JP2001347733A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device capable of reduce the waiting time until completion of a printing operation as much as possible in the case a large amount of printing information is inputted in the printing device. SOLUTION: A printing device for inputting printing information, storing the inputted printing information in a memory, or the like, printing the printing information stored in the memory, or the like, converting the printing information stored in the memory, or the like into two-dimensional code information, or the like, printing the converted two-dimensional code information, detecting the information amount of printing information, which has not been printed nor converted to two-dimensional code information, or the like, and selecting whether the printing information stored in the storing means, which has not been printed nor converted to two-dimensional code information, or the like, is printed or converted to two-dimensional code information, or the like, according to the detected information amount, is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for receiving print information from a host computer and printing the received print information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printing apparatus receives print information from a host computer in the form of a command / data string of control commands that can be processed by the printing apparatus, and receives commands / data contained in the received print information. It is configured to print characters and figures according to the columns.

[0003] Even when print information is being printed,
In order to be able to receive another print information from the host computer, the printing device includes a buffer memory,
The print information received from the host computer is stored in the buffer memory.

Further, in order to use the printing apparatus as a copying apparatus, there is a printing apparatus having a scanner for reading a flat image and generating image data. And the print information input from this scanner is also
The data is stored in the buffer memory.

[0005]

In a printing apparatus having a buffer memory, the speed at which print information is received from the host computer is higher than the speed at which print information received from the host computer is printed. In the meantime, some print information is received separately,
When the buffer memory or the like is filled with some of the separately received print information, the reception of the print information cannot be continued thereafter, and there is a problem that a long waiting time is required until printing is completed. A similar problem occurs with print information input from the scanner.

If the buffer memory or the like is filled with print information having a low urgency of printing, it takes time to print the print information having a low urgency, and printing is performed after receiving the print information. Even if the print information with high urgency is received, the print information with high urgency cannot be printed immediately, and the user of the printing apparatus tries to print the print information with high urgency quickly. There is a problem that those who wait are waiting. A similar problem occurs with print information input from the scanner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of minimizing a waiting time until printing is completed when a large amount of printing information is input to the printing apparatus.

[0008]

According to the present invention, print information is input, the input print information is stored in a memory or the like, and the print information stored in the memory or the like is printed. Is converted into two-dimensional code information and the like, the converted two-dimensional code information and the like are printed, and the print information is stored in the memory and the like. The information amount of the print information that is not present and has not been converted into two-dimensional code information or the like is detected, and according to the detected information amount, the print information stored in the storage unit is not printed and is not printed. A printing apparatus for selecting whether to print print information that has not been converted into dimensional code information or the like or to convert the print information into two-dimensional code information or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, print information is input, the input print information is stored in a memory or the like, the print information stored in the memory or the like is printed, and the print information is stored in the memory or the like. The print information is converted into two-dimensional code information and the like, the converted two-dimensional code information and the like are printed, and information accompanying the input print information, and the input print information is input. To detect the urgency information indicating the urgency from the time of printing, according to the detected urgency information, the print information stored in the memory or the like, the print information corresponding to the detected urgency information This is a printing device for selecting whether to print or convert to two-dimensional code information or the like.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The printing apparatus 100 includes a printing unit 1, a CPU 2,
It has a connection device 3, a memory buffer 4, a scanner 5, an input / output device 6, an image generation device 7, a ROM 8, and a RAM 9, and is connected to the host computer H.

The printing section 1 prints print information sent from the image forming apparatus 7 by using a known technique.
The connection device 3 is a device for connecting the printing device 100 to the host computer H, and includes a memory buffer 4.
Is print information received from the host computer H and stores print information waiting for print processing (unprocessed). The scanner 5 can read optical read information as shown in FIG. It is. Here, the buffer memory 4 is an example of a storage unit that stores print information input by the printing apparatus 100.

The input / output device 6 is a device for inputting and outputting data to and from the CPU 2, inputting data from the memory buffer 4 or the scanner 5, and outputting data to the image generating device 7.

The image generating device 7 includes a host computer H
Received from (input to) or input from the scanner 5,
This is an apparatus for converting print information stored in the memory buffer 4 into image information (image image) including characters and graphics which the print information should originally represent. The image generation device 7 is a device that converts the print information stored in the memory buffer 4 into two-dimensional code information. here,
The “two-dimensional code information” is information that is formed by a code that can be optically read by the scanner 5 when printed and is formed by a two-dimensional code, and that is received from the host computer H, or This refers to information that can be restored to print information input from the scanner 5. The image generation device 7 is a device that receives the two-dimensional code information read and output by the scanner 5 from the host computer H or restores the print information input from the scanner 5.

A ROM (read only memory) 8 receives print information from the host computer H, stores the input print information in the buffer memory 4, and stores the print information in the memory buffer 4. The information amount of the print information that has not been subjected to the print processing is detected, and the print information that is stored in the buffer memory 4 and has not been subjected to the print processing is determined according to the detected information amount.
The user selects whether the image is to be converted into an image by the image generating device 7 and printed by the printing unit 1 or is converted by the image generating device 7 into two-dimensional code information formed of a two-dimensional code and printed by the printing unit 1. Is a memory storing a program for operating the CPU 2.

The ROM 8 inputs print information from the host computer H, stores the input print information in the buffer memory 4, and stores the print information in the host computer H.
, Which is information accompanying the print information input from the server and indicating the degree of urgency from the input of the print information to the printing, and stored in the buffer memory 4 in accordance with the detected urgency information. The print information stored in the buffer memory 4 is converted into a two-dimensional code by the image generation device 7 by converting the print information into an image by the image generation device 7 or printing the print information stored in the buffer memory 4. This is a memory that stores a program that causes the CPU 2 to operate so that it is converted into code information and selected by the printing unit 1 for printing. Here, the degree of urgency is represented by a numerical value, and the larger the numerical value, the higher the urgency.

When the scanner 5 reads the two-dimensional code information printed by the printing unit 1, the ROM 8 restores the read two-dimensional code information to print information input from the host computer H. Printing information 1
Is a memory storing a program for operating the CPU 2 so as to cause the CPU 2 to print.

The ROM 8 is a memory that stores fonts used for printing characters.

A RAM (random access memory) 9 is
The print information stored in the memory buffer 4 is processed, and a value of a flag that holds whether the printing apparatus 100 converts the image into an image or an optical read information is stored, and the CPU 2 temporarily stores the data. It is used to store information temporarily.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 100 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing print information transmitted from the host computer H in the printing apparatus 100.

CPU 2 provided in printing apparatus 100
Determines whether there is print information transmitted from the host computer H (S21). If print information exists, the print information is received until reception of the transmitted print information ends.
A receiving process is performed (S22).

On the other hand, if the print information transmitted from the host computer H does not exist (S21), the print information transmitted from the host computer H and stored in the memory buffer 4 and not subjected to the print processing. Is determined (S23), and if print information that has not been subjected to print processing exists, print processing is performed until printing of the print information that has not been subjected to print processing is completed (S2).
4). And, when the above printing process is completed, or
Sent from the host computer H and sent to the memory buffer 4
If there is no print information that has not been subjected to the print processing and is the print information stored in (S23), it is determined whether there is another print information transmitted from the host computer H (S21).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the print information receiving process (S22) from the host computer H in the printing apparatus 100.

When the printing apparatus 100 is started, it is assumed that print information data waiting for print processing does not exist in the memory buffer 4. That is, when the printing apparatus 100 is started, “0” is stored as an initial value of a variable in the RAM 9 indicating the total data amount of print information waiting for print processing stored in the memory buffer 4. .

First, the CPU 2 provided in the printing apparatus 100 stores the received data, that is, the print information received from the host computer H, in the memory buffer 4, and subsequently stores the total number of bytes of the received print information. Is stored in the memory buffer 4 (S31). Next, a variable in the RAM 9 indicating the total data amount of the print information waiting for the print processing existing in the memory buffer 4 is set in the memory buffer 4.
Is added (step S32), and it is determined whether or not the added total data amount has reached 80% of the memory capacity of the memory buffer 4 (S33). When the added total data amount reaches 80% of the memory capacity of the memory buffer 4 (S33), the memory buffer 4 is almost filled with the unprocessed print information, and the host computer H sends another new data. Since there is a high possibility that print information cannot be received, the printing apparatus 100
Sets “1” to the flag in the RAM 9 (S3
4). On the other hand, if the added total data amount does not reach 80% of the memory capacity stored in the memory buffer 4 (S33), the unprocessed print information stored in the memory buffer 4 is not so large. Since there is a low possibility that new print information cannot be received from the host computer H, "0" is set to the flag in the RAM 9 (S35).

FIG. 4 shows a printing process of printing information stored in the memory buffer 4 in the printing apparatus 100 (S2).
It is a flowchart explaining 4) in detail.

In the printing apparatus 100, the RAM 9
The flag “0” in “” indicates that “the print information stored in the memory buffer 4 is converted into an image image”, and the flag “1” in the RAM 9 is “stored in the memory buffer 4”. "Convert print information to optical read information".

CPU 2 provided in printing apparatus 100
First checks the flag value in the RAM 9 (S401),
If the flag is "0" (S401), the print information stored in the memory buffer 4 is converted into an image and printed. Then, the print information is printed using the printing unit 1 until there is no print information to be converted to the image and printed (S402 to S404).

On the other hand, if the flag in the RAM 9 is "1" (S401), the print information stored in the memory buffer 4 is read by the scanner 5 using a known optical read encoding method. Convert to dimension code information and print. That is, until print information received from the host computer H and stored in the memory buffer 4 is exhausted, two-dimensional code information corresponding to the print information is generated by using a known optical reading encoding method. The generated two-dimensional code information is printed on recording paper (S4
05 to S407).

Then, in step S402-S404 or steps S405-S407, the print information for which print processing has been completed is determined from a variable in the RAM 9 indicating the total data amount of print information waiting for print processing existing in the memory buffer 4. Is subtracted (step S408),
It is checked whether or not the subtracted total data amount has reached 80% of the memory capacity of the memory buffer 4 (step S).
409).

Subsequently, when the total data amount thus subtracted reaches 80% of the memory capacity of the memory buffer 4 (S
409) Since the memory buffer 4 is almost filled with the unprocessed print information and it is highly likely that new print information cannot be received from the host computer H, the printing apparatus 100 sets the flag in the RAM 9 to ""1" is set (S410). On the other hand, if the added total data amount has not reached 80% of the memory capacity of the memory buffer 4 (S409), the amount of unprocessed print information stored in the memory buffer 4 is not so large, and the host Since it is unlikely that new print information cannot be received from the computer H, "0" is set to the flag in the RAM 9 (S411).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the print information receiving process (S22) from the host computer H in the printing apparatus 100.

In the printing apparatus 100, the urgency of the printing process for the printing information received from the host computer H is determined by a control command to the printing apparatus 100.
It is assumed that the host computer H gives an instruction in association with the printing information. Also, it is a variable provided in the RAM 9 and indicates the maximum urgency among the urgencies of several pieces of print information stored in the memory buffer 4 and not subjected to the printing process. The variable "mostUr
g ”is set as an initial value when the printing apparatus 100 is activated.
“0” is stored. Also, it is assumed that an associative storage device (not shown) provided in the RAM 9 is appropriately initialized when the printing device is started. The associative storage device provided in the RAM 9 includes an address addr in the memory buffer 4 in which the print information received from the host computer H is stored (the start address of the memory in which the print information is stored). Urgency ur of the above print information
This is a storage device that stores the data in association with g.

CPU 2 provided in printing apparatus 100
First, the urgency associated with the print information received from the host computer H is detected, and a temporary storage area (not shown) is detected.
(S51), and then stores the received print information in the memory buffer 4 (S52), and stores the address addr in the memory buffer 4 where the received print information is stored in the temporary storage area. The stored urgency urg of the print information is stored in the associative storage device in the RAM 9 in association with the urgency urg (S53).

Subsequently, the urgency level u of the received print information is
rg is larger than the maximum urgency mostUrg among the urgencies of some of the print information already stored in the memory buffer 4 and not subjected to the print processing (the urgency urg of the print information). Is highest) is checked (S54). Urgency u of the received print information
If rg is equal to or less than the maximum urgency mostUrg (S54), the process ends.

On the other hand, the urgency ur of the received print information
If g is greater than the maximum urgency mostUrg (S54), the maximum urgency mostUrg is updated to the urgency urg (S55), and the process ends.

FIG. 6 shows a process of printing print information stored in the memory buffer 4 in the printing apparatus 100 (S2).
It is a flowchart explaining 4) in detail.

CPU 2 provided in printing apparatus 100
First, the urgency associated with the print information received from the host computer H is detected and stored in the temporary storage area.
Subsequently, the received print information is stored in the memory buffer 4, the address addr in the memory buffer 4 in which the received print information is stored, and the print information received and stored in the temporary storage area. Is stored in the associative storage device in the RAM 9 in association with the urgency urg. Subsequently, the urgency urg of the received print information is larger than the maximum urgency mostUrg among the urgencies of the print information print information that has already been stored in the memory buffer 4 and has not been subjected to print processing. It is checked whether or not (S61).

Then, the urgency level u of the received print information
If rg is greater than the maximum urgency mostUrg (S61), the print information is the most urgent print information among the print information stored in the memory buffer 4, so the image is immediately displayed. Print as an image. That is, until the received print information disappears,
The received print information is printed using the printing unit 1 (S62 to S64). Subsequently, the address addr and the urgency urg in the associative storage device corresponding to the print information are cleared (S65), and the inside of the associative storage device is scanned again to search for the maximum urgency urg. Is stored in the temporary storage area as the maximum urgency mostUrg (step S66).

On the other hand, the urgency ur of the received print information
When g is smaller than the maximum urgency mostUrg (S61), since the print information having a higher urgency than the print information exists in the memory buffer 4, the received print information is read by the scanner unit 5. To two-dimensional code information for printing. In other words, until the print information is lost, using a known optical reading encoding method,
The two-dimensional code information corresponding to the print information is generated, and the generated two-dimensional code information is printed on a recording sheet (steps S67 to S69). It should be noted that, when converted into two-dimensional code information and printed, printing processing can be performed faster than printing with an image.

FIG. 7 shows an example of printing two-dimensional code information generated by the printing apparatus 100.

FIG. 8 shows two-dimensional code information read and output by the scanner 5 in the printing apparatus 100 (in accordance with the data amount of the print information stored in the memory buffer 4).
It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of (two-dimensional code information converted into two-dimensional code information).

Steps S81 to S8 shown in FIG.
At 4, the two-dimensional code information read and output by the scanner 5 is restored to the print information received from the host computer H.

When a recording sheet on which two-dimensional code information is printed is inserted into a scanner 5 provided in the printing apparatus 100, the CPU 2 causes the scanner 5 to scan the recording sheet, read an image, and output the image. (S81).
Subsequently, it is searched whether or not the read and output image contains two-dimensional code information printed by the algorithm shown in steps S405 to S407 in FIG. 4 (S82). As a result, when the two-dimensional code information does not exist, the scanner 5 is caused to execute the next image reading.

On the other hand, if two-dimensional code information exists as a result of the search (S82), the read and output two-dimensional code information is decoded according to a decoding method corresponding to the optical reading encoding method. At this point, error correction is performed by collating a checksum or a redundant code depending on the type of the optical reading encoding method (S83).

Subsequently, if any abnormality occurs during the decoding process, it is regarded that the two-dimensional code information has not been properly encoded or decoded, and the code string being processed is discarded. Is executed (S8).
4).

On the other hand, if the decryption processing is performed without any abnormality, the optical read information is regarded as valid (S84). Then, in order to switch the processing for the decrypted print information, Set the flag value in RAM 9 to R
It is evacuated to another address in the AM 9 and the flag in the RAM 9 is set to “0” (S85).

Next, steps S402 to S40 in FIG.
4 is executed to convert the decrypted print information into an image and print it (S86).

Subsequently, when the printing process is completed, the flag value saved in step S85 is restored (S8).
7).

FIG. 9 shows two-dimensional code information read and output by the scanner 5 in the printing apparatus 100 (two-dimensional code information converted into two-dimensional code information according to the urgency of the print information received from the host computer H). 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of FIG.

Steps S91 to S9 shown in FIG.
By 4, the two-dimensional code information read and output by the scanner 5 is restored to the print information received from the host computer H.

When a recording sheet on which two-dimensional code information is printed is inserted into a scanner 5 provided in the printing apparatus 100, the CPU 2 causes the scanner 5 to scan the recording sheet, read an image, and output the image. (S91).
Subsequently, it is searched whether or not the read and output image includes the two-dimensional code information printed by the algorithm shown in steps S67 to S69 in FIG. 6 (S92). As a result, when the two-dimensional code information does not exist, the scanner 5 is caused to execute the next image reading.

On the other hand, if two-dimensional code information exists as a result of the search (S92), the read and output two-dimensional code information is decoded according to a decoding method corresponding to the optical reading encoding method. At this point, error correction is performed by checking the checksum or the redundant code, depending on the type of the optical reading encoding method (S93).

Subsequently, if any abnormality occurs during the decoding process, it is regarded that the two-dimensional code information has not been properly encoded or decoded, and the code string being processed is discarded. Is executed (S9).
4).

On the other hand, when the decoding process is performed without any abnormality, the two-dimensional code information is regarded as valid (S94), and then the two-dimensional code information is converted into an image and printed. . The print information is printed using the printing unit 1 until there is no more print information to be converted to the image and printed (S95 to S9).
7).

According to the above embodiment, it is faster to convert the print information received from the host computer H into an optically readable code and print it than to convert the print information received from the host computer H into an image and print it. When printing is possible and the amount of print information stored in the memory buffer 4 is large, the print information received from the host computer H is converted into two-dimensional code information and printed. The information amount of the stored print information is not so large, and the state where the print information cannot be received from the host computer H is somewhat avoided, and the waiting time until the printing is completed can be reduced.

According to the above-described embodiment, the print information received from the host computer H is converted into two-dimensional code information and printed, rather than converting the print information received from the host computer H into an image and printing the image. Printing can be performed faster, and the host computer H
Only when the urgency attached to the print information received from the host computer is the highest, the received print information is converted into an image and printed. On the other hand, when the urgency is not the highest, the print information received from the host computer H is used. Is converted to two-dimensional code information and printed, so that the information amount of the print information stored in the memory buffer 4 provided in the printing apparatus 100 is not so large, and the print information with high urgency is transferred to the host computer H. Thus, the state in which the information cannot be received from the printer is somewhat avoided, and the number of cases in which a person who wants to quickly print the highly urgent print information is reduced.

In the above embodiment, optical reading code information may be used instead of two-dimensional code information. Here, the optically readable code information is information formed by a code that can be optically read by a scanner when printed, and can be restored to print information received from the host computer H (for example, ,
Barcode information).

In the above embodiment, the print information is received from the host computer H. However, the print information may be input from the scanner 5 or the print information may be input from an external device other than the host computer H. May be input.

In the above embodiment, it is determined whether the print information received from the host computer H and stored in the memory buffer 4 is converted into an image image and printed, or converted into two-dimensional code information and printed. As a selection means, when the flag in the RAM 8 is “0”, “convert the print information into an image image” is set. When the flag is “1”, “convert the print information into two-dimensional code information” is set.
"Convert print information to image image"
In other words, if it is possible to select "convert print information to optical read information", other methods may be adopted.

In the above embodiment, whether print information received from the host computer H and stored in the memory buffer 4 is converted into an image image and printed, or converted into two-dimensional code information and printed. At the time of selection, whether or not the amount of data stored in the memory buffer 4 has reached 80% of the memory capacity of the memory buffer 4 was used as a reference value for selection. However, any value other than 80% (for example,
A value within the range of 50% to 99%) may be used as the reference value.

Further, in the above embodiment, the urgency of the print information processing is sent from the host computer H accompanying the print information, but the urgency of the print information processing is determined at the beginning of the print information. The urgency may be determined according to the state of a switch on the operation panel in a printing apparatus having a switch on an operation panel for controlling the printing apparatus.

In the above embodiment, when the urgency of the print information received from the host computer H is the highest, the received print information is converted into an image and printed, and the print information received from the host computer H is printed. If the urgency is not the highest, the received print information is converted into two-dimensional code information and printed. If the urgency of the print information received from the host computer H is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the reception is performed. The print information is converted into an image and printed, and when the urgency of the print information received from the host computer H is smaller than the predetermined value, the received print information is converted into two-dimensional code information and printed. You may do so. That is, the reference value of the urgency for determining whether to convert the image into an image and perform the printing process may be arbitrarily determined.

[0065]

According to the present invention, when a large amount of printing information is input to a printing apparatus, the waiting time until printing is completed can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for processing print information transmitted from a host computer H in the printing apparatus 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a print information receiving process (S22) from a host computer H in the printing apparatus 100 in detail.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a printing process (S24) of print information stored in a memory buffer 4 in the printing apparatus 100.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print information receiving process (S22) from the host computer H in the printing apparatus 100 in detail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a printing process (S24) of print information stored in the memory buffer 4 in the printing apparatus 100.

FIG. 7 is a printing example of two-dimensional code information generated by the printing apparatus 100.

FIG. 8 shows two-dimensional code information (two-dimensional code information converted into two-dimensional code information according to the data amount of the print information stored in the memory buffer 4) read and output by the scanner 5 in the printing apparatus 100. It is a flowchart which shows a processing procedure.

FIG. 9 is a processing procedure of two-dimensional code information (two-dimensional code information converted into two-dimensional code information in accordance with the urgency of the print information received from the host computer H) read and output by the scanner 5 in the printing apparatus 100. It is a flowchart which shows.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 printing device, 1 printing unit, 2 CPU, 4 buffer, 5 scanner, 7 image generating device, 8 ROM, 9 RAM, H host computer.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting print information; a storage unit for storing the print information input by the input unit; a first print unit for printing the print information stored in the storage unit; Converting means for converting the printing information stored in the storage means into optical reading code information formed by optical reading codes; second printing means for printing the optical reading code information converted by the converting means; Information amount detection means for detecting the amount of print information stored in the storage means, the information amount being not processed by the first printing means and not processed by the conversion means; According to the information amount detected by the amount detecting means, the print information stored in the storage means, the print information not processed by the first printing means and not processed by the conversion means, First print Selecting means for selecting whether the processing is performed by the means or the converting means. An input unit for inputting print information; a storage unit for storing the print information input by the input unit; a first print unit for printing the print information stored in the storage unit; Converting means for converting the printing information stored in the storage means into optical reading code information formed by optical reading codes; second printing means for printing the optical reading code information converted by the converting means; An urgency information detecting means for detecting urgency information that is information accompanying the print information input by the input means and indicating the urgency from the input of the print information to the printing; and the urgency information detecting means. According to the urgency information detected by the first means, the print information stored in the storage means, the print information corresponding to the urgency information detected by the detection means is processed by the first printing means, or And a selecting means for selecting whether to perform the processing by the converting means. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scanner, wherein the optical reading information printed by the second printing means is read by the scanner, and the read optical reading information is read by the input means. Restoring means for restoring the input print information;
And a third printing means for printing the print information restored by the restoration means.