JP2007223054A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of designating distributed printing only by the printer such as an MFP especially with no need for forming a network in connection with a composite machine. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of printers are connected to the MFP 1 via USB lines, and a USB device having a hub function selects one of the printers corresponding to a printing condition of received data. When a printing section of the MFP 1 is in an operating state, one of the printers suitable for the printing condition is selected, and then the processing of printing of the received data can be carried out thereby. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP (multifunction printer / multifunction printer)).

  Today, computer networks including printers and other printing devices are widely used, especially in corporations, schools, various organizations, etc., building LANs (local area networks) and printing multiple print data output from host devices. Distributed printing processing that is simultaneously performed by the apparatus is performed. In this case, dedicated software is installed in the host computer or printer server, and print data is distributed and output to each printing apparatus connected to a LAN or the like.

In Patent Document 1, when a plurality of copying machines are connected to perform linked copying, if the color toner necessary for the copying machine that has received the print request is deficient, another connected copying machine is disclosed. Thus, there is disclosed an invention in which if the toner of the color is present, a printing process is performed by the other copying machine to improve the printing efficiency.
JP 2003-283552 A

  However, in the conventional distributed printing process described above, dedicated software needs to be installed in the host computer or the like, and the setting and installation method is complicated, which is a burden on the system administrator. Also, basically the same type of printing apparatus that can be connected to the network must be installed on the same network.

  Also, with the conventional distributed printing method, it is necessary to construct a computer network even if it is small, and it is difficult to introduce it into an office or the like where the network is not constructed.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a printing system that does not require a network and can issue distributed printing instructions only by a printing apparatus such as an MFP.

  According to the present invention, the above-described problem is achieved by connecting a printing unit, a plurality of printer apparatuses, a connection interface having a host function, and when the printing unit is in operation, based on printing conditions of received data, This can be achieved by providing a printing apparatus having transmission means for transmitting to a corresponding printer apparatus via a connection interface.

  Here, the printing conditions are, for example, conditions such as the number of printed sheets, resolution, and the like. The printer device corresponding to these conditions is determined by the connection interface having the host function and transmitted to the printer device having the corresponding printing function. In this configuration, print processing is performed.

  With this configuration, for example, even when a printing unit in a printing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral is in operation, the received data is transmitted to the printer apparatus capable of printing processing via the connection interface, and the printing process is performed. Can be made.

  The received data is scan data, facsimile data, or print data from a host computer, and the print conditions are set corresponding to the device that is the transmission source of the received data.

  With this configuration, the printer device can be selected according to the transmission source device.

  According to the means for solving the above problems, distributed printing can be performed by a printing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, and distributed printing corresponding to the function of the printer apparatus can be performed even in an office where a network is not constructed. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 is an example of a printing apparatus for explaining the present embodiment, and shows an external configuration of a multifunction peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP (multifunction printer / multifunction printer)) 1. In the figure, an operation display unit (operation panel) 2 is positioned at the upper front of the MFP 1 and gives various setting instructions such as setting of the number of prints, density setting, size setting and the like.

  In addition, a plurality of stages of paper feed cassettes 3 are provided in the lower front portion of the MFP 1, and the paper feed cassettes 3 can be pulled out with the corresponding handles 4. The printing apparatus 1 is also provided with a paper discharge unit 5, and paper (recording medium) that has been fed from the paper feed cassette 3 and on which an image has been formed is output to the paper discharge unit 5.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the MFP 1. The MFP 1 includes a scanner unit 11, a FAX unit 12, a print control unit (printer unit) 13, a print engine unit 14, the display operation unit 2 described above, a reception data control unit 15, and a host connection unit 16. The scanner unit 11 has a reading mechanism unit (not shown), and reads the document image placed on the document table by driving the reading mechanism unit.

  The display operation unit 2 supplies an operation signal based on an operation of a key or the like to the print control unit 13 or the like, and displays display data output from the print control unit 13 or the like on the display operation unit 2. Further, the print control unit 13 performs a printing process of received data, which will be described later, and prints on a sheet by the print engine unit 14.

On the other hand, the host connection unit 16 performs communication processing with, for example, a host device connected to a LAN and communication processing with a printer device connected via USB.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the MFP 1 described above with a focus on the configuration of the print control unit 13. The CPU 20 is connected to a ROM (flash memory) 21, a RAM 22, an external storage device (hard disk or the like) 23, and a printer control LSI 24, and the CPU 20 performs control according to a program stored in the ROM 22. In addition, the RAM 22 stores information about a printer apparatus, which will be described later, for example, a search list is generated.

  Also, the extension board I / F (USB host board) 25 and the USB I / F (printer device LAN I / F) 26 shown in the figure correspond to the host connection unit 16 described above and connect a plurality of printer apparatuses. Interface.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a network to which the MFP 1 configured as described above is connected. The MFP 1 is connected to computers (PCs) 30 and 31 that are host devices, and outputs print data created by the computers (PCs) 30 and 31 to the MFP 1. The MFP 1 is connected to the printer devices 32 to 34 via USB. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration of the printer devices 32 to 35 that are USB-connected to the MFP 1.

  The MFP 1 is connected to the computer (PC) 30 or 31 described above via the USB device I / F 36. Further, the printer devices 32 to 34, the USB memory 38, and the IC card reader / writer 39 are connected via the USB host I / F 37. Here, the USB host I / F 37 is equipped with a hub and has a USB host function. This connection interface is a USB (universal serial bus) interface having a hub function.

In the above configuration, the processing operation of this example will be described below.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the overall flow when explaining the distributed processing operation of this example. The data supplied from the host connection unit 16, the scanner unit 11, or the FAX unit is transmitted to the reception data control unit 15, and the reception data control unit 15 determines whether the print processing can be performed by the print control unit 13. To do. If possible, the data analysis unit 46 analyzes the received data, the command analysis unit 47 analyzes the command, and the command execution unit 48 executes the analyzed command. The image data generation unit 49 generates image data according to the command-analyzed data, and the generated image data is transferred to the engine unit 51 by the image data transfer unit 50. Then, the image data is printed on paper by the engine unit 51 and output as a printed matter 52.

  If the printing process by the MFP 1 is impossible, it is determined whether the printing process by the printer devices 32 to 34 connected to the host connection unit 16 is possible, and then the received data is transmitted to the printer devices 32 to 34. Hereinafter, specific processing of this example will be described using a flowchart.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of this example. First, when the MFP 1 receives data (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1), the supplied reception data is confirmed, and the facsimile data received by the FAX unit 12 or the document scanned by the scanner unit 11. Whether it is data or print data supplied from the computer (PC) 30 or 31 connected to the network is determined (S2).

  If the received data is facsimile data, the facsimile data is processed (S3). For example, it is determined whether printing is currently being performed based on a control signal supplied from the print controller 13 (S4). If the printing process is not in progress (S4 is No), the drawing process is performed (S5), and the print engine unit 14 is driven to perform the printing process (S6).

  On the other hand, if the printing process is not currently in progress (S4 is No), the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is executed to search for a printer device connected to the MFP 1 via USB. That is, a printer search subroutine is executed (S7). FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining specific processing of this subroutine.

  First, it is determined whether there is a device that is not used in the printing process among the printer devices connected via USB (S8). In this case, the printer devices 32 to 34 shown in FIG. 1 are searched. Here, when there is no available printer device, a notification that there is no available printer device is sent (S8 is No, S9), but when there is an available printer device, the type of the detected printer device is checked. (S8 is Yes, S10). Then, the information of the checked printer device is notified.

  For example, it is notified whether the printer is a monochrome high-speed printer, a color high-speed printer, or a high-quality low-speed color printer (S11 to S14). This information is stored in the RAM 22 described above, and the function of each printer is recorded as a search list, for example.

  Next, returning to the processing shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not there is a printer device (S15). If there is an available printer device, a printer device that transmits facsimile data is selected according to the notified printer device information. (S16).

  For example, if the facsimile data is monochrome data, the search list created in the RAM 22 is referred to, for example, a printer device 32 that is a monochrome high-speed printer, a printer device 33 that is a color high-speed printer, or a printer that is a high-quality low-speed color printer. Device 34 is selected.

  For example, in the case of monochrome data, as shown in FIG. 10, the printer device 32 that is a monochrome high-speed printer searched by the search list is selected (S17). Then, the facsimile data is transferred to the selected printer 32 (S18), and the printing process is performed. On the other hand, in the case of color data, a printer device is selected with the above-described printer devices 33 and 34 searched by the search list as candidates.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining this process. The printer apparatus is determined according to conditions such as the number of printed sheets and the printing resolution. In the case of this example, if the number of received sheets is 10 or more, the printer device 33 which is a color high-speed printer is used (S19, S20 is Yes, S21, S22). Select the printer device. For example, if the resolution is 200 DPI or higher, the printer device 33 that is a high-speed color printer is selected as described above (S23 is Yes, S21, S22), and if the resolution is 200 DPI or lower, the printer device 34 that is a high-quality low-speed printer. Is used to perform the printing process (S23 is No, S24, S25). The selection condition can be changed to an arbitrary value by operating the operation panel of the display operation unit 2 or using a setting tool on the host device.

  The above description is an example when facsimile data is received, but when the received data is print data output from the computer (PC) 30 or 31, the following processing is performed. In this case, the printer data is first determined, and the printer data shown in FIG. 7 is processed (S30). Then, as described above, for example, based on a control signal supplied from the print control unit 13, it is determined whether the print engine unit 14 of the MFP 1 is performing a printing process (S 31). Yes), the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is executed. If the printing process is not currently in progress (S31 is Yes), the drawing process is performed as described above (S5), and the print engine unit 14 is driven to perform the printing process (S6).

  On the other hand, if printing is currently being performed (Yes in S31), it is first determined whether the print data is color data (S32), and if it is color data, it is further determined whether it is JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) printing. (S33). JPEG printing is a standard method for compressing and expanding color still images.

  Next, a printer search subroutine is executed (S34). This process is the same as the process described with reference to FIG. 9 described above, and the printable printer devices 32 to 34 are searched. If there is an available printer device, the type of the detected printer device is checked and information on the printer device is notified (S8 to S14). This information is stored in the RAM 22 and used to create a search list as described above.

  Next, returning to the processing shown in FIG. 12, it is determined whether there is a printer device, and if there is a printer device that can be printed (Yes in S35), the printer device that transmits print data according to the notified printer device information. Select and output print data to the printer.

  For example, in the case of monochrome data, the print data is transferred to a monochrome high-speed printer, the printer device 32 that is a monochrome high-speed printer is selected (S36), and the print data is transferred to the printer device 32 (S37). On the other hand, in the case of color print data, the printer device 33 and 34 retrieved from the search list are candidates and the printer device is determined from the print conditions. That is, the printer device is selected in the case of color / monochrome mixed print data or in the case of JPEG printing (S38 to S41). In this case, it is assumed that the printer device 33 or 34 is a printer device capable of performing print processing on both color and monochrome print data.

  Next, the same applies to scan data. When it is determined that the received data is scan data, scan data processing is performed (S42), and it is determined whether the print engine unit 14 of the MFP 1 is performing print processing (S43). If the printing process is currently in progress (S43 is Yes), the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 is executed. If the printing process is not currently in progress (No in S43), the drawing process is performed as described above (S5), and the print engine unit 14 is driven to perform the printing process (S6).

  On the other hand, if printing is currently in progress (S43 is Yes), it is determined whether the data is color data according to the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 (S44). If it is color data, an ADF (continuous document reading device) is further added. It is determined whether it has been used (S45).

  Next, a printer search subroutine is executed (S46). This process is the same as the process described with reference to FIG. 9, and the printer devices 32 to 34 that can be printed are searched. If there is an available printer device, the type of the detected printer device is checked and the printer is checked. Information about the device is acquired (S8 to S14).

  Next, it is determined whether there is a printer device. If there is a printer device that can be printed (Yes in S47), a printer device that transmits print data is selected according to the notified printer device information, and printing is performed on the printer device. Output data.

  For example, in the case of monochrome data, the print data is transferred to a monochrome high-speed printer, the printer device 32 that is a monochrome high-speed printer is selected (S48), and the print data is output to the selected printer device (S49). On the other hand, in the case of color print data, the printer device is determined from the print conditions by the search list. For example, when ADF is being used, print data is output to the corresponding printer device (S50, S51). If the ADF is being used, print data is output to the corresponding printer device (S50, S51). In the case of one piece of data that does not use ADF, print data is output to the corresponding printer device (S52, S53).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of printer apparatuses can be recognized as one printer apparatus from the MFP 1 by USB connection. In addition, since the USB host I / F having a hub function is installed in the printer apparatus, distributed printing processing can be realized only by the printer apparatus without using a network.

  In the above example, the MFP 1 is configured to use another connected printer device when the printing process is in progress. However, if an error such as no paper occurs in the MFP 1, another printer device is used. It is good also as composition to do.

Further, when the received data is imaging data such as a photographic image, for example, a sublimation type printer device may be connected by USB.
(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.

  This example is a case where the MFP 1 is not connected to the network and functions as a single printing device in the printing device shown in FIG. 1 described above. For example, the printer device 32 is an ink jet printer, and the printer device 33 is a color page printer. This is a case where the printer device 34 is configured as a monochrome page printer.

  In this case, when the image data read by the scanner 11 has a high image quality of, for example, 1200 DPI or more, a low-speed high-quality inkjet printer is selected. When the number of copies is 10 or more, a high-speed monochrome page printer is selected. Further, if the image is a color image, a color page printer is selected.

As described above, according to this example, by using the MFP 1 as a printing apparatus, it is possible to automatically perform print processing suitable for print image quality.
In the first and second embodiments, a USB device having a host function may be installed in the printer devices 32 to 34, and a printer device may be further connected to the printer device.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the type of printer described in the above embodiment and the type of print data input from the upper level, and an appropriate printer is selected according to the various types of print data input from the upper level. It can be automatically selected, transferred, and printed out. In other words, according to the resolution specification of print data input from the upper level, an optimum reproducible printer is automatically selected and transferred, and appropriate high-speed printing is performed according to the conditions for specifying the number of copies of print data input from the upper level. A wide range of compatible processing operations, such as automatically selecting and transferring a printer that can be transferred, and automatically selecting and transferring an optimal color sublimation printer when the print data input from the top is a photographic image, bother the user. It is done without.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of a printing apparatus for explaining an embodiment. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an MFP. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the MFP, focusing on the configuration of a print control unit. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration of a printer device that is USB-connected to an MFP. FIG. It is a figure explaining the whole flow at the time of explaining the distributed processing operation of this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation of this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation of this embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating specific processing of a printer search subroutine. It is a flowchart explaining the process which selects the monochrome high-speed printer searched by the search list. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of selecting a printer device in the case of color data. To do. It is a flowchart explaining the process at the time of receiving facsimile data. It is a flowchart explaining the process at the time of receiving scan data.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... MFP 2 ... Operation display section (operation panel)
3... Paper feed cassette 4... Handle 5... Paper discharge unit 11 .. scanner unit 12 .. FAX unit 13 .. print control unit (printer unit)
14. .. print engine unit 15 .. image data control unit 16 .. host connection unit 20 .. CPU
21. ROM (flash memory)
22..RAM
23 .. External storage device (hard disk etc.)
24..Printer control LSI
25 .. Expansion board I / F (USB host board)
26. ・ USB I / F (Printer Device LAN I / F)
30, 31. Computer (PC)
32, 33, 34..Printer device 37..Printer USB host I / F
38. USB memory 39 IC card reader writer 40 Image data transfer unit 41 Engine unit

Claims (5)

A printing section;
A connection interface for connecting a plurality of printers and having a host function;
Transmitting means for transmitting the received data to the corresponding printer device via the connection interface based on printing conditions of the received data when the printing unit is in operation;
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a multi-function printing apparatus.   3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition is stored in a recording unit that stores function information of the printer apparatus acquired in advance from the printer apparatus.   The received data is scan data, facsimile data, or print data from a host computer, and the printing conditions are set corresponding to a device that is a transmission source of the received data. The printing apparatus according to 2 or 3. A printing unit, a plurality of printers connected, and a connection interface having a host function;
Receive data reception processing,
A transmission process for transmitting the received data to a corresponding printer device via the connection interface based on a print condition of the received data when the printing unit is in operation;
A printing method characterized in that: