JP2009214958A - Recording medium storing case and printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically set a size and a type of a recording medium without adding a sensor, and surely obtaining a remaining number of recording media in a printing device. <P>SOLUTION: This printing device comprises paper feeding means capable of setting a recording medium storing case or only a recording medium. When the recording medium storing case is set, a size and a type of the recording medium can be automatically set by reading information stored in a storage means provided to the storing medium storing case. Also, the remaining number of the recording media in the recording medium storing case can be surely obtained by writing to the information stored in the storage means provided to the recording medium storing case, for each printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium storage case and a printing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention has a sheet feeding unit that can set not only a recording medium but also a recording medium storage case, and is stored in a storage unit of the recording medium storage case. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus in which the size and type of a recording medium can be automatically set according to the information being stored, and the remaining number of recording medium storage cases can be managed.

  In electrophotographic and ink jet printing apparatuses, recording media of various sizes and types can be set as output paper. In order to deal with such various recording media, the printing apparatus is provided with means for allowing the user to set the size and type, and is equipped with a sensor that can detect the size and type.

  However, the former method has a problem that the print quality deteriorates or a jam occurs due to an incorrect setting by the user, and the latter method has a limitation on the recording medium that can be handled, and printing is performed because many sensors are mounted. There is a problem that the cost of the device itself becomes high.

  Depending on the recording medium, the print quality may be degraded by direct touching by the user, and the user needs to be careful when setting it on the paper feeding means, which reduces convenience.

  Further, in the conventional printing apparatus, the remaining number of set recording media cannot be detected or only a rough remaining amount can be detected. Accurately grasping the remaining number of sheets is important in that the user can predict paper out during printing before printing.

Regarding such a problem, in Patent Document 1, a procedure for setting the type of the recording medium by the user is simplified by putting the recording medium in the case and providing an identification symbol on the case, and a method for solving the above problem It becomes. However, in view of user convenience, it is preferable that the size and type of the recording medium are automatically set, and the remaining number of sheets problem mentioned above has not been solved.
JP 2003-220747 A

  As described above, various recording media can be set in the printing apparatus. On the other hand, if the size and type of the recording medium are not set correctly, there are problems that the print quality is deteriorated and a jam occurs. There is also a problem that the remaining capacity of the recording medium cannot be detected accurately. If a sensor for detecting these is added, there is a problem that the printing apparatus itself is expensive.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to automatically set the size and type of a recording medium without adding a sensor in a printing apparatus, and to accurately grasp the remaining number of recording media.

The invention of claim 1 is a recording medium storage case comprising storage means capable of storing a recording medium, and storage means for storing the size of the recording medium, the type of the recording medium, the number of recording media, and the like.
Means for communicating with the printing device;
The information stored in the storage means can be read and written according to instructions from the printing apparatus.

The invention of claim 2 is a data input means for receiving input data, an input data storage means for storing the input data, and print data generation for generating print data from the input data stored in the input data storage means Means, print data storage means for storing the print data, image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium based on the print data stored in the print data storage means, and paper feeding means for setting the recording medium And a setting device capable of setting the size and type of the recording medium,
A paper supply unit that can set only a recording medium storage case or a recording medium, an information reading unit that reads information stored in a storage unit included in the recording medium storage case of claim 1, and the recording medium storage An information writing means for writing information to the storage means provided in the case;
When only the recording medium is set, a display prompting the user to set the size or type of the recording medium is displayed. When the recording medium storage case is set, the memory provided in the recording medium storage case By reading the information stored in the means, the size and type of the recording medium are automatically set, and the information is written in the storage means provided in the recording medium storage case for each printing, so that the recording medium storage case The number of recording media stored in the storage is managed.

  In the present invention, as will be described in the following embodiments, the printing apparatus includes a printing apparatus including a recording medium storage case or a paper feeding unit that can set only the recording medium, and the recording medium storage case is set. In this case, it is possible to automatically set the size and type of the recording medium by reading the information stored in the storage means provided in the recording medium storage case. In addition, the remaining number of recording medium storage cases can be accurately grasped by writing in the information stored in the storage means provided in the recording medium storage case for each printing.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  A recording medium is stored in a recording medium storage case. A storage means is provided in the recording medium storage case, and information on the size and type of the stored recording medium and the remaining number are recorded. The printing apparatus has paper feeding means and can set a recording medium. In addition, the recording medium storage case can be set. When the recording medium storage case is set, the printing apparatus reads the information on the size and type of the recording medium from the storage unit of the recording medium storage case, and sets the size and type of the recording medium without causing the user to set it. Further, every time printing is performed from the paper supply unit in which the recording medium storage case is set, the remaining number stored in the storage unit of the recording medium storage case is reduced. The remaining number can be notified to the user by reading the remaining number stored in the storage means of the recording medium storage case as necessary.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 102 is roughly divided into a controller unit 103 and a printer engine unit 104. The controller unit 103 receives job data input from the external device 101 and performs printing. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller unit 103 receives the input data. The input buffer 201 receives the input data, and the input data stored in the input buffer 201 print data. Various kinds of information exchange with the rendering unit 202 that generates the data, the output buffer 203 that stores the print data generated by the rendering unit 202, the control panel unit 205 that displays information to the user and receives operations, and the printer engine unit 104 that performs printing The engine interface unit 204 is configured to perform The printer engine unit 104 has a known printing device configuration such as a laser beam method or an ink jet method, and includes a paper feeding device 301 as shown in FIG. The sheet feeding device 301 can set a recording medium, and can also set a recording medium storage case 401 described later. When the recording medium storage case 401 is set in the paper feeding device 301, the printer engine unit 104 can read and write information on the recording medium 402 according to an instruction from the engine interface unit 204.

  The controller unit 103 and the printer engine unit 104 of the printing apparatus 102 are connected by a predetermined video interface, and transfer a print image and exchange information of various sensors. Information exchange is performed, for example, by 16-bit unit command / status serial communication.

  Although an electrophotographic printer engine is assumed here, a known inkjet method may be used.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the recording medium storage case 401 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The recording medium storage case 401 is a case for storing the recording medium 402, and includes storage means 403 for storing information related to the stored recording medium 402. The storage unit 403 may be realized by a known unit capable of reading and writing, such as a memory or RFID. Information stored in the storage unit 403 is read and written by the printer engine unit 104 and notified to the controller unit 103 through the engine interface unit 204.

  A case where a recording medium is set in the paper feeding device 301 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The printer engine unit 104 notifies the controller unit 103 through the engine interface unit 204 that a recording medium has been set in the paper feeding device 301. When it is found that the recording medium has been set, the controller unit 103 attempts to read information on the recording medium through the engine interface unit 204.

  When reading is possible, since the recording medium storage case 401 is set, the controller unit 103 automatically sets the size and type of the recording medium stored in the storage unit 403. Also, the remaining number of recording media is read out. The control panel unit 205 displays to notify the user that the automatic setting has been made. The remaining number of recording media is displayed on the control panel unit 205 as necessary, or notified to the user by notifying the printer driver.

  When reading is impossible, since only the recording medium is set, the controller unit 103 displays on the control panel unit 205 to set the size and type of the recording medium to the user. In this case, it is determined that the remaining number of recording media is unknown.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when printing is performed from the paper feeding device 301 in which the recording medium storage case 401 is set, the controller unit 103 reduces the remaining number of recording media each time printing is performed, and the engine interface unit 204 To the storage means 403 of the recording medium storage case 401.

1 shows an outline of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a configuration of a controller unit of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a configuration of a printer engine unit of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a configuration of a recording medium storage case according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 shows a flow of processing when a recording medium is set according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 shows a flow of processing during printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 External equipment
102 Printing device
103 Controller
104 Printer engine
201 Input buffer
202 Rendering part
203 Output buffer
204 Engine interface
205 Control panel
301 Paper source
401 Recording media storage case
402 Recording media
403 memory means

Claims (2)

In a recording medium storage case comprising storage means capable of storing a recording medium, and storage means for storing the size of the recording medium, the type of the recording medium, and the number of recording media,
Means for communicating with the printing device;
A recording medium storage case capable of reading and writing information stored in a storage unit according to an instruction from a printing apparatus. Data input means for receiving input data, input data storage means for storing the input data, print data generation means for generating print data from the input data stored in the input data storage means, and the print data Print data storage means for storing, image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium based on the print data stored in the print data storage means, paper supply means for setting the recording medium, size of the recording medium, In a printing apparatus provided with a setting means capable of setting the type,
Comprising information reading means for reading information stored in the storage means provided in the recording medium storage case, and information writing means for writing information to the storage means provided in the recording medium storage case,
When only the recording medium is set, a display prompting the user to set the size or type of the recording medium is displayed. When the recording medium storage case is set, the memory provided in the recording medium storage case Recording medium storage case by automatically setting the size and type of the recording medium by reading the information stored in the means, and writing the information in the storage means provided in the recording medium storage case for each printing A printing apparatus that manages the number of recording media stored in the printer.

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