Image forming apparatus and image forming method

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a function controller. The function controller performs control so as not to execute a conveyance function when function information, which indicates whether to restrict execution of a conveyance function for conveying a sheet for each conveyance source of the sheet or each conveyance destination of the sheet, indicates that the execution of the conveyance function is restricted. The function controller performs control to execute the conveyance function when the function information indicates that the execution of the conveyance function is not restricted.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a control panel configured to display a sheet size image for accepting a size of a sheet accommodated in a sheet feed tray, and to display a container image for accepting restriction of a conveyance function of the sheet feed tray; and   a processor configured to
 perform a control so as not to execute the conveyance function when the control panel receives an input of the container image. 
   
     
     
         22 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the sheet feed tray is configured to accommodate a sheet on which an image is formed, and for which the conveyance function is performed; and   the processor is configured to control performance of the conveyance function for the sheet feed tray.   
     
     
         23 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein
 the sheet feed tray comprises a sheet detector configured to detect whether or not a sheet is accommodated in the sheet feed tray; and   the conveyance function comprises a function of raising the sheet feed tray to contact the sheet detector, thereby allowing the sheet detector to detect whether or not the sheet is accommodated in the sheet feed tray.   
     
     
         24 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 storage configured to store conveyance function information,   wherein the processor is configured to
 generate the conveyance function information to restrict the conveyance function of the sheet feed tray when the control panel receives the input of the container image; and 
 perform a control so as to not execute the conveyance function when conveyance function information for restricting the conveyance function of the sheet feed tray is stored in the storage. 
   
     
     
         25 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein
 at least two sheet feed trays are provided; and   the processor is configured to control whether or not the conveyance function is executed in each of the sheet feed trays based on the conveyance function information for each of the sheet feed trays.   
     
     
         26 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein
 the processor is configured to output a warning indicating that no sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus when the conveyance function information indicates that the conveyance function is not executed in the at least two sheet feed trays.   
     
     
         27 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 storage configured to store mode information indicating an operation mode of the image forming apparatus,   wherein the processor is configured to generate conveyance function information, and   wherein when the mode information indicates a packaging mode showing a state in which the image forming apparatus is packaged, conveyance function information indicates that the execution of the conveyance function is restricted.   
     
     
         28 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a sheet discharger to which a printed sheet is discharged, wherein   the processor is configured to control whether or not the conveyance function is executed in the sheet discharger.   
     
     
         29 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an image reader configured to read image information of a reading object, wherein   the processor is configured to control whether or not the conveyance function is executed in the image reader.   
     
     
         30 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to perform a control so as not to execute the conveyance function when conveyance function information, which indicates whether to restrict execution of the conveyance function for conveying a sheet, indicates that the execution of the conveyance function is restricted. 
     
     
         31 . An image forming method, comprising:
 displaying, by a control panel, a sheet size image for accepting a size of a sheet accommodated in a sheet feed tray and a container image for accepting restriction of a conveyance function of the sheet feed tray; and   performing control of an image forming apparatus so as not to execute the conveyance function when the control panel receives an input of the container image.   
     
     
         32 . The image forming method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 accommodating, in the sheet feed tray, a sheet on which an image is formed, wherein the conveyance function is performed in the sheet feed tray, and   controlling performance of the conveyance function for the sheet feed tray.   
     
     
         33 . The image forming method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 detecting, by a sheet detector, whether or not a sheet is accommodated in the sheet feed tray, and   raising the sheet feed tray to contact the sheet detector, thereby allowing the sheet detector to detect whether or not the sheet is accommodated in the sheet feed tray.   
     
     
         34 . The image forming method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 storing conveyance function information in storage;   generating the conveyance function information to restrict the conveyance function of the sheet feed tray when the input of the container image is received; and   performing a control so as to not execute the conveyance function when the conveyance function information for restricting the conveyance function of the sheet feed tray is stored in the storage.   
     
     
         35 . The image forming method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 controlling whether or not the conveyance function is executed in each of a plurality of sheet feed trays based on conveyance function information for each of the plurality of sheet feed trays.   
     
     
         36 . The image forming method according to  claim 35 , further comprising:
 outputting a warning indicating that no sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus when the conveyance function information indicates that the conveyance function is not executed in each of the plurality of sheet feed trays.   
     
     
         37 . The image forming method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 storing mode information indicating an operation mode of the image forming apparatus; and   indicating that the execution of the conveyance function is restricted when the mode information indicates a packaging mode showing a state in which the image forming apparatus is packaged.   
     
     
         38 . The image forming method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 controlling whether or not the conveyance function is executed in a sheet discharger to which a printed sheet is discharged.   
     
     
         39 . The image forming method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 reading, by an image reader, image information of a reading object, and   controlling whether or not the conveyance function is executed in the image reader.   
     
     
         40 . The image forming method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 performing a control so as not to execute the conveyance function when conveyance function information, which indicates whether to restrict execution of the conveyance function for conveying a sheet, indicates that the execution of the conveyance function is restricted.