Image forming apparatus and method for controlling image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an exit tray, a printing unit, an output unit, and a control unit. A printing medium after printing is discharged to the exit tray. The printing unit performs printing of an image on the printing medium, and discharges the printing medium after printing to the exit tray. The output unit outputs information. The control unit causes the printing unit to stop the printing of the image on the printing medium, and causes the output unit to output alert information on discharge of the printing medium to the exit tray, if the number of printing media on the exit tray is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value. The control unit causes the printing unit to stop the printing of the image on the printing medium, and causes the output unit to output the alert information, if the number of printing media on the exit tray is equal to or greater than a second threshold value which is smaller than the first threshold value, and if a predetermined printing stop condition is satisfied.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an exit tray to which a printing medium after printing is discharged;   a printing component configured to perform printing of an image on the printing medium and to discharge the printing medium after printing to the exit tray;   an output component configured to output alert information that urges a user to remove the printing medium from the exit tray; and   a controller configured to
 cause the printing component to stop the printing of the image on the printing medium if a predetermined printing stop condition is satisfied, 
 cause the printing component continues to stop printing if a number of print media on the exit tray is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value, and 
 cause the output component to output the alert information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a printing stop condition comprises at least one of three conditions including:
 a condition in which a remaining number of printing media placed in a printing media storage unit is 0, 
 a condition in which a remaining amount of toner is less than a predetermined second threshold value, and 
 a condition in which a capacity of waste toner in a waste toner container is equal to or greater than a predetermined third threshold value. 
   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a number of discharge counts is reset every time printing on one or a plurality of the printing media forming one job is completed.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a number of discharge counts is reset every time printing on one or a plurality of the printing media forming one job is completed.   
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one of a sensor or a switch to detect that a number of printing media discharged to the exit tray reaches a predetermined number.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one of a sensor or a switch to detect that a number of printing media discharged to the exit tray reaches a predetermined number.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display for viewing the alert information.   
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including an exit tray to which a printing medium after printing is discharged, a printing component configured to perform printing of an image on the printing medium and to discharge the printing medium after printing to the exit tray, and an output component configured to output alert information that urges a user to remove the printing medium from the exit tray, the method comprising:
 causing the printing component to stop the printing of the image on the printing medium if a predetermined printing stop condition is satisfied;   causing the printing component continues to stop printing if a number of print media on the exit tray is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value; and   causing the output component to output the alert information.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein
 a printing stop condition comprises at least one of three conditions including:
 a condition in which a remaining number of printing media placed in a printing media storage unit is 0, 
 a condition in which a remaining amount of toner is less than a predetermined second threshold value, and 
 a condition in which a capacity of waste toner in a waste toner container is equal to or greater than a predetermined third threshold value. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein
 a number of discharge counts is reset every time printing on one or a plurality of the printing media forming one job is completed.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 a number of discharge counts is reset every time printing on one or a plurality of the printing media forming one job is completed.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 to detecting, by at least one of a sensor or a switch, that a number of printing media discharged to the exit tray reaches a predetermined number.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 viewing the alert information on a display.   
     
     
         14 . An inkjet printer, comprising:
 an exit tray to which a printing medium after printing is discharged;   an inkjet printing component configured to perform printing of an image on the printing medium and to discharge the printing medium after printing to the exit tray;   an output component configured to output alert information that urges a user to remove the printing medium from the exit tray; and   a controller configured to
 cause the inkjet printing component to stop the printing of the image on the printing medium if a predetermined printing stop condition is satisfied, 
 cause the inkjet printing component to continue to stop printing if a number of print media on the exit tray is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value, and 
 cause the output component to output the alert information. 
   
     
     
         15 . The inkjet printer according to  claim 14 , wherein
 a printing stop condition comprises at least one of three conditions including:
 a condition in which a remaining number of printing media placed in a printing media storage unit is 0, 
 a condition in which a remaining amount of toner is less than a predetermined second threshold value, and 
 a condition in which a capacity of waste toner in a waste toner container is equal to or greater than a predetermined third threshold value. 
   
     
     
         16 . The inkjet printer according to  claim 14 , wherein
 a number of discharge counts is reset every time printing on one or a plurality of the printing media forming one job is completed.   
     
     
         17 . The inkjet printer according to  claim 15 , wherein
 a number of discharge counts is reset every time printing on one or a plurality of the printing media forming one job is completed.   
     
     
         18 . The inkjet printer according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one of a sensor or a switch to detect that a number of printing media discharged to the exit tray reaches a predetermined number.   
     
     
         19 . The inkjet printer according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 at least one of a sensor or a switch to detect that a number of printing media discharged to the exit tray reaches a predetermined number.   
     
     
         20 . The inkjet printer according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a display for viewing the alert information.