JPH0664767A - Picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate expedite and rationalize the recovery operation at the time of using out paper and in the case of not mounting a corresponding paper feed tray when assigned paper size or a paper feed means. CONSTITUTION:When used a paper feed means except a hand insertion paper feed means, in the case that paper in use of the paper feed means is detected to be used out, the paper feed means in use is switched to the hand insertion paper feed means. Thereafter, when paper is detected to be supplied to the paper feed means before used, the hand insertion paper feed means is automatically reset thereto, and printing is continued. When assigned a paper size for use or a paper feed means, even in the case that a corresponding paper feed tray is not mounted, the paper feed means in use is switched to the hand insertion paper feed means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as various printers, copiers, facsimile machines and the like, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a manual paper feeding means and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine is generally provided with a plurality of sheet feeding means for inserting a sheet feeding tray or a cassette, and a manual sheet feeding for setting sheets of arbitrary size. Some also have means. In such an image forming apparatus, when there is no more paper in the paper feeding unit selected as the paper feeding unit (paper feeding position) to be used, normally, until the paper is replenished in the paper feeding unit that has run out of paper. waiting.

When it is desired to print seamlessly, such as when printing a large amount of paper, two or more paper feed cassettes of the same paper size are attached to each paper feed means of the image forming apparatus,
When there is no more paper in the paper cassette of the previously used paper feed unit, it automatically switches to the paper feed unit in which another paper feed cassette of the same paper size is installed and continues printing. There is also an image forming apparatus capable of performing continuous printing by supplying paper to a paper feeding cassette.

On the other hand, when the paper size to be used in the image forming apparatus is designated, a paper feed cassette of the designated paper size is searched from the mounted paper feed cassettes, and the paper feed cassette in which the paper feed cassette is loaded is found. If a paper source is selected automatically and paper is fed, or if a paper cassette of the specified paper size is not installed in any paper feeding device, that paper cassette is installed. There is also one that waits for the paper feeding operation until it reaches the end.

Alternatively, when the paper feed cassette and the manual feed tray are mounted in the same paper feed means and paper is set in the manual feed tray, the paper in the manual feed tray is preferentially fed. There is also.

[0006]

By the way, when the paper used for printing runs out when printing is performed by the image forming apparatus, the paper to be replenished is prepared and the paper feed cassette is removed from the image forming apparatus. The operation of replenishing the prepared paper in the paper feed cassette and mounting the paper feed cassette in the image forming apparatus is a basic operation when the paper runs out.

In such a case, for example, in a printer that prints data transferred from a host computer or the like, the host often times out depending on the data amount and the replenishment operation time.

Further, recently, with the space saving of the image forming apparatus, the sheet feeding cassette is being replaced with a mechanism which is housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. In many cases, the amount of pushing in and out of the main body becomes large, and in addition, the size of the paper feed cassette itself becomes large in order to match the size of the main body.
Therefore, the operability of the paper supply operation may be inferior to that in the case of the conventional side-mounted paper feed cassette, and the paper supply operation time may be further increased.

Alternatively, if a method of eliminating the paper supply waiting time by alternately using two or more paper feed cassettes of the same paper size is adopted, it is possible to mount paper feed cassettes of many different paper sizes at the same time. There are disadvantages that are inefficient. In view of the above problems, it is a first object of the present invention to facilitate, speed up, and rationalize a recovery operation when a sheet runs out.

On the other hand, as the needs of the image forming apparatus are diversified, it is necessary to increase the number of attached paper feed cassettes (or paper feed trays) for feeding paper in order to meet the needs of the paper feed means. come. By increasing the number of paper feed cassettes installed, it is possible to install paper feed cassettes of many paper sizes in the image forming apparatus at the same time. Accordingly, by specifying the paper size, the paper feed cassette to be used can be selected. It is conceivable that the paper selection means is frequently used.

The fact that more different sizes of paper are used depends on the number of paper sizes required and the number of paper feed cassettes installed, but it is expected that the number of paper feed cassette removals will increase. There is a high possibility that there is a paper feed position where the paper feed cassette of the designated paper size is not installed, and it is conceivable that troubles in paper feed selection or paper feed operation will occur easily.

Conventionally, when a paper feed cassette is selected by the above-mentioned paper feed selection means, a paper feed cassette of a designated paper size is searched from among the paper feed cassettes mounted in the image forming apparatus, and the paper feed cassette is mounted. If that is the case, select the paper cassette, and if it is not installed, display that the paper size is not correct.Wait until the paper cassette of the specified paper size is installed, or There is a method of printing as it is, and a method of selecting the former and the latter.

However, in the former case, there is a high possibility that the host interface will time out depending on the exchange time of the paper feed cassette, and the more the paper feed cassettes are mounted, the more the operator will find the paper feed cassette replacement position. The selection may be confused, and the control is similarly complicated such as replacement of the paper feed cassette, size detection, and reselection of the paper feed cassette. Further, when it is desired to print only a small number of pages on a paper of a specified size, the load of paper feed cassette replacement work according to the purpose becomes heavy.

In the latter case, since the paper of the specified size is not printed, it is necessary to replace the paper feed cassette, reselect the paper size or paper feed cassette in some cases, and retransfer the host data. Further, the trouble of the paper feeding selection and the paper feeding operation due to the non-mounting of the paper feeding cassette described above has the same problem as the recovery operation.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention does not mount a paper feed cassette of the specified paper size when selecting the paper feed means (paper feed position) by designating the paper size. A second object is to facilitate, speed up, and rationalize the recovery operation in the case or when the paper feeding cassette is not attached to the selected paper feeding means.

[0016]

In order to achieve the first object, an image forming apparatus having a manual paper feeding means and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means is provided. When using a paper presence detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of paper and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means, the paper presence detecting means detects that the paper feeding means in use is out of paper. In this case, a paper feed automatic switching means for switching the paper feeding means to be used to the manual paper feeding means is provided.

Further, it is preferable to provide a means for automatically setting the paper size of the paper feeding means which has run out of the paper as the paper size of the manual paper feeding means. Further, after the paper feed means to be used is switched to the manual paper feed means by the paper feed automatic switching means, if the paper presence detecting means detects that the paper is replenished to the paper feeding means that has run out of paper, it is used. It is desirable to provide a paper feed automatic return means for switching the paper feed means to be used to the paper feed means to which the paper has been supplied.

In this case, when the paper feed means to be used is switched to the manual paper feed means by the paper feed automatic switching means, the paper size of the paper feed means that has run out of paper is automatically set as the paper size of the manual paper feed means. And the paper feeding means used by the paper feeding automatic return means is switched to the paper feeding means to which the paper is replenished, the manual feeding means is used before the paper size is automatically set. Means for setting the paper size set in the paper means may be provided.

Alternatively, if the paper presence detecting means detects that the paper feeding means in use is out of paper while using the paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means, the paper runs out. When the paper presence / absence detection means detects that the paper is replenished to either the paper feeding means or the manual paper feeding means, the paper feeding means that selects the paper feeding means to which the paper is replenished is used. You may provide an automatic selection means.

Further, in order to achieve the second object of the present invention, when a paper size to be used is specified, a paper feed tray other than the manual paper feed means is provided with a paper feed tray of the specified paper size. An image forming apparatus provided with a paper feed automatic switching means for switching the paper feeding means to be used to the manual paper feeding means when not mounted is also provided.

At this time, it is preferable to provide a means for setting the designated paper size as the paper size of the manual paper feeding means. Further, after the paper feeding means to be used is switched to the manual paper feeding means by the paper feeding automatic switching means, the paper feeding tray of the designated paper size is attached to any paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means. In this case, it is desirable to provide a paper feed automatic return means for switching the paper feed means to be used to the paper feed means in which the paper feed tray is mounted.

In this case, when the paper feed means used by the paper feed automatic switching means is switched to the manual paper feed means, a means for automatically setting the designated paper size as the paper size of the manual paper feed means, When the paper feed means to be used by the paper feed automatic return means is switched to the paper feed means in which the paper feed tray of the designated paper size is mounted, the paper size of the manual paper feed means is automatically set before the automatic setting. It is preferable to provide means for setting the paper size set in the manual paper feeding means.

Alternatively, when the paper size to be used is specified, if a paper feed tray of the specified paper size is not attached to the paper feed means other than the manual paper feed means,
Either a paper feed tray of a designated paper size is attached to one of the paper feed means, or paper is set in the manual paper feed means, whichever comes first. A paper feed automatic switching means for switching the paper feeding means to be used may be provided.

When a paper feed tray to be used is designated and a paper feed tray is not attached to the designated paper feed means, the paper feed automatic mode is switched to the manual paper feed means. Switching means may be provided.

After the paper feeding means to be used is switched to the manual paper feeding means by the automatic paper feeding switching means,
When the paper feeding tray is attached to the designated paper feeding means, it is preferable to provide a means for switching the paper feeding means to be used to the paper feeding means having the paper feeding tray attached.

Alternatively, when the paper feeding means to be used is designated, if the paper feeding tray is not attached to the designated paper feeding means, the paper feeding tray is attached to the designated paper feeding means. Alternatively, a sheet feeding automatic switching unit may be provided to switch the sheet feeding unit to be used for the sheet feeding unit which is capable of feeding the sheet, whichever is set to the manual sheet feeding tray.

[0027]

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when the sheet feeding means other than the manually feeding sheet feeding means is used, the image forming apparatus according to the above configuration runs out of sheets.
Since the paper feeding means to be used is switched to the manual paper feeding means,
It is possible to immediately set the paper in the manual paper feeding means and continue printing.

At this time, the paper size of the paper feeding means that has run out of paper is automatically set as the paper size of the manual paper feeding means. Further, when the paper is replenished in the paper feeding means that is full of paper, the paper feeding means is switched to use the continuous printing.

In this case, when the paper feeding means to be used is returned to the paper feeding means to which the paper is replenished, it is set to the manual paper feeding means before the paper size of the manual paper feeding means is automatically set. Can be returned to paper size.

Alternatively, when a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means is used, and the paper of the paper feeding means being used runs out, the paper feeding means or the manual paper feeding means which has run out of paper. When a sheet is replenished with any one of the above, printing can be continued using the sheet feeding means with which the sheet is replenished.

When the paper size to be used is specified, if the paper feed tray other than the manual paper feed means is not attached with the specified paper size, the manual paper feed means is used. Printing can be performed. At that time, the designated paper size is set as the paper size of the manual paper feeding unit. After that, if the paper feed tray of the designated paper size is attached to any paper feed means other than the manual paper feed means, printing can be continued using the paper feed means.

In this case, when the paper feed means to be used is switched to the paper feed means in which the paper feed tray of the designated paper size is mounted, the manual paper feed means is manually fed before the paper size is automatically set. Restore the paper size set for the paper feed unit.

Alternatively, when the paper size to be used is designated, if a paper feed tray of the designated paper size is not attached to a paper feed means other than the manual paper feed means, the paper feed means is designated as one of the paper feed means. If the paper feed tray of the specified paper size is attached or the paper is set in the manual paper feeding means, the printing can be started by either of them.

Further, when the paper feeding means to be used is designated and the paper feeding tray is not attached to the designated paper feeding means, printing can be started using the manual paper feeding means. After that, if the designated paper feed tray is attached to the paper feed means, printing can be continued using the paper feed means having the paper feed tray attached.

Alternatively, when the paper feeding means to be used is designated and the paper feeding tray is not attached to the designated paper feeding means, the paper feeding tray is attached to the designated paper feeding means or the paper is manually fed. When the paper is set in the paper tray, the printing can be started by using the paper feeding means which can be fed first.

[0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a printer controller 1, an engine 2, a panel device 3, and a disk device 4. The host device 5 is a host device of this printer,
For example, it is a word processor or a personal computer.

The printer controller 1 includes a CPU 6, a program ROM 7, a font ROM 8, a RAM 9, and an NV.
RAM 10, IC card 11, engine interface (hereinafter interface is abbreviated as I / F) 12, panel I / F 13, disk I / F 14, host I / F 1
It is composed of 5 I / Fs.

The CPU 6 is a central processing unit that controls the printer controller 1 as a whole according to a program in the program ROM 7, a mode instruction from the panel device 3, and a command from the host device 5. Program ROM7
Is a read-only memory that stores the control program of the printer controller 1, a font ROM 8
Is a read-only memory that stores font pattern data and the like.

The RAM 9 is a work memory for the CPU 6,
A random access memory used for input buffers for storing input data, page buffers for storing page data, bitmap buffers for storing bitmap data, font files for storing downloaded fonts, etc. is there. NVRA
The M10 stores the contents of a print control mode instruction (for example, an instruction for various settings for printing such as a font to be used, a paper feed tray position, a layout size, etc.) by a command or the like from the panel device 3 or the host device 5. It is a non-volatile storage device.

The IC card 11 is a removable memory card used when font data and programs are supplied from the outside. The engine I / F 12 is an interface for communicating commands, status, and print data with the engine 2 that actually prints, and a panel I / F.
F13 is an interface that communicates commands and statuses with the panel device 3 that informs the user of the current printer status and gives a mode instruction.

The disk I / F 14 is an interface for communicating with the disk device 4. Host I /
F15 is an interface that communicates with the host device 5, and is typically a Centro I / F or RS232C.

The disk device 4 is an external storage device for storing various data such as font data, programs and print data, and is a floppy disk device (FDD).
And a hard disk device (HDD).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of this laser printer. Reference numeral 20 denotes a laser printer main body, which includes a large number of paper feeding means and paper discharging means. 21 to 25 are cassette paper feed trays, 26 is a large paper feed tray (LCI
T) and 27 are manual feed trays. 28 to 31 are paper discharge trays, and the printed paper is discharged to any one of these positions.

As described above, the laser printer of this embodiment has five cassette paper feed trays 21 to 25, one manual feed tray 27 and one large paper feed tray (LCI).
T) 26 paper feed configuration, and to select these paper feed trays, there are a key operation from the panel device 3 in FIG. 2 and a selection method by a command from the host device 5.

The selection from the panel device 3 or the host device 5 is made by designating the paper feed tray positions such as the IDs or names assigned to all the paper feed tray positions currently mounted on the laser printer body 20. There is a method to specify the paper size to be used and a method to search for and select a paper feed tray of the specified paper size from all the paper feed trays (see Table 1).

[0046]

[Table 1]

In the former selection method, when the paper feed tray position desired to be selected from the panel device 3 or the host device 5 is designated by the paper feed tray ID in Table 1, for example, ID "1", the cassette paper feed tray 21 is selected. It In the latter case, if it is desired to select the paper size B5, the paper size B5 is designated from the panel device 3 or the host device 5, and the paper feed trays 21 to 21 are selected.
The sheet feeding tray of B5 is searched in 27, and the cassette sheet feeding tray 23 in which the sheet feeding cassette of B5 is mounted is selected.

Each of the paper feed trays 21 to 27 is attachable / detachable to / from the laser printer main body 20, and a sensor for detecting the attachment / detachment state of each of them and a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of paper in each of the paper feed trays. And are provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Table 1. If there is no more paper in the cassette paper feed tray 21 during printing using the selected cassette paper feed tray 21, the printing is continued by switching to the large paper feed tray 26 of the same A4 size, but the cassette paper feed tray 22 is selected. Then, when there is no more paper during printing, since there is no other B4 size paper feed tray, conventionally, the fact that the paper is out is displayed and the paper supply waits.

However, in this embodiment, the paper feed tray is switched to the manual feed tray 27 instead of simply waiting for the paper out supply.
Set the used paper size to B4, and then use the bypass tray 27
Wait for paper to be set in. When paper is set (supplied) on the manual feed tray 27, the paper feeding operation for the next printing is started.

Generally, the manual feed tray can supply the paper only by inserting the paper into the manual feed tray, so that the paper can be refilled most easily and quickly among the paper feed trays.
By controlling to switch to the manual feed tray 27 in this way, the paper supply waiting state can be released most easily and quickly.

Further, if the cassette paper feed tray 22 is replenished with paper after the paper has run out and the paper feed tray is switched to the manual feed tray 27, the paper is re-supplied from the next page at the time when it is detected that the paper has been replenished. The paper tray is switched to 22, and printing is performed. At this time, the used paper size of the opened manual feed tray 27 is set to the size before B4 is automatically set (the paper size is undefined in the example of Table 1), and A5 is temporarily set before B4 is set. If so, it is set to A5.

As another embodiment, for example, if the cassette paper feed tray 22 is used and the paper runs out during printing, it waits for paper supply as in the conventional case, and the cassette paper feed tray 22 is used.
When paper is replenished in one of the manual feed tray 27 and the manual feed tray 27, printing may be performed by selecting the replenished paper feed tray. That is, when paper is supplied to the cassette paper feed tray 22, printing is continued using the cassette paper feed tray 22 as before, and the manual paper feed tray 27 is used.
When the sheet is replenished with the sheet, the manual feed tray 27 is used to continue printing.

The selection operation of such a sheet feeding means is shown in FIG.
A flow chart for execution by the PU 6 is shown in FIGS.
Shown in. FIG. 1A is a routine that is executed when a paper end (no paper) is detected during printing. First, it is determined whether or not the manual paper feeding means (manual paper tray 27) is in use, and if YES. For example, wait for paper to be supplied to the manual paper feeding means.

If NO, the paper feed means to be used is switched to the manual paper feed means, and the paper size of the paper feed means that has run out of paper (either the cassette paper feed trays 21 to 25 or the large volume paper feed tray 26) is set. After setting as the paper size of the manual paper feeding unit, it waits for paper to be supplied to the manual paper feeding unit. When paper is replenished in the manual paper feeding means, the process returns to the main routine to continue printing.

FIG. 1B shows a routine which is executed when paper is supplied to a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means. First, it is judged whether or not the manual paper feeding means is in use, and NO.
If so, the process returns as it is, but if YES, it is determined whether or not the sheet is automatically switched from another sheet feeding means,
If NO, the process directly returns.

If YES, the paper end is automatically switched to the manual paper feeding means as described above and the printing is being continued. Therefore, the paper feeding means to which the next paper is supplied is used before the switching. Judge whether it is a paper feeding means, NO
If so, the process directly returns, but if YES, the paper feeding means to be used is switched to the paper feeding means with paper replenished, and the paper size of the manual paper feeding means is set to the size set before the switching. , Return to the main routine and continue printing.

FIG. 4 shows a paper end (no paper) during printing.
Is a routine of another embodiment to be executed when is detected. First, it is determined whether or not the manual paper feeding means (manual tray 27) is in use, and if YES, paper is supplied to the manual paper feeding means. Wait for you.

However, in the case of NO, the paper is replenished to the paper-feeding means which has run out of paper or waits until the paper is replenished to the manual paper-feeding means, and the paper is replenished to the paper-feeding means which has run out In that case, the printer returns as it is to continue printing, and when paper is supplied to the manual paper feeding means, the paper feeding means to be used is switched to the manual paper feeding means and the operation returns.
Continue printing.

Next, based on Table 1, embodiments of the invention of claims 6 to 10 will be described. In this case, the cassette paper feed trays 21 to 25 and the mass paper feed tray 26 each have a function of detecting the paper size, like the conventional laser printer generally used, and the manual feed tray 27 is used. The paper size to be used is designated and used from the panel device 3 or the host device 4 in FIG.

Further, as described above, each of the paper feed trays has a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of paper, and each of the cassette paper feed trays 21-25 has a sensor for detecting its attachment / detachment. These pieces of detection information are stored in the CPU of the printer controller 1 that controls the selection of the sheet feeding position via the engine I / F 12.
6 is provided.

When the paper size A3 is specified in the paper feed configuration shown in Table 1, the A3 paper feed tray is not mounted. In that case, the sheet is automatically switched to the manual feed tray 27 and the sheet size used there is set to A3. Then, it waits until the paper is set (supplied) on the manual feed tray 27, and when the paper is set, printing is started.

Further, after switching to the manual feed tray 27 in this way, if the A3 paper feed tray is attached to another paper feed position, for example, the A3 paper feed cassette is attached to the cassette paper feed tray 23 position. If it is done, the next page that detects it is switched to the cassette paper feed tray 23 and printing is performed. At the same time, the paper size (A3) set in the manual feed tray 27 is set to the paper size before setting it (undefined in the case of Table 1), and if A4
If is set, it returns to A4.

Alternatively, if the paper feed tray of the designated paper size is not installed, the manual feed tray 27 is immediately
When either the manual feed tray 27, the cassette paper feed trays 21 to 25, or the large-volume paper feed tray 26 becomes ready for paper feeding without switching to (the manual paper feed tray 27 or the large-volume paper feed tray 26 is set with paper, cassette feed Paper trays 21-2
In No. 5, when a paper feed cassette of an appropriate paper size is attached), it may be switched to a paper feed enabled side. When the manual feed tray 27 can be fed, the paper size used in the manual feed tray 27 is also set to the designated paper size.

The operation of selecting such a sheet feeding means is shown in FIG.
Flow charts for execution by the PU 6 are shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 is a routine that is executed when a paper size is specified. It is determined whether a paper feed tray of the specified paper size is installed, and if it is installed, the paper feeding means to be used is specified. The sheet size of the specified paper size is switched to the installed one, and the process returns to the main routine to start printing.

If the paper feed tray of the designated paper size is not installed, the paper feed means to be used is switched to the manual paper feed means (manual tray 27), and the designated paper size is changed to the paper of the manual paper feed means. Set it as the size, return, and start printing.

FIG. 6 shows a routine to be executed when the paper feed tray is mounted. The paper feed means in use is the manual paper feed means, or the paper feed tray of the designated paper size has not been mounted or not. It is sequentially judged whether the selected paper feed tray has the designated paper size, and if any one of them is NO, the process is returned as it is and the printing is continued.

If all are YES, the paper feed means to be used is switched to the one with the paper feed tray mounted, the paper size of the manual paper feed means is set to the paper size set before the switching, and then the main Return to the routine to continue printing.

FIG. 7 is a routine of another embodiment which is executed when the paper size is designated. First, it is judged whether or not the paper feed tray of the designated paper size is mounted, and if it is mounted. It is the same as the routine of FIG. 5 that the paper feeding means to be used is switched to the one in which the paper feeding tray of the designated paper size is mounted, and the process returns to the main routine to start printing.

However, if the specified paper size is not installed, the system waits until the paper feed tray of the specified paper size is installed or the paper is set (supplied) in the manual paper feeding means, and If the paper feed tray is installed, the paper feed unit to be used is switched to the one with the paper feed tray of the specified paper size installed, and if paper is set in the manual paper feed unit, it is used. The paper means is switched to the manual paper feed means, and each returns to the main routine to continue printing.

[0071]

[Table 2]

Next, based on Table 2, claims 11 to 13
An embodiment of the invention will be described. In the paper feed configuration shown in Table 2, for example, when the cassette paper feed tray 21 is selected again and is selected again as the cassette paper feed tray 23, the cassette paper feed tray 23 is not mounted. The paper feed tray to be used is switched to the manual feed tray 27, and when paper is supplied to the manual feed tray 27, the printing operation is started (restarted). Even if the paper is supplied to the manual feed tray 27 and printing is started, whether or not the cassette paper feed tray 23 is attached is detected, the paper feed tray is switched to the paper feed tray 23 from the next page. Continue the printing operation.

Alternatively, when the unmounted cassette paper feed tray 23 is designated, it is not immediately switched to the manual paper feed tray 27, but when either the manual paper feed tray 27 or the cassette paper feed tray 23 becomes ready for paper feeding, It is also possible to select the one in which the paper feeding operation becomes possible.

The selection operation of such a sheet feeding means is shown in FIG.
Flow charts for execution by the PU 6 are shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 is a routine that is executed when a sheet feeding unit (position) is designated. It is determined whether or not a sheet feeding tray is attached to the designated sheet feeding unit. The means is switched to the designated paper feeding means, and the process returns to the main routine to start printing.

If the paper feed tray is not attached to the designated paper feed means, the paper feed means to be used is switched to the manual paper feed means (manual paper feed tray 27), and the process returns to the main routine to start printing.

FIG. 9 shows a routine to be executed when the paper feed tray is attached. Whether the paper feed means in use is the manual paper feed means, or whether the paper feed tray is not attached to the designated paper feed means, It is sequentially judged whether the attached paper feed tray belongs to the designated paper feed means. If any one of them is NO, the paper feed tray to be used is used if all are YES. Switch to the one you want and return to the main routine to continue printing.

FIG. 10 is a routine of another embodiment which is executed when the sheet feeding means is designated. First, it is judged whether or not the sheet feeding tray is attached to the designated sheet feeding means, and the sheet feeding tray is attached. If so, the sheet feeding means to be used is switched to the designated sheet feeding means, and if the sheet feeding tray is not attached, whether the sheet feeding tray is attached to the designated sheet feeding means,
Wait for the paper to be set (supplied) in the manual paper feed unit,
If a paper feed tray is attached to the designated paper feed means, the paper feed means to be used is switched to the designated paper feed means, and if paper is set in the manual paper feed means, the paper feed means to be used Is switched to the manual feeding means, and both return to the main routine to continue printing.

Although the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the laser printer has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a facsimile.

[0079]

As described above, according to the first to fifth aspects of the invention.
According to the invention, it is possible to easily, promptly and rationally perform the recovery operation when the paper end (paper out) occurs. This is particularly effective when continuing continuous printing. Further, if the paper size of the manual paper feeding means released from the recovery process is automatically returned from the paper size changed due to the recovery process to the pre-change paper size, confusion in the paper size management is eliminated.

According to the inventions of claims 6 to 8, the recovery operation can be easily and speedily performed when the sheet size is designated and the image forming apparatus is not equipped with the sheet tray of the sheet size. In addition, it is possible to rationally perform the process, which is particularly effective when continuous printing is continued. Then, if the paper size of the manual paper feeding means released from the recovery process automatically returns to the paper size before the change, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 9 to 11,
It becomes possible to easily, promptly and rationally perform the recovery operation when the paper feed tray is not attached to the paper feed means when the paper feed means is specified, and particularly continuous printing is continued. It is effective in some cases.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an example of a paper feeding means selection process at paper end and a paper replenishment detection process by a CPU 6 of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a laser printer which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an appearance of this laser printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of the paper feeding means selection processing at the paper end.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of paper feeding means selection processing when the paper size is designated.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the paper feed tray is mounted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the paper feeding means selection process when the paper size is designated.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a sheet feeding unit selection process when the sheet feeding unit is designated.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an example of processing when the paper feed tray is mounted.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the sheet feeding unit selection process when the sheet feeding unit is designated.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Printer controller 2 Engine 3
Panel device 4 Disk device 5 Host device 6
CPU 7 Program ROM 8 Font ROM 9
RAM 10 NVRAM 11 IC card 12 to 15 Each interface (I / F) 20 Laser printer main body 21 to 25 Cassette paper feed tray 26 Large amount paper feed tray 27 Manual feed tray 28 to 31 Paper discharge tray

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location G03G 15/00 109 7369-2H

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a manual paper feeding means and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means, a paper presence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of paper in each paper feeding means, and a means other than the manual paper feeding means. When the paper feed detection means detects that the paper feed means in use is out of paper, the paper feed means to be used is switched to the manual paper feed means. An image forming apparatus comprising an automatic paper switching unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus comprising means for automatically setting a paper size of a paper supply unit that has run out of paper as a paper size of the manual paper feed unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
When the paper presence detecting unit detects that the paper is replenished to the paper feeding unit that has run out of paper after the paper feeding unit used by the paper feeding automatic switching unit is switched to the manual paper feeding unit, it is used. An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feed automatic return means for switching the paper feed means to a paper feed means to which the paper is replenished. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,
Means for automatically setting the paper size of the paper feeding means that has run out of paper as the paper size of the manual paper feeding means when the paper feeding means used by the paper feeding automatic switching means is switched to the manual paper feeding means; When the paper feeding means to be used by the paper feeding automatic return means is switched to the paper feeding means to which the paper is replenished, the manual paper feeding means is set to the manual paper feeding means before the paper size of the manual paper feeding means is automatically set. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for setting a set paper size. 5. An image forming apparatus having a manual paper feeding means and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means, and a paper presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of paper in each paper feeding means, and a means other than the manual paper feeding means. If the paper presence detecting means detects that the paper of the used paper feeding means is used up, the paper feeding means that has run out of the paper or the manual paper feeding means When the paper presence / absence detection means detects that the paper has been replenished in any of the above, a paper feed automatic selection means for selecting the paper feed means that uses the paper replenished with the paper is provided. A characteristic image forming apparatus. 6. An image forming apparatus having a manual paper feeding means and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means, when a paper size to be used is designated, the paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feed automatic switching means for switching a paper feed means to be used to the manual paper feed means when a paper feed tray of the designated paper size is not attached. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
An image forming apparatus comprising means for setting a designated paper size as the paper size of the manual paper feeding means. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
After the paper feed means to be used is switched to the manual paper feed means by the paper feed automatic switching means, the paper feed tray of the designated paper size is attached to any paper feed means other than the manual paper feed means. In this case, the image forming apparatus is provided with a paper feed automatic return means for switching the paper feed means to be used to the paper feed means in which the paper feed tray is mounted. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8,
Means for automatically setting the designated paper size as the paper size of the manual paper feeding means when the paper feeding means to be used is switched to the manual paper feeding means by the paper feeding automatic switching means; When the paper feeding means to be used by the means is switched to the paper feeding means in which the paper feeding tray of the designated paper size is mounted, the manual feeding means is used before the paper size of the manual paper feeding means is automatically set. An image forming apparatus comprising: a unit for setting a sheet size set in the sheet unit. 10. An image forming apparatus having a manual paper feeding means and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means, when a paper size to be used is designated, the paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means If the paper feed tray of the specified paper size is not installed, either the paper feed tray of the specified paper size is installed in any of the paper feed means, or the paper is set in the manual paper feed means. The image forming apparatus is provided with an automatic paper feed switching unit that switches a paper feed unit to be used for a paper feed unit that is ready to be fed. 11. An image forming apparatus having a manual paper feeding means and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means, when a paper feeding means to be used is designated, the designated paper feeding means is fed to the paper feeding tray. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that an automatic paper feed switching means is provided for switching the paper feed means to be used to the manual paper feed means when the sheet feeding means is not attached. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein after the paper feeding means used by the paper feeding automatic switching means is switched to the manual paper feeding means, the paper is fed to the designated paper feeding means. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, when a tray is mounted, a means for switching the paper feeding means to be used to the paper feeding means having the paper feeding tray mounted therein is provided. 13. In an image forming apparatus having a manual paper feeding means and a paper feeding means other than the manual paper feeding means, when a paper feeding means to be used is designated, the designated paper feeding tray is provided. If is not installed, the paper feed tray is installed in the designated paper feed unit, or the paper is set in the manual paper feed tray, whichever comes first. An image forming apparatus comprising an automatic paper feed switching means for switching the paper feed means used for the means.