JP2011088399A - Printing device and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption of a printing device more. <P>SOLUTION: It is determined whether received print data D2 include end designated time Te. When it is determined that the received print data D2 include no end designated time Te, printing based on the received print data D2 is performed in set one of a normal print mode and a power-saving print mode. When it is determined that the received print data D2 include the end designated time Te, print start time Ts for starting printing based on the print data D2 containing the end designated time Te is obtained in the power-saving print mode, based on the end designated time Te. When printing different from that based on the print data D2 including the end designated time Te is finished before predetermined time Tg from the obtained print start time Ts, the printing based on the print data D2 including the end designated time Te is performed in the power-saving print mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing system capable of designating a time for ending printing.

As described in Patent Document 1, an increasing number of printers that can operate in an operation mode with low power consumption have been increasing in recent years.
In addition, when using a printing apparatus that can specify the time for ending printing, there are cases where printing is performed at midnight when power is low.

JP 2007-148613 A

  In recent years when energy saving is required, it is desirable to further reduce the power consumption of the printing apparatus.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing system that can further reduce power consumption.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a normal printing mode in which printing is performed at a first printing speed, and a second printing speed that consumes less power than the normal printing mode and is slower than the first printing speed. A printing apparatus that performs printing based on print data in a power-saving printing mode in which printing is performed in a receiving device, an end designation time presence / absence judging unit, a print data storage unit, a first print execution unit, and a second printing Execution means.

  When the print data is received by the receiving means, the end specified time presence / absence determining means determines whether or not an end specified time for ending printing is included in the received print data. The print data including the designated end time is stored in the print data storage unit. When it is determined that the end designated time is not included in the received print data, the first print control unit receives the reception in the set print mode out of the normal print mode and the power saving print mode. Printing based on the printed data is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the received print data includes the end designation time, the second print execution unit first performs the end designation in the power saving print mode based on the end designation time. A print start time for starting printing based on the print data including the time is obtained. The end designation time is included when another print different from the print based on the print data including the end designation time is included between the obtained print start time and a predetermined time before. Printing based on the print data is performed in the power saving printing mode.

  When it is determined that the end specified time is included in the received print data, if another print ends between the print start time and a predetermined time before, the print data including the end specified time The warm-up operation for printing based on this is less. As a result, less power is required for the warm-up operation of the printing apparatus. Therefore, the present invention can provide a printing apparatus that can further reduce power consumption.

Here, the power saving printing mode may include a plurality of modes, and in particular, may include a plurality of modes in which printing is performed at a plurality of printing speeds. A plurality of modes may exist as the normal print mode.
Date information may be included in the end designation time and the print start time.
The printing different from the printing based on the print data including the specified end time may be printing by the first printing control unit or printing by the second printing execution unit.

  According to the present invention, printing is performed at a normal printing mode in which printing is performed at the first printing speed, and at a second printing speed that consumes less power than the normal printing mode and is slower than the first printing speed. A printing system comprising: a power-saving printing mode; a printing apparatus that performs printing based on print data; and a host device that supplies the print data to the printing apparatus, wherein the print data input unit and end designation time input unit And a print data storage means, a first print execution means, and a second print execution means.

  In the host device, when the print data is input by the print data input unit, an end specified time at which the end specified time input unit ends printing based on the print data for the input print data. The selection input of whether or not to set, and the input of the specified end time when setting are accepted. The print data in which the end designated time is set is stored in the print data storage unit. If the specified end time is not set in the input print data, the first print execution unit inputs the print data input in the set print mode out of the normal print mode and the power saving print mode. The printing is performed in the printing apparatus. On the other hand, when the end designated time is set in the input print data, the second print execution means first includes the end designated time in the power saving print mode based on the end designated time. A print start time for starting printing based on the print data is obtained. The end designation time is included when another print different from the print based on the print data including the end designation time is included between the obtained print start time and a predetermined time before. Printing based on print data is performed in the power-saving printing mode in the printing apparatus.

  If it is determined that the specified end time is set in the input print data, and if another print is completed between the print start time and a predetermined time before, the print data including the end specified time The warm-up operation for printing based on this is less. As a result, less power is required for the warm-up operation of the printing apparatus. Therefore, the present invention can provide a printing system that can further reduce power consumption.

  When the second print execution means does not finish printing from the print start time to the predetermined time before the print based on the print data including the end designated time, and finishes after the print start time. In addition, printing based on the print data stored in the print data storage means may be performed in the normal print mode. In this case, even if printing different from printing based on the print data including the end specified time does not end before the predetermined time before the print start time, printing based on the print data including the end specified time is as much as possible. It can be finished by the designated end time.

  The second print execution means determines whether or not power saving designation information for designating priority of the power saving printing mode is included in the print data. On the other hand, if it is determined that the power saving designation information is not included in the print data, printing based on the print data including the end designation time when the print start time is reached is performed. You may perform in printing mode. In this case, the user can select to give priority to the end of printing at the specified end time, and even if priority is given to the end of printing at the specified end time, printing is performed in the power saving print mode. Convenience can be improved.

  The second print execution unit obtains the number of print pages based on the print data based on the print data including the designated end time, and the standard number of print pages printed per unit time in the power saving print mode. Is obtained by dividing the acquired number of printed pages by the standard printing speed to obtain an expected printing time based on the print data including the designated end time, and subtracting the obtained expected printing time from the designated end time. The print start time may be obtained. In this case, the print end time based on the print data including the end specified time can be more accurately set as the end specified time.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printing system S1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a print engine unit 20 of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an electric circuit configuration of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system S2 in which a printing apparatus 1 and a plurality of host apparatuses 100 are connected via a network. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing performed by a host device. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print setting screen 91 displayed on the host device 100. FIG. (A) is a diagram schematically illustrating the structure of print data D2, and (b) is a diagram illustrating a print end screen 92 displayed on the host device 100. 3 is a flowchart illustrating print processing performed by the printing apparatus 1; 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which illustrates the printing process which the printing apparatus 1 which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention performs.

(1) Configuration of printing system:
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system S1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured by connecting a printing apparatus 1 and a host apparatus 100. Of course, the printing system may be an apparatus in which a host device and a printer are integrated.
The printing apparatus 1 includes the respective units U1 to U5 illustrated in FIG. 1, and a normal printing mode in which printing is performed at a first printing speed V1, and less power consumption than the normal printing mode, and the first printing speed V1. Printing based on the print data D2 is performed in the power-saving printing mode in which printing is performed at the slower second printing speed V2. The printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a laser printer that is a page printer capable of color printing. Needless to say, the printing apparatus 1 may be an inkjet printer, a scanner, a multifunction machine with a facsimile, or the like as long as printing can be performed in the normal printing mode and the power saving printing mode.

  The host apparatus 100 is a host computer that supplies print data D2 to the printing apparatus 1. The host device 100 of this embodiment is a personal computer. Of course, the host device 100 may be a workstation having a higher processing capability. The host device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, semiconductor memories 112 and 113, a storage device 114, an input device 115, an output device 116, a data input / output device 117, a communication interface (I / F) 118, a clock circuit 119, Etc. are connected to the bus so that information can be input and output with each other. The CPU 111 controls the operation of the entire host device according to a program written in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112.

  The storage device 114 stores an operating system (OS), a printer driver PD, and the like. The printer driver PD causes the host device 100 to function as a print control device, and a print control method is performed by the host device 100. Of course, the printer driver may be a program executed by the printer or a program executed by both the host device and the printer. The printer driver PD may be installed in the host device 100 from a recording medium that records the program, or may be downloaded to the storage device 114 via a network from a server computer that records the program. As a memory constituting the storage device 114, a hard disk (magnetic disk), a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, or the like can be used.

  The input device 115 can be configured by an operation input device such as a keyboard and a mouse (pointing device). The output device 116 can be configured by an image output device such as a display, an audio output device, or the like. The communication I / F 118 (a part of the transmission unit U13) is an interface for inputting / outputting information to / from the printing apparatus 1, and is connected to the communication I / F 18 of the printing apparatus.

The printing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) toners attached to a print medium, and print data described in a predetermined page description language. The printed material is formed according to the print command included in The printing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a print engine unit 20, an engine control unit 30, a paper feed tray 41, an operation panel 51, and the like.
The control unit 10 is configured such that a CPU 11, semiconductor memories 12 and 13, a storage device 14, a communication I / F 18, a clock circuit 19, and the like are connected to a bus so that information can be input and output with each other. The CPU 11 controls the operation of the entire printing apparatus according to the program written in the ROM 12. The program causes the printing apparatus 1 to realize functions corresponding to the receiving unit U1, the end designation time presence / absence determination unit U2, the print data storage unit U3, the first print execution unit U4, the second print execution unit U5, and the like.

The storage device 14 (print data storage unit U3) appropriately stores the received print data D2. As the memory constituting the storage device 14, a hard disk (magnetic disk), a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, or the like can be used.
The communication I / F 18 (reception unit U1) can input / output information to / from the host device 100, and receives print data D2 from the host device 100. The print data D2 is a print job for causing the printing apparatus 1 to execute printing.

The end designation time presence / absence determination unit (end designation time presence / absence determination means) U2 determines whether or not the received print data D2 includes the end designation time Te. The end designation time Te is information indicating the time at which printing based on the print data D2 is to be ended.
The print data storage unit (print data storage means) U3 stores print data D2 including the end designation time Te.

The first print execution unit (first print execution means) U4 executes printing when it is determined that the received print data D2 does not include the end designated time Te. In this case, the first print execution unit U4 performs printing based on the received print data D2 in the set print mode among the normal print mode and the power saving print mode.
The second print execution unit (second print execution means) U5 executes printing when it is determined that the received print data D2 includes the end designated time Te. In this case, the second print execution unit U5 first obtains a print start time Ts for starting printing based on the print data D2 including the end specified time Te in the power saving print mode based on the end specified time Te. . Then, when the other print different from the print based on the print data D2 including the end specified time Te is included between the obtained print start time Ts and the predetermined time Tg, the end specified time Te is ended. Is performed in the power saving print mode based on the print data D2 including the.

The printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a charging unit 22, an exposure unit 23, a YMCK developing device 24, a primary transfer unit 25, an intermediate transfer body 26, and the like along the rotation direction of the photoreceptor 21. And a secondary transfer unit 27, a fixing unit 28, and a control unit 10 that controls these units and controls the operation of the printing apparatus 1.
The photoconductor 21 is rotationally driven according to the control of the photoconductor drive control circuit 31.

The charging unit 22 charges the photoconductor 21 according to the control of the charging unit drive control circuit 32.
The exposure unit 23 irradiates a laser according to the control of the exposure unit drive control circuit 33 to form a latent image on the charged photoconductor 21.

The YMCK developing device 24 includes a rotary 24a as a rotating body, and a black developing unit 24k, a magenta developing unit 24m, a cyan developing unit 24c, and a yellow developing unit 24y mounted on the rotary 24a. The YMCK developing device 24 is rotationally driven according to the control of the developing device drive control circuit 34.
The primary transfer unit 25 is rotationally driven according to the control of the primary transfer unit drive control circuit 35, and transfers the single color toner image formed on the photoconductor 21 to the intermediate transfer body 26. When the four color toners are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer member 26, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 26.

The secondary transfer unit 27 is rotationally driven in accordance with the control of the secondary transfer unit drive control circuit 37, and transfers a single color toner image or a full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 26 to a printing medium such as paper, film, or cloth. To do.
The fixing unit 28 is rotationally driven according to the control of the fixing unit drive control circuit 38 and fuses a single color toner image or a full color toner image transferred onto the print medium to a print medium such as paper to form a permanent image. The fixing unit 28 is provided with a heater 28a, which energizes the heater 28a according to the control of the heater drive control circuit 38a.

  As described above, the print medium stored in the paper feed tray 41 is transferred by the secondary transfer unit 27 while being transferred by the roller, and is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 28 to form a permanent image. In the normal printing mode, since the fixing unit 28 is heated to a relatively high temperature, the printing speed V1 can be made relatively high. However, the power consumption of the heater 28a becomes relatively large. On the other hand, in the power saving printing mode, since the fixing unit 28 is heated at a relatively low temperature, the toner is not sufficiently fixed on the print medium unless the printing speed V2 is set at a relatively low speed, but the power consumption of the heater 28a is relatively low. Less is enough.

  In order to realize the operation of each printing mode, the memories 13 and 14 of the control unit 10 store the mode information 13a indicating the current printing mode and the driving speed of each unit (21, 23, 24, 25, 27, etc.). Speed information 14a for controlling the speed according to the temperature, temperature information 14b for controlling the temperature of the heater 28a to a temperature corresponding to the printing mode, and the like are stored. The speed information 14a and the temperature information 14b are preferably stored in the storage device 14 from the viewpoint of holding the printing apparatus 1 even when the printing apparatus 1 is turned off. Of course, if RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 is backed up when the power is turned off, speed information 14 a and temperature information 14 b may be stored in RAM 13.

  The operation panel 51 includes an input device such as an operation switch and an output device such as a liquid crystal display, and is connected to the control unit 10.

  Note that a plurality of host devices 100 may be connected to the printing apparatus 1 via the network N1, as in the printing system S2 illustrated in FIG. The network N1 includes a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, a combination thereof, and the like.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, in the host device 100, the printer driver PD implements the print control process. This process is performed in parallel with other processes by multitasking. When the user of the host apparatus 100 inputs an instruction to the printing apparatus 1 to print the application program (APL) print data to the host apparatus 100, the print control process is started. First, the original print data D1 is input from the APL ( Step S102, hereinafter, “step” is omitted). The host device 100 that performs the process of S102 constitutes a print data input unit U11.

In S104, a print setting screen 91 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and in S106, various operation inputs are accepted. The print setting screen 91 includes an input area 91a for accepting a selection input as to whether or not to set an end designation time Te, and an input area 91c for accepting an input of the end designation time Te when setting the end designation time. Various operation buttons such as an input area 91b and an OK button 91d for receiving a selection input as to whether to prioritize the power saving printing mode are provided. The user can perform operation inputs such as input areas 91a to 91c and various buttons by operating the input device 115 such as a pointing device. When the end designation time setting availability input area 91a is operated and checked, it is selected to set the end designation time, and the operation is input to the end designation time input area 91c for the date and time when printing is to be ended. Is possible. When the end designation time setting availability input area 91a is not checked, it is selected that the end designation time is not set. When the power saving print mode priority availability input area 91b is operated and checked, priority is given to the power saving printing mode. If the input area 91b is not checked, the input area 91b is omitted. It is selected that priority is not given to the power printing mode. When the OK button 91d is operated, it is determined whether or not to set an end specified time, and if set, whether or not to give priority to the end specified time Te and the power saving printing mode.
As described above, S104 to S106 correspond to the print setting unit U12 including the end designation time input unit.

  In S108, print data D2 for transmission as shown in FIG. 7A is generated based on the original print data D1. When a selection input for setting the end designation time is accepted, information indicating the end designation time Te at which the input is accepted is added to the original print data D1. If the end designated time Te is not included in the print data D2, the end designated time is not set in the print data D2. When a selection input giving priority to the power saving printing mode is received, power saving designation information D3 for designating the priority of the power saving printing mode is added to the original print data D1. If the print data D2 includes the information on the energy saving function ON, the information on the energy saving function ON becomes the power saving designation information D3. On the other hand, if the print data D2 includes information indicating that the energy saving function is off, the print data D2 does not include the power saving designation information D3.

In S110, the print data D2 to which the end designation time Te and the power saving designation information D3 are added as necessary is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1.
As described above, the host device 100 that performs the processes of S108 to S110 constitutes the transmission unit U13 together with the communication I / F 118.

  The printer driver PD causes the host device 100 to realize the function of displaying the print end screen 92 shown in FIG. In S112, it is determined whether an end notification has been received from the printing apparatus 1, and the determination process is repeated until it is received. Upon receiving the end notification, the host device 100 displays a print end screen 92 in S114 and ends a series of print control processes.

(2) Operation, action and effect of printing apparatus:
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating printing processing performed by the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. This process starts when the printing apparatus 1 is turned on, and is performed in parallel with other processes by multitasking.
First, the printing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the print data D2 is received from the host apparatus 100, and repeats the determination process until it is received (S202). The printing apparatus 1 that performs the process of S202 constitutes a receiving unit U1 together with the communication I / F 18.

  In S204, it is determined whether or not the specified end time Te is included in the received print data D2. S204 corresponds to the end designation time presence determination means U2.

If the print data D2 does not include the end designated time, the print mode is set from the normal print mode and the power saving print mode in S206. For example, the setting process can be a process of rewriting the mode information 13a stored in the RAM 13 with information indicating the current print mode. For example, if the print data D2 includes information specifying the print mode, the print mode corresponding to the information is set, and if not included, the default print mode set in the printing apparatus 1 is set.
In S208, a warm-up process corresponding to the print mode is performed. For example, the temperature information 14b corresponding to the print mode is read from the memory, and a drive signal for controlling the heating temperature of the heater 28a to a temperature corresponding to the print mode is output to the heater drive control circuit 38a. Of course, the heating temperature in the normal printing mode is relatively high, and the heating temperature in the power saving printing mode is relatively low. Here, the fixing unit 28 is cooled as time passes from the end of the previous printing. Therefore, for example, the heater 28a is energized for a time corresponding to the elapsed time from the end of the previous printing, and the fixing unit 28 is heated. Of course, as the energization time to the heater 28a is longer, the power consumption increases, and the power consumption is higher in the normal printing mode than in the power saving printing mode.

In S210, printing based on the print data D2 is performed in the set print mode. Here, the speed information 14a corresponding to the print mode is read from the memory, and the drive speeds of the units 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, etc. of the print engine unit with respect to the drive control circuits 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, etc. A drive signal for controlling the speed at a speed corresponding to the print mode is output. Of course, the drive speed in the normal print mode is relatively high, and the drive speed in the power saving print mode is relatively low.
After S210, the process returns to S202. The printing apparatus 1 that performs the processes of S206 to S210 constitutes the first print execution unit U4 together with the print engine unit 20 and the engine control unit 30.

  If the end designated time is included in the print data D2 in the determination process of S204, the received print data D2 is stored in the standby data storage unit of the storage device 14 in S212.

In S214, a print start time Ts for starting printing based on the print data D2 including the end specified time Te in the power saving print mode is obtained based on the end specified time Te, and the end specified time Te is included. The data is stored in the storage device 14 in association with the print data D2.
For example, assuming that the number of pages printed by the print data D2 is NA pages, and the standard number of print pages printed per unit time in the power saving print mode is the standard print speed NS (pages / minute), the print engine in the power saving print mode. The time Tm (minutes) from the start of the operation of the unit 20 to the end of the printing of the print data D2 is Tm = NA / NS. Therefore, the expected printing time Tp (minute) based on the print data D2 including the end designation time Te is a time corresponding to the printing time Tm. Therefore, in S214, the print page number NA based on the print data D2 is acquired based on the print data D2 including the end designated time Te, and the value is obtained by dividing the acquired print page number NA by the standard print speed NS. Further, an expected printing time Tp based on the printing data D2 including the end designation time Te is obtained.

When considering the warm-up process time Tw (minutes) in the power saving printing mode, the expected printing time is Tp = Tw + Tm = Tw + (NA / NS).
Therefore, the print start time Ts is obtained by subtracting the expected print time Tp from the end designated time Te.

For example, assuming that the standard printing speed NS in the power saving printing mode is 5 pages / minute, the number of printed pages NA is 50 pages, and the warm-up time Tw in the power saving printing mode is 0.5 minutes, the expected printing time Tp is 0.5+. (50/5) = 10.5 minutes. If the end designation time Te is just 3:00 am, the print start time Ts is 2:49:30, minus 10.5 minutes from 3:00.
As described above, the print end time based on the print data D2 including the end specified time Te can be more accurately set as the end specified time Te.

In S216, the current time Tn of the clock circuit 19 is read, and the process is branched according to the relative relationship between the current time Tn and the end designated time Te.
First, if it is not the carpool start time Ts-Tg obtained by subtracting the predetermined time Tg from the print start time Ts, the determination process of S216 is repeated until the carpool start time Ts-Tg. The predetermined time Tg may be a fixed time such as one hour, or may be a time that varies according to the expected printing time Tp. For example, when Tg = 1 hour, if the print start time Ts is 2:49:30, the carpool start time Ts-Tg is 1:49:30.

  Between the print start time Ts and the predetermined time Tg, that is, when the current time Tn is Ts−Tg ≦ Tn ≦ Ts, another print (print data D2 including the end specified time Te is included in S218). It is determined whether or not the print start time Ts has been reached without printing that is different from the printing based on the print. When the condition is satisfied, the mode information 13a in the RAM 13 is set to the power saving printing mode by overwriting the information indicating the power saving printing mode (S220), and a warm-up process corresponding to the power saving printing mode is performed (S222). ). In the warm-up process, the fixing unit 28 is heated at a relatively low heating temperature in the power saving printing mode. In step S224, the print data D2 including the end designation time Te is read from the storage device 14, printing is performed based on the print data D2 in the power saving print mode, and an end notification is transmitted to the host device 100 after printing. Then, the process returns to S202. In the printing process, the units 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, etc. of the print engine unit are driven at a relatively low speed.

  FIG. 9A shows the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when the processes of S220 to S224 are performed. Printing of the print data D2 starts at the print start time Ts in the power saving print mode and ends at the end specified time Te.

  When the condition is not satisfied in S218, it is determined in S226 whether or not other printing is completed. This other printing is not limited to the printing in S210 by the first printing execution unit U4, but may be the printings in S224, 230, and S236 by the second printing execution unit U5. If other printing is not completed, the process returns to S216. When other printing is completed between the printing start time Ts and the predetermined time Tg, the mode information 13a is overwritten in S228 to set the power saving printing mode. In S230, the print data D2 including the end designated time Te is read from the storage device 14, printing is performed based on the print data D2 in the power saving print mode without performing the warm-up process, and after printing, the print data D2 is sent to the host device 100. An end notification is transmitted, and the process returns to S202.

FIG. 9B shows the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when another printing is completed between the carpool start time Ts-Tg and the print start time Ts. Printing of the print data D2 is started before the print start time Ts in the power saving print mode without a warm-up operation, and is finished by the end designated time Te.
FIG. 10A shows the case where the start of other printing is before the carpool start time Ts-Tg and the end of the other print is between the carpool start time Ts-Tg and the print start time Ts. The operation of the printing apparatus 1 is shown. Also in this case, printing of the print data D2 is started before the print start time Ts in the power saving print mode without a warm-up operation, and is finished by the end designated time Te.

  As described above, in the processes of S228 to S230, printing based on the print data D2 is performed following the other printing, so that the warm-up operation for printing based on the print data D2 can be reduced. Thereby, the power consumption required for the warm-up operation of the printing apparatus 1 can be reduced.

When printing different from printing based on the print data D2 including the end designation time Te does not end before the predetermined time Tg from the print start time Ts but ends after the print start time Ts, printing starts in S216 It is determined that the time Ts is exceeded. In this case, the normal print mode is set by overwriting the mode information 13a in S232, and a warm-up process corresponding to the normal print mode is performed (S234). In the warm-up process, the fixing unit 28 is heated at a relatively high heating temperature in the normal printing mode. In S236, the print data D2 including the end designation time Te is read from the storage device 14, printing is performed based on the print data D2 in the normal print mode, and after printing, an end notification is transmitted to the host device 100. , Return to S202. In the printing process, the units 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, etc. of the print engine unit are driven at a relatively high speed.
The printing apparatus 1 that performs the above-described S212 to S236 constitutes the second print execution unit U5 together with the print engine unit 20 and the engine control unit 30.

FIG. 10B shows the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when another printing is finished after the printing start time Ts. In this case, printing of the print data D2 is started after the print start time Ts in the normal print mode. For example, if the printing speed V1 in the normal printing mode is twice the printing speed V2 in the power saving printing mode, the printing operation time excluding the warm-up operation can be halved.
As described above, even if printing different from printing based on the printing data D2 including the end specified time Te does not end before the predetermined time Tg from the print start time Ts, the print data including the end specified time Te is included. The printing based on the above can be finished as much as possible by the designated end time Te.

  As described above, in the case where the received print data D2 includes the end designation time Te, if other printing is completed between the print start time Ts and the predetermined time Tg, the end designation time Te is included. Less power is required for the warm-up operation for printing based on the print data. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 and the printing systems S1 and S2 according to the present embodiment can further reduce power consumption and realize energy saving. In particular, the present invention is preferably applied to a printing apparatus that takes time for a warm-up operation.

(3) Second embodiment:
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating printing processing performed by the printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The printing process of this embodiment is different in that S302 to S310 are inserted between S214 and S216 of the printing process of the first embodiment. S302 to S310 and S212 to S236 correspond to the second printing execution unit U5.
When the print start time Ts is obtained in S214, the printing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the power saving designation information D3 (the energy saving function ON in FIG. 7A) is included in the print data D2 in S302.

  When it is determined that the received print data D2 includes the power saving designation information D3, as in the first embodiment, when other printing is completed between the print start time Ts and the predetermined time Tg. Printing based on the print data D2 including the end designation time Te is performed in the power saving print mode, and when other printing is completed after the print start time Ts, the print data D2 including the end designation time Te is included. Printing is performed in the normal printing mode (S216 to S236).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the received print data D2 does not include the power saving designation information D3 (the energy saving function OFF in FIG. 7A is included), the current time Tn of the clock circuit 19 is read in S304. If the current time Tn is not the print start time Ts, the process of S304 is repeated until the print start time Ts.
When the current time Tn becomes the printing start time Ts, the power saving printing mode is set (S306), and warm-up processing corresponding to the power saving printing mode is performed (S308). In step S310, printing based on the print data D2 is performed in the power saving printing mode. After printing, an end notification is transmitted to the host apparatus 100, and the process returns to step S202.

  In the present embodiment, the user can select to give priority to the end of printing at the end specified time Te, and even if priority is given to the end of printing at the end specified time Te, printing is performed in the power saving print mode. It is possible to improve the convenience of the user while using power.

(4) Other variations:
The order of the steps of the above-described processing can be changed as appropriate. For example, the calculation of the print start time Ts in S214 may be performed prior to the process in S212.
The process of storing the print data D2 in S212 may be a process that is performed regardless of whether or not the end designation time Te is included in the print data D2.
The process of S234 may be a process of printing in the power saving printing mode instead of the normal printing mode when priority is given to reducing power consumption.
In the above-described embodiment, the end designation time Te, the print start time Ts, and the carpool start time Ts-Tg are information including the date and time. However, these pieces of information include information in units of one hour without minute information, Information of only the time without date information may be used.

In addition, the above-described basic operations and effects can be obtained even by an apparatus, system, method, and program that do not have the configuration requirements according to the dependent claims but only include the configuration requirements according to the independent claims.
As described above, according to the present invention, according to various aspects, a printing apparatus that can further reduce power consumption, a printing control apparatus that controls a printing engine unit, a printing system, a printing method, a printing control method, and printing. A system control method, a printing program, a printing control program, a printing system control program, a computer-readable recording medium in which these programs are recorded, and a printing system can be provided.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments and modifications are mutually replaced or the combination is changed, the known technology, and the above-described configurations. Configurations in which the respective configurations disclosed in the embodiment and the modified examples are mutually replaced or combinations are changed are also included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus, 10 ... Control part, 18 ... Communication interface (reception means), 20 ... Print engine part, 30 ... Engine control part, 100 ... Host apparatus, 118 ... Communication interface (a part of transmission means), D1 ... Original print data, D2 ... print data, D3 ... power saving designation information, S1, S2 ... print system, U1 ... communication interface (reception means), U2 ... end designation time presence / absence judgment unit (end designation time existence judgment means), U3 ... print data storage unit (print data storage unit), U4 ... first print execution unit (first print execution unit), U5 ... second print execution unit (second print execution unit), U11 ... print data input unit, U12 ... print setting means including end designation time input means, U13 ... transmission means.

Claims (6)

A normal printing mode in which printing is performed at a first printing speed, and a power saving printing mode in which printing is performed at a second printing speed that consumes less power than the normal printing mode and is slower than the first printing speed; A printing apparatus for performing printing based on the print data in
Receiving means for receiving the print data;
End designation time presence / absence judging means for judging whether or not an end designation time for ending printing is included in the received print data;
Print data storage means for storing print data including the end designated time;
When it is determined that the end designated time is not included in the received print data, printing is performed based on the received print data in a set print mode out of the normal print mode and the power saving print mode. First printing execution means;
If it is determined that the received print data includes the specified end time, printing based on the print data including the specified end time in the power saving print mode is performed based on the specified end time. A print start time to be started is obtained, and when the print different from the print based on the print data including the end designated time between the obtained print start time and a predetermined time before, the end designated time is A printing apparatus comprising: a second print execution unit that performs printing based on the included print data in the power-saving print mode.   The second print execution means, when printing different from printing based on the print data including the designated end time is not finished before the predetermined time before the print start time and is finished after the print start time The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing based on print data stored in the print data storage unit is performed in the normal print mode.   The second print execution means determines whether or not power saving designation information for designating priority of the power saving printing mode is included in the received print data. When printing that is different from printing based on the print data including the end specified time from the start time to the predetermined time before is completed, printing based on the print data including the specified end time is performed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the power saving designation information is not included in the received print data, the print data including the end designation time is included when the print start time is reached. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing based on the power saving printing mode is performed.   The second print execution unit obtains the number of print pages based on the print data based on the print data including the designated end time, and the standard number of print pages printed per unit time in the power saving print mode. Is determined as the standard print speed, and an expected print time based on the print data including the end specified time is calculated according to the value obtained by dividing the acquired number of printed pages by the standard print speed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing start time is obtained by subtracting a printing time. A normal printing mode in which printing is performed at a first printing speed, and a power saving printing mode in which printing is performed at a second printing speed that consumes less power than the normal printing mode and is slower than the first printing speed; A printing system comprising: a printing apparatus that performs printing based on the print data; and a host apparatus that supplies the printing data to the printing apparatus,
Print data input means for inputting the print data in the host device;
In the host device, a selection input as to whether or not to set an end designation time for ending printing based on the print data for the input print data, and an end of accepting the input of the end designation time when setting is set. Designated time input means,
Print data storage means for storing print data in which the end designated time is set;
When the designated end time is not set in the input print data, the printing apparatus performs printing based on the input print data in the set print mode out of the normal print mode and the power saving print mode. First printing execution means;
When the specified end time is set in the input print data, printing starts to start printing based on the print data including the specified end time in the power saving print mode based on the specified end time Print that includes the specified end time when printing is completed, which is different from printing based on print data that includes the specified end time between the determined print start time and a predetermined time before A printing system comprising: second printing execution means for performing printing based on data in the power saving printing mode in the printing apparatus. The host device is
The print data input means;
A selection input indicating whether or not to set the end specified time, including the end specified time input means, input of the end specified time when setting, and selection input whether or not to prioritize the power saving printing mode Display a print setting screen for performing the selection, input to select whether or not to set the end specified time by operating the print setting screen, input the specified end time when setting, and the power-saving printing Print setting means for accepting a selection input as to whether to give priority to the mode;
When a selection input for setting the end designation time is accepted, information indicating the end designation time at which the input is accepted is added to the input print data, and a selection input giving priority to the power saving printing mode is performed. Transmission means for adding power saving designation information for designating the priority of the power saving printing mode to the input print data when received, and transmitting the added print data to the printing apparatus;
The printing apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving print data transmitted from the host device;
End designation time presence / absence judging means for judging whether or not the received designation data includes the end designation time;
The print data storage means;
The first print execution means;
The second printing execution means,
The second print execution means determines whether or not the power saving designation information is included in the received print data, and determines that the power saving designation information is included from the print start time to the predetermined time before the determination. When printing different from the print based on the print data including the end specified time is completed, printing based on the print data including the end specified time is performed in the power saving print mode. When it is determined that the power saving designation information is not included in the received print data, printing based on the print data including the end designation time when the print start time is reached is performed in the power saving printing mode. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the printing system is performed in a printing method.

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