JP2001084116A - Picture forming device and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of time-out by decreasing a data receiving speed as necessary. SOLUTION: At the time of receiving data in a power saving mode (S201, S202), a printer decrease a receiving speed (S204), and starts initialization processing for returning the power saving mode to a normal mode (S204), and starts the reception of data in parallel (S205). At the time of ending the initialization, the printer restores the receiving speed (S209), and executes transition to a normal operation (S210).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer which receives data from a host computer or the like and forms and outputs an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printer receives data from a host, stores the data in a reception buffer, processes the stored data, and performs printing. If the stored data cannot be processed in time, the receiving buffer becomes full,
Data cannot be sent from the host, causing a timeout on the host. Therefore, when the remaining amount of the reception buffer becomes smaller than the set amount, the reception speed is reduced.

[0003]

However, as described above, in the conventional printer, if the printer performs a time-consuming process during data reception, the reception speed is reduced after the remaining amount of the reception buffer becomes small. Therefore, the amount of data that can be received at a low speed is small with respect to the size of the reception buffer. Therefore, even if the data is received at a low speed, the time until the reception buffer becomes full and the host times out is shorter than the total amount of the buffer.

Further, if the reception buffer is set to a large amount in order to start the reception later from the beginning, the remaining amount of the buffer is likely to be less than the set buffer remaining amount by the processing for normal printing. In this case, the number of times of reception is increased, and unnecessary delay of the reception speed occurs, and the throughput of the printer deteriorates.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example. When performing processing that involves a delay in the processing of received data, the reception speed is reduced in advance so that an error such as a timeout at the transmission source can be achieved. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents occurrence of the image.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, an image forming apparatus connected to an external device that considers an error when transmitted data is not received within a predetermined time, a receiving unit that receives data from the external device and stores the data in a reception buffer, Prior to the start, the receiving speed is reduced by the receiving unit, the receiving speed is adjusted back to the original speed after the predetermined processing is completed, and an image for forming an image based on the data received by the receiving unit. Forming means.

[0007] Preferably, the predetermined process is a process involving suppression of discharge of data stored in a receiving buffer by the receiving means.

[0008] Preferably, the predetermined process is an initialization process for returning from a power saving mode in which power supply to a predetermined portion is stopped to a normal mode upon receiving data.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram mainly showing a control portion of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a central processing unit (CPU) 1 controls the entire recording apparatus in accordance with, for example, a control procedure program shown in a flowchart of FIG. 2 which is built in a read-only memory (ROM) 2. It is a central control unit that performs

[0011] Random access memory (RAM) 3
Is used as a work area of the CPU, a reception buffer area for storing data received by the host I / F unit 10, or a memory area for storing print data.

The CR control unit 4 controls the driving of the carriage motor.

The LF controller 5 controls the driving of the line feed motor.

The head controller 6 is electrically connected to the recording head, and senses the temperature of the head with a temperature sensor.
The drive control of the recording head is performed such as performing appropriate temperature control by a temperature heater or the like.

The print control unit 7 sends control commands necessary for printing to the CR control unit 3, the LF control unit 4, and the head control unit 5 based on the print data sent from each control unit. Do.

The data analyzer 8 analyzes the data received by the host I / F 10 and sends it to the print controller 7 or the print buffer controller 9.

The print buffer controller 9 includes a data analyzer 8
The size and quantity of the memory area for storing the print data on the random access memory (RAM) 3 are controlled from the data analyzed in step (1).

The host I / F unit 10 receives data sent from a host computer or the like.

The data analyzer 8 analyzes the data received by the host I / F 10 and sends it to the print controller 7.

The system bus 11 includes the above components and a CPU.
It is a bus that connects

This printer is configured so that when waiting for data reception from the host for a certain period of time, unnecessary power is turned off during standby to save power. After the data reception is detected, each power is turned on and the initialization operation is required for a certain period of time. After the initialization operation,
It returns to the normal mode for receiving data at the normal reception speed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the engine part of the printer shown in FIG. In the figure, the driving force transmission gear 501 is linked with the
Lead screw 500 rotating via 1,5009
The carriage HC engaged with the fifth spiral groove 5004 has a pin (not shown), and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper holding plate, which platens the paper 500 in the moving direction of the carriage.
Press against 0. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the print head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means that suctions the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the print head through an opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member which allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example.
Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery. The lever 5021 moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching. Is done.

In the above configuration, the processing of this embodiment is
This will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the procedure of these flowcharts is performed by the central processing unit (CPU) 1 by the read-only memory (R).
This is realized by executing a program stored in the OM) 2.

In FIG. 2, upon detecting data reception from the host in step S201, the host I / F unit 10 determines in step S202 whether or not the apparatus is in a power saving state. If it is in the power saving state, the data receiving speed is set to be slow in step S203.

Here, how the data receiving speed is set to be low will be described with reference to an example of a Centronics interface often used for a printer. In this interface, the printer outputs a busy signal to the host to indicate whether or not the printer is ready to receive data. The host monitors the busy signal while the printer is outputting a busy signal, and outputs a strobe signal to the printer along with data to be transmitted to the printer when the printer is not busy. When the printer receives the strobe signal, the printer enters a busy state, outputs a busy signal, receives the data transmitted together with the strobe signal, and captures the data in the reception buffer.

By repeating this procedure, the host transmits data while confirming that the printer is not busy, that is, in a receivable state. Here, for some reason, for example, execution of an initialization process for returning from the low power mode to the normal mode, data taken in the reception buffer is taken out from the reception buffer to secure a free area of the reception buffer. May be delayed. In this case, the printer will not be able to receive data when the receive buffer is full,
The printer keeps outputting the busy signal, and a timeout occurs in the host. This is an example of a situation in which the problem described in the problem column occurs in a printer that employs a Centronics interface.

In this method, as one of the methods of adjusting the receiving speed from the printer, there is a method of adjusting the time from when the data is received to when the busy signal is switched from a busy state to a non-busy state. That is, at a normal reception speed, the busy signal is switched from a busy state to a non-busy state immediately after data reception. On the other hand, in the state where the reception speed is delayed, a wait for a predetermined time is inserted without switching the busy signal from the busy state to the non-busy state immediately after data reception. Of course, this wait time must not be so long as to cause the host to time out. The reception speed is reduced by the inserted wait time.

Now, after reducing the receiving speed in this way,
In step S204, an initialization operation of the printer body is started. Although the initialization operation is being performed, data reception is started in step S205. In step S206, data is received until the initialization is completed or the reception buffer is exhausted, and stored in a part of the reception buffer of the RAM 3.

When the end of the initialization is detected in step S207, it is determined in step S208 whether or not the receiving speed is to be restored according to the remaining amount of the receiving buffer. If possible, the receiving speed is restored in step S209. In step S210, the same print processing as that of the related art, that is, processing of expanding the received data into raster data, performing binarization processing as necessary, and printing by the printer engine is performed.

According to the above configuration and procedure, the speed of data reception from the host can be reduced before the printer spontaneously delays the processing of the received data. This prevents the host from timing out.

At the same time, during normal operation, if the remaining amount of the reception buffer becomes smaller than the set amount as in the conventional technique, the reception speed is reduced. However, the time of the processing in which the printer does not process the received data spontaneously is taken into consideration. Since there is no need to perform the process (the receiving speed is reduced regardless of the remaining amount), the set amount of the remaining amount at which the receiving speed starts to be reduced can be set to a small value.

As a result, the data can be smoothly received from the host as a result, and the throughput of the printer can be improved because unnecessary receiving speed delay can be avoided.

[0033]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium (or a storage medium) storing the program code of the procedure of FIG. This is also achieved by a computer (or CPU or MPU) reading and executing a program code stored in a storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes the case where the CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to reduce the data reception speed as necessary and prevent an error from occurring. For example, when performing a process that involves a delay in the processing of received data, an error such as a timeout at the transmission source is prevented by reducing the reception speed in advance.

Furthermore, the speed of data reception from the host can be reduced before the image forming apparatus spontaneously delays the processing of the received data. Can be prevented.

At the same time, during a normal operation, if the remaining amount of the reception buffer becomes smaller than the set amount as in the conventional technique, the reception speed is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to set a small amount of the remaining amount at which the reception speed starts to be reduced.

As a result, the data can be smoothly received from the host, and the throughput of the printer can be improved because unnecessary delay of the receiving speed can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining a receiving method of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus connected to an external device that considers an error if transmitted data is not received within a predetermined time, a receiving unit that receives data from the external device and stores the data in a reception buffer, Prior to the start of the predetermined process, the reception speed is reduced by the receiving unit, and after the predetermined process is completed, the reception speed is adjusted back to the original speed.An image is formed based on the data received by the reception unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms the image. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is a process involving suppression of discharge of data stored in a reception buffer by the reception unit. 3. The initialization process according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is an initialization process for returning from a power saving mode in which power supply to a predetermined portion is stopped to a normal mode in response to data reception. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 4. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus connected to an external device that considers an error when transmitted data is not received within a predetermined time, the method comprising receiving data from the external device and storing the data in a reception buffer. Prior to the start of the predetermined process, prior to the start of the predetermined process, the receiving speed is reduced by the receiving process, and after the predetermined process is completed, the receiving speed is returned to the original speed. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: 5. The control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined process is a process that involves suppressing discharge of data stored in a receiving buffer in the receiving step. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is an initialization process for returning from a power saving mode in which power supply to a predetermined portion is stopped to a normal mode in response to data reception. 5. The method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to item 4. 7. A receiving means for receiving data from an external device which is regarded as an error when transmitted data is not received within a predetermined time by a computer, and storing the data in a reception buffer. Means for reducing the speed of receiving data by means and returning the speed to the original speed after completion of the predetermined processing, and image forming means for forming an image based on the data received by the receiving means. A computer-readable memory storing the computer program according to claim 1.