Printing device, method for controlling printing device, and program

Abstract

To suppress failure to continue a printing job.SOLUTION: When a paper feeding stage used as a paper feeding stage for inter-job partition paper is under reservation and the paper feeding stage under reservation is set to unavailable by a printing job, an image formation device 100 makes the setting changeable for the paper feeding stage for inter-job partition paper during the printing job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device, a control method for a printing device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses that a holding unit (e.g., a paper feed cassette loaded with paper) that holds sheets for printing is temporarily placed in a reserved state, thereby preventing the sheets held in the holding unit from being used in another user's print job. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-93556 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, for example, if a reserved storage unit is designated as a storage unit that holds partition paper for separating print jobs, the use of partition paper is not permitted for normal print jobs. In this case, there is a risk that partition paper cannot be fed from the storage unit. As a result, there is a risk that the print job cannot be continued. In this case, the user must cancel the print job.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to prevent a print job from being unable to be continued. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first example of a printing device of the present invention is a printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, characterized in that it comprises: an acquisition means for acquiring a print job; a reservation means for reserving the use of the holding units; an acceptance means for accepting a change of the holding unit when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the reserved holding unit is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and an execution means for making the change accepted by the acceptance means and executing the print job. A second example of the printing device of the present invention is a printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, characterized in that it comprises an acquisition means for acquiring a print job, a reservation means for reserving the use of the holding units, an acceptance means for accepting changes to the reservation when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the reserved holding unit is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet, and an execution means for making the changes accepted by the acceptance means and executing the print job. A third example of the printing device of the present invention is a printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, characterized in that it comprises: an acquisition means for acquiring a print job; a reservation means for reserving the use of the holding units; a reception means for accepting a change from using the second sheet to not using the second sheet when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the reserved holding unit is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and an execution means for making the change accepted by the reception means and executing the print job. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a print job from being unable to be continued. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an image forming system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a paper feed unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a method for reserving a paper feed tray and setting job partition paper. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a home screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a setting selection screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a paper setting screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a reservation setting screen for a paper feed tray. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a job partition paper setting screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen for setting a paper feed location for partition paper. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printer driver process. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a print setting screen. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing printer processing. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a page generation process. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart showing a first example of a paper feeding process for job partition sheets. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a paper feed error screen for job partition paper. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen for changing settings for job partition paper. [Figure 19] 10 is a flowchart showing a paper feed determination process. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an out-of-paper error screen. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of a paper feed error screen for job partition paper. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a reservation setting change screen for a paper feed tray. [Figure 23] 10 is a flowchart showing a second example of a paper feed process for job partition sheets. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example of a paper feed error screen for job partition paper. [Figure 25] 10 is a flowchart showing a first example of a reservation setting process for a paper feed tray. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a reservation setting screen for a paper feed tray. [Figure 27] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for setting job partition paper. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of a job partition paper setting screen. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example of a job partition paper setting screen. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen for setting a paper feed location for partition paper. [Figure 31] 10 is a flowchart showing a third example of a paper feeding process for job partition sheets. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of a reservation setting screen for a paper feed tray. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the reservation setting process for the paper feed tray. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a fourth example of a paper feeding process for job partition paper. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. [First embodiment] First, the first embodiment will be described. First, an example of an image forming apparatus will be described. The image forming apparatus includes, for example, a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a multifunction device that combines the functions of these, and has a function of forming an image on a sheet that is a recording medium (printing function).

[0010] FIG. 1(a) illustrates an example in which the image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction peripheral that forms an image on a sheet. The sheet includes, for example, paper such as paper sheets and envelopes, plastic film such as sheets for overhead projectors (OHPs), and cloth. Furthermore, although the terms "paper" and "paper feed" are used in the specification and drawings, these terms are treated as referring to sheets in general, including sheets other than paper, unless otherwise specified. "Paper" is an example of "sheet," and "paper feed" is an example of "feed."

[0011] Image forming apparatus 100 has devices such as printer unit 101, scanner unit 108, multiple paper feed cassettes 102 to 105, manual feed tray 106, and discharge tray 107. Hereinafter, unless there is a particular need to distinguish between paper feed cassettes 102 to 105 and manual feed tray 106, these will be referred to as paper feed stages as needed. Furthermore, when there is a need to distinguish between paper feed cassettes 102 to 105, these will be referred to as paper feed cassette 1 to paper feed cassette 4, each with a number attached.

[0012] The scanner unit 108, which serves as an image reading device, optically scans an original and converts it into electronic image information using a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) system. The printer unit 101 forms an image on paper using a printer engine 110, which is an example of an image forming unit, based on image information input from the scanner unit 108 or an external host computer.

[0013] Each of the paper feed cassettes 102 to 105 stores paper. The manual feed tray 106 supports paper placed on the placement surface of the manual feed tray 106. The paper held in the paper feed cassettes 102 to 105 and the manual feed tray 106 is fed to the printer engine 110 while being separated one sheet at a time by a paper feed unit (not shown). The paper feed cassettes 102 to 105 and the manual feed tray 106 are each an example of a holding unit that holds sheets to be supplied to the image forming unit. The paper on which an image has been formed by the printer engine 110 is discharged to the discharge tray 107, which is a discharge unit.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1B, the printer engine 110 has an electrophotographic image forming unit PU. The image forming unit PU has a photosensitive drum 111, which is a drum-shaped photosensitive member, a charging device 112, an exposure device 113, a developing device 114, and a cleaning device 116. When the printer engine 110 is requested to start an image forming operation, the printer engine 110 performs the following exemplary operations. The charging device 112 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 111. The exposure device 113 scans the photosensitive drum 111 with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111. The developing device 114 develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by supplying charged toner to the photosensitive drum 111. The toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 111 is transferred to paper by a transfer device 115. The toner image transferred to the paper is fixed to the paper by, for example, a thermal fixing device 117.

[0015] Next, an example of an image forming system including the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The image forming apparatus 100 is connected to a wired or wireless network 201 via a network I / F 206, and communicates with an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC) 200.

[0016] It is assumed that a printer driver is installed in PC 200 as driver software that generates a job (hereinafter, a print job) that instructs image forming apparatus 100 to form an image. The printer driver generates a print job written in PDL based on, for example, document data received from a document creation application on PC 200. PDL is an abbreviation for Page Description Language, examples of which include PS, PCL, and LIPS (registered trademark). PC 200 also includes, for example, a control unit such as a CPU (central processing unit), and storage units such as a ROM (read-only memory), RAM (rewritable memory), and HDD (hard disk drive). PC 200 transmits the print job generated using the printer driver to image forming apparatus 100 via network 201.

[0017] Image forming apparatus 100 is controlled by CPU 202. CPU 202 operates based on a program stored in RAM 204. ROM 203 is a boot ROM, and a system boot program is stored in ROM 203. Storage unit 205 stores system software, image data, programs for controlling the operation of image forming apparatus 100, and the like. The programs stored in storage unit 205 are loaded into RAM 204, and CPU 202 controls the operation of image forming apparatus 100 based on these programs. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, each step in the control process of image forming apparatus 100 is assumed to be executed by CPU 202.

[0018] Note that image forming apparatus 100 and PC 200 may have one or more dedicated hardware components different from a CPU, and the dedicated hardware components may execute at least some of the processes performed by the CPU. Examples of dedicated hardware include an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), and a DSP (digital signal processor). Image forming apparatus 100 and PC 200 may also have a hardware processor other than a CPU (e.g., a GPU (graphics processing unit)) instead of or in addition to a CPU.

[0019] The image processing unit 209 performs image processing on image data. For example, the image processing unit 209 performs image processing on image data received via the network I / F 206. The image processing unit 209 also performs image processing on image data input / output from the device I / F 207. The image data transmitted from the PC 200 is converted by the image processing unit 209 into raster format image data and stored in the storage unit 205. The image data stored in the storage unit 205 is transmitted to the printer engine 110 as a video signal via the device I / F 207 and is used in the image formation operation by the printer engine 110.

[0020] The image forming apparatus 100 also has an operation display unit 210 that displays information to the user and receives instructions from the user. The operation display unit 210 has a screen display unit including a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The operation display unit 210 also has a touch panel that is installed on the display and functions as a soft key for inputting user operation content based on the relationship between the position of an operation target displayed on the display and the user's operation position relative to the display. The operation display unit 210 also has an operation input unit that includes hard keys such as a numeric keypad. Display processing for displaying information on the operation display unit 210 is performed by the CPU 202, for example.

[0021] Furthermore, the CPU 202 of the image forming apparatus 100 controls a paper feed unit 208. In this embodiment, the paper feed unit 208 has paper feed stages such as paper feed cassettes 102 to 105 and a manual feed tray 106. An example of the paper feed unit 208 will be described in detail later.

[0022] 3 is a detailed functional block diagram of an example of paper feed unit 208 of image forming apparatus 100. Paper feed unit 208 supplies paper to printer engine 110. CPU 202 controls paper feed cassettes 1 to 4 (102 to 105) and manual feed tray 106 in paper feed unit 208 to feed (feed) paper from the paper feed cassettes or manual feed unit, which are paper feed stages.

[0023] Each of the paper feed cassettes 1 and 2 (102 and 103) is provided with a paper load sensor 301, 302 that detects how much paper is loaded in that paper feed cassette. This allows the CPU 202 to detect, within a range of several levels, whether there is currently no paper in the paper feed cassette or, if there is paper, how much paper is loaded in the paper feed cassette. Similarly, each of the paper feed cassettes 1 and 2 (102 and 103) is provided with an open / close detection sensor 304, 305 that detects the open / close state of the paper feed cassette. This allows the CPU 202 to detect in real time when a paper feed cassette is opened or closed as an event from the open detection sensor. Each of the paper feed cassettes 3 and 4 (104 and 105) is also provided with a paper load sensor and an open / close detection sensor, but these are not shown in FIG. 3.

[0024] The manual feed tray 106 is provided with a tray paper presence / absence detection sensor 303 that detects whether or not paper is placed on the manual feed tray 106. This allows the CPU 202 to detect in real time, as an event from the tray paper presence / absence detection sensor 303, that paper has been placed on the manual feed tray 106 or that paper has been removed from the manual feed tray 106.

[0025] (Overview of the process for forming an image) An example of an outline of the process for forming an image will be described. This embodiment illustrates a case in which a paper feed tray reservation and job separator settings are made before an image formation process is executed. Paper feed tray reservation is a setting for restricting the use of each paper feed cassette and manual feed tray containing paper used for image formation. In principle, use of a reserved paper feed tray during the reservation period is permitted for the print job of the user who made the reservation, but is prohibited for print jobs of other users. Details of paper feed tray reservation will be described later. Job separator paper is paper for the paper feed tray specified in a print job and is inserted on the first page of the print job. By inserting job separator paper on the first page of a print job, printed documents can be sorted when multiple print jobs are printed consecutively. Job separator paper may also be inserted on the last page instead of or in addition to the first page. An example of a method for setting job separator paper will be described later.

[0026] Thereafter, PC 200 generates a print job by printer driver processing and outputs it to image forming apparatus 100. When the print job is input to image forming apparatus 100, image forming apparatus 100 executes printer processing to process the print job. Next, each process will be described in detail.

[0027] (Paper tray reservation) An example of settings for reserving a paper feed tray and an example of settings for job partition paper will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 4. Here, the description will be given by taking as an example a case where a user performs an operation to reserve the use of the paper feed cassette 102 by placing the following special paper in the paper feed cassette 102, which is required. Paper size: A4 Paper type: Colored paper

[0028] First, the user places the above-mentioned special paper in paper feed cassette 102. Next, the user operates operation display unit 210 of image forming apparatus 100 to set the size and type of the paper placed in paper feed cassette 102.

[0029] The CPU 202 of the image forming apparatus 100 displays a home screen 501 shown in FIG. 5 on the operation display unit 210, and waits for a user's input operation on the home screen 501 (S401). FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which function selection buttons 502 to 505 and a setting start button 506 are arranged on the home screen 501. The function selection button 502 is a button selected when using the copy function. The function selection button 503 is a button selected when using the send function. The function selection button 504 is a button selected when using the box function. The function selection button 505 is a button selected when using the reservation print function. The setting start button 506 is a button selected to perform various settings of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0030] In the following description, selecting various buttons is synonymous with pressing a button. Also, the GUI components shown on the screens in each drawing are examples, and are not limited to the GUI components shown on each screen, as long as they can fulfill the same roles as the GUI components shown on each screen.

[0031] In this embodiment, a case will be exemplified in which, when setting the size and type of paper placed in a paper feed tray and reserving the use of that paper feed tray, the user selects the setting start button 506. When the CPU 202 of the image forming apparatus 100 detects that the setting start button 506 has been selected, it causes the operation display unit 210 to display a setting selection screen 601 shown in Fig. 6. The setting selection screen 601 is a screen that allows the user to select various setting items.

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which buttons such as setting selection buttons 602 to 604 and a back button 605 are arranged on a setting selection screen 601. The setting selection button 602 is a button selected when configuring paper settings. The setting selection button 603 is a button selected when configuring paper feed tray reservation settings. The setting selection button 604 is a button selected when configuring job partition paper settings, which will be described later. The back button 605 is a button selected when returning the display to the home screen 501.

[0033] When the CPU 202 detects that the setting selection button 602 for setting paper among the various setting items (buttons in the setting selection screen 601) has been pressed, the CPU 202 causes the operation display unit 210 to display a paper setting screen 701 shown in Fig. 7 (S402). Fig. 7 illustrates an example in which paper feed stage selection buttons 702 to 706 are arranged on the paper setting screen 701. Fig. 7 also illustrates an example in which the paper feed stage selection buttons 702 to 706 each display the setting status of the paper feed stage corresponding to that paper feed stage selection button 702 to 706. An example of the display content of the paper feed stage selection buttons 702 to 706 will be described later.

[0034] 7 illustrates an example in which a type setting button 707, size setting buttons 708-709, and an OK button 710 are arranged on the paper setting screen 701. The type setting button 707 is a button selected when changing the paper type. The size setting buttons 708 and 709 are buttons selected when setting the paper size to a special size (envelope size, postcard size). The type setting button 707 and the size setting buttons 709-710 are buttons that become operable after one of the paper feed stage selection buttons 702-706 is selected. The OK button 710 is a button selected when ending the paper setting performed using the paper setting screen 701.

[0035] An example of the setting status of each paper feed tray displayed on the paper feed tray selection buttons 702 to 706 will now be described in detail. The setting status of each paper feed tray is represented by using, for example, information such as that shown in Table 1 below as paper feed tray information in the storage unit 205 of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0036] [Table 1]

[0037] The sheet sizes in Table 1 are the paper sizes automatically detected by each paper feed tray when paper is installed or set by the user. The sheet type is the type of paper set by selecting the type setting button 707. The remaining sheet amount is the remaining amount detected by each paper feed tray, expressed in five levels. Furthermore, the reservation status in Table 1 indicates the reservation status of the paper feed tray. In this embodiment, a case is illustrated in which the reservation status is set by selecting the setting selection button 603 shown in Figure 6. Table 1 illustrates a case in which all the reservation status columns are blank, meaning that all paper feed trays are available for anyone to use. An example of a method for reserving the use of a paper feed tray by selecting the setting selection button 603 will be described later.

[0038] Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 when a certain paper feed tray is selected and the type setting button 707 is selected will be described. For the sake of explanation, a case will be illustrated in which the type setting button 707 is selected after the paper feed tray selection button 702 corresponding to the paper feed cassette 102 is selected. When the CPU 202 of the image forming apparatus 100 detects that the type setting button 707 has been selected, it displays a paper type setting screen (not shown) on the operation display unit 210. The CPU 202 then waits for a paper type to be selected (determined) from among multiple paper types by a user's input operation on the paper type setting screen. Once the paper type is selected, the CPU 202 updates the paper feed tray information based on the selected paper type, and completes the paper type setting. Here, a case will be illustrated in which colored paper is selected as the paper type.

[0039] Next, an example of an operation for reserving the use of a paper feed tray will be described. For the sake of explanation, a case where the use of the paper feed cassette 102 is reserved will be illustrated. To reserve the use of a paper feed tray, the setting selection button 603 on the setting selection screen 601 described above is used. As described above, the setting selection button 603 is a button selected when setting a reservation for a paper feed tray. When the CPU 202 detects that the setting selection button 603 for setting a reservation for a paper feed tray has been selected, the CPU 202 displays a paper feed tray reservation setting screen 801 shown in FIG. 8 on the operation display unit 210 (S403). FIG. 8 illustrates an example where a reservation ON button 802, a reservation OFF button 803, a cancel button 804, and an OK button 805 are arranged on the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 801.

[0040] A reservation ON button 802 is provided for each paper feed tray and is selected when reserving use of the paper feed tray corresponding to that button. A reservation OFF button 803 is provided for each paper feed tray and is selected when not reserving use of the paper feed tray corresponding to that button. Note that only one of the reservation ON button 802 and reservation OFF button 803 corresponding to the same paper feed tray is valid.

[0041] A cancel button 804 is a button that is selected when canceling an operation for reserving the use of a paper feed tray (an input operation performed on the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 801). An OK button 805 is a button that is selected when confirming a reservation for the use of a paper feed tray (an input operation performed on the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 801).

[0042] FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which the reservation ON button 802 corresponding to the paper feed cassette 1 (102) is selected, thereby placing the paper feed cassette 1 (102) in a reserved state. When the CPU 202 detects that the user has selected the OK button 805 for confirming the reservation in this state, the CPU 202 records "reserved" in the reservation status field corresponding to the paper feed cassette 1 (102) in the reservation status field of the paper feed stage information stored in the storage unit 205. As a result, the paper feed cassette 1 (102) can only feed paper in a print job that is set to use the paper feed stage reserved for use in step S1105, which will be described later. To cancel the reservation for use of the paper feed stage, the user again selects the reservation OFF button 803 for canceling the reservation from the reservation setting screen 801 for that paper feed stage, and then selects the OK button 805. As a result, the CPU 202 clears the reservation status field corresponding to the reservation OFF button 803 in the reservation status field of the paper feed stage information stored in the storage unit 205. An example of a specific paper feed operation for a reserved paper feed tray will be described later in the paper feed determination process.

[0043] Table 2 shows the changes that have been made to the paper feed tray information shown in Table 1 due to the change in paper type and the reservation of paper feed tray use. In Table 2, the colors of the items that have been changed from Table 1 are inverted to make it easier to compare with Table 1.

[0044] [Table 2]

[0045] (Job separator settings) Next, an example of a job partition paper setting method (S404) will be described with reference to FIGS. When the CPU 202 detects that the setting selection button 604 arranged on the setting selection screen 601 described above has been selected, it causes the operation display unit 210 to display a job partition paper setting screen 901 shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 illustrates an example in which a setting ON button 902, a setting OFF button 903, a paper feed tray setting button 904, a cancel button 905, and an OK button 906 are arranged on the job partition paper setting screen 901.

[0046] The setting ON button 902 is a button that is selected when enabling the job divider paper setting. The setting OFF button 903 is a button that is selected when disabling the job divider paper setting. When the setting ON button 902 for enabling the job divider paper setting is selected, a paper feed tray setting button 904 for setting the paper feed tray to be used for job dividers becomes operable. A paper feed tray current status display field 907 displays information indicating the paper feed tray to which job dividers are currently set.

[0047] The cancel button 905 is a button that is selected when canceling the job partition paper settings (input operations performed on the job partition paper settings screen 901). The OK button 906 is a button that is selected when confirming the job partition paper settings (input operations performed on the job partition paper settings screen 901). When the CPU 202 detects that the OK button 906 has been selected, it confirms the job partition paper settings in accordance with the contents of the input operations performed on the job partition paper settings screen 901.

[0048] To change the settings for job divider paper, the paper feed stage setting button 904 is selected. When the CPU 202 detects that the paper feed stage setting button 904 has been selected, it causes the operation display unit 210 to display a paper feed location setting screen 1001 for divider paper, as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 illustrates an example in which paper feed stage selection buttons 1002 to 1006, a cancel button 1007, and an OK button 1008 are arranged on the paper feed location setting screen 1001 for divider paper.

[0049] 10 illustrates an example in which each of the paper feed stage selection buttons 1002 to 1006 displays the setting status of the paper feed stage (paper feed location) corresponding to that paper feed stage selection button 1002 to 1006. By selecting one of the paper feed stage selection buttons 1002 to 1006, the user can select (change) the paper feed stage corresponding to the selected button as the paper feed stage that holds paper to be used as job partition paper.

[0050] The cancel button 1007 is a button that is selected when canceling the operation for setting the paper feed tray that holds the paper to be used as job dividers (the input operation performed on the divider paper feed location setting screen 1001). The OK button 1008 is a button that is selected when confirming the paper feed tray that holds the paper to be used as job dividers (the input operation performed on the divider paper feed location setting screen 1001). When the CPU 202 detects that the OK button 1008 has been selected, it determines (changes) the paper feed tray for job dividers.

[0051] (Printer driver processing) Next, an example of printer driver processing will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 11. Note that the following steps are achieved by, for example, a control means such as a CPU mounted on PC 200 executing a program that constitutes the printer driver. Printer driver processing is initiated when a user of PC 200 performs an operation to instruct a document creation application to execute printing, for example. Note that here, an example is shown in which document data indicating the content to be printed (documents, drawings, etc.) has been generated in advance using a document creation application or the like (S1101).

[0052] A setting process for setting attribute information of a print job is performed based on an input operation by the user to the PC 200 (S1102 to S1105). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the PC 200 displays a print setting screen 1201 for setting print conditions on the computer display, and makes the print setting screen 1201 ready to accept input operation by the user. A tab 1202 indicates that this is a screen for making print settings. A paper size setting field 1203 displays the setting value for the paper size. A paper type setting field 1204 displays the setting value for the paper type. A paper feed stage setting field 1205 displays the paper feed stage to be specified as the paper supply source.

[0053] In the paper size setting field 1203, it is possible to select the paper size from, for example, "original size," which specifies the same size as the document data, as well as a standard size such as "A4," or a user-defined size that the user inputs numerically (S1102). In the paper type setting field 1204, it is possible to select, for example, "plain paper 1," as the paper type, or a setting value such as "plain paper 2," which has a larger basis weight than "plain paper 1" (S1103). In addition, in the paper feed stage setting field 1205, it is possible to select, as the paper feed stage, any one of the paper feed cassettes 102 to 105 and the manual feed tray 106 (S1104).

[0054] Also, for each of the paper type (paper type setting field 1204) and the paper feed stage (paper feed stage setting field 1205), options such as "automatic selection" that leaves the selection to the image forming apparatus 100 may be provided. Furthermore, in the reserved paper feed stage use / non-use setting field 1206, it is possible to select whether or not to use paper that is installed in the paper feed stage that is set as the paper feed stage that has been reserved for use (S1105). By selecting "use" in the reserved paper feed stage use / non-use setting field 1206, the user can print using paper that is installed in the paper feed stage that has been reserved for use. In the following description, the paper feed stage that has been reserved for use will be referred to as the reserved paper feed stage as necessary.

[0055] Based on the user's input operations on the print setting screen 1201, the PC 200 sets the paper size (S1102), paper type (S1103), paper feed tray from which the paper will be fed (S1104), and whether or not to use a reserved paper feed tray (S1105).

[0056] Next, PC 200 sets the owner name and document name of the print job (S1106, S1107). The owner name is information for identifying the user who created the print job. In this embodiment, the owner name is the ID of the user currently logged in to PC 200. The document name is information for identifying a data file such as a document or drawing to be printed. In this embodiment, the document name is obtained from the application that generated the document data.

[0057] Then, based on the document data and various setting information, the PC 200 generates PDL data conforming to the PDL format as a print job (S1108). The PDL data includes page data representing the drawing content of each page and setting information for the print job. The setting information for the print job includes, for example, paper size, paper type, paper feed tray setting information (information on the paper feed tray used for printing), owner name, and document name. In this embodiment, the setting information for the print job includes setting information on whether a reserved paper feed tray is to be used. Page data is image information generated from the document data by the printer driver in accordance with the PDL format. The PC 200 transmits the PDL data to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network 201 (S1109).

[0058] (printer processing) When the PDL data arrives at the image forming apparatus 100, the CPU 202 of the image forming apparatus 100 starts printer processing. As shown in Fig. 13, the printer processing includes a page generation process (S1301) that roughly generates image data for each page, and a print process (S1302) that forms an image on paper based on the image data.

[0059] First, an example of the page generation process in S1301 of FIG. 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 202 temporarily stores the print job transmitted as PDL data from the PC 200 in the storage unit 205 (S1401). The print job stored in the storage unit 205 includes page data as image information conforming to the PDL format. The CPU 202 analyzes this page data (S1402) and converts it into intermediate data (S1403). Note that intermediate data is a general term for drawing objects such as bitmaps, run lengths, trapezoids, boxes, and high-speed boundary-encoded bitmaps, background patterns, and drawing logic for drawing raster-format images from these. The CPU 202 also extracts print job setting information, such as paper size, included in the PDL data and stores it in the storage unit 205.

[0060] The image processing unit 209 performs RIP processing on the intermediate data and stores the data in the storage unit 205 (S1404). RIP is an abbreviation for Raster Image Processing, and refers to the process of generating raster format image data from image data such as a vector image.

[0061] Next, an example of the print processing in S1302 of FIG. 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When printing processing starts, in step S1501, the CPU 202 determines whether job divider paper has been set. Job divider paper is set by selecting the setting selection button 604 on the setting selection screen 601 described above. Job divider paper is set in accordance with input operations by the user on the job divider paper setting screen 901 and the divider paper feed location setting screen 1001.

[0062] If the result of the determination in S1501 is that job partition paper has been set (YES in S1501), the process of S1502 is performed. In S1502, the CPU 202 performs paper feed processing for job partition paper. Then, the process of S1503 is performed. An example of this paper feed processing for job partition paper will be described later. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S1501 is that job partition paper has not been set (NO in S1501), the process of S1502 is omitted and the process of S1503 is performed.

[0063] In S1503, CPU 202 initializes parameter P, which indicates the page being processed (current paper). Parameter P is an integer value that satisfies P≧1. Next, in S1504, CPU 202 determines whether parameter P exceeds variable Pmax, which indicates the total number of pages (number of sheets of paper specified in the print job). If the result of the determination in S1504 is P≦Pmax (YES in S1504), CPU 202 repeatedly executes the following processes (S1505 to S1510). It is assumed that variable Pmax is extracted by analyzing the PDL data and stored in storage unit 205.

[0064] In S1505, the CPU 202 references the storage unit 205 to acquire the setting information of the paper feed tray specified in the paper feed tray setting field 1205 (see S1104 in FIG. 11 ), and performs paper feed determination processing using the acquired paper feed tray setting information. The paper feed determination processing is processing for determining whether paper can be fed from the paper feed tray specified as the paper supply source. An example of the paper feed determination processing will be described later. If the paper feed determination processing determines that paper can be fed from the paper feed tray specified as the paper supply source, in S1506 the CPU 202 feeds one sheet of paper from the paper feed tray specified as the paper supply source. Next, in S1507, the CPU 202 reads, from the storage unit 205, image data to be formed on the paper being processed. Next, in S1508, the CPU 202 converts the image data into video data and transfers it to the printer engine 110. Next, in S1509, the printer engine 110 executes printing processing (image forming process) on paper based on the video data. Next, in S1510, the CPU 202 increments the parameter P. Then, the processing of S1504 described above is performed again.

[0065] If the result of the determination in S1504 is that P≦Pmax is not true (NO in S1504), when image formation on the number of sheets specified in the print job (total number of pages (Pmax)) is completed, the printing process in S1302 in Figure 13 ends.

[0066] (Job separator paper feeding process) Next, an example of the job partition paper feeding process in S1502 of FIG. 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the paper feed process for job partition paper starts, in S1601 the CPU 202 acquires the setting information for the print job stored in the storage unit 205. The setting information for the print job is stored in the storage unit 205 in the process of S1402. As described above, the setting information for the print job includes the size of the paper required for printing, the type of paper, setting information for the paper feed tray, setting information for whether or not to use a reserved paper feed tray, etc.

[0067] Next, in S1602, the CPU 202 acquires paper feed tray information stored in the storage unit 205. The paper feed tray information is setting information for each paper feed tray as shown in Table 2. Next, in S1603, the CPU 202 determines whether the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set is a reserved paper feed tray based on the paper feed tray information. If the result of the determination in S1603 is that the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set is not a reserved paper feed tray (NO in S1603), the process of S1604 is not performed and the process of S1605 is performed. In S1605, the CPU 202 causes the paper held in the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set to be fed as the job divider paper from that paper feed tray. The printer engine 110 ejects the paper fed from that paper feed tray to the ejection tray 107. In this embodiment, the printer engine 110 only transports the paper (job partition paper) without forming an image on the paper. However, an image may be formed on the paper.

[0068] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S1603 is that the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set is the reserved paper feed tray (YES in S1603), the process of S1604 is performed. In S1604, the CPU 202 makes the following determination based on the setting information regarding whether or not the reserved paper feed tray is to be used, which is included in the setting information of the print job acquired in S1601. That is, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the print job is a print job that uses the reserved paper feed tray. In the example shown in Table 2 and FIG. 8 above, paper feed cassette 1 (102), in which colored paper is set, is in a reserved state, and in the examples shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, paper feed cassette 1 (102) is set as the setting for job divider paper. In this case, the process of S1604 is performed.

[0069] If the result of the determination in S1604 is that the print job for which the setting information was acquired in S1601 is a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray (YES in S1604), the process of S1605 described above is performed. In the example described above, it is determined in S1604 that job partition paper can be fed from paper feed cassette 1 (102), which is in a reserved state, and the process of S1605 described above is performed.

[0070] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S1604 is that the print job for which the setting information was acquired in S1601 is not a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray (NO in S1604), the process of S1606 is performed. In S1606, the CPU 202 determines that job divider paper cannot be fed from reserved paper feed cassette 1 (102), and causes the operation display unit 210 to display a job divider paper feed error screen 1701 shown in FIG. 17.

[0071] FIG. 17 illustrates an example in which paper feed error screen 1701 for job dividers has paper feed tray selection buttons 1702 to 1706, a stop button 1707, and a divider paper setting change button 1708 arranged on it. Paper feed tray selection buttons 1702 to 1706 are buttons for selecting a paper feed tray. In FIG. 17, paper feed tray selection button 1702 for selecting paper feed cassette 1 (102) is selected because it is the button corresponding to the paper feed tray for which job dividers are set. However, as described above, this paper feed tray is reserved, so paper feed tray selection button 1702 is grayed out, indicating that it is inoperable. Furthermore, the paper feed trays corresponding to the other paper feed tray selection buttons 1703 to 1706 are not paper feed trays for which job dividers are set, so paper feed tray selection buttons 1703 to 1706 are also grayed out, indicating that they are inoperable.

[0072] In this embodiment, the operation that the user can perform on the job partition paper feed error screen 1701 is either of the following (I) and (II).

[0073] (I) It is determined that the reserved paper feed tray has been specified as the paper feed tray for job separator paper by mistake, and by selecting the Change Separator Settings button 1708, the paper feed tray to be used for job separator paper is changed to a paper feed tray that is not reserved, and the print job is instructed to continue. (II) By selecting the stop button 1707, an instruction to stop the execution of the print job is given.

[0074] In S1607, the CPU 202 waits for the user to select the Cancel button 1707 or the Change Interleave Settings button 1708. Then, when the CPU 202 detects that the Cancel button 1707 or the Change Interleave Settings button 1708 has been selected (YES in S1607), the CPU 202 performs the process of S1608. In S1608, the CPU 202 determines the content of the user's operation according to the button selected on the job interleave paper feed error screen 1701.

[0075] When the divider paper setting change button 1708 for changing the job divider paper settings is selected, in S1608 the CPU 202 determines that the user's instruction is the instruction (I) above. In this case, in S1609 the CPU 202 displays a job divider paper setting change screen 1801 shown in Fig. 18 on the operation display unit 210. Fig. 18 illustrates an example in which paper feed tray selection buttons 1802 to 1806, a cancel button 1807, and an OK button 1808 are arranged on the job divider paper setting change screen 1801.

[0076] Paper feed stage selection buttons 1802 to 1806 are buttons for selecting a paper feed stage. In Fig. 18, the paper feed stage selection button 1802 for selecting paper feed cassette 1 (102) is in a selected state because it is the button corresponding to the paper feed stage for which job partition paper is set. However, as described above, this paper feed stage is reserved, so the paper feed stage selection button 1802 is grayed out, indicating that it cannot be operated.

[0077] On the other hand, paper feed stage selection buttons 1803 to 1805 for selecting paper feed cassettes 2 to 4 (103 to 105) are selectable (operable). Cancel button 1807 is a button selected when canceling the operation for setting job divider paper (input operation performed on job divider paper setting change screen 1801). OK button 1808 and OK button 805 are buttons selected when confirming the operation for setting job divider paper (input operation performed on job divider paper setting change screen 1801).

[0078] When the CPU 202 detects that the user has selected one of the paper feed stage selection buttons 1803 to 1805 and then selected the OK button 1808 for confirming the change in the job divider paper setting, it performs the process of S1603 again. For example, if in S1609 the paper feed cassette 3 (104), which is not reserved, is selected with the paper feed stage selection button 1804, it is determined in S1603 that the paper feed stage in which the job divider paper is set is not a reserved paper feed stage (determined as NO). Therefore, the process of S1605 described above is performed, and the paper held in the paper feed cassette 104 is fed and ejected as a divider paper.

[0079] If the stop button 1707 for stopping the execution of the print job is selected, the CPU 202 determines in step S1608 that the instruction by the user is the instruction (II) above. In this case, the CPU 202 ends the print process itself.

[0080] In this embodiment, in S1604, if the print job for which setting information was acquired in S1601 does not use a reserved paper feed tray, the operation display unit 210 displays the job divider paper feed error screen 1701. However, this does not necessarily have to be the case. For example, the determination in S1604 does not have to be made. In this case, if the result of the determination in S1603 is that the paper feed tray for which the job divider paper is set is the reserved paper feed tray (YES in S1603), the process of S1606 may be performed, and if not, the process of S1605 may be performed. In addition to the cancel button 1707 and the divider paper setting change button 1708, the paper feed error screen 1701 displayed in S1606 when the paper feed tray for which the job divider paper is set is the reserved paper feed tray may also display a button for instructing the ejection of the job divider paper.

[0081] (Paper feed determination process) Next, an example of the paper feed determination process in S1505 of FIG. 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the feed determination process starts, in S1901 the CPU 202 acquires the setting information of the print job stored in the storage unit 205. The setting information of the print job is stored in the storage unit 205 in the process of S1402. As described above, the setting information of the print job includes the size of the paper required for printing, the type of paper, setting information of the paper feed tray, and setting information of whether or not a reserved paper feed tray is to be used. Note that the paper feed tray in which the job partition paper is set and the paper feed tray in which other paper is set may be different paper feed trays or may be the same paper feed tray.

[0082] Next, in S1902, the CPU 202 acquires paper feed stage information stored in the storage unit 205. The paper feed stage information is setting information for each paper feed stage shown in Table 2. Next, in step S1903, the CPU 202 creates a copy of the paper feed stage information acquired in step S1902 as a paper feed stage candidate list. The paper feed stage candidate list is used to determine paper feed stages that will be paper feed candidates in subsequent processing.

[0083] Next, in S1904, the CPU 202 determines whether the print job is a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray, based on setting information for whether or not the reserved paper feed tray is used, which is included in the setting information for the print job acquired in S1901. If the result of the determination in S1904 is that the print job is a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray (YES in S1904), processing in S1905 is performed. In S1905, the CPU 202 rearranges the paper feed trays in the paper feed tray candidate list created in S1903 so that paper feed trays whose reservation status is reserved (reserved paper feed trays) are at the top of the list. This allows reserved paper feed trays to be selected with priority when selecting the optimal paper feed tray (S1908), which will be described later. When processing in S1905 ends, processing in S1907, which will be described later, is performed.

[0084] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S1904 is that the print job does not use a reserved paper feed tray (NO in S1904), the process of S1906 is performed. In S1906, the CPU 202 deletes the reserved paper feed tray from the paper feed tray candidate list among the paper feed trays in the paper feed tray candidate list. For example, when the paper feed tray reservation status is as shown in Table 2, if the reserved paper feed tray is set not to be used in the print job, the CPU 202 deletes paper feed cassette 1 (102) from the paper feed tray candidate list. When the process of S1906 is completed, the process of S1907 is performed.

[0085] As described above, if the result of the determination in S1904 is that the print job uses a reserved paper feed tray (YES in S1904), no paper feed tray is deleted from the paper feed tray candidate list. This means that a paper feed tray whose reservation status is reserved can only be used by print jobs that are set to use the reserved paper feed tray.

[0086] Next, in S1907, CPU 202 identifies the paper feed tray designated as the paper supply source by referencing the paper feed tray setting information included in the setting information of the print job acquired in S1901. Then, CPU 202 deletes from the paper feed tray candidate list any paper feed trays other than the paper feed tray designated as the paper supply source. Paper feed tray setting information is information designated in paper feed tray setting field 1205 (see also S1104 in FIG. 11). If a specific paper feed tray is designated in paper feed tray setting field 1205, CPU 202 deletes from the paper feed tray candidate list any paper feed trays other than the paper feed tray designated as the paper supply source. If automatic selection is set in paper feed tray setting field 1205, CPU 202 does not delete any paper feed trays from the paper feed tray candidate list.

[0087] Next, in step S1908, the CPU 202 selects the optimal paper feed tray from among the paper feed trays remaining in the paper feed tray candidate list. For example, the CPU 202 searches the paper feed tray candidate list, starting from the top paper feed tray, for a paper feed tray holding paper that matches the paper size and type included in the setting information of the print job.

[0088] Next, in S1909, CPU 202 determines whether there is a paper feed tray that holds the optimal paper for printing based on the search results of S1908. If the determination result of S1909 is that there is a paper feed tray that holds the optimal paper for printing (YES in S1909), processing of S1910 is performed. In S1910, CPU 202 determines that paper feed tray as the paper feed tray to be used for paper feeding. When processing of step S1910 ends, the paper feed determination processing ends.

[0089] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S1909 is that there is no paper feed tray that holds paper optimal for printing (NO in S1909), the process of S1911 is performed. In S1911, the CPU 202 causes the operation display unit 210 to display an out-of-paper error screen 2001 shown in FIG. 20. FIG. 20 illustrates an example in which the out-of-paper error screen 2001 includes paper feed tray selection buttons 2002 to 2006, a stop button 2007, an OK button 2008, and an error resolution guideline display field 2009. The error resolution guideline display field 2009 displays information including, for example, information about paper required to continue the print job (size and type) and information indicating a paper feed tray in which that paper can be installed. When displaying the out-of-paper error screen 2001 on the operation display unit 210, the CPU 202 searches the paper feed tray candidate list obtained after the process of S1907 for a paper feed tray in which paper can be installed.

[0090] In this embodiment, the operation that the user can perform on the error resolution guideline display field 2009 is one of the following cases (III) to (V). (III) Place the paper displayed in the error resolution guideline display field 2009 in the paper feed tray displayed in the error resolution guideline display field 2009 to resolve the out-of-paper error. (IV) Select one of the paper feed tray selection buttons 2002 to 2006 to forcibly continue the process (print job) with paper different from the paper displayed in the error resolution guideline display field 2009. (V) Pressing the stop button 2007 stops the print job.

[0091] In S1912, CPU 202 waits for the user to perform any of the operations (III) to (V). If the user performs any of the operations (III) to (V) and there is some change in at least one of the state and setting value of the paper feed tray (YES in S1912), there is a possibility that the user has placed paper. In this case, the process of S1902 described above is performed again. CPU 202 then performs the process of searching for the optimal paper feed tray again.

[0092] If there is some change in the state of the paper feed tray (YES in S1912), for example, CPU 202 may cause setting selection screen 601 shown in Fig. 6 and paper setting screen 701 shown in Fig. 7 to be displayed on operation display unit 210. In this case, CPU 202 may change the paper settings (for example, the paper feed tray information described above) based on a user operation on paper setting screen 701, and then perform the process of S1902. However, for example, if there is no need to change the paper type, setting selection screen 601 shown in Fig. 6 and paper setting screen 701 shown in Fig. 7 may not be displayed.

[0093] On the other hand, if there is no change in at least one of the state of the paper feed tray and the setting value (NO in S1912), the process of S1913 is performed. At S1913, the CPU 202 determines whether or not a user operation on the error resolution guideline display field 2009 has been detected. As a result of the determination in S1913, if a user operation on the error resolution guideline display field 2009 has not been detected (NO in S1913), the process of S1912 is performed again. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S1913, if a user operation on the error resolution guideline display field 2009 has been detected (YES in S1913), the process of S1914 is performed.

[0094] In S1914, the CPU 202 determines the content of the user operation based on the button selected on the out-of-paper error screen 2001. If one of the paper feed stage selection buttons 2002 to 2006 is selected and then the OK button 2008 is selected, the process of S1910 described above is performed again. In this case, in S1910, the CPU 202 determines the paper feed stage corresponding to the paper feed stage selection button selected by the user from among the paper feed stage selection buttons 2002 to 2006 as the paper feed stage to be used for paper feeding. When the process of step S1910 ends, the paper feed determination process ends. On the other hand, if the stop button 2007 is selected, the CPU 202 ends the printing process itself.

[0095] As described above, in this embodiment, when a paper feed tray used as a paper feed tray for job dividers is reserved and the print job is set to not use the reserved paper feed tray, the image forming apparatus 100 allows the paper feed tray for job dividers to be changed during the print job. This allows the print job to continue. Therefore, in a printing environment where both office document printing paper and special printing paper are used, it is possible to prevent the misuse of special printing paper and prevent situations where office documents cannot be printed.

[0096] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, a case was illustrated in which the paper feed tray designated in the print job as the paper feed tray for job dividers can be changed from a reserved paper feed tray to a paper feed tray that is not a reserved paper feed tray during execution of the print job. In contrast, this embodiment illustrates a case in which the paper feed tray designated in the print job as the paper feed tray for job dividers is not changed, and the reserved state of the paper feed tray in which the job dividers are placed is canceled. As such, the main difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is the processing for continuing the print job. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 20, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0097] The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is the processing of S1606 to S1609 in Fig. 16. More specifically, the job partition paper feed error screen 1701 displayed in S1606 and the job partition paper setting change screen 1801 displayed in S1609 are different. As the other processing is the same as in the first embodiment, the following explanation will focus on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0098] Fig. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a job divider paper feed error screen 2101 displayed in S1606. The difference between the job divider paper feed error screen 2101 shown in Fig. 21 and the job divider paper feed error screen 1701 in Fig. 17 described above is that the change divider paper settings button 1708 has been changed to a change reservation settings button 2108. The change reservation settings button 2108 is a button for changing the reservation status of a paper feed tray.

[0099] In this embodiment, the case where the operation that the user can perform on the job partition paper feed error screen 2101 in S1606 is either of the following (VI) and (VII) will be exemplified. (VI) It is determined that the reserved paper feed tray has been designated as the paper feed tray for job partition paper by mistake, and by selecting the reservation setting change button 2108, the reserved state of the reserved paper feed tray is cancelled and an instruction is given to continue the print job. (VII) By selecting the stop button 2707, an instruction to stop the execution of the print job is given.

[0100] In S1607, the CPU 202 waits for the user to select the Cancel button 2107 or the Change Reservation Settings button 2108. Then, when the CPU 202 detects that the Cancel button 2107 or the Change Reservation Settings button 2108 has been selected (YES in S1607), the CPU 202 performs the process of S1608. In S1608, the CPU 202 determines the content of the user operation according to the button selected on the paper feed error screen 2101 for job partition paper.

[0101] When the reservation setting change button 2108 is selected, in S1609, the CPU 202 displays a paper feed tray reservation setting change screen 2201 shown in Fig. 22 on the operation display unit 210. The paper feed tray reservation setting change screen 2201 shown in Fig. 22 has the same screen configuration as the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 801 shown in Fig. 8. The paper feed tray reservation setting change screen 2201 shown in Fig. 22 includes the words ": Change Settings" in the setting menu title, and this screen indicates to the user that the reserved paper feed tray that has already been set can be changed.

[0102] The CPU 202 can set and change the reservation status of each paper feed tray based on a user's input operation on the paper feed tray reservation setting change screen 2201. When the user selects the OK button 2208 to confirm the change to the reservation content, the process of S1603 is performed. For example, when the reservation for use of the paper feed cassette 102 in which job separator paper is set is canceled by selecting the RESERVATION OFF button 2203 in S1609, it is determined in S1603 that the paper feed tray in which job separator paper is set is not a reserved paper feed tray (NO). Therefore, the process of S1605 described above is performed, and the paper held in the paper feed cassette 104 is fed and ejected as job separator paper.

[0103] In this embodiment, when the reservation status of each paper feed tray is changed as described above, an example is given of a case where the reservation status can be changed again using the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 801 or the paper feed tray reservation setting change screen 2201. When the reservation status is changed again using the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 801 or the paper feed tray reservation setting change screen 2201, the reservation status of the paper feed tray returns to the state before the change (reserved state). However, this does not necessarily have to be the case. For example, a change to the reservation status of a paper feed tray made using the paper feed tray reservation setting change screen 2201 may be a temporary change (for example, a change only for the print job that changed the reservation status of the paper feed tray).

[0104] As described above, in this embodiment, when a paper feed tray to be used as a paper feed tray for job partition paper is reserved and the print job specifies that the reserved paper feed tray will not be used, the image forming apparatus 100 cancels the reservation of the reserved paper feed tray. This allows the print job to continue. This prevents situations where printing of office documents, etc., becomes impossible.

[0105] [Third embodiment] Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the first and second embodiments, a case where a print job is continued by changing the paper feed tray specified in the print job as the paper feed tray for job dividers or by changing the reservation status of the paper feed tray is illustrated. In contrast, this embodiment illustrates a case where a print job is continued without changing the setting for job dividers. As such, this embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments mainly in the process for continuing the print job. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 22, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0106] FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the job divider paper feeding process (S1502). The difference between the job divider paper feeding process (FIG. 16) in the first and second embodiments and the job divider paper feeding process shown in FIG. 23 is the process from S1606 onwards in FIG. 16. The process from S1606 onwards in FIG. 16 is replaced with the process from S2306 onwards in FIG. 23. The rest of the job divider paper feeding process is the same as the job divider paper feeding process (FIG. 16) in the first and second embodiments (S2301 to S2305 in FIG. 23 are the same as S1601 to S1605 in FIG. 16). Therefore, the following description will focus on the differences from the first and second embodiments.

[0107] In S2306, the CPU 202 displays a job partition paper feed error screen 2401 shown in Fig. 24 on the operation display unit 210. Fig. 24 illustrates an example in which paper feed stage selection buttons 2402 to 2406, a stop button 2407, a continue without partition paper button 2408, and a forced continue button 2409 are arranged on the job partition paper feed error screen 2401. The paper feed stage selection buttons 2402 to 2406 are the same as the paper feed stage selection buttons 1702 to 1706 shown in Fig. 17. As with Fig. 17, Fig. 24 also illustrates an example in which the paper feed stage selection buttons 2402 to 2406 for selecting paper feed cassette 1 (102) are grayed out, indicating that they are inoperable.

[0108] Also, in FIG. 24, a stop button 2407 is a button for stopping a print job, similar to the stop button 1707 shown in FIG. A "continue without interleave" button 2408 is a button for continuing the print job without using interleave paper. The forced continue button 2409 is a button for continuing the print job using the partition paper held in the reserved paper feed tray.

[0109] Next, in S2407, the CPU 202 waits for the user to select one of the buttons from among the stop button 2407, the continue without partition paper button 2408, and the forced continue button 2409. Then, when it detects that one of the continue without partition paper button 2408 and the forced continue button 2409 has been selected (YES in S2307), the process of S2308 is performed. In S2308, the CPU 202 determines the content of the user operation according to the button selected on the job partition paper feed error screen 2401.

[0110] When the Continue Without Divider Paper button 2408 is selected (see "Continue Without Divider Paper" below S2308), the CPU 202 ends the job divider paper feeding process without instructing the feeding and ejection of divider paper. In this case, divider paper is not fed or ejected. When the Forced Continue button 2409 is selected (see "Continue" on the right side of S2308), the CPU 202 causes the reserved paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set to feed paper held in that paper feed tray as job divider paper. The printer engine 110 ejects the paper fed from that paper feed tray to the output tray 107. Normally, a print job that does not use a reserved paper feed tray cannot use paper held in the reserved paper feed tray. However, this embodiment illustrates a case in which the forced continue button 2409 is selected to exceptionally allow the reserved paper feed tray to be used, thereby continuing the print job. In this case, when the print job is completed, the reserved paper feed tray is prohibited from use again. Also, when the stop button 2407 is selected, the CPU 202 ends the print process itself.

[0111] As described above, in this embodiment, if a paper feed tray to be used as a paper feed tray for job dividers is reserved and the print job is set to not use the reserved paper feed tray, the image forming apparatus 100 executes the print job without using dividers. Also, if a paper feed tray to be used as a paper feed tray for job dividers is reserved and the print job is set to not use the reserved paper feed tray, the image forming apparatus 100 temporarily allows the reserved paper feed tray to be used. This allows the print job to continue. This prevents situations where printing of office documents, etc., becomes impossible.

[0112] [Fourth embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, specific examples of settings for reserving the use of paper feed trays and settings for job partition paper in the first to third embodiments will be described. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first to third embodiments will be assigned the same reference numerals as those in Figures 1 to 24, and detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0113] FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a reservation setting process for a paper feed tray. In step S2501, the CPU 202 reads out the reservation information for the currently set paper feed tray. In the first embodiment, the reservation information for each paper feed tray is information saved as the reservation status in Tables 1 and 2.

[0114] Next, in step S2502, the CPU 202 reads the job divider paper setting information that is set at the time of execution of this step. The job divider paper setting information is information that is set based on, for example, a user's operation on the divider paper feed location setting screen 1001 shown in FIG. Next, in step S2503, when the reservation OFF button for the paper feed tray in which the job partition paper is set is selected, the CPU 202 masks the reservation ON button and reservation OFF button corresponding to that paper feed tray. An example of the reservation ON button and reservation OFF button will be described later.

[0115] Next, in S2504, the CPU 202 updates the reservation setting screen for the paper feed tray based on the results of the processes in S2501 to S2503.

[0116] 26 is a diagram showing an example of a paper feed tray reservation setting screen 2601 displayed in S2504. Here, the example shows a case where the paper feed tray in which the job partition paper is set is paper feed cassette 1 (102).

[0117] The difference between the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 2601 shown in Fig. 26 and the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 801 shown in Fig. 8 will be described. On the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 2601, the reservation ON button 2602 and reservation OFF button 2603 corresponding to paper feed cassette 1 (102) in which job partition paper has been set by the processing of S2503 are displayed in a shaded manner. The shaded display indicates that the button cannot be operated (selected). Since the reservation ON button 2602 and reservation OFF button 2603 are displayed in a shaded manner, the user cannot reserve the use of paper feed cassette 1 (102) (the user cannot change from an unreserved state to a reserved state).

[0118] Next, in step S2505, the CPU 202 accepts an operation on the reservation setting screen 2601 (button) for the paper feed tray. Next, in S2506, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the operation accepted in S2505 is the selection of the cancel button 2604. If the result of the determination in S2506 is that the operation accepted in S2505 is the selection of the cancel button 2604 (YES in S2506), the processing according to the flowchart in Fig. 25 ends.

[0119] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S2506 is that the operation accepted in S2505 is not the selection of the cancel button 2604 (NO in S2506), the process of S2507 is performed. In S2507, the CPU 202 determines whether the operation accepted in S2505 is the selection of the reservation ON button 2602 or the reservation OFF button 2603. If the result of the determination in S2507 is that the operation accepted in S2505 is not the selection of the reservation ON button 2602 or the reservation OFF button 2603 (NO in S2507), the process of S2508 is omitted and the process of S2509, which will be described later, is performed.

[0120] If it is determined in S2507 that the operation accepted in S2505 is the selection of the reservation ON button 2602 or the reservation OFF button 2603 (YES in S2507), the process of S2508 is performed. In S2508, the CPU 202 inverts the black and white of the selected reservation ON button 2602 or reservation OFF button 2603 and the reservation OFF button 2603 or reservation ON button 2602 paired with the selected reservation ON button 2602 or reservation OFF button 2603. However, the CPU 202 does not accept the selection of the reservation ON button 2602 or reservation OFF button 2603 that was masked in S2503 and is displayed with a shaded area in FIG. 26. Therefore, if the reservation ON button 2602 or reservation OFF button 2603 is selected, the process of S2508 (changing the drawn color) is not performed.

[0121] Next, in S2509, the CPU 202 determines whether the operation received in S2505 was the selection of the OK button 2605. If the result of the determination in S2509 is that the operation received in S2505 was not the selection of the OK button 2605 (NO in S2509), the process of S2501 is performed again. On the other hand, if the operation received in S2505 was the selection of the OK button 2605 (YES in S2509), the process of S2510 is performed. In S2510, the CPU 202 updates the reservation information by reflecting the reservation status indicated by the reservation ON button 2602 and reservation OFF button 2603 of each paper feed tray at the time of execution of this step. When the process of S2510 ends, the process according to the flowchart in FIG. 25 ends. By performing the above-described processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 25, it is possible to prevent a paper feed tray in which a job partition sheet is placed from being set as a reserved paper feed tray.

[0122] FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a job partition paper setting process. In step S2701, the CPU 202 acquires information about the reserved paper feed tray. Next, in step S2702, the CPU 202 masks the paper feed tray selection button corresponding to the reserved paper feed tray.

[0123] 28 is a diagram showing an example of a job divider paper setting screen 2801. The job divider paper setting screen 2801 is displayed, for example, when the paper feed tray setting button 904 on the job divider paper setting screen 901 shown in FIG. Here, the sheet feed stage selection button 2802 corresponding to the sheet feed cassette 1 (102) is masked (grayed out), and the sheet feed cassette 1 (102) cannot be selected as the sheet feed stage for feeding job partition paper.

[0124] Next, in step S2703, the CPU 202 accepts a user operation on the job partition paper setting screen 2801 (button). Next, in S2704, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the operation accepted in S2703 is the selection of the cancel button 2807. If the result of the determination in S2704 is that the operation accepted in S2703 is the selection of the cancel button 2807 (YES in S2704), the processing according to the flowchart in Fig. 27 ends.

[0125] On the other hand, if it is determined in S2704 that the operation received in S2703 was not the selection of the cancel button 2807 (NO in S2704), the process of S2705 is performed. In S2705, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the operation received in S2703 was the selection of one of the paper feed stage selection buttons 2803-2806. If it is determined in S2705 that the operation received in S2703 was the selection of one of the paper feed stage selection buttons 2803-2806 (YES in S2705), the process of S2706 is performed. In S2706, the CPU 202 highlights the selected paper feed stage selection button among the paper feed stage selection buttons 2803-2806. Then, the process of S2703 described above is performed again.

[0126] On the other hand, if it is determined in S2705 that the operation received in S2703 is not the selection of one of the paper feed stage selection buttons 2803-2806 (NO in S2705), the process of S2707 is performed. In S2707, the CPU 202 determines whether or not the operation received in S2703 is the selection of the OK button 2808. If it is determined in S2707 that the operation received in S2703 is not the selection of the OK button 2808 (NO in S2707), the process of S2703 described above is performed again.

[0127] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S2707 is that the operation accepted in S2703 is the selection of the OK button 2808 (YES in S2707), the process of S2708 is performed. In S2708, the CPU 202 determines whether the paper feed tray corresponding to the paper feed tray selection button selected at the time of execution of this step, among the paper feed tray selection buttons 2803 to 2806, is a reserved paper feed tray.

[0128] If the result of the determination in S2708 is that the paper feed tray corresponding to the paper feed tray selection button selected at the time of execution of step S2707 is not a reserved paper feed tray (NO in S2708), the process of S2709 is performed. In S2709, the CPU 202 updates the setting information for job partition paper by setting the paper set in the paper feed tray corresponding to the paper feed tray selection button selected at the time of execution of step S2707 as job partition paper. When the process of S2709 ends, the process according to the flowchart in FIG. 27 ends.

[0129] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S2708 is that the paper feed tray corresponding to the paper feed tray selection button selected at the time of execution of step S2707 is a reserved paper feed tray (YES in S2708), the process of S2710 is performed. In S2710, the CPU 202 displays a message on the operation display unit 210 indicating that the selected paper feed tray cannot be set as the paper feed tray for feeding job partition paper because it is a reserved paper feed tray. Then, the process of S2703 is performed again. By performing the above-described processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 27, it is possible to prevent a sheet of paper in a paper feed tray that is set as a reserved paper feed tray from being set as an interleaf sheet.

[0130] 25 and 27, it is possible to prevent printing from being interrupted due to the reserved use of a paper feed tray in which a separator sheet is set. For example, in S1603 in Fig. 16, a paper feed tray in which a job separator sheet is set will no longer be determined to be a reserved paper feed tray. This prevents paper feed errors and printing interruptions caused by a reserved paper feed tray in which a separator sheet is set.

[0131] [Fifth embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a case where job divider paper is set for a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray, separate from the job divider paper setting described in the first embodiment, will be illustrated. Note that this embodiment can be applied not only to the first embodiment but also to the second to fourth embodiments. In this way, this embodiment adds configuration and processing for setting job divider paper for a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray to the first to fourth embodiments. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first to fourth embodiments will be assigned the same reference numerals as those in Figures 1 to 28, and detailed description will be omitted. In the following description, a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray will be referred to as a reserved job as necessary.

[0132] The job divider paper for a reserved job can be set by using, for example, a job divider paper setting screen 2901 and a divider paper feed location setting screen 3001 shown in FIGS.

[0133] For example, the job divider paper setting screen 2901 and the divider paper paper feed location setting screen 3001 shown in Figures 29 and 30 have the same screen configuration as the job divider paper setting screen 901 and the divider paper paper feed location setting screen 1001 shown in Figures 9 and 10, respectively. The job divider paper setting screen 2901 and the divider paper paper feed location setting screen 3001 shown in Figures 29 and 30 include the words "for reserved jobs" in the setting menu title. This wording informs the user that by using the job divider paper setting screen 2901 and the divider paper paper feed location setting screen 3001, settings different from those for normal job dividers are possible.

[0134] The job partition paper setting screen 2901 shown in Fig. 29 is displayed, for example, by selecting a setting selection button (not shown) different from the setting selection buttons 602 to 604 on the setting selection screen 601 shown in Fig. 6. This setting selection button (not shown) is a button that is selected when setting job partition paper for a reserved job.

[0135] A setting ON button 2902 and a setting OFF button 2903 shown in Fig. 29 correspond to the setting ON button 902 and the setting OFF button 903 shown in Fig. 9, respectively. Also, a paper feed stage setting button 2904, a cancel button 2905, and an OK button 2906 shown in Fig. 29 correspond to the paper feed stage setting button 904, the cancel button 905, and the OK button 906 shown in Fig. 9, respectively. Also, a paper feed stage current status display field 2907 shown in Fig. 29 corresponds to the paper feed stage current status display field 907 shown in Fig. 9. Therefore, when the paper feed stage setting button 2904 is selected, a separator paper feed location setting screen 3001 shown in Fig. 30 is displayed.

[0136] 30 correspond to the paper feed stage selection buttons 1002 to 1006, the cancel button 1007, and the OK button 1008 shown in FIG. 10, respectively.

[0137] In the fourth embodiment, in the job divider setting process, the reserved paper feed tray is restricted from being set as the paper feed tray that feeds job dividers (see S2710). In contrast, in this embodiment, the paper feed tray that feeds job dividers for a reserved job can be set as the paper feed tray that feeds job dividers, regardless of the reservation status of that paper feed tray.

[0138] FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a job partition paper feeding process when setting job partition paper for a reserved job. The processing in S3101 to S3102 is the same as the processing in S1601 to S1602 in FIG. 16, and therefore detailed description of the processing in S3101 to S3102 will be omitted here. In steps S3103 to S3105, the paper feed tray information for the job partition paper is acquired according to the setting of whether or not the reserved paper feed tray is to be used.

[0139] In S3103, the CPU 202 determines whether the print job is a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray in which job dividers are set, based on setting information regarding whether a reserved paper feed tray is used, which is included in the setting information for the print job acquired in S3101. If the result of the determination in S3103 is that the print job is a print job that uses a reserved paper feed tray in which job dividers are set (YES in S3103), processing in S3104 is performed. In S3104, the CPU 202 acquires setting information for job dividers for the reserved job. The setting information for job dividers for the reserved job is information that is set based on user operations on the job divider setting screen 2901 and the divider paper feed location setting screen 3001 shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, for example. Then, processing in S3106, which will be described later, is performed.

[0140] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S3103 is that the print job does not use a reserved paper feed tray for which job dividers are set (NO in S3103), processing in S3105 is performed. In S3105, CPU 202 acquires setting information for normal job dividers. Normal job dividers are job dividers for print jobs other than print jobs for reserved jobs. Setting information for normal job dividers is information set based on user operations on the job divider setting screen 901 and the divider paper feed location setting screen 1001 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Then, processing in S3106 is performed.

[0141] In S3106, the CPU 202 determines whether the paper feed tray to which the job partition paper is set is a reserved paper feed tray based on the job partition paper setting information acquired in S3104 or S3105 and the paper feed tray information acquired in S3102. The processing in S3107 to S3112 is the same as the processing in S1604 to S1609 in FIG. 16, and therefore detailed description of the processing in S3107 to S3112 will be omitted here.

[0142] In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 sets job divider paper for reserved jobs separately from the setting of normal job divider paper. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the misuse of paper and to suppress printing stoppages due to a job divider paper feed error when executing a print job that does not use the reserved paper feed tray.

[0143] [Sixth embodiment] Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a case where it is possible to set whether or not a paper feed tray in which job dividers are set is to be excluded from the reservation target is illustrated. As such, this embodiment differs from the first to fifth embodiments only in the configuration and processing, which is due to the ability to set whether or not a paper feed tray in which job dividers are set is to be excluded from the reservation target. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first to fifth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 31, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that this embodiment can be applied to any of the first to fifth embodiments.

[0144] 32 is a diagram showing an example of a paper feed tray reservation setting screen 3201. The paper feed tray reservation setting screen 3201 is displayed in, for example, S2504. A paper feed tray reservation setting screen 3201 shown in Fig. 32 has a screen configuration in which a check box 3206 is added to the paper feed tray reservation setting screen 2601 shown in Fig. 26. The check box 3206 is used by the user to specify whether or not a paper feed tray in which job divider paper is set is to be excluded from reservation. Fig. 32 illustrates an example in which a check mark is placed in the check box 3206 when a paper feed tray in which job divider paper is set is to be excluded from reservation. Specifically, Fig. 32 illustrates an example in which a check mark is placed in the check box 3206. Note that the check box 3206 may be a check box in a form in which a check mark is placed when a paper feed tray in which job divider paper is set is to be reserved.

[0145] Also, a reservation ON button 3202 and a reservation OFF button 3203 shown in Fig. 32 correspond to the reservation ON button 2602 and the reservation OFF button 2603 shown in Fig. 26, respectively. Also, a cancel button 3204 and an OK button 3205 shown in Fig. 32 correspond to the cancel button 2604 and the OK button 2605 shown in Fig. 26, respectively.

[0146] FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a reservation setting process for a paper feed tray. The processing in S3301 to S3302 is the same as the processing in S2501 to S2502 in FIG. 25, and therefore detailed description of the processing in S3301 to S3302 will be omitted here. In step S3303, the CPU 202 determines whether the paper feed tray in which the job partition paper is set is a reserved tray. As described above, in this embodiment, if the check box 3206 shown in Fig. 32 is not checked, the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set is determined to be available for reservation. On the other hand, if the check box 3206 is checked, the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set is determined to be unavailable for reservation.

[0147] If the determination result in S3303 is that the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set is the one to be reserved (YES in S3303), the process of S3304 is performed. In S3304, CPU 202 masks the RESERVATION ON button and RESERVATION OFF button corresponding to the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set so that the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set cannot be selected. On the other hand, if the determination result in S3303 is that the paper feed tray in which the job divider paper is set is not the one to be reserved (NO in S3303), CPU 202 performs the processes from S3305 onwards without masking the RESERVATION ON button and RESERVATION OFF button (processing of S3304).

[0148] The processing of S3305 to S3311 is the same as the processing of S2504 to S2501 in FIG. 25, and therefore detailed description of S3305 to S3311 will be omitted here. In this embodiment, unlike the fourth embodiment, if a setting is enabled to exclude paper feed trays in which job partition paper is set from reservation, it is possible to reserve use even for paper feed trays in which job partition paper is set.

[0149] FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a paper feed process for job partition paper using a setting as to whether or not job partition paper is to be excluded from the reservation target. The processing of S3401 to S3403 is the same as the processing of S1601 to S1603 in FIG. 16, and therefore detailed description of the processing of S3401 to S3403 will be omitted here.

[0150] In S3404, CPU 202 determines whether the paper feed tray in which job dividers are set is the one to be reserved, based on the setting in check box 3206 described above. If the result of the determination in S3404 is that the paper feed tray in which job dividers are set is not the one to be reserved (NO in S3404), processing in S3406 is performed regardless of the reservation setting for the print job (processing in S3405 is not performed). Processing in S3406 is the same as processing in S1605. Therefore, in S3406, CPU 202 causes the paper held in the paper feed tray in which job dividers are set to be fed as job dividers from that paper feed tray (regardless of the reservation setting for the print job).

[0151] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S3404 is that the paper feed tray in which the job partition paper is set is the target of reservation (YES in S3404), the process in S3405 is carried out. The processing of S3405 to S3410 is the same as the processing of S1604 to S1609 in FIG. 16, and therefore detailed description of the processing of S3405 to S3410 will be omitted here.

[0152] As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 allows a setting to exclude a paper feed tray in which job separator paper is set from being reserved. Therefore, when a print job that does not use a reserved paper feed tray is executed, it is possible to prevent printing from being stopped due to a paper feed error of job separator paper. Furthermore, unlike the fourth embodiment, the user can reserve a paper feed tray in which job divider paper is set by setting the paper feed tray in which job divider paper is set to be excluded from reservation targets. This makes it easy to restrict the use of a paper feed tray only for printing to prevent the misuse of paper, without restricting its use as job divider paper.

[0153] Finally, while each embodiment describes the feed control of job dividers, the location where dividers are inserted is not limited to between jobs. For example, the processes of each embodiment can be similarly performed for other dividers, such as dividers inserted between copies. Furthermore, the second sheet, which is fed separately from the first sheet (e.g., a sheet constituting a document) on which an image is formed based on a print job, is not limited to a divider, but may be a cover, slip sheet, chapter sheet, or the like. For example, the second sheet may be a sheet that is set as being separate from the first sheet in the print job. Furthermore, the second sheet may be a sheet held in a holding unit that is set as the holding unit to be used for the print job in the print settings. In this case, the holding unit for holding the first sheet and the holding unit for holding the second sheet may be set separately in the print settings (print job). Furthermore, the holding unit for holding the first sheet and the holding unit for holding the second sheet may be set to different holding units or the same holding unit in the print settings (print job). The attributes of the first and second sheets (e.g., at least one of type, thickness, and size) may be different or the same. The second sheet may be a sheet fed between the first sheets, immediately before the first sheet, or immediately after the first sheet. The second sheet is not limited to paper, and may be, for example, a plastic film or cloth such as an overhead projector (OHP) sheet.

[0154] In addition, in each embodiment, examples have been given of cases in which a reservation is changed only from reserved to unreserved and from unreserved to reserved. However, the manner in which a reservation is changed is not limited to this. For example, if it is possible to reserve the usage time period of a paper feed tray, the manner in which a reservation is changed may include changing the usage time period in addition to or instead of the aforementioned manner in which a reservation is changed. In this case, for example, without canceling the reservation, it is possible to unrestrict usage only for the reserved time period required to execute a print job.

[0155] (Other Examples) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by these. In other words, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

[0156] The disclosure of the present embodiment also includes, for example, the following configurations, methods, and programs. (Configuration 1) A printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, an acquisition means for acquiring a print job; a reservation means for reserving the use of the holding unit; a receiving unit configured to receive a change of a holding unit when the print job is configured to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the reserved holding unit is configured as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; an execution unit that executes the print job by making the changes accepted by the acceptance unit. (Configuration 2) A printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, an acquisition means for acquiring a print job; a reservation means for reserving the use of the holding unit; a receiving unit for receiving a change of the reservation when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job, and the holding unit for which the reservation has been made is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; an execution unit that executes the print job by making the changes accepted by the acceptance unit. (Configuration 3) 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the accepting unit accepts a request to re-change the reservation for use of the holding unit that holds the second sheet. (Configuration 4) 4. The printing device according to configuration 2 or 3, wherein the reservation change accepted by the accepting unit is to temporarily invalidate the reservation. (Configuration 5) A printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, an acquisition means for acquiring a print job; a reservation means for reserving the use of the holding unit; a receiving means for receiving a change from using the second sheet to not using the second sheet when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the reserved holding unit is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; an execution unit that executes the print job by making the changes accepted by the acceptance unit. (Configuration 6) The printing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the accepting unit accepts the change when the print job is not set to use the reserved storage unit. (Configuration 7) The method further comprises display processing means for displaying on a display device a screen for a user to input the content of the change, 7. The printing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the accepting unit accepts a user's input to the screen. (Method 1) A control method for a printing device having a plurality of holding units that hold sheets to be fed, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring a print job; a reservation step of reserving use of the holding unit; a receiving step of receiving a change of a holding unit when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the reserved holding unit is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and executing the print job by making the changes accepted in the accepting step. (Method 2) A control method for a printing device having a plurality of holding units that hold sheets to be fed, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring a print job; a reservation step of reserving use of the holding unit; an accepting step of accepting a change to the reservation when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job, and the holding unit for which the reservation has been made is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and executing the print job by making the changes accepted in the accepting step. (Method 3) A control method for a printing device having a plurality of holding units that hold sheets to be fed, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring a print job; a reservation step of reserving use of the holding unit; an accepting step of accepting a change from using the second sheet to not using the second sheet when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the reserved holding unit is set as the holding unit that holds the second sheet; and executing the print job by making the changes accepted in the accepting step. (Program 1) A program for causing a computer to function as each means of the printing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7. [Explanation of symbols]

[0157] 100: Image forming device, 200: PC, 202: CPU, 208: Paper feed unit

Claims

1. A printing apparatus having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, An acquisition means for acquiring a print job; a reservation means for reserving the use of the holding unit; a receiving unit for receiving a change of a holding unit when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the holding unit for which the reservation has been made is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and executing means for executing the print job by making the changes accepted by the accepting means.

2. A printing apparatus having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, An acquisition means for acquiring a print job; a reservation means for reserving the use of the holding unit; a receiving unit for receiving a change of the reservation when a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job is set to be used in the print job and the holding unit for which the reservation has been made is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and executing means for executing the print job by making the changes accepted by the accepting means.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the accepting unit accepts a re-change of a reservation for use of the holding unit that holds the second sheet.

4. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the change to the reservation accepted by said acceptance unit is to temporarily invalidate the reservation.

5. A printing apparatus having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, An acquisition means for acquiring a print job; a reservation means for reserving use of the holding unit; a receiving means for receiving a change from using the second sheet to not using the second sheet when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the holding unit to which the reservation has been made is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and executing means for executing the print job by making the changes accepted by the accepting means.

6. A printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the accepting means accepts the change when the print job is not further set to use the storage unit for which the reservation has been made.

7. The method further comprises display processing means for displaying on a display device a screen for a user to input the contents of the change, 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accepting unit accepts an input from a user on the screen.

8. A method for controlling a printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, comprising the steps of: an acquisition step of acquiring a print job; a reservation step of reserving use of the holding unit; a receiving step of receiving a change of a holding unit when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the reserved holding unit is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and executing the print job by making the changes accepted in the accepting step.

9. A method for controlling a printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, comprising the steps of: An acquisition step of acquiring a print job; a reservation step of reserving use of the holding unit; a receiving step of receiving a change to the reservation when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the holding unit for which the reservation has been made is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and executing the print job by making the changes accepted in the accepting step.

10. A method for controlling a printing device having a plurality of holding units for holding sheets to be fed, comprising the steps of: an acquisition step of acquiring a print job; a reservation step of reserving use of the holding unit; a receiving step of receiving a change from using the second sheet to not using the second sheet when the print job is set to use a second sheet that is fed separately from a first sheet on which an image is formed based on the print job and the holding unit to which the reservation has been made is set as the holding unit for holding the second sheet; and executing the print job by making the changes accepted in the accepting step.

11. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images