JP2003246129A - Printer, computer program, computer system and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a printer in which the print sheet, the ink and the time can be prevented from being wasted due to mismatch between a print sheet set by a user and a print sheet set in a printer. <P>SOLUTION: The printer comprises means for judging the type of a print sheet, and means for informing a user of an event to be informed upon occurrence thereof wherein the type of a sheet being used is set by the user. When the type of a print sheet set by the user is different from the type of a print sheet judged by the judging means, that even is informed by the informing means and dealt with by informing the fact that the print sheet can be replaced, printing suitable for the judged print sheet can be carried out, and printing can be stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device, a computer program, a computer system, and a printing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various manufacturers provide various types of print sheets for use in printing apparatuses such as inkjet printers. It is up to the user to decide which of these print sheets is used for printing. Further, recently, there has been provided a printing apparatus that includes a determination device that determines the type of a print sheet set in the printing apparatus and that prints according to the determined type of the print sheet.

[0003]

However, for example, when printing document data of which the image quality is acceptable, the surface treatment is performed so as to obtain the high image quality used when the image was previously printed by the same printing device. If expensive printing sheets such as glossy paper are set, printing without checking the type of printing sheets set by the user causes expensive glossing even though it is document data. There is a problem in that expensive printed sheets are wastefully consumed because they are printed on paper.

Even when the user designates a surface-treated print sheet such as glossy paper to print a high-quality image such as a photographic image and executes printing, the printing apparatus is There is a problem that plain paper or the like is set, a desired high-quality image cannot be obtained, and ink, a print sheet, and time are wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print sheet and ink due to a mismatch between the print sheet designated by the user and the print sheet set in the printing apparatus. And a printing apparatus that prevents waste of time, a computer program that causes the printing apparatus to print, a computer system that includes the printing apparatus, and a printing method.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention mainly comprises a discriminating means for discriminating the type of print sheet, and a notifying means for notifying the user of an event to be reported to the user. In the printing device in which the type of the print sheet used by the user is set, when the type of the print sheet set by the user and the type of the print sheet determined by the determination means are different, The notification means notifies that this event and, as a coping method against the event, that the print sheet can be replaced, printing suitable for the determined print sheet, and printing can be stopped. A printing device characterized by the following. Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following description.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION === Summary of Disclosure === By the description in the detailed description of the invention in the present specification,
At least the following is revealed.

Determination means for determining the type of print sheet,
When an event to be notified to the user occurs, a notification device that notifies the user of the event is provided, and in the printing device in which the type of print sheet used by the user is set, the user sets When the type of the printed sheet and the type of the printed sheet discriminated by the discriminating means are different from each other, the notification means causes this event, and as a coping method against the event, the printing sheet is replaced, The printing apparatus notifies that it is possible to execute printing suitable for the printed sheet and to stop printing. According to such a printing apparatus, when the type of the print sheet set by the user and the type of the print sheet discriminated by the discriminating means are different from each other, the phenomenon and the coping method are also described by the user. It becomes possible to notify.

In such a printing apparatus, it is desirable that the respective countermeasures be notified at once. According to such a printing apparatus, the user can know the coping method that can be dealt with at one time from the notified information.

In such a printing apparatus, it is desirable that a selection means for a user to select each of the coping methods is provided. According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to notify the user of the coping method and simultaneously provide the selecting means.

In such a printing apparatus, when it is selected to replace the print sheet as the coping method, the type of the print sheet that has been set and a message prompting that the print sheet be replaced are informed. Is desirable.
According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to know the type of the printing sheet to be replaced by simply selecting the replacement of the printing sheet, and the user can smoothly perform the replacement operation of the printing sheet. It will be possible.

In such a printing apparatus, the discrimination means includes a light emitting portion that emits light toward a printing sheet, a regular reflection light receiving portion that mainly receives a regular reflection component of the light reflected by the printing sheet, and the reflection portion. A diffuse reflection light receiving unit for receiving a diffuse reflection component of light is used, and the type of the printing sheet according to the surface glossiness using the light receiving amount of the diffuse reflection light receiving unit and the light receiving amount of the regular reflection light receiving unit are used. It is desirable to discriminate the type of the printing sheet according to the thickness. According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to notify the user of the difference in glossiness and thickness of the print sheet as the difference in the type of the print sheet.

Further, in the printing apparatus, the notifying means may display the event on a display unit provided in the printing apparatus. According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to clearly notify the user of the phenomenon by displaying the difference in the type of print sheet on the display unit.

Further, in the printing apparatus, the notifying means may display the event on a display unit of a computer to which the printing apparatus is connected. According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to notify the user of the difference in the types of print sheets without providing the printing apparatus with a particular notifying unit.

Further, in such a printing apparatus, it is desirable to discharge the discriminated recording sheet when the user stops printing based on the notification. According to such a printing device, without any special operation,
Since the print sheets that are not used for printing are ejected, it is possible to immediately set the print sheets that should be used.

Further, such a printing apparatus has a print sheet exchange detection means, and when the exchange detection means detects that the user has exchanged the print sheet based on the notification, the exchange is performed. It is desirable to discriminate the type of the printing sheet with respect to the printing sheet by the discriminating means. According to such a printing apparatus, after the print sheet is exchanged, the type of the print sheet exchanged by the discriminating unit is discriminated, and the discrimination result is different from the type of the print sheet set by the user. In this case, it becomes possible to notify the user of the event again.

Further, in such a printing apparatus, when a command signal for continuing printing is input after the notification, it is desirable to execute printing suitable for the type of the judged printing sheet. According to such a printing apparatus,
Even if the type of the print sheet set by the user and the type of the print sheet exchanged by the determining means are different from each other, after confirming the user's intention, It becomes possible to execute suitable printing.

Further, there are provided a discriminating means for discriminating the kind of the print sheet, an informing means for informing the user of an event to be informed to the user, and a print sheet exchange detecting means. In the printing apparatus in which the type of print sheet used by the user is set, when the type of print sheet set by the user and the type of print sheet determined by the determination unit are different, As an event, and as a coping method for the event, it is possible to replace the print sheet, perform printing suitable for the determined print sheet, and cancel the printing at once, The notification has a selection unit that allows the user to select the coping method, and when the coping method is to replace the print sheet, the set printing sheet is set. The type and the prompt to replace with the print sheet are notified, and the determination unit mainly receives the specular reflection component of the light emitting section that emits light toward the print sheet and the reflected light of the light by the print sheet. A specular reflection light receiving portion and a diffuse reflection light receiving portion that receives the diffuse reflection component of the reflected light, and the type of the printing sheet according to the surface glossiness using the amount of light received by the diffuse reflection light receiving portion, and the regular reflection light receiving portion. The type of the print sheet is determined according to the thickness using the amount of light received by the reflection light-receiving unit, the notifying unit is screen information displayed on a display unit of a computer to which the printing apparatus is connected, When the user cancels printing based on the notification, the discriminating recording sheet is discharged, and a print sheet replacement detection means is provided, and based on the notification, it is confirmed that the user has replaced the printing sheet. Said When it is detected by the detection unit, the type of the print sheet for the exchanged print sheet is determined by the determination unit, and when a command signal to continue printing is input after the notification, it is determined. The printing apparatus is characterized by executing printing suitable for the type of the printed sheet.

According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to prevent the waste of the printing sheet, the ink and the time due to the mismatch between the printing sheet designated by the user and the printing sheet set in the printing apparatus. The user can perform desired printing on a desired print sheet.

Further, it is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating the kind of the print sheet and a notifying means for notifying the user of an event to be reported to the user, which is used by the user. In the printing device in which the type of print sheet is set, the type of print sheet set by the user and
When the type of the print sheet discriminated by the discriminating unit is different, this event is notified by the notifying unit, and as a coping method for the event, the print sheet is replaced, and printing suitable for the discriminated print sheet is performed. It is also possible to realize a computer program for realizing the function of notifying that it is possible to execute.

Further, the computer main body, the display device connected to the computer main body, and the discriminating means for discriminating the type of the print sheet, and the event to be notified to the user when the event occurs. In a computer system having a printing device in which the type of print sheet used by the user is set, and the type of print sheet set by the user and the printing discriminated by the discriminating unit. When the type of the sheet is different, the notification means is used to deal with this event, and as a coping method for the event, the printing sheet is replaced, printing suitable for the determined printing sheet is executed, and printing is stopped. It is also possible to realize a computer system characterized by notifying that it is possible to do so.

Further, it is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating the kind of the print sheet and a notifying means for notifying the user of an event to be reported to the user, which is used by the user. In the printing method using the printing device in which the type of print sheet is set, the step of comparing the type of print sheet set by the user with the type of print sheet discriminated by the discriminating means, and the comparison result is If there is a difference, this event is reported by the notification means, and
As a method for coping with the phenomenon, the method includes a step of notifying that it is possible to replace the print sheet, execute printing suitable for the determined print sheet, and stop printing. Printing method.

According to such a printing method, when the type of the print sheet set by the user and the type of the print sheet discriminated by the discriminating means are different from each other, the phenomenon and the coping method are dealt with. Can be notified to the user.

=== Schematic Configuration of Printing Apparatus === First, with reference to FIG. 1, a schematic configuration mainly of the outside of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a color printer CP as an example of a printing apparatus. The color printer CP includes a printer body 10 as a printing apparatus body, and a printer body 10
And a roll paper unit 24 that is detachably mounted.

The color printer CP is a printer capable of outputting a color image. For example, four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K) are used as roll paper. And an inkjet printer that forms an image by forming dots by ejecting onto a printing medium. In addition, as color ink,
In addition to the above four colors, light cyan (light cyan, L
C), light magenta (light magenta, LM), and dark yellow (dark yellow, DY) may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer CP
Has a structure for ejecting an object to be printed such as printing paper supplied from the back from the front, an operation panel 11 and a paper ejection unit 12 are provided on the front of the printer body 10, and inside the For example, a paper detection sensor 76 (FIG. 3) that also functions as a print head position detection sensor and a print sheet replacement detection means,
Various sensors (not shown) for detecting the state of the color printer CP and the like, a buzzer 70 (FIG. 3) serving as a notification means to the user are provided, and a paper feeding unit 13 is provided on the back surface. ing. The operation panel 11 is provided with various operation buttons 111, a display lamp 112 for notifying a user of various information, and a display display 113.
The paper output unit 12 is a paper output tray 12 that closes the paper output port when not in use.
1 is provided. The paper feed unit 13 includes a paper feed holder 131 that holds cut paper (not shown) and roll paper unit holders 20 and 21 that hold a roll paper unit 24. As the print sheet, the sheet feeding holder 131 includes sheet members having various printable materials and surface states such as matte paper, plain paper, glossy paper, and OHP sheet, and print sheets having various thicknesses. It is possible to set and feed. In addition, the roll paper unit 24
In this case, sheet members having various printable materials and surface states and sheet members having various thicknesses are wound around the core material and supplied from the paper feeding unit 13.

=== Internal Structure of Color Printer CP ==
= Next, the internal configuration of the color printer CP will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the color printer CP according to this embodiment.

The color printer CP, as shown,
Print heads IH1 to IH4 mounted on the carriage 28
And a mechanism for driving ink to eject ink and form dots,
The carriage 28 includes a mechanism that reciprocates the carriage 28 in the axial direction of the platen 42, a paper feed motor 31 that conveys the printing roll paper 32 supplied from the roll paper unit 24, and a control circuit 50. is doing.

A mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 28 in the axial direction of the platen 42 is installed in parallel with the shaft of the platen 42, and a sliding shaft 44 for slidably holding the carriage 28.
And the endless drive belt 4 between the carriage motor 30 and
It is composed of a pulley 46 and the like on which 5 is stretched.

The mechanism for conveying the printing roll paper 32 supplied from the roll paper unit 24 includes a platen 42, a paper feed motor 31 for rotating the platen 42, a paper feed auxiliary roller (not shown), and a paper feed motor 31. It has a gear mechanism 48 that transmits the rotation to the platen 42 and the paper feed auxiliary roller, and an encoder 47 that detects the rotation angle of the platen 42. In addition, the contact 1 is provided on the printer body 10 so as to face the contact 201 provided on the roll paper unit holder 20.
01 is provided.

The control circuit 50 is the operation panel 1 of the printer.
When a print command signal is input from the personal computer 1 or a connected personal computer, the movements of the paper feed motor 31, the carriage motor 30, and the print heads IH1 to IH4 are appropriately controlled. Roll paper unit holder 2 for color printer CP
The printing roll paper 32 of the roll paper unit 24 held by 0 and 21 is set so as to be sandwiched between the platen 42 and the paper feed auxiliary roller, and is fed by a predetermined amount according to the rotation angle of the platen 42.

The carriage 28 has print heads IH1 to IH4 having a large number of nozzles, and the print head IH1.
The cartridge mounting portion 18 provided integrally with the IH4 is fixed, and the ink cartridge INC1 and the ink cartridge INC2 are mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 18. The ink cartridge INC2 contains black (K) ink, and the ink cartridge INC1 contains other inks, that is, three color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), dark yellow (D)
As described above, the ink of Y) can also be stored. Further, a reflection type optical sensor 29, which will be described later, is mounted on a side portion of the carriage 28 in the main scanning direction, which constitutes a printing sheet discriminating device.

=== Internal Structure of Control Circuit 50 === Next, referring to FIG. 3, the control circuit 50 of the color printer CP is shown.
The internal configuration of will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the control circuit 50 of the color printer CP according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the control circuit 50, a buffer memory 51 for receiving a signal supplied from a computer 90 having a display 90a as a display means, and an image buffer 5 for storing print data.
2, a system controller 54 that controls the overall operation of the color printer CP, a main memory 56, and an EEPR.
OM58 and. The system controller 54 further includes a main scanning drive circuit 61 that drives the carriage motor 30, a sub-scanning drive circuit 62 that drives the paper feed motor 31, a head drive circuit 63 that drives the print heads IH1 to IH4, and a reflection. Emitting Unit 3 of Mold Optical Sensor 29
8, a specular reflection light receiving unit 40, a diffuse reflection light receiving unit 41 for controlling the reflection type optical sensor control circuit 65, the display lamp 112 as a means for notifying the user, the display 11
3. A notification means control circuit 72 for controlling the buzzer 70 and a paper detection sensor control circuit 74 for controlling the paper detection sensor 76 are connected. In addition, the reflection type optical sensor control circuit 6
The reference numeral 5 includes an electric signal measuring unit 66 for measuring an electric signal converted from the reflected light received by the specular reflection light receiving unit 40 and the diffuse reflection light receiving unit 41. Further, the reflection type optical sensor control circuit 65 includes a light emission control unit 64 capable of controlling the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting unit 38 based on the amount of light received by the regular reflection light receiving unit 40.

The print data transferred from the computer 90 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 51. In the color printer CP, the system controller 54 reads necessary information from the print data from the buffer memory 51, and based on this, the main scanning drive circuit 61, the sub-scanning drive circuit 62, and the head drive circuit 63 are read. Send a control signal.

The image buffer 52 stores print data of a plurality of color components received by the buffer memory 51. The head drive circuit 63 is the system controller 5
The print data of each color component is read from the image buffer 52 in accordance with the control signal from No. 4, and the nozzle arrays of each color provided in the print heads IH1 to IH4 are driven accordingly.

When the control circuit 50 detects the output signals from the various sensors provided in the printing apparatus, the control circuit 50 executes the processing set by the predetermined control means. For example, the reflection-type optical sensor control circuit 6 is based on the output signal of the reflection-type optical sensor 29 as the print sheet discrimination means.
5, the type of print sheet is determined, and when the determined type of print sheet and the type of print sheet specified by the user are different, the display lamp 112, the display display 113, the buzzer 70, etc. The notification means executes a process of notifying the user of the event. The method of discriminating the print sheet and the post-discrimination processing such as notification to the user will be described later.

=== Structural Example of Reflective Optical Sensor === FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the reflective optical sensor 29. The reflective optical sensor 29 is the carriage 28.
And a specular reflection light receiving portion 40 and a diffuse reflection light receiving portion 41 formed of, for example, phototransistors.

The light emitted from the light emitting section 38 is set so as to irradiate the printing sheet P as a printing sheet at a predetermined angle, and the specular reflection light receiving section 40 is set on the printing sheet P. It is arranged at a position where mainly the specular reflection component of the reflected light emitted is incident. Here, when a thick glossy paper is set as the printing paper P, it is installed on the reflection optical path so that the specular reflection component enters the specular reflection light receiving unit 40. Further, the diffuse reflection light receiving section 41 includes a light emitting section 38,
An intermediate position with respect to the regular reflection light receiving unit 40, that is, a position vertically above the irradiation position of the printing paper P, these light emitting units 38,
The regular reflection light receiving portion 40 and the diffuse reflection light receiving portion 41 are arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction. The incident light received by the specular reflection light receiving unit 40 and the diffuse reflection light receiving unit 41 is converted into an electric signal, and the magnitude of the electric signal is output as the output value of the light receiving sensor according to the light amount of the received reflected light. Is measured.

In the above, as shown in the figure, the light emitting portion 38, the regular reflection light receiving portion 40, and the diffuse reflection light receiving portion 4 are provided.
Although 1 and 1 are integrated into the reflective optical sensor 29, they may be configured as separate devices such as a light emitting device and two light receiving devices.

Further, in the above description, in order to obtain the light quantity of the received reflected light, the magnitude of the electric signal is measured after converting the reflected light into an electric signal, but the present invention is not limited to this. It suffices that the output value of the light receiving sensor can be measured according to the amount of received reflected light.

==== Principle of Discrimination by Reflective Optical Sensor === FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a reflected state of light emitted from the light emitting portion 38 of the reflective optical sensor 29.

FIG. 5A shows a case where light is applied to a matte printing sheet having a rough surface such as matte paper or plain paper. The light with high directivity emitted from the light emitting unit 38 is diffused when it is applied to the matte paper or the like, and the amount of reflected light incident on the specular reflection light receiving unit 40 installed on the reflection optical path is
Significantly less than the irradiation light. At this time, a considerable amount of the diffused reflected light is received by the diffuse reflection / light receiving unit 41 installed vertically above the irradiation position.

On the other hand, in the case of a glossy printing sheet having a high surface smoothness such as glossy paper and OHP sheet, FIG.
As shown in (b), contrary to the case of the mat type printing sheet, most of the light emitted from the light emitting section 38 is specularly reflected by the printing sheet and is incident on the specular reflection light receiving section 40 to be diffusely reflected. A small amount of diffused light is incident on the light receiving section 41. Particularly, in the case of the OHP sheet, the diffuse reflection component is extremely small, and the amount of light incident on the diffuse reflection light receiving section 41 is almost zero. FIG. 6 shows outputs of the diffuse reflection / light receiving unit 41 for four types of printing sheets, that is, matte paper, plain paper, glossy paper, and OHP sheet. The vertical axis represents the ratio of the output of the diffuse reflection light receiver 41 to the output of the regular reflection light receiver 40, and the horizontal axis represents the distance between the reflective optical sensor 29 and the print sheet. As shown in the drawing, the reflective optical sensor 29 is arranged so that the distance between the reflective optical sensor 29 and the print sheet is, for example, point L in the figure, and the threshold value is A,
By setting B and C, it is possible to distinguish four types of print sheets.

Since the specular reflection light receiving section 40 of this embodiment is installed on the reflection optical path on which the specular reflection light of the thick glossy paper is incident, when the thick glossy printing sheet is set, When the amount of received light becomes large and a thin glossy printing sheet is set, the amount of received light deviates from the specular reflection optical path by the printing sheet, and thus the amount of received light is significantly reduced. Therefore, the thickness discrimination threshold for discriminating between the thick print sheet and the thin print sheet is determined by the amount of light received by the specular reflection light receiving unit 40 of the light reflected by the thick print sheet and the thin print sheet. The reflected light is set between the amount of light received by the regular reflection light receiver 40. In the present embodiment, the thickness determination threshold value of the matte printing sheet is D, and the thickness determination threshold value of the glossy printing sheet is E.

=== Discrimination Operation by Print Sheet Discrimination Device === Next, an example of a print sheet discrimination operation using the color printer CP will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of discriminating a print sheet.

To determine the print sheet, the color printer CP is used.
The printing operation is performed immediately after the paper is fed in the series of printing operations. When the system controller 54 of the color printer CP receives the print command signal from the computer 90 operated by the user, the main scanning drive circuit 61 drives the carriage motor 30 to move the carriage 28 to a predetermined position, and then the sub-scanner. The scanning drive circuit 62 controls the paper feed motor 31.
Is driven, the printing roll paper 32 is fed, conveyed to a predetermined position, and stopped. At this time, the carriage 28 moves to a position outside the non-printing area, that is, above the printing roll paper 32 to be fed, and the reflective optical sensor 29 provided on the side portion of the carriage 28 is conveyed to the platen. Four
It moves so as to be located above the printing roll paper 32 placed on the sheet 2. On the other hand, the tip of the printing roll paper 32 is
The printing roll paper 32 is placed on the platen 42 after passing through a position where the light emitted from the light emitting portion 38 of the reflective optical sensor 29 is irradiated.

When the printing roll paper 32 is placed on the platen 42, the control circuit 50 causes the light emitting section 38 to emit light. The diffused component of the light reflected by the printing roll paper 32 is received by the diffuse reflection light receiver 41. The control circuit 50 detects the light receiving amount Q1 of the diffuse reflection light receiving unit 41 and the light receiving amount Q2 of the regular reflection light receiving unit 40, and then detects the first light receiving amount shown in FIG.
The type discrimination threshold B is compared (S101). At this time, when the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the amount of received light is larger than the threshold value B of the type determination, it is determined to be a mat type print sheet, and the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the amount of received light is smaller than the type determination threshold value B. In this case, it is determined that the print sheet is glossy (S10).
2). Further, for a print sheet that is determined to be a glossy print sheet, it is compared with the type determination threshold value C shown in FIG. 6 (S114), and the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the amount of received light is the type determination threshold value C.
If it is detected to be smaller and very close to 0,
The sheet is identified as an OHP sheet (S119).

Among the print sheets judged to be glossy print sheets, the print sheet having the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the received light amount larger than the type determination threshold value C is the received light amount Q2 of the regular reflection light receiving portion 40 and the thickness determination threshold value E. And are compared (S115). As a result of comparison, when the received light amount Q2 is larger than the thickness determination threshold value E, it is determined to be a thick glossy print sheet as described above (S117), and the received light amount Q2 is greater than the thickness determination threshold value E. If it is small, it is determined to be a thin glossy print sheet (S118).

Further, the ratio Q1 / Q2 between the light receiving amount Q1 of the diffuse reflection light receiving part 41 and the light receiving amount Q2 of the regular reflection light receiving part 40 is larger than the type discrimination threshold B, and it is discriminated as a mat type print sheet. And (S102), the amount of light received by the specular reflection light receiving portion Q2
And the thickness determination threshold D are compared (S103). As a result of comparison, if the received light amount Q2 is larger than the thickness determination threshold D, it is determined to be a thick matte print sheet, and if the received light amount Q2 is smaller than the thickness determination threshold D, it is thin. It is determined that the sheet is a matte print sheet (S104).

If it is determined that the sheet is a thick matte print sheet, the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the light receiving amount Q1 of the diffuse reflection light receiving unit 41 and the light reception amount Q2 of the regular reflection light receiving unit 40, and the second type determination threshold value A. Are compared (S105). At this time, when the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the amount of received light is larger than the threshold value A for determining the type, it is determined that the matte paper is thick (S107), and the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the amount of received light is determined based on the threshold value A for the type determination. If it is smaller, it is determined to be thick plain paper (S108).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the sheet is a thin matte printing sheet, the light emission amount of the light emitting section 38 is adjusted (S1).
09). This is because in the case of a thin print sheet, the distance between the print sheet to be discriminated and the reflection-type optical sensor 29 becomes wider, so that the light quantity is reduced and the SN ratio is lowered, and the light quantity difference between the matte paper and the plain paper is reduced. This is to prevent unclearness. Therefore, the light emission control unit 64 adjusts the output of the light emitting unit 38 based on the output of the regular reflection light receiving unit 40 so that the amount of regular reflection light equivalent to the amount of regular reflection light of the thick matte printing sheet is obtained.

After adjusting the output of the light emitting portion 38, the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the amount of received light is compared with the second type discrimination threshold A (S110). At this time, when the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the amount of received light is larger than the threshold value A for determining the type, it is determined that the mat paper is thin (S112), and the ratio Q1 / Q2 of the amount of received light of the type determination threshold value A If it is smaller, it is determined that the plain paper is thin (S113).

According to the color printer CP equipped with the printing sheet discriminating apparatus of this embodiment, the printing sheet discriminating apparatus light emitting portion 38, the regular reflection light receiving portion 40, and the diffuse reflection light receiving portion 41 have a simple structure. Paper, plain paper, glossy paper, O
Not only the type of HP sheet but also the thickness can be determined. As a result, printing can be performed according to the type and thickness of the print sheet, and higher quality images can be printed.

In the present embodiment, the print sheet discrimination position is described as one position. However, by moving the carriage 28 or transporting the printing roll paper 32,
It is possible to improve the determination accuracy by changing the determination point and performing the determination at a plurality of points.

==== Operation of Printing Apparatus Based on Discrimination Result === Next, an example of a method of notifying a user by the color printer CP according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the type of paper as a print sheet set by the user and the operation of the color printer CP after being discriminated by the discriminating means.

Printing by the color printer CP is executed by a print command signal from the computer 90 connected to this color printer CP (S201). At this time, from the computer 90, together with the print command signal,
Information indicating the print mode set by the user, such as high-definition mode, clean mode, fast mode, and the types of paper to be printed such as matte paper, plain paper, glossy paper, OHP sheets and their thickness and size. And the print data obtained by converting the image to be printed into the data suitable for the print mode and the type of paper are transmitted to the color printer CP.

Upon receiving the print command signal and the like, the color printer CP feeds the loaded paper, and the type of the fed paper is discriminated by the printing sheet discrimination means (S202). When the determined paper type and the paper type received by the user together with the print command signal match (S203), a predetermined printing operation is executed (S207). When the determined paper type is different from the paper type set by the user, the control circuit 50 sends a signal indicating this event to the color printer C.
P is sent to the connected computer 90, and a warning screen for notifying the event is displayed on the display 90a of the computer 90 (S204).

FIG. 9 shows an example of the warning screen. On this warning screen, for example, the type of paper loaded in the color printer CP (A5 glossy paper), the set paper type (A4 plain paper), and a warning message indicating that they are different, As a coping method for this event, three options are displayed at one time on one screen. The options include, for example, "paper replacement" indicating that the paper loaded in the color printer CP is to be replaced, and "print data matching the loaded paper" indicating that printing suitable for the determined print sheet is executed. Change ”,“ print stop ”indicating that the print is stopped, and the like.

Further, these options are laid out on the screen as radio buttons, and the user can select a desired coping method by operating the radio button displayed on the display 90a with a mouse or the like. It is possible to select.

When the user selects "paper replacement" (S205), the paper that has been fed is ejected (S209), and a notification screen prompting the user to replace the paper is displayed on the display 90a (S210). ). FIG. 10 shows an example of the notification screen. For example, the type of paper to be loaded in the color printer, that is, the set paper type (A4 plain paper) and a message prompting the loading of the paper to be loaded are displayed on the notification screen. Further, on this notification screen, a radio button such as "OK" for laying out a signal indicating the event that the paper has been replaced by the printer after the user has replaced the paper is laid out.
When this radio button is operated, the exchanged paper is fed, the discrimination processing is executed (S202), and the printing processing described above is executed (S203 to S210). In the present embodiment, an example of inputting the exchange of the paper by the radio button has been shown, but the determination processing of the exchanged paper is executed by using the signal of the paper detection sensor or the like capable of detecting the loading and the removal of the paper. I don't mind.

When the user selects "change print data according to the loaded paper" (S2
05), the print data received together with the print command signal is converted into print data for executing the print processing suitable for the determined print sheet (S206), and the print processing is executed (S207). This conversion of print data
The table shows selection of a look-up table according to the type of print sheet, and well-known rasterizing processing by a predetermined algorithm performed to execute interlaced printing.

When the user selects "stop printing" (S205), the control circuit 50 causes the paper feed motor 31 to move.
Is driven to discharge the determined sheet (S208).

In the present embodiment, the notification means is the screen information displayed on the display 90a of the computer 90 to which the color printer CP is connected, but the display display 113 of the color printer CP is provided with an input means such as a touch panel. It may be configured.

Further, if the print mode and the name of the manufacturer of the print sheet and the recommended print sheet discrimination data suitable for this print mode etc. are stored in advance in the memory in the color printer CP in association with each other, the color printer Even when the print sheet set in the CP does not conform to the set print mode, or when the manufacturers of the print sheet are different, it is possible to notify the user of the event.

=== Other Embodiments === The printing apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on one embodiment. However, the above-described embodiment of the invention facilitates understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

A printer having a printer body according to the above-described embodiment and a printing medium unit detachably attached to the printer body, a computer body, a display device such as a CRT, an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard, and a flexible drive device. , And a computer system equipped with a CD-ROM drive device can also be realized, and the computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

In the printer having the printer body according to the above-described embodiment and the printing medium unit detachably mounted on the printer body, the computer body, the display device,
Input device, flexible disk drive device, and
The CD-ROM drive device may have a part of the function or mechanism of each. For example, as a configuration in which the printer has an image processing unit for performing image processing, a display unit for performing various displays, and a recording medium attaching / detaching unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium recording image data captured by a digital camera or the like, Good.

[0069]

According to the present invention, the printing apparatus, which prevents the waste of the printing sheet, the ink, and the time due to the mismatch between the printing sheet set by the user and the printing sheet set in the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus is provided. It is possible to realize a computer program for printing on, a computer system having this printing apparatus, and a printing method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color printer CP according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a color printer CP according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control circuit 50 of the color printer CP according to this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a reflective optical sensor 29.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a difference in reflected light depending on a printing sheet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the difference in the amount of light received by the reflective optical sensor 29 for each type of print sheet.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining a print sheet by a determination device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the type of print sheet set by the user and the operation of the color printer CP after the discrimination by the discrimination unit.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a warning display by the computer 90.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a notification display by the computer 90.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Printer Main Body 11 Operation Panel 111 Operation Button 112 Display Lamp 113 Display Display 12 Paper Ejection Section 121 Paper Ejection Tray 13 Paper Feeding Section 131 Paper Feeding Holder 18 Cartridge Mounting Section 20, 21 Roll Paper Unit Holder 201 Contact 202 Transmitting / Receiving Section 24 Roll Paper Unit 28 Carriage 29 Reflection type optical sensor 30 Carriage motor 31 Paper feed motor 32 Roll paper for printing 33 Storage element 38 Light emitting part 40 Regular reflection light receiving part 41 Diffuse reflection light receiving part 42 Platen 44 Sliding shaft 45 Drive belt 46 Pulley 47 Encoder 48 Gear mechanism 50 Control circuit 51 Buffer memory 52 Image buffer 54 System controller 56 Main memory 58 EEP
ROM 61 main scanning drive circuit 62 sub-scanning drive unit 63 head drive circuit 64 light emission control unit 65 reflective optical sensor control circuit 66 electrical signal measuring unit 70 buzzer 72 notification means control circuit 74 paper detection sensor control circuit 76 paper detection sensor 90 computer 90a Display CP Color printer INC1, INC2 Ink cartridges IH1, IH2, IH3, IH4 Print head

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AQ05 AR01 HK07 HV12                       HV33                 3F048 AA05 AB01 BA06 BB02 BC03                       DA08 DC14                 3F343 FA02 FB02 FB04 FB05 FC29                       KB07 KB20 LA04 LC19 LC20                       MA00 MA03 MB19 MC27 MC28

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A discriminating unit for discriminating a type of a print sheet and a notifying unit for notifying the user of an event to be reported to the user, which is used by the user. In the printing apparatus in which the type of print sheet is set, when the type of print sheet set by the user and the type of print sheet determined by the determination unit are different, this event is generated by the notification unit, and As a method of coping with the event, replacing the print sheet,
A printing apparatus, which notifies that it is possible to perform printing suitable for a determined print sheet and to stop printing. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the coping methods is notified at once. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that allows a user to select one of the coping methods. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the replacement of the print sheets is selected as the coping method, the set print sheet type and
A printing apparatus, which is informed that the print sheet should be replaced. 5. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit mainly includes a light emitting unit that emits light toward a print sheet, and light reflected by the print sheet. The printing sheet according to the surface glossiness using a specular reflection light receiving unit that receives a specular reflection component and a diffuse reflection light receiving unit that receives the diffuse reflection component of the reflected light, and that uses the amount of light received by the diffuse reflection light receiving unit. And the type of the printing sheet according to the thickness using the amount of light received by the specular reflection light receiving unit. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit displays the event on a display unit included in the printing apparatus. 7. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit displays the event on a display unit of a computer to which the printing device is connected. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the user stops printing based on the notification, the determined recording sheet is discharged. Printing device. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print sheet replacement detection unit, wherein the user has replaced the print sheet based on the notification. A printing apparatus, wherein the type of print sheet is discriminated by the discriminating means for the exchanged print sheet when detected by the detecting means. 10. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein when a command signal to continue printing is input after the notification, the type of print sheet is determined. A printing apparatus, which performs suitable printing. 11. A discriminating means for discriminating the type of print sheet, a notifying means for notifying the user of an event to be reported to the user, and a print sheet exchange detecting means. In the printing apparatus in which the type of print sheet used by the user is set, when the type of print sheet set by the user and the type of print sheet determined by the determination unit are different, As an event and a coping method for the event,
It informs at once that it is possible to replace the print sheet, execute printing suitable for the determined print sheet, and stop printing, and the notification indicates that the user selects the coping method. If possible to replace the print sheet is selected as the coping method having a possible selection means, the type of the print sheet that has been set and a message prompting that the print sheet be replaced is notified, The discriminating means receives a light emitting portion that emits light toward the printing sheet, a regular reflection light receiving portion that mainly receives a regular reflection component of the light reflected by the printing sheet, and a diffuse reflection component of the reflected light. A diffuse reflection / light-receiving unit, the type of the printing sheet according to the surface glossiness using the light-receiving amount of the diffuse-reflection light-receiving unit, and the printing according to the thickness using the light-receiving amount of the regular reflection light-receiving unit Sheet seed The notification means is screen information displayed on the display unit of the computer to which the printing device is connected. Based on the notification, when the user cancels printing, it is determined. When the recording sheet is discharged and the print sheet replacement detection means is provided and the user detects that the print sheet has been replaced by the replacement detection means based on the notification, the print sheet that has been replaced is The type of print sheet is discriminated by the discriminating means, and when a command signal to continue printing is input after the notification, printing suitable for the discriminated type of print sheet is executed. Printing device. 12. A discriminating unit for discriminating a type of a print sheet and a notifying unit for notifying the user of an event to be reported to the user, which is used by the user. In the printing device in which the type of print sheet is set, when the type of print sheet set by the user is different from the type of print sheet determined by the determination unit, this event is generated by the notification unit, and
A computer program for realizing a function of notifying that it is possible to replace the print sheet, execute printing suitable for the determined print sheet, or stop printing as a coping method against the phenomenon. . 13. A computer main body, a display device connected to the computer main body, and a discriminating means for discriminating the type of print sheet, and when an event to be notified to the user occurs, the event is notified to the user. In a computer system having a printing device in which the type of print sheet used by the user is set, the type of print sheet set by the user and the printing discriminated by the discriminating unit. If the type of sheet is different, the notification means causes this event, and as a coping method for the event, the print sheet is replaced.
A computer system characterized by notifying that it is possible to execute printing suitable for the determined print sheet and to stop printing. 14. A print sheet is provided by a user, which comprises a discriminating means for discriminating the type of print sheet and a notifying means for notifying the user of an event to be reported to the user. In the printing method using the printing device in which the type of print sheet is set, the step of comparing the type of print sheet set by the user with the type of print sheet discriminated by the discriminating means, and the comparison result is In the case of a difference, this event by the notification means, and as a coping method for the event,
A printing method, comprising: notifying that it is possible to replace the printing sheet, execute printing suitable for the determined printing sheet, and stop printing.