JP2006159434A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal fixing printer in which power consumption is minimized except a heat source by storing input data temporarily in a storage, presetting conditions for switching to print operation and starting print operation according to that print conditions. <P>SOLUTION: The printer comprises an interface 3 receiving print data from a host computer 1, a storage 4 for storing print data through the interface 3, and a controller 5 including a section for converting print data stored in the storage 4 into image data. At a print start time when the storage capacity of print data stored in the storage 4 reaches a predetermined level or when a preset print time is reached, the controller 5 conducts a fixing unit at an image output section to bring about warm-up state, and a data converting section converts print data stored in the storage into image data during that warm-up period. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal fixing printing apparatus using a heat source in a printing operation portion such as a thermal fixing printer or a copying machine.

  Conventionally, in a thermal fixing type printing apparatus using this type of heat source, a print operation is executed each time for print data sent from a host computer. In this case, if there is continuous data input, It is necessary to keep the temperature of the fixing device at an appropriate temperature for fixing.

  When print data is no longer input, the fixing temperature is lowered to a standby state in order to reduce power consumption. Normally, the print operation is performed by repeating this operation. Each time, the temperature of the fixing device was raised to switch to the printing mode.

  In general, in a printing apparatus that electronically prints a large amount of images such as document data and image data, in order to reduce power consumption, image printing is collectively performed. As soon as print data is input, the printing operation is not started immediately, but is developed into a raster image, the image data is accumulated by a certain amount of data, the heat source is controlled to start the printing operation, and printing is performed. The method was taken.

As a technique for starting a printing operation after accumulating this data amount to some extent, a technique is disclosed in which rasterized image data is accumulated in a hard disk (HD) and the accumulation amount is determined.
JP-A-8-174963

  However, the problem to be solved by this known technique is that it takes a long time to rasterize, and is that data is stored by performing rasterization at the time of data input. There is no problem with respect to standby power consumption in this case.

  Therefore, in such a prior art method, although the heater as a heat source is maintained in an inoperative state, when data is input, operations such as raster image development are performed. Electricity has increased and wasted wasteful power. That is, in order to perform raster image development, the CPU needs to be operating, and much power is consumed to start the CPU. In particular, the power consumption required for raster image development increases as the amount of data increases, which causes a reduction in cost value due to wasteful power consumption.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to store the input data once in the storage device, set the conditions for switching to the printing operation in advance, and start the printing operation according to the setting conditions, thereby minimizing power consumption other than the heat source. It is an object of the present invention to provide a limited thermal fixing printing apparatus.

  The thermal fixing printing apparatus of the present invention includes a storage device that stores print data from a host computer, a data conversion unit that converts print data stored in the storage device into image data, and a data conversion unit that converts the print data. An image output unit to which the image data is supplied, and the data conversion unit converts the print data stored in the storage device into image data using a warm-up time at the start of printing. It is what.

  The thermal fixing printing apparatus of the present invention includes a storage device that stores print data from the host computer, a data conversion unit that converts the print data stored in the storage device into image data, and the data conversion unit. An image output unit having a printing mechanism including a fixing device, to which converted image data is supplied, and a control device for controlling the image output unit, and the control device sets a storage capacity of print data in the storage device in advance When the print capacity is reached, or when the preset print time is reached, when the printing is started, the fixing device of the image output unit is energized to be in a warm-up normal state, and the data conversion is performed during the warm-up period. The printing unit stores the print data stored in the storage device into image data.

  Furthermore, the thermal fixing type printing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the data conversion unit develops and converts the print data into raster data.

  Furthermore, the thermal fixing printing apparatus of the present invention includes an interface to which print data from a host computer is supplied, a storage device in which the print data is stored via the interface, and print data stored in the storage device. A control device that converts image data into image data, a ROM that stores an operation system for operating the control device, a RAM that stores various data and application programs necessary for print control by the control device, and the printing An operation panel having operation keys necessary for control, and an image output unit for printing out the image data converted by the control device, wherein the control device sets a storage capacity of print data in the storage device in advance When the specified capacity is reached or the preset print time is reached At the start of printing, the fixing device of the image output unit is energized to warm up normally, and the print data accumulated in the storage device is converted into image data by the data conversion unit during the warm-up period. It is characterized by.

  Furthermore, the thermal fixing printing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it can be set arbitrarily at the start of printing.

  According to the present invention, until the print request is issued, only the minimum operation for checking the data accumulation and the print timing is performed, so that the power consumption during standby can be minimized. Therefore, since wasteful standby power is reduced, the commercial value can be greatly increased.

  Further, according to the present invention, by using the warm-up time at the start of the printing operation as the image development time, the temperature rise time until the set temperature of the fixing device is reached can be used effectively. Efficiency can be greatly improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing the functional relationship between a host computer and a printer. An output side for outputting print data, a print command, and the like from the host computer 1 is connected to an input side of the printing apparatus 2.

  The printing apparatus 2 includes an interface (I / O) 3 that receives print data from the host computer 1, a storage device 4 that includes a hard disk (HD) that stores print data via the interface 3, and the storage apparatus 4. A control device (CPU) 5 that performs image conversion and other various print controls for converting stored data stored in the image data, a ROM 6 that stores operation programs (OS), various control data, and various application programs Are stored in the RAM 7, the operation panel 8 having operation keys necessary for the operation start and printing operation of the printing apparatus 2, and the image data converted by the control device (CPU) 5. It is comprised from the image output part 9 output to (not shown).

  The image conversion for converting the storage data stored in the storage device 4 into image data is performed by a control device (CPU) 5. Therefore, the term “image conversion unit” directly means a function performed by software using the control device (CPU) 5, but is not necessarily performed by software, and dedicated hardware is used. Also means. The control device (CPU) 5 constantly monitors the accumulated amount of print data stored in the storage device 4, detects that the accumulated amount has been set in advance, and instructs the start of printing. The control device (CPU) 5 can also arbitrarily set the print start time in advance, and is configured to detect the arrival of the set time and instruct the print start.

  In such a system configuration, when print data is sent from the host computer 1 to the printing apparatus 2, the print data is stored in the storage device 4 including a hard disk (HD) via the interface (I / O) 3.

  At this time, if the printing apparatus 2 is executing printing, the printing is continued as it is.

  Up to this point, the conventional normal operation is performed. However, if the printing apparatus 2 is on standby at this time, it remains in the standby state until the storage device 4 exceeds the storage capacity equal to or greater than the set value.

  During this standby state, the printing apparatus 2 side takes in print data under the control of the control device (CPU) 5.

  FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the standby data fetching operation. First, as described above, input data is stored in the storage device 4 (FIG. 1) via the interface (I / O) 3 (FIG. 1). ) Is stored and saved (step S21).

  At this storage / storage stage, the control device (CPU) 5 (FIG. 1) sequentially monitors whether the storage data exceeds the preset storage capacity (step S22). It is also monitored whether a preset printing time has passed (step S23).

  Therefore, by this monitoring control, the data capturing operation is continued until the storage capacity of the storage device 4 (FIG. 1) based on the input print data exceeds a predetermined amount or until a preset printing time is reached.

  When the storage capacity of the storage device 4 (FIG. 1) based on the print data exceeds a predetermined amount, the printing operation is started according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for starting printing. When the storage capacity of the storage device 4 (FIG. 1) exceeds a predetermined amount, the control device (CPU) 5 (FIG. 1) displays the image output unit 9 (FIG. 1). 1), the fixing device (not shown) is energized, and the fixing device is warmed up (step S31). During this time, the control device (CPU) 5 (FIG. 1) is connected to the storage device 4 (FIG. 1). The stored memory data is converted into image data (step S32).

  After the warm-up of the fixing device is completed, the converted image data is sent to the image output unit 9 (FIG. 1) (step S33), and printing is started.

  Even when the printing time reaches the set time, the printing operation is executed according to the above procedure.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the entire system according to the present invention. When print data is input from the host computer 1 (FIG. 1) to the printing apparatus 2 (FIG. 1) (step S41), the print data is The data is accumulated in the storage device 4 (FIG. 1) via the interface (I / O) 3 (FIG. 1) (step S42). At the same time, a print determination is made as to whether or not the accumulated data is to be printed (step S43). .

  If the result of the print determination is YES, that is, if printing is allowed, a set value determination is further made as to whether or not the accumulated data amount setting value (step S44) has been exceeded (step S45), and the accumulated data amount is determined. If it exceeds the set value, a print request determination is made as to whether a print request has been issued (step S46). If a print request has been issued, printing is started (step S47).

  When printing is started, the printing operation is performed while determining whether the printing has been completed (step S48). When printing is completed (step S49), the process returns to a standby state (step S50).

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step S43 is “NOW”, that is, if printing is not performed, if the accumulated data amount does not exceed the set value, the routine proceeds to a step for determining whether to perform periodic printing (step S51). .

  Therefore, when performing scheduled printing, a printing time determination is made as to whether a preset printing time (step S52) is reached (step S53), and if the result of the determination is that the set printing time has been reached. Then, the process proceeds to step S46 to determine whether a print request has been issued.

  Therefore, if the print request is issued as a result of the determination, the printing operation is started (step S47), and when the printing is finished (step S49), the process returns to the standby state as described above (step S50).

  On the other hand, if the print time determination result in step S53 does not reach the set print time, the routine proceeds from the N routine to step S43 to determine whether the accumulated data is printed.

  If the periodic printing is not performed based on the determination result of the periodic printing presence / absence in step S51, the routine proceeds to a printing determination of whether or not the accumulated data is printed in step S54 through the N routine, and the accumulated data is printed by the printing determination. If the forced print command (step S55) is issued and there is a print request, the accumulated data is printed.

  On the other hand, when the accumulated data is printed, the loop starting from step S45 described above is performed via the Y routine.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing a functional relationship between a host computer and a printer according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a data fetch operation during standby according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for starting printing according to the present invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement procedure of the whole system by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Host computer
2 Printing device 3 Interface 4 Storage device 5 Control device 6 ROM
7 RAM
8 Operation panel 9 Image output section

Claims (5)

  A storage device that stores print data from the host computer, a data conversion unit that converts the print data stored in the storage device into image data, and an image output unit that is supplied with image data converted by the data conversion unit And the data conversion unit converts the print data stored in the storage device into image data using warm-up time at the start of printing.   Storage device for storing print data from host computer, data conversion unit for converting print data stored in storage device into image data, and fixing device to which image data converted by this data conversion unit is supplied An image output unit having a printing mechanism including the control unit, and a control device that controls the image output unit. The control device is configured when the storage capacity of print data in the storage device reaches a preset capacity or is preset. When the print time is reached, the printing start time is set to start, and the fixing unit of the image output unit is energized to be in a warm-up state, and the print data accumulated in the storage device by the data conversion unit during the warm-up period Is converted into image data.   The thermal fixing printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data conversion unit develops and converts the print data into raster data.   An interface to which print data is supplied from a host computer, a storage device for storing the print data via the interface, a control device for converting the print data stored in the storage device into image data, and the control ROM that stores an operation system for operating the apparatus, RAM that stores various data and application programs necessary for print control by the control apparatus, and an operation panel including operation keys necessary for the print control An image output unit that prints out the image data converted by the control device, and the control device is configured when the storage capacity of the print data in the storage device reaches a preset capacity, or is preset. The image output is performed with the time when the specified print time is reached as the print start time. Fuser was energized the warm-up state, by the data conversion unit in the warm-up period, the heat fixing type printing apparatus characterized by converting the stored print data to the image data in the storage device.   5. The heat fixing printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing can be arbitrarily set at the start of printing.

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