An image forming apparatus capable of paper feed control that can selectively feed paper in such a manner as to be able to reduce the first copy time as much as possible when there is more than one paper tray that holds the same size paper. The apparatus includes an image forming section, two or more paper accommodating sections, a paper feed means provided for each of the paper accommodating sections, and a paper feed control section for performing paper feed control so as to reduce the first copy time. The paper accommodating sections include a first paper accommodating section whose paper transport time to the image forming section is shorter and a second paper accommodating section whose paper transport time to the image forming section is longer. Paper feed control is performed so that the paper consumption in the first paper accommodating section whose paper transport time to the image forming section is shorter is reduced, thereby increasing the opportunity of being able to shorten the first copy time.

In addition to a parameter commonly used for all printing jobs, a parameter used for each printing job is also set at the performing of the print job. During the performing of the print job, when no available sheet is left, a switching is effected to another sheet supplying tray on the basis of the commonly used parameter and parameter for each printing job. By doing so it is possible to, during the performing of the print job, prevent a switching to a sheet supply tray in which a sheet not wanted by the user is held.

In order to control the ejection of sheets from input compartments in a paper output device belonging to a printing or photocopying system, verification occurs as to whether a previously processed sheet has been removed as soon as it has been established that at least one input compartment is almost empty. Ejection of the sheet immediately following according to the order of processing occurs thereafter. These steps are repeated until the input compartment is empty. The printing operation is then stopped.

A driving apparatus includes a plurality of driving devices, a plurality of detectors for detecting a malfunction of the driving devices, and a controller, which is responsive to a detection result of the detectors, for decreasing a driving speed of a driving device at which a malfunction is detected and increases a driving speed of another driving device.

An image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of storing units for storing respective recording materials of various sizes; a plurality of feeding members for feeding out the recording materials from each of the storing units; a conveyance path along which the recording materials being fed out by each of the feeding members are conveyed; a plurality of conveying members for conveying the recording materials along the conveyance path; an image forming section for forming an image on the recording materials conveyed along the conveyance path; and a plurality of first regulators provided at respective predetermined positions with respect to corresponding ones of each of the storing units for regulating at least a maximum size of the various sizes of the recording materials while at least at a part of each of the recording materials is fed out from the respective corresponding storing units.