Print control apparatus, print control method, and storage medium

Abstract

The invention provides a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a storage medium. The printing control apparatus includes: a first paper feeding unit configured to interfere with paper conveyance in a conveyance path from other paper feeding units in a case where paper is being loaded to the first paper feeding unit; a second paper feeding unit configured to not interfere with paper conveyance in the conveyance path from the other paper feeding unit in a case where the paper is being loaded to the second paper feeding unit, the second paper feeding unit being provided with a conveyance path configured not to be interfered when the paper is being loaded to the other paper feeding unit; the at least one memory and the at least one processor are configured to switch a first state of feeding paper from the first paper feeding unit to a second state of feeding paper from the second paper feeding unit in response to paper exhaustion of the first paper feeding unit during printing of a plurality of pieces of paper; and performing control to make a notification to prompt the user to refill the first paper feeding unit with the paper in the second state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a print apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays, there is a known automatic switching technique in which, when the same sheet is set in a plurality of paper feed trays, the sheet is automatically fed from the other trays when the sheet of one of the paper feed trays is exhausted to prevent a job interruption due to a paper-out condition during printing. Examples of this technique include switching control between a cassette and a manual feed unit, from cassette 1 to cassette 2, and from cassette 2 to the manual feed unit. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-148629 discusses a print apparatus in which a conveyance path of paper feed trays passes through an uppermost paper feed tray, and when a plurality of paper feed trays can feed, the sheet is preferentially fed from a lowermost paper feed tray.

[0003] In the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-148629, when a job including a large amount of printing is input to a print apparatus having, for example, two paper feed trays, paper is first fed from the lower paper feed tray. Once the lower paper feed tray is out of paper, the paper feed port is switched to the upper paper feed tray. When paper is fed from the upper paper feed tray, then the lower paper feed tray can be refilled with sheets. However, when the paper feed port is switched back to the lower paper feed tray, the upper paper feed tray cannot be refilled with sheets while paper is being fed from the lower paper feed tray. Thus, the job is interrupted due to a paper-out condition. SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure aim to prevent a print interruption due to a paper-out condition.

[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, a print control apparatus includes: a first paper feed unit configured to interfere with conveyance of paper from other paper feed units in a conveyance path in a case where paper is being loaded to the first paper feed unit; a second paper feed unit configured to not interfere with conveyance of paper from other paper feed units in the conveyance path in a case where paper is being loaded to the second paper feed unit, the second paper feed unit being provided with a conveyance path configured not to be interfered with when paper is being loaded to the other paper feed units; at least one memory and at least one processor configured to, during printing of a plurality of sheets of paper, in response to the first paper feed unit being out of paper, switch a first state of feeding paper from the first paper feed unit to a second state of feeding paper from the second paper feed unit, and perform control to make a notification prompting a user to refill paper to the first paper feed unit in the second state.

[0006] Further features will become apparent from the following description of example embodiments with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the internal configuration of the printing device.

[0008] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus.

[0009] Figure 3 Shows the state where the upper cassette is pulled out during paper feeding from the lower cassette.

[0010] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for switching a paper feed port during execution of a print job.

[0011] Figure 5 2 is a diagram showing a display example of a first notification screen.

[0012] Figure 6 2 is a diagram showing a display example of the second notification screen.

[0013] Figure 7 2 is a diagram showing a display example of the second notification screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal configuration of the printing device according to the exemplary embodiment as seen from the side. Figure 1 In the printing device 1 shown, the front side corresponds to the left side, and the back side corresponds to the right side. Figure 1 In the horizontal direction of the printing apparatus 1 shown, the left direction is the forward direction, and the right direction is the backward direction. Figure 1 The printing device 1 shown includes an inkjet printing unit. However, the printing method is not limited to the inkjet method, and other printing methods such as the electrophotographic method can be used. In addition to the printing unit, the printing device 1 may also include other functional units such as a scanner unit.

[0016] The printing device 1 includes a paper feed cassette 110 for holding sheets to be fed. The paper feed cassette 110 includes a first cassette 112, a second cassette 113, a third cassette 114, and a fourth cassette 115 stacked vertically. The first cassette 112 is located at the top. The fourth cassette 115 is located at the bottom. Each cassette of the paper feed cassette 110 is housed in the main body of the printing device 1 and is pulled forward from the front of the printing device 1 to load or replace sheets. In this exemplary embodiment, the paper feed cassette 110 consists of four cassettes, but the number of cassettes does not necessarily need to be four as long as the number of cassettes is two or more.

[0017] The printing device 1 feeds a sheet from the paper cassette 110. The fed sheet is conveyed along a paper feed path from a paper feed position to a printing position. At the printing position, the printing device 1 performs recording to print on the sheet using a print head 111 based on image data. The sheet that has undergone the recording operation at the printing position is conveyed to a paper discharge port 118.

[0018] The printing device 1 includes a manual feed tray 119 that holds paper to be fed. The manual feed tray 119 is exposed to the outside of the main body of the printing device 1, on which a sheet is placed. Thus, the manual feed tray 119 is capable of loading and replacing paper without being pulled out of the main body of the printing device 1. The printing device 1 can also feed a sheet from the manual feed tray 119. The sheet fed from the manual feed tray 119 is conveyed along a paper feed path to a printing position. The sheet that has undergone the recording operation at the printing position is conveyed to the paper discharge port 118.

[0019] The printing device 1 includes a plurality of conveyance rollers for conveying paper from a paper feed position to the paper discharge port 118. Figure 1 The elements indicated by the middle circle represent conveyance rollers. The conveyance roller 116 is used to take out a sheet from the first cassette 112. The reversal path 117 is used for double-sided printing. The printing device 1 uses the reversal path 117 to reverse a sheet and print on both sides of the sheet.

[0020] When printing is started with a sheet loaded in the first cassette 112 and the first cassette 112 is selected as a paper feed port for paper feed, the printing device 1 takes out the sheets one by one using the conveyance roller 116 attached to the first cassette 112. The sheet 1101 is conveyed along a paper feed path to a printing position. The sheet 1101 that has undergone the recording operation at the printing position is discharged from the paper discharge port 118 with the side on which an image is formed facing down (in a state in which the side on which an image is formed faces down).

[0021] The operation panel 404 is, for example, a touch panel, and is provided on the front face of the printing device 1. The operation panel 404 displays a user interface (UI) screen that receives an input operation from a user and information to be notified to the user.

[0022] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printing device 1. The printing device 1 includes a print engine unit 200 as a printing unit, a scanner unit 300 as a scanning unit, and a controller unit 400 that controls the printing device 1 as a whole. The printing device 1 is an example of a print control device.

[0023] The controller unit 400 will be described below.

[0024] The controller unit 400 includes a main controller 401, a random access memory (RAM) 406, a read only memory (ROM) 407, an image processing unit 408, and an operation panel 404. The controller unit 400 also includes a host interface (host IF) 402, a wireless interface (wireless IF) 403, and a server interface (server IF) 410.

[0025] The host IF 402, the wireless IF 403, and the server IF 410 are used to transmit and receive data to / from an external device or a server device capable of communication through wired or wireless communication. The external device is, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a smartphone on which a dedicated application for the printing device 1 is installed. The external device has a function of starting the dedicated application to generate a print job that is print data for printing image data using the printing device 1, and has a function of transmitting the print job and a print instruction to the printing device 1. The external device also has a function of receiving information on a state of the printing device 1 from the printing device 1. The main controller 401 receives the print job and the print instruction from the external device via the host IF 402, and transmits information on the state of the printing device 1 to the external device.

[0026] A print engine interface (print engine IF) 405 is connected to a controller interface (controller IF) 201 of the print engine unit 200 to exchange data including various commands with the print engine unit 200. The print engine unit 200 controls mechanisms of the print engine unit 200 in response to an instruction from the main controller 401.

[0027] A scanner interface (scanner IF) 409 is connected to a controller IF 301 of the scanner unit 300 to exchange data with the scanner unit 300. The scanner unit 300 controls mechanisms of the scanner unit 300 in response to an instruction from the main controller 401.

[0028] The main controller 401 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and controls the printing device 1 as a whole. The RAM 406 temporarily stores various types of data. The ROM 407 stores various programs and various types of data. The main controller 401 runs various programs stored in the ROM 407 using the RAM 406 as a work memory.

[0029] The operation panel 404 is, for example, a touch panel that can display characters, numbers, and indicators. The main controller 401 controls details of display on the operation panel 404. The operation panel 404 displays a copy screen for instructing a copy operation, a setting screen for making various settings such as a print mode, and a notification screen for notifying a state of the printing device 1. The operation panel 404 can include a switch and / or a hard key for a user to perform an input operation.

[0030] The image processing unit 408 performs predetermined image processing on image data included in a print job input via the host IF 402, based on an instruction from the main controller 401.

[0031] The main controller 401 transmits the image data subjected to the image processing to the print engine unit 200 via the print engine IF 405.

[0032] The print engine unit 200 will be described below.

[0033] The print engine unit 200 includes a controller IF 201, a print engine controller 202, a ROM 203, a RAM 204, an image processing controller 205, a head interface (head IF) 206, and a conveyance control unit 207. The print engine controller 202 including a CPU controls mechanisms of the print engine unit 200 based on programs and parameters stored in the ROM 203, using the RAM 204 as a work area.

[0034] The controller IF 201 is connected to the print engine IF 405 of the controller unit 400 to exchange data between the print engine unit 200 and the controller unit 400. Upon receiving various commands and image data from the controller unit 400 via the controller IF 201, the print engine controller 202 temporarily stores the commands and image information in the RAM 204.

[0035] The print engine controller 202 controls the image processing controller 205 to generate recording data from the image data stored in the RAM 204. When the recording data is generated, the print engine controller 202 controls the recording operation based on the recording data using the print head 111 via the head IF 206 under the control of the main controller 401.

[0036] At this time, under the control of the main controller 401, the print engine controller 202 drives the conveyance rollers illustrated in FIG. 2 to convey the sheet via the conveyance control unit 207. Figure 1 In this way, the print processing is performed by synchronizing the recording operation of the print head 111 with the conveyance of the sheet.

[0037] The ROM 203 stores setting values of various parameters such as N-up printing (N is an integer), double-sided printing or single-sided printing, full-color printing or monochrome printing, and photo printing or document printing. If the parameters are to be set for each user, the main controller 401 can input the setting values from the operation panel 404 to the print engine unit 200 through the print engine IF 405, and the main controller 401 reflects these setting values in the print settings.

[0038] The scanner unit 300 will be described below.

[0039] The scanner unit 300 includes a controller interface (controller IF) 301, a scanner controller 302, a RAM 303, a conveyance control unit 304, and a sensor 305. The controller IF 301 is connected to the scanner IF 409 of the controller unit 400 to exchange data between the scanner unit 300 and the controller unit 400. The scanner controller 302 receives various commands from the controller unit 400 via the controller IF 301. The scanner controller 302 conveys a document placed by a user on an automatic document feeder (ADF) via the conveyance control unit 304, reads the document using the sensor 305, and saves the read image data in the RAM 303. The print engine controller 202 can also convert the read image data into recording data under the control of the main controller 401 to perform a recording operation using the print head 111 based on the recording data.

[0040] <Automatic Paper Tray Switching Function>

[0041] The print apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment has a function of switching between paper trays without an instruction from a user (hereinafter referred to as an automatic paper tray switching function). In the present exemplary embodiment, the paper trays refer to the paper feed cassettes 110 (the first cassette 112, the second cassette 113, the third cassette 114, and the fourth cassette 115) and the manual feed tray 119. If a sheet is loaded to a paper tray, the automatic paper tray switching function is capable of selecting a suitable paper tray according to a paper size, a paper type, and a print job type, and switching between the paper trays.

[0042] Figure 3 A state in which the upper cassette is pulled out forward while the lower cassette is being used for paper feeding is shown. Figure 3 A state in which the third cassette 114 disposed immediately above the fourth cassette 115 is pulled out while the fourth cassette 115 is being used for paper feeding is shown. As shown, a conveyance path of a sheet 1101 fed from the fourth cassette 115 passes through the front portion of the third cassette 114. When the third cassette 114 is pulled out forward, the conveyance path is obstructed by the third cassette 114, which causes a jam. In other words, when a sheet is loaded in a cassette, the conveyance of a sheet from another cassette below the cassette is obstructed. Therefore, it is not possible to load a sheet in a cassette above a cassette being used for paper feeding. Figure 3 On the other hand, when a sheet is loaded in the manual feed tray 119, the conveyance of a sheet from the paper feed cassettes 110 is not obstructed. In addition, when a sheet is loaded in the paper feed cassettes 110, the conveyance of a sheet from the manual feed tray 119 is not obstructed. Therefore, when the paper feed cassettes 110 are used for paper feeding, it is possible to refill the manual feed tray 119 with sheets, and when the manual feed tray 119 is used for paper feeding, it is possible to refill the paper feed cassettes 110 with sheets.

[0043] ​

[0044] The following is a description of the switching control between the cassettes for paper feeding when the same type of sheet is loaded into the cassettes. In this case, if the upper cassette is used more preferentially than the lower cassette, the upper cassette will run out of paper first. Then, the paper feeding port is switched from the upper cassette to the lower cassette, and the lower cassette cannot be refilled with sheets when the lower cassette is used for paper feeding. On the other hand, if the lower cassette is used more preferentially than the upper cassette, the lower cassette runs out of paper first, and then the paper feeding port is switched from the lower cassette to the upper cassette. The lower cassette can be refilled with paper when the upper cassette is used for paper feeding.

[0045] Therefore, in the automatic paper feeding port switching function of the present exemplary embodiment, the fourth cassette 115, the third cassette 114, the second cassette 113, and the first cassette 112 are selected in this order so that the lowermost cassette is used preferentially to the upper cassettes, and the manual feed tray 119 is selected last. In other words, starting from the highest priority, the order in which the paper feeding port is switched is as follows: the fourth cassette 115, the third cassette 114, the second cassette 113, the first cassette 112, and the manual feed tray 119.

[0046] <Control procedure of switching paper feeding port>

[0047] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of switching the paper feeding port during execution of a print job.

[0048] Figure 4 The procedure of the flowchart shown is executed by the main controller 401 loading a program from the ROM 407 into the RAM 406 and running the program. Figure 4 The processing of the flowchart shown is executed in response to the start of a print job containing a plurality of sheets to be printed.

[0049] In step S401, when the print job starts, the main controller 401 selects a paper feeding port (the first cassette 112, the second cassette 113, the third cassette 114, the fourth cassette 115, or the manual feed tray 119) to feed paper based on the settings of the print job. Since the appropriate paper feeding port varies depending on the sheet size and sheet type, any paper feeding port can be selected. The main controller 401 executes a print process by performing a recording operation on the fed sheet using the print head 111 based on the print job.

[0050] In step S402, the main controller 401 determines whether the print job is completed. If the print job is completed (YES in step S402), the processing of the flowchart ends. If the print job continues (NO in step S402), the processing advances to step S403.

[0051] In step S403, the main controller 401 determines whether or not a sheet exists in the paper feed port for paper feeding. For example, the paper feed cassette 110 can be provided with a detection sensor that detects the number of sheets stored therein. The main controller 401 can determine whether or not a sheet exists based on the value of the remaining number detection sensor in the cassette for paper feeding. If a sheet exists (NO in step S403), the process proceeds to step S402, and if a sheet does not exist (YES in step S403), the process proceeds to step S404.

[0052] In step S404, the main controller 401 determines whether or not a cassette loaded with a sheet of the same size as the sheet in the paper feed port for paper feeding exists. While a sheet of the same size is specified here, a sheet of the same type can also be used. If a cassette loaded with a sheet of the same size exists (YES in step S404), the process proceeds to step S405. If no other cassette loaded with a sheet of the same size exists (NO in step S404), the process proceeds to step S409.

[0053] In step S405, the main controller 401 determines whether or not a plurality of cassettes exist that have a sheet of the same size as the sheet in the paper feed port for paper feeding. If a plurality of cassettes exist (YES in step S405), the process proceeds to step S408. If no plurality of cassettes exists (NO in step S405), the process proceeds to step S406.

[0054] In step S406, the main controller 401 determines whether or not a sheet of the same size as the sheet in the paper feed port for paper feeding is loaded into the manual feed tray 119. If a sheet of the same size is loaded into the manual feed tray 119 (YES in step S406), the process proceeds to step S408. If not (NO in step S406), the process proceeds to step S407.

[0055] In step S407, the main controller 401 makes a notification that prompts the user to refill the manual feed tray 119 with a sheet. In the present exemplary embodiment, a first notification screen including a message that prompts the user to refill the manual feed tray 119 with a sheet is displayed on the operation panel 404. The main controller 401 can make the notification by voice using a speaker (not shown). The main controller 401 can also perform control to display the first notification screen on a display unit of an external device (such as a smartphone) that has transmitted a print job or a print instruction to the printing device 1 via the wireless IF 403.

[0056] Figure 5An example of the first notification screen displayed on the operation panel 404 is shown. The first notification screen 501 displays a message prompting the user to load a sheet of the same size as the sheet fed to the manual feed tray 119. The first notification screen 501 can be displayed on the operation panel 404 discontinuously during printing, but can be displayed as a pop-up for a certain period of time, or can be hidden when the operation panel 404 is touched.

[0057] For example, when a print job is started, the fourth cassette 115 is selected to start paper feeding. If the fourth cassette 115 runs out of sheets, and a sheet of the same size is loaded only in the third cassette 114, the paper feed port is switched to the third cassette 114.

[0058] When the paper feed port is switched to the third cassette 114, a sheet of the same size as the sheet in the third cassette 114 is not loaded into any other cassette or the manual feed tray 119. In this state, the main controller 401 displays the first notification screen on the operation panel 404 to prompt the user to refill the manual feed tray 119 with a sheet.

[0059] As described above, the manual feed tray 119 does not interfere with the conveyance of sheets from the paper feed cassettes 110, so a sheet can be refilled to the manual feed tray even during paper feeding from the paper feed cassettes 110.

[0060] In step S408, the main controller 401 switches the paper feed port to a cassette other than the one currently used for paper feeding among the paper feed cassettes 110 according to the priority order of the automatic paper feed port switching function, or the main controller 401 switches the paper feed port to the manual feed tray 119. The print processing is continued thereby.

[0061] In step S409, the main controller 401 determines whether a sheet of the same size as the sheet in the paper feed port used for paper feeding is loaded into the manual feed tray 119. If a sheet of the same size is loaded (YES in step S409), the processing proceeds to step S413. If not (NO in step S409), the processing proceeds to step S410.

[0062] In step S410, the main controller 401 determines that there is no paper feed port from which a sheet can be fed, stops the print processing, and displays a notification indicating the paper out condition on the operation panel 404.

[0063] In step S411, the main controller 401 determines whether the paper cassette 110 or the manual feed tray 119 is refilled with the same size of sheet as the sheet in the paper feed port for paper feeding. The process waits in step S410 until the paper cassette 110 or the manual feed tray 119 is refilled with the sheet. If the paper cassette 110 or the manual feed tray 119 is refilled with the sheet (YES in step S411), the process proceeds to step S412.

[0064] In step S412, the main controller 401 restarts the printing process by starting paper feeding from the manual feed tray 119.

[0065] In step S413, the main controller 401 switches the paper feed port to the manual feed tray 119. The printing process is thereby continued. Here, it is assumed that the main controller 401 switches the paper feed port from the first cassette 112 to the manual feed tray 119 in response to the first cassette 112 running out of the sheet while feeding the sheet from the first cassette 112. This allows the sheet to be fed from the manual feed tray 119. The first cassette 112 is an example of a first paper feed unit. The manual feed tray 119 is an example of a second paper feed unit.

[0066] In step S414, the main controller 401 makes a notification prompting the user to refill the paper cassette 110 with the sheet while feeding the sheet from the manual feed tray 119. In the present exemplary embodiment, a second notification screen including a message prompting the user to refill the paper cassette 110 with the sheet is displayed on the operation panel 404. As described above, when the sheet is loaded in the paper cassette 110, the paper conveying path from the manual feed tray 119 is not obstructed, so the paper cassette 110 can be refilled with the sheet even when the sheet is fed from the manual feed tray 119. The main controller 401 can compare the number of remaining sheets stacked in the manual feed tray 119 with the predicted number of sheets to be used for the ongoing print job, so if the number of remaining sheets is greater than the predicted number, the control is executed not to make the notification.

[0067] Figure 6 An example of the second notification screen displayed on the operation panel 404 when the sheet is fed from the manual feed tray 119 is shown. The second notification screen 601 displays a message prompting the user to load the sheet of the same size as the sheet fed in the paper cassette 110. The main controller 401 can make the notification by voice using a speaker (not shown). The main controller 401 can also execute control to display the second notification screen on a display unit of an external device (such as a smartphone) that has transmitted the print job or the print instruction to the printing device 1 via the wireless IF 403.

[0068] Figure 7Another example of the second notification screen displayed on the operation panel 404 when feeding the sheet from the manual feed tray 119 is shown. The second notification screen 701 is displayed on the operation panel 404 in the same manner as the second notification screen 601. In the present exemplary embodiment, the lower cassette has a higher priority in switching between the paper feed ports, and thus the sheet is fed from the lower cassette with higher priority than the upper cassette. When the sheet is fed from the lower cassette, loading the sheet in the upper cassette will hinder the conveyance of the paper from the lower cassette, which will prevent the loading of the sheet in the upper cassette. Therefore, a message for prompting the user to load the sheet into the cassette in the order from the uppermost to the lowermost is displayed on the second notification screen 701.

[0069] According to the present exemplary embodiment, when loading the sheet, the user can be prompted to refill the paper feed cassette 110 with the sheet while feeding the sheet from the manual feed tray 119 that does not hinder the conveyance of the paper from the paper feed cassette 110. This can prevent the interruption of printing due to refilling the cassette with the sheet while feeding the sheet from the manual feed tray.

[0070] The above-described control performed by the main controller 401 can be performed by one hardware, or the entire apparatus can be controlled by a plurality of hardware (e.g., a plurality of processors or circuits) that share processing. The present application has been described in detail based on exemplary embodiments, but the present application is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. The present application also includes various forms without departing from the gist of the present application. Furthermore, the above-described exemplary embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments of the present application, and these exemplary embodiments can be appropriately combined.

[0071] In the above-described exemplary embodiments, various notifications are controlled by the main controller 401 of the printing device 1. However, the various notifications can be controlled by the CPU of an external device (e.g., a PC or a smartphone) on which a dedicated application software (e.g., a printer driver) for the printing device 1 is installed. In this case, the printing device 1 can transmit and receive data to and from the external device, and share information on the state of the sheet loaded in each paper feed port and information on the paper feed port used for paper feeding with the external device. For example, when the external device detects that the first cassette 112 is out of paper based on the information received from the printing device 1 and the printing device 1 then switches the paper feed port to the manual feed tray 119, the printing device 1 can control the display unit of the external device to display the first notification screen.

[0072] (Other Exemplary Embodiments)

[0073] The present application can also be realized by a process in which a program for executing one or more functions of the above-described exemplary embodiments is provided to a system or an apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or the apparatus read and execute the program. The present application can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) that performs one or more functions.

[0074] The disclosure of the above-described exemplary embodiments includes the following configurations, methods, programs, and storage media.

[0075] (Configuration 1)

[0076] A print control device for controlling a print device, the print control device comprising:

[0077] a first paper feed unit configured to interfere with paper conveyance in a conveyance path from other paper feed units when paper is being loaded to the first paper feed unit;

[0078] a second paper feed unit configured not to interfere with paper conveyance in a conveyance path from other paper feed units when paper is being loaded to the second paper feed unit, the second paper feed unit being provided with a conveyance path configured not to be interfered with when paper is being loaded to the other paper feed units;

[0079] at least one memory and at least one processor configured to, during printing of a plurality of sheets of paper, in response to the first paper feed unit running out of paper, switch from a first state of feeding paper from the first paper feed unit to a second state of feeding paper from the second paper feed unit, and perform control to make a notification prompting a user to refill paper in the first paper feed unit in the second state.

[0080] (Configuration 2)

[0081] The print control device according to Configuration 1, wherein the second paper feed unit is a paper feed unit that loads paper while being exposed outside a main body of the print control device, a paper feed unit that can be refilled with paper without mechanical change, or a manual paper feed unit.

[0082] (Configuration 3)

[0083] The print control device according to Configuration 1 or 2, the at least one memory and at least one processor being further configured to, when the first paper feed unit runs out of paper and paper of the same type as paper loaded in the first paper feed unit is loaded in a second paper feed unit and a third paper feed unit other than the first and second paper feed units, switch to a state of feeding paper from the third paper feed unit more preferentially than from the second paper feed unit.

[0084] (Configuration 4)

[0085] The print control device according to Configuration 3, wherein the at least one memory and at least one processor are further configured to, in a case where there are a plurality of paper feed units loaded with paper of the same type as the paper loaded in the first paper feed unit, preferentially select a paper feed unit having a longer conveyance path than other paper feed units, the conveyance path being from a paper feed position to a print position at which the paper conveyed from the paper feed position is printed.

[0086] (Configuration 5)

[0087] The print control device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 4, wherein the at least one memory and at least one processor are further configured to, in a case where paper of the same type as the paper loaded in the first paper feed unit is not loaded in any paper feed unit other than the first and second paper feed units or the second paper feed unit, make a notification for prompting a user to set the paper of the same type in the second paper feed unit.

[0088] (Configuration 6)

[0089] The print control device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 5, wherein the at least one memory and at least one processor are further configured to, in the second state, perform control to make a notification for prompting a user to refill paper in the first paper feed unit in preference to paper feed units other than the first and second paper feed units.

[0090] (Configuration 7)

[0091] The print control device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 6, wherein the first paper feed unit is a cassette housed in a main body of the print control device, and in a case where the first paper feed unit is pulled out from the main body for paper loading, the first paper feed unit interferes with paper conveyance in a conveyance path of a cassette housed below the first paper feed unit.

[0092] (Configuration 8)

[0093] The print control device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 7, wherein the at least one memory and at least one processor are further configured to receive information about paper feed units used for paper feeding and paper loaded in each paper feed unit during printing, and, based on the received information, perform control to make a notification for prompting a user to refill paper in the first paper feed unit in the second state when it is detected that the first state is switched to the second state in response to the first paper feed unit running out of paper.

[0094] (Configuration 9)

[0095] The print control device according to Configuration 8, wherein a printer driver is installed on the print control device.

[0096] (Method)

[0097] A print control method for controlling a print apparatus including a first paper feed unit configured to interfere with conveyance of paper in a conveyance path from other paper feed units in a case where paper is being loaded to the first paper feed unit, and a second paper feed unit configured not to interfere with conveyance of paper in the conveyance path from the other paper feed units in a case where paper is being loaded to the second paper feed unit, the second paper feed unit being provided with a conveyance path configured not to be interfered with when paper is being loaded to the other paper feed units, the print control method including, during printing of a plurality of sheets of paper, in response to the first paper feed unit running out of paper, switching a first state of feeding paper from the first paper feed unit to a second state of feeding paper from the second paper feed unit, and performing control to make a notification prompting a user to refill paper in the first paper feed unit in the second state.

[0098] (Program)

[0099] A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the print control device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 9.

[0100] (Storage Medium)

[0101] A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to execute a print control method for controlling a print apparatus including a first paper feed unit configured to interfere with conveyance of paper in a conveyance path from other paper feed units in a case where paper is being loaded to the first paper feed unit, and a second paper feed unit configured not to interfere with conveyance of paper in the conveyance path from the other paper feed units in a case where paper is being loaded to the second paper feed unit, the second paper feed unit being provided with a conveyance path configured not to be interfered with when paper is being loaded to the other paper feed units, the print control method including, during printing of a plurality of sheets of paper, in response to the first paper feed unit running out of paper, switching a first state of feeding paper from the first paper feed unit to a second state of feeding paper from the second paper feed unit, and performing control to make a notification prompting a user to refill paper in the first paper feed unit in the second state.

[0102] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a print interruption due to a paper run-out situation.

[0103] In addition, the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a computer of a system or an apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on storage media (which can also be referred to more fully as a 'non-transitory computer-readable storage medium') to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments and / or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments, and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage media to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments and / or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments. The computer can comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing units (CPUs), micro processing units (MPUs)) and can include a computer or a plurality of computers or a plurality of processors or a plurality of computers and a plurality of processors, which read out a plurality of programs (computer executable instructions) and execute these programs together. The computer executable instructions can be provided to a computer, for example, from a network or from a storage medium. The storage medium can include, for example, one or both of a hard disk and a solid state drive (SSD) that are included in a storage, a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), either or both of which are included in a computer, a memory card that can be attached to and detached from a computer, and the like. TM

[0104] Other Embodiments

[0105] The embodiments of the present application can also be implemented by a method of providing software (programs) to a system or an apparatus that performs the functions of the above-described embodiments, by a computer of the system or apparatus, or by a method of reading out and executing programs by a central processing unit (CPU) or a micro processing unit (MPU).​

Claims

1. A print control device comprising: a first paper feed unit configured to interfere with conveyance of paper in a conveyance path from other paper feed units when paper is being loaded to the first paper feed unit; a second paper feed unit configured not to interfere with conveyance of paper in a conveyance path from other paper feed units when paper is being loaded to the second paper feed unit, the second paper feed unit being provided with a conveyance path configured not to be interfered with when paper is being loaded to other paper feed units; a switching unit configured to switch, during printing of a plurality of sheets of paper, from a first state of feeding paper from the first paper feed unit to a second state of feeding paper from the second paper feed unit in response to the first paper feed unit running out of paper; and a control unit configured to perform control to make a notification prompting a user to refill paper in the first paper feed unit in the second state.

2. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein The second paper feed unit is a paper feed unit that loads paper while being exposed outside a main body of the print control device, a paper feed unit that can be refilled with paper without mechanical change, or a manual paper feed unit.

3. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein When the first paper feed unit runs out of paper and paper of the same type as paper loaded in the first paper feed unit is loaded in a second paper feed unit and a third paper feed unit other than the first and second paper feed units, the switching unit switches to a state of feeding paper from the third paper feed unit with higher priority than from the second paper feed unit.

4. The print control device according to claim 3, wherein In a case where there are a plurality of paper feed units loaded with paper of the same type as paper loaded in the first paper feed unit, the switching unit preferentially selects a paper feed unit having a longer conveyance path from a paper feed position to a print position that prints paper conveyed from the paper feed position, among the other paper feed units.

5. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein In a case where paper of the same type as paper loaded in the first paper feed unit is not loaded in any paper feed unit other than the first and second paper feed units or the second paper feed unit, the control unit makes a notification for prompting a user to set paper of the same type in the third paper feed unit.

6. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein In the second state, the control unit performs control to make a notification for prompting a user to refill paper in the first paper feed unit in preference to one or more paper feed units other than the first and second paper feed units.

7. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein The first paper feed unit is a cassette housed in a main body of the print control device, and the first paper feed unit interferes with conveyance of paper in a conveyance path from a cassette housed below the first paper feed unit when the first paper feed unit is pulled out from the main body for paper loading.

8. The print control device according to claim 1, further comprising a reception unit configured to receive information about paper feed units used for paper feeding and paper loaded in each paper feed unit during printing, wherein based on the information received by the reception unit, upon detecting switching from the first state to the second state in response to the first paper feed unit running out of paper, the control unit performs control to make a notification prompting a user to refill paper in the first paper feed unit in the second state.

9. The print control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a printer driver is installed on the print control apparatus.

10. A print control method for controlling a print apparatus including a first paper feed unit configured to interfere with conveyance of a paper sheet in a conveyance path from other paper feed units in a case where a paper sheet is being loaded to the first paper feed unit, a second paper feed unit configured not to interfere with conveyance of a paper sheet in a conveyance path from other paper feed units in a case where a paper sheet is being loaded to the second paper feed unit, the second paper feed unit being provided with a conveyance path configured not to be interfered with when a paper sheet is being loaded to the other paper feed units, the print control method comprising switching, in response to a paper sheet in the first paper feed unit being used up during printing of a plurality of paper sheets, a first state of feeding a paper sheet from the first paper feed unit to a second state of feeding a paper sheet from the second paper feed unit, and performing control to make a notification prompting a user to refill the first paper feed unit with a paper sheet in the second state.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to execute a print control method for controlling a print apparatus, the print apparatus comprising: a first paper feed unit configured to interfere with conveyance of a paper sheet in a conveyance path from other paper feed units in a case where a paper sheet is being loaded to the first paper feed unit, a second paper feed unit configured not to interfere with conveyance of a paper sheet in a conveyance path from other paper feed units in a case where a paper sheet is being loaded to the second paper feed unit, the second paper feed unit being provided with a conveyance path configured not to be interfered with when a paper sheet is being loaded to the other paper feed units; the print control method comprising: switching, in response to a paper sheet in the first paper feed unit being used up during printing of a plurality of paper sheets, a first state of feeding a paper sheet from the first paper feed unit to a second state of feeding a paper sheet from the second paper feed unit, and performing control to make a notification prompting a user to refill the first paper feed unit with a paper sheet in the second state. ​

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