JP2006082258A - Printer and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the practicing timing of calibration without troubling a user, and to prevent an interruption of a print job. <P>SOLUTION: The postponement FLG of the calibration is set at 0 before the start of an actual page creating/paper ejecting operation (0403), and printing processing is repeated until the completion of output of all pages (0404). It is determined whether or not patch image forming processing is required, before each of the pages is output (0405); ordinary printing processing is performed when the patch image forming processing is not required (0407); and the printing processing is continued (0413). When a patch image has to be formed, it is determined whether or not the number of the remaining pages to be outputted is smaller than the preset number of the pages subject to the postponement of the calibration (0406). When the number of the remaining pages to be outputted is larger than the preset number of the pages subject to the postponement of the calibration, the patch image forming processing is performed (0409). When the number of the remaining pages to be outputted is smaller than the preset number of the pages subject to the postponement of the calibration, the postponement FLG of the calibration is set at 1 without the performance of the patch image forming processing (0408), and all the remaining outputs are performed (0410, 0411 and 0412). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a calibration method, and more particularly to a printing apparatus and a printing system that enable an easy-to-use printing system using a calibration execution postponement / resumption function.

In a printing apparatus, depending on the printing environment such as temperature and humidity, for example, printing characteristics such as color appearance and gradation of a printed color image may change. Such a change in printing characteristics may also be changed by attaching or detaching components constituting the printer, such as replacement of a toner cartridge. Furthermore, the printing characteristics change depending on the change of each element of the printer with time. In response to such a change in printing characteristics, conventionally, calibration, which is a process of changing the content of a gamma correction table in image processing, for example, based on density information obtained by printing a predetermined patch and measuring it. It is done. This calibration is performed at regular intervals such as when the power of the printing apparatus is turned on or when a predetermined number of sheets are printed at the time of printing (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-063047

  However, the conventional calibration execution timing basically cannot involve the user. For this reason, the user may feel that the printer is inconvenient when performing printing. For example, the user performs various settings for printing on the host computer, and the host computer controls the printer based on these settings to perform printing. Conventionally, the user usually performs calibration execution timing. Cannot be set. This is because it is necessary to automatically set an appropriate calibration timing in a printing apparatus or the like in order to maintain print quality. However, this calibration itself takes time for its operation and processing for several tens of seconds or more. For this reason, if a calibration operation or the like is performed during printing, it may be inconvenient for a user who wants to obtain a printing result quickly. That is, depending on the user or the object to be printed, it may be desired to obtain a printing result faster than the print quality. In such a case, the user cannot control the timing of executing calibration. There will be no printing system. On the other hand, if the user is requested to set a complicated calibration execution timing, the printing system is not easy to use. SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an easy-to-use printing apparatus, printing system, and calibration method.

  In order to achieve the above object, in a printing apparatus capable of forming a patch image for calibration, when the predetermined patch image forming process occurs during a printing operation, the printing apparatus outputs the remaining number of output sheets. Is acquired, and when the number is smaller than a preset number, calibration postponing means that does not perform the patch image forming process is provided. When the patch image formation is not performed, a calibration restarting unit that performs the patch image formation after the printing operation is completed is provided. The preset number of sheets has setting means for setting from the operation panel on the printing apparatus.

  As another form, a printing system having a printing device capable of forming a patch image for calibration and a host device for supplying printing data to the printing device, the patch image being predetermined during a printing operation When the execution of the forming process occurs, the printing system obtains the remaining number of output sheets, and includes calibration postponing means that does not perform the patch image forming process when the number is less than the preset number. When the patch image formation is not performed, a calibration restarting unit that performs the patch image formation after the printing operation is completed is provided. The preset number of sheets has setting means for setting from the operation panel on the printing apparatus or the printing apparatus driver on the host apparatus.

  By these means, the problem can be solved as shown in the embodiments described later.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for a user to control the timing of calibration execution by simply setting the number of postponed calibrations. Can be provided.

Example 1
Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

  In FIG. 1, an external host computer 0102 is connected to a printing apparatus main body 0101 indicated by a broken line through a connector (not shown). By using a page description language from the host computer 0102, character codes, A paper command or the like is received and printed out. Further, the host computer 0102 may be omitted and the printing apparatus main body 0101 may be configured alone. Various settings can be made from the host computer 0102 to the printing apparatus main body 0101.

  In the printing apparatus main body 0101, 0103 loads the execution program stored in the hard disk drive 0108 onto the RAM 0106 according to the boot program control procedure stored in the boot ROM 0105, and follows the control procedure of the loaded execution program in accordance with this apparatus 0101. A CPU device that performs overall control of the CPU, 0104 is a reception buffer that stores received data such as character codes and paper discharge commands by using a page description language from the host computer 0102, and 0105 is the initial operation and hard disk of the CPU device 0103 described above. An execution program stored in the drive 0108 is loaded onto the RAM 0106 and executed by the CPU device 0103, or a boot ROM in which the execution program is stored from the host computer 0102. 0106 is the CPU 010 The execution program storage area and the RAM functioning as a work area when executing the execution program, 0107 is an output unit that visualizes an image according to a known electrophotographic process, 0108 is the execution program described above, and a certain period of time A hard disk drive for storing an area used for saved data and permanently saved data, 0109 is an operation panel for displaying an error notification or the like and issuing a calibration postponement instruction to be described later. Reference numeral 0110 denotes an NVRAM in which a unique machine ID of the printing apparatus 0101 is stored. The ID is set at the time of initialization at the factory and cannot be changed thereafter. Reference numeral 0111 denotes an image reading unit that reads and reads print data.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen for issuing a calibration postponement instruction in the present invention. This screen is displayed on the operation panel 0109 and the host computer 0102 as described later.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, the calibration postponement number that can be set on the operation panel 0109 is instructed from the calibration setting button (0201) on the screen shown in FIG. Is displayed (0303). When the user sets a value within the range as the calibration postponement number from the operation panel 0109 (0304), the calibration postponement number is stored in the printing apparatus (0305).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, when print processing is started in response to an instruction from the host computer 0102 or the operation panel 0109 (0401), predetermined print processing preparation is executed (0402). The calibration postponement FLG is set to 0 before starting the actual page creation / discharge operation (0403), and the printing process is repeated until the output of all pages is completed (0404). Before the output of each page is performed, it is determined whether the patch image forming process is necessary (0405). If not necessary, the normal print process is performed (0407), and the print process is continued (0413). If patch image formation is required, it is determined whether the remaining number of output sheets is smaller than a preset calibration postponement number (0406). If there is more, the patch image formation process is executed (0409), and the printing process continues. (0413). When the number is small, the patch image forming process is not executed, the calibration postponement FLG is set to 1 (0408), and all the remaining outputs are performed (0410, 0411, 0412). When all pages are output, the printing process ends (0414).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, when the final end process is started after the end of the print process (0501), the predetermined print end process is executed (0502). It is determined whether or not the calibration postponement FLG is 1 (0503). If it is not, the print end process is ended without any processing (0506). If it is 1, the patch image formation process is executed (0504), the calibration postponement FLG is set to 0 (0505), and the print end process is completed (0506).

(Example 2)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, when the start of calibration postponement number setting is instructed from the calibration setting button (0201) on the screen shown in FIG. 2 displayed on the host computer 0102 (0602), the calibration postponement number that can be set on the host computer 0102. Is displayed (0603). When the user sets a value within the above range as the calibration postponement number from the host computer 0102 (0604), the calibration postponement number is stored in the printing apparatus (0605). Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

(Other examples)
In the first and second embodiments, an output unit that visualizes an image according to a known electrophotographic process is used as the print output unit. However, the output unit is not limited to the electrophotographic process, and is a bubble jet (registered trademark) system. The present invention can also be applied to inkjet-type output units including the above and other print output units.

  In the first and second embodiments, the execution program is stored in the hard disk drive, but may be stored in the ROM.

  In the first and second embodiments, the file used by the execution program such as data is stored in the hard disk drive, but may be stored in the ROM or RAM.

The system block diagram in this invention. The figure which shows an example of the calibration setting screen in this invention. The flowchart which shows Example 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows Example 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows Example 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

0101 Printer main body 0102 Host computer 0103 CPU device 0104 Reception buffer 0105 Boot ROM
0106 RAM
0107 Print output unit 0108 Hard disk drive 0109 Operation panel 0110 NVRAM
0111 Image reading unit

Claims (6)

  In a printing apparatus capable of patch image formation for calibration, when execution of the predetermined patch image forming process occurs during a printing operation, the printing apparatus acquires the remaining number of output sheets and sets it in advance. The printing apparatus is characterized in that the patch image forming process is not performed when the number is smaller than the number of sheets.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the patch image is not formed, the patch image is formed after a printing operation is completed.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preset number of sheets is set from an operation panel on the printing apparatus.   A printing system having a printing apparatus capable of forming a patch image for calibration and a host apparatus for supplying print data to the printing apparatus, and executing the patch image forming process determined in advance during a printing operation The printing system is characterized in that when it occurs, the printing system acquires the remaining number of output sheets and does not perform the patch image forming process when the number is less than a preset number.   The printing system according to claim 4, wherein when the patch image is not formed, the patch image is formed after a printing operation is completed.   5. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the preset number of sheets is set from an operation panel on the printing apparatus or a printing apparatus driver on a host apparatus.

Images