JP2005038277A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system or the like which never stays printing processing by determining a storage medium in reference to history information when storage medium information cannot be requested from a media center. <P>SOLUTION: In this system, use history of media is retained. When the latest media information cannot be acquired, the past history is referred to, the kind of media with the highest frequency of use of the referred past history is determined as a media kind, and generation process of print data is performed based on the determined media kind. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system that automatically determines the type of a recording medium (paper) to be printed and automatically sets a printing mode suitable for the recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing system generally includes a color printer that enables color output, a host computer that controls the printer to generate print data, and a communication interface that connects both of them. Among color printers, inkjet printers use a variety of recording media (media) depending on the application. For example, for plain paper used in copiers, coated paper with a coating of silica etc. on the surface to prevent ink bleeding and improve color development, to form photographic images such as silver salt photographs There are a wide variety of recording media such as glossy paper used, OHP film for transparent originals, transfer paper for iron printing, and back print film. When printing on these recording media, the user selects the type of recording medium to be printed in advance from the print settings on the printer driver, and performs appropriate printing based on the settings.

Recently, printers equipped with sensors called media sensors that automatically determine the type of recording medium have been considered. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a host acquires paper information from a printer and obtains printing conditions based on the acquired paper information. In this case, however, the paper information is acquired from the printer during a printing operation or the like. The situation that cannot be considered is not considered.
JP 2001-105675 A

  However, the conventional techniques described above have the following problems.

  In a general inkjet printer not equipped with a media sensor, a user needs to select and set the type of recording medium to be printed on a print setting user interface (hereinafter abbreviated as UI) in advance. there were. Factors include the complexity of selecting the desired recording medium type from among a large number of options, misconfigurations that are different from the selection intention, and the fact that the user does not have sufficient knowledge about the recording medium to be printed. Printing suitable for the type of recording medium may not be possible.

  In order to solve a part of the above problems, a printer has been devised that is equipped with a media sensor capable of specifying the type of recording medium and automatically sets a print mode suitable for the recording medium. It became a problem. That is, when the print mode is automatically set, the information can be requested when the recording medium information cannot be requested from the media sensor because the printer is performing a printing operation or the interface is not capable of bidirectional communication. In the meantime, the printing process is stagnant.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system or the like that determines a recording medium with reference to history information when recording medium information cannot be requested from a media sensor and does not stagnate printing processing. .

A discrimination information generating step for generating discrimination information for discriminating the type of the recording medium set in the printing apparatus;
A recording medium information acquisition step for determining the recording medium information based on the acquired result when the determination information can be acquired, and determining the recording medium information from the history when the determination is impossible;
A history storage step for leaving the recording medium information determined in the recording medium information acquisition step in the history;
A computer-readable control program comprising: a step of automatically performing print settings based on the recording medium information determined in the recording medium information acquisition step.

  That is, the technical contents of the present invention can solve the above-described problems by including the following configuration.

  (1) Discrimination information generating means for generating discrimination information for discriminating the type of the recording medium set in the printing apparatus, which is composed of a printing apparatus that prints on the recording medium, and the recording medium information based on the discrimination information Recording medium information acquisition means for determining the recording medium, print setting means for performing print settings suitable for the recording medium, and recording medium information history storage means for storing the recording medium usage history. A printing system that performs print settings suitable for a stored usage history and a recording medium determined by a recording medium information acquisition unit.

  (2) The printing system characterized in that the discrimination information generating means generates discrimination information for discriminating the type of the recording medium set in the printing apparatus.

  (3) The printing system, wherein the recording medium information acquisition unit determines the recording medium information by communicating with the printing apparatus and acquiring the determination information generated by the determination information generation unit of the printing apparatus.

  (4) The recording medium information is a printing apparatus that can determine a specific recording medium type determined by referring to a calculation formula or a table based on discrimination information, or a recording medium type based on the type. A printing system, which is a numerical value of a sense result of a sensor attached to the printer.

  (5) When the recording medium information acquisition unit cannot communicate with the printing apparatus or the determination information generation unit of the printing apparatus cannot generate / return the latest determination information, the recording medium information acquisition unit acquired the previous time without acquiring the determination information from the printing apparatus. A printing system using recording medium information.

  (6) The printing system characterized in that, in the recording medium information acquisition means, using the previously acquired recording medium information includes making a decision with reference to a plurality of past usage histories.

  (7) The printing system, wherein the print setting unit acquires the recording medium information from the recording medium information acquisition unit and determines the type of the recording medium.

  (8) The printing system, wherein the print setting unit performs print settings suitable for the recording medium determined by the recording medium information.

  (9) A printing system characterized in that in the print setting means, the print setting is a print setting suitable for the type of the recording medium.

  (10) In the print setting unit, the print setting includes information such as ink, the amount of dust in the ink, the number of scanning passes of the printer head, the resolution, the quality, the color adjustment, and the paper feeding unit.

  (11) The printing system, wherein the recording medium information history storage unit stores the recording medium information determined by the recording medium information acquisition unit as a history.

  The operation in each state of the present invention has been described above. According to the present invention, the printer 601 having a recording medium type detection function capable of detecting the type of the recording medium, and the printer and an appropriate I / F are used. The past history of the recording medium (recording medium 600) configured from the connected PC 602 and set in the printer 601 is memorized, and by combining this history with the recording medium type detection function, the printer can select the type of the recording medium. Even if it cannot be detected, by determining the type of recording medium from the usage history, it is possible to realize a printing system capable of performing optimum processing according to the situation without stagnation of the print data generation processing.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 601 denotes an ink-jet color printer that forms an image, and forms an image based on print data generated by a PC 602 described later. The type of printer is not particularly limited, but here, an ink jet color printer is assumed. The printer 601 includes various function blocks 604 to 608.

  A data processing apparatus 602 generates print data and controls a connected printer 601. Here, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) is assumed. It also plays a role of receiving instructions and input from the user regarding print settings. The PC 602 includes various functional blocks 609, 610, and 616 to 618. Although not shown in this figure, Microsoft Windows (R) XP is incorporated as an operation system (hereinafter abbreviated as OS) for controlling the PC 602, and various functional blocks are provided on this OS. Operate.

  A communication interface 603 connects the PC 602 and the printer 601. Here, it is assumed that USB is a serial interface, but in addition to this, a plurality of types such as Centronics and SCSI are assumed as parallel interfaces such as IEEE 1394, Ethernet (R), IrDA, IEEE 802.11, and power lines. However, any interface may be used regardless of wired / wireless as long as it realizes bidirectional communication. As described above, the printing system according to the present embodiment is not a single device, but has a configuration in which the PC 602 and the printer 601 that performs image formation are connected through a specific bidirectional interface. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. Alternatively, an apparatus-integrated printing system in which the functions of the PC and the printer are integrated may be used. It should be noted that functions that are not particularly necessary for the printer 601 and the PC 602 to explain the features of this embodiment are omitted.

  Reference numeral 604 denotes a paper recognition sensor (media sensor) that obtains information for specifying the type and size of the recording medium 600. It is assumed that the recording medium 600 is stacked on a paper feed tray or a cassette provided in the printer 601. As means for grasping the feature quantity for discriminating the type of paper, marking is performed on the paper as a recording medium in advance, the mark is optically detected, means using a dedicated paper cassette, IC on the paper Means for embedding cards, means for optically detecting reflected light (regular reflection light and diffuse reflection light) irradiated on paper, means for directly or indirectly measuring surface roughness, light transmittance There are a wide variety of means, such as a means of measuring. In addition, there are implementation means such as a means for capturing the weight, thickness, friction coefficient, dielectric constant, electrical resistance value, water absorption rate, and two-dimensional image of the sheet and discriminating it from the feature amount. These detection means can realize a paper recognition function by combining them alone or in combination. Here, the principle and configuration of the media sensor are not particularly limited, but it is assumed that the media sensor has a function capable of determining the minimum assumed paper type.

  Reference numeral 605 denotes a sense information storage unit that stores information (features) related to the paper grasped by the media sensor 604.

  Reference numeral 606 denotes an I / F control unit that controls an interface function of the printer 601. Here, since the assumed interface is USB, it is assumed to be configured by a controller on the USB peripheral device side. Transmission of paper information and reception of print data and control commands are performed. Further, if there is a request regarding status information such as an error or a communication state occurring in the printer main body, it is returned to the PC 602.

  A print control unit 607 receives print data transmitted from the PC 602 and develops the print data on the printer engine. The print data transmitted from the PC 602 is data that has already undergone image processing on the PC 602 side based on print settings including the type and size of the paper. Here, the print data for print control included in the print data is used. The printer engine is controlled according to the command. Specifically, data composed of binary data for printing (in some cases, intermediate data before binarization) and various commands for controlling the ink ejection amount, the number of passes, the printing direction, and the paper conveyance amount. use.

  Reference numeral 608 denotes a printing unit (printer engine). Printing is performed on the recording medium 600 based on the print data developed by the print control unit 607. Since the printer 601 is an ink jet printer, image formation is performed by ejecting ink.

  Reference numeral 609 denotes an I / F control unit that controls the interface function of the PC 602. It is configured by a USB host-side controller and has a function as a USB host. Some functions as a USB host are also configured by software such as an OS and a driver.

  A printer driver 610 is software for performing various settings for printing, print data generation, and printer control on the PC 602. Details of the printer driver 610 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 616 denotes a central control unit that controls various functions of the PC 602, and the functions of the CPU correspond to this. Reference numeral 617 denotes a print setting input operation unit, which includes various input devices for reflecting the user's intention in the print settings.

  A setting information notification unit 618 notifies the user of print settings. As a notification method, a case where a display device such as a monitor is used or a voice notification is considered.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer driver 610. In the figure, reference numeral 611 denotes a print processing setting unit for performing various print settings including paper settings and print quality settings. It has a function of receiving instructions and inputs from the user and displaying or notifying the set contents.

  The recording medium information acquisition unit 612 communicates with the printer 601 through the I / F control unit 606 and causes the printer 601 to acquire discrimination information of the currently set recording medium using the media sensor 604.

  The discrimination information acquired by the media sensor 604 is stored in the sense information storage unit 605 and read into the recording medium information acquisition unit 612 through the I / F control unit 606. The recording medium information acquisition unit 612 determines recording medium information based on the read discrimination information. The determined recording medium information is sent to the print data generation processing unit 613. Further, it is stored in the recording medium information history unit 615 as a history.

  The print data generation processing unit 613 determines a recording medium based on the recording medium information, and creates a print job suitable for the recording medium. The print job includes information such as ink suitable for the recording medium, the amount of dust in the ink, the number of scanning passes of the printer head, the resolution, the quality, the color adjustment, and the paper feeding means.

  Reference numeral 614 denotes a data communication processing unit. Print data of a print job created by the print data generation processing unit 613 is sent to the I / F control unit 609 via the data communication processing unit, and the print data is sent to the printer 601. Sent.

  FIG. 3 is a flow of print job creation in the print data generation processing unit 613.

  When the printing process is started (S301), the print data generation processing unit 613 inquires the recording medium information acquisition unit 612 about the recording medium information (S302). The recording medium information acquisition unit 612 inquires of the printer 601 for discrimination information. Here, there may be a situation where the printer 601 cannot acquire the paper type during printing. If this situation is not taken into consideration, the subsequent printing process will be delayed or an error process (S308) will occur. The processing at this time will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  If the acquisition of the recording medium information is successful, the recording medium is determined (S304), the ink suitable for the determined recording medium, the amount of ink contamination, the number of scanning passes of the printer head, the resolution, the quality, the color adjustment, the paper feeding means, Is selected to create print data (S305).

  If acquisition of the recording medium information fails, error processing (S308) is performed and the process ends.

  Various methods can be considered for error processing. For example, it is possible to cancel printing or to create print data with a predetermined default setting.

  The created print data is sent to the data communication processing unit 614 (S306).

  The data communication processing unit 614 transmits print data to the printer 601 through the I / F control unit 609. The print data generation processing unit 613 ends when all the print data is transmitted to the data communication processing unit 614 (S307).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing recording medium information determination processing in the recording medium information acquisition unit 612.

  When step S302 of FIG. 3 is executed, the state of the printer 601 is acquired (S402), and it is determined whether the recording medium determination information can be acquired (S403). It depends on the printer specifications whether or not it can be acquired. For example, a printer that cannot be acquired during printing is an example.

  If acquisition is impossible, it is confirmed whether there is history information in the recording medium information history unit 615 (S411). If there is no history information, an error is returned to the print data generation processing unit 613. If there is history information, the recording medium information is determined with reference to the history information (S412). The method for determining the recording medium information will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The determined recording medium information is returned to the print data generation processing unit 613 (S414).

  If there is no history information, an error is returned (S413).

  If it can be obtained, it communicates with the printer 601 through the I / F control unit 606 to request detection of the discrimination information of the currently set recording medium (S404). The printing apparatus 601 performs detection using the media sensor 604 and stores the result in the sense information storage unit 605. The stored discrimination information is returned to the recording medium information acquisition unit 612 through the I / F control unit 606 (S405).

  If the acquisition is successful, the recording medium information is determined from the discrimination information (S407). The recording medium information is a calculation formula based on the discrimination information or a specific recording medium type determined by referring to a table, or a sense result of the media sensor 604 that can determine the recording medium type based on the recording medium type. It is a numerical value, that is, discrimination information itself.

  The determined recording medium information is returned to the print data generation processing unit 613 (S408). Further, it is stored as a history in the recording medium information history unit 615 (S409), and the process ends (S410).

  If acquisition fails due to a communication error or the like, the process proceeds to step S411. The subsequent processing is as described above.

  5 and 6 are examples of history information stored in the recording medium information history unit 615. FIG.

  FIG. 5 stores the detection results of the recording medium information for the past 10 times. The most recently determined recording medium information is glossy paper. The recording medium information determined ten times before is plain paper. Using this information, for example, the recording medium information can be determined as follows. The most frequently detected recording medium information in the past 10 times is glossy paper. Therefore, recently, it is determined that glossy paper is often used, and the recording medium information is determined to be glossy paper.

  FIG. 6 stores the frequency actually determined for all recording medium information that can be discriminated by the media sensor 604. In this example, plain paper / coated paper / glossy paper / OHP can be discriminated and the actually determined number of times is stored. For example, plain paper is determined 10 times.

  The recording medium with the largest number of times determined using this information can be determined as the recording medium information. In the example of FIG. 6, since the coated paper is the most frequent with a frequency of 100 times, the coated paper is determined as the recording medium information.

  5 and 6 are examples of history information, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  Similarly, the recording medium information determination method is not limited to this.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the invention. Block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer driver 610 Flowchart showing the flow of processing of a print data generation unit that performs optimum print settings for a recording medium The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the recording medium information acquisition part which communicates with the printer 601 and determines recording medium information The figure which shows an example of the log | history information stored in the recording medium information log | history part 615 The figure which shows an example of the log | history information stored in the recording medium information log | history part 615

Explanation of symbols

600 Recording medium 601 Printer 602 Data processing device (PC)
603 Communication interface 604 Media sensor 605 Sense information storage unit 606 I / F control unit 607 Print control unit 608 Print unit (printer engine)
609 I / F control unit 610 Printer driver 611 Print processing setting unit 612 Recording medium information acquisition unit 613 Print data generation processing unit 614 Data communication processing unit 615 Recording medium information history unit

Claims (11)

Consists of a printing device that prints on a recording medium,
Discrimination information generating means for generating discrimination information for discriminating the type of recording medium set in the printing apparatus;
Recording medium information acquisition means for determining recording medium information based on the discrimination information;
Print setting means for performing print settings suitable for the recording medium;
A recording medium information history storing means for storing a recording medium usage history;
A printing system characterized by performing print settings suitable for a use history stored in a recording medium information history storage unit and a recording medium determined by a recording medium information acquisition unit.   The discrimination information generating means generates discrimination information for discriminating the type of the recording medium set in the printing apparatus.   A printing system, wherein the recording medium information acquisition unit determines the recording medium information by communicating with the printing apparatus and acquiring the determination information generated by the determination information generation unit of the printing apparatus.   The recording medium information is a specific recording medium type determined by referring to a calculation formula or table based on the discrimination information, or attached to a printing apparatus that can determine the type of recording medium based on the type. A printing system characterized by the numerical value of the sensor's sense result.   If the recording medium information acquisition unit cannot communicate with the printing apparatus or the determination information generation unit of the printing apparatus cannot generate / return the latest determination information, the recording medium information acquired last time without acquiring the determination information from the printing apparatus A printing system characterized by using a printer.   In the recording medium information acquiring means, using the previously acquired recording medium information includes making a decision with reference to a plurality of past usage histories.   A print system characterized in that the print setting means acquires the recording medium information from the recording medium information acquisition means and determines the type of the recording medium.   A print system, wherein the print setting means performs print settings suitable for the recording medium determined by the recording medium information.   In the print setting means, the print setting is a print system suitable for the type of recording medium.   In the print setting means, the print setting includes information such as ink, the amount of dust in the ink, the number of scanning passes of the printer head, the resolution, the quality, the color adjustment, and the paper feed means.   The recording medium information history storage means stores the recording medium information determined by the recording medium information acquisition means as a history.

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