JP2007160583A - Print cancel controller and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to cancel printing from the computer side while preventing unnecessary consumption of print media or toner. <P>SOLUTION: A receiving section 7 receives a job printed on print media and a print cancel designation from the computer 11 side. An image creating section 15 creates a print image from the print job. A storage section 17 stores the print image. A print control section 13 controls storage of the print image in the storage section 17 and controls transmission of the print image stored in the storage section 17 for a print engine 19. Upon receiving the print cancel designation, the print control section 13 performs control for stopping transmission of the print image to the print engine 19 and performs transmission control of created image data of blank paper to the print engine 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print cancel control apparatus and a print cancel control program, and relates to improvements of a print cancel control apparatus and a print cancel control program suitable for use in, for example, a copying machine that prints on a print medium such as paper.

  In recent years, it has become very common to connect a computer (personal computer) to a printing apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer via a wired or wireless network.

  FIG. 3 illustrates a state where such a computer 1 and the printing apparatus 3 are connected via a network 5.

  In such a configuration, when a print job is transmitted from the computer 1 to the printing apparatus 3, the printing apparatus 3 generally starts and executes printing in accordance with a print request.

  However, immediately after the user makes a print request to the printing apparatus 3, even if the original image on the computer 1 is reviewed and an attempt is made to cancel printing due to an error in the image or the like, the printing apparatus 3 is already on the paper or the like. If the printing medium is started to be fed, an unexpected image is printed on the printing medium, and there is a problem that the printing medium and the toner that is the printing material are unnecessarily consumed.

  In particular, the higher the speed of the printing apparatus 3, the more likely an unexpected image is printed.

Therefore, conventionally, when a print data is received from a host computer and an image of the received data is printed, the received data is printed in response to a print cancel request operation from the operation panel of the printer. The print job is configured to stop printing, discard the received print data up to a code indicating a predetermined delimiter, send a data cancel request to the host computer, and cancel the print data transmission. At the same time, a technique has been proposed that makes it possible to avoid waste printing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-130784 (Patent Document 1) is of this type.
JP 2004-130784 A

  However, in the configuration as described above, the print job received from the host computer can be canceled. However, the print cancel request operation is performed from the operation panel of the printer that prints the image, and printing is stopped. Since the data cancel request is sent to the computer and the print data transmission is stopped, it is necessary to go to the printer and perform the print cancel request operation from the operation panel. If it is far away, the print cancel operation will not be in time, unnecessary printing will be performed, and not only will there be a problem that the print media and toner will be consumed unnecessarily, but also power will be consumed when printing is performed. Improvement was desired from the viewpoint of saving.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, and can cancel printing from the computer side, reliably prevent unnecessary consumption of print media and toner, and save power consumption. An object of the present invention is to provide a cancel control device and a print cancel control program.

  In order to solve such a problem, the print cancel control apparatus of the present invention generates a print image from a reception unit that receives a print job including print data to be printed on a print medium and a print cancel instruction, and the received print job. An image generation unit that performs storage, a storage unit that stores the print image, and storage control of the print image in the storage unit, and printing that is stored in the storage unit for the print engine that prints on the print medium And a print control unit that controls transmission of images.

  In addition, when the print cancel instruction is received after receiving the print job, the print control unit controls to stop the transmission of the print image to the print engine, and sets the print engine to the no-image transfer state. It has a function to control.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the print cancel instruction is received, the print control unit can be formed so as to perform deletion control of the stored print image in the storage unit.

  Moreover, according to the present invention, when the print cancel instruction is received, the print control unit can be formed so that an instruction signal for lowering the fixing power of the printing material for forming an image on the print medium is output to the print engine. It is.

  The print cancel control program according to the present invention receives a print job including print data to be printed on a print medium, performs print control, and performs printing when a print cancel instruction is received during printing of the print job. Processing for receiving the print job, processing for generating a print image to be printed on the print medium from the print job, processing for storing the print image, and printing on the print medium in the computer for print cancel control to be canceled Processing for controlling transmission of a stored print image to the print engine, and control for canceling transmission of the print image to the print engine when the print cancel instruction is received after the print job is received, and the print And a process for controlling the engine to a transfer state without an image.

  In such a print cancel control apparatus and print cancel control program according to the present invention, the receiving unit receives a print job including print data and a print cancel instruction, and generates a print image from the print job by the image generating unit. The print control unit has a function of storing and controlling the print image and controlling transmission of the stored print image to the print engine. Further, the print control unit receives a print job and issues a print cancel instruction. When received, it has a function of stopping the transmission of the print image to the print engine and controlling the print engine to a transfer state without an image.

  Therefore, it is possible to cancel the printing from the computer side, and it is possible to reliably prevent unnecessary consumption of the printing medium and the printing material.

  In addition, when the print cancel instruction is received, in the configuration in which the print control unit is formed so as to perform deletion control of the stored print image in the storage unit, transmission of the print image to the print engine can be reliably stopped. Malfunctions can be prevented.

  In addition, when the print cancel instruction is received, the print control unit is configured to output an instruction signal for lowering the fixing power of the printing material for forming an image on the print medium to the print engine. Heat generation power for fixing a material, for example, toner can be suppressed, and power consumption can be saved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a print cancel control apparatus according to the present invention, which is shown together with a print apparatus equipped with the same for convenience.

  In FIG. 1, a receiving unit 7 receives a print job and a print cancel instruction signal transmitted from, for example, an external host computer (personal computer) 11 connected via a network 9. It is connected.

  For convenience, one host computer 11 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is simply referred to as a computer.

  The print job is, for example, print data as characters or image data actually printed on a print medium such as paper, and indicates that the print data is arranged in front of the print data, and the number of copies and the ascending / descending order. Including other printing order and other printing control signals.

  The print cancel instruction signal is transmitted from the host computer 11 in response to an input to a print cancel button or print utility software of the host computer 11.

  Under the control of the print control unit 13, the reception unit 7 is connected to the external computer 11 through an interface function, for example, parallel transmission that sends several bits of data simultaneously using a plurality of signal lines. In addition, it has a serial I / F connected to the external computer 11 by serial transmission that sequentially transmits data bit by bit using a single signal line.

  An image generation unit 15, a storage unit 17, a print engine 19, and the like are connected to the print control unit 13 to configure a printing device 21.

  The image generation unit 15 decodes the contents of the received print job under the control of the print control unit 13 and generates a print image to be printed on the print medium from the print data in units of one page. A function of outputting each generated image to the print control unit 13 is provided.

  Under the control of the print control unit 13, the storage unit 17 temporarily stores and saves the print image for each page generated by the image generation unit 15 and other data to be described later, as well as the control of the print control unit 13. The internal storage unit reads the storage-generated image data to the print control unit 13 below.

  The print engine 19 actually prints a print image read from the storage unit 17 by the print control unit 13 on the print medium under the control of the print control unit 13. Are provided with an image generating drum, a transfer mechanism for transferring the generated image to the drum, an electronic circuit mechanism for controlling them, and the like.

  The print control unit 13 determines the print job or print cancel instruction input from the reception unit 7, sends the print job to the image generation unit 15, and stores the print image generated by the image generation unit 15, for example, in units of one page. In addition to the storage control in the unit 17, it has the following functions in addition to the function of sequentially transmitting print images to the print engine 19 in units of one page, for example.

  When the print cancel instruction signal is input from the receiving unit 7, the print control unit 13 determines that the print cancel instruction signal is a print cancel instruction signal, and supplies the print engine 19 with paper feeding or image transfer during printing. It has a function of stopping the operation and forcibly performing sweep control, canceling the transmission of the print image related to the print job, and deleting the print image in the storage unit 17 related to the print job being printed.

  In addition, when the print cancel instruction signal is input, the print control unit 13 transmits a generated image of a blank sheet to the print engine 19 and also to a heating unit in a toner fixing mechanism such as a heating roller included in the print engine 19. Has a function of outputting an instruction signal for lowering the applied power.

  Note that the blank generated image transmitted from the print control unit 13 is a transfer without a generated image instead of a regular generated image, such as when the automatic feeding mechanism cannot be stopped immediately from the internal processing procedure in the print engine 19. That is, it is used for blank sheet state transfer, and is discarded on the print engine 19 side when printing is stopped.

  Accordingly, when the print engine 19 is controlled to stop printing from the print control unit 13, the subsequent print state on the print medium becomes a blank state.

  The image generation unit 15 and the storage unit 17 and the like centering on the print control unit 13 include, for example, a CPU having various calculation determination functions (not shown), a ROM storing an operation program of the CPU, and a print control having an input / output interface. It is composed of a microcomputer, and can be combined with a microcomputer having a conventional function mounted on the printing apparatus 21.

  Next, the operation of the printing control apparatus according to the present invention will be briefly described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This flowchart is executed every time a print job is received.

  In FIG. 2, when a print job is received in step S1, a print image is generated and stored in the storage unit 17 in step S2, and the print image is transferred from the print control unit 13 to the print engine 19 in step 3. Sent to start printing.

  When the user finds an error in the original image and desires to cancel printing, and issues a print cancel instruction from the host computer 11, the print cancel instruction signal is input from the receiving unit 7 to the print control unit 13 in step S4, and step S5. Whether or not printing of the print job instructed for printing is finished is determined.

  If the printing is finished and YES, the process is finished. If the printing is not finished and the answer is NO, the print job is canceled in step S6.

  As the print cancellation process, there is a process in which the print engine 19 is stopped by forcibly feeding the print medium being printed and forcibly ejected, and canceling the transmission of the print image related to the print job.

  In the subsequent step S7, processing for deleting all stored print images in the storage unit 17 relating to the print job being printed is performed. Step S7 is a print job print canceling process similar to step S6, but is shown separately for easy understanding.

  Further, in step S8, the generated image data of the blank page is transmitted to the print engine 19, and an instruction signal for decreasing the heating power applied to the toner fixing mechanism is output to the print engine 19, and the process ends.

  In such a print control apparatus according to the present invention, the reception unit 7 that receives a print job, the image generation unit 15 that generates a print image from the print job, the storage unit 17 that stores the print image, and the storage A print control unit 13 for controlling the storage of the print image in the unit 17 and transmitting the print image stored in the storage unit 17 to the print engine 19 for printing on the print medium. When a print cancel instruction is received after receiving a print job, the print control unit 13 controls to stop the transmission of the generated image to the print engine 19 and controls to transmit the blank generated image to the print engine. It has a function.

  Therefore, it is possible to cancel printing from the computer side, and it is possible to reliably prevent unnecessary consumption of the print media and toner.

  In addition, in the configuration in which the print control unit 13 is formed so as to delete control the stored print image in the storage unit 17 when the print cancel instruction is received, the print image is reliably transmitted to the print engine 19. Since it can be stopped, malfunction can be prevented.

  In addition, when the print cancel instruction is received, an instruction signal for lowering the heating power for fixing the toner is output to the print engine 19, so that the heat generation applied power for fixing the toner can be suppressed to save power consumption. Is also possible.

  Accordingly, there is an advantage that the discharged print media is not easily curled without being heated and can be reused immediately.

  By the way, the print control unit 13 is not limited to a function of controlling transmission of a blank page generation image to the print engine 19, but a function of controlling the print engine 19 to a no-image (NULL) transfer (image sweeping) state in which toner is not used. The object of the present invention can be achieved.

  The above-described print cancel control apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on a print buffer (not shown) arranged between the computer 11 and the printing apparatus 21 on the network 9 shown in FIG. Although it is possible to arrange the printer 9 alone, it is preferable that the printer 9 is mounted at least on the print engine 19 side.

  By the way, referring to the print cancel control program according to the present invention, the print job including print data to be printed on the print medium is controlled, and printing is performed when a print cancel instruction is received during printing of the print job. Processing for receiving the print job, processing for generating a print image to be printed on the print medium from the print job, processing for storing the print image, and printing on the print medium in the computer for print cancel control to be canceled Processing for controlling transmission of a stored print image to the print engine, and control for canceling transmission of the print image to the print engine when the print cancel instruction is received after the print job is received, and the print And processing to control the engine to a transfer state without an image.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a print cancel control apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the print cancel control apparatus in FIG. 1. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer and a printing apparatus which are references of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 11 Computer 3, 21 Printing device (copier, printer)
5, 9 Network 7 Reception unit 13 Print control unit 15 Image generation unit 17 Storage unit 19 Print engine

Claims (4)

A receiving unit for receiving a print job including print data to be printed on a print medium and a print cancel instruction;
An image generation unit for generating a print image to be printed on the print medium from the received print job;
A storage unit for storing the print image;
A print control unit for controlling the transmission of the print image stored in the storage unit to a print engine for printing on the print medium, and storing and controlling the print image for the storage unit;
Comprising
When the print cancel instruction is received after receiving the print job, the print control unit controls to stop transmission of the print image to the print engine and controls the print engine to a transfer state without an image. A print cancel control apparatus having a function of The print cancel control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit has a function of performing deletion control of a stored print image in the storage unit when the print cancel instruction is received. 2. The function according to claim 1, wherein when the print cancel instruction is received, the print control unit has a function of outputting, to the print engine, an instruction signal for reducing a fixing power of a printing material for forming an image on the print medium. 3. A print cancel control device according to 2. A print cancel control computer that receives and controls a print job including print data to be printed on a print medium and print processing instruction information, and cancels printing when a print cancel instruction is received during printing of the print job In
Processing to receive the print job;
Generating a print image to be printed on the print medium from the print job;
Storing the print image;
Processing for controlling transmission of the print image stored in a print engine that prints on the print medium;
When the print cancel instruction is received after receiving the print job, the process of stopping the transmission of the print image to the print engine, and the process of controlling the print engine to an imageless transfer state;
Print cancel control program for executing.

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