JP2005078229A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer whose memory is checked automatically at the appropriate timing. <P>SOLUTION: A control part having a nonvolatile memory and a RAM inside the printer which allows changes of its specifications, recognizes its own specifications when powered; when the recognized specifications are different from those represented by specification information stored in the nonvolatile memory (step S103; YES, S108; YES), a RAM checking process (step S104, S107, S110) for confirming that all the storage areas of the RAM can be read and written normally, and a process (step S111) for storing in the nonvolatile memory the specification information representing the specifications recognized are performed, and then normal processes are started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

  As is well known, recent printing devices and color printing devices capable of high-resolution printing are devices equipped with a relatively large capacity memory (RAM), and devices capable of adding more memory. It has become. A general printing apparatus is a device that performs a memory check (RAM check) at the time of startup. Since the memory check takes time corresponding to the capacity, a large-capacity memory is mounted. The printing device is a device that requires a considerable amount of time until it is actually usable after being activated.

In order to solve the problem that it takes a long time to start, a printing apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1) that allows the user to specify whether or not to perform a memory check at the time of startup has been developed. However, since there are many users who think that the memory check is a process that does not have a real benefit, there is a risk that a serious problem may occur if the printing apparatus is continuously operated in a state where the RAM is not normal. In practice, the device has been operated in such a manner that no memory check is performed.
JP-A-9-204369

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus in which a memory check is automatically performed at an appropriate timing.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, a printing apparatus including a printing mechanism unit for printing on paper and a control unit having a non-volatile memory and a RAM capable of changing the specifications of the apparatus. As a control unit, when the power is turned on, the specification of its own device is grasped, and if the grasped specification is different from the one represented by the specification information stored in the nonvolatile memory, the entire storage area of the RAM To make the print mechanism print when receiving print data after performing the memory status confirmation process to confirm that the data can be read and written normally and the process to store the specification information representing the grasped specifications in the nonvolatile memory The normal processing is started, and when the grasped specification is the same as that indicated by the specification information, a unit that immediately starts the normal processing is used.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention configured as described above performs a memory status check process (so-called memory check) only when the specifications of the apparatus (such as the installed state of the optional parts and the type of installed optional parts) change. After being performed, it functions as a device that is ready for printing (a device that can be printed in a short time when it is normally activated). The memory status confirmation process (so-called memory check) is a process that is preferably performed when the specifications of the apparatus (such as the installed state of the optional parts and the type of installed optional parts) are changed. According to the above, it is possible to obtain a printing apparatus that can perform printing in a short time when it is normally activated, and that performs a memory check at an appropriate timing.

  When realizing the printing apparatus of the present invention, the control unit is a unit that stores information indicating that in the nonvolatile memory when a service call error occurs, and in the nonvolatile memory when the power is turned on, Even when information indicating that a service call error has occurred is stored, it is desirable to set the unit to start normal processing after performing the memory status confirmation processing. This is because a service call error is a relatively frequent error that occurs due to a problem in the RAM.

  Further, when realizing the printing apparatus of the present invention, any “apparatus specifications” may be used. For example, at least the specifications regarding the capacity of the RAM and the specifications regarding the mounting status of the optional parts are included. Can be left as it is.

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

  FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As illustrated, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that includes a control unit 11, a control panel 12, and a printing mechanism unit 13 as main components.

  The control panel 12 is a unit provided in the printing apparatus 10 as a man-machine interface between the user and the printing apparatus 10. The control panel 12 is a unit composed of a liquid crystal display, a plurality of push button switches, and the like.

  The printing mechanism unit 13 is a mechanism that performs printing on paper under the control of the control unit 11. The print mechanism unit 13 receives supply of image data for one page or a plurality of pages (hereinafter referred to as print data), and supplies the print engine with a print engine that actually performs printing on the paper. Thus, the printing mechanism is configured by a transport mechanism including various devices (paper feeding device, paper discharging device, etc.) for discharging the paper, which has been printed by the print engine, to the outside of the printing device 10. Although not shown, the printing apparatus 10 can add various optional parts (such as a paper feeding device, a paper ejection device, and a finisher) to the printing mechanism unit 13.

  The control unit 11 is a unit including a host interface circuit 111, a CPU 112, a RAM 113, an EEPROM 114, a memory control unit 115, a ROM 116, an interface circuit unit 117, and the like. As with the printing mechanism 13, the controller 11 can also add various optional parts (HDD, font ROM, RAM, interface circuit, etc.).

  The host interface circuit 111 is a circuit that receives print data transmitted from a computer (“host” in the figure) in which a driver for the printing apparatus 10 is installed. The ROM 116 is a non-volatile memory in which programs and font data are stored. The CPU 112 is a control circuit that integrally controls each unit in the control unit 11 in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 116.

  The RAM 113 is a memory into which a program executed by the CPU 112 is loaded. The RAM 113 is also a memory used as a work area for the CPU 112 (program). The EEPROM 14 is a non-volatile memory provided in the control unit 11 for storing the error log information 30 and the specification information 32. The error log information 30 stored in the EEPROM 14 is information indicating what kind of error (service call error and other errors) has occurred during the operation of the printing apparatus 10. The specification information 32 is information indicating the specifications of the printing apparatus 10 at that time (mounting state of optional parts, capacity of the RAM 113, access speed, manufacturer name, etc.). The printing apparatus 10 is a device that changes specifications after the power is turned off, and the specification information 32 is changed at startup (details will be described later).

  The memory control unit 115 transfers data from the host interface circuit 111 to the RAM 113 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 112, and transfers printing data for each page created on the RAM 113 to the print engine in the printing mechanism unit 13. It is a circuit that performs processing and the like. The interface circuit unit 117 is a circuit used by the CPU 112 to control various devices in the control panel 12 and the printing mechanism unit 13, and transport between the CPU 112 and the control panel 12 in the CPU 112 and the printing mechanism unit 13. It consists of several interface circuits for exchanging data with the mechanism.

  The control unit 21 performs processing of the procedure shown in FIG. 2 at the time of activation (when the printing apparatus 10 is turned on).

  That is, the activated control unit 11 first reads the specification information 32 and the error log information 30 from the EEPROM 114 (step S101). Then, the control unit 11 performs a process of setting “OFF” as a checked flag for storing “ON” / “OFF” as to whether or not the RAM 113 has been checked (step S102).

  Next, the control unit 11 compares the information indicating the capacity, access speed, manufacturer name, and the like held in the RAM 113 with information related to the RAM 113 in the specification information 32 read from the EEPROM 114, thereby determining the capacity and type of the RAM 113. It is determined whether or not has changed (step S103). If the capacity or type of the RAM 113 has changed (step S103; YES), the control unit 11 performs a RAM check process (corresponding to a memory state confirmation process) in step S104.

  In this RAM check process, as shown in FIG. 3, after the process (step S201) for checking whether or not the entire storage area of the RAM 113 can be read / written normally, the entire storage area of the RAM 113 is normally processed. When it is not possible to confirm that reading / writing is possible (step S202; NO), a process of displaying a RAM error message indicating that there is a problem in the RAM 113 on the liquid crystal display of the control panel 12 (step S204) is performed. This is a process that ends in a manner in which the process of FIG. 2 is interrupted. The RAM check process is terminated after the RAM check flag is changed to “ON” (step S203) when all the storage areas of the RAM 113 can be read and written normally (step S202; YES). (The process in which the process of FIG. 2 is continued).

  Then, the control unit 11 that has completed the RAM check process (step S104) having the above contents, or the control unit 11 that has confirmed that the capacity or type of the RAM 113 has not changed (step S103; NO) is the EEPROM 114. Whether or not a service call error has occurred before the power is turned off last time is determined based on the error log information 30 read from (step S105).

  Then, the control unit 11 has a service call error (step S105; YES), and if the checked flag is “OFF” (step S106; YES), that is, a service call error has occurred. However, if the RAM check process has not been executed, the RAM check process with the contents already described is performed in step S107.

  The control unit 11 that has finished the processes of steps S105 to S107 grasps the mounting state of the optional parts (more precisely, optional parts excluding the RAM 113) and compares the grasped result with the specification information 32 to obtain the optional parts. It is determined whether or not the mounting status of the item has changed (step S108). If the RAM check process has not been executed (step S109; YES) even though the mounting status of the optional parts has changed (step S108; YES), the RAM check process having the above-described contents is performed. Is performed in step S110.

  And the control part 11 which finished the process of step S108-S110 performs normal process, ie, after performing the process (step S111) which changes the specification information 32 on EEPROM114 to the thing showing the specification at that time. When the print data is received, a process for causing the printing mechanism unit 13 to print the content corresponding to the print data is started.

  As described above, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has a case where the capacity of the RAM 113 has changed at the time of startup, and a case where a service call error has occurred before the power is turned off last time. This is a device that performs a memory check when the mounting status of optional parts has changed. The reason why the printing apparatus 10 is a device that performs a memory check when a service call error has occurred is that the service call error has occurred due to a problem in the RAM. Because it is. In addition, when the mounting status of the optional parts has changed, the device for performing the memory check is that the balance of power supply to each part in the printing apparatus 10 changes when the mounting status of the optional parts has changed. As a result, it is considered that the RAM is in a state where reading and writing cannot be performed normally. Further, the reason why the printing apparatus 10 is a device that performs a memory check when the capacity or the like of the RAM 113 has changed is that the new RAM 113 is mounted on the printing apparatus 10 in this case.

  In short, the printing apparatus 10 is a device that starts a memory check only when it is desired to perform a memory check at the time of startup. Accordingly, the printing apparatus 10 functions as an apparatus that completes normal startup in a short time and does not cause a serious problem due to a problem in the RAM. Will do.

<Deformation>
The above-described printing apparatus 10 can perform various modifications. For example, the printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that can add / remove various optional parts, but the printing apparatus 10 may be modified to an apparatus that can only handle addition of the RAM 113 or the like. Further, the printing apparatus 10 may be modified to an apparatus that does not check for service call errors. Of course, the technology used in the printing apparatus 10 may be applied to other information processing apparatuses.

1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when starting up a control unit in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. The flowchart of the RAM check process performed in the process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 printing device, 11 control unit, 12 control panel,
13 printing mechanism, 30 specification information, 32 error log information,
113 RAM, 114 EEPROM

Claims (3)

A printing device capable of changing the specifications of the device,
A printing mechanism for printing on paper;
A control unit having a nonvolatile memory and a RAM,
The control unit is
When the power is turned on, the device's specifications are ascertained. If the grasped specifications are different from those indicated by the specification information stored in the non-volatile memory, the entire storage area of the RAM is read / written normally. Normal for causing the print mechanism unit to perform printing upon receipt of print data after performing a memory state confirmation process for confirming that it can be performed and a process for storing specification information representing the grasped specification in the nonvolatile memory The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a unit that starts processing and immediately starts the normal processing when the grasped specification is the same as that indicated by the specification information. The control unit is
When a service call error occurs, the unit stores information indicating the fact in the nonvolatile memory,
The unit that starts the normal process after performing the memory state check process even when information indicating that a service call error has occurred is stored in the nonvolatile memory when the power is turned on. The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifications of the apparatus include at least a specification related to a capacity of the RAM and a specification related to an installation state of optional parts.

Images