smallest paper size that can be set. When the sheet feeding tray designating means changes the sheet feeding tray to the smallest sheet size that can be set, the sheet size setting means sets the lower limit value of the sheet size that can be set in the sheet feeding tray to that of the sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet size is set.
(8) The sheet size detection unit is in a state where the sheet size set by the sheet size setting unit and the sheet size detected by the sheet size detection unit are linked and stored in the storage unit. When a new sheet size different from the sheet size stored in the storage unit is detected in the main scanning direction of the sheet, the sheet size setting unit compares the new sheet size with the sheet feed tray. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above 1 to 7, wherein the setting is performed.
(9) A sheet detection step of detecting the presence or absence of a sheet in the sheet feed tray, and a sheet size detection step of detecting the size of the sheet while the sheet detection step detects that the sheet is present in the sheet feed tray A sheet size setting step of setting a sheet size to the sheet feed tray based on a setting operation of the user or based on reading of the sheet; and a sheet is present in the sheet feed tray by the sheet detection step When the sheet size is set in the sheet size setting step in a state in which is detected, the stored sheet size is stored in the storage unit by correlating the set sheet size with the sheet size detected in the sheet size detection step. The sheet size setting is performed in a state where it is detected that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray in the step and the sheet detection step. Setting the paper size by the paper size setting step by the reception step while the paper detection step detects that the paper tray is out of paper by the paper detection step. Is accepted by the accepting step when the size of the set sheet is detected by the sheet size detecting step after the sheet is set in the sheet feeding tray in the storing step. A sheet size setting method executed by an image forming apparatus, wherein a sheet size and a sheet size detected in the sheet size detection step are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit.
(10) A sheet detection step of detecting the presence or absence of a sheet in the sheet feed tray, and a sheet size detection step of detecting the size of the sheet while the sheet detection step detects that the sheet is present in the sheet feed tray A sheet size setting step of setting a sheet size to the sheet feed tray based on a setting operation of the user or based on reading of the sheet; and a sheet is present in the sheet feed tray by the sheet detection step When the sheet size is set in the sheet size setting step in a state in which is detected, the stored sheet size is stored in the storage unit by correlating the set sheet size with the sheet size detected in the sheet size detection step. In the state where it is detected that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray by the step and the sheet detection step, the sheet size The computer of the image forming apparatus executes an accepting step of accepting the setting of the sheet size in the fixed step, and the sheet detecting step detects that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray, and the sheet is received by the receiving step. When the setting of the sheet size in the size setting step is accepted, in the storage step, after the sheet is set in the sheet feeding tray, the size of the set sheet is detected by the sheet size detection step. A sheet size setting program for causing the computer to execute processing for correlating the sheet size accepted in the acceptance step with the sheet size detected in the sheet size detection step and storing the string size in the storage unit.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (1), the paper size setting means is based on the user's setting operation or based on the reading of the paper in a state where the paper detection means detects that the paper is present in the paper feed tray. When the paper size is set, the set paper size and the paper size detected by the paper size detection means are linked and stored in the storage means. On the other hand, when it is detected that there is no sheet in the sheet feed tray, the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting unit is accepted, and when the size of the sheet set in the sheet feed tray is detected after acceptance. The received sheet size and the detected sheet size are linked and stored in the storage unit.

  That is, even if the sheet is not set in the sheet feed tray for setting the sheet size, the setting of the sheet size can be accepted by the sheet size setting unit, and the sheet size can be set. Since the size detected in step S2 is stored in association with the sheet size set based on user operation or sheet reading, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of printing with the wrong size setting.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (2), when it is detected that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray designated by the sheet detecting unit and the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting unit is accepted, the designation is performed. Since a display prompting to set paper in the specified paper tray is displayed on the display means, the user can easily recognize that no paper is set in the specified paper tray, and the paper is set promptly. can do.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (3), when the set paper size is a paper size which can not be set in the specified paper feed tray, the paper size of the specified paper feed tray can be set Since the sheet feeding tray is changed to another sheet feeding tray and that the sheet feeding tray has been changed is displayed on the display means, the user can easily recognize that.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (4), when the set paper size is a non-standard size that can not be set in the specified paper feed tray, the specified paper feed tray can set paper of a non-standard size The paper feed tray is changed to another paper feed tray, and the display means indicates that the paper feed tray has been changed.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (5), when the set paper size is a long size, if the designated paper feed tray is not the manual feed tray, the designated paper feed tray is changed to the manual feed tray At the same time, the display unit displays that the sheet feed tray has been changed.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (6), when the set paper size exceeds the upper limit value of the size of paper that can be set in any paper feed tray including the specified paper feed tray, it is designated. The paper feed tray is changed to the largest paper feed tray that can be loaded. Then, the upper limit of the sheet size that can be set in the sheet feeding tray is rounded and set as the sheet size of the sheet.

  According to the invention set forth in (7), if the set paper size falls below the lower limit of the size of the paper that can be set in any paper feed tray including the designated paper feed tray, it is designated. The paper feed tray is changed to the smallest paper feed tray that can be loaded. Then, the lower limit value of the sheet size that can be set in the sheet feeding tray is rounded and set as the sheet size of the sheet.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (8), the sheet size set by the sheet size setting means and the sheet size detected by the sheet size detection means are associated with each other and stored in the storage means. If a new sheet size different from the sheet size stored in the storage unit is detected in the main scanning direction of the sheet, the new sheet size is set for the sheet feed tray, so an incorrect setting is made. It can be prevented from continuing as it is.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (9), even if the sheet is not set in the sheet feed tray for setting the sheet size, the sheet size can be set, and the sheet is detected in the sheet feed tray after the sheet is set. Since the size and the sheet size set based on the user operation and sheet reading can be linked and stored, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of printing with the wrong size setting.

  According to the invention described in the preceding paragraph (10), the paper size can be set even if the paper is not set in the paper feed tray for setting the paper size, and the size detected in the paper feed tray after the paper is set The computer of the image forming apparatus can execute processing of associating the sheet size set based on user operation and sheet reading and storing the same in the storage unit.

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. The storage contents when storing the paper size set based on the operation of the operation panel by the user and the detected size by the size detection device provided in the paper feed tray specified by the user are transitioned according to the operation procedure It is a figure which shows a mode that it does. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of setting a sheet size performed by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1; It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the size setting process of step S04 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of setting size memory | storage processing by step S16 in FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another setting operation of the sheet size executed by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a transition diagram of an operation screen displayed on the display unit when setting of a sheet size is performed based on image reading of a sheet in a state where a user specifies a manual feed tray. It is a transition diagram of the operation screen of the continuation of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an example of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 supplies a sheet, which is a recording medium, to the image forming unit 5 along a predetermined sheet conveyance path 30, and optically reads an original and converts it into digital data, thereby reading an image. An image reading unit 4 that generates data, an image forming unit 5 that forms an image as a visible image on a sheet, and a control unit 100 that controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 are provided.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 20 having a display unit 21 including an LCD or the like for displaying various information and keys for setting a mode, and a hard key such as a start key, and each size such as A The first to fourth paper feed trays 21-1 to 21-4 for storing paper sheets for each paper type, the manual feed tray 22 for temporarily using paper of a special size, etc., and image formation A paper discharge tray 23 for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed by the unit 5 and a document supply tray of an automatic document feeder (ADF) for sequentially supplying a document to the image reading unit 4 to sequentially read a plurality of documents 42, an original discharge tray 25 for discharging an original read by the image reading unit 4, and an original glass (platen) 41 on which an original to be read is placed.

  The first to fourth sheet feeding trays 21-1 to 21-4 can be opened and closed from the main body 2 and an open / close detection sensor for detecting that the opening / closing has been performed, and a sheet detection for detecting the presence or absence of sheets A sensor or the like is provided. The number of sheet feeding trays 21-1 to 21-4 may be two or four or more.

  Each of the paper feed trays 21-1 to 21-4 and the manual feed tray 22 is provided with a restriction plate (not shown) which can slide in the width direction of the paper as a paper size detection unit. When the sheet is stored, the length of the sheet in the width direction (main scanning direction) can be detected and the sheet size can be detected by detecting the position of the regulating plate by bringing the regulating plate into contact with the edge of the sheet in the width direction. It is supposed to be.

  The sheet conveyance unit 3 forms an image from the sheets of the first to fourth sheet feeding trays 21-1 to 21-4 or the manual feed tray 22 designated by the print instruction information based on the user operation. And a plurality of sheet passage sensors 32 for detecting the passage of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance rollers 31. Further, a sheet presence / absence detection sensor 33 for detecting the presence / absence of a sheet is provided on each of the paper feed trays 21-1 to 21-4 and the manual feed tray 22.

  The sheet passing sensor 32 and the sheet presence / absence detection sensor 33 may be a reflection type sensor or a transmission type sensor.

  The image reading unit 4 optically reads a predetermined surface of a document to be read, for example, converts a photoelectric conversion element such as an image sensor and an analog signal output from the photoelectric conversion element into a digital signal, and reads the image. And A / D converter for generating image data.

  The image forming unit 5 generates an optical signal based on image data of an image formation target, a mirror 51 that reflects light from the exposure unit 50 in a predetermined direction, and light from the mirror 51. A photosensitive drum 52 on which a latent image is formed on the surface and a toner image of toner is formed on the latent image, and a transfer unit 53 for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 52 to a predetermined surface of a sheet; And a fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image as an image on a sheet by heat and pressure.

  The image formed by the image forming unit 5 may be black and white or color. In addition, the image forming unit 5 may use an image forming method such as an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, or a plotter method instead of the above-described electrophotographic method, and the invention is not limited thereto.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus for forming, on a sheet, a copy image of a scanned document image and an image generated from print data transmitted from an information processing apparatus. Here, the print data is a drawing command in a page description language obtained by converting a drawing command issued by the operating system or application program of the information processing apparatus into a page description language which can be processed by the image forming apparatus 1 by the printer driver. Document data described in a file format such as PDF, TIFF, JPEG, or XPS.

  Also, the scanned original image can be transmitted to an information processing apparatus (not shown) or another image forming apparatus via a network. Furthermore, the document image can also be transmitted to another image forming apparatus or information processing apparatus connected to another network via the external network. Furthermore, it is possible to store the operated original image and the document data received from the information processing apparatus in the fixed storage device.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 incorporates a CPU 101. The CPU 101 is provided with a ROM 102 storing a control program, a static random access memory (S-RAM) 103 for work, and a battery backup for storing various settings relating to image formation. The NV-RAM (non-volatile memory) 104 and the clock IC 105 are connected via a bus to constitute a control unit 100 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1 in an integrated manner.

  The control unit 100 includes the image reading unit 4 for reading an original image, a numeric keypad for various inputs, print keys, various keys such as a logout key, and the operation panel 2 including the display unit 21 and the network 10. And a network interface (network I / F) 160 for transmitting and receiving various information to and from an external device such as the information processing apparatus 3 connected, and a copy image from print data received by the network interface 160 A printer controller 150 for generation and the above-mentioned image forming unit 5 for forming a copy image on a sheet are connected via a bus.

  In addition, the fixed storage device 110 is connected to the control unit 100 via a bus. The fixed storage device 110 is, for example, a hard disk device. In the fixed storage device 110, in addition to the string size of the sheet size set in the sheet feed tray and the sheet size detected in the sheet feed tray being stored, various data are stored.

  Also, a wireless interface (Wireless I / F) 170 and a short distance wireless interface (short distance wireless I / F) 180 are connected to the control unit 100 via a bus. The wireless interface 170 is used for communication with a network and communication with the portable terminal device 2, and the short distance wireless interface 180 is an interface for performing short distance wireless communication such as Bluetooth and Infrared Data Association (IrDA). It is.

  FIG. 3 illustrates the sheet size set based on the operation (manual operation) of the operation panel 20 by the user, and the size detection device provided in the paper feed tray designated by the user, for example, the above-mentioned restricting the width direction of the sheet The stored contents in the case of associating and storing the detected size by the restricting plate are shown as transition according to the operation procedure.

  No. In the state of 1, an irregular size of 220 mm × 150 mm is set in the paper feed tray as a set size (described as a panel set size) based on the user operation. At this time, the sheet feeding tray detects the A5 size, and is stored in association with the panel setting size.

  Next, No. The state of 2 is No. In the state 1, the paper is removed from the paper feed tray, and the paper feed tray is empty. Since there is no paper, the detected size in the paper feed tray is none.

  Next, No. A case 3 is a case where the sheet size is changed to an irregular size of 223 mm × 150 mm by a user operation from the operation panel 20 in a state where no sheet is in the sheet feeding tray. At this time, although the setting of the irregular size of 223 mm × 150 mm is accepted and stored as “panel setting size”, the detection size stored in association with the setting size from the operation panel 20 is cleared.

  Next, No. No. 4 is no. After setting the sheet size in step 3, the sheet is set in the sheet feed tray, and the A5 size is detected as the sheet feed tray as in the previous time, and the detected sheet size is set to the operation panel 20. Is stored in association with the panel setting size which has been set and accepted from.

  Next, No. No. 5 is no. The paper set in the paper feed tray in 4 is removed, and a standard size A4 size paper is set, and the A5 size stored in association with the panel setting size is detected in the paper feed tray this time. In comparison with the A4 size, it is determined that there is a change in the paper size because the sizes are different, and the panel setting size is cleared and changed to A4.

  Next, the sheet size setting operation executed by the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The operations shown in FIG. 4 and the subsequent flowcharts are executed by the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus 1 operating according to an operation program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 102.

  First, when the user operates the operation panel 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 to specify a sheet feeding tray to be set in size, the image forming apparatus 1 receives the specification of the sheet feeding tray in step S01. Next, in step S02, it is determined whether the user has instructed the user to change the sheet size setting. In this embodiment, the instruction to change the sheet size setting is performed by pressing the sheet size setting change button displayed on the operation panel 20. If the sheet size setting change instruction operation has not been performed (NO in step S02), the process proceeds to step S07.

  If a change instruction operation for changing the sheet size has been performed (YES in step S02), the sheet setting screen is popped up in step S03.

  Next, size setting processing is performed in step S04. The size setting process will be described later.

  Next, in step S05, the presence or absence of a sheet in the designated sheet feeding tray is determined based on the sheet presence sensor 33. If there is no sheet (NO in step S05), a warning display prompting the user to set the sheet is displayed on the display unit 21, and the process waits for the sheet to be set. If there is a sheet (YES in step S05), the sheet size is detected by the sheet feeding tray side detection device in step S07.

  Next, in step S08, the sheet size set in step S04 and the sheet size detected in step S07 are associated with each other and stored in fixed storage device 110.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the user sets the sheet size before the sheet presence / absence determination (step S05) of the sheet feeding tray. That is, even when there is no paper in the paper feed tray, the setting of the paper size can be accepted, so the paper size can be set, and after the paper is set, the paper size detected in the paper feed tray and Since the received set size is stored in the fixed storage device 110 in association with the received set size, it is possible to avoid the problem of printing with an incorrect size setting.

  Also, when the paper size setting is accepted with no paper in the paper feed tray, a warning display prompting the user to set the paper is displayed, so the user does not set paper in the specified paper feed tray. It can be easily recognized and the paper can be set quickly.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the size setting process of step S04 in FIG.

  In step S11, it is determined whether the setting of the paper size by reading the paper image is designated by the user on the displayed paper setting screen. If the setting of the sheet size by reading the sheet image is not designated (NO in step S11), the setting (manual setting) by the operation of the operation panel 20 is accepted in step S18, and the process proceeds to step S16.

  If the setting of the sheet size by reading the sheet image is designated (YES in step S11), it is determined in step S12 whether or not the start key is pressed. If the button is not pressed (NO in step S12), the process waits for the button being pressed.

  When the start key is pressed (YES in step S12), it is determined in step S13 whether or not there is a sheet in the document supply tray 42 of the automatic document feeder (ADF). If there is a sheet in the document supply tray 42 (YES in step S13), the sheet is conveyed to the image reading unit 4 by the automatic document feeder (ADF) in step S14, and the image is read. Then, the process proceeds to step S15. If there is no sheet in the document supply tray 42 (NO in step S13), the image of the sheet set on the document glass (platen) 41 is read in step S17, and then the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S15, the sheet size is detected from the read image, and the detected size is set as the sheet size. The method of detecting the sheet size from the read image is a well-known technique, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, in step S16, a setting size storage process is performed. This process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, in step S21, it is determined whether the set paper size is a long size. If it is a long size (YES in step S21), the designated paper feed tray is changed to manual feed tray 22 in step S22, and then, in step S23, the display unit 21 is changed to the manual feed tray. Display on Next, in step S24, the set sheet size is stored in the fixed storage device 110.

  If the sheet size set in step S21 is not the long size (NO in step S21), it is determined in step S25 whether or not the set sheet size can be set in the designated paper feed tray. If the setting is possible (YES in step S25), the set paper size is stored in fixed storage device 110 in step S24.

  If the set paper size can not be set to the designated paper feed tray (NO in step S25), it is determined in step S26 whether there is another paper feed tray that can set the set paper size. . If there is a settable paper feed tray (YES in step S26), the designated paper feed tray is changed to a settable paper feed tray in step S27, and then in step S28 paper feed is performed. The display unit 21 displays that the tray has been changed. Next, in step S24, the set sheet size is stored in the fixed storage device 110.

  In step S26, when there is no sheet feed tray which can set the set sheet size (NO in step S26), in other words, in any sheet feed tray in which the set sheet size includes the designated sheet feed tray. If the upper limit value of the settable sheet size is exceeded, the designated sheet feed tray is changed to the sheet tray having the largest settable size in step S29. Then, in step S30, upper limit values in the width direction and length direction of the sheet that can be set in the changed sheet feeding tray are set as the sheet size. That is, the set paper size is rounded to the size of the changed paper feed tray. Next, in step S31, the display unit 21 displays that the sheet feed tray has been changed and that the sheet size has been rounded, and then, in step S24, stores the rounded sheet size in the fixed storage device 110 as a set value.

  If the sheet size set in step S21 is too small and falls below the lower limit of the sheet size that can be set in any sheet feed tray including the designated sheet feed tray, setting is possible in step S29. Change to the smallest paper tray. Then, in step S30, the set paper size is changed to the size of the changed paper feed tray by setting the lower limit value in the width direction and the length direction of the paper that can be set to the changed paper feed tray as the paper size. After rounding, the rounded paper size is stored as a set value in the fixed storage device 110.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another sheet size setting operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. This operation is similar to that of FIG. No. 4 from the state of No. It corresponds to the change to the state of 5.

  In step S41, it is determined whether there is a sheet in the designated sheet feeding tray. If there is no sheet (NO in step S41), the process waits until the sheet is set. If there is a sheet (YES in step S41), in step S42, the sheet size is detected by the sheet feeding tray side detection device. In other words, the regulation plate (not shown) provided on the paper feed tray and slidable in the paper width direction is brought into contact with the paper width edge to detect the position of the paper. The length in the width direction (main scanning direction) is detected, and the sheet size is detected.

  In step S43, it is determined whether paper size setting (manual setting) has been performed by user operation. If manual setting has been performed (YES in step S43), the detected sheet size stored in fixed storage device 110 in association with the set sheet size in step S44 and the sheet detected in step S42 Compare with size (current size).

  Next, in step S45, it is determined whether or not there is a difference in the sheet size. If there is a difference (YES in step S45), the detected sheet size is set as a new set size in step S46 and the detected sheet The size is associated with the size and stored in the fixed storage device 110. Therefore, in this case, the set size and the detected paper size linked thereto become the same size.

  If there is no difference in the sheet size at step S45 (NO at step S45), the process ends. If the setting is not manual setting at step S43, that is, the setting is by paper image reading (NO at step S43), the set paper size is linked with the size detected at step S42 in step S46 and fixed storage device It is stored in 110.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the size in the main scanning direction is stored in the storage unit in a state in which the set sheet size and the sheet size detected by the sheet size detection unit are linked and stored in the storage unit. When a new sheet size different from the sheet size stored in is detected, since the new sheet size is set for the sheet feed tray, it is possible to prevent the wrong setting from being continued as it is.

  FIGS. 8 and 9 are transition diagrams of the operation screen displayed on the display unit 21 when setting the sheet size based on the image reading of the sheet while the user specifies the manual feed tray 22.

  A screen D1 indicated by a circled number 1 in FIG. 8 is a sheet setting screen, and a sheet size reading button 211 is displayed along with a sheet type and sheet size setting button on this screen D1.

  When the user presses the paper size reading button 211, the screen changes to a screen D2 shown by circle number 2. In this screen D2, a start button 212 and a back button 213 are popped up, together with a message for prompting the user to set the size measurement target paper on the ADF or the original glass.

  When the user presses the start button 212, a message indicating that the document size is being read is transitioned to the screen D3 indicated by the circled number 3 on which the pop-up is displayed.

  When the paper size obtained by the reading is a fixed size, the screen changes to screen D4 shown in circle 4 in FIG. 9, and a reflection button 214 and a message indicating that the fixed paper size (for example, B5 size) is detected. A close button 215 pops up.

  When the user presses the reflection button 214, if there is a sheet in the manual feed tray 22, the reflection processing is executed as indicated by the circled number 5, and the detected sheet size is set, and then transition is made to screen D1 in FIG. Do. When there is no sheet on the manual feed tray 22, the screen changes to the screen D 6 as indicated by the circled number 5. In this screen D6, a message prompting to set paper in the manual feed tray is popped up.

  When the user presses the close button 215 on the screen D4, the screen transitions to the screen D1 of FIG. 8 without doing anything.

  When the paper size obtained by reading is an irregular size, the screen changes to screen D5 indicated by circled number 4 in FIG. 9 and has a reflection button 214 and a close button 215 and performs paper size setting by ten keys or past registration call. A screen for pop-up appears.

  When the user presses the reflection button 214 after setting the size, if there is a sheet in the manual feed tray, the reflection processing is executed as shown by the circled number 5 and the detected sheet size is set, and then the screen D1 in FIG. Transition to When there is no sheet in the manual feed tray 22, as shown by the circled number 5, a transition is made to a screen D6 in which a message prompting to set the sheet in the manual feed tray is popped up.

  When the user presses the close button 215 on the screen D5, the screen transitions to the screen D1 of FIG. 8 without doing anything.

Reference Signs List 1 image forming apparatus 4 image reading unit 5 image forming unit 100 control unit 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
110 fixed storage

Claims (10)

A sheet detection unit that detects the presence or absence of sheets in the sheet feed tray;
A sheet size detection unit configured to detect the size of the sheet while the sheet detection unit detects that the sheet is present in the sheet feeding tray;
A sheet size setting unit configured to set a sheet size to the sheet feed tray based on a user's setting operation or based on reading of the sheet;
When the sheet size is set by the sheet size setting unit in a state in which the sheet detection unit detects that there is a sheet in the sheet feeding tray, the set sheet size and the sheet size detection unit are detected. Storage means for associating and storing different sheet sizes;
Accepting means for accepting the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting means in a state where the sheet detection means detects that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray;
Equipped with
When the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting unit is received by the reception unit in a state in which the sheet detection unit detects that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray, the storage unit After the sheet is set in the tray, when the size of the set sheet is detected by the sheet size detection unit, the sheet size received by the reception unit and the sheet size detected by the sheet size detection unit And an image forming apparatus characterized by storing them in association with each other. A paper feed tray designating unit for designating any paper feed tray among a plurality of paper feed trays based on a user's operation;
Display means,
After the sheet feeding tray is designated by the sheet feeding tray designating unit, the sheet detecting unit detects that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray designated by the sheet feeding tray designating unit, and the sheet size by the sheet size setting unit A display control unit that causes the display unit to display a message prompting the user to set a sheet in the sheet feeding tray when the setting of the image forming apparatus is received by the reception unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: A paper feed tray in which one of a plurality of paper feed trays is specified based on the user's operation, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit is a paper of that size A paper feed tray designating unit for changing the designated paper feed tray to another paper feed tray capable of setting paper of the paper size when the paper size can not be set in;
Display means,
Display control means for causing the display means to display the fact that the paper feed tray specified by the paper feed tray designating means has been changed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A paper feed tray in which one of a plurality of paper feed trays is specified based on the user's operation, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit is a paper of that size If the size is an irregular size that can not be set in the sheet feed tray, the sheet feed tray designating unit changes the designated sheet feed tray to another sheet feed tray in which sheets of the irregular size can be set.
Display means,
Display control means for causing the display means to display the fact that the paper feed tray specified by the paper feed tray designating means has been changed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Designated when any one of the plurality of paper feed trays is specified based on the user's operation, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit is a long size. If the paper feed tray is not a manual feed tray, a feed tray designation unit that changes the designated paper feed tray to a manual feed tray;
Display means,
A display control unit that causes the display unit to display the fact that the sheet feed tray designated by the sheet feed tray designating unit is changed to a manual feed tray;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Any one of a plurality of paper feed trays is designated based on the user's operation, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit is any paper feed tray including the designated paper feed tray. When the paper tray exceeds the upper limit of the size of the settable paper size, a paper tray designation unit is provided for changing the designated paper tray to the largest paper size tray that can be set,
When the sheet feeding tray designating means changes the sheet feeding tray to the largest sheet size that can be set, the sheet size setting means sets the upper limit value of the sheet size that can be set in the sheet feeding tray to the sheet of the sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size is set as the size. Any one of a plurality of paper feed trays is designated based on the user's operation, and the paper size set by the paper size setting unit is any paper feed tray including the designated paper feed tray. The paper tray is provided with a paper feed tray designating unit for changing the designated paper feed tray to the paper feed tray with the smallest paper size that can be set if the paper size is less than the lower limit of the paper size that can be set.
When the sheet feeding tray designating means changes the sheet feeding tray to the smallest sheet size that can be set, the sheet size setting means sets the lower limit value of the sheet size that can be set in the sheet feeding tray to the sheet of the sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size is set as the size.   In the state where the sheet size set by the sheet size setting means and the sheet size detected by the sheet size detection means are linked and stored in the storage means, the sheet size detection means When a new sheet size different from the sheet size stored in the storage unit is detected in the main scanning direction, the sheet size setting unit sets the new sheet size to the sheet feeding tray. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A sheet detection step of detecting the presence or absence of sheets in the sheet feed tray;
A sheet size detection step of detecting the size of the sheet in a state in which it is detected that the sheet is present in the sheet feeding tray by the sheet detection step;
A paper size setting step of setting a paper size for the paper feed tray based on a user's setting operation or based on reading of paper;
When a sheet size is set in the sheet size setting step while the sheet detection step detects that there is a sheet in the sheet feeding tray, it is detected by the set sheet size and the sheet size detection step. A storage step of storing the linked sheet size in the storage unit;
A reception step of receiving the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting step in a state where it is detected that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray by the sheet detection step;
Equipped with
In the storage step, when the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting step is accepted by the reception step while the sheet detection step detects that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray, the sheet feeding step is performed by the storage step. After the sheet is set on the tray, when the size of the set sheet is detected by the sheet size detection step, the sheet size received by the reception step and the sheet size detected by the sheet size detection step A sheet size setting method to be executed by the image forming apparatus, which is stored in the storage unit. A sheet detection step of detecting the presence or absence of sheets in the sheet feed tray;
A sheet size detection step of detecting the size of the sheet in a state in which it is detected that the sheet is present in the sheet feeding tray by the sheet detection step;
A paper size setting step of setting a paper size for the paper feed tray based on a user's setting operation or based on reading of paper;
When a sheet size is set in the sheet size setting step while the sheet detection step detects that there is a sheet in the sheet feeding tray, it is detected by the set sheet size and the sheet size detection step. A storage step of storing the linked sheet size in the storage unit;
A reception step of receiving the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting step in a state where it is detected that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray by the sheet detection step;
To the computer of the image forming apparatus,
In the storage step, when the setting of the sheet size by the sheet size setting step is accepted by the reception step while the sheet detection step detects that there is no sheet in the sheet feeding tray, the sheet feeding step is performed by the storage step. After the sheet is set on the tray, when the size of the set sheet is detected by the sheet size detection step, the sheet size received by the reception step and the sheet size detected by the sheet size detection step And a sheet size setting program for causing the computer to execute processing of storing the storage unit in the storage unit.

Images