JP2009143212A - Print processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of printing unevenness caused by the stop of a print head in the middle of printing in an ink-jet printer. <P>SOLUTION: The ink-jet printer is provided with a print job storage means, and image data processing speed is compared with image data receiving speed. When image data receiving is not in time, printing is performed after receiving all jobs into the printer. Since data transfer speed differs according to system environment, a host computer is contacted about an actual printing method. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print processing system including an inkjet printer capable of storing a print job and a host computer.

  In printing in an inkjet printer, a print image is formed by ejecting ink when the print head moves in the horizontal and vertical directions on the paper. If the head is stopped for a long time during printing, the degree of drying of the ink in the already printed portion is different from that in the case where the head operates smoothly, resulting in uneven printing results.

  In printers that cannot store jobs, this could not be avoided due to limitations in the processing speed of the printer and the data transfer speed from the host computer.

  The processing speed in the printer varies depending on the print mode. The print mode is a combination of media type, print quality, input resolution of image data to the printer, print direction (one-way or two-way), number of passes, image processing profile, and the like. Usually, there are a plurality of print modes depending on the print quality of one medium.

  There are PackBits, JPEG, and the like compression methods that have a data transfer rate and a compression method that affect the image data reception speed.

  The data transfer rate varies depending on the interface and protocol. Examples of the interface include USB, IEEE1394, and network. Protocols include LPR, AppleTalk on the network, and IEEE1284.4 on USB. The transfer speed in the network is characterized by fluctuation depending on traffic.

By the way, there is a system for storing a job in a storage means such as a hard disk for the purpose of early opening of the host computer. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for instructing from a host whether or not to save a job on a hard disk for the purpose of opening the host computer early and improving the processing speed.
JP 2000-259373 A

  However, the conventional technology has no viewpoint for preventing printing unevenness that occurs when the head stops during printing, which is peculiar to inkjet printers.

  The present invention relates to a print processing method including a unit configured to prevent printing unevenness that occurs when a head stops during printing in a system including an inkjet printer including a print job storage unit that stores a print job and a host computer. The purpose is to provide.

  In the present invention, in a print processing system comprising an inkjet printer having a print job storage means for storing a print job and a host computer, the image data processing speed required for the designated print mode and the connection format with the host are obtained. By comparing the image data reception speed, which is the sum of the data transfer speed and the data expansion speed obtained from the compression method specified in the job, to determine whether the image data reception speed is in time for the image data processing speed. To do. If it is determined that the data reception is not in time, printing is started after all jobs are received and stored in the print job storage means. At that time, since the data transfer rate is not constant depending on the traffic situation in the case of a network, it is determined using an average rate. For this reason, it is not always accurate to determine whether the image data reception speed is in time for the data processing speed. Therefore, when the ink jet printer determines that the data reception is not in time, the host computer inquires whether to start printing after receiving all the jobs. Then, it is determined whether to start printing after all print jobs are received according to the user's judgment.

  According to the present invention, there is an increased possibility of preventing uneven printing that occurs when the head stops in the middle of printing, and a printed matter without unevenness can be obtained. Alternatively, there is a high possibility that paper waste due to reprinting can be eliminated.

[Example 1]
FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of the present invention.

  The computer 100 is connected to the inkjet printer 120 by communication means 110 such as a USB or a network. The computer 100 creates a print job 101 and transmits it to the inkjet printer 120. Further, in response to an inquiry from the printing method inquiry means 124 in the inkjet printer 120 described later, a printing method instruction means for instructing a printing method (whether to print after receiving all jobs or to print while receiving a job) 102. As a method of instructing the printing method, for example, the printing method is displayed on the screen and the user selects it.

  The inkjet printer 120 includes a print job storage unit 121 that stores the print job 101 transmitted from the host computer 100, an image data processing speed storage unit 122 that stores an image data processing speed necessary for each print mode, and a host computer. 100 data transfer speed storage means 125 for storing the data transfer speed for each connection type, data expansion speed storage means 123 for storing the data expansion speed required for each compression method, and a printing method (job Printing method inquiry means 124 for inquiring whether printing is performed after reception or whether printing is performed while receiving a job).

  FIG. 3 shows stored image data processing speed data as an example.

  130 is an example of “image data processing speed” data stored in the image data processing speed storage means 122. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the print modes are displayed as A, B, C, D, and E, but actually, the media type, quality, resolution, number of passes, profile, and the like correspond.

  131 is an example of “data expansion speed” data stored in the data expansion speed storage means 123.

  Reference numeral 132 is an example of “data transfer rate” data stored in the data transfer rate storage means 125.

  The inkjet printer 120 uses the image data processing speed required for the print mode specified in the received job, the data transfer speed required from the connection format with the host, and the data expansion speed required from the compression method specified in the job. Is compared with the image data reception speed, which is the total speed, to determine whether the image data reception speed is in time for the image data processing speed. If it is determined that the data cannot be received in time, the host computer is inquired whether printing is performed after all the jobs are received and stored in the print job storage means, and printing is performed in accordance with the instruction.

  An example of a method for determining whether the image data reception speed is in time for the image data processing speed will be described.

For example, if the print mode is D, the compression method is PackBits, the connection type is network, and the protocol is LPR,
Image data processing speed = 2Mbps
Image data reception speed = 0.9Mbps + 2Mbps = 2.9Mbps
Thus, the image data reception speed is in time for the image data processing speed.

If the print mode is D, the compression method is PackBits, the connection type is network, and the protocol is AppleTalk,
Image data processing speed = 2Mbps
Image data reception speed = 0.9Mbps + 0.5Mbps = 1.4Mbps
Therefore, the image data reception speed is not in time for the image data processing speed.

  The printer 120 has means for performing other functions such as image processing, but is not described here because it is not essential in the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing print processing of the ink jet printer in this embodiment.

  The print job 101 is received from the host computer 100 (S210), and the print mode and data compression format are acquired from the print job 101 (S220). Further, the inkjet printer 120 acquires the connection type and protocol that are currently receiving the print job 101 (S230).

  The ink jet printer 120 acquires the image data processing speed necessary for the print mode from the image data processing speed storage means 122 and the data expansion speed storage means 123 for the data expansion speed corresponding to the data compression format.

  Further, the data transfer rate corresponding to the connection format and protocol is acquired from the data transfer rate storage means 125.

  Here, the acquired image data processing speed is compared with the image data reception speed which is the total speed of the acquired data transfer speed and data expansion speed, and whether the image data reception speed is in time for the image data processing speed. Judging.

  If it is determined that the data can be received in time (S240: Yes), printing is performed while receiving the data (S280). If it is determined that the data cannot be received in time (S240: No), the host computer is inquired whether printing is to be performed after all jobs are received (S250). If you are instructed to print after receiving data (S260: Yes), print after receiving all the data (S270) .If you are instructed to print while receiving data (S260: No) ), Printing is performed while receiving data (S280).

[Industrial applicability]
The present invention can be used in a printing system including an inkjet printer capable of storing a print job and a host computer.

1 shows a system configuration in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating print processing of the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment. An example of stored image data processing speed data.

Explanation of symbols

100 computers
101 print jobs
102 Printing method instruction means
110 Communication means
120 inkjet printer
121 Print job storage means
122 Image data processing speed storage means
123 Data decompression speed storage means
124 Printing method inquiry means
125 Data transfer rate storage means
130 “Image data processing speed” data example
131 "Data decompression speed" data example
132 Data transfer rate data example

Claims (1)

Print job storage means for storing print jobs, image data processing speed storage means for storing image data processing speed required for each print mode, and data transfer speed storage for storing data transfer speed for each connection format with the host computer A print processing system using an inkjet printer, comprising: a means, a data expansion speed storage means for storing a data expansion speed required for each compression method, and a printing method inquiry means for inquiring a printing method to a host computer;
Compare the image data processing speed required for the print mode specified in the received job with the image data reception speed, which is the sum of the data transfer speed and the data expansion speed, and receive the image data from the above image data processing speed. A print processing system characterized in that, when the speed is low, all of the jobs are received by a printer and stored in a print job storage means, and an inquiry is made to the host computer as to whether or not to perform printing.

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