JP2008044313A - Printer and printer control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer or the like which can continuously process a plurality of pages, and can adequately handle paper for a subsequent page when paper discharging processing of an antecedent page and paper feeding processing of the subsequent page are simultaneously carried out. <P>SOLUTION: The printer carries out feeding of print paper for each page, printing of data on the fed print paper, and discharge of the print paper after printing, based on print data inclusive of image data. According to the operation of the printer, if paper of the subsequent page which is to be subsequently processed is fed prior to completion of processing of the antecedent page currently processed, the print paper fed into the printer is not discharged but retained in the printer even if image data for the subsequent page have not been acquired yet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer or the like that can process a plurality of pages continuously. In particular, when a preceding page discharge process and a succeeding page sheet feeding process are performed at the same time, the subsequent page sheet is appropriately treated. The present invention relates to a printer that can be used.

  Usually, in a printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer, when print data is received from a host computer or the like as a print request source, first, a paper as a print medium is supplied (paper fed), and the printing mechanism performs print processing on the paper. After that, the printed paper is discharged (discharged). When the print request reaches a plurality of pages, the process is repeatedly executed for each page. That is, the paper feed process for the next page is performed after the paper discharge process for the preceding page is completed.

With regard to such paper supply / discharge control, from the viewpoint of speeding up the processing and the like, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 proposes a technique for performing paper discharge processing for the preceding page and paper supply processing for the subsequent page at the same time. Such a proposal is based on the fact that when a print control device implemented in a host computer expands data based on a print request into actual image data, page information indicating that a subsequent page exists is added to the previous area of the actual image data. By sending the data to the printing apparatus, the preceding page is discharged and the succeeding page is fed at the same time.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-232065

  However, as described above, when the paper discharge process for the preceding page and the paper feed process for the subsequent page are performed at the same time, there may be no image data to be printed on the subsequent page. For example, there are cases where the succeeding page is only a line feed or page break information, or print data transmitted from the host computer is interrupted due to an instantaneous power failure, a network error, or the like.

  In this case, the above-described Patent Document 1 does not propose how to specifically treat the sheet of the subsequent page that has been fed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is a printer capable of processing a plurality of pages continuously, and processing of subsequent page paper when the discharge processing of the previous page and the paper supply processing of the subsequent page are performed at the same time. It is to provide a printer or the like that can appropriately perform the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, based on print data including image data, printing paper is fed for each page, printing is performed on the fed printing paper, In a printer that discharges printed paper after printing and executes processing, before the processing of the preceding page being processed is completed, the subsequent page to be processed next is fed. In addition, even if there is no image data for the subsequent page, the fed printing paper is left without being discharged.

  Further, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is that, when the type of the printing paper left without being discharged is a predetermined type, the image data is not received after the printing paper is fed. When a predetermined time elapses, the printing paper is discharged without performing the printing.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is characterized in that the predetermined type of the printing paper is for photography.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferable aspect is that the image data of the next page of the succeeding page is received in a state where the printing paper fed for the succeeding page is left without being discharged. If the type of the remaining printing paper and the type of the printing paper designated for the received image data are the same, the printing based on the received image data is performed on the remaining printing paper. If they are not the same, the remaining printing paper is discharged without performing the printing.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, a print sheet is fed for each page based on print data including image data, and printing is performed on the fed print sheet. In the printer control method for executing processing, which discharges printing paper after printing, before the processing of the preceding page being processed is completed, the feeding of the subsequent page to be executed next is performed. If it is performed, the printed paper that has been fed is left without being discharged even if there is no image data for the subsequent page.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printer to which the present invention is applied. The printer 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a printer according to the present embodiment, and when the succeeding page is fed during the processing of the preceding page based on the page information indicating that the succeeding page exists, the succeeding page is displayed. If there is no page image data, the succeeding page that has been fed is not discharged as it is, but is left in the printer for the next page, so as to make effective use of the fed sheet. Also, if the paper type is thick paper such as photographic paper, you do not want to stay in the printer for a long time. It is intended to properly handle the paper.

  The printer 2 according to the present embodiment is an inkjet printer as an example, and is configured to be connected to the host computer 1 via the network 3 and receive a print request from the host computer 1 as shown in FIG. Is done. The host computer 1 is provided with a driver for the printer 2. When a print request is made, the driver generates print data for the printer 2 and transmits it to the printer 2. At this time, in a normal case, when one print request job includes a plurality of pages, page information indicating that each page other than the last page has a subsequent page is added.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 includes a control unit 21 that is a so-called controller and each mechanism unit. First, the control unit 21 includes a data analysis unit 22 and a mechanism control unit 23. The data analysis unit 22 is a part that sequentially receives and stores print data transmitted from the host computer 1, sequentially analyzes the stored data, and issues an instruction based on the result to the mechanism control unit 23. The processing performed by the data analysis unit 22, particularly the processing of the subsequent page that is started during the processing of the previous page, is described in detail later. The data analysis unit 22 can be configured by a ROM that stores a program for instructing processing contents, a CPU that executes processing according to the program, a RAM (data buffer) that stores the received print data, and the like. .

  Next, the mechanism control unit 23 is a so-called mechanical controller, and is a part that controls the operation of each mechanism unit based on an instruction from the data analysis unit 22. For example, at the time of paper feed processing of the paper 4 as a printing medium, the ASF motor 25 is activated in accordance with a paper feed start instruction from the data analysis unit 22, and after the paper 4 has been transported to a predetermined position, the end of paper feed is 22 is notified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mechanism section of the printer 2 includes an ASF motor 25, a sensor 26, a printing mechanism 27, a PF motor 28, and the like. The ASF (auto sheet feeder) motor 25 is a motor for paper feed processing that is activated to guide the paper 4 in the paper feed tray 24 to a predetermined position near the printing mechanism 27.

  On the other hand, the PF (paper feed) motor 28 is a motor that is activated to transport the fed paper 4 in the paper discharge direction. During the transport process, the printing process is performed by the printing mechanism 27. The paper 4 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 29.

  The sensor 26 is a part for detecting the upper and lower ends of the paper 4 that is fed and transported. For example, the position of the paper 4 is detected by the sensor 26 and transported by the ASF motor 25 and the PF motor 28. Done on a quantity basis.

  In addition, since the printer 2 is an ink jet printer, the printing mechanism 27 has a head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink. The head is mounted on a carriage and ejects ink while moving on the paper 4 in the main scanning direction. To print.

  In the printer 2 according to the present embodiment having the configuration described above, the process is executed in the following procedure during the printing process.

  When a print request is made from an application in the host computer 1, the driver for the printer 2 of the host computer 1 generates print data and sequentially sends it to the printer 2 in a predetermined unit. For example, data transmission is performed every time image data for one pass of printing is generated.

  The data analysis unit 22 of the printer 2 sequentially stores the transmitted data in the data buffer, and sequentially reads and analyzes the stored data. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating print data for each page transmitted from the host computer 1 and processed by the data analysis unit 22.

  FIG. 2A illustrates the data of the first page of one job. As shown in the figure, normally, at the beginning of a job, a command (0) for initializing the internal state of the printer is added, followed by paper type information (1) indicating the type of paper 4 to be used, and the subsequent Page information (2) indicating the presence or absence of a page, image data (3) for a print image, and a discharge command (4) for discharging the page are generated. For the second and subsequent pages, data ((2)-(4)) excluding the initialization command (0) and the paper type information (1) is generated, and the last page (b) in FIG. As shown, an initialization command (5) is added. The page information (2) is generated whether or not there is a succeeding page as data indicating the presence or absence of the succeeding page, but may be added only when there is a succeeding page. The initialization command (5) on the last page of the job may be omitted. Further, although paper type information (1) is shown as various setting parameters at the time of printing processing, description of other information is omitted.

  The data analysis unit 22 first analyzes the initialization command (0) and issues an instruction for initialization. Then, it recognizes that the data is data for printing, and issues a paper feed instruction suitable for the paper type information (1). Upon receiving the instruction, the mechanism control unit 23 activates the ASF motor 25 to convey the paper 4 to a predetermined position, and notifies the data analysis unit 22 when the conveyance is completed. If a plurality of paper feed trays 24 are provided depending on the paper type, the paper feed tray 24 for the paper 4 indicated by the paper type information (1) is selected, and paper is fed therefrom. In addition, the read paper type information (1) is information common to jobs here, and is held in a predetermined location of the data buffer.

  In response to the notification, the data analysis unit 22 recognizes the completion of the print preparation and sequentially proceeds to the analysis of the next data (command). The page information (2) to be read next is used in a subsequent page feed determination described later, and is held in a predetermined location of the data buffer. Thereafter, the image data (3) is read out and analyzed in order, and a printing process on the fed paper 4 is instructed. The image data (3) appropriately includes a paper feed command, and a print instruction to the head based on the image data and a paper feed instruction of the paper 4 to the PF motor 28 are sequentially repeated.

  Thereafter, when the process for the image data (3) of the page is completed, the paper discharge command (4) is read out, and a paper discharge process for the printed paper 4 is instructed. In response to the instruction, the mechanism control unit 23 controls the PF motor 28 to discharge the printed paper 4 to the paper discharge tray 29. In this way, the process is executed for the print data for one page, and the process is executed in the same manner for the subsequent pages.

  Next, processing when a subsequent page is fed during processing of a preceding page, which is a feature of the printer 2, will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the subsequent page started during the processing of the previous page. The processing shown in FIG. 3 shows the contents performed by the data analysis unit 22. First, the data analysis unit 22 confirms that the currently processed page (previous page) has reached a predetermined position. Detect (step S1).

  Such detection is performed, for example, by recognizing that a predetermined amount of conveyance has been performed after the sensor 26 detects the lower end of the preceding page. The predetermined position is a position where the paper 4 for the next page (subsequent page) can be fed. For example, even if the subsequent page is fed at that time, This is the position where the top edge does not collide with the bottom edge of the preceding page.

  The position of the preceding page varies depending on the design of the printer 2. For example, the upper end position of the paper 4 after the paper feeding process is close to the printing position, and the printing process is not finished regardless of the printing range of the preceding page. In the printer that does not reach the predetermined position, the position detection (S1) is performed at the timing when the printing process of the preceding page is completed. Therefore, after the processing of the image data (3) of the preceding page is completed, the data analysis unit 22 performs the detection at the timing of processing the paper discharge command (4), for example. If the data shown in FIG. 2A is data of the preceding page, for example, the detection is performed at the timing indicated by the arrow B in the figure.

  On the other hand, in the printer in which the upper end position of the paper 4 after the paper feeding process is considerably nearer than the printing position and may reach the predetermined position before the printing process of the preceding page is completed, the printing range of the preceding page This is the timing for performing the detection during the image data processing. If the data shown in FIG. 2A is data of the preceding page, for example, the detection is performed at the timing indicated by the arrow A in the figure.

  When it is detected that the preceding page has reached the predetermined position in this way (Yes in step S1), the data analysis unit 22 then stores the page information (2) held for the preceding page. To determine whether or not there is a subsequent page (step S2). If the page information (2) indicates that there is a subsequent page (Yes in step S2), the data analysis unit 22 instructs the start of feeding the subsequent page (step S3). On the other hand, when the page information (2) indicates that there is no subsequent page (No in step S2), the subsequent page is not processed during the previous page processing, and thus is started during the processing of the previous page. The subsequent page processing ends.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, (a) and (b) are the first and second pages of one job consisting of two pages, and (b-1) and (b-2) The second page is a page with only line feed information, and the second page data of the job is not received for some reason. In this example, when the preceding page is the page shown in (a), since the page information (2) indicates that there is a subsequent page, the subsequent page, that is, (b), (b-1), Alternatively, the start of feeding the page shown in (b-2) is instructed. If the preceding page is the page shown in (b), the page information (2) indicates that there is no subsequent page, and thus the process ends as described above.

  After the instruction to feed the succeeding page (S3), the data analysis unit 22 waits for reception of image data to be printed on the fed paper 4 as processing for the succeeding page (step S5). ) After feeding the subsequent page, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S4). The predetermined time is a time when there is no problem even if the paper is kept in the printer when a thick paper such as photo paper is fed. For example, a time of 1 minute is set in advance. If photo paper or the like is retained in the printer for more than this time, the paper 4 may curl and cause troubles during printing.

  Thereafter, before the predetermined time has elapsed (No in step S4), if image data is received (Yes in step S5), the received image data should be printed on the sheet 4 for the subsequent page that has been fed. The process proceeds to step S8.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, when the page shown in (b) is a subsequent page, the image data is normally received within the predetermined time, so that the process proceeds to step S8 as described above, and data analysis is performed. The unit 22 checks whether or not the type of paper 4 being fed is the same as the paper type specified for the received image data. In this case, since the succeeding page sheet 4 is fed and the succeeding page data is received, it is naturally determined that the sheet types are the same (Yes in step S8). Printing with the image data is instructed (step S9). Thereafter, when the printing process is completed, the paper 4 is discharged by a paper discharge command after the image data (step S10).

  On the other hand, when the subsequent page is shown in (b-1) of FIG. 2, since the image data is only line feed information, the image data and the paper discharge command (the part indicated by X in the figure) are received after the data is received. Deleted. This is a control that is performed in order to omit paper feeding for pages for which there is no actual print target, thereby eliminating the need for paper ejection. Therefore, in this case, it is determined that the image data for the subsequent page has not been received (No in step S5).

  When the subsequent page is shown in (b-2) of FIG. 2, the data of the subsequent page as shown in (b) of FIG. The transmission from the host computer 1 is interrupted due to an error of the network 3 at the timing (for example, the timing indicated by C in the figure), and the data of the page (the part indicated by Y in the figure) is not received at all. It is a case. Also in such a case, it is determined that the image data for the subsequent page has not been received (No in step S5).

  Even in the case where the image data of the subsequent page is deleted after reception or does not exist because it is not received, as in the case shown in (b-1) and (b-2) of FIG. As described above, without receiving the paper 4 for the subsequent page that has been fed, it waits until the predetermined time elapses until the predetermined time elapses. Therefore, if the print data for the next job as shown in FIG. 2C is transmitted to the printer 2 at a relatively early timing, and the image data is received before the predetermined time elapses ( In step S5 (Yes), the process proceeds to step S8 to perform the printing process using the sheet 4 fed for the subsequent page for the next page.

  On the other hand, when there is no image data of the subsequent page and the predetermined time has passed without receiving the image data of the next page (Yes in step S4), the data analysis unit 22 determines that the type of the fed paper is If it is a photo paper (Yes in step S6), an instruction to discharge the paper 4 of the subsequent page that has been fed is issued (step S10), and the paper 4 is discharged without being subjected to printing processing. On the other hand, if the type of the fed paper is not photo paper such as plain paper (No in step S6), the data analysis unit 22 waits for image data to be received without ejecting the fed paper 4. (Step S7). The type of the fed paper is determined based on the paper type information (1) held in the data buffer.

  If the image data is received (Yes in step S7), the process proceeds to step S8 to perform the printing process on the paper 4 fed for the subsequent page. Note that the image data received in this case is normally data of the next page of the succeeding page as shown in FIG. 2C, but the communication error is canceled and the data for the succeeding page is delayed. It can be considered that it is received.

  In this way, when the image data of the next page of the succeeding page is received within the predetermined time or after the predetermined time has elapsed, the data analyzing unit 22 reads the paper 4 for the subsequent page being fed. It is checked whether or not the type is the same as the paper type designated for the received image data (step S8). Specifically, it is checked whether the paper type information transmitted for each job matches. When (b-1) or (b-2) in FIG. 2 is a subsequent page, the paper type information in FIG. 2 (a) and the paper type information in FIG. 2 (c) are compared.

  If the paper types are the same as a result of the check (Yes in step S8), the data analysis unit 22 instructs printing using the image data using the paper 4 for the subsequent page (step S9). Thereafter, when the printing process is completed, the paper 4 is discharged by a paper discharge command after the image data (step S10).

  On the other hand, if the paper types are not the same (No in step S8), the paper 4 on the subsequent page that has been fed is instructed to be discharged (step S10), and the paper 4 is discharged without being subjected to printing processing.

  As described above, the subsequent page process started during the previous page process ends. Note that the next page after the fed subsequent page does not need to be the page of the next job as illustrated in FIG. In addition, although the paper type to be discharged after a predetermined time has been photo paper in the above description, it is preferable to process the same type for paper types that do not want to stay in the printer for a long time.

  As described above, in the printer 2 according to the present embodiment, when the succeeding page is fed during the processing of the preceding page based on the page information with the succeeding page, there is no image data of the succeeding page. Also, the fed paper 4 for the succeeding page is left without being discharged, and if the paper type matches, it is used for printing the next page. Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the paper for subsequent pages when the paper supply / discharge parallel processing is performed.

  For paper of a type that does not want to stay in the printer for a long time, such as photo paper, if the image data to be printed is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the paper is discharged without performing printing processing. As a result, various troubles that occur when the paper 4 curls and contacts the head can be avoided.

  As described above, the printer 2 can appropriately perform the subsequent page sheet processing when the preceding page discharge process and the subsequent page sheet feeding process are performed at the same time.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating print data for each page transmitted from the host computer 1 and processed by the data analysis unit 22. FIG. It is the flowchart illustrated about the process of the subsequent page started during the process of a preceding page.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer, 2 Printer, 3 Network, 4 Paper, 21 Control part, 22 Data analysis part, 23 Mechanism control part, 24 Paper feed tray, 25 ASF motor, 26 Sensor, 27 Printing mechanism, 28 PF motor, 29 Paper discharge tray

Claims (5)

This is a printer that executes processing that feeds printing paper for each page based on print data including image data, performs printing on the fed printing paper, and discharges the printed printing paper. And
If the feeding of the subsequent page to be executed next is performed before the processing of the preceding page being processed is completed, the paper feeding is performed even if there is no image data for the subsequent page. A printer characterized in that the printed paper is left without being discharged. In claim 1,
If the type of printing paper left without being discharged is a predetermined type, the printing is performed when a predetermined time has elapsed without receiving the image data since the printing paper was fed. A printer characterized in that the printing paper is discharged without the need to perform the operation. In claim 2,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined type of printing paper is for photography. In any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3,
When the image data of the next page of the succeeding page is received in a state where the print sheet fed for the succeeding page is left without being discharged, the type of the remaining print sheet and the If the type of printing paper designated for the received image data is the same, the printing based on the received image data is performed on the remaining printing paper, and if not, the remaining printing paper A printer that discharges paper without performing the printing. Control of a printer that performs processing, which feeds printing paper for each page based on print data including image data, performs printing on the fed printing paper, and discharges the printed printing paper A method,
If the feeding of the subsequent page to be executed next is performed before the processing of the preceding page being processed is completed, the paper feeding is performed even if there is no image data for the subsequent page. A method for controlling a printer, wherein the printed paper is left without being discharged.

Images