JP2006137084A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of setting an optimum printing configuration depending on a kind of print data and performing the printing according to the printing configuration. <P>SOLUTION: This printer performs the optimum printing according to a kind of print data. The printer comprises a configuration information storage means 2 for storing the printing configuration information beforehand, a print data discrimination means 4 for discriminating the kinds of the print data, and a configuration information read-out means 3 for reading optimum printing configuration information out of the configuration information storage means 2 according to results discriminated by the print data discrimination means 4. As a result of the above structure, it is possible to reduce a burden that a user has to carry out setting of the complex printing configuration, and then the optimum printing according to the kind of the print data can be performed by one button. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs optimum printing according to the type of print data.

  Conventionally, in this type of printing apparatus, in order to reduce the burden on the user, various settings of the printing apparatus are set and registered by the user, and a desired one of the registered various settings is instructed. Printing was performed according to the settings.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional printing apparatus.

  In FIG. 7, reference numeral 51 denotes an input of document information, image data, a command for calling various setting conditions registered in the apparatus, etc. from an external device such as a host. An input / output control unit that outputs data to an external device. Image data and the like input from the external device through the input / output control unit 51 is stored in a page memory 52 having a capacity of at least one page. The data stored in the page memory 52 includes image information, document information, control codes for specifying highlighted characters, and the like.

  Reference numeral 57 denotes a character generator unit. When the document information stored on the page memory 52 is composed of character code information, the character code information is input and corresponding pattern data is output to the main control unit 58.

  Reference numeral 53 denotes a bitmap memory that develops bit data and the like patterned by the character generator unit 57.

  A main control unit 58 controls the entire printer, and includes a CPU 63 such as a microprocessor, a ROM 64 for storing control programs and data, and a RAM 65 for work area.

  A scan buffer 54 includes buffers 61 and 62 for storing an image used for one-line scanning of the laser beam.

  The reason why the two buffers 61 and 62 are provided is that even if one of them is being output to the image forming unit 56 by the parallel-serial converter 55, the other can store the data of the next line.

  When the output of one line is completed, the other buffer 62 is set as the output target, and the data of the next line is transferred to the buffer 61 that has already been output. It's done fast.

  An operation panel 60 includes an LED display unit 66 for displaying various states of the printing apparatus, an LCD display unit 67, and a switch unit 68 for performing various settings of the printing apparatus, test printing, and the like.

  Various settings such as a paper cassette, an external interface, and a page description language set by operating the switch unit 68, or combinations of these settings can be registered in the setting storage unit 59.

  Registration and calling of combinations of various settings are performed by the setting registration switch 70 and the setting call switch 69 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The operation of the printing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a control program for a conventional printing apparatus.

  The switch of the printing apparatus is turned on by the operation of the switch unit 68 (step 71), and various settings to be set are displayed on the LED display unit 66 and the LCD display unit 67. When the setting registration switch 70 is pressed when the setting is completed. (Step 72) The setting contents are registered in the setting storage unit 59 (Step 73).

  A plurality of setting contents can be registered in the setting storage unit 59 by repeating the above operation.

  On the other hand, when the setting call switch 69 is pressed (step 74), one of the setting contents registered in the setting storage unit 59 is called (step 75) and displayed on the LED display unit 66 or the LCD display unit 67 (step 76).

  By pressing the setting call switch 69 until the desired setting contents are displayed on the LED display section 66 or the LCD display section 67, the desired setting contents can be selected.

Now, when the print data is actually sent with the connection with the host online, the setting contents displayed on the LED display section 66 and the LCD display section 67 at that time are confirmed (step 77). Therefore, printing is executed (step 78).
JP-A-5-85013

  However, in the above conventional printing apparatus, it is very troublesome because the user himself / herself has to register complicated print settings, and multiple settings can be registered. Therefore, when there are a large number of registrations, it is necessary to select the optimum print settings. There was a problem that there was a high possibility of mistakes.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a printing apparatus that performs optimum print setting according to the type of print data and performs printing according to the print setting.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs optimum printing according to the type of print data, and calls up optimum print setting information from the result of determining the type of print data and performs printing according to the print setting. The structure which performs is provided.

  With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the burden that the user has to perform complicated print settings, and to achieve an operation that can perform optimum printing according to the type of print data with one button.

  According to the present invention, a printing apparatus that performs optimum printing according to the type of print data, the setting information storage unit that stores print setting information in advance, the print data determination unit that determines the type of print data, The load that the user has to perform complicated print settings by providing the setting information calling means for calling the optimum print setting information from the setting information storage means based on the determination result of the print data determining means. The effect that the optimal printing according to the kind of print data can be performed with one button can be obtained.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs optimum printing according to the type of print data, and includes a setting information storage unit that stores print setting information in advance, and a print data determination unit that determines the type of print data. And setting information calling means for calling the optimum print setting information from the setting information storage means based on the result determined by the print data determining means.

  As a result, the optimum print setting information is recalled from the result of determining the type of print data, and printing is performed according to the print setting. Therefore, the burden of the user having to perform complicated print settings can be reduced with one button. There is an effect that optimum printing can be performed according to the type of print data.

  The print setting information is added with setting information registration means for changing and newly registering the print setting information.

  As a result, the setting contents of the print setting information stored in advance can be changed and registered when the user is not satisfied with printing, or new setting information can be registered. Even if it is a new print data type, new print settings can be registered, which reduces the burden of having to perform complicated print settings from the next printing, and is optimized for one type of print data with a single button. The effect that it can print smoothly.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the internal configuration of the printing apparatus of the present invention is the type of print data, for example, full color, color or monochrome color data such as photo data, text data, or illustration data, data size or resolution data of print data, and the like. The setting information storage means 2 for storing in advance the print setting information corresponding to the type of the print data from the print data necessary for printing, the print data from the external input such as USB and LAN, etc. What is the type of print data from the external input I / F means 8 for interfacing print data and the external memory I / F means 9 for interfacing print data from memories such as SD, CompactFlash (registered trademark), smart media and memory stick The print data discriminating means 4 for discriminating whether the print data is correct, and the print data discriminating means 4 The setting information calling means 3 that calls the optimum print setting information for the type of print data determined from the setting information storage means 2 and the print setting information called by the setting information calling means 3 are displayed. Display control means 7, operation control means 6 for controlling key operations of the printing apparatus, print control means 5 for printing print data, and for controlling the entire apparatus of the printing apparatus, for example, a microprocessor And a main control means 1 including a ROM storing a control program and the like, and a RAM for a work area.

  2, the configuration of the printing apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a print setting display screen 21 such as an LCD or LED that displays print setting information, and areas # 1 and # 2 of the setting information storage unit 2. , # 3, registration number keys 22, 23 and 24 used when registering, up and down keys 25 and 26 for moving the selected position of the print setting display screen 21 up and down, and print setting information. A change key 27 used when changing, a registration key 28 used when registering or newly registering changed print setting information, a setting call key 29 for calling print setting information, and a print key for instructing start of printing 30 and a cancel key 31 used when the user presses the print key 30 to give an instruction to start printing but also gives an instruction to cancel printing, and an SD, CompactFlash (registered trademark), A memory card 33 such as a mart media or a memory stick, a memory card slot 32 into which the memory card 33 is inserted, and an external input unit 35 connected to a USB, LAN, or the like. The printed printing paper 34 is output from the printing apparatus 20.

  An operation of the printing apparatus configured as described above, that is, a printing method will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  For example, an external input such as USB or LAN is connected to the printing apparatus 20 by the external input unit 35, and print data is input to the printing apparatus 20 via the external input I / F means 9, or SD or When the memory card 33 such as a compact flash (registered trademark), smart media, or memory stick is inserted into the memory card slot 32 and print data is input via the external memory I / F means 10, the print data discrimination means 4 Is determined (step S40).

  Based on the determination result of the print data determination unit 4, the setting information calling unit 3 calls the setting information calling unit 3 from the setting information storage unit 2 (step S 41), and the display control unit 8 controls the print setting information optimum for the type of print data. The print setting information is displayed on the print setting display screen 21 such as an LCD or LED that displays the print setting information.

  The user confirms the print setting information displayed on the print setting display screen 21 (step S42). If the print setting information is OK, the user inputs the print key 30 and the operation control means 6 inputs the print key. What has been done is controlled (step S43).

  When the print key input is executed, printing is started under the control of the print control means 5 for printing the print data (step S44). When the print data is exhausted, the printing is finished (step S45), and the next print data The normal mode is awaited (step S46).

  When the key input of the cancel key 31 is performed and the operation control means 6 controls that the cancel key input is performed (step S52), it is determined whether or not the printing mode is the time when the key input is performed. When the means 1 determines (step S53), if printing is in progress, the printing is canceled (step S54), and the normal mode waits for the next print data. When not printing, the normal mode waits for the next print data. (Step S46).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the printing apparatus performs optimum printing according to the type of print data, and includes the setting information storage unit 2 that stores print setting information in advance, and the type of print data. By including the print data determining means 4 for determining and the setting information calling means 3 for calling the optimum print setting information from the setting information storing means 2 based on the determination result of the print data determining means 4, the user can perform complicated printing. The burden of having to make settings is reduced, and optimal printing according to the type of print data can be performed with a single button.

  Further, as described above, it is obvious that the printing apparatus can be realized as hardware, and can be grasped as “steps” and can be realized as software as a printing method.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The configuration of the printing apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the internal configuration of the printing apparatus of the present invention is the type of print data, for example, full-color, color, and monochrome color data such as photo data, text data, and illustration data, data size and resolution data of print data, and the like. From the print data necessary for printing, the setting information storage means 2 for storing the print setting information corresponding to the type of the print data in advance, the print data from the external input such as USB and LAN, etc. What kind of print data is from the external input I / F unit 8 that interfaces with the external memory I / F unit 9 that interfaces the print data from the memory such as SD, Compact Flash (registered trademark), smart media, memory stick, etc. The print data discriminating means 4 for discriminating whether or not the print data and the print data discriminating means 4 A setting information calling unit 3 that calls the optimum print setting information for the type of print data from the setting information storage unit 2 and a display for displaying the print setting information that is called by the setting information calling unit 3 The setting contents of the print setting information stored in advance in the control means 7 and the setting information storage means 2 are used for changing and registering the setting contents when the user cannot perform satisfactory printing, or for registering new setting information. Setting information registration means 10, operation control means 6 for controlling key operations of the printing apparatus, print control means 5 for printing print data, and for controlling the entire apparatus of the printing apparatus, for example, a micro The main control means 1 includes a CPU such as a processor, a ROM storing a control program, and a RAM for a work area.

  The configuration of the printing apparatus in the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  An operation of the printing apparatus configured as described above, that is, a printing method will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing method according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of changing setting information according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  For example, an external input such as USB or LAN is connected to the printing apparatus 20 by the external input unit 35, and print data is input to the printing apparatus 20 via the external input I / F means 9, or SD or When the memory card 33 such as a compact flash (registered trademark), smart media, or memory stick is inserted into the memory card slot 32 and print data is input via the external memory I / F means 10, the print data discrimination means 4 Is determined (step S40).

  Based on the determination result of the print data determination unit 4, the setting information calling unit 3 calls the setting information calling unit 3 from the setting information storage unit 2 (step S 41), and the display control unit 8 controls the print setting information optimum for the type of print data. The print setting information is displayed on the print setting display screen 21 such as an LCD or LED that displays the print setting information.

  The user confirms the print setting information displayed on the print setting display screen 21 (step S42). If the print setting information is OK, the user inputs the print key 30 and the operation control means 6 inputs the print key. If the print setting information is not OK, the change key 27 is input to change the print setting information, and the operation control means 6 inputs the change key. This is controlled (step S47).

  When the mode for changing the print setting information by the key input of the change key 27 is entered, in the print setting information displayed on the print setting display screen 21, the up key 25 for moving the cursor selection position up and down, The user inputs any of the down movement keys 26 to acquire the setting item that the user wants to change (step S48). The setting item includes a paper type (plain paper, photo paper, inkjet paper, etc.), a paper size (A4). , L version, postcard, etc.), edge (yes / no), date (yes / no), resolution (highest, normal, rough, automatic, etc.), image quality adjustment (person, landscape, building, automatic, etc.), etc. Other than these, if there are setting items related to printing, they can be added.

  For example, in FIG. 5, when a paper size setting item is acquired by performing any key input of the upward movement key 25 and the downward movement key 26 for moving the cursor selection position up and down, the key of the change key 27 is acquired. The user obtains the paper size setting desired by the user, either A4 size or L-size postcard, and changes the print setting information (step S49). When printing with this content, the print key 30 is entered as a key. The operation control means 6 controls that the print key input has been performed (step S43). When the print key input is executed, printing is started under the control of the print control means 5 for printing the print data (step S43). S44) When the print data is exhausted, the printing is terminated (step S45), and the normal mode for waiting for the next print data is set (step S46).

  When the key input of the cancel key 31 is performed and the operation control means 6 controls that the cancel key input is performed (step S52), it is determined whether or not the printing mode is the time when the key input is performed. When the means 1 determines (step S53), if printing is in progress, the printing is canceled (step S54), and the normal mode waits for the next print data. When not printing, the normal mode waits for the next print data. (Step S46).

  If the changed print setting information is registered in area # 1, the registration number key 22 in area # 1 is keyed and the operation control means 6 controls that key input has been performed (step S50). Then, the print setting information whose setting has been changed is written in the area # 1 of the setting information storage means 2 by the setting information registration means 10 (step S51), and the normal mode for waiting for the next print data is set (step S46).

  Note that registration of the print setting information when the writing areas are not areas # 1, # 2, and # 3 is controlled by inputting the registration key 28 and the operation control means 6 performing the registration key input. The setting information registration unit 10 writes the setting information in the setting information storage unit 2.

  Also, the new registration of print setting information to correspond to the new type of print data is written into the setting information storage unit 2 by the setting information registration unit 10 as in the case of the change registration.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the printing apparatus performs optimal printing according to the type of print data, and includes the setting information registration unit 10 that allows the user to change and newly register the print setting information. The print settings information stored in advance can be changed and registered when the user is not satisfied with printing, or new setting information can be registered. New print settings can be registered even for simple print data types, reducing the burden of having to make complex print settings from the next print, and one-button optimal print data types. Can print.

  Further, as described above, it is obvious that the printing apparatus can be realized as hardware, and can be grasped as “steps” and can be realized as software as a printing method.

  As described above, the printing apparatus of the present invention can perform optimum printing depending on the type of print data, and has the effect of reducing the burden of the user having to perform complicated print settings. This is useful for printing control according to the type.

1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the printing method in Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the printing method in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a change of the setting information in Embodiment 2 of this invention Block diagram of a conventional printing device Flowchart of control program for conventional printing apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control means 2 Setting information storage means 3 Setting information calling means 4 Print data discrimination means 5 Print control means 6 Operation control means 7 Display control means 8 External input I / F means 9 External memory I / F means 10 Setting information registration means 21 Print setting display screen 22 Registration number key # 1
23 Registration number key # 2
24 Registration number key # 3
25 Up key 26 Down key 27 Change key 28 Setting registration key 29 Setting call key 30 Print start key 31 Cancel key 32 Memory card slot 33 Memory card 34 Printing paper 35 External input section

Claims (2)

A printing apparatus that performs optimum printing according to the type of print data, a setting information storage unit that stores print setting information in advance, a print data determination unit that determines the type of print data, and a print data determination unit A printing apparatus comprising: setting information calling means for calling optimum print setting information from the setting information storage means based on the determined result. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting information registration means for a user to change and newly register the print setting information.

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