JP5051053B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In recent years, in the field where image forming work is performed, image forming work is performed by using various kinds of papers having different specifications such as paper types or sizes by an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays.
Workers related to such image forming work include a job creator who generates and submits a job, and an operator who supports the operation of the apparatus at the site where the image forming apparatus is installed, and are different from each other. There are many cases.
A job generator generates job information from a PC (Personal Computer) terminal or the like installed at a location distant from the image forming apparatus, and inputs the job to the image forming apparatus.
The operator performs various adjustments of the image forming apparatus, paper supply, and the like. In order to perform the image forming operation smoothly, the operator knows what paper feed tray is used in the job before executing the job, and adjusts the paper feed tray or replenishes paper in advance. is necessary.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing system has been disclosed in which a schedule for each job is displayed on a display unit for the convenience of an operator such as paper supply work (see Patent Document 1). In the example of Patent Document 1, the types of paper are arranged along the vertical axis on the screen of the display unit, the operation time / the number of used sheets are taken along the horizontal axis, and the schedule display on the graph is performed.
JP 2004-348713 A

Here, the job creator may generate job information using the paper feed tray designation mode and job information using the auto tray selection mode. The paper feed tray designation mode is a mode in which a job creator designates in advance a paper feed tray used for job execution. The auto tray selection mode is a mode in which when the paper information such as the paper type and size is incorporated in the job information, the image forming apparatus automatically selects the paper feed tray storing the paper corresponding to the job information. It is.
When executing a job in the auto tray selection mode, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot display which paper feed tray is a paper feed tray used in the auto tray selection mode. That is, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of jobs in which a job in the auto tray selection mode and a job in the paper feed tray designation mode are executed, the operator must use a paper feed tray used for the job. Could not be known before job execution.
In addition, in order to operate the image forming apparatus stably, out of a plurality of paper feed trays, front / back adjustment etc. (adjustment of image forming positions on the front and back sides of paper) is automatically selected for paper feed trays etc. that have not been adjusted You may want to change the priority order. However, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to change the priority order because it is not possible to display which paper feed tray is the paper feed tray used in the auto tray selection mode.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of knowing a paper feed tray used for executing a job before executing the job.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided.
In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image based on a plurality of jobs,
Control for displaying automatically selected paper feed tray information together with designated paper feed tray information on the same screen of the display unit in a display mode different from the designated paper feed tray information before execution of the plurality of jobs by the image forming unit A part.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
The automatically selected paper feed tray information includes the paper feed tray information arranged along one of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis of the display screen of the display unit, and the job execution time arranged along the other axis. Alternatively, it includes information on the number of sheets to be used, information indicating the estimated remaining amount of sheets stored in the sheet feed tray used for executing the job, and information indicating the automatically selected sheet feed tray.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect,
When the information indicating that the paper tray is automatically selected is a button icon that can be pressed, the control unit prioritizes the automatically selected paper tray based on the pressing operation of the button icon. A change button for changing the order is displayed, and the priority order is changed based on a pressing operation of the change button.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects,
When the job that uses the automatically selected paper feed tray is scheduled to be executed, the control unit searches for a paper feed tray that matches the job information of the job, and stores it in the searched paper feed tray. The paper feed tray is automatically selected based on whether or not the estimated remaining amount of paper is at the start of execution of the job.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The control unit displays a vertical line on the display unit for each job division.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The control unit causes the display unit to display the current remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects,
When the control unit determines that there is no paper feed tray that matches the job information of the job using the automatically selected paper feed tray, the control unit displays information indicating that there is no corresponding paper on the display unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator can refer to the automatically selected paper feed tray information together with the designated paper feed tray information before executing the job. Can know. Thus, the operator can perform adjustment work such as front and back adjustment of the paper feed tray used for executing the job before operating the image forming apparatus and executing the job.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the operator knows paper feed tray information, job execution time or paper number information, information indicating the estimated remaining amount of paper, and information indicating the automatically selected paper feed tray. Can do.

According to the invention described in claim 3, the operator can change the priority order of the automatically selected paper feed tray. Thereby, setting with a high degree of freedom according to the status of the device is possible, and efficient device operation can be realized.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when execution of a job using the automatically selected paper feed tray is scheduled, a paper feed tray matching the job information of the job is searched, and the searched The paper feed tray can be automatically selected based on whether or not the estimated remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray is sufficient at the start of execution of the job.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the operator can know the estimated remaining amount of the paper feed tray and paper used for executing the job for each job.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the operator can know the current remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the operator can know a job with no corresponding sheet before executing the job.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 reads an image from a document, forms an image of the read image on a sheet P, page data including image data from an external device or the like, image forming conditions of each image data, and the like. The main body 1a that receives job information including the setting information and forms an image on the paper P based on the received job information, and the post-processing unit 50 that performs post-processing on the paper on which the image is formed It is a digital multi-function machine equipped with the above. The main body 1a includes an image reading unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a printing unit 40, and the like.

The image reading unit 20 includes an automatic document feeder 21 called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and a reading unit 22, and has a function of reading images of a plurality of documents based on setting information received by the operation display unit 30. Is realized. The document d placed on the document tray T1 of the automatic document feeder 21 is conveyed to a contact glass as a reading location, and an image on one or both sides of the document d is read by an optical system, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 22a. As a result, the image of the document d is read. Here, the image means not only image data such as graphics and photographs but also text data such as characters and symbols.

  Image data (analog image signal) of an image read by the image reading unit 20 is output to a reading processing unit 140 of an image control board described later, and A / D converted and various image processings are performed in the reading processing unit 140. Thereafter, the data is output to the print unit 40.

  The operation display unit 30 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 31, a touch panel 32 provided to cover the LCD 31, and other operation key groups (not shown). The operation display unit 30 receives an instruction from the user and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 110. In addition, various setting screens for inputting various operation instructions and setting information, various processing results, and the like are displayed according to a display signal input from the control unit 110.

  The LCD 31 functions as a display unit that displays an operation screen having a plurality of buttons indicating various operation instructions, and outputs an operation signal indicating an instruction received by each screen to the control unit 110 described later.

  The touch panel 32 accepts a button selection instruction on the operation screen based on a press signal on the operation screen.

The print unit 40 performs electrophotographic image forming processing based on input print data, and includes a stacking unit 41, a paper transport unit 42, an image forming unit 43, and a carry-out unit 44. .

The stacking unit 41 includes a plurality of paper feed trays 411a, 411b, and 411c, a paper feed unit 41b, a manual feed tray T2, and the like. In FIG. 1, three sheet feeding trays 411 a, 411 b, and 411 c are provided as a plurality of sheet feeding trays. However, three or more sheet feeding trays (not shown) may be provided. Each paper feed tray stores paper P identified in advance for each paper type for each paper feed tray, and transports the paper P from the top to the paper transport unit 42 one by one by the paper feed means 41b. To do.
The manual feed tray T2 can stack various types of paper P according to the user's needs, and transports the paper P stacked by the paper feed rollers one by one from the top toward the paper transport unit 42. .

  The paper transport unit 42 transports the paper P transported from each paper feed tray or manual feed tray T2 to the transfer device 43a via a plurality of intermediate rollers, registration rollers 42a, and the like. Further, the sheet conveying unit 42 conveys the sheet P on which the single-sided image formation processing has been performed to the duplex conveying path by the conveying path switching plate, and again conveys the sheet P to the transfer device 43a via the intermediate roller and the registration roller 42a.

  The image forming unit 43 includes an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device 43a, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser output unit that outputs laser light based on image data, and a polygon mirror that scans the laser light in the main scanning direction. A cleaning unit and a fixing device 43b are provided and have a function of forming an image on a sheet based on job information. Specifically, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a photosensitive drum charged by a charging device with laser light using an exposure device. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image by attaching charged toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum by the developing device is transferred to the paper P by the transfer device 43a. Further, after the toner image is transferred to the paper P, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed by the cleaning unit.

  The fixing device 43b thermally fixes the toner image transferred onto the paper P conveyed by the paper conveyance unit 42. The fixed sheet P is sandwiched between the discharge rollers of the carry-out unit 44 and conveyed from the carry-out port to the post-processing unit 50.

  The post-processing unit 50 performs a sorting unit that performs sorting processing of the image-formed sheets P, a folding unit that performs folding processing, a punch unit that performs punching processing, and a stapling process that binds a bundle of sheets P at a set binding position. Various post-processing units such as a staple unit, a paper sheet T on which an image is formed by the main body 1a, and a paper discharge tray T3 on which paper P subjected to various post-processing are discharged and stacked are provided.

FIG. 2 shows a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body 1a, a printer controller 1b, and a post-processing unit 50 connected to the main body 1a. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the PC 2 on the network 3 through a LANIF (Local Area Network InterFace) 14 of the printer controller 1b so as to be able to transmit and receive information to and from each other.

  The main body unit 1a includes an image reading unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a printing unit 40, and an image control board 100. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as each part demonstrated in FIG. 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The image control board 100 includes a control unit 110, a nonvolatile memory 120, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 130, a reading processing unit 140, a compression IC 150, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) control IC 160, an image memory 170, a decompression IC 180, and a writing process. Part 190.

The control unit 110 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, reads a system program stored in the non-volatile memory 120 and a specified program from various application programs, expands the RAM 130, and expands the RAM 130. Various processes are executed in cooperation with the program, and each part of the image forming apparatus 1 is centrally controlled.

Specifically, when image formation is performed based on a plurality of jobs, the control unit 110 displays the automatically selected paper feed tray information together with the designated paper feed tray information together with the designated paper feed tray information before the execution of the plurality of jobs. Is displayed on the same screen of the LCD 31 in a different display mode.
Here, the designated paper feed tray information includes paper feed tray number information (paper tray number information 1 described later) designated by the job creator. The automatically selected paper feed tray information includes paper tray number information (paper tray number information 4 to be described later) selected for auto tray. Auto-tray selection is to automatically select a paper feed tray that stores paper corresponding to paper information such as paper type and size.
Further, the different display mode is that the APS character 51L (or the APS button icon 61C) is added to the automatically selected paper feed tray for display.

Specifically, the automatically selected paper feed tray information includes paper feed tray information, job execution time or number of sheets to be used, information indicating the estimated remaining amount of paper, and information indicating the automatically selected paper feed tray. . The paper feed tray information is information displayed on the vertical axis display unit 51B described later. The job execution time or the information on the number of sheets to be used is information displayed on the horizontal axis display unit 51C described later. The information indicating the estimated remaining amount of paper is a display pattern displayed on a horizontal bar 51H described later. Information indicating that the paper tray is automatically selected is an APS character 51L (or an APS button icon 61A) described later.

  The nonvolatile memory 120 stores an image forming program according to the present embodiment.

  The RAM 130 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the control unit 110 and various data related to these programs.

  The reading processing unit 140 performs various processing such as analog processing, A / D conversion processing, and shading processing on the analog image signal input from the image reading control unit 200 of the image reading unit 20, and then generates digital image data. To do. The generated image data is output to the compression IC 150.

  The compression IC 150 performs compression processing on the input digital image data and outputs it to the DRAM control IC 160.

The DRAM control IC 160 controls the image data compression processing by the compression IC 150 and the decompression processing of the compressed image data by the decompression IC 180 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 110, and performs input / output control of image data to the image memory 170.
For example, when an instruction to store the image signal read by the image reading unit 20 is given, the compression processing of the image data input from the reading processing unit 140 is executed by the compression IC 150, and the compressed image data is compressed in the image memory 170. It is stored in the memory 171. When the print output of the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 171 is instructed, the compressed image data is read from the compression memory 171, decompressed by the decompression IC 180, and stored in the page memory 172. Further, when an instruction to print out the image data stored in the page memory 172 is issued, the image data is read from the page memory 172 and output to the writing processing unit 190.

The image memory 170 includes a compression memory 171 and a page memory 172 configured from DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The compression memory 171 is a memory for storing compressed image data, and the page memory 172 is a memory for temporarily storing image data (print data) for print output.

  The decompression IC 180 performs decompression processing on the compressed image data.

  The write processing unit 190 generates print data for image formation based on the image data input from the DRAM control IC 160 and outputs the print data to the print unit 40.

The image reading unit 20 includes a CCD 22a, an image reading control unit 200, and other automatic document feeding unit 21 and reading unit 22 shown in FIG. Image reading control unit 20
0 controls the automatic document feeder 21, the reading unit 22 and the like to execute exposure scanning of the document surface, and performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light of the light by the CCD 22a to read an image. The read analog image signal is output to the reading processing unit 140.

  The operation display unit 30 includes an LCD 31, a touch panel 32, an operation display control unit 300, and other operation key groups such as a numeric keypad. The operation display control unit 300 causes the LCD 31 to display various screens for inputting various setting conditions, various processing results, and the like in accordance with a display signal input from the control unit 110. The operation display control unit 300 outputs operation signals input from various switches, buttons, numeric keys, operation key groups, the touch panel 32, and the like to the control unit 110.

  The print unit 40 includes various units related to print output, such as the image forming unit 43 shown in FIG. The print control unit 400 controls the operation of each unit of the print unit 40 such as the image forming unit 43 according to an instruction from the control unit 110, and forms an image on the paper P based on the print data input from the writing processing unit 190. In addition, an instruction signal for operating each part of the post-processing unit 50 according to an instruction from the control unit 110 is output to the post-processing control unit 500.

  The post-processing section 50 is provided with various post-processing units, transport means such as transport rollers for transporting the paper P to the various post-processing units, a paper discharge tray T3 for discharging the paper P transported from the various post-processing units, and the like. The various post-processing units are comprehensively controlled by the post-processing control unit 500. The post-processing control unit 500 transports the paper P to a predetermined post-processing unit along the transport path in response to a post-processing instruction signal input from the control unit 110 via the print control unit 400, and drives each unit. Control is performed so that the paper P is subjected to predetermined post-processing, and discharged to the paper discharge tray T3.

  Next, each part of the printer controller 1b will be described. The printer controller 1b manages and controls image data and jobs input from the PC 2 connected to the network 3 to the image forming apparatus 1 when the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a network printer. Data is received, and the data is transmitted to the main unit 1a as image data or a job associated with the operation manual.

  The printer controller 1b includes a controller control unit 11, a DRAM control IC 12, an image memory 13, and a LANIF 14.

  The controller control unit 11 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the printer controller 1b, and transmits data input from the PC 2 as a job to the main body unit 1a via the LANIF 14.

  The DRAM control IC 12 controls storage of data received by the LANIF 14 in the image memory 13 and reading of data from the image memory 13. The DRAM control IC 12 is connected to the DRAM control IC 160 of the image control board 100 via a PCI (Peripheral Components Interconnect) bus, and reads data to be printed from the image memory 13 in accordance with instructions from the controller control unit 11. Output to the control IC 160.

  The image memory 13 is composed of a DRAM and temporarily stores input output data.

The LANIF 14 is a communication interface for connecting to a network 3 such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a LAN such as a modem, and receives data from the PC 2. The received data is output to the DRAM control IC 12.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an example of a paper tray automatic selection setting screen and priority setting screen used for job execution will be described. A display screen 31A shown in FIG. 3 is an example of a screen displayed on the LCD 31 when automatic selection setting and priority setting are performed. When the operator automatically presses the paper feed tray selection button 31B on the display screen 31A, a display screen 41A shown in FIG. The display screen 41A displays an automatic selection presence / absence setting unit 41B and a tray priority order setting unit 41C. The automatic selection presence / absence setting unit 41B is a setting unit for automatically selecting and setting a paper feed tray used for job execution from a plurality of paper feed trays. The tray priority order setting unit 41C is a setting unit for setting a priority order for automatically selecting a paper feed tray used for job execution.

  For example, when the tray 1 button 41D, the tray 2 button 41E, and the tray 3 button 41F are pressed in the automatic selection presence / absence setting unit 41B, the paper feed tray 1 (paper feed tray of paper tray number information 1 to be described later. The name of the paper feed tray is a name corresponding to the paper feed tray number information), and the paper feed tray 2 and the paper feed tray 3 are set as a paper feed tray for auto tray selection. In the tray priority order setting unit 41C, the priority order of the paper feed trays (tray 1, tray 2, tray 3) set by the automatic selection presence / absence setting unit 41B is set by pressing the upper button 41G and the lower button 41H. Is done. For example, when the user wants to increase the priority order of the tray 3, the priority order of the tray 3 can be set higher by pressing the tray 3 button 41K and pressing the upper button 41G.

Next, an example of the job scheduling screen 51 displayed on the LCD 31 will be described with reference to FIG.

The job scheduling screen 51 is a screen displayed on the LCD 31 before execution of a job according to an instruction from the control unit 110 after automatic selection setting and priority setting are executed. The job scheduling screen 51 has a job schedule table 51A indicating a job execution schedule. The job schedule 51A displays a vertical axis display unit 51B, a horizontal axis display unit 51C, a vertical line 51D, horizontal bars 51E to 51K, and APS characters 51L.

  The vertical axis display unit 51B displays information on a plurality of paper feed trays. The paper feed tray information includes, for example, paper feed tray number information for identifying the paper feed tray, paper size information, paper type information, paper remaining amount information, and the like. For example, the paper feed tray display unit 511 of the vertical axis display unit 51B has the paper feed tray number information “1”, the paper size information “A4”, the paper type information “plain paper”, and the current paper remaining amount information (remaining amount). Applicable to the quantity display portion 512).

  The horizontal axis display unit 51C indicates the number of sheets used for job execution. The vertical line 51D is a line displayed for each job break.

The horizontal bars 51E to 51K are bars representing information indicating the estimated remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray used for job execution. The information indicating the estimated remaining amount of paper is a display pattern indicating the level of the estimated remaining amount of paper. Specifically, the display patterns of the horizontal bars 51E to 71K change according to the level of the estimated remaining amount of paper. For example, the horizontal bar 51E is displayed with the same pattern (hatched line). This display pattern indicates that the estimated remaining amount of sheets stored in the sheet feed tray 1 is sufficiently high (there is an estimated remaining amount of sheets). On the other hand, for example, the horizontal bar 51G displays three types of patterns. This display pattern indicates that the estimated remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray 2 gradually decreases as the job is executed. For example, the pattern on the left indicates that the estimated remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray 2 is sufficiently large (there is an estimated remaining amount of paper). The middle pattern indicates that the estimated remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray 2 is at a level (the estimated remaining amount of paper is small) as the job is executed. The pattern on the right indicates that the estimated remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray 2 disappears (no estimated remaining amount of paper) as the job is executed.

  The APS character 51L is a character for indicating a paper feed tray selected for auto tray. The paper feed tray on which the APS display unit 51L is not displayed corresponds to the paper feed tray designated by the job creator. For example, in the display screen 51 shown in FIG. 5, since the APS display section 51L is displayed on the paper feed tray 4, the paper feed tray 4 corresponds to the paper tray selected as the auto tray. In this case, for example, the paper feed tray number information 4 on the vertical axis display unit 51B, the sheet number information on the vertical axis display unit 51C, the horizontal bar 51H, and the APS characters 51L are included in the automatically selected paper feed tray information. On the other hand, paper feed trays other than the paper feed tray 4 (for example, the paper feed tray 1) correspond to the paper feed tray designated by the job creator. In this case, for example, the paper feed tray number information 1 of the vertical axis display unit 51B, the sheet number information of the vertical axis display unit 51C, and the horizontal bar 51E are included in the designated paper feed tray information.

  Further, the job scheduling table 51A is updated at a predetermined cycle during execution of a job. For example, if a new job occurs during job execution, the new job is added and displayed in the job scheduling table 51A.

  Next, an example of the job scheduling screen 61 displayed on the LCD 31 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, the same parts as those in the job scheduling screen 51 are denoted by the same reference numerals, the detailed description thereof is cited, and different parts are mainly described.

  The job schedule table 51A shown in FIG. 6 displays an APS button icon 61A, an APS setting display unit 61B, and a priority order change button 61C. The APS button icon 61A is a button icon that can be pressed. When the APS button icon 61A is pressed by the operator, an APS setting display unit 61B is displayed according to an instruction from the control unit 110. The APS setting display unit 61B displays a priority order change button 61C. The priority order change button 61C is a button for changing the priority order of the automatically selected paper feed tray. For example, when the priority order setting unit 61C is pressed by the operator, the priority order of the paper feed tray 4 is changed according to an instruction from the control unit 110.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. 7 and 8 show the flow of display processing executed by the image forming apparatus 1. FIG.

In the image forming apparatus 1, for example, a display program that is read from the nonvolatile memory 120 and appropriately expanded in the RAM 130 when triggered by a support worker pressing an instruction to execute display processing via the operation display unit 30. Then, display processing is executed in cooperation with the CPU.

  Assume that job information including job setting information set in advance by a job creator has been received from the PC 2 via the LANIF 14. In addition, whether or not to automatically select a paper feed tray is set on the display screen 31A and the display screen 41A via the operation display unit 30, and a priority order for automatically selecting a paper feed tray used for a job is set. It shall be.

  First, it is determined whether or not the job is an auto tray selection job (step S11). Specifically, in this step, determination is performed based on information on whether or not the job is an auto tray selection job included in the job information.

  Then, according to the APS target tray setting, a paper feed tray that matches the designation is searched (step S12). The APS target tray refers to a paper feed tray set in the automatic selection presence / absence setting unit 41B. For example, in the setting of the automatic selection presence / absence setting unit 41B, the APS target tray corresponds to tray 1 (paper feed tray 1), tray 2 (paper feed tray 2), and tray 3 (paper feed tray 3). The paper feed tray that matches the designation refers to a paper feed tray that matches the content included in the job information of the auto-tray selection job. For example, if the job information includes information for image formation on A4 paper, the paper feed tray that matches the designation corresponds to the paper feed tray in which A4 paper is stored. Therefore, in this step, for example, when the paper feed trays set in the automatic presence / absence setting unit 41B are the paper feed tray 1, the paper feed tray 2, and the paper feed tray 3, the paper feed tray 1, the paper feed tray 2, A paper feed tray that matches the content specified in the job information is searched from the paper feed tray 3.

  Then, it is determined whether there is a matching paper feed tray (step S13). That is, it is determined whether or not there is a paper feed tray searched in step S12. If it is determined that there is no matching paper feed tray (step S13; NO), a pattern indicating that there is no estimated remaining amount of paper is displayed in the corresponding paper absence portion (step S14). The corresponding sheet absence portion is one item in the vertical axis of the job schedule, and corresponds to, for example, the corresponding sheet absence portion 513 in the job scheduling screen 51 of FIG. After execution of step S14, the display process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S13 that there is a matching paper feed tray (step S13; YES), the paper feed tray having the highest priority among the paper feed trays that match the designation is selected (step S15). . For example, the paper feed trays that match the specifications are the paper feed tray 1, the paper feed tray 2, and the paper feed tray 3, and the priority order of the paper feed tray 1 is set highest in the tray priority order setting unit 41C. In this case, the paper feed tray 1 is selected.

  After execution of step S15, the estimated remaining amount of paper at the start of the job on the selected tray is calculated (step S16). Specifically, the estimated remaining amount of paper stored in the paper feed tray selected in step S15 when the auto tray selection job is started is calculated. The estimated remaining amount of paper is calculated based on the remaining amount of paper detected by a sensor (not shown) that detects the remaining amount of paper provided in the paper feed tray. For example, a job that uses the 300 sheets of paper in the selected tray in a job that is detected by the sensor when the remaining amount of paper is 1000 at the start of the job and is scheduled to be executed before the job that is the subject of this processing If there is, 1000−300 = 700 sheets is calculated as the estimated remaining amount of paper. At this time, if there is no job scheduled to be executed before the target job in this process, 1000 sheets are calculated as the estimated remaining amount of paper.

  Then, based on the estimated remaining amount of paper calculated in step S16, it is determined whether or not there is an estimated remaining amount of paper (step S17). Specifically, it is determined whether there is an estimated remaining amount of paper stored in the selected tray. When it is determined that there is an estimated remaining amount of paper (step S17; YES), an APS mark is displayed (step S18). Specifically, an APS mark (APS character 51L or APS button icon 61A) is displayed for the paper feed tray having the highest priority. Then, the bar of the selected tray is displayed in a pattern corresponding to the estimated remaining amount of paper (step S19). For example, the horizontal bar 51H of the paper feed tray 4 on the display screen 51 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed in a pattern corresponding to the estimated remaining amount of paper. After execution of step S19, the display process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S17 that there is no paper remaining (step S17; NO), it is determined whether there is a paper feed tray that matches the designation in another paper feed tray (step S20). Specifically, a paper feed tray that matches the content specified in the job information is searched for in a paper feed tray different from the paper feed tray selected in step S15, and a paper feed that matches the content specified in the job information is searched. It is determined whether or not there is a paper tray. If it is determined that there is a paper feed tray that matches the designation in another paper feed tray (step S20; YES), the paper feed tray having the highest priority is selected from the trays that match the designation (step S20). S21). After execution of step S21, the process proceeds to step S16.

  If it is determined in step S20 that there is no paper feed tray that matches another paper feed tray designation (step S20; NO), an APS mark is displayed (step S22). Specifically, as in step S18, the APS mark (APS display 51L or APS button icon 61A) is displayed on the paper feed tray with the highest priority. Then, a bar on the selected tray is displayed in a pattern with no estimated remaining amount of paper (step S23). After execution of step S23, the display process is terminated.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operator can specify designated paper feed tray information (for example, paper feed tray number information 1 on the vertical axis display unit 51B, paper number information on the horizontal axis display unit 51C, horizontal bar 51E), Automatic selection paper feed tray information (for example, paper feed tray number 4 on the vertical axis display unit 51B, sheet number information on the horizontal axis display unit 51C, horizontal bar 51H, APS characters 51L) can be referred to before the job is executed. It is possible to know the paper feed tray used for the job before executing the job. Thus, the operator can perform adjustment work such as front and back adjustment of the paper feed tray used for the job before operating the image forming apparatus and executing the job (before starting work).
In addition, since the operator can know the paper feed tray used for the job before the job is executed, the paper can be replenished when the paper tray of the paper feed tray used for the job is low.
In addition, since it is possible to know the paper feed tray used for job execution before the start of work, it is possible to prevent an unadjusted paper feed tray or the like from becoming a paper feed tray used for job execution.
Further, the operator can easily identify the paper feed tray selected by the auto tray and the paper feed tray designated by the job creator.

  Also, the operator can change the priority order of the paper feed trays used for job execution via the priority order setting unit 61C. Thereby, setting with a high degree of freedom according to the status of the apparatus is possible. For example, when the paper feed tray 1 is selected as the automatic selection tray, the user confirms that the paper feed tray 1 is an unadjusted paper feed tray that has not been subjected to adjustment such as front / back adjustment before the job is executed. If the user knows and wants to lower the priority of the paper feed tray 1, the priority of the paper feed tray 1 can be lowered. Therefore, setting with a high degree of freedom according to the status of the apparatus is possible, and efficient apparatus operation can be realized.

  Further, the operator can know the estimated remaining amount of the paper feed tray and paper used for executing the job for each job by referring to the vertical line 51D.

  Also, the operator can know the remaining amount of paper stored in the current paper feed tray by referring to the remaining amount of paper in the paper feed tray (for example, the remaining amount display unit 512).

  Further, since the operator can know a job having no corresponding sheet before the start of work, the operator can replenish the corresponding sheet before the start of work.

The description in the above embodiment is an example of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the horizontal axis display unit 71C displays the number of used sheets used for executing the job, but is not limited to this. For example, the job execution time required for job execution may be displayed on the horizontal axis display unit 71C.

In the following description, an example in which the nonvolatile memory 120 is used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention is disclosed, but the present invention is not limited to this example.
As other computer-readable media, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and a general-purpose recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied.
A carrier wave is also applied to the present invention as a medium for providing program data according to the present invention via a communication line.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in the above embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the automatic selection setting screen and the priority setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the automatic selection setting screen and the priority setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a job scheduling screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a job scheduling screen. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a display process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a display process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Main part 1b Printer controller 2 PC
3 Network 11 Controller Control Unit 13 Image Memory 20 Image Reading Unit 21 Automatic Document Feeding Unit 22 Reading Unit 22a CCD
30 Operation display unit 31 LCD
32 Touch Panel 40 Printing Unit 41 Stacking Unit 41a Paper Tray 41b Paper Feeding Unit 42 Paper Conveying Unit 42a Registration Roller 43 Image Forming Unit 43a Transfer Device 43b Fixing Device 44 Unloading Unit 50 Post-Processing Unit 100 Image Control Board 110 Control Unit 120 Nonvolatile Memory 130 RAM
140 Reading processing unit 150 Compression IC
160 DRAM control IC
170 Image memory 171 Compression memory 172 Page memory 180 Decompression IC
190 Write processing unit 200 Image reading control unit 300 Operation display control unit 400 Print control unit 500 Post-processing control unit

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image based on a plurality of jobs,
Control for displaying automatically selected paper feed tray information together with designated paper feed tray information on the same screen of the display unit in a display mode different from the designated paper feed tray information before execution of the plurality of jobs by the image forming unit An image forming apparatus provided with a section.   The automatically selected paper feed tray information includes the paper feed tray information arranged along one of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis of the display screen of the display unit, and the job execution time arranged along the other axis. The image according to claim 1, further comprising: information on the number of sheets to be used, information indicating an estimated remaining amount of sheets stored in a sheet feeding tray used for execution of a job, and information indicating an automatically selected sheet feeding tray. Forming equipment. When the information indicating that the paper tray is automatically selected is a button icon that can be pressed, the control unit prioritizes the automatically selected paper tray based on the pressing operation of the button icon. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a change button for changing the order is displayed, and the priority order is changed based on a pressing operation of the change button.   When the job that uses the automatically selected paper feed tray is scheduled to be executed, the control unit searches for a paper feed tray that matches the job information of the job, and stores it in the searched paper feed tray. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a paper feed tray is automatically selected based on whether or not the estimated remaining amount of paper is at the start of execution of the job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes a vertical line to be displayed on the display unit for each job division.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display a current remaining amount of paper stored in a paper feed tray. The control unit displays information indicating that there is no corresponding sheet on the display unit when determining that there is no sheet feeding tray that matches job information of a job that uses the automatically selected sheet feeding tray. 7. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 6.

Images