JP2006058645A - Paper feed method of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feed method of a printer with which prolonging of a product lifetime is made possible by preventing a fixed paper feed tray from being used concentratedly when automatic paper feed selection is assigned. <P>SOLUTION: In the printer having a function to perform the automatic paper feed selection, the paper feed trays are selected in such a manner that frequency use of each paper feed tray is equal when the automatic paper feed selection is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays, and more particularly to an automatic paper feed selection function.

  Conventionally, in a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays such as a plurality of paper cassettes and multipurpose trays, printing described in a predetermined command system by having means for recognizing the paper set in each paper feed tray The paper type (the paper size and the paper type are collectively referred to as the paper type. The paper size is A4, A3, postcard, etc.), and the paper type is plain paper, coated paper, glossy paper, or the like. ), And paper feed trays (cassettes, manual feed trays, etc.), paper is fed from the paper feed tray that contains paper that matches the specified paper size and paper type. An automatic paper feed selection function is possible.

In addition, by having means for accepting the specification of the search priority at the time of automatic paper feeding and means for storing the accepted priority order, the user can freely designate the automatic paper feeding search order. An invention relating to a paper feed selection function has been devised (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-188280

  However, the above-described conventional example has a drawback in that it does not take into account the extension of the product life because it pursues user convenience. A printing apparatus having an automatic paper feeding selection function is generally used by a plurality of users to output a large amount of documents in an office or the like, and durability is very important as compared with a consumer product. . On the other hand, a conventional printing apparatus having an automatic paper feeding selection function selects according to a priority tray that is fixedly held by the printing apparatus when selecting a paper feeding tray or a priority order designated by the user. Usage concentrates on a certain paper feed tray, and the number of paper pick-ups and cassette total removal from the paper feed tray increases. As a result, there are disadvantages that the life of the paper feed roller for picking up the paper from the paper feed tray is shortened or the life of the cassette and the printing apparatus main body (contact point with the cassette) is shortened.

  Accordingly, an object of the present application is to provide a paper feeding method for a printing apparatus that can extend the life of a product by preventing concentration of use on a certain paper feeding tray when automatic paper feeding selection is designated. Is to realize.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first invention of the present application, in a printing apparatus having a function of performing automatic paper feed selection, when the automatic paper feed selection is performed, the usage frequency of each paper feed tray is equalized. It has a means for selecting a paper feed tray.

  In order to achieve the above object, the second invention of the present application is characterized by having means for holding the use frequency in each of the paper feed trays.

  In order to achieve the above object, the third invention of the present application is characterized by having means for quantitatively calculating the use frequency of each paper feed tray from the paper type.

  As described above, according to the first to third aspects of the present application, in the printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feeding means, the printing apparatus having means for holding the usage frequency in each paper feeding tray is provided. Means for quantitatively calculating the use frequency of the paper from the paper type, and means for selecting the paper feed tray so that the use frequency of each paper feed tray is equal when performing automatic paper feed selection, When automatic paper feed selection is designated, it is possible to prevent the use from being concentrated on a certain paper feed tray, and the product life can be extended.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a printing apparatus that realizes the present embodiment. 1 is a CPU, 2 is a display unit such as an LCD, 3 is an input unit such as a switch or a key, 4 is a tank for storing ink, or an ink. A printing unit such as a head for performing discharge printing, 5 a paper feeding unit such as a cassette or a manual tray, 6 a memory such as a ROM or a flash memory for storing a module with a low frequency of rewriting, and 7 a memory 6 A memory such as a RAM used for a work area or a variable of a stored program, 8 is a communication interface such as a Centro or USB, and 9 is a host device such as a personal computer.

  The firmware stored in the memory 6 is a program for controlling the printing apparatus, and includes each process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  The print buffer secured in the memory 7 is an area for the firmware to process the print data transmitted from the host device 9 into a format that the printing unit 4 can print. MediaSizeUsr and MediaTypeUsr are used to store the paper size and paper type specified by the user in the application program of the host device 9. For example, the value is 1 for A4-plain paper, 2 for A4-coated paper, etc. Is substituted. These can generally be acquired by transmitting a command converted into a predetermined command that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 10 in the host apparatus 9 to the printing apparatus 10 using the communication interface 8. MediaSizePrt [n] and MediaTypePrt [n] are arrays representing the paper size and paper type set in each paper feed tray. Like MediaSizeUsr and MediaTypeUsr, A4-plain paper is 1, and A4-coated paper is 2. A value such as is assigned. n is used as the array number of MediaSizePrt [n], MediaTypePrt [n], and Tray [n], LoadCount [n], and the paper feed tray number of the printing apparatus 10 (1 to 3 in this embodiment). ). P is used to search for the paper feed tray of the minimum total paper feed point. “Tray [n]” is a flag indicating whether or not the paper type set in each paper feed tray is compatible with the paper type desired by the user. The LoadCount [n] is an array representing the total paper feed points of each paper feed tray, and is calculated based on FIG. 3 and FIG. UseTrayNo is used to store a paper feed tray number that actually feeds paper.

  The host device 9 is used for transmitting print data to the printing device 10 and executing a utility for controlling the printing device 10.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration example of a printing apparatus main body that realizes this embodiment. Reference numeral 10 denotes a printing apparatus, and reference numerals 11 to 13 denote sheet feeding trays as sheet feeding units.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a sheet feed number table for each sheet type of each sheet feed tray realizing the present embodiment, and the unit of the value in the table is the number of sheets.

  FIG. 4 is a paper feed point table for each paper type that realizes the present embodiment. Quantitatively, the paper feed load when one sheet of paper is fed when A4-plain paper is set to 1.0. It is a representation. The paper feed points in the table are only examples, and vary depending on the paper feed mechanism of each printing apparatus, and the calculation method of the paper feed points themselves is also system dependent.

  FIG. 5 is a total paper feed point table for each paper feed tray realizing the present embodiment, and is calculated from the number of paper feeds in FIG. 3 and the paper feed points in FIG. The calculation method is as follows.

Total paper feed point = (A4 plain paper feed number × A4 plain paper feed point) + (A4 coated paper feed point × A4 coated paper feed point) + (A4 glossy paper feed point ×) A4 glossy paper feed point) + ... + (postcard glossy paper feed count x postcard glossy paper feed point)
FIG. 6 is a compatible paper flag table for each paper feed tray that implements this embodiment.

  In this embodiment, when automatic paper feed selection is performed in a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays, the paper feed tray with the lowest paper feed frequency among the paper types specified by the user is set. Search and select.

  In the present embodiment, these realizing methods will be described below using the flowchart of FIG.

  In S7-1, it is determined whether or not automatic paper feeding is selected. In the case of automatic paper feeding, the process goes to S7-2, and in the case where a paper feed tray is designated, the process goes to S7-19.

  In S7-19, the designated paper feed tray number is substituted for UseTrayNo. UseTrayNo is used to determine the paper feed tray when paper feed is executed in S7-20.

  In S7-2, the media size and media type specified by the user are set in MediaSizeUsr and MediaTypeUsr, respectively.

  In S7-3, the media size and paper type set in each paper feed tray are set in MediaSizePrt [n] and MediaTypePrt [n].

  In S7-4, 1 is substituted for n, and the paper feed tray number to be searched is initialized.

  In S7-5, it is determined whether or not the paper size set in the paper feed tray number n matches the paper size designated by the user. If the paper sizes match, go to S7-6, otherwise go to S7-9.

  In S7-6, it is determined whether or not the paper type set in the paper feed tray number n matches the paper type designated by the user. If the paper types match, go to S7-7, and if not, go to S7-9.

  In S7-7, since the paper type set in the paper feed tray number n matches the paper type specified by the user, 1 is set in the Tray [n].

  In S7-8, it is determined whether or not all (three in this embodiment) paper feed trays have been searched. If all paper feed tray searches are completed, the process goes to S7-10, and if not completed, the process goes to S7-9.

  In S7-9, 1 is added to n in order to search for the next paper feed tray.

  When the search for all the paper feed trays is completed, the table shown in FIG. 6 is created in which the paper feed tray numbers on which the paper that matches the paper specified by the user is set are identified.

  In step S7-10, 0 is substituted for UseTrayNo to initialize the paper feed tray number for actual paper feeding. In this embodiment, the paper feed tray numbers are 1 to 3. If 0 is set, it indicates that no valid paper feed tray is currently searched.

  In S7-11, the paper feed tray number to be searched is initialized by substituting 1 for n.

  In step S7-12, 0xFFFF is substituted for P to initialize the minimum total paper feed point. The initial value of P needs to exceed the theoretical maximum feeding point, and is 0xFFFF in this embodiment, but it goes without saying that this value is system dependent.

  In S7-13, it is determined whether or not a sheet matching the sheet feed tray number n is set. If the matching paper is set, the process goes to S7-14, and if it is not set, the process goes to S7-17.

  In step S <b> 7-14, the total paper feed point of the paper feed tray number n is compared with the total paper feed point of the paper feed tray number n−1. If the paper feed tray number n is smaller, go to S7-15, and if larger, go to S7-17.

  In S7-15, the minimum total paper feed point is updated.

  In S7-16, the paper feed tray number which is the minimum total paper feed point is updated.

  In S7-17, it is determined whether or not all the paper feed trays have been searched. If all paper feed tray searches are completed, the process goes to S7-20, and if not completed, the process goes to S7-18.

  In S7-18, 1 is added to n in order to search for the next paper feed tray.

  When the search for all the paper feed trays is completed, the paper feed tray number of the minimum total paper feed point in which the paper that matches the paper designated by the user is found.

  In S7-20, paper feeding is executed. Here, in addition to performing the actual paper feeding operation, processing for updating the tables in FIGS. 3 and 5 is performed.

  As described above, when automatic paper feed selection is performed in a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays, the paper feed tray in which the paper of the paper type specified by the user is set is selected with the lowest paper feed frequency. It becomes possible to do.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing apparatus that implements a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing apparatus main body that implements a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the paper feed number table for every paper type of each paper feed tray which implement | achieves 1st Example of this invention. 3 is a paper feed point table for each paper type that implements the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a total paper feed point table for each paper feed tray that realizes the first embodiment of the present invention; 5 is a compatible paper flag table for each paper feed tray that implements the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart of paper feed processing for realizing the first embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 Display unit 3 Input unit 4 Printing unit 5 Paper feeding unit 6 Memory 7 Memory 8 Communication interface 9 Host device 10 Printing device 11 Paper feeding tray 12 Paper feeding tray 13 Paper feeding tray

Claims (3)

  A printing apparatus having a function of performing automatic paper feed selection, characterized by comprising means for selecting a paper feed tray so that the frequency of use of each paper feed tray is equal when performing automatic paper feed selection Paper feeding method.   2. A paper feeding method in a printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for holding a usage frequency in each of the paper feeding trays.   2. A paper feeding method in a printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for quantitatively calculating a usage frequency of each of the paper feeding trays from a paper type.

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