JP2002205444A - Printer and print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate staining of a printed matter by setting a time waiting for next sheet feed and print in order to wait for fixing of ink even if next print data is transmitted immediately after output when a low fixative ink is used, and to make its waiting function act flexibly so that a user can operate the function freely. SOLUTION: The print system comprises a printer body section comprising a control operation means, an information storage means, i.e., an RAM, including a waiting time timer for storing setting of validity or release of a waiting function and a waiting time and measuring the waiting time, a key operating section where a user inputs cancel of the waiting function, a section for judging the kind of ink, and a bi-directional communication interface; a printer comprising a cartridge section including IDs for respective kinds of ink; and a host computer comprising a section for setting the waiting function or inputting the waiting time, an operation control section and a bi-directional communication interface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a function of waiting for the next sheet feeding and printing immediately after output until the previously printed ink is fixed when printing is performed using ink with poor fixation. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the case where printing is performed using ink with poor fixation, if the next printing is performed immediately after the first printing, the ink of the previous printed matter is not fixed. Since the next printed matter is output, the previously output printed matter becomes dirty.

[0003]

In the above-described printing apparatus, when the ink having poor fixation is used, when the next print data is transmitted while the previously printed ink is not fixed, the printout is immediately performed. The printed matter output earlier is stained. An object of the present invention is to perform printing using ink with poor fixing, immediately after output, even if the next print data is transmitted, wait for paper feeding and printing, and wait for fixing of the ink of the previous printed matter, By feeding and printing,
The purpose is to provide a beautiful print to the user.

[0004]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a method for printing using ink with poor fixation, even if the next print data is transmitted immediately after output, even if the next print data is transmitted. It has a function to wait for the next paper feeding and printing by the count timer until the output printed ink is fixed. Also, enable or disable the function to wait for printing by a command from the host computer, freely set the waiting time by a command from the host computer, and execute it by key operation of the printing device during standby It has a function that can cancel the standby.

(Operation) In a printing device connected to a host computer via a bidirectional communication line, when printing using ink with poor fixing is performed, immediately after output, when print data is transmitted, output is performed first. By having a function of waiting for the next paper feeding and printing by a count timer until the ink of the printed material fixed (hereinafter referred to as a standby function), after the fixing of the ink of the previous printed material is completed, Output can be performed, and a beautiful printed matter can be provided. Also, enable or disable the function to wait for printing by a command from the host computer,
The standby time can be freely set by the command from the host computer, and the standby can be canceled by the key operation of the printing device during the standby, and the standby function can be operated by the user. Functions can be flexibly operated.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 1, the printing system according to the present invention includes a printing apparatus 101, a host computer 102 (including a host computer input unit 114),
It comprises a bidirectional communication line 103.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to the present invention. The printing device 101 is a printing device calculation / control unit 10 for calculating data in the printing device or controlling the printing device.
4. A standby setting 106 for storing the setting of whether to enable or cancel the print standby, a standby time 107 for storing the standby time set by the user, and a standby time timer 108 as a timer for counting the standby time when a standby time is provided. Information storage means RAM 105, an ink type identification unit 109 for reading an ink type ID by an ink type ID, a key operation unit 110 for receiving a key operation for canceling standby from a user during a standby time, a host computer, The printer main body includes a printer bidirectional communication interface 111 for inputting / outputting information of the printer, and an ink cartridge 112 including an ink type ID 113 for determining the type of ink.

Further, the host computer 102 receives the setting time of the waiting time from the user, and enables or cancels the setting of the waiting time.
A host computer bi-directional communication interface 116 for calculating input information from a user and inputting / outputting printing apparatus information through the bi-directional communication line 103 and a host computer calculation / control unit 115 for controlling the host computer
Consists of

FIG. 3 shows an operation procedure for setting a standby time of the printing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus determines whether a standby function setting (whether the standby function is enabled or disabled) is performed by a command from the input unit 114 of the host computer 102 (S10). The information of validity or invalidity is stored in the standby function setting 106 of the RAM 105 of the printing apparatus (S11).
Further, it is determined whether the standby time has been set by a command from the input unit 114 of the host computer 102 (S12). If the time has not been set, the process goes to S10 and returns to the data reception waiting state. If the time has been set, it is determined whether or not the contents of the standby setting 105 are in the valid state (S13).
And returns to the data reception waiting state. If it is in the valid state, the time set by the command is stored in the standby time 107 of the RAM 105 (S14).

FIG. 4 shows an operation procedure for providing a waiting time after the printing apparatus discharges paper in the embodiment of the present invention. In the printing apparatus 101, the ink type ID 113 of the ink cartridge 112
Is read, and it is determined whether or not the attached ink has poor fixation and requires a waiting time to wait for drying (S
20). If the waiting time is not required for the ink, the normal printing operation is continued (S27. If the waiting time is required for the ink, the ink is stored in the standby function setting 106 of the printing apparatus. Is determined to be in a valid state (S21).

If the setting of the standby function setting 106 has been released, the normal printing operation is continued (S27). If the standby function setting 106 is valid, the standby time 107 is set in the standby time timer 108. And
The printing device calculation / control means 104 of the printing device starts counting down the standby timer 107 (S23), and the standby time elapses. During the lapse of time, it is determined whether a standby cancel command has been transmitted from the key operation unit 110 of the printing apparatus (S24). If the standby has been canceled by key operation, the standby time timer is terminated (S25). Then, the normal printing operation is continued (S27). If the standby is not canceled by the key operation, the process returns from S24 until the standby time timer 108 expires (S26). When the standby time count timer expires, the operation returns to the normal printing operation (S2).
7).

[0012]

When printing using ink with poor fixation is performed, immediately after output, when print data is transmitted, the next sheet feeding and printing are performed by the count timer until the ink of the previously output printed matter is fixed. By having the function of waiting, after the fixing of the ink of the previous printed matter is completed, the next printed matter can be output, and a beautiful printed matter can be provided. In addition, it is possible to enable or disable the function to wait for printing by a command from the host computer, freely set the waiting time by a command from the host computer, and to execute it by key operation of the printing device during standby. Can be canceled, the operation of the standby function according to the user's will is realized, and the standby function can be flexibly operated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation procedure for setting a standby time of a printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an operation procedure for providing a standby time after the printing apparatus has performed paper ejection.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 101 printing device 102 host computer 103 bidirectional communication line 104 printing device: printing device calculation / control means 105 printing device: RAM 106 printing device: standby setting 107 printing device: standby time 108 printing device: standby time timer 109 printing device: ink Type determination unit 110 Printing device: key operation unit 111 Printing device: printing device bidirectional communication interface 112 printing device: ink cartridge unit 113 printing device: ink type ID 114 host computer: host computer input unit 115 host computer: host computer calculation Control unit 116 Host computer: Host computer bidirectional communication interface

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A control operation means for calculating and controlling print data, a standby setting for storing setting information for enabling or canceling a standby function, a standby time for storing standby time information, and a standby time timer for measuring a standby time. RAM of information storage means including
A printing device main unit including a key operation unit for inputting cancellation of a standby during execution, an ink type determination unit, and a printing device bidirectional communication interface for inputting and outputting information to and from a host computer; ID by ink type
A printing apparatus having an ink cartridge section including: a host computer input section and a host computer calculation control section for inputting setting of a standby function and setting of a standby time;
A printing system comprising a host computer including a host computer bidirectional communication interface for inputting and outputting information to and from a printing apparatus. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the ink attached to the printing apparatus is ink having poor fixation, when the next print data is to be transmitted immediately after outputting a printed material, A printing system having a function of waiting for the next sheet feeding and printing until the ink of the printed matter printed on the sheet is fixed. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein a function for waiting for paper feeding and printing is enabled and disabled. 4. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein, if the function of waiting for sheet feeding and printing is set to be valid, the waiting time can be set freely. 5. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the setting for enabling or canceling the function of waiting for paper feeding and printing can be performed by a command from a host computer. 6. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein, while feeding and printing are in standby, the standby in execution can be canceled by a key operation of the printing apparatus.