JP2001249583A - Printer and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system by which the reduction of a printing cost and the effective utilization of resource and energy are attained by effectively working a toner-save function in a required case. SOLUTION: A printer driver 12 automatically sets the printing control command of a toner-saving mode during a plotting instruction in the case that the black part of a printing image is detected and exceeds a specified ratio on an image surface when a document delivered from a document and graphic application 11 is extended to a memory as the image of a bit map format per unit-page at the time of generating a printing data. By a printing image processing program 22 mounted at the controller 21 of a printer 20 to receive the plotting instruction, the plotting instruction is decoded, and an image data for image formation and an image formation condition included in a printing control command are transferred to a printer engine 23, so that printing processing is performed while controlling toner density in accordance with setting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly, to a printing system having a printing apparatus that can operate in a toner save mode. Regarding what was done.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a printing apparatus provided in a copying machine, a laser printer, a facsimile, and the like, a printing apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic system has been widely used. Further, in the electrophotographic method, since the toner density for forming an image can be controlled, in a printing apparatus using this method, printing is performed with a low toner density in order to reduce printing cost, resources, and energy consumption. (That is,
An apparatus has been equipped with a toner save function for performing printing slightly. Conventionally, the toner save function
At the time of test printing or the like, the user specifies the operation on a setting screen of a printer driver (software system for creating a print job) mounted on a host device (for example, PC: personal computer) that issues a print request to a printing device (printer). It is a usual method to operate by doing. The printing apparatus that has received the print job for which toner save has been set executes toner save in accordance with the instruction when printing.

[0003]

However, as described above, the toner save function does not work unless the setting is made by the user's operation. Therefore, the toner save function does not always work when necessary, and this function is used effectively. In many cases, it is not done. The present invention has been made in view of the conventional situation regarding the use of the toner save function of the printing apparatus described above, and has an object to effectively use the toner save function when necessary, to reduce printing costs and resources,
A printing device, a printing system, an image processing device equipped with the printing device (for example, a scanner, a copier, a facsimile, an electronic filing device, or a multifunction device equipped with a plurality of these functions, etc.) capable of effectively utilizing energy; And an image processing system including the printing system (for example, a scanner system, a copying system, a facsimile system,
An electronic filing system, or a composite system including a plurality of these systems as system elements).

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having a controller capable of executing a printing process based on a drawing command in a toner save mode. A printing apparatus wherein a black portion included in image data is detected, and when the black portion exceeds a predetermined ratio on a unit image surface, the printing process is executed in a toner save mode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host device having a printer driver for generating a drawing command and transferring the drawing command, wherein the host device is included in print image data requested to be printed by the printer driver. Detect black parts,
When the black portion exceeds a predetermined ratio in the unit image plane, an instruction to execute the printing process in the toner save mode is set in the drawing surface example.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a host device for creating a drawing command and transferring the drawing command; and a controller for executing a printing process based on the transferred drawing command in a toner save mode. And a communication unit configured to connect the communication unit and the communication unit, wherein the controller detects a black portion included in the print image data in the drawing instruction, and the black portion exceeds a predetermined ratio in the unit image plane. The printing system may further comprise executing the printing process in a toner save mode.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus including the printing apparatus according to the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system comprising the printing system according to the second or third aspect.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described based on the following embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a printing apparatus (printer) and a printing system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the printing system includes:
L for host device (PC: personal computer) 10
It is configured by connecting the printer 20 through the AN 30. In this example, the PC 10 and the printer 20 are connected via the LAN 30, but may be directly connected via a dedicated or general-purpose (such as bidirectional parallel) I / F cable. The PC 10 is a document editing application 1 operating on a general-purpose operating system (OS).
1. A printer driver 12 for receiving data such as a document from a document editing application 11 under OS management is installed. The printer driver 12 is provided with an input operation unit 1 of a user interface (user I / F) 13 provided therein.
At 4, an input by a user operation is accepted. The printer 20 includes a printer controller 21 and a printer engine 23 that prints (draws) based on image forming data sent from the printer controller 21. The printer controller 21 has a print image processing program 22 and is created by the printer driver 12 of the PC 10.
It has a function of decoding a drawing command transmitted and received through the LAN 30 and including a print control command and print data, generating image forming data based on the print data included therein, and sending the data to the printer engine 23. .

In the present invention, when the black portion of the print image exceeds a predetermined ratio on the image surface, a print command is issued to the printer engine 23 so as to operate the toner save function and reduce the toner density at the time of image formation. Then, the printer engine 23 controls the toner density according to the command. In addition, since this process is automatically performed, it is necessary to detect a black portion of the print image and obtain a ratio of the black portion on the image surface. In the present invention,
A method is proposed in which the detection of the black portion and the calculation of the ratio of the black portion on the image surface are performed on the printer 20 side and a method performed on the PC 10 side. When the printing is performed on the printer 20 side, the print image processing program 22 is provided with a function for executing the same. 1
As an example, the print image processing program 22 executes
Is developed in the page memory as data in a form that can be subjected to print processing by the printer engine 23, that is, a print image in a bitmap data format. At this time, black data is detected for each pixel, and the number of black pixels is determined. Count by page. Further, after counting the number of black pixels by counting in page units, the ratio of the calculated number of black pixels to the total number of pixels included in the page unit is calculated to obtain target data. .

On the other hand, when the operation is performed on the PC 10, the printer driver 12 is provided with a function for executing the operation. As an example, the printer driver 12 converts print data composed of text data and graphics data created by the document editing application 11 or the like into data that can be processed by the printer controller 21 of the printer 20, that is, a bitmap data format. At this time, black data is detected for each pixel, and the number of black pixels is counted for each page. Further, after counting the number of black pixels by counting in page units, the target data is obtained by calculating the ratio of the calculated number of black pixels to the total number of pixels included in the page unit. . Further, as another example, a target for which the toner save function is activated is a graphics image in which a solid black image in which this function is effective is generated, and a character image for which the toner save function is not normally activated is excluded. Only the passed graphics data (a black solid image can be generated) is processed in the same manner as the graphics data expressed in a bitmap format or the like,
A method of calculating the ratio of the number of black pixels obtained to the total number of pixels may be used. In this case, since the character image is excluded from the target, there is no need to expand the text data into the bitmap data format, and the processing in the printer driver 12 is simplified.

Here, an operation example of the printing system according to the present invention in which the toner saving operation is automated will be described. FIG.
FIG. 10 shows an example of a flowchart in a case where the printer determines whether or not to function the toner save function and uses a method of instructing the function. As shown in FIG. 2, an application 11 such as a document editing operating on the general-purpose OS of the PC 10 receives a general-purpose OS according to an input instruction of the input operation unit 14 by the user.
This flow is started by requesting the printer 20 to print a document composed of characters, figures, and the like input through (S21). At the time of a print request, the printer driver 12 receives a print request from the application 11 through the general-purpose OS, and generates print data in a data format (usually PDL: page description language) that can be interpreted by the printer 20. At this time, in the printer driver 12, the input operation unit 14 of the user interface (user I / F) 13
For the items such as various functions provided in the printer 20 shown in (1), the print condition is set by the user instructing by input operation, and the set contents are included in the print data;
The generated drawing command is sent to the printer 20 through the LAN 30 by the LAN control unit (S22).

A printer 20 that receives a print control command and a drawing command including print data transmitted from a printer driver 12 of the PC 10 uses a print image processing program 22 installed in a printer controller 21.
The drawing command represented by the received normal PDL data is decoded (S23), and based on the print data contained therein, data is printed by the printer engine 23, that is, as a print image in a bitmap data format. Expand to memory. Further, the print image processing program 22 performs a process for making the toner save function when the black portion of the print image exceeds a predetermined ratio on the image surface. In this processing procedure, black data is detected for each pixel and the number of black pixels is calculated for each page when performing the above-described processing of developing print data from the PC 10 as a print image in a bitmap data format in a page memory. After that, the ratio of the calculated number of black pixels to the total number of pixels included in the page unit is calculated, and it is determined whether the calculated value exceeds a predetermined ratio, for example, 70% (S24). As a result, when the calculated ratio of the black portion exceeds a predetermined value of 70%, the setting is made in the print control command to the printer engine 23 so that the toner save mode for reducing the toner density is performed at the time of image formation. Is performed (S25). To the printer engine 23, the print data in the bitmap format developed in the page memory in the printer controller 21 is transferred as image data for image formation, and the image data is used to perform toner transfer according to the toner save mode setting in the print control command. The printing process is performed while controlling the density (S26), and the printing ends.

Next, another operation example of the printing system according to the present invention in which the toner save operation is automated will be described. FIG.
Determines whether the toner save function is to be performed by the host device (P
An example of a flowchart in the case where a method of making a determination and giving an instruction is adopted on the C) side is adopted is shown. As shown in FIG.
The application 11 such as a document editor operating on the general-purpose OS 0 requests the printer 20 to print a document composed of characters, graphics, and the like input through the general-purpose OS according to an input instruction of the input operation unit 14 by the user. This starts the flow (S31). At the time of print request,
The printer driver 12 receives a print request from the application 11 through the general-purpose OS and generates print data in a data format (usually PDL: page description language) that can be interpreted by the printer 20.

When generating the print data, the printer driver 12 develops a document passed from the application 11 such as a document editor into a memory as a print image in a bitmap data format on a page-by-page basis (S32). Then, a process for causing the toner save is performed. In this processing procedure, a print control command for making the toner save function when the black portion of the print image exceeds a predetermined ratio on the image surface is set. Specifically, the printer driver 12
Detects black data for each pixel using the toner save setting program installed, calculates the number of black pixels for each page, and then calculates the ratio of the calculated number of black pixels to the total number of pixels included in the page. It is determined whether the calculated value exceeds a predetermined ratio, for example, 70% (S33). As a result, if the calculated ratio of the black portion exceeds a predetermined value of 70%, a print control command for causing the printer 20 to perform the toner save mode is set (S34). In the printer driver 12, a user interface (user I / F) 13
For the items such as various functions provided in the printer 20 shown in the input operation unit 14, the printing conditions instructed by the user through the input operation are set, and the set contents are used as the printing control commands. The drawing command is generated together with the print data by inputting the toner save mode command obtained in step (1), and the drawing command is sent to the printer 20 via the LAN 30 by the LAN controller (S35).

The printer 20, which receives a print control command and a drawing command including print data transmitted from the printer driver 12 of the PC 10, uses the print processing program 22 installed in the printer controller 21 and expresses the received normal PDL data. The rendered command is decoded (S36), and based on the print data contained in the command, the printer engine 23 develops the data in a form that can be subjected to print processing, that is, a bitmap data format print image in a page memory. A print control command to the printer engine 23 is created from a command of image forming conditions (various modes such as a toner save mode) included in the print control command received from the side. To the printer engine 23, the print data in the bitmap format developed in the page memory in the printer controller 21 is transferred as image data for image formation, and the image data is used, and the toner is used in accordance with the toner save mode setting in the print control command. The printing process is performed while controlling the density (S
37), end the printing. In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus and the printing system are described. However, an image processing apparatus equipped with a function of a printing apparatus such as a printer (for example, a scanner, a copier, a facsimile, an electronic filing apparatus, or a plurality of these apparatuses). Image processing system equipped with a printing system function (for example, a scanner system, a copying system, a facsimile system, an electronic filing system, or a complex system using a plurality of these systems as system elements).
By applying the above-described embodiment to the automation of the toner save operation in the embodiment, the image processing apparatus and the image processing system of the present invention can be implemented.

[0017]

(1) Effects corresponding to the first aspect of the present invention A black portion included in print image data included in a drawing instruction to a print controller is detected, and when the black portion exceeds a predetermined ratio on a unit image plane. By providing a function to set the toner save mode and automatically perform the toner save, the toner save function can be activated effectively when necessary, and a printing device capable of reducing printing costs and effectively using resources and energy can be provided. Can be provided. (2) Effects corresponding to the second aspect of the invention: a host device that creates a drawing command and transfers the drawing command;
In a printing system configured by connecting a printing device that performs a printing process based on a drawing command by communication means, a controller of the printing device detects a black portion included in print image data included in the drawing command, and the black portion is a unit image. By setting the toner save mode and automatically performing the toner save when the ratio exceeds the predetermined ratio on the surface,
It is possible to provide a printing system capable of effectively using the toner save function when necessary and reducing printing costs and effectively using resources and energy. (3) A host device that creates a drawing command and transfers the drawing command,
In a printing system configured by connecting a printing device that performs a printing process based on a drawing command by a communication unit, a printer driver of a host device detects a black portion included in print image data targeted for a print request, When the black portion exceeds a predetermined ratio on the unit image surface, by providing a function of automatically setting a command to execute the toner save mode in the drawing command, the toner save function is effectively activated when necessary, A printing system capable of reducing printing costs and effectively using resources and energy can be provided. (4) Effects corresponding to the invention of claim 4 An image processing apparatus (for example, a scanner, a copier, a facsimile, an electronic filing apparatus, or a plurality of these functions provided with the printing apparatus according to claim 1) By realizing the effect (1) above in a multifunction peripheral or the like, the performance of the image processing apparatus can be improved. (5) Effects corresponding to the invention of claim 5 An image processing system (for example, a scanner system, a copying system, a facsimile system, an electronic filing system, or a plurality of these systems) provided with the printing system according to claims 1 and 2. By realizing the effects (2) and (3) above in a composite system having a system as a system element, the performance of the image processing system can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a printing apparatus (printer) and a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a method of setting a toner save mode on a printer side is adopted;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in a case where a method of setting a toner save mode on a PC side is employed.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Host device (PC) 11 Application such as document editing 12 Printer driver
13: user I / F, 14: input operation unit, 20: printer, 21: printer controller,
22: print image processing program, 23: printer engine, 30: LAN.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having a controller capable of executing a printing process based on a drawing command in a toner save mode, wherein the printing controller detects a black portion included in print image data included in the drawing command. A printing apparatus for executing the printing process in a toner save mode when the black portion exceeds a predetermined ratio on a unit image surface. 2. A host device comprising a printer driver for creating a drawing command and transferring the drawing command, wherein the host device detects a black portion included in print image data targeted for a print request by the printer driver. A command to execute the printing process in the toner save mode when the black portion exceeds a predetermined ratio in the unit image plane; 3. A communication device comprising: a host device for generating a drawing command and transferring the drawing command; and a printing device including a controller for enabling a printing process based on the transferred drawing command in a toner save mode. A printing system configured to be connected to the printing system, wherein the controller detects a black portion included in the print image data in the drawing command, and, when the black portion exceeds a predetermined ratio on a unit image surface, In a toner save mode. 4. An image processing apparatus comprising the printing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. An image processing system comprising the printing system according to claim 2.