JP2006142675A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of allowing an external device to refer and set a control parameter by making a data processing section to hold an engine control parameter which has been held by only an engine control section heretofore. <P>SOLUTION: This printer 1 comprises a controller 2 for outputting print data from a host device 3 to a printer engine 13 by converting the print data to video data according to a control mode set at that time and a control code from the host device 3, a display section for displaying the condition of the printer 1, an operation panel 4 consisting of a switch section for switching a mode, a font or the like of the printer 1, and the printer engine 13 for forming an image by forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensor according to a video signal and a control signal from the controller 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system in which engine control parameters can be controlled from an external device.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, it is desired to use various recording papers, and the apparatus side has various control modes such as a thick paper mode and an OHP mode in order to meet the demand. However, there is a limit to providing such a mode, and there are some sheets that cannot be handled by the existing control mode, and it is also desired to deal with them.
In order to meet such a demand, in Patent Document 1, in order to enable the user to set a custom paper type in addition to a pre-registered paper type (preset paper type), among the image forming parameters, The user inputs the values of the paper quality dependent parameters such as the transfer bias voltage, the fixing temperature, and the paper conveyance speed from the touch panel, and the set of these custom setting parameters is set as the custom paper type setting value. When printing is started, the custom paper type setting value is transmitted from the system control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus to the print control unit that controls the printing unit, and the print control unit transmits each parameter of the custom paper type setting value. It is disclosed that each part of the printing part is controlled according to the value of.
JP 2003-270872 A

However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 can cope with the paper that cannot be handled by the existing control mode by inputting various paper conditions from the panel on the user side. However, if it is a copying machine, it can be used in practice, but it is less feasible with a printer or a multifunction machine.
In view of this problem, the present invention allows the data processing unit to have engine control parameters that were previously only available in the engine control unit, so that control parameters can be referenced and set from an external device or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a simple image forming apparatus.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a controller for converting print data transmitted from the host device into video data in accordance with a control code from the host device, and video data output from the controller. And a printer engine that forms an image based on engine control information, wherein the controller processes data from an engine control unit that controls image formation, the host device, and an external device. A data processing unit, wherein the engine control information is stored in the data processing unit as an engine control parameter for each parameter unit, and each engine control parameter stored in the data processing unit is transmitted to the engine control unit Thus, an image is formed.
In the present invention, it is possible to refer to and set the control parameter from an external device or the like by having the engine control parameter which the engine control unit has only on the data processing unit side. In order to realize this, it is first necessary to enable the exchange of information from the data processing unit to the engine control unit in units of engine control parameters, rather than instructions according to some conventional patterns. Examples of engine control parameters include a fixing temperature and a conveyance speed. A command for instructing the engine control unit from the data processing unit may be added for each parameter unit. By doing so, the engine control unit can perform engine control to form an image in accordance with an instruction from the data processing unit.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the engine control unit can transfer engine control parameters held in the engine control unit to the data processing unit.
The present invention makes it possible for the data control side to know the engine control parameters that are currently operating. For example, a command for inquiring each parameter unit from the data processing unit is added. Further, the engine control unit transfers the engine control parameter inquired by this command to the data processing unit.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that each engine control parameter held in the data processing unit can be set from the host device and an external device.
The present invention enables a user to more easily perform more detailed engine control settings from an external device or the like, and the notification of the device status is normally performed by a device status acquisition command from an external device and its command. For various parameters, the status is returned by a response command from the image forming apparatus side to the external device side. For example, by adding a command or parameter that inquires about each parameter of engine control, it is possible to inquire about an engine control parameter from an external device. Further, the engine control parameter can be passed from the image forming apparatus side to the external apparatus.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that each engine control parameter held by the data processing unit can be held by a plurality of combinations.
The present invention makes it possible to carry out more various engine control settings from an external device or the like. Here, each of the engine control specified by the device setting command of claim 3 and its various parameters is provided. The parameters are not transmitted to the engine control unit as they are, but are stored in a nonvolatile memory provided in the data processing unit. A combination of various engine control parameters is registered as one engine control parameter group, and another combination of parameters is registered as another engine control parameter group.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a code for identification is assigned to an engine control parameter based on a plurality of combinations held in the data processing unit.
The present invention makes it easy to select and set engine control settings set by a user, and as one of means for realizing this, a header data area is included in a group of engine control parameters stored in a plurality of combinations in claim 4. Is prepared and information other than the engine control parameters is held therein.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, each name of each engine control parameter based on a plurality of combinations held in the data processing unit can be transferred to the external device using bidirectional communication from the host device and the external device. It is characterized by that.
The present invention makes it possible to transmit the name of the engine control setting set by the user to an external device, and the engine control parameter described in claim 5 in response to a paper type inquiry from a printer driver or the like. The name set for the group is notified to the printer driver.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, data indicating a settable range of each engine control parameter held in the data processing unit is transmitted from the engine control unit to the data processing unit.
The present invention prevents an unauthorized setting value from being instructed to be set by the engine control unit. For example, the parameter setting range is similar to the inquiry command from the data processing unit to the engine control unit described in claim 2. The engine control unit transmits data indicating the setting range of each parameter to the data processing unit in response to the inquiry.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, data indicating a settable range of each engine control parameter held in the data processing unit is transferred from the data processing unit to an external device.
The present invention prevents an unauthorized setting value from being instructed to be set to the engine control unit, and adds a command or parameter for acquiring a setting range equivalent to the device status acquisition command from the external device described in claim 3. In response to this inquiry, the image forming apparatus data processing unit may transmit information obtained from the engine control unit in accordance with the procedure of claim 7 to the external device side.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the engine control unit is instructed to set a value outside the settable range of each engine control parameter held by the data processing unit, the engine control unit does not execute the setting.
The present invention protects the image forming apparatus from an abnormal operation or failure even when an illegal setting value is instructed to the engine control unit, and the engine control unit described in claim 1. When an engine control parameter is received from the data processing unit, it is first checked whether or not this parameter is within a settable range, and setting is performed only when the parameter is within the settable range. If the parameter is out of the settable range, for example, invalid setting can be prevented by invalidating the instruction.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is based on a host device, a controller that converts print data transmitted from the host device into video data in accordance with a control code from the host device, video data and engine control information output from the controller. In the image forming system comprising a printer engine for forming an image, a host device connected to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 and a driver software for the image forming apparatus installed in an external device, The name of each engine control parameter transferred from the image forming apparatus can be displayed.
The present invention makes it possible to select the name of the engine control setting set by the user on the driver software of the image forming apparatus installed in the external device. All the names of the notified engine control parameter groups are handled as paper types in the same way as normal paper types.
According to the eleventh aspect, the user can instruct and select the name of each engine control parameter displayed on the driver software of the image forming apparatus installed in the host device and the external device. The name is transmitted to the image forming apparatus side, and the image forming apparatus side that receives the name forms an image by transmitting each instructed engine control parameter to the engine control unit.
In the present invention, the name of the engine control setting set by the user is selected on the driver software of the image forming apparatus installed in the external device, so that the image is actually formed by the engine control in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to form an image with easy and various engine controls.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, parameter setting relating to engine control can be performed from an external device with more detailed and various settings.
Further, in claim 2, the details of the engine control parameter operating at that time can be transmitted to the data processing unit, and in the image forming apparatus having the function of claim 3 or less, the value of the parameter at that time is determined by the user. Can be confirmed, and a parameter combination pattern in which only necessary portions are changed from the set values can be created.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, parameters relating to engine control can be easily referred to and set from an external device.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily set a plurality of types of parameters relating to engine control from an external device, and it is possible to easily realize appropriate image formation on various sheets.
Further, in claim 5, when a specific parameter group is actually selected and operated from a plurality of types of engine control parameter groups set by the function of claim 3, the selection can be performed by name. Selection is easy and reliable.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the names of a plurality of types of engine control parameter groups set by the user can be transmitted to an external device such as a personal computer, and as a result, can be displayed on a printer driver or the like.
According to the seventh and eighth aspects, when the user sets the engine control parameter group, it is possible to prevent an incorrect setting value from being instructed by mistake.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus that does not cause an abnormal operation or failure of the image forming apparatus even if an incorrect setting instruction outside the setting range is erroneously given.
According to the tenth aspect, the names of the plurality of types of engine control parameter groups set by the user can be displayed and selected in the same manner as conventional fixed paper types.
Further, according to the eleventh aspect, it is possible to easily select more appropriate control of the image forming apparatus from among a plurality of types of engine control parameter groups set by the user and conventional fixed paper types. The image forming apparatus can be actually operated by controlling the engine.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in this embodiment are merely illustrative examples and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only unless otherwise specified. .
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic structure of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes a laser writing unit 121 that writes a latent image on a photoconductor with a laser, a photoconductor 122 that exposes a surface charged by the laser writing unit 121 to form a latent image, and a photoconductor 122 on the photoconductor 122. A cleaner 123 for removing the remaining toner, a charging charger 124 for uniformly charging the photosensitive member 122, a developing device 125 for forming a toner image on the latent image on the photosensitive member, and a transfer for transferring the toner image to a recording sheet. A drum 126; a transfer charger 127 that generates a charge for attracting the toner image toward the recording paper; a fixing device 128 that fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording paper; and a controller 2 that controls recording information from the outside. , A paper feeding device 130 for storing recording paper and feeding paper one by one, a paper discharge tray 131 for discharging fixed recording paper, and an external host device. It is configured to include a host I / F5 responsible for over face. Since the image forming operation is known, it is omitted here.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image forming system provided with a printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the following description, the data processing unit corresponds to the controller 2 such as a laser printer. The outline of the printer will be described below.
The printer 1 converts the print data from the host device 3 into video data and outputs it to the printer engine 13 according to the control mode and the control code from the host device 3 set at that time, and the status of the printer 1 An operation panel 4 comprising a display unit for displaying the image and a switch unit for switching the mode, font, etc. of the printer 1 and a printer engine for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member by a video signal and a control signal from the controller 2 and forming an image 13.
Further, the controller 2 controls the control signal and data from the host device 3 to the printer 1 and the host I / F 5 which is an interface for the status signal from the printer 1 to the host device 3 and the data (printing) from the host device 3 according to the program ROM 6. CPU 9 for processing data, control data), a work memory when CPU 9 processes, a buffer for managing and temporarily storing data from the host in units of pages, and converting the data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern In addition, a RAM 10 used for a bitmap memory or the like for storing video data, an NV-RAM 11 which is a nonvolatile RAM for storing data to be retained even when the power is turned off, and data processing and management in the controller And programs for controlling peripheral modules are stored. Engine which is an interface for program ROM 6, font ROM 7 having various types of fonts used for printing, control signals and video signals from controller 2 to printer engine 13, and status signals from printer engine 13 to controller 2 An I / F 12 and a panel I / F 8 that is an interface between the controller 2 and the operation panel 4 are provided.

  Next, an outline of data processing will be described. The data sent from the host device 3 through the host I / F 5 is analyzed by the CPU 9 according to the data analysis program on the program ROM 6, and the print data and print control data (SP, CR, LF, HT, VT, etc.). And others. The print data and print control data are temporarily stored in the reception buffer on the RAM. The received data once stored is taken out by the control program on the program ROM 6 one by one and processed. For example, if the extracted data is a character code, an intermediate code including a print position, a print size, a character code, font information, and the like is created and stored in an intermediate buffer provided on the RAM 10. If the command is a control code, escape sequence, or the like, a predefined process is performed on them. For example, if the print position is specified, the next character code position is set to the specified position, or if the font is changed, the font information of the next character code is specified. The process is performed such as changing to a new font. In this way, processing of the print command from the host device 3 is performed, or when the processed data exceeds one page, the intermediate code stored in the intermediate buffer is converted into video data in accordance with the control program. I do. When the conversion is completed, the controller 2 issues a print start command to the printer engine 13 through the engine I / F 12 and transfers video data in synchronization therewith. The print data from the host device 3 is printed by the printer engine 13 via the engine I / F 12 in the series of flows as described above.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Among image forming apparatuses, in printers and multi-function peripherals, hardware and software for controlling them are an engine control unit for controlling a mechanical part of image formation called an engine, and an external device such as a host device 3. Can be roughly divided into a data processing unit for processing data from In recent devices, in order to cope with various papers, the engine control method is often provided in several patterns. They have several patterns in which engine control parameter values are combined according to the type of paper by the engine control unit. From the data processing unit, an appropriate control pattern is selected from several patterns. Various patterns are handled by selecting patterns.
However, since it is desired to use various papers that cannot be handled by selecting from several patterns, it is possible for the user to set each parameter of engine control and perform more appropriate engine control. It has been desired. In addition, in order for the user to set the pattern, it is necessary to set it through an I / F with an external device such as the operation panel 4 or the host I / F 5, and for that purpose, it is necessary to have the information in the data processing unit Become. In order to make this possible, it is first necessary to enable exchange of information from the data processing unit to the engine control unit in units of engine control parameters, rather than instructions according to some conventional patterns. Examples of engine control parameters include a fixing temperature and a conveyance speed. A command for instructing the engine control unit from the data processing unit may be added for each parameter unit. By doing so, the engine control unit can perform engine control and form an image in accordance with an instruction from the data processing unit.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. For example, a command for inquiring each parameter unit from the data processing unit is added. Further, the engine control unit can be realized by transferring the engine control parameter inquired by this command to the data processing unit.
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The data processing unit uses the bidirectional communication with the external device such as the host device 3 through the host I / F 5 or the like to inform the external device side of the state of the image forming device, and the external device side forms an image. The device is set for the device. The notification of the device status is usually performed by returning a device status acquisition command from the external device and a response command from the image forming apparatus side to the external device side with respect to the various parameters. For example, by adding a command or parameter that inquires about each parameter of engine control, it is possible to inquire about an engine control parameter from an external device. Further, it is possible to pass engine control parameters from the image forming apparatus side to the external apparatus.
Similarly, when setting an apparatus from an external apparatus, the apparatus is usually instructed by an apparatus setting command from the external apparatus and various parameters, and the image forming apparatus performs setting according to the instruction. For example, it is possible to change the engine control parameter from an external device by adding a command or parameter that sets each parameter of the engine control.
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, the device setting command of the third embodiment and each parameter of engine control instructed by various parameters are not transmitted to the engine control unit as they are, but on the NV-RAM 11 provided in the data processing unit. Save to. A combination of various engine control parameters is registered as one engine control parameter group, and another combination of parameters is registered as another engine control parameter group. The fourth embodiment can be realized by preparing a sufficient area in advance so that a plurality of engine control parameter groups can be stored.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. As one of the realizing means, a header data area is prepared in the engine control parameter group stored in a plurality of combinations in the fourth embodiment, and information other than the engine control parameter is held therein. As one of them, the fifth embodiment can be realized by securing an area for storing the name of each engine control parameter group. The name may be a character string or an ID number.
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. For example, a printer driver or the like inquires about the function of the target image forming apparatus and an optional device provided by a bidirectional command when the driver is activated, and displays information obtained as a result in a driver property. One of these functions is to inquire about the paper types that can be selected by the image forming device, specify the paper type from the printer driver based on the information obtained, and perform image formation by engine control of the paper type Also exist. Here, in response to a paper type inquiry from a printer driver or the like, the name set in the engine control parameter group described in the fifth embodiment is notified to the printer driver side. In this way, the sixth embodiment can be realized.
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. For example, a command for inquiring a parameter setting range is set in the same manner as the inquiry command from the data processing unit to the engine control unit described in the second embodiment, and the setting range of each parameter is set in response to the inquiry in the engine control unit. The indicated data is transmitted to the data processing unit. The setting range can be set by, for example, a method of transmitting a lower limit and an upper limit.
Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the image forming apparatus data processing unit to which a command or parameter for acquiring a setting range is added in the same way as the device status acquisition command from the external device described in the third embodiment, in response to this inquiry, Information obtained from the engine control unit in the procedure may be transmitted to the external device side.

Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In order to cope with unforeseen circumstances, when the engine control unit receives an engine control parameter from the data processing unit described in the first embodiment, it first checks whether this parameter is within a settable range, Perform setting only when within the setting range. If the parameter is out of the settable range, for example, invalid setting can be prevented by invalidating the instruction.
In addition, when it is determined that the parameter is invalid, it is possible to determine that the data processing unit is instructed with the invalid parameter. For example, by transmitting an error code or the like, the data processing unit or further This can also be communicated to external devices.
Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. On the printer driver side, this can be realized by treating all names of the engine control parameter group notified from the image forming apparatus as paper types in the same way as normal paper types.
Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to the tenth embodiment, the name assigned to the engine control parameter group can be selected and instructed to the image forming apparatus as, for example, one of the paper types from software on an external device such as a printer driver. In the data processing unit of the image forming apparatus, the received paper type instruction data is instructed to the engine control unit. If at least the name assigned to the engine control parameter group is instructed, first, the fourth embodiment. The engine control parameter is referred to from the location of the corresponding name in the parameter group stored in the NV-RAM 11 or the like described above. Next, each engine control parameter referred to can be realized by instructing the engine control unit as described in the first embodiment.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic structure of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system including a printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer, 2 Controller, 3 Host device, 4 Operation panel, 5 Host I / F, 6 Program ROM, 7 Font ROM, 8 Panel I / F, 9 CPU, 10 RAM, 11 NV-RAM, 12 Engine I / F , 13 Printer engine

Claims (11)

A controller that converts print data transmitted from the host device into video data in accordance with a control code from the host device, and a printer engine that forms an image based on the video data and engine control information output from the controller. In the provided image forming apparatus,
The controller includes an engine control unit that controls image formation, and a data processing unit that processes data from the host device and an external device,
The engine control information is stored in the data processing unit as an engine control parameter for each parameter unit, and each engine control parameter stored in the data processing unit is transmitted to the engine control unit to form an image. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engine control unit can transfer an engine control parameter held in the engine control unit to the data processing unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each engine control parameter stored in the data processing unit can be set from the host device and an external device.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each engine control parameter held by the data processing unit can be held by a plurality of combinations. 5.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a code for identification is assigned to an engine control parameter based on a plurality of combinations held in the data processing unit.   The names of the engine control parameters based on a plurality of combinations held in the data processing unit can be transferred to the external device using bidirectional communication from the host device and the external device. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein data indicating a settable range of each engine control parameter held by the data processing unit is transmitted from the engine control unit to the data processing unit.   The image forming according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 7, wherein data indicating a settable range of each engine control parameter held in the data processing unit is transferred from the data processing unit to an external device. apparatus.   2. The image according to claim 1, wherein when the engine control unit is instructed to set a value outside a settable range of each engine control parameter held by the data processing unit, the image control unit does not execute the setting. Forming equipment. An image is formed based on a host device, a controller that converts print data transmitted from the host device into video data, and video data and engine control information output from the controller in accordance with a control code from the host device. In an image forming system comprising a printer engine,
The name of each engine control parameter transferred from the image forming apparatus can be displayed on the driver software of the host apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 and the image forming apparatus installed in an external device. An image forming system characterized by that. The name of each engine control parameter displayed on the driver software of the image forming apparatus installed in the host device and the external device can be selected by the user, and the selected name is the image. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an image is formed by transmitting each instructed engine control parameter to the engine control unit on the image forming apparatus receiving the name transmitted to the forming apparatus. Image forming system.

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