JP2009015356A - Printing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus that can reduce burden in setting a form kind for a printer without losing a desired result as a product of the printer. <P>SOLUTION: The printing apparatus, which is equipped with a means for selecting a paper-feed tray, includes: a means for prompting to input a print job from a host device before setting a form in the paper-feed tray of the printing apparatus if paper-feed tray selection is for a manual-bypass tray; and a form kind setting means for setting, to the printer, a form kind set for the print job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having means for receiving a print job from a host apparatus via a host interface.

  Conventionally, in office printers, it is common to employ not only local connection such as USB but also network connection as a host interface, and simultaneous use by a plurality of users is possible. In addition, with the simultaneous use described above, it is necessary to set the paper type and the like in both the host device and the printer. Since this setting is troublesome, the following inventions have been proposed.

  If the paper size setting value in the printer and the paper size setting value in the print data are different from each other, the host interface prompts the user to set paper in the manual feed tray if the connection is local. On the other hand, if it is a network connection, an invention for reducing / enlarging with a size set in a printer is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

If the paper size setting value in the printer and the paper size setting value in the print job are different from each other, the paper tray setting value specified in the print job is the same as that in the print job. Rewrite temporarily. This invention is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP 09-297668 A JP 2006-224398 A

  However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that a desired print result cannot be obtained because the paper size set in the printer is reduced / enlarged.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 2, only the print job is temporarily rewritten with the set value of the print job, so that printing is performed with a non-optimal print setting on a medium set by another person in a network connection environment. there is a possibility. Therefore, it is not useful as a product (printed material). Even though the paper type actually set in the bypass tray has been changed, the printer settings are overwritten only temporarily. Etc. are displayed every time and are troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of reducing the troublesomeness of setting a paper type in a printer without losing a desired result as a product of the printer.

According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus having means for selecting a paper feed tray, if the paper feed tray selection is a manual feed tray, a print job from the host device is set before setting paper in the paper feed tray of the printing apparatus. Means for prompting the user to put In addition, a paper type setting unit is provided for setting the paper type set in the print job to the printer.

According to the present invention, the paper set in the printer is not used by others, and the paper type setting in the printer can be omitted.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus PR1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The printing apparatus PR1 includes a CPU 1, a display unit 2 such as an LCD, an input unit 3 such as a switch or key, a printing unit 4, a supply / recovery unit 5, a paper feed unit 6, and memories 7, 8, 9 A local connection host interface 10 and a network connection host interface 11. The printing device PR1 is connected to a host device 12 such as a personal computer.

  The printing unit 4 includes a print head that ejects ink to perform printing, a carriage for mounting the print head, and a motor for driving the carriage.

  The supply / recovery unit 5 includes an ink tank that stores ink, a tube that supplies ink to each print head, a motor, and the like. The paper feed unit 6 is a roll tray, a cassette tray, a manual feed tray, or the like.

  The memory 7 is a ROM, a flash memory, or the like that stores modules that are less frequently rewritten. The memory 8 is a RAM used mainly for a work area, a variable, and the like of a program stored in the memory 7. The memory 9 is an EEPROM used for storing a variable whose value is to be held even in the power-off state, and is a so-called NVRAM.

  The local connection host interface 10 is a USB or the like.

  In Example 1, the display unit 2 and the input unit 3 are collectively referred to as a panel. The firmware stored in the memory 7 is a program for controlling the printing apparatus, and includes programs corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  The reception buffer secured in the memory 8 stores a job (print data) received from the host device 12 via the local connection host interface 10 or the network connection host interface 11. The raster data read from the reception buffer is decompressed (if compressed) and stored in the print buffer secured in the memory 8. Note that the reception buffer and the print buffer are not particularly important in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the main body of the printing apparatus PR1.

  The printing apparatus PR1 includes a display unit 2 and an input unit 3.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus PR1.

  The first embodiment operates as follows in a printing apparatus having means for selecting a paper feed tray and means for setting the type of paper set in each paper feed tray.

  When the manual feed tray is selected in the paper feed tray selection, a message prompting the user to input a print job is displayed first. If the roll tray is selected, a message confirming that the current paper type setting is sufficient. Is displayed. If it is a cassette tray, it operates to use the current paper type setting.

  If the host interface is connected to the network, it operates to execute a paper type mismatch determination. If it is a local connection and the paper feed tray designation is the manual feed tray, the paper type setting of the printer is overwritten with the paper type designated in the print job. If it is a roll tray or cassette tray, the paper type setting of the printer is overwritten with the paper type specified in the print job only during the printing period of the print job.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, a process for attaching paper to each paper feed tray will be described.

  For example, in the case of a roll or manual feed, the paper attachment process is a process in which a paper is inserted into each paper feed tray, and the printing apparatus PR1 conveys the paper to make it ready for printing. In the case of a cassette, for example, it indicates that a cassette tray in which paper is set is mounted on the printing apparatus PR1. Each paper feed tray is not particularly assumed because it does not assume a special shape.

  In S1, it is determined whether or not the sheet is attached to the roll tray. When this determination is made, for example, a method of detecting a sheet by a sensor (not shown) at the entrance of the roll tray is assumed. If it is a roll tray, the process proceeds to S2, and if it is not a roll, the process proceeds to S7.

  In S2, a confirmation message for determining whether the paper type currently set in the printing apparatus PR1 is sufficient is displayed on the display unit 2. The display content may be an example indicated by S2, or the actual paper type may be actually displayed. Through the processing in S2 to S4, the paper type setting in S5 can be omitted.

  In S3, the type of key input from the input unit 3 is acquired.

  In S4, it is determined whether or not the key input in S3 is a key indicating OK. The input key type acquisition method in S3 and the key indicating OK are system-dependent. If the OK key is pressed, the process proceeds to S6, and if any other key is pressed, the process proceeds to S5. The types of keys other than the above are dependent on the system, and a dedicated key may be provided, or a key other than the OK key may be used literally.

  In S5, since a key other than the OK key is pressed in S4, the paper type is set. As this setting method, for example, it is possible to display on the display unit 2 so that a paper type can be selected, select a desired paper type using the input unit 3, and store it in the memory 9.

  In S6, a process for attaching a sheet to the roll tray is performed based on the sheet type setting. The “process for attaching a sheet” is a process for mainly conveying a sheet and setting it at a printable position, and is not particularly important in the first embodiment.

  In S7, it is determined whether or not the paper is attached to the cassette tray. When determining this, for example, a sensor (not shown) detects that the cassette tray is mounted on the printing apparatus PR1. If it is a cassette tray, the process proceeds to S8, and if it is a manual feed tray, the process proceeds to S9.

  In S8, a process for attaching a sheet to the cassette tray is performed based on the sheet type setting. The paper attachment process here is a cassette tray and is not particularly performed in the first embodiment, but various initialization processes may be performed depending on the system.

  In S9, it is determined whether or not the local connection host interface 10 or the network connection host interface 11 has received the print job in which the manual feed tray is designated as the paper feed tray. If received, the process proceeds to S11, and if not received, the process proceeds to S10.

  In S10, since the print job has not been received, first, a message is displayed on the display unit 2 so that the host apparatus 12 transmits the print job.

  In S11, the paper type specified in the print job received in S9 is set in the printing apparatus PR1. With the processes of S9 to S11, the paper type setting shown in S5 can be omitted for a manual feed tray.

  In S12, a process for attaching a sheet to the manual feed tray is performed based on the sheet type setting. The paper attachment process here is a process that mainly transports the paper and sets it at a printable position, similarly to the process of S6, and is not particularly important in the first embodiment.

  If the tray is selected as a manual feed tray by the above processing, first, a message prompting the user to submit a print job is displayed, so that the paper set by the printer PR1 is not used by others. Further, the paper type setting in the printing apparatus PR1 can be omitted. If it is a roll tray, a message for checking whether the current paper type setting is acceptable is displayed.

  This avoids the possibility of damaging a desired product and simplifies the paper type setting in the printing apparatus PR1. In the case of a cassette tray, the paper type setting in the printing apparatus PR1 can be omitted by using the current paper type setting.

  Next, in the first embodiment, operations of mismatch determination and paper type setting will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operations of mismatch determination and paper type setting in the first embodiment.

  In S21, it is determined whether the interface with the host device 12 is the local connection host interface 10 or the network connection host interface 11. If it is a network connection, the process proceeds to S22, and if it is a local connection, the process proceeds to S23.

  In S22, a paper type mismatch determination is performed. In this determination process, for example, it is determined whether or not the print job and the paper size and type set in the printing apparatus PR1 match. By the processes in S21 and S22, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of printing with a non-optimal print setting on a medium set by another person in a network connection environment in which a plurality of people share one printing apparatus PR1. .

  In S23, it is determined whether the paper feed tray designation of the print job is a roll tray or a cassette tray. If they match, the process proceeds to S24, and if it is a manual feed tray, the process proceeds to S25.

  In S24, only for the print job, the paper type specified in the print job is set in the printing apparatus PR1. With this process, the paper type setting can be omitted in the printing apparatus PR1 that does not execute the series of processes S9 to S11 shown in FIG.

  In S25, the paper type specified in the print job is set in the printing apparatus PR1. With this process, even in the printing apparatus PR1 that does not execute the series of processes S9 to S11 shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to omit paper type setting and to prevent an error relating to mismatching from being displayed each time.

  As described above, if the host interface is a local connection and the paper feed tray designation is the manual feed tray, the paper type setting of the printing apparatus PR1 is overwritten with the paper type designated in the print job, thereby making the paper Type setting can be omitted. In addition, it is possible to avoid displaying an error related to a mismatch every time. In the case of a roll tray or cassette tray, the paper type setting may be omitted by overwriting the paper type setting of the printing apparatus PR1 with the paper type specified in the print job only during the printing period of the print job. it can.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the paper set on the printing device PR1 by itself cannot be used by others, and the paper type setting in the printing device PR1 can be omitted.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the possibility of damaging a desired product, and to simplify the paper type setting in the printing apparatus PR1.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the paper type setting in the printing apparatus PR1 can be omitted.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in the case of local connection, the paper type setting in the printing apparatus PR1 is omitted, and in the case of network connection, there is a possibility of printing with a print setting that is not optimal for the media set by another person. Can be prevented.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the paper type setting in the printing apparatus PR1 can be omitted.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the paper type setting in the printing apparatus PR1 can be omitted, and it is possible to avoid displaying an error relating to mismatch each time.

  In other words, in the printing apparatus having the means for selecting the paper feed tray in the first embodiment, if the paper feed tray selection is a manual feed tray, the host is set before setting the paper in the paper feed tray of the printing apparatus. Means for prompting the user to submit a print job from the apparatus; Further, this is an example of a printing apparatus having a paper type setting means for setting a paper type set in a print job in a printer.

  Further, in the above embodiment, in a printing apparatus having a unit for selecting a paper feed tray and a unit for setting the type of paper set in each paper feed tray, if the paper feed tray selection is a roll tray, And means for checking whether the current paper type setting is sufficient. If the current paper type setting is sufficient, the printer has means for omitting the paper type setting of the printer.

  In the above embodiment, in a printing apparatus having means for selecting a paper feed tray and means for setting the paper type set in each paper feed tray, if the paper feed tray selection is a cassette tray, Means for operating to use the paper type setting of the printer.

  In the above embodiment, if the host interface is a local connection, the mismatch determination between the paper type specified in the print job and the paper type set in the printing apparatus is omitted, and if the host interface is a network connection, the mismatch determination is performed. A printing apparatus having means for executing.

  The above-described embodiment is a printing apparatus having means for overwriting the paper type specified in the print job with the paper type setting of the printer when the host interface is a local connection and the paper feed tray designation is the manual feed tray. .

  In the above embodiment, if the host interface is a local connection and the paper feed tray designation is a roll tray or a cassette tray, the paper type of the printer depends on the paper type specified in the print job only during the printing period of the print job. Overwrite settings.

Moreover, the said Example can be grasped | ascertained as invention of a method. In other words, in the above-described embodiment, in the control method of a printing apparatus including a unit for selecting a paper feed tray, if the paper feed tray selection is a manual feed tray, before setting paper in the paper feed tray of the printing apparatus, And a step of prompting the user to input a print job from the host device. The above embodiment is an example of a control method of a printing apparatus having a paper type setting step for setting a paper type set in a print job in a printer.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus PR1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the main body of printing apparatus PR1. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus PR1. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of mismatch determination and paper type setting in the first exemplary embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

PR1 ... Printing device,
1 ... CPU,
2 ... display part,
3 ... Input section,
4 ... printing section,
5 ... Supply / Recovery Department,
6 ... paper feed unit,
7 ... Memory,
8 ... Memory,
9 ... Memory,
10 ... Locally connected host interface,
11 ... Network connection host interface,
12: Host device.

Claims (7)

In a printing apparatus comprising means for selecting a paper feed tray,
Means for prompting the user to submit a print job from the host device before setting the paper in the paper feed tray of the printing device if the paper feed tray is selected as a manual feed tray;
Paper type setting means for setting the paper type set in the print job to the printer;
A printing apparatus comprising: In a printing apparatus comprising means for selecting a paper feed tray and means for setting the paper type set in each paper feed tray,
Means for checking whether the current paper type setting is sufficient if the selection of the paper feed tray is a roll tray;
If the current paper type setting is sufficient, means to omit the paper type setting of the printer;
A printing apparatus comprising: In a printing apparatus comprising means for selecting a paper feed tray and means for setting the paper type set in each paper feed tray,
If the selection of the paper feed tray is a cassette tray, the printing apparatus has means for operating to use the current paper type setting of the printer.   If the host interface is a local connection, there is a means for omitting the mismatch determination between the paper type specified in the print job and the paper type set in the printing apparatus, and if the host interface is a network connection, there is means for executing the mismatch determination. A printing apparatus characterized by that.   When the host interface is a local connection and the paper feed tray designation is a manual feed tray, the printing apparatus has means for overwriting the paper type designated in the print job with the paper type setting of the printer.   If the host interface is a local connection and the paper feed tray is specified as a roll tray or cassette tray, the printer paper type setting is overwritten only by the paper type specified in the print job only during the print job printing period. A printing apparatus comprising: In a control method of a printing apparatus provided with means for selecting a paper feed tray,
If the selection of the paper feed tray is a manual feed tray, a step of prompting the user to input a print job from the host device before setting paper in the paper feed tray of the printing apparatus;
A paper type setting process for setting the paper type set in the print job to the printer;
A control method for a printing apparatus, comprising:

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