Patent Publication Number: US-9415613-B2

Title: Printing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/300,833, filed Jun. 10, 2014 (pending), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and a storage medium. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An image forming apparatus includes one or more sheet storage units, and feeds sheets stored in the sheet storage units one by one, thus performing image formation on the sheets. The sheet storage units include cassettes for storing sheets in the apparatus, a deck on which a large amount of sheets are stored, and a manual feed tray on which a small amount of sheets can easily be placed instead of being stored inside the apparatus. Sheets that have the special shape and type such that they cannot be placed in the sheet feed cassettes are often set on the manual feed tray, and it is common that each time a user places sheets on the manual feed tray, the user is required to set the shape and type of the sheets. 
     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-192158 discloses a technique for preventing, when a manual feed tray has run out of sheets and a user has to set sheets on the manual feed tray again, the sheet size from being misrecognized without regard to a guide width sensing mechanism of the manual feed tray, and wrong-sized sheets from being conveyed. 
     When feeding sheets from a manual feed tray or a similar sheet storage unit and then performing printing, there may be a case where, after a print job was input, sheets are placed on the sheet storage unit that has run out of sheets. At that time, although the print job for which the sheet size and the sheet type were already defined is being executed, setting of the sheet size and the sheet type has to be performed again at a timing at which sheets are placed on the sheet storage unit. Therefore, the user needs to input again sheet information for the sheet storage unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems which are found in the conventional technology. 
     A feature of the present invention is to provide a technique in which, if a job that uses a sheet holding unit has been interrupted when sheets are placed on the sheet holding unit, printing is performed based on information on sheets that was designated by the job. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided printing apparatus comprising: a sheet holding unit configured to hold sheets; a setting unit configured to set information on sheets held by the sheet holding unit; and a printing unit configured to print images based on the information on sheets set by the setting unit, wherein, in a case that a job that uses the sheet holding unit has been interrupted when sheets are placed on the sheet holding unit, the printing unit performs printing based on information on sheets designated by the job. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a printing apparatus, comprising the steps of: setting information on sheets held by a sheet holding unit for holding sheets in order to let a printing unit perform printing based on the information on sheets; and controlling, in a case that a job that uses the sheet holding unit has been interrupted when sheets are placed on the sheet holding unit, the printing unit to perform printing based on information on sheets designated by the job. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, comprising: a sheet holding unit configured to hold sheets; a setting unit configured to set information on sheets holed by the sheet holding unit; and a printing unit configured to print images based on the information on sheets set by the setting unit, wherein, when sheets are placed on the sheet holding unit, the setting unit sets information on sheets that corresponds to a button selected via a screen that displays buttons each associated with information on sheets in advance. 
     Further features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multi-function peripheral (MFP), which is an example of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller and connection between the controller and the peripherals thereof according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  depicts an overview of the MFP according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a top view of a console unit of the MFP according to the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict overhead views of a manual feed tray. 
         FIGS. 6A to 6H  are diagrams illustrating a method for setting a sheet size and a sheet type in the MFP according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a cross-sectional view of a scanner of the MFP according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer engine of the MFP according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a “frequently-used sheet” setting screen that is displayed on the console unit of the MFP according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 10A  is a diagram illustrating examples of sheet information that were set for sheet feed cassettes and the manual feed tray in sheet information setting processing according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 10B  is a diagram illustrating examples of information after default settings for the manual feed tray were configured according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 10C  is a diagram illustrating examples of data set in “frequently-used sheet setting”. 
         FIG. 10D  is a diagram illustrating examples of information after default settings for the manual feed tray were configured according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart for describing processing for setting sheet information for the manual feed tray in the MFP according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen for confirming sheets placed on the manual feed tray. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart for describing processing performed, in the MFP according to the first embodiment, when a job that has been interrupted due to the manual feed tray running out of sheets is deleted during the procedure. 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart for describing processing for setting sheet information for the manual feed tray in the MFP according to the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the claims of the present invention, and that not all of the combinations of the aspects that are described according to the following embodiments are necessarily required with respect to the means to solve the problems according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a Multi-Function Peripheral (MFP)  100 , which serves as an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a controller  101  controls the MFP  100 , and has a hardware configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . A scanner  102  reads an original document under control of the controller  101 , and outputs image data that corresponds to an image of the original document. A printer engine  103  is, in this embodiment, a laser beam printer engine and performs printing under control of the controller  101 . The printer engine  103  is connected to a finisher  104 , and the finisher  104  can staple a plurality of record media (for example, sheets) discharged from the printer engine  103  together. Note that the finisher  104  as well is controlled by the controller  101 . A network interface  105  can perform two-way communication with a PC  107  via a network  108 . A console unit  106  includes a display unit having a touch panel function, various types of hard keys, and the like, and is configured to display images, messages, and the like based on the information from the controller  101 , and to give instructions from users to the controller  101 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the controller  101  and connection between the controller  101  and the peripherals thereof according to the first embodiment. 
     In the controller  101 , a CPU  201  is connected, via a bus  209 , to a memory  202 , a display unit  203  and a keyboard  204 , which constitute the console unit  106 , a ROM  210 , and a disk  211 . Various types of programs and data that are to be executed by the CPU  201  are stored in the disk  211  such as a hard disk or a Floppy™ disk, and these programs are sequentially read on the memory  202  as needed and executed under control of the CPU  201 . This disk  211  may be removable from and attachable to the MFP  100 , or may be built in the MFP  100 . Furthermore, a configuration is also possible in which the programs are downloaded from another MFP, a PC, or the like via the network  108  and stored in the disk  211 . Furthermore, the memory  202  may have functions of both a volatile memory such as a DRAM and a nonvolatile memory such as a nvSRAM, or a configuration is also possible in which the memory  202  functions as a volatile memory and the disk  211  functions as a nonvolatile memory. Alternatively, the memory  202  may be a removable memory medium. 
     The CPU  201  performs display by outputting data on the display unit  203 , and receives an instruction from a user by inputting data from the keyboard  204  or the display unit  203  having a touch panel function. The input information is transmitted to the memory  202  or the disk  211 , is accumulated there, and is used for various types of processing. Furthermore, the network interface  105  is connected to the bus  209 . The CPU  201  performs communication using the interface by reading or writing data from or into the interface. 
     Moreover, the printer engine  103 , the finisher  104 , and the scanner  102  are connected to the bus  209 . By reading or writing data from or into these engines, the CPU  201  can control operations of the engines, such as printing or scanning, and can obtain various types of status. Image data obtained from the scanner  102  or the network interface  105  can be saved in the disk  211  or the memory  202  of the controller  101 . Furthermore, by mounting a removable memory, in which image data is accumulated in advance, on the controller  101 , it is also possible to import the image data. The image data accumulated in the disk  211  can be shifted or copied to the memory  202 , and it is possible to combine with the image data of the memory  202  various additional images (for example, numeric characters of page numbers) depending on contents of instructions from the console unit  106 . Note that a configuration is also possible in which the scanner  102 , the printer engine  103 , and the finisher  104  are provided not in the MFP  100  but as separate peripheral devices on the network, and are controlled by the controller  101  of the MFP  100 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts an overview of the MFP  100  according to the first embodiment. 
     The scanner  102  illuminates an image of an original document, scans the original document with a CCD line sensor, and thereby converts the image of the original document into electrical image data. Determination of color and size of the original document is performed based on the electrical image data. 
     The printer engine  103  prints images on sheets based on the image data. Then, the finisher  104  performs post-processing, such as stapling or binding, on the printed sheets, and outputs the sheets. Activation and termination of printing operation are performed by instructions from the CPU  201 . The reference numeral  304  denotes a manual feed tray. Here, the printer engine  103  includes the manual feed tray  304  and a plurality of sheet feed stages (sheet feed cassettes: sheet storage units). 
       FIG. 4  depicts a top view of the console unit  106  of the MFP  100  according to the first embodiment. 
     The display unit  203  has a touch panel sheet adhered to a liquid crystal screen thereof, and is configured to display an operation screen and soft keys, and to transmit, if any of the displayed keys is pressed, position information of the pressed key to the CPU  201 . A start key  402  is used for starting, for example, operation for reading an image of an original document. The start key  402  includes, in the central part thereof, a two-color (green and red) LED  403 , green indicating the state in which the start key  402  is ready for use, and red indicating the state in which the start key  402  is non-usable. A stop key  404  functions to stop a job operation that is being executed. A numeric keypad  405  is constituted by a group of number and character buttons, and is used for setting the number of copies, inputting facsimile numbers, and the like. A user mode key  406  is pressed when, for example, apparatus settings are configured. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict overhead views of the manual feed tray  304  of the MFP  100 . 
     In  FIG. 5A , the manual feed tray  304  includes guides  502  that are freely movable on rails  503 , and the positions of these guides  502  can be adjusted according to the size of sheets that are to be placed. 
     The reference numeral  505  of  FIG. 5B  indicates the positions of the guides when A4 size sheets are placed in the longitudinal direction, and the reference numeral  506  indicates the positions of the guides when A4 size sheets are placed in the lateral direction. A sensor  504  detects that sheets have been placed on the manual feed tray  304 . If sheets are placed on this sensor  504 , the controller  101  can detect that the sheets are placed on the manual feed tray  304 . 
       FIGS. 6A to 6H  are diagrams illustrating a method for setting a sheet size and a sheet type in the MFP  100  according to the first embodiment. 
     Setting of sheet information for the manual feed tray  304  is performed such that the sensor  504  detects placement of sheets if the sheets are placed on the manual feed tray  304 , and a sheet size setting screen shown in  FIG. 6A  is displayed. The sheet size can be set via this screen. 
     A standard size button group  601  is a group of buttons for setting a standard sheet size, and a user can register a standard sheet size the user wants to set for the manual feed tray  304  by pressing a button that corresponds to the size. 
     A user setting button  602  is pressed when the user wants to set sheets having a particular size. If the user setting button  602  is pressed, a user-configurable size input screen shown in  FIG. 6C  is displayed. In  FIG. 6C , a button X  610  is pressed when a user sets the size in the lateral direction, and the user sets the desired size (length (as a unit of mm)) using a numeric button group  612 . A button Y  611  is pressed when the user sets the size in the longitudinal direction, and the user sets the size (length) in the longitudinal direction using the numeric button group  612 . A cancel button  613  is pressed when the user wants to cancel the setting in this screen. When the cancel button  613  is pressed, the screen returns to the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A  without completing the setting of the sheet size. When the user presses an OK button  614  after having completed the setting of the sizes in the longitudinal and lateral directions, the sizes of the sheets that were set in this screen are set for the manual feed tray  304 , and the screen returns to the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A . 
     An envelope button  603  of  FIG. 6A  is pressed when an envelope size is set. When the envelope button  603  is pressed, an envelope size input screen shown in  FIG. 6D  is displayed. This screen includes an envelope size setting button group  616 , and the user can set the envelope size by pressing any one of the buttons. Here, “N3” is selected as a default. This default setting varies depending on destinations (destinations are information on countries or regions in which the apparatus is installed, and are saved in the memory  202  or the disk  211  of the controller  101 ). In the case where the destination is Japan, “N3” is set as a default, and in the case where the destination is any foreign country, “Com10” is set as a default. A cancel button  617  is pressed when the user wants to cancel the setting in this envelope size input screen. When the cancel button  617  is pressed, the screen returns to the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A  without completing the setting. An OK button  618  is pressed when the user determines the envelope size in the screen of  FIG. 6D . When the OK button  618  is pressed, the setting in the screen of  FIG. 6D  is established, and the screen returns to the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A . 
     After a standard size, a user-configurable size, or an envelope size was set in this way, the screen returns to the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A , and, when a forward button  605  is pressed, a sheet type setting screen of  FIG. 6B  is displayed. This screen includes a sheet type setting button group  606 , and the user can set a sheet type by pressing any one of the buttons. A back button  607  is pressed when the user wants to stop the setting in this screen. When the back button  607  is pressed, the screen returns to the screen of  FIG. 6A  without completing the setting of the sheet type. An OK button  608  is pressed when the user completes the setting of the sheet type. When the OK button  608  is pressed, the setting of the sheet type is completed, and the screen is closed. Furthermore, if the user wants to configure settings of sheets for another sheet feed stage, the user performs a cassette selecting operation in the screen of  FIG. 6F  so as to select a cassette, and repeats the above-described setting procedures. If the user does not configure the setting, the user presses a close button  626 , thereby returning to the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A . 
     Furthermore, when a frequently-used sheet button  604  of  FIG. 6A  is pressed, the screen shifts to the screen of  FIG. 9 , and in the screen of  FIG. 9 , the user can select and set a desired sheet size from among the preset sheet sizes. Note that a user mode screen of  FIG. 6E  may also shift to the screen of  FIG. 9 , as will be described later. 
     In order to set sheet information for the sheet feed cassette, the cassette size and the cassette type are set from the user mode screen of  FIG. 6E . When the user mode key  406  of the console unit  106  is pressed, the user mode screen of  FIG. 6E  is displayed. A sheet size can be set via this screen. In  FIG. 6E , by pressing one button of a button group  621  that corresponds to “sheet setting”, which belongs to button function contents denoted by reference numeral  620 , a sheet setting screen for cassettes shown in  FIG. 6F  is displayed. This screen includes a cassette selecting button group  624 , and it is possible to select a cassette. When one button of the cassette selecting button group  624  is selected and a setting button  625  is pressed, the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A  is displayed, and it is possible to set the sheet size for the selected cassette by executing the above-described procedures. 
     Furthermore, in order to perform sheet setting as with cassettes as described above, in contrast to setting of the sheet size each time sheets are placed on the manual feed tray  304 , default setting for the manual feed tray  304  is selected in the user mode screen of  FIG. 6E . That is, when the user mode key  406  of the console unit  106  is pressed, the user mode screen shown in  FIG. 6E  is displayed. In this screen, when the user presses a default setting button  619  for the manual feed tray  304 , a default setting registration screen for manually fed sheets, which is shown in  FIG. 6G , is displayed. 
     In  FIG. 6G , a fix button  628  is pressed when the user always keeps default settings for the manual feed tray  304  fixed. In the state in which the fix button  628  is pressed, the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A  is not displayed each time sheets are placed on the manual feed tray  304 , and the sheet size and the sheet type that are displayed in a sheet information display area  630  are set as fixed. Here, in order to change the sheet size and the sheet type that are to be set, a registration button  631  in the screen of  FIG. 6G  is pressed. When this registration button  631  is pressed, the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A  is displayed, and, by executing the above-described procedures, it is possible to set a sheet size and a sheet type for the manual feed tray  304 , as defaults. 
     Furthermore, a setting button  629  of “each time of placement” of  FIG. 6G  is pressed when sheet information is set each time sheets are placed on the manual feed tray  304  as described above, in contrast to the case where the sheet size for the manual feed tray  304  is fixed. When the setting button  629  of “each time of placement” is pressed, the screen changes to the screen shown in  FIG. 6H . In  FIG. 6H , the display in the sheet information display area  630  of  FIG. 6G  is changed to, for example, “set frequently-used sheets as default” in a display area  635  of  FIG. 6H . With this, when sheets are placed on the manual feed tray  304 , it is possible to select whether to configure setting from the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A , or the “frequently-used sheet” setting screen shown  FIG. 9 , which will be described later. When an ON button  636  of  FIG. 6H  is pressed, a screen ( FIG. 9 ) that prompts the user to configure setting based on the frequently-used sheets is set as a default, whereas when an OFF button  637  is pressed, the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A  is set as a default. 
       FIG. 10A  is a diagram illustrating examples of sheet information that were set for the sheet feed cassettes and the manual feed tray  304  in sheet information setting processing according to the first embodiment. 
     Furthermore,  FIG. 10B  is a diagram illustrating examples of information after default settings for the manual feed tray  304  were configured.  FIG. 10B  shows the case where the fix button  628  of  FIG. 6G  is pressed and sheet information for the manual feed tray  304  is set to A4 size plain paper as fixed. The data is saved in the memory  202  or the disk  211  of the controller  101 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a cross-sectional view of the scanner  102  of the MFP  100  according to the first embodiment. 
     Original documents  703  are placed on an original tray  702  and fed one by one to an exposure unit  713 , and images of the original documents  703  are read while the original documents  703  move. An original document feed roller  704  constitutes a pair with a separation pad  705 , and conveys the original documents  703  one by one. The conveyed original documents  703  are fed into the scanner  102  by an intermediate roller  706 , and are conveyed by a large roller  708  and a first driven roller  709 , and further by a large roller  708  and a second driven roller  710  while being supported therebetween. The original documents  703  conveyed by the large roller  708  and the second driven roller  710  pass between a flowing document reading glass  712  and an original document guide plate  717 , pass by a jumping plate  718 , and are conveyed while being supported between the large roller  708  and a third driven roller  711 . The original documents  703  conveyed by the large roller  708  and the third driven roller  711  are discharged by an original document discharging roller pair  707 . Note that the original documents  703  are conveyed between the flowing document reading glass  712  and the original document guide plate  717  while being in contact with the flowing document reading glass  712  due to the original document guide plate  717 . 
     Accordingly, when the original document  703  passes on the flowing document reading glass  712 , the face of the document that is in contact with the flowing document reading glass  712  is exposed by the exposure unit  713 . As a result, light reflected on the original document  703  passes through a lens  715  via a mirror unit  714  so as to be collected, and the collected light is incident on a CCD sensor  716  and converted into an electric signal. The image signal thus obtained is input into the controller  101 . 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer engine  103  of the MFP  100  according to the first embodiment. Here, description is given taking a full color laser beam printer as an example. 
     A photosensitive drum  801  is charged to a given polar potential by a primary charger  811 , and is exposed at the position thereof denoted by an arrow  812  by exposure means (not shown). Accordingly, an electrostatic latent image that corresponds to a first color component is formed. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed using one of four developers  802 . An intermediate transfer belt  803  is driven to perform conveyance in the direction indicated by the arrow, and an image of the first color component formed on the photosensitive drum  801  is transferred on an intermediate transfer belt  803  by an electric field that was formed by a primary transfer roller  810  in the course of passing through an interface between the photosensitive drum  801  and the intermediate transfer belt  803 . Accordingly, the surface of the photosensitive drum  801  that has undergone transfer on the intermediate transfer belt  803  is cleaned up by a cleaning unit  804 . The procedures are repeated in the order and four color images are superposed by the intermediate transfer belt  803 , thereby forming a color image. Note that in the case where a unicolor image is formed, the transfer processing is performed only one time. The image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt  803  is printed, by a secondary transfer roller  809 , on a sheet fed from the cassette  805 . The sheet on which the image is thus printed is heated and fixed by a fixing unit  806 . After the fixation, the sheet travels along a pass  807  and is conveyed to a discharge port  813  so as to be discharged. Note that in the case where two-sided printing is performed, a single sided printed sheet passes through a reversing path  808  in a circulating manner, and is conveyed again to the position of the secondary transfer roller  809 , where an image is printed on the opposite side to the printed side of the sheet. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of the “frequently-used sheet” setting screen that is to be displayed on the console unit  106  of the MFP  100  according to the first embodiment. 
     By the user mode key  406  of the console unit  106  being pressed, the screen shown in  FIG. 6E  is displayed on the display unit  203  of the console unit  106 . In the screen of  FIG. 6E , when a button  622  of the button group  621  that corresponds to “frequently-used sheet setting” is pressed, the “frequently-used sheet” setting screen shown in  FIG. 9  is displayed. This “frequently-used sheet” setting screen includes preset buttons  902 , and it is possible to register the size or type of the frequently-used sheet using one of these buttons. The screen of  FIG. 9  shows the state in which a preset  1  (“P 1  A4”) is selected, and an information display area  903  displays the sheet size (A4) and the sheet type (plain paper). 
       FIG. 10C  is a diagram illustrating an example of data set in the “frequently-used sheet setting” according to the first embodiment. 
     Here, presets  1  to  5 , which correspond to the preset buttons  902  of  FIG. 9 , are stored. Here, the presets  1  to  4  have been set, and only the preset  5  has not yet been set. The preset data is to be saved in the memory  202  or the disk  211  of the controller  101 . The data is used when a sheet feed cassette is automatically selected. 
     Furthermore, the user can press a registration button  904  of  FIG. 9  to instruct setting of the sheet sizes and the sheet types for the group of preset buttons  902 . If one of the preset buttons  902  is selected and the registration button  904  is pressed, the sheet size setting screen shown in  FIG. 6A  is displayed, and it is possible to set the sheet size and the sheet type as presets by executing the above-described procedures. When the frequently-used sheet setting is completed in this manner, the user presses an OK button  905  and establishes the settings. 
     Note that the “frequently-used sheet” setting screen shown in  FIG. 9  is displayed not only when sheet information is registered for the preset button  902  but also when the content registered in the preset button  902  is set as sheet information of the manual feed tray  304 . In the case where sheet information is registered for the manual feed tray  304 , an “other sheet” button  906  of  FIG. 9  is displayed. If the user presses this button  906 , the screen is switched to the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A , and any sheet information, instead of the preset sheet information, can be set for the manual feed tray  304 . 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart for describing processing for setting sheet information for the manual feed tray  304  in the MFP  100  according to the first embodiment. Note that a program for executing this processing is installed in the disk  211 , is deployed on the memory  202  at the time of execution, and is executed under control of the CPU  201 . 
     First, in step S 1101 , the CPU  201  determines using the sensor  504  whether or not sheets have been placed on the manual feed tray  304 . If it is determined that sheets have been placed on the manual feed tray  304 , the procedure advances to step S 1102 , where the CPU  201  checks the default settings (see  FIG. 10B ) for the manual feed tray  304  that are stored in the memory  202  or the disk  211 . If it is determined in step S 1102  that default settings are “fixed”, the procedure advances to step S 1103 . In step S 1103 , the CPU  201  sets the sheet size and the sheet type that were registered in the  FIG. 10B  in a field for the manual feed tray of  FIG. 10A , which is stored in the memory  202  or the disk  211 , and the procedure ends. 
     Accordingly, in the example of  FIG. 10B , plain paper having sheet size of A4 is set for the manual feed tray  304 . 
     On the other hand, if the CPU  201  determines in step S 1102  that default settings for the manual feed tray are configured “each time of placement”, the procedure advances to step S 1104 , where the CPU  201  determines whether or not the processing has been interrupted due to the manual feed tray running out of sheets. The interruption due to the manual feed tray running out of sheets refers to the state in which, while, for example, PDL printing processing or copying processing is executed on sheets fed from the manual feed tray  304 , the manual feed tray  304  runs out of sheets. If the interruption occurred since the manual feed tray ran out of sheets, the procedure advances to step S 1105 , where the CPU  201  obtains from data of an interrupted job the sheet size and the sheet type that the job uses. Next, the procedure advance to step S 1106 , where the CPU  201  displays, on the display unit  203 , a confirmation screen for confirming sheets on the manual feed tray shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of the confirmation screen for confirming sheets on the manual feed tray. 
     A sheet information area  1201  of this screen displays sheet information obtained in step S 1105  by the CPU  201 , the sheet information being for use in the job. By displaying this screen, it is possible to prompt the user to determine whether or not the sheets placed on the manual feed tray  304  are appropriate for execution of this job. 
     Next, in step S 1107 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not an OK button  1202  or a sheet changing button  1203  has been pressed on the screen of  FIG. 12 . If the CPU  201  determines that the OK button  1202  has been pressed, the procedure advances to step S 1108 , where the CPU  201  sets and registers the sheet information obtained in step S 1105  in the field for the manual feed tray of  FIG. 10A . Then, the procedure advances to step S 1109 , where the CPU  201  closes the confirmation screen for confirming settings of sheet on the manual feed tray of  FIG. 12 , and this processing ends. 
     On the other hand, if the CPU  201  detects in step S 1107  that the sheet changing button  1203  of  FIG. 12  has been pressed, or if the CPU  201  determines in step S 1104  that interruption occurred other than the manual feed tray ran out of sheets, the procedure advances to step S 1110 . In step S 1110 , the CPU  201  displays, on the display unit  203 , the sheet size setting screen shown in  FIG. 6A . Here the user will set the sheet size and the sheet type. Accordingly, the procedure advances to step S 1111 , where the CPU  201  determines that input of the sheet information via the screen of  FIG. 6A  is established, and then the procedure advances to step S 1108 , where the CPU  201  sets the established sheet information in a field for the manual feed tray of  FIG. 10A , thereby terminating the processing. 
     By performing such operations, it is possible to display, on the console unit  106 , the screen for setting sheet information for the manual feed tray at a timing at which the user places sheets on the manual feed tray, and the user can determine whether or not the sheets on the manual feed tray are appropriate, thereby improving convenience. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart for describing processing performed, in the MFP  100  according to the first embodiment, when a job that has been interrupted due to the manual feed tray running out of sheets is deleted during the procedure. The operation starts in step S 1106  of  FIG. 11 , with display of the confirmation screen for confirming sheet settings ( FIG. 12 ). 
     First, in step S 1301 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not a job that has been interrupted due to the manual feed tray running out of sheets is running. For example, if the interrupted job is stopped by the stop key  404 , or priority is given to another job and the interrupted job is left behind, it is determined that the job having been interrupted due to running out of sheets is not running. 
     If the CPU  201  determines in step S 1301  that the job having been interrupted due to running out of sheets is not running, the procedure advances to step S 1302 , where the CPU  201  closes the confirmation screen for confirming sheets on the manual feed tray shown in  FIG. 12 , and the procedure advances to step S 1110  of  FIG. 11 . 
     In this first embodiment, it is possible to set sheet information to be set for the manual feed tray using the sheet size setting screen and the sheet type setting screen, similarly to the case of the other sheet feed cassettes. Furthermore, it is possible to select whether to set sheet information set for the manual feed tray as fixed, or to set sheet information each time, that is, at a timing at which sheets are placed on the manual feed tray. In the case of setting sheet information as fixed, when the user places sheets on the manual feed tray, sheet information such as the sheet size and the sheet type that are registered with respect to the manual feed tray are always set for the manual feed tray. On the other hand, in the case of setting sheet information each time sheets are placed, when a job has been interrupted since the manual feed tray ran out of sheets, sheet information used for the interrupted job is displayed. Accordingly, it is possible for the user to determine whether or not the sheets placed on the manual feed tray by the user are appropriate. 
     According to the first embodiment as described above, it is possible to automatically set sheet information for the manual feed tray at a timing at which sheets are placed on the manual feed tray. Alternatively, it is possible to switch the screen, at this timing, to the screen for setting or confirming sheet information for the manual feed tray. With this, when, for example, interruption occurred since the manual feed tray ran out of sheets, time and effort for setting sheet information for the manual feed tray can significantly be reduced. 
     Furthermore, if a job has been interrupted due to running out of sheets and an operation screen for avoiding time and effort for inputting sheet information is displayed, change of the job state to a state other than the execution state enables the screen to automatically switch to the screen for manually setting sheet information. With this, it is also possible to prevent the user from registering sheet information that is not intended by mistake. Therefore, a significant reduction in time and effort spent by the user can be achieved. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. Note that system configuration, a configuration of the MFP, and the like according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are omitted. 
     In this second embodiment, by switching the operation screen displayed on the console unit  106  at a timing at which sheets are placed on the manual feed tray  304 , time and effort for setting sheet information for the manual feed tray are reduced particularly when interruption occurred since the manual feed tray ran out of sheets. 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart for describing processing for setting sheet information for the manual feed tray  304  in the MFP  100  according to the second embodiment. Note that a program for executing this processing is installed in the disk  211 , is deployed on the memory  202  at the time of execution, and is executed under control of the CPU  201 . 
     First, in step S 1401 , the CPU  201  determines using the sensor  504  whether or not sheets have been placed on the manual feed tray  304 . If it is determined that sheets have been placed on the manual feed tray  304 , the procedure advances to step S 1402 , where the CPU  201  reads out default settings for the manual feed tray ( FIG. 10D ) stored in the memory  202  or the disk  211 , and performs determination. 
       FIG. 10D  is a diagram illustrating examples of information after default settings were configured for the manual feed tray  304  according to the second embodiment. Here, the default settings for the manual feed tray  304  include an item of “frequently-used setting” for instructing whether or not to set the set content. 
     Here, if the CPU  201  determines that the default settings are “fixed”, the procedure advances to step S 1403 . Here, similarly to the step S 1103  of  FIG. 11 , the CPU  201  sets the sheet size and the sheet type that were registered in  FIG. 10D  in a field for the manual feed tray of the sheet information ( FIG. 10A ), which is stored in the memory  202  or the disk  211 , and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, if the CPU  201  determines in step S 1402  that the default settings are set “each time of placement”, the procedure advances to step S 1404 , where it is determined whether the “frequently-used setting” of  FIG. 10D  is ON or OFF. If the “frequently-used setting” is ON, the procedure advances to step S 1405 , where the CPU  201  displays, on the display unit  203 , the sheet information setting screen for frequently-used sheets shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Next, in step S 1406 , the CPU  201  determines whether the OK button  905  or the “other sheet” button  906  is pressed after any one of the preset buttons  902  in the screen of  FIG. 9  was pressed. If the CPU  201  determines that the OK button  905  was pressed, the procedure advances to step S 1407 , where the CPU  201  sets preset sheet information selected in the “frequently-used sheet” screen of  FIG. 9  in the field for the manual feed tray of  FIG. 10A . Then, the procedure advances to step S 1408 , where the CPU  201  deletes the “frequently-used sheet” screen of  FIG. 9  from the display unit  203 , and the processing ends. 
     On the other hand, if the CPU  201  determines in step S 1406  that the “other sheet” button  906  was pressed, or the CPU  201  determines in step S 1404  that the frequently used setting of  FIG. 10D  is OFF, the procedure advances to step S 1409 . In step S 1409 , the CPU  201  displays, on the display unit  203 , the sheet size setting screen of  FIG. 6A , and lets the user set the sheet size and the sheet type. Then, if the CPU  201  determines in step S 1410  that the input sheet information was established, the CPU  201  sets the sheet information set in step S 1409  in the field for the manual feed tray of  FIG. 10A , and the processing ends. 
     In this second embodiment, it is possible to set sheet information to be set for the manual feed tray using the sheet size setting screen and the sheet type setting screen, similarly to the case of the other sheet feed cassettes. Furthermore, it is possible to select whether to set sheet information set for the manual feed tray as fixed, or to set sheet information each time, that is, at a timing at which sheets are placed on the manual feed tray. In the case of setting sheet information as fixed, when the user places sheets on the manual feed tray, sheet information such as the sheet size and the sheet type that are registered with respect to the manual feed tray are set for the manual feed tray. Furthermore, it is possible to designate whether or not sheet information to be set for the manual feed tray can be set via the sheet information setting screen for frequently-used sheets. 
     According to the second embodiment as described above, it is possible to set sheet information to be set for the manual feed tray at a timing at which sheets are placed on the manual feed tray, using the setting screen for frequently-used sheets. Therefore, when, for example, interruption occurred since the manual feed tray ran out of sheets, time and effort for setting sheet information for the manual feed tray can efficiently and significantly be reduced. 
     Note that although the first and second embodiments have described, taking setting of sheet information for the manual feed tray as an example, the present invention is not limited to the example, and is applicable to the case where sheet information is set for the sheet feed cassettes. 
     Other Embodiment 
     Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or other circuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separate computer processors. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-131054, filed Jun. 21, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.