JP2006235222A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print data at a proper fixing temperature and to prevent the occurrence of paper creases or jamming and size errors, even in the case of trial print on papers different by sizes and classifications. <P>SOLUTION: The printer is provided with: a print table holding heater set temperature information corresponding to the print information by adding information indicating "trial print" to print data as print information; a jam check control part capable of changing a parameter for checking a jam in accordance with a paper size of trial print by adding information indicating "trial print" and information of paper classifications to print data; and a size frame drawing processing part capable of printing a size frame of a print size for actual print when performing trial print. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing test printing on a postcard or the like using a printing apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer.

Conventionally, when printing on postcards using a printing device, instead of immediately printing on the target paper such as government-made postcards and New Year's postcards, the print settings remain the same and the same instead of postcards etc. Trial printing was performed using size paper or A4 paper used for normal printing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-79733 A

  However, in the above conventional method, since the print setting is adapted to a thick postcard, the fixing temperature is set to be high for thin normal thickness paper and printing is performed as it is, so that the print quality is deteriorated or the paper is wrinkled. However, it was unsightly as a test print. Further, the occurrence of wrinkles has a problem that in the worst case, a jam occurs and the result of trial printing cannot be obtained. In addition, when trial printing is performed using a paper having a size different from the postcard size, there is a problem that a print error cannot be obtained due to a size error because the print setting corresponds to the postcard.

  The present invention employs the following configuration in order to solve the above-described problems. That is, a reception processing unit that performs a reception process of transmission data including print data and additional information transmitted from a host device, and a printing condition setting unit that sets a printing condition according to the type of print medium specified by the transmission data And a printing condition storage means for storing a printing condition to be used when trial printing is designated in a printing apparatus comprising a printing processing means for printing the printing data according to the printing condition, and the printing condition setting means When the trial printing is designated by the additional information, the printing condition is set by the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, a printing table that holds printing conditions according to the type of printing medium is provided so that the fact that it is trial printing can be added as additional information of print data. Since the printing conditions are changed to correspond to the type of printing medium to be printed, high-quality printing can be performed, the printing medium is not jammed, and no size error occurs.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element common to drawing.

  The printing apparatus according to the first embodiment is configured to perform printing at an appropriate heater set temperature even in the case of trial printing with different paper types.

(Configuration of printing device)
FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printing apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 6 for operation by an operator, a tray 7 for setting standard paper (for example, A4 size) 8s (not shown), and a postcard size without using a tray. A multi-purpose feeder 9 for setting the special paper 8 such as a special paper 8 and feeding the special paper 8 by the paper feed roller 10, a belt unit 5 which is a medium conveyance unit for conveying the standard paper 8s and the special paper 8, and toner. The drum 4 for transferring the toner to the paper 8 or 8s, the heater built-in roller 2 for fixing the transferred toner, the backup roller 3 for pressurizing the paper 8 or 8s, and the paper 8 fixed and discharged. It comprises a paper discharge tray 11 to be held.

(Function block configuration)
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a control system of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the control system of the printing apparatus 1 uses the reception processing unit 21 that performs reception control of print data transmitted from the host 26 and the print processing unit 25 to carry out conveyance control and to receive the received printing. A control unit 22 that processes data and performs printing, a print table 23 that stores print setting information to be described later based on the print data or added information, and the heater built-in roller 2 according to instructions from the control unit 22 It consists of a heater temperature control unit 24 for setting the heater temperature, and is connected so as to exchange data as shown in FIG.

(Configuration of transmission data)
As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the transmission data from the host 26 is, for example, a configuration in which print information 27 for storing “trial print” can be added before the normal print data 28 in the case of performing a trial print. It has become. In the case of normal postcard printing, print information 27 is not added before print data 28, and only print data 28 is transmitted from host 26.

(Configuration of print table)
For example, the print table 23 is configured as shown in the lower right of FIG. 2. In the postcard trial printing, printing is performed on thin A4 plain paper 8s as in plain paper printing instead of “postcard”. The temperature should be set low and "low" is set. In the case of postcard printing, “high” is set because printing is performed on thick postcard paper. In the case of color printing, unlike color and monochrome, since color toner is used, the fixing temperature should be set high, so “high” is set. The print table 23 is preferably stored in a memory (not shown) of the control unit 22.

  The configuration of the printing table 23 is not a configuration in which a set temperature is provided for each paper type such as postcard and plain paper, and for each printing type such as color and monochrome. For example, color printing and postcard trial printing, Monochrome printing and postcard trial printing, color printing and postcard printing, monochrome printing and postcard printing, etc. may be prepared and placed. These settings can be registered from the operation panel using the printer menu. Further, it may be stored in advance in the printer.

(Operation)
With the above configuration, the printing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment operates as follows. This operation will be described with reference to an operation flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when performing trial printing of a postcard in color printing, the host 26 adds a “trial printing” request command as print information 27 to the print data 28 for printing in postcard size in color and transmits it.

  When the control unit 22 of the printing apparatus 1 receives the print information 27 and the print data 28 using the reception function of the reception processing unit 21 (step S1), it can be seen from the print data 28 that the color printing is a postcard size. Then, referring to “postcard” in the print table 23, heater setting temperature information “high” for postcard size printing is extracted, and the heater temperature is selected. And since it is color printing, heater temperature information “high” in color printing is extracted, so that the heater temperature is corrected by adding a predetermined temperature to the heater temperature or adding it up at a predetermined rate to determine the heater temperature. (Step S2).

  Next, it is determined from the print information 27 whether or not the test printing is performed (step S3). In this case, since it is trial printing and print information 27 is added, it is determined that the printing is trial printing, and “low” is extracted as the heater set temperature by referring to “postcard trial” in the print table 23. (Step S4), a heater set temperature similar to that for plain paper is corrected and determined (Step S5). Then, the heater is controlled based on the determined temperature, and printing is started by the print processing unit 25 (step S6). As a correction method in step S5, when it is determined as trial printing, a heater temperature that is not trial printing may be decreased by a predetermined temperature subtraction or a predetermined rate.

  On the other hand, for example, in the case of printing on a real postcard instead of trial printing in monochrome, the host 26 does not add the print information 27 in particular, and print data 28 for printing in a monochrome postcard size is generated. Therefore, the control unit 22 of the printing apparatus 1 refers to the received print data 28, determines that the print is a monochrome postcard size, refers to “postcard” in the print table 23, and determines the postcard thickness. The heater setting temperature “high” for the postcard printing in which the heater temperature is set is extracted and is monochrome, so that the temperature is not added or integrated, and is set as the heater temperature (steps S1 and S2), and printing processing is performed. The printing operation is started by the unit 25 (step S6).

(Effect of Example 1)
As described above in detail, according to the printing apparatus of the first embodiment, it is possible to add information indicating that the print is a test print to the print data, and the print table that holds the set temperature information corresponding to the information is provided. Therefore, even at the time of trial printing, an appropriate fixing temperature can be set, high-quality printing can be performed, no wrinkles occur on the paper, and no jam occurs.

  The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is configured to prevent a size error even when the paper used in the trial printing is different from the print size of the print data.

(Constitution)
Since the principal part block diagram of the printing apparatus of Example 2 is the same as that of FIG. 1 of Example 1, the description is abbreviate | omitted for simplification. Further, the functional block of the printing apparatus of the second embodiment has a configuration in which a jam check control unit 31 is newly provided in the functional block of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.

  The jam check control unit 31 has a function of checking whether or not the sheet is normally conveyed. For example, the jam check control unit 31 conveys the A4 sheet 8s at a predetermined conveyance speed and detects the sheet by using a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the sheet. Detects the leading and trailing edges of the paper and measures the time it takes for the paper to pass. If the paper does not pass even after a predetermined time and a certain margin time, it is determined that a conveyance failure (jam) has occurred. It is.

  The transmission data from the host 26 has a configuration in which print information 27 such as “trial print” and print sheet type information 30 are added before the normal print data 28. The printing paper type information 30 includes information on the paper size and the paper type as shown by the broken line in FIG. 4. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the printing paper type information 30 is printed on A4 size paper 8s with plain paper. Represents that.

  Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted for simplification.

(Operation)
With the above configuration, the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment operates as follows. This operation will be described with reference to an operation flowchart shown in FIG. Since steps S12, S14, S16 to S18 of the second embodiment are the same as S2, S3, S4 to S6 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity.

  First, when performing trial printing of a postcard in color printing, the host 26 print information 27 in which “trial printing” is set in print data 28 for printing in a color postcard size, and “A4” of the paper size for trial printing. ”, The paper type information 30 in which“ plain paper ”is set as the paper type is added and transmitted.

  When the control unit 22 of the printing apparatus 1 receives the print information 27, the paper type information 30, and the print data 28 using the reception function of the reception processing unit 21 (step S11), the “postcard” of the print table 23 is based on the print data 28. The heater set temperature information “high” is extracted with reference to the color printing, and the heater temperature information “high” is extracted with reference to color printing. Therefore, the heater temperature is corrected by adding a predetermined temperature or adding it at a predetermined rate. Set (step S12).

  Then, as normal processing, a conveyance time corresponding to the paper size extracted based on the print data 28 is set in the jam check control 31 (step S13).

  Next, it is determined based on the print information 27 whether or not the test printing is performed (step S14). In this case, since the print information 27 and the paper type information 30 are added, it is determined that the print is a test print, the paper size A4 set in the paper type information 30 is extracted, and the conveyance according to the paper size is performed. Time and the like are set in the jam check control unit 31 (step S15).

  Then, “low” is extracted as the heater set temperature with reference to “postcard test” in the print table 23, so that it is corrected and set to the heater set temperature similar to that of plain paper, and printing is started by the print processing unit 25 ( Steps S16 to S18).

  On the other hand, for example, in the case of printing on a real postcard instead of trial printing in monochrome, the print information 27 and the paper type information 30 are not added, and only print data 28 for monochrome postcard size printing is generated. Therefore, the control unit 22 of the printing apparatus 1 refers to the “postcard” in the print table 23 based on the received print data 28 and sets the heater set temperature “for postcard printing” with the postcard thickness heater temperature set. Since “high” is extracted and monochrome, the temperature is not particularly added or integrated, and is set as the heater temperature, and the conveyance time corresponding to the postcard size is set in the jam check control 31 (steps S11 to S13). ). If it is determined that the printing is not trial printing (step S14), the print processing unit 25 starts a printing operation (step S18).

  In the above description of the embodiment, in the case of trial printing, it has been described that the conveyance time of the jam check is reset in step S15. However, the “A4, normal support” data is not sent from the host, and “ Only the “trial print” data may be sent, and in the case of trial print, the jam check may not be performed.

(Effect of Example 2)
As described above in detail, according to the printing apparatus of the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, a size error occurs even when the paper size used in the trial printing is different from the print data size. There is no.

  The printing apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment is configured to print a size frame indicating a desired size in the case of trial printing with different paper types.

(Constitution)
Since the principal part block diagram of the printing apparatus of Example 3 is the same as that of FIG. 1 of Example 1, the description is abbreviate | omitted for simplification. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the functional block of the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment has a configuration in which a print size frame drawing processing unit 32 is newly provided in the functional block according to the second embodiment.

(Operation)
With the above configuration, the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment operates as follows. This operation will be described with reference to an operation flowchart shown in FIG. Note that steps S21 to S25 and S27 to S29 of the third embodiment are the same as S11 to S15 and S16 to S18 of the second embodiment, respectively, and detailed description thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity.

  First, when performing trial printing of a postcard in color printing, the host 26 print information 27 in which “trial printing” is set in print data 28 for printing in a color postcard size, and “A4” of the paper size for trial printing. ”, The paper type information 30 in which“ plain paper ”is set as the paper type is added and transmitted.

  The control unit 22 of the printing apparatus 1 refers to the print data 28 as a normal process among the print information 27, the paper type information 30, and the print data 28 received using the reception function of the reception processing unit 21. 23 “Postcard” is referred to, heater setting temperature information “high” is extracted and heater temperature is set, heater temperature information “high” in color printing is extracted, and a predetermined temperature is added or accumulated at a predetermined rate Correction is performed, the heater temperature is set, and the conveyance time corresponding to the paper size extracted based on the print data 28 is set in the jam check control 31 (steps S21 to S23).

  Since print information 27 and paper type information 30 are added to the print data 28 from the host 26, it is determined that the print is a trial print, and the paper size A4 set in the paper type information 30 is extracted. The setting information of the jam check control unit 31 is changed during the conveyance time according to the paper size (steps S24 and S25).

  Then, the print size frame drawing processing unit 32 extracts the size to be originally printed (in this example, the postcard size) based on the print data 28, and as shown in FIG. (Step S26).

  Then, referring to “test postcard” in the print table 23, “low” is extracted as the heater setting temperature, corrected to the heater setting temperature similar to that of plain paper, and set, and the A4 paper 8s which is the paper of the paper type information 30 Next, printing is started by the print processing unit 25 (steps S27 to S29).

  On the other hand, for example, in the case of printing on a real postcard instead of trial printing in monochrome, the print information 27 and the paper type information 30 are not added, and print data 28 for printing in a monochrome postcard size is generated. Therefore, the control unit 22 of the printing apparatus 1 refers to the “postcard” in the print table 23 based on the received print data 28, and sets the heater set temperature “high” for the postcard printing in which the heater temperature of the postcard thickness is set. ”Is extracted and is monochrome, so the temperature is not particularly added or integrated, and is set as the heater temperature, and the conveyance time corresponding to the postcard size is set in the jam check control 31 (steps S21 to S23). .

  If it is determined that the printing is not trial printing, the printing processing unit 25 starts a printing operation (steps S24 and S29).

  In the above description of the embodiment, the print size frame drawing processing unit 32 extracts the size to be originally printed based on the print data 28 and adds it to the print content 33 as the print size frame 33a. In the case where a print margin is provided, the print margin 33b may be printed as indicated by a broken line in FIG. If the print margin frame 33b is printed as indicated by the broken line portion in FIG. 8, it is possible to more reliably check whether the print content is printed on the paper in the actual printing.

  In the above description of the embodiment, in the case of trial printing, it has been described that the jam check transport time is reset in step S25. However, in the case of trial printing, the jam check may not be performed. Is the same as in Example 2.

(Effect of Example 3)
As described in detail above, according to the printing apparatus of the third embodiment, since the print size frame drawing processing unit is provided, in addition to the effects of the first or second embodiment, even in the case of trial printing with different paper sizes. It is possible to print a size frame or the like representing the paper size to be originally printed, and easily check whether the print contents can be printed on the paper in the actual printing.

<< Other modifications >>
In addition to the examples described above, the same functions and effects of the present invention can be obtained as embodiments of the following modifications. That is,

  (1) In the description of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment, it has been described that the printing table 1 is provided with the printing apparatus 1. However, the printing table 23 is provided in the host 26 and the like, and heater setting temperature information or the like is included in the printing information according to the printing type. May be transmitted. In the above description of the embodiment, information such as “high” and “low” is stored in the print table 23, but the set temperature may be stored as it is.

  (2) In the description of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment, it is described that the heater temperature of the fixing device is set to be appropriate at the time of trial printing. However, the toner potential, the transfer voltage, and the like are determined according to the paper type of the trial printing. May be changed.

  (3) In the description of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment, the electrophotographic printer has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to other printers. Since the amount of printing changes, these can be corrected / changed according to the paper type of trial printing different from the actual printing.

  (4) In the description of the printing apparatus of the embodiment, only the case of trial printing on the upper left as shown in FIG. 8 has been described. However, trial printing may be performed at an arbitrary position such as the center portion, right side, or lower side of the paper. Even in this case, the present invention can be applied.

  As described above, the present invention can be widely used in printing apparatuses such as electrophotographic printers and ink jet printers that perform test printing.

1 is a main part configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the printing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram of a result printed by the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

2 Heater built-in rollers 8, 8s Paper 22 Control unit 23 Print table 24 Heater temperature control unit 27 Print information 28 Print data 30 Paper type information 31 Jam check control unit 32 Print size frame drawing processing unit 33a Size frame 33b Print margin frame

Claims (7)

A reception processing means for performing reception processing of transmission data composed of print data and additional information transmitted from the host device;
Print condition setting means for setting print conditions according to the type of print medium designated by the transmission data;
In a printing apparatus provided with a print processing means for printing the print data according to the printing conditions,
Printing condition storage means for storing printing conditions to be used when trial printing is designated;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition setting unit sets a printing condition according to the printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit when trial printing is designated by the additional information.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition is at least one of a set temperature of the fixing unit, a toner potential, and a transfer voltage. Reception processing means for receiving print data and additional information transmitted from the host device;
Print processing means for printing the print data on a recording medium;
In a printing apparatus provided with a conveyance monitoring means for monitoring the conveyance status of the recording medium during the printing,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the trial printing is designated by the additional information, the conveyance monitoring unit does not enter an error state depending on a conveyance state of the recording medium. Reception processing means for receiving print data and additional information transmitted from the host device;
Print processing means for printing the print data on a recording medium;
In a printing apparatus provided with a conveyance monitoring means for monitoring the conveyance status of the recording medium during the printing,
The additional information includes a size of a print medium to be printed,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance monitoring unit monitors a conveyance state of the recording medium based on the size of the printing medium included in the additional information. Size frame addition processing means for adding the print data of the size frame based on the recording medium size designated by the print data;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print processing unit performs printing by adding the recording medium size frame to the print data. Margin frame addition processing means for adding print margin frame print data based on the recording medium size specified by the print data;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print processing unit performs printing by adding the recording medium margin frame to the print data. A reception processing means for performing reception processing of transmission data composed of print data and additional information transmitted from the host device;
Print condition setting means for setting print conditions according to the type of print medium designated by the transmission data;
In a printing apparatus provided with a print processing means for printing the print data according to the printing conditions,
Additional information detecting means for detecting whether or not trial printing is designated by the additional information;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition setting unit invalidates at least one of the printing conditions set by the printing condition when trial printing is designated by the additional information.

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