JP2006224379A - Printing system with function of switching paper feed port - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately switch the feeding of paper from a paper feed port, including a manual paper feed port, so as to satisfy a user's requirements, for example, when a cassette of a printer runs out of paper. <P>SOLUTION: The printer with a plurality of paper feeders performs printing by making the function of automatically switch paper feeding switch paper feed specifications to a manual paper feed tray by a simple operation alone, so that the paper can be fed from the paper feed tray, when the user desires to continue the printing by switching the paper feed source to the manual paper feed tray, after the printer is brought into a suspended state so as to wait for the supply of the paper to the cassette, because an out-of-paper error is caused by the occurrence of an out-of-paper state during the feeding of the paper from the cassette, even if the manual paper feed tray is not included in a paper feeding means to be switched. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus (printer), a printing control apparatus, and a printing control method, and more particularly, to a printing system that can switch a paper feeding source of a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feeding apparatuses such as a manual feed tray and a cassette.

  Usually, some printing apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines are provided with a plurality of paper feeding apparatuses for feeding paper. In general, the paper feeding device is divided into two types: a paper feeding cassette that mainly stores and uses fixed paper and a manual feed tray that stores and uses unspecified types of paper.

  In the case where a plurality of paper feeding devices are provided, the paper stored in each paper feeding device can store any type of paper, so the same type of paper is stored in the plurality of paper feeding devices. It is also possible.

  As described above, when the same type of paper is stored on different paper feeding devices, the same type of paper is stored when the paper feeding device 1 that is the paper feeding source is initially out of paper. By automatically switching to another paper feeding device 2, the user's load is reduced such that it is not necessary to replenish paper in the paper feeding device 1 (hereinafter, this method is referred to as “paper feeding”). Referred to as “automatic switching function”).

  Some paper feeders can set, hold, and store currently stored paper size information. In this case, for example, a paper size such as “A4” can be set, held, or stored in the paper feed cassette 1.

  In this way, when the paper size stored in the paper feeder is known in advance, if the automatic paper feed switching function is enabled, it is not necessary to specify which paper feeder is the paper source. However, it is possible to automatically switch the paper feed source to a paper feed cassette storing an appropriate paper size and perform printing, thereby reducing the load on the user.

In addition, there is an automatic paper feed switching function that can set whether to include a manual tray as a switching target (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 07-273934

  However, in the above conventional example, depending on the setting state related to the manual feed tray of the automatic paper feed switching function, the paper source is automatically switched from the paper feed cassette to the manual feed tray even if you do not want to feed paper from the manual feed tray. Therefore, even when paper is fed from the manual feed tray or when paper is desired to be fed from the manual feed tray, the paper feed source may not be switched to the manual feed tray.

  Specifically, for example, in a printing apparatus having two paper feeders, a paper feed cassette and a manual feed tray, “type A” paper is stored in the paper feed cassette, and “type” is stored in the manual feed tray. It is assumed that the “B” sheet is stored, and the default paper source is the paper cassette.

  At this time, when a print instruction such as printing on “type A” paper is made, printing is performed by feeding the paper using the paper feed cassette that normally stores “type A” as the paper feed source. .

  At this time, if the automatic paper feed switching function is enabled and the manual feed tray is included in the switching target, or if the paper cassette runs out of paper, the paper feed source is manually It will automatically switch to the tray. At this time, when “Type B” paper different from “Type A” paper stored in the paper feed cassette is stored in the manual feed tray, printing is performed on inappropriate unintended paper. There is a problem that it ends up.

  Furthermore, in order to avoid such a problem, some printing apparatuses can be set such that “the manual feed tray is not included” for the automatic paper feed switching function.

  However, in this setting, when the manual feed tray is not “Type B” and the same “Type A” paper as the paper feed cassette is stored, the paper source can be switched from the paper feed cassette to the manual feed tray. Even if you want to print a large number of page documents continuously, the paper feed source is not automatically switched due to the setting that does not include the manual feed tray in the automatic paper feed switching function, resulting in a paper out error. There is a problem that continuous printing cannot be performed.

  In this case, in order to switch to the manual feed tray for printing, replenish the paper in the paper feed cassette, or once suspend / cancel printing, execute printing again, and specify the paper source at that time. There is a problem that it is necessary to change the setting to the manual feed tray, which increases the time and labor of the user.

  In particular, in the case of a host-based printer that does not have an operation panel on the printing device side, there is no way to explicitly switch the paper feed tray to the manual tray, so after canceling printing, specify the manual feed tray and print again. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform such operations, which increases the user's trouble.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a manual feed tray as a paper feed stage to be switched as a paper feed automatic switching function in a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed apparatuses. Even if it is not included, the printer runs out of paper while feeding paper from the cassette, becomes a paper-out error, pauses while waiting for paper to be supplied to the cassette, and then switches the paper source to the manual feed tray for printing. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a mechanism that allows the user to switch the paper feed designation to the manual feed tray and feed the paper from the manual feed tray for printing with a simple operation.

  For host-based printing devices that do not have an operation panel, switch the paper feed designation to the manual feed tray with only a simple operation on the information processing device that issued the print instruction, without operating the remote printing device. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a mechanism capable of printing from a manual feed tray.

  That is, the gist of the present invention is stored in a paper feed control method of a print processing apparatus, a printing unit that prints data on a recording medium, a main paper feeding unit that supplies the stored recording medium to the previous printing unit, and An auxiliary sheet feeding unit that supplies the recording medium to the previous printing unit, a paper type detection unit that detects the type of the recording medium stored in the main sheet feeding unit, and the main sheet feeding unit. A paper type storage unit for storing the type of recording medium, a paper presence / absence detection unit for detecting the presence / absence of recording media in the main paper feeding unit and the auxiliary paper feeding unit, and a plurality of paper feeding units according to the contents of settings and instructions Automatic switching is set by the paper source switching unit that switches the paper source, the automatic switching setting unit that enables automatic switching of the paper source by the paper source switching unit, and the automatic switching setting unit. Paper source The print data includes the continuous print setting unit that sets whether to continue printing by switching to the auxiliary paper feed unit, the contents of the automatic switching setting unit, the content of the continuous print setting unit, and the content of the print instruction unit. By having a print data generation unit for generating print data, and a print job control unit capable of instructing switching of the paper source in the paper source switching unit, recording is performed in the main paper feeder and the auxiliary storage device, respectively. When media is stored, when there is no recording medium in the main paper feeder while feeding from the main paper feeder, the printer enters the paused state as a paper out error and the user prints Information processing apparatus, printing apparatus and print control apparatus, and information processing system capable of switching a paper supply source to an auxiliary paper supply apparatus and continuing printing from the auxiliary paper supply apparatus according to an instruction from a job control unit And print control method, and an object thereof is to provide a paper feed control method.

  In a printing device with multiple paper feeders, the automatic paper feed switching function causes paper out to occur while paper is being fed from the cassette, even when the manual feed tray is not included in the paper feed tray to be switched. If you want to continue printing after switching to the manual feed tray after printing a pause error while waiting for paper to be supplied to the cassette, the manual feed tray can be switched to the manual feed tray by simple operation. It is possible to carry out printing by feeding from a sheet.

  For host-based printing devices that do not have an operation panel, switch the paper feed designation to the manual feed tray with only a simple operation on the information processing device that issued the print instruction, without operating the remote printing device. Thus, it is possible to perform printing by feeding paper from the manual feed tray.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, before describing the configuration of a print control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of a laser beam printer as a printer applicable to the print control system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the apparatus used as a printer in the present embodiment is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a color laser beam printer applicable to the print control system of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 100 in the figure denotes a color laser beam printer main body (hereinafter referred to as CLBP) that forms an image on recording paper or the like as a recording medium by printing data developed and supplied by a connected host computer. Reference numeral 104 denotes a controller unit of the entire CLBP 100. The controller unit 104 converts the print data received from the host computer into a video signal and outputs it to the laser driver 110.

  Upon receiving the video signal output from the controller unit 104, the laser driver 110 switches on / off the laser beam 113 emitted from the semiconductor laser 111. The laser beam 113 is applied to the left and right according to the rotation of the rotating polyhedral mirror 112 to form an electrostatic latent image of a print pattern on the electrostatic drum 121. The electrostatic drum 121 is uniformly charged in advance by a charging portion of the charging roller 122, and is partially neutralized by laser beam scanning to form the electrostatic latent image.

  The electrostatic latent image rotates in the direction of the arrow while maintaining a predetermined fixed orientation, and rotates in a cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) contacted sequentially. Development is performed by the developing units 124C, 124M, 124Y, and 124K. The developed four color images are multiple transferred to the intermediate transfer member 145.

  Cut sheet recording paper 135 is used as the recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper 135 is loaded into the paper feeding device 147 of the CLBP 100, taken into the device by the paper feeding roller 148 and the transport roller 149, and transferred from the intermediate transfer member 145 to form a full color image. Fixing is performed by the fixing roller 140 and the pressure roller 141, and the image formation is completed. The intermediate transfer member 145 is controlled by an intermediate transfer member control device 158 that is operated by a control signal 159 from the controller unit 104.

  Next, processing of image data in the controller unit 104 will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the image data is all processed as image data on the host computer, which is a host device, and then transferred to the CLBP 100 using a predetermined interface. The image data at this time is image data of two or more values for each color of CMYK, and is compressed as necessary. The controller unit 104 decompresses the received image data and outputs it to the laser driver 110 as a pulse width modulation signal.

  FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of a CLBP applicable to the print control system of the present invention and a host computer that is a host device connected thereto.

  In the host computer 3000, a program stored in the external storage device 42 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the CPU 1. Such programs include a device driver that performs a printing process and an application program that displays the status of the printing apparatus. Other examples include an application program that executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) are mixed based on an operating system, a document processing program, and the like.

  The CPU 1 executes these programs and performs overall control of each device connected to the system bus 4. Further, the CPU 1 opens various windows registered based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 41 and executes various data processing.

  The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 40 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC), which controls display on the CRT 41. A disk controller (DKC) 7 is a hard disk (HDD) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, etc., and an external device such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) or CD-ROM. Controls access to the storage device 42. A parallel input / output controller (PIOC) 9 executes a bidirectional communication control process with the CLBP 100 via the bidirectional parallel interface 31.

  When printing is performed, print data is created by the host computer 3000 and stored in the external storage device 42 as spool data. This spool data is sent to the CLBP 100 via the parallel interface 31.

  Here, the transfer interface is a bi-directional parallel interface, but of course, this may be a USB interface or an IEEE 1394 interface.

  The print data received by the CLBP 100 is sequentially sent to the RAM 24 according to the control processing of the CPU 21 and the control unit 22. The CPU 21 controls each device and printing apparatus connected to the system bus 28 by a control program stored in the ROM 23. The RAM 24 is used as a work area of the CPU 21 and mainly as a data reception buffer, that is, a FIFO (First-In First-Out system).

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a control unit that performs control such as memory control and bus arbitration. Reference numeral 25 denotes a printing unit input / output controller (printing unit IOC) which performs decompression of compressed data stored in the RAM 24, image processing, and the like by the control unit 22 and sequentially outputs them to the printing unit 50 via the printing unit interface.

(Outline of printing device)
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a printer in which the CLBP 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is further simplified.

  The printer is roughly divided into an apparatus main body 301 having a printing unit that prints data received from a host computer on printing paper, a control unit that controls a printing operation, and a paper feed cassette 302 that supplies paper to the printing unit. It consists of.

  The paper feed cassette 302 has a paper size identification function, and can identify and store the paper size stored in the paper feed cassette 302.

  Of course, the paper size stored in the paper feed cassette 302 may be automatically identified and stored by a paper size detection sensor or the like.

  In addition to the paper feed cassette 302, a multipurpose tray (hereinafter referred to as a manual feed tray) 303 capable of handling paper of any size is provided.

  The apparatus main body 301 is provided with a paper detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of paper in the paper feed cassette 302 and the manual feed tray 303, and the presence or absence of paper is detected by these sensors.

  Although the configuration of the device according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, a specific implementation method in the present embodiment will be described below.

(Overall configuration of printing system)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a host computer and a printer used in the printing system according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in this printing system, a host computer (host) 400 creates a print job, transmits the print job to the printer 410 via the bidirectional interface 420, and the printer 410 receives the print received from the host. Process the job and output the print result.

  The bidirectional interface 420 only needs to be able to exchange data between the host 400 and the printer 410. Even if the host 400 and the printer 410 are directly connected by a cable or the like, they can be connected via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that it may be done.

  Specifically, the host 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a print instruction unit 401, a print data generation unit 402, an automatic paper feed switching setting UI unit 403, a continuous print setting UI unit 404, and a print job control unit 405. A status display unit 406 and a host transmission / reception unit 407.

  4 includes a main paper feeding unit 411, an auxiliary paper feeding unit 412, a paper type detection unit 413, a paper type storage unit 414, a paper presence / absence detection unit 415, and a paper source switching unit. 416, a printer control unit 417, a printing unit 418, and a printer transmission / reception unit 419.

  The main paper feed unit 411 is a paper feed cassette that stores a fixed type of paper. The main paper feed unit 411 is normally used as a default, and often stores paper mainly used for normal printing. The main paper feed unit 411 can detect the paper size by the paper type detection unit 413, and the detected paper size can be held in the paper type storage unit 414. In addition, the main paper feeding unit 411 can detect the presence or absence of paper by a paper presence / absence detection unit 415.

  The auxiliary paper feed unit 412 is a manual feed tray that stores unspecified and arbitrary types of paper. In many cases, the auxiliary paper feed unit 412 stores paper of various types as a simple paper feeding unit.

  A paper type detector 413 detects the paper size stored in the main paper feeder 411.

  The paper type storage unit 414 holds and stores the paper size detected by the paper type detection unit 413.

  The sheet presence / absence detection unit 415 detects whether or not there is a sheet in the main sheet feeding unit 411 and the auxiliary sheet feeding unit 412.

  A paper feed source switching unit 416 switches the paper feed device according to an instruction from the printer control unit 418. When the main sheet feeding unit 411 is a sheet feeding source, the sheet feeding source switching unit 416 can switch the sheet feeding source to the auxiliary sheet feeding unit 412.

  A printer control unit 417 controls the overall operation of the printer.

  A printer transmission / reception unit 419 is an I / F for exchanging data and commands between the host and the printer.

  The printing unit 418 performs a printing operation when a print execution instruction is issued from the host.

  The print instruction unit 401 issues an instruction to start generating print data for print execution.

  A print data generation unit 402 generates print data including paper type information to be printed.

  The automatic paper feed switching setting UI unit 403 is used when the main paper feed unit 411 set as the paper feed source runs out of paper, or the main paper feed unit 411 does not store the paper size to be printed. In addition, the UI unit sets whether to automatically switch the paper source to another paper feeder.

  The continuous print setting UI unit 404 sets whether to include the auxiliary sheet feeding unit 412 as a switching target sheet feeding device when the automatic sheet feeding automatic switching function is set to be valid in the sheet feeding automatic switching setting UI unit 403. It is a UI part.

  The print job control unit 405 can issue an error cancellation instruction or a print job deletion instruction when the printer is in an error state or the like. An instruction can be given to the printer control unit 418.

  The status display unit 406 can display the status of the printer on the host screen, displays information such as errors occurring in the printer, and also serves as the UI of the print job control unit 405.

  The host transmission / reception unit 407 is an I / F for exchanging data and commands between the host and the printer.

  Needless to say, the automatic paper feed switching setting UI unit 403 and the continuous print setting UI unit 404 may be set on the printer side using, for example, an operation panel in addition to the host side. Absent.

  The processing content in each processing unit has been described above. A specific implementation method in the present embodiment will be described below.

  First, exemplary UI screens of the automatic paper feed switching setting UI unit 403 and the continuous printing apparatus setting UI unit 404 that are set in the host 400 according to the present embodiment are shown.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a UI screen of the automatic paper feed switching setting UI unit 403 and the continuous printing apparatus setting UI unit 404.

  In this UI screen example, the case where there are three types of paper feeding devices, namely, cassette 1 and cassette 2, and a manual feed tray is taken as an example, but a plurality of paper feeding devices are mounted with other configurations. Needless to say, it can be set in the same manner.

  A paper source selection unit 501 sets the paper source of the printer. If “Automatic” is selected at this time, if the default paper source, cassette 1, runs out of paper, or if the paper size to be printed is not stored in cassette 1, other It is possible to perform an operation such as switching the paper feed source to the other paper feed stage.

  In addition, when “cassette 1” is selected in the paper source selection unit 501, it is possible to instruct the printer to print on the paper stored in the cassette 1 for any print data. It becomes.

  In addition, when “cassette 2” is selected in the paper source selection unit 501, it is possible to instruct the printer to print on the paper stored in the cassette 2 for any print data. It becomes.

  In addition, when “manual tray” is selected in the paper source selection unit 501, it is possible to instruct the printer to perform printing on paper stored in the manual tray regardless of print data. It becomes.

  The continuous print setting unit 502 can set “continue printing with the manual feed tray” to be valid or invalid when “automatic” is selected in the paper source selection unit 501.

  In this UI screen example, it has been explained that whether or not the manual feed tray is included in the automatic paper feed switching function can be performed by the continuous print setting unit 502. However, the UI as the continuous print setting unit 502 is not provided. Needless to say, the automatic paper switching function may include a “manual feed tray” in advance or not.

  A setting button 503 is pressed when setting is changed when the setting is changed.

  A cancel button 504 is pressed when the set contents are to be discarded.

  Note that the registration contents shown in FIG. 5 are merely examples, and it goes without saying that other contents may be used as long as similar settings are possible.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows a screen example of the status display unit 406 capable of displaying the printer status on the host 400 in the present embodiment.

  The status display unit 406 can not only display the current printer status on the screen, but can also control the print job, and the print job control unit 405 can also control the print job from this screen. It is.

  The status unit 601 displays the current status of the printer, such as a printable status, a paper jam, and a paper out error.

  The auxiliary display unit 602 displays supplementary information for the printer status displayed on the status unit 601. Further, it is possible to display supplementary information such as a state where there is no paper in a certain cassette or a state where there is no toner of a specific color.

  The error return button 603 can be pressed when an error occurs, and instructs the printer control unit 418 to cancel a releasable error occurring in the printer.

  The job delete button 604 can be pressed during printing or in a state where a print job exists, and can be canceled by pressing the job delete button 604.

  In this example, it has been described that the print job control unit 405 can also give a control instruction for a print job in the UI screen of the status display unit 406, but it goes without saying that the UI screens may be independent from each other. Yes.

  Next, the sheet feeding device switching method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when printing is instructed from arbitrary application software by the print instruction unit 401 on the host 400, the print data generation unit 402 generates print data.

  Note that the content set in the automatic paper feed switching setting UI unit 403 and the content set in the continuous print setting UI unit 404 are also included in the print data. In this embodiment, the automatic paper feed switching setting UI unit It is assumed that “automatic” is selected in 403.

  The generated print data is transmitted to the printer 410 by the host transmission / reception unit 407.

  When the printer transmission / reception unit 419 on the printer 410 receives the print data, it starts paper feeding from the cassette 1 which is the default paper source. (Step S701).

  In the paper feed process of step S701, when the paper presence / absence detection unit 415 detects “no paper” in the cassette 1, the printer control unit 417 is set by the automatic paper feed switching setting UI unit 403, and the print data It is determined whether or not the “automatic paper feed switching setting” included in the screen is valid (steps S702 and S703).

  If the “automatic paper feed switching setting” is valid in step S703, the printer control unit 417 is further set by the continuous print setting UI unit 404, and includes “manual tray continuous print setting” included in the print data. "Is enabled (step S704).

  If “manual tray continuous print setting” is valid in step S704, the paper source switching unit 416 switches the paper source to the manual tray and feeds paper from the manual tray (step S708).

  If the “manual tray continuous print setting” is invalid in step S704, the printer control unit 418 notifies the host of an out-of-paper error and does not switch the paper source to the manual tray. A “paper out error” is displayed on the display unit 406 (step S705).

  When “paper out error” is displayed in step S705, the process waits for a user action (steps S706 and S707).

  In step S707, when the “error recovery” button on the status window 600 displayed on the status display unit 406 is pressed and an error recovery instruction is issued, the print job control unit 405 displays the bidirectional interface 420. And the printer control unit 418 is instructed, the paper source switching unit 416 switches the paper source from the cassette 1 to the manual tray, and the printing operation is continued with the paper set in the manual tray. (Step S708).

  In step S707, when the “job deletion” button on the status window 600 displayed on the status display unit 406 is pressed and a print job deletion instruction is given, the print job control unit 405 The printer controller 418 is instructed via the direct interface 420, and the job currently being printed is deleted (step S709).

  In step S707, when paper is supplied to the cassette 1 that is out of paper, the paper presence / absence detection unit 415 detects that paper has been supplied, and the printer control unit 418 performs printing from the cassette 1. Is resumed (step S710).

  In step S703, if the “automatic paper feed switching setting” is invalid, the paper feed source is not switched to the manual feed tray, so the printer control unit 418 notifies the host of a paper out error, A “paper out error” is displayed on the status display unit 406 (step S711).

  When “no paper error” is displayed in step S711, the process waits for a user action (steps S712 and S713).

  In step S713, when the “job deletion” button on the status window 600 displayed on the status display unit 406 is pressed and a print job deletion instruction is issued, the print job control unit 405 displays the bidirectional interface. An instruction is given to the printer control unit 418 via 420, and the job currently being printed is deleted (step S714).

  In step S713, when paper is supplied to the cassette 1 that is out of paper, the paper presence / absence detection unit 415 detects that paper has been supplied, and the printer control unit 418 performs printing from the cassette 1. Is resumed (step S715).

  Here, FIG. 8 shows a screen example of the status display unit 406 when “no paper error” is displayed in step S705 and the user action is possible.

  When the printer is out of paper, “no paper” is displayed in the status section 801 on the status window 800 displayed on the host.

  In addition, the auxiliary display unit 802 displays “Please set paper in cassette 1 or click“ Recover from error ”when printing with paper currently set in the manual feed tray.” The auxiliary explanation for prompting the user action is displayed.

  Of course, the display content is an example, and it goes without saying that the display content may be omitted or may be other than the display content.

  As described in step S708, the error return button 803 can switch the paper supply source from the cassette 1 to the manual feed tray and continue the printing operation with the paper set in the manual feed tray by pressing this button. It becomes.

  In this embodiment, the “error return” button is described. However, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this as long as it is possible to perform an instruction operation for switching the same paper source. Needless to say.

  As described in step S709 and step S714, the job delete button 804 can delete the corresponding print job by pressing this button.

  In this way, it is possible to cancel the print job once, re-designate the paper feed stage in which the paper is stored, and perform reprinting.

  In this embodiment, the “delete job” button is described as an example. However, this is only an example, and the present invention is not limited to this as long as it is possible to perform an instruction operation for deleting a similar print job. Needless to say.

  In this example, it has been described that the print job control unit 405 can also give a control instruction for a print job in the UI screen of the status display unit 406. However, it goes without saying that the UI screens may be independent from each other. Yes.

As described above, in the first embodiment,
In a printing device with multiple paper feeders, the automatic paper feed switching function causes paper out to occur while paper is being fed from the cassette, even when the manual feed tray is not included in the paper feed tray to be switched. If you want to continue printing after changing the paper source to the manual feed tray after a pause error and waiting for paper to be supplied to the cassette, simply switch the paper feed designation to the manual feed tray with a simple operation. It is possible to carry out printing by feeding from a sheet.

  For host-based printing devices that do not have an operation panel, switch the paper feed designation to the manual feed tray with only a simple operation on the information processing device that issued the print instruction, without operating the remote printing device. Thus, it is possible to perform printing by feeding paper from the manual feed tray.

(Other embodiments)
An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) that records a program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to perform a computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowchart described above (FIG. 7).

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a laser printer as a printer applicable to a printing system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a host computer and a printer that can configure the printing system of the present invention. 1 is a printer overview showing a simplified configuration of a printer applicable to a printing system of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram of a host computer and a printer according to the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen content in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer status display screen (in a printable state) in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart figure explaining the process in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer status display screen (when a paper out error occurs) in the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System Bus 5 Keyboard Controller 6 CRT Controller 7 Disk Controller 8 Control Unit 9 Parallel Input / Output Controller 21 CPU
22 Printer Control Unit 23 ROM
24 RAM
25 Print Unit Input / Output Controller 26 Parallel Input / Output Controller 28 System Bus 31 Bidirectional Parallel Interface 40 Keyboard 41 CRT
42 external storage device 50 printing unit 100 CLBP main body 104 controller unit 110 laser driver 111 semiconductor laser 112 rotating polyhedral mirror 113 laser light 121 electrostatic drum 122 charging roller 124C, 124M, 124Y, 124K rotary developing unit 140 fixing roller 141 pressure roller 147 Paper feeding device 148 Paper feeding roller 149 Conveying roller 158 Intermediate transfer body control device 159 Control signal

Claims (3)

A print instruction means for instructing print execution;
Printing means for printing data on a recording medium;
A main paper feeding means for supplying the stored recording medium to the previous printing means;
Auxiliary paper feeding means for supplying the stored recording medium to the previous printing means,
A paper presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of a recording medium in the main paper feeding unit and the auxiliary paper feeding means;
A paper source switching means for switching the paper sources of a plurality of paper feeding means according to the contents of settings and instructions,
Automatic switching setting means capable of enabling automatic switching of the paper feed source by the paper feed source switching means, and print data generation with the contents of the automatic switching setting means included in the print data Print data generation means to perform, and a print job control means capable of instructing the paper feed source switching means to switch the paper feed source, and recording media are respectively stored in the main paper feed device and the auxiliary storage device. In this case, when there is no recording medium in the main paper feeding device while feeding from the main paper feeding device, the printer enters a paused state as a paper out error and is instructed by the user's print job control means. A printing system capable of switching the paper feed source to an auxiliary paper feeder and continuing printing from the auxiliary paper feeder. By having a paper type detecting means for detecting the type of the recording medium stored in the main paper feeding means, and a paper type storage means for storing the type of the recording medium stored in the main paper feeding means,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when printing is performed by the print instruction unit, it is possible to detect a paper size mismatch or select an appropriate paper feeding unit to start printing. A continuous print setting unit capable of setting whether to continue printing by switching the paper source to the auxiliary paper feeding unit when automatic switching is set by the automatic switching setting unit;
In addition to the contents of the automatic switching setting means, the printer includes a print data generation means for generating print data in a state where the contents of the continuous print setting means and the contents of the print instruction means are included in the print data. A printing system in which it is possible to set whether auxiliary paper feeding means is included in a paper feed stage to be switched by means.

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