JP2001191601A - Printer, print system and method for feeding/discharging sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and a print system in which a following print sheet can be fed simultaneously with discharge of a preceding print sheet while eliminating waste time as much as possible. SOLUTION: When a decision is made that print data of next page is present at a condition deciding section, print processing for a preceding print sheet is triggered by detection of the end of the preceding print sheet by means of a sheet sensor 19 and continued. A following print sheet is fed at a stretch up to a nip point while preventing it from overlapping the preceding print sheet and then it is fed to a recording position in parallel with the operation for discharging the preceding print sheet from the recording position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for feeding printing paper in a printer and a printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a printer having a paper feeding mechanism such as a cut sheet feeder, when printing paper continuously, after printing and discharging of the previous paper are completed, feeding of the next paper is performed. The operation is started. For that purpose, after the printing operation of the previous paper is completed,
That is, after the paper discharge feeder is continuously rotated at least by the length of the paper, the operation for feeding the next paper is started. In other words, depending on the amount actually printed on the paper, the paper discharge feeder usually keeps idling for a considerable time.

In order to prevent such a paper feed feeder from running idle, in a conventional serial printer, for example, a paper detection sensor is provided near a paper discharge port, and this sensor detects the presence of a paper. During this time, the paper discharge feeder is kept rotating, and during that time, the feeding operation of the next sheet (including the preparatory operation for feeding) is not started. Then, after the sensor detects that the sheet has been discharged outside the apparatus, the feeder on the sheet feeding side is driven. Therefore,
The print engine is in an idling state from the start of the operation of discharging the previous sheet to the time when the operation of feeding the next sheet is completed and the sheet reaches a predetermined position, and the actual printing operation is not performed.

[0004]

In recent years, the throughput of a printer has been improved due to the improvement of the printing speed. However, as described above, the time during which the print engine is not driven,
That is, the idling time of the print engine is not reduced. Therefore, as the printing speed is improved by the improvement of the performance of the print engine itself or the like, the ratio of the idling time to the entire printing time is relatively increased. Therefore, such an idling time has become a bottleneck in further improving the throughput of the printer.

Therefore, it is determined whether or not the print data of the next page exists in the image buffer or the like. If the print data of the next page exists, even if the previous sheet is being printed, it is determined whether or not the print data of the next page exists. A proposal has also been made to improve the printer throughput by starting sheet feeding and simultaneously performing the sheet discharging operation of the preceding sheet and the sheet feeding operation of the next sheet (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-4168). Gazette).

However, according to the technology described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-4168 or the like, the discharge of the preceding sheet and the feed of the next sheet are not performed without any blank time. Cannot be completely eliminated. In addition, when the speed of the data transfer path from the host to the printer is low, even if the printing operation of the previous paper is completed, until the print data of the next paper is established,
Again, the paper feeding operation is not started. Also in this case, the idling time of the print engine becomes long.

On the other hand, as described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-4168, in a conventional example in which paper supply and discharge are performed in a time overlapping manner, during printing or paper discharge operation of the preceding paper, Even if trouble such as paper jam occurs on the previous paper,
Since the feeding or printing operation of the next sheet is performed in parallel, the situation where the next sheet is involved in the same trouble is inevitably increased, and as a result, both the previous sheet and the next sheet are used. They were often wasted.

As described above, conventionally, various proposals have been made to speed up the throughput when performing printing on a plurality of sheets by devising the simultaneous feeding and discharging of the previous sheet and the next sheet. Nevertheless, in such a printer, no effective proposal has been made for avoiding wasteful consumption of subsequent paper when trouble occurs on the preceding paper.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to review the contents of the simultaneous sheet supply and discharge control in the printer so that the discharge of the preceding sheet and the supply of the next sheet can be performed without wasting as much time as possible. It is intended to be able to be performed simultaneously.

Further, a second object of the present invention is to provide a printer for simultaneously feeding and discharging paper as described above without wasting as much time as possible, and if a trouble occurs in the preceding paper, the next paper is not printed. It is an object of the present invention to stop useless paper consumption to a minimum even when a trouble such as a paper jam occurs by stopping paper supply and discharge.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned first problem, a printer according to the present invention performs a printing process on a previous printing sheet when the determining means determines that there is print data for the next page. While continuing, when the end of the previous printing paper is detected by the paper detection unit, the next printing paper is supplied at a time to the predetermined position near the upstream side from the predetermined recording position so as not to overlap with the previous printing paper, Thereafter, the next printing paper is supplied into the predetermined recording position in parallel with the discharge of the previous printing paper from the predetermined recording position.

Here, the "predetermined position" for supplying the next printing paper is a nip point formed by a paper feed roller located near the predetermined recording position on the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction.

To simultaneously supply the next printing paper to the "predetermined position" means to supply the next printing paper all the way to the nip point, triggered by detection of the end of the previous printing paper. To supply so as not to overlap means that the time required to supply the next printing paper to the nip point is longer than the time required for the preceding printing paper (the end) to advance from the paper detecting means to the nip point.

That is, a printer according to a first aspect of the present invention is a printer that performs printing by causing a print head to perform main scanning at a recording position and sub-scanning printing paper based on input print data, Image data storage means for storing image data for printing generated by a predetermined amount prior to printing by the main scanning; sheet storage means for storing the printing paper in advance in the sub-scanning direction upstream; A paper detecting means provided between a predetermined position formed by a paper feed roller existing near the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction and the paper storage means for detecting the presence or absence of the printing paper, and stored in the image data storage means. A print control unit that supplies the print image data thus obtained to the print head to perform the main scanning and the sub-scanning. A printer for performing printing over two or more pages of printing paper, comprising a paper discharging means for discharging from a recording position; and a determining means for determining the presence or absence of print data of the next page before discharging by the paper discharging means. The presence / absence of print data of the next page is determined by the determination unit. If it is determined that there is print data of the next page, the paper detection unit detects the end of the previous print paper. While continuing the printing process for, the next printing paper is supplied at a time to a predetermined position formed by the paper feed roller so as not to overlap with the previous printing paper, and further, the previous printing paper is discharged from the recording position. A feed / discharge control means for feeding the next printing paper into the recording position in parallel.

Here, the determination means may determine the presence or absence of print data of the next page from the print image data stored in the image data storage means as in the printer according to the second aspect. Further, as in the printer according to the third aspect, the presence / absence of print data of the next page can be determined from print number information included in print data or the like received from a host or the like.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer according to the present invention, which prints on the previous print sheet even if a predetermined time has elapsed after the next print sheet has been supplied to the predetermined position. If the completion of the printing is not detected, the supply of the next printing paper into the recording position is stopped.

That is, a printer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the printer according to the first to third aspects, further comprising print completion detecting means for detecting completion of printing on the preceding printing paper, If the printing completion detecting means does not detect the completion of printing on the preceding printing paper even if a predetermined time has elapsed after the next printing paper has been supplied to the predetermined position at a time, the control means controls the next printing paper. The supply of the printing paper into the recording position is stopped.

In this case, as in the printer according to the fifth aspect, the printing completion detecting means is provided near the downstream side of the recording position in the sub-scanning direction, and is capable of detecting the end of the preceding printing paper. You may comprise from a sensor.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a printer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the printer 1 includes a paper support 11 and a paper feeder 1 for leaning a bundle of cut sheets.
2 is provided with a cut sheet feeder as a sheet feeding means. In the drawing, a paper path indicated by a thick line is provided with a paper detection sensor 19 for detecting the presence or absence of paper, a print engine 13, and a paper discharge feeder 14 for discharging paper outside the printer. The CPU 16, the ROM 17, and the RAM 18 control the mechanisms of these printers.
And a printer control unit having a computer configuration.
The printer control unit is connected to the host 2 via the interface device 21 and controls each mechanism according to the printer control language sent from the host 2 to actually perform a printing operation.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the printer control unit realized by the CPU 16 executing the control program stored in the ROM 17. The printer control unit 3 according to the present embodiment has a function of controlling the drive of each motor of the printer mechanism based on information received from the bitmap data developing unit 34 and the paper detection sensor 19 by the paper supply / discharge control unit 35. Have.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing only essential points of the power mechanism driven and controlled by the above-mentioned paper supply / discharge control section 35.

The sheet 41, which is a cut sheet, is leaned against the sheet support 11 (FIG. 1), and is placed at a sheet inlet 51 of the printer housing 50 indicated by a virtual line. From the state, the sheet is fed to a sheet feeder 12 constituted by a sheet feed roller 122 and a sheet feed motor 121 for driving the same.
Is sent into the print engine 13. The paper detection sensor 19 is a sensor switch provided with a wedge-shaped key top protruding into the paper path. When the paper passes over the key top, the key top is pressed and turned on. The presence of paper is detected. Note that the paper detection sensor 19 only needs to be able to detect the presence or absence of a paper, and may be configured by other means such as a photo sensor, instead of the above configuration.

The sheet passes over a sheet detection sensor 19 and is sent to a print engine 13 which performs an actual printing operation. The print engine 13 according to the embodiment sandwiches a sheet with a carriage 134 penetrated and supported by a carriage guide rail 135 and a driven roller 133, and is rotated by a sheet feed motor 131 to feed a sheet during a printing operation. (Paper feed) roller 132 and the like. The carriage 134 has, for example, an ink cartridge and a print head mounted thereon, and is sent from the head controller 36 (FIG. 2) via a ribbon cable (not shown) while horizontally moving by a carriage motor and a power transmission mechanism (not shown). Printing is performed based on the signal.

The paper on which printing has been completed is output to a paper discharge roller 142.
And a discharge motor 141 and a driven roller 1 for driving the
The paper is fed from the paper discharge port 52 indicated by a virtual line to the outside of the printer by the paper discharge feeder 14 constituted by 43. For the sake of simplicity, the motors 121, 131 and 141 for driving the respective parts are illustrated as independent motors, but these motors share one motor by two or more power mechanisms, and Each of them may be configured to be driven by a switching operation by a mechanism.
The switching operation in that case is performed by the motor control unit 37.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the paper feed roller 122, the PF (paper feed) roller 132, the paper discharge roller 142, etc., and the print head 140 along the above-mentioned paper supply / discharge path.
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flowcharts showing a procedure for feeding and discharging a sheet in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the paper supply / discharge control according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

The print command sent from the host 2 to the printer 1 is transmitted to the command interpreter 32 via the interface 31. The control codes related to paper feed, line feed, and the like are interpreted by the control code interpretation unit 322 and passed to the paper supply / discharge control unit 35. On the other hand, the print data is rasterized by the bitmap generator 33. Here, since the printer 1 of the present embodiment has an image buffer, the rasterized data is held by the bitmap data developing unit 34. Specifically, the data is expanded to a predetermined address on the RAM 18 of the printer 1.

The condition determining unit 351 in the paper supply / discharge control unit 35
Refers to the received control code and the print data of several lines developed and held by the bitmap data developing unit 34, and determines whether or not the paper discharging operation and the paper feeding operation should be performed simultaneously. ,decide. FIG. 5 shows a procedure of the determination in the condition determining unit 351. For example, when it is assumed that the capacity of the memory allocated to the image buffer is an amount corresponding to the print data for N lines, the condition determining unit 351 receiving the control data determines that the page is fed by N lines, and It is determined whether or not the printing of is completed (S101 and S102). For example, when printing on one sheet has just started, the print data for the next page has not been rasterized yet, so the bitmap data in the image buffer indicates whether the next page exists. I can't judge. for that reason,
A request is issued to continue the paper feed in the print engine (S103). In response to the request to continue the paper feed, the motor control unit 37 continues to drive the paper feed motor 131, while the head control unit 36 moves the head based on the developed bitmap data and continues printing.

When printing has been continued to some extent, it is determined whether or not there is a page subsequent to the page being printed in the image buffer by referring to the bitmap data developing section 34 (YES in S102, S104). ). Here, when the data of the next page exists in the image buffer, it is determined that the condition for simultaneously activating the paper discharge operation and the paper feed operation is satisfied, and the fact is notified to the simultaneous paper supply / discharge start unit 352 and the paper discharge request is issued. (YE in S104)
S, S105, S106). At this time, if the next page does not exist, the printing is completed when the printing of the current page is completed. Therefore, a paper discharge request is simply issued (NO in S104, S106).

FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure by the simultaneous sheet supply / discharge start-up unit 352 for simultaneously starting the sheet discharge operation and the sheet supply operation in response to the judgment by the condition judgment unit 351.

At the same time, the simultaneous paper supply / discharge start unit 352 supplies the paper 41 to the cueing position 72 shown in FIG. 4 (S6).
01). Here, the simultaneous paper supply / discharge start-up unit 352 obtains the paper detection information from the paper detection sensor 19 and determines whether or not the paper is in the print engine. This is to prevent sheets from overlapping in the print engine. That is, when a page break is performed by printing only a few lines from the beginning of one sheet, for example, the data of the next page is established even when printing of one sheet has just started (see FIG. 4). YES in S102,
(YES in S104). In such a case, paper 4
If the discharge of the sheet 4 and the feeding of the sheet 41 are performed at the same time, inconveniences such as that both sheets are sent while overlapping are caused. Therefore, a new sheet (sheet 41) is not fed before the cue position 72 while the sheet detection sensor 19 is detecting the presence of the sheet.

While the presence of a sheet is being detected by the sheet detection sensor 19 (YES in S602), it is first determined whether there is print data (S603), and there is print data (Yes in S603). ) In the case, the paper 44
While continuing printing on (S604), paper is fed (S604).
605). If there is no print data (No in S603), paper feeding is performed (S605). The above operation is continued until the end of the paper 44 is detected, that is, until the paper detection sensor 19 is turned off (S602), and the paper detection sensor 19 is turned off, that is, the presence of the paper is not detected. Thus, when the sheet edge of the sheet 44 is detected (No in S602), it is determined whether there is print data for the next page (S606), and there is no print data for the next page (S60).
In the case of No at 6), the discharge roller is driven to discharge the paper (S607), and the printing of the paper 44 ends.

On the other hand, there is print data for the next page (S606).
If the answer is Yes, the printing process of the leading paper 44 is continued while the next paper 41 is supplied so as not to overlap (S6).
08). Until the next sheet 41 reaches the nip point 74 after the leading sheet 44 has passed the nip point 74 (see FIG. 4).
The supply of the next sheet 41 and the printing continuation processing of the preceding sheet 44 are continued (No in S609, S608), and the nip point 7
4 and the next sheet 41 reaches the nip point 74 (Yes in S609), the discharge roller 142 and the PF
(Paper feed) The roller 132 feeds the paper synchronously. In this paper feed, the supply speed (Vin) of the next paper 41 is maintained at or below the feed speed (Vout) of the preceding paper 44 to prevent the two papers from overlapping (S610).

The case where the speed of the data transmission path from the host 2 to the printer 1 is sufficiently high and print data is immediately established on the image buffer has been described. However, if the speed of the data transfer path is slower than the amount of data to be printed, the image formation of the next page may be delayed. For example, when large data is printed by a page printer, the feeding of the next sheet and the preparation operation thereof cannot be started until rasterization of the entire next page is completed. So host 2
This problem can be avoided by transmitting a print command including information on the number of print pages in advance. Hereinafter, a control procedure in that case will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a procedure of the condition judgment in the condition judgment section 351 at this time. The condition determining unit 351 that has received the number of pages to be printed from the control code interpreting unit 322 subtracts 1 from the number of pages (S301, S302) to determine how many times simultaneous activation of sheet feeding and discharging is to be performed. If the number of times of simultaneous activation is not zero, the satisfaction of the condition is notified to the simultaneous paper supply / discharge activation unit 352, and the calculation result is replaced with the number of pages (NO in S303, S304). That is, the number of pages is reduced by one.

Incidentally, the simultaneous paper supply / discharge start-up unit 3 which has received the condition is satisfied.
Since the processing procedure in 52 is almost the same as that in FIG. 6 described above, the description thereof is omitted.

The condition determining unit 351 receiving the notification of the fact that the simultaneous sheet feeding and discharging has been performed once subtracts 1 again from the number of replaced pages (S301, S302), and the remainder of the simultaneous sheet feeding and discharging start-up. Find the number of executions. Hereinafter, the same procedure is repeated (S303 to S305). When the number of times to execute simultaneous activation becomes zero (YES in S303),
The sheet is ejected without notifying that the condition is satisfied, and the process ends (S305).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the determination means determines that there is print data for the next page, the printing process for the previous print paper is continued while the previous paper is detected by the paper detection means. With the detection of the end of the printing paper as a trigger, the next printing paper is supplied at a time to the nip point so as not to overlap with the preceding printing paper, and then the next printing paper is discharged in parallel with the discharge of the previous printing paper from the recording position. Is supplied to the recording position, the discharge of the previous sheet and the supply of the next sheet can be performed at the same time without wasting as much time as possible.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

According to the above-described first embodiment, it is possible to simultaneously supply and discharge the preceding sheet and the next sheet without wasting the most time. However, the present embodiment is directed to the first embodiment. Further, in a printer similar to the above, when a trouble such as paper jam occurs in the preceding paper, wasteful consumption of the subsequent paper is rationally avoided.

First, the basic configuration of the printer of the present embodiment is the same as that of the printer of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS.
Is substantially the same as the configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows the printer of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Similarly, along the paper supply / discharge path, the paper feed rollers 122, P
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an F (paper feed) roller 132, a paper discharge roller 142, and the like, and a print head 140. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for stopping paper supply and discharge when a problem occurs in the previous paper during simultaneous paper supply and discharge of the previous paper and the next paper in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 8, the hardware configuration of the printer of this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that
As in the first embodiment, in addition to having a first paper detection sensor 19A for measuring the timing of feeding the next paper, it is also necessary to detect whether or not the previous paper has been discharged without trouble. Is also provided with the second sheet detection sensor 19B. With reference to FIG. 9, a description will be given of a simultaneous paper supply / discharge stoppage procedure by software when a trouble occurs in the preceding paper.

First, the paper 44 (the leading paper) is supplied (S9).
01). Here, the simultaneous paper supply / discharge start unit 352 determines the timing for feeding the next paper based on the paper detection information from the first paper detection sensor 19A. That is, it is determined whether or not the first sheet detection sensor 19A has detected the end of the sheet 44 (first sheet) (S902). Until this end is detected, the sheet feeding operation of the sheet 44 (first sheet) is performed. Continue (S902
No, S901). On the other hand, the first sheet detection sensor 19
If A detects the end of the sheet 44 (first sheet), the sheet 44 (first sheet) continues printing as it is, and the sheet 41 (next sheet)
Start feeding asynchronously (Yes in S902, S90
3).

Here, in the software processing of the printer of the present embodiment, the processing branches depending on whether or not a trouble such as paper jam has occurred in the next sheet. That is, after the elapse of the predetermined time, it is determined whether the first sheet detection sensor 19A has detected the leading end of the sheet 41 (next sheet) (S904). Here, if the first sheet detection sensor 19A has not detected the leading edge of the sheet 41 (next sheet) (No in S904), the process proceeds to step S904.
After the sheet 41 (next sheet) is started to be asynchronously fed in the process of 902 and before the leading end of the sheet 41 (next sheet) comes to the detection position of the first sheet detection sensor 19A, the sheet 41 (next sheet) is
It is estimated that a trouble such as paper jam has occurred on the (next paper), and printing of the paper 44 (first paper) is completed (S905).
Restart from printing of the paper 41 (next paper) (S90
6). If a problem such as a paper jam occurs on the next sheet in this way, and if printing of the first sheet is stopped halfway, the printing of the first sheet must be restarted after the trouble is solved. In addition to wasting printing time in the middle, two sheets of paper are wasted. In the present embodiment, it is sufficient to restart only the printing of the next sheet, so that waste of printing time and waste of paper are reduced.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when a trouble such as a paper jam occurs in the leading sheet, the following processing is performed to avoid waste of the sheet. That is, after a lapse of a predetermined time,
It is determined whether or not the second sheet detection sensor 19B has detected the completion of printing of the sheet 44 (the leading sheet) (S907). If the completion of the printing cannot be detected (No in S907), the sheet 44 (the leading sheet) is detected. It is presumed that a trouble such as a paper jam has occurred during the printing of the paper (paper), and the paper 41 (the next paper) being fed is kept on standby (S908). Then, the paper 44 (the leading paper)
It is determined whether or not the trouble has been resolved (S909).
If this trouble is resolved (Yes in S909)
s), the paper 41 (next paper) is fed to the print area and printed (S910). A new sheet 44 is printed at the same time as printing the next sheet.
It is a matter of course that the (first sheet) is fed (S901). On the other hand, if the trouble of the preceding sheet has not been solved (S9
(No at 09), since the trouble of the first sheet is presumed to be a serious trouble that cannot be solved, the sheet is discharged as it is without printing (S911) and restarted from the printing of the first sheet (S91).
2). Note that whether the second sheet detection sensor 19B has detected the completion of printing on the sheet 44 (first sheet) is determined by, for example, whether the second sheet detection sensor 19B has detected the end of the sheet 44 (first sheet). It should just judge by. In this case, the second
The paper detection sensor 19B may be provided near the downstream side of the print head 140 in the sub-scanning direction, as shown in FIG. In addition, even if a trouble occurs in the next sheet during the simultaneous sheet feeding and discharging, the process of S911 may discharge the sheet either downstream or upstream (S911).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when a trouble such as a paper jam occurs during printing of the first sheet, the next sheet is kept on standby and only when the trouble of the first sheet is resolved. (Yes in S909) Since the next sheet is printed,
The next newspaper has less likelihood of getting into the same trouble. For this reason, both the previous sheet and the next sheet are not wasted.

Although the two embodiments of the present invention are as described above, the present invention relates to the type, size, printing speed, and path length of a paper path according to the printing method and printing unit of a printer to which the present invention is applied. Depending on the configuration and the like, various changes can be made. Further, the position and the number of the sheet detection sensors shown in the above embodiment can be changed as appropriate.

[0049]

As is clear from the above description, in the printer of the present invention, when the determination means determines that there is print data for the next page, the printing process for the previous printing paper is continued while the printing process is continued. Triggered by detection of the end of the previous printing paper by the detecting means, the next printing paper is supplied at a time to the nip point so as not to overlap with the previous printing paper, and thereafter,
Since the next print paper is fed into the print position in parallel with the discharge of the previous print paper from the print position, the idling time of the print engine is greatly reduced, and the throughput of the printer can be increased accordingly. It is.

Further, in the printing system of the present invention, the host transmits the print command including the information on the number of prints, and the printer receives the print command and makes the above-described determination, so that the establishment of the next page is delayed. The printer throughput can be increased even in an environment with a slow transmission path.

Further, when a trouble occurs in the preceding sheet, the supply and discharge of the next sheet is stopped, thereby minimizing wasteful paper consumption even in the case of a trouble such as a paper jam. It is possible to stop.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a printer control unit in the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating only essential points of a power mechanism in the printer illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a paper feed roller, a PF (paper feed) roller, a paper discharge roller, and a print head along a paper supply / discharge path in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a determination procedure in a condition determination unit in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure in a simultaneous sheet supply / discharge start unit when the determination illustrated in FIG. 5 is received.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of a determination procedure in a condition determination unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a paper feed roller, a PF (paper feed) roller, a paper discharge roller, and a print head along a paper supply / discharge path in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure in a simultaneous feeding / discharging activation unit when a determination similar to the determination in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is received in the second embodiment of the present invention. .

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 printer 11 paper support 12 paper feeder 121 paper feed motor 122 paper feed roller 13 print engine 131 paper feed motor 132 PF (paper feed) roller 133, 143 driven roller 134 carriage 135 carriage guide rail 14 paper discharge feeder 141 paper discharge motor 142 Paper discharge roller 16 CPU 17 ROM 18 RAM 19 Paper detection sensor 19A First paper detection sensor 19B Second paper detection sensor 2 Host 3 Printer control unit 34 Bitmap data development unit 35 Feed / discharge control unit 351 Condition determination unit 352 Simultaneous paper supply / discharge start section 41, 44 Cut sheet (paper)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C059 AA05 AA22 AA26 AA29 AA35 AA49 AA55 AA63 AB01 3F343 FA02 FB04 GA02 GB01 GC01 GD01 KB20

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A printer for performing printing by main-scanning a print head at a recording position and sub-scanning a print sheet based on input print data, wherein a predetermined amount is set prior to the main-scan printing. Image data storage means for storing the image data for printing generated each time; paper storage means for storing the print paper in advance in the sub-scanning direction upstream side; and paper feed existing in the vicinity of the recording position in the sub-scanning direction upstream side. A sheet detection unit provided between a predetermined position formed by a roller and the sheet storage unit to detect the presence or absence of the print sheet; and the print head for printing the print image data stored in the image data storage unit. Printing control means for supplying the printing paper to the main scanning and sub-scanning, and discharging means for discharging the printing paper from the recording position. A printer that executes printing over two or more pages of printing paper, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine the presence or absence of print data of the next page before being discharged by the discharge unit; Judge the presence or absence,
When it is determined that there is print data for the next page, if the paper detection unit detects the end of the previous printing paper, the printing process for the previous printing paper is continued while the printing paper is not overlapped with the previous printing paper. The next printing paper is supplied at a time to a predetermined position formed by the paper feed roller, and the supply of the next printing paper into the recording position is performed in parallel with the discharge of the previous printing paper from the recording position. And a paper supply / discharge control unit. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether there is print data of the next page from the print image data stored in the image data storage unit. Printer. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said input print data includes print number information, and said determining means determines from said print number information whether there is print data of said next page. Characterized printer. 4. The printer according to claim 1, wherein
Further, there is provided a print completion detecting means for detecting completion of printing on the previous print paper, and the paper supply / discharge control means is provided even if a predetermined time has elapsed after the next print paper has been supplied to the predetermined position at once. And a printer which stops supplying the next printing paper to the recording position when the printing completion detecting means does not detect completion of printing on the preceding printing paper. 5. The printer according to claim 4, wherein said print completion detecting means is provided near a downstream side of said recording position in a sub-scanning direction and comprises a paper detecting sensor capable of detecting an end of said previous printing paper. A printer characterized in that: 6. A host capable of transmitting a print command including information on the number of prints, and a main scanning of a print head at a recording position and a sub-scanning of a print sheet based on the print command received from the host, thereby obtaining two pages. In a printing system including a printer capable of executing printing over printing paper, the printer includes a paper storage unit that stores the printing paper in advance in the sub-scanning direction upstream side, the paper storage unit, and the recording unit. A paper detection sensor provided between a predetermined position formed by a paper feed roller existing near the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction of the position and detecting the presence or absence of the printing paper, and included in a print command received from the host. If the paper detection sensor detects the end of the previous printing paper when it is determined that there is print data of the next page based on the printing number information to be printed, While continuing the printing process, the next printing paper is supplied at a time to a predetermined position formed by the paper feed roller so as not to overlap the previous printing paper, and further, the discharge of the previous printing paper from the recording position is performed. A printing system wherein the next printing paper is supplied into the recording position in parallel. 7. Printing is performed by feeding printing paper previously stored in a paper storage unit to a recording position, and causing the print head to perform main scanning and sub-scanning of the printing paper based on print data at the recording position. After performing the above, a printer that discharges the printing paper from the recording position,
An image buffer for storing print image data generated by a predetermined amount at least prior to printing by the main scanning; a paper feed roller for feeding the print paper from the paper storage unit; and a paper feed roller. A paper feed roller that is located downstream in the sub-scanning direction and near the upstream side of the recording position in the sub-scanning direction and that performs sub-scanning of the printing paper; and A printer provided with a paper discharge roller for discharging paper from the printer and a paper detection sensor provided between the paper storage unit and a nip point formed by the paper feed roller to detect the presence or absence of the printing paper. A method for feeding and discharging a previous print sheet and a next print sheet when performing printing over the above print sheets, wherein the next print sheet is fed while the previous print sheet is being printed. Supplying the print data to the cue position from the printer, determining the presence or absence of print data of the next page from the print image data expanded in the image buffer, and performing the previous printing by the paper detection sensor. A step of detecting the end of the sheet; and, in the determining step, when it is determined that there is print data of the next page, the print processing of the previous print sheet is continued while the previous print sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor. Feeding the next print sheet up to the nip point so as not to overlap the previous print sheet, triggered by detection of the end of the sheet. 8. The paper supply / discharge method according to claim 7, further comprising: supplying the next print sheet from the nip point to the inside of the print position in parallel with the discharge of the previous print sheet from the print position. A sheet feeding / discharging method comprising steps. 9. The paper feeding / discharging method according to claim 7, further comprising, after supplying the next printing paper to the nip point and elapse of a predetermined time, completing printing on the preceding printing paper. And in the print completion determining step, when it is determined that the printing on the previous print sheet has not been completed, supplying the next print sheet into the recording position. And a step of discharging the previous printing paper as it is. 10. A print sheet is fed to a recording position, and at the recording position, printing is performed by causing the print head to perform main scanning and sub-scanning the printing sheet based on print data. A method of feeding and discharging a first print sheet and a next print sheet when printing is performed on two or more pages of print paper in a printer that discharges the print sheet from the first print sheet. Determining whether the first sheet detection sensor has detected the end of the previous print sheet; and determining whether the first sheet detection sensor has detected the end of the previous print sheet. The printing paper continues to be printed as it is, and the next printing paper is asynchronously fed, and after a predetermined time elapses after the next printing paper is started to be fed asynchronously, the first paper detection sensor performs the next printing paper. End of paper Determining whether an edge has been detected; and, if the first paper detection sensor has not detected the leading edge of the next printing paper, completing printing of the previous printing paper and printing the next printing paper. And a step of restarting the paper feeding and discharging method. 11. A printing paper is fed to a recording position, and at the recording position, printing is performed by causing the print head to perform main scanning and sub-scanning the printing paper based on print data, and then to perform the printing at the recording position. A method of feeding and discharging a first print sheet and a next print sheet when printing is performed on two or more pages of print paper in a printer that discharges the print sheet from the first print sheet. Determining whether the first sheet detection sensor has detected the end of the previous print sheet; and determining whether the first sheet detection sensor has detected the end of the previous print sheet. The printing paper continues to be printed as it is, and the next printing paper is fed asynchronously.
Determining whether or not the paper detection sensor has detected the completion of printing of the previous printing paper, and waiting for the next printing paper as it is when determining that the printing of the previous printing paper has not been completed. After lapse of a predetermined time, a step of again determining whether the second paper detection sensor has detected the completion of printing on the previous printing paper; and determining that the second paper detection sensor has detected the completion of printing on the previous printing paper. Prints the next printing paper while feeding it to the printing area,
A step of, if it is determined that the completion of printing of the preceding printing paper has not been detected, discharging the previous printing paper as it is without printing any more. 12. The paper feeding / discharging method according to claim 11, wherein the second paper detection sensor detects whether or not the printing of the previous printing paper is completed, and the second paper detection sensor detects whether the printing of the previous printing paper is completed. A sheet feeding / discharging method, wherein the determination is made based on whether an end of the sheet is detected.